Train Exploration: Day One

Since I have to take the train to school every day and sometimes a bus, the Rotary pays for a special card that gets me free travel on any of the metro, trams, buses, and trains in the "Helsinki" area. This is a really reallyyyy large area. I am deciding to use it to my advantage and travel everywhere.

So it began today. I left after my morning run and packed an apple and water for lunch and I just rode the train and got off at different stops to explore. I document where I am going on a map and I highlight where I go and take notes of what I see and the weather. The little details. I spent about 6 hours out exploring today. I had coffee and my apple and a really super fancy coffee house in the middle of Helsinki where I listened to billy holiday.

I got lost a few times though.

morning run

look at the balloons!

coffee for one

Anna time

More Anna time

I have fallen in love with the trains here. I ride them every day. There is so much silence there is no room for any sound. I listen to music and just watch as it all blends together outside the window. Looking out the windows at each platform, is the only time I see intimacy between Finns. It is very secretive and beautiful. No one is loud about anything.  The train offers a place to think about everything. 

my platform

Grand Train Station, I like to get coffee here and watch the long trip  trains arrive. You get to see all the happy greetings and the goodbyes. It is just very special to be an on looker to. 

Rainy Days

Rainy Days, otherwise known as every day here in good ol' Finland. Fall actually means the falling of rain. That is it. Just rain. All of the rain.

Saturday consisted of going for a run and hiding in a tunnel which runs under the high way till the rain halts. Also of coffee with the Salla and having a girls night playing "sing-star" and my first Finnish lesson with Salla.. yay.

I think these are pionies 

The sound of the thunder storm was amplyfied aka the coolest experience ever

She is so beautiful and wise. I really don't want her to leave to go to Scotland. She takes care of me.

writing and writing and writing letters finally

Onki, the cutest thing ever. I am having lacks of my own little nugget, Pippa.

please note the muumi

I am terrible at this. 

These girls are Salla's best friends and have taken me in as one of them. The girl on my right may be my host sister next! 

The Gang

Norrah took me to a little farm in the middle of helsinki before we went to egg the first years. That is a horribly put together sentence but it really sums it all up.

Now let me break it down. I took a train to this bus station (I am not scared of public transportation any more! I can handle it!) to meet up with the crazy Norrah, my closest friend here. She said she had a surprise for me, everything is a surprise now for me.

This actually makes sense. 

Mary! I know this! Chicago helped a lot... street smarts. 

She leads the way

Please note this is the middle of a city, I am still confused how it looks like the country. 

Still walking because cars aren't actually a thing here.

Then we walk up upon this beautiful rustic old farm area. Norrah called up her friends which work at a horse barn to show me the horses and animals. I told her about the fair and all of that. Norrah is actually one of the most caring people I have ever met.

middle of the city

After seeing the animals and adventuring, we went to her house to get ready for the evening of hazing the first years. All fun and no hurt, they came willing. First years mean the kids which are just entering the lukio. I am technically a first year... buutttt I am an exchange student. I helped instead. I don't have to many photos of that because it seemed dangerous to take out my phone.

They all jumped in the fountain afterwards

I took the late train home after all the festivities. Good fun and better friends.