Epiphany

Epiphany weekend - first weekend in January. And here's what I have learned in 2012 thus far:

1. Wearing fur hats during prime Russian tourist season makes you look like one.
2. Sales in Finland = take American price and multiply by 120 %
3. Finland's got the weather right. If it's cold, let it snow.
4. I haven't seen the sun in a week.
5. I'm coming back for next new years. For sure.

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve in Finland, a.k.a., time for me to celebrate. In Finland, Christmas celebrations begin on December 24th. I am making joulutorttuja tomorrow morning (my favorite Christmas dessert, that I ALWAYS over eat and end up getting sick) and then at noon begins "Christmas Peace". This is a time, that until Boxing Day, no fighting is allowed in the family.

But speaking of Finland, that brings me to my next topic. I will actually be visiting for the New Year. I can't wait to start 2012 over there! 6 days until my departure!! And since I will be in Europe, I will be updating my blog again.

Ja sitten suomeksi

Päätin että kirjoitain sillä kielellä riippuen missä maassa olen. Onhan se hyvää vähän suomen kieltäkin harjoitella. Olin viikonlopun Iinan luona Helsingissä. Näin Markuksen eilen baareissa. Ja Isakin tuli käymään tänään täällä. Istuttiin Isan kanssa monessa puistossa ja kaikki pummit tuli meille juttelee. Yksi sanoi meille että tuntuu hyvältä olla selvinpäin. Hänen henki haisi ihan viinalta. Huomenna lähden Ouluun katsomaan kummeja pariksi päiväksi!

I decided that I write in the language, depending on the country where I am. After all, it is a good little Finnish kieltäkin practice. I was visiting this weekend Iina Helsinki, Finland. Thus Mark's bars yesterday. And Isaac came to visit here today. Sat with my father in many bums in the park, and all came to us talking. One told us that it feels good to be sober. His spirit viinalta smelled wonderful. Tomorrow I am going to Oulu to watch sponsors a couple of days!

(Wow google translate sucks with Finnish. Or then I need to learn how to write proper Finnish)


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[October 11, 2011]
Below is my profile for the summer that just occurred. Time to move on in my life, but it's good to look back and remember the excitement, the joy, the anticipation, and look forward to it all over again.
[Jonna]

A summer in Europe? Count me in! I signed up for the French LBAT program through Georgia Tech where I'm now- get this- a SENIOR!! I'm trying my best to keep track of everything I do, because how often do you get to live in Paris for a summer.

Suomi Finlandia

I have made it to Finland. Had Kotipizza with Iina and now going out to meet up with Markus for some drinks. It's so hot and humid in Finland. Iina thinks I've officially become homeless after showing her all of the thrift store stuff I've bought. I asked her for laundry detergent so I could wash my jeans while I shower. I didn't even think twice about it!

Off to Paris

The past couple of days have flown by in Finland. I’ve had great ideas such as biking to the Baltic Sea (a total of 60 km), done yard work with madre and hung out even more with the grandparents as well as seen extended relatives such as my great aunt and uncle, and their great grandchild. Apparently in Finland, we all actually know each other. Sofia (the great grand child) is HYSTERICAL. She’s 3 years old and loves Rockey. And Rockey loved her as well. But talk about confusing when Sofia’s mom’s name is Jonna, and I’m used to being the only Jonna around. Today’s the big day though, I’m FINALLY going to Paris. I even get to meet up with my dad at the airport since the plane I’m flying in on will be the plane he will fly to Helsinki with. My family likes to travel- a lot. And that’s an understatement.

I’m supposed to meet Brittany at the University of Paris today around 5-6 PM. Neither of us can get a hold of the other since I won’t have internet access from here on out, and she doesn’t have a cell phone. So wish me luck. But tonight I will be going to Duplex, a club by L’Arc de Triomphe. And have to meet my professor at 8 AM on Sunday morning!! An hour away of where I’m spending the night tonight! With all of my suitcases! I wonder how I get myself into these sticky situations with random early wake ups, but then I think about how hard me and my friend Kylene trained for it all last summer with having to wake up and drive Atlanta to Athens or Athens to Atlanta. This should be a breeze in France.

Hump Day

Made it all the way to the library today. The internet is much faster here, but I can't get on facebook because it's blocked. So dumb.

Notes to self:
1. The Finnish internet is extremely slow.
2. There is STILL no air conditioning in this country and today is 29C.
3. Finland is ridiculously expensive. I just paid 2€ for 4 pages of paper to be printed off. That's like 2.75 USD.

Anyways, I just booked my hotel for Saturday night as I will be staying on my own the first night in Paris. And then I booked my flight to Barcelona on June 23!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow I'll be hitting up the beach on the Baltic Sea with my mom. Not quite like Florida.

Is sleep too much to ask for? Or at least darkness??

3:45 A.M. and I’m wide-awake. I don’t know how I was ever able to live in this country and actually function with this little sleep. It’s bright outside again. Note to self- buy an eye mask to sleep in.  You’d think with where I live this would have been done sooner in Atlanta, but it’s so easy to pull black covers over my head and sleep with city lights, because at least the sky is semi dark. But no, in Finland the sky is always blue and the trees in my back yard aren’t quite close enough to the house to give me shade. Even the blinds are white, so at night they’re just blocking direct sunlight but you can see it through the cracks. The curtains are white too. Everything in Finland is white, white, WHITE. It’s the Scandinavian way. Everything is white, blue or birch colored. Look at our flag for crying out loud. Blue cross (to represent the blue sky) on a WHITE background. Oh, and we’re surrounded by birch trees. Quite the nature type we are. 

Made It Across the Pond

It's 2 AM on Sunday/Monday morning. It's obvious to say, but I made it to Europe in one piece last Thursday. Been visiting with lots of family, gone to graduation parties, and eaten all of my favorite Finnish food. I'm anxiously waiting for next Saturday, the day I leave for Paris and study there for 6 weeks!!! I realized today that I probably haven't looked at anything French for a couple of months, so I went and bought this month's Cosmopolitan at the bookstore. But until Saturday I will be in Finland, venturing around.

My brother headed back to the states today, so now it's just me, mom and Rockey. My mom and I went to Aino- a Finnish restaurant on Esplanaadi in Helsinki. Had some creamy salmon soup and rye bread- with a glass of white wine of course. Saturday, we spent our day graduation party hopping. My cousin and my godparents son both graduated, so to say they were going all out partying is an understatement. Especially with the godparents. :)

Tomorrow I'll be heading to Tapiola to see my friend, Silja, from 8th grade along with my friend Markus from- get this- CHURCH CAMP. Yes, once upon a time, I did attend one of those. ONCE.

Have yet to go to our sauna, so I'm planning on that to happen tomorrow night after a loooong bike ride around the country side, as I'll be heading back up to the east coast after lunch + shopping with Silja.

I'm sitting on my balcony in Kauniainen, and I swear, I think it's starting to get brighter!!! The sun's coming back!!!!!! It's just been dusk-esque until now, but seriously. Bleh. I'm never going to be able to sleep here.