Open your eyes & Take it all in

Here again and sending my love from Finland <3 It's been 7 months that I returned to Finland and omg time flies fast. So many things to do and of course I'm trying to do everything as usual...:/ I really need to start prioritizing and slowing down on life:) I just love to say yes to everything and be a part of all the great things that are going on around me:D Therefore I have a lot of things to tell you about;) 7 month's update; do enjoy;)

After one year abroad, reality seemed scary and impossible to reach, but the truth was that after three weeks in Finland I was back in my normal rhythm:) First two weeks were Christmas holiday and of course I had no plans yet so only time to think and miss everyone ;( Slow and boring since I'm not used to do nothing all day long. Everybody were living their normal rhythms and it felt like I was just placed here alone in the middle of the fully functioning puzzle. Of course all my family and friends were there (for which I'm so grateful <3) but still they were living their lives normally and I, on the other hand, was without any obligations or plans. Definitely out of my comfort zone...This however didn't last for long:P In the end of January my school started again and I built up my puzzle fast! In my opinion having something regular, like school or a job with a standard timetable helps a lot to get back to the reality after returning home. Life was fully functioning again and I felt like I was part of the puzzle;)

After school had started I applied straight for an evening & weekend job as it's normal here in Finland. I got a job rather quickly and now I'm working in a clothes shop selling suits and casual clothing for men in my free time. My weeks go by attending school from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and after I work three days a week from 4 pm to 9 pm. Normally one or two of these days are weekends so I have a few free evenings during the week;) "Money money money... must be funny in a rich man's world":DD Not becoming rich here obviously, but at least it pays the rent and I actually have some money left for other things than only tuna for food:) Yes, welcome to the students' life in Finland;)

In April I moved to Ruskeasuo, Helsinki to stay closer to my school and now I'm actually able to ride my bike everywhere since I also work here in Helsinki:) Feels like Belgium all over again cause I'm able to go by bike to everywhere and I spend a lot of time outside during the day. I absolutely love the moment of fresh air and outdoors when riding my bike.<3 I also get to see the city from a different point of view and believe it or not learn to actually know where I am and how to get everywhere;)  In the first months of school I already remembered how travelling with the public transportation all the way from Espoo to Pasila (1h in three vehicles: bus, subway and train) can be so annoying and suffocating. I get huge headaches and have to suffer from smelly people in the bus without AC:/ And don't get me started with the timetables....:) So my new retro bike from the flea market keeps me very happy <3  One thing I noticed was that here in Helsinki they actually have very good conditions and a well-functioning system for cyclists! Cycle paths mostly everywhere in the centrum, traffic lights for bikes etc. etc. And one thing that really blew me off was that here absolutely everyone wears a helmet. Safety comes first they say:D So of course I bought one for me too, cause I don't want to be the only one not wearing one:D People actually stare at you for being so stupid. So new helmet for 4 € in Vaasankadun fleamarket! Amazing place! Highly recommend!
http://www.stadissa.fi/tapahtumat/42124/vaasankadun-katukirppis.

My new apartment is a place provided by the student organization in Helsinki called the HOAS. It's an apartment for three people and I live here with my two roommates. Everybody has their own room and we share the kitchen and the bathroom. We also have a balcony that enjoys the morning sun;) My goal for this summer is to buy a hammock and place it to my balcony for a few relaxing morning teas <3 Small things make you happy right;D And yeees..of course it's a little jungle green and filled with all the memories :P See for yourself:

Related to small things making you happy I have had a few absolutely amazing reunions with my friends and family that have made my spring very precious.

First after family Christmas I visited my friend studying in Oulu, up north like we say here in the south:P Apparently it's the exact point in the middle of Finland, but far in the north in my eyes:DD In any case we had a fantastic weekend with my girls exploring the city of Oulu and spending time together <3 It's amazing how you can be truly so happy for your friend who has found her passion and seriously worked hard a s hell to get there, finally achieved her dream and now...living it! You can actually see the passion in her eyes and hear it in her voice when she tells you these horrible stories of digging dead bodies and sticking needles in their own veins to learn medicine...and yes unfortunately she sends me pictures also..:/ :O Hahah I know...not everybody's passion, but my point is, that in my eyes this girl stands as a role model to many who wish to do something so badly and need to work extremely hard to achieve it... but in the end can be so proud for pushing themselves and finally achieving what they have really earned! Anything can be done if you just have the ambition to do it;) <3

If ever visiting Oulu you definitely have to visit the addictive pancake house in the harbour! This place is mindblowing:D http://www.pannukakkutalo.fi/pannukakkutalo/oulu

Next reunion was in the beginning of April! At first showing the city of Helsinki for a couple Italian's and then enjoying Tallinn and the good company for a few days more. Perfect mini holiday that I definitely needed <3 In addition to this I also got to be part of the famous NATO "circles":DD Definitely understand the purpose of these NATO simulations better now;)

Easter brought me a beloved quest from the south with these souvenirs:D

One week long visit gave me the opportunity to show my friend from the Basque country the way I live here in Finland. She got to actually attend my school for a day, hang out with my friends and see the city of course as well as visit my own city, Espoo. Cause I worked a few days during the week she actually had to live the normal rhythm with me so truly life as a local I would say:P Busy week but I loved every minute of it <3

 

 

I have learned while traveling, for example during my Interrail when I was a quest at her house in Bilbao, that there is nothing more eye opening than staying with a local friend and actually being able to see how they live and do things differently. This teaches you more cultural knowledge than you think it ever will. Living the life as a local! That applies to me living here in Helsinki also. Funnily I have started to see the capital city, that used to be just the big city where I ran errands, see a movie, go out and try to avoid the horrible traffic and concourse, more fascinating. I start to learn that there are infinitely places that I have never even known about and also that the terrace & chilling outside culture, that I used to miss so much from central Europe, also exists here! In the summer this place comes alive and you just have to walk with your eyes open to take this all in. Until now I have just  not payed attention to what the city has to offer. I have really tried to change this attitude lately and actually explored the city much more.
 

My summer holiday of one week in the end of May I spend in Krakow, Poland enjoying a reunion with my girls from Erasmus, Ghent. One year ago we were more or less living together and so close, like sisters <3 I was expecting that this hadn't changed too much, but of course a little nervous to see how it would be to see each others again. From the first day I felt like home :D Hahah..really it's amazing how 6 people from 4 different countries can be like a big happy family with cultural differences and everything! Again a local experience, and Krakow was great! Historical, vivid, beautiful and cheap of course:P

 

 

 

Then there was still June and the lovely Finnish midsummer that we all were looking forward in here!
The interesting fact about the Midsummer is that it used to be a celebration of the summer solstice phenomenon, meaning that it had the longest period of daylight and in the polar regions the sun never goes down. This can last from a few days to even six months. In total the nights in Finland in the summer are extremely light and the sun goes down between 11pm to 12 am. To understand the meaning of  midsummer in a nutshell you should read this page:  http://www.visitfinland.com/article/midsummer-go-peaceful-or-go-party/. It explains all the things you need to know about the midsummer itself <3

Normally midsummer for me means summer cottage with friends, BBQing, sauna, swimming, relaxing and perhaps a little drinking involved;P All the things that I love in Finland <3 I'll explain about the cottage life another time for those of you who always keep asking me questions about it and yeees we'll talk about sauna also I promise:D <3
However this midsummer 2014 included me&my friends, Hanko, bonfire & sun <3

To my misfortune my summer has been very busy with work and I'm also starting to write my thesis...since I'm working full-time during June-August and writing my thesis at the same time I hardly have time for anything else:// My summer hasn't exactly been holiday and therefore I have had to skip a few reunions still to come in Europe ;( but there will be a time for those for sure! <3 I'm most probably about to graduate in December so it's gonna be "the last big push" in the fall and then this girl is free to travel the world again;D I'll talk about the future plans later cause I'm not quite sure what they will be, but omg I had already forgotten how much research & time it takes to go through various webpages and applications while looking for different things:S At this point all my energy goes to me finishing what I've started so I'll worry about the future a bit later:P All in all life keeps rolling and future lies a head wide open, just the way it's supposed to be:D

My year through the music that reminds me

I know I know..a long loong time again, but totally worth the wait I promise you:D
My dear friend once said to me that there is always a song that reminds you of a certain time, so I decided to gather my whole year together for you via music!

Honestly speaking I still can't get the hang of the fact that this amazing year is over and more specifically that I really got to experience all that I did in these past 12 months. A pile of memories, amazing friends that you will have for the rest of your life, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and so much more has made my year a never ending dream:) Please enjoy the ride: 

One year ago (5.1.2013) I left to Belgium, Ghent, the second home of my heart and I know for sure that I will return one day<3 Therefore I give you the Absynthe Minded-Envoi, a band from Ghent<3
Belgian Culture Studies;) See... I learned something in school during my Erasmus;D

For you my dear Vesalians will.i am-Scream and Shout feat Britney Spears and you know exactly why;D

After 6 months of Erasmus life was the time to start the long waited InterRail journey! July 2013 conquering Belgium, France, Spain and finally the amazing Italy.
Memorable trip with my best friend<3 Always reminding me of our trip together this summer Avicii-Wake me up. 

And cause I already got introduced to the Spanish music during my Erasmus we sure enjoyed it on the road. Daddy Yankee-Limbo A huge thanks to my friends from the south<3 

Internship in Washington DC straight after returning from the Euro-trip. A long flight to The United States on the 2.8.2013 and the perfect ending for this year<3 Switchfoot-Souvenirs <3

Living the life my loves! Marc Anthony-Vivir mi vida. It's for you my ISHers<3

And of course I have always the Winter Wonderland called Finland and the people back home in my mind where ever I am! This is for you<3

Kyl mä teistäki tykkään niin että halkeen<3;P

One hell of a year I must say! 

À bientôt mes amis<3

Washington DC - Embassy of Finland - The International Student House

 

 
5 months of pure happiness and high speed of continuous experiences just to not miss anything important! The funny thing that I've learned in these past months about living abroad is that there is just a limited time to do everything so everyone, including you, is trying not to waste a minute of it. Every day you try to take advantage of the hours, minutes, seconds as well as you possibly can. Every weekend you go around visiting new places and end up spending the whole weekend kind of "running around" feeling super active. Sleeping on the sofa the whole day and watching movies isn't an option, don't get me wrong it happens sometimes(especially after the Saturday nights in El Centro:), but after; the guilt of doing nothing that hunts you down cause the number of days is decreasing, you think twice the next time when the sofa calls you.

 As a result of all this running; one day it just hits you: It's time to go home already!
And it brakes your heart!</3
5 months gone in the wind..and now what?
Who knows... tears, goodbyes and a new beginning again I guess.

The BIG American dream they say;
and it truly felt like one!
No words will ever be enough to sum up these past five months, but here it goes....

As a city Washington DC was the perfect choice! Center of business and capital of the USA so enormous opportunities everywhere. Everything you could imagine just there, waiting for you and ready to take you into the ride.  Easy access, multiple choices, free cultural possibilities, active nightlife, diplomatic environment and internationally populated. What else could you hope from a home. They told me that DC is the most European city in the US and I think that's also one fact why I really felt like home there. Definitely going back some day, even if it would be just for the cheap sushi...who knows;)

When it comes to my internship I worked as an assistant in the Administrative Affairs department of the Embassy of Finland for these 5 months. This internship is included in my studies (mandatory for us to be able to graduate) and I had the opportunity to choose to either complete this internship in Finland or go abroad. One word: Abroad;) I applied for this specific internship to be able to see and understand what my future degree might be like. The opportunity provided/obliged by the school to get an idea of the future job before actually applying for one is in my opinion extremely beneficial for the students.

My internship at the Embassy was an opportunity that I could only imagine of! I gained a priceless combination of working experience and international knowledge. I learned a lot about the whole functionality of the Embassy as well as the daily duties concerning my position. It's rewarding to be able to work among things that you have been taught at school and really realize that the education you have, equals the needs of the organization. I noticed that the work in my field contains an indefinite range of duties depending of the day. Honestly speaking this really fits be, cause I kind of get bored easily:P Sitting behind the computer 8 hours a day can be depressing if the work doesn't keep you on the move and awake:D Adaptation becomes extremely important and common sense highly appreciated:D Also working under pressure is part of the every day life. The level of stress can be extreme from time to time and therefore the importance between the working life and the free-time becomes crucial!

I think that this work experience at the Embassy really taught me a lot and also grew me as a person. Of course I also consider this extremely beneficial when it comes to my future. To my mind the Embassy was the perfect choice to really see what my future job could be like. I enjoyed my time at the Embassy and especially was blessed to be part of the amazing crew that they have in Washington DC. Keep up the spirit you guys!

And here comes the hardest part....;(

Without a doubt the thing that I will miss the most about DC is going to be the International Student House. The place I called HOME for these past 5 months. 90 residents from 46 different countries,  a house like the castle of Harry Potter, three buildings with 5 floors (main building, 4th floor<33) , a gym 3 minutes a way from my room, a kitchen with own cooks making omelets, movie nights in the TV room, barbeques in the garden, parties in the Great Hall,  meetings in the lobby (from which I was always late I know!), pre-drinkings in Marpat continued by the numerous parties that are worth to remember, music moments and the marvelous dinners together ect. etc. etc. I told you.... it's impossible to put all the adventures into words;)

But the home itself is nothing without the people ...
The family you grew to love so much that leaving them behind really brakes your heart.

It comes with the travelling I know, but it's like... in this house you truly share everything! In America the residents are know for sharing the rooms with another person which obviously means that you share things like your privacy, silence and freedom! Living alone is not an option in this house.  And yes, of course, I was horrified in the beginning to know that I have to share my room with someone 24/7. I was sure I will become crazy! But you know... it's funny how the thing that is the scariest in the beginning actually becomes the fact that you start to depend on. Suddenly living without these people feels like your all alone and it's too quiet without the daily dose of reggaeton, latinos, spaniards and italians around you, you know:D The only thing you hear are your own thoughts and that is scary my friends... The first day back home was like being brought to a mental hospital and locked into this kind of isolated room where there are only you and the walls...:/ A sudden change like this takes  time to adapt back to the normality.

 All I can say is that I'm blessed to have spent this time with these amazing people, with sparkling personalities and even more blessed to be able to call them my friends for life. The things that I learned about them and their countries will forever stay in my heart and I want to thank everyone for being so generous of sharing their life in our loong discussions together<3 These interesting conversations are in my opinion exactly the point of an international house and my friends, we took everything we could from it! I know for sure that even if it might take years; we will see each other again. The sad thing is that this time the goodbyes were not as easy as  "See you soon my love, thank god we have Ryanair right?"since not everyone lives anywhere near to me and I am talking about different parts of the world here;( But anyway I'm gonna make sure that it happens someday!

Forever grateful for everything and just happy to have these people in my life<3