That was the favorite word of each speaker on Thursday and Friday and I literally woke up one night the only thought in my head being "networks". All this means that it's time to say goodbye freedom once and for all and hello responsibilities, stress, workloads and deadlines. And a lot of partying to balance that, of course. And here I'd like to point out that we have been told even by the teachers that partying equals networking so it is almost obligatory in case you want the connections.
It is here, finally, the real start of school again. After two days of endless speeches and presentations and so much information that everyone have already forgotten most of it it was really nice to reset our brains on Friday night the very typical student way and now after gaining back the energy, I'm excited to start what I came here to do. My schedule is quite easy and leaves time for relaxing (read: homework, projects and essays). I have a couple of long days but then I have only one lesson on Mondays which I like a lot. Too bad for me that I have my hardest day on Thursday and Wednesday is apparently the official day for creating networks in the student world. Great. And on top of our scheduled schoolwork we will be spending the entire spring working on this mysterious project with a confusing name. Everyone's a little scared since nobody has a clear vision of what's to come.
I have lived in the capital for a week now and I gotta say that it hasn't been that bad. I like how close and easy to get all the services and means of transportation are. Coming from the countryside I expected crowds, noises and anxiety but to my delightful surprise I got to take a walk for an hour surrounded by trees and at times even no sight of buildings or roads. Definitely more people and noise than back home but so far I've been fine with it. I still struggle with believing that I really live here, I might smile by myself walking in the center just because I find it so funny that I will spend the next years of my life here. This was so not what I planned that I constantly realize it over and over again how surreal the situation is. Positive surreal, though, and I can't wait for the summer since it will be so beautiful here. I still have some adapting to do when it comes to living by myself and the cruel reminder of it comes for example in the form of no milk in the fridge when you need coffee at 7 am.
I have this kind of a surreal feeling right now. I am sitting by my new desk in my new apartment in my own room (for the first time in my life...) eating breakfast. Yesterday was a fun but also a sad day, since I got to experience so many new things but at the end of it my family left back to Kuopio. My apartment is really nice, especially my room. Decorating it a little in my style makes it even better. I have boxes and bags still covering the floor but today my goal is to unpack everything. And hopefully see who my roommate is, 'cause she wasn't here yesterday when I went to sleep but now she is. The other roommate I saw yesterday, though she was just moving out so someone new will come soon.
I am sure this is going to be great, I just need a while to adapt. I can hear trams going in front of the house, which is really weird for me, a countryside girl in the big city...
If I had plenty of money, I would pack a bag and catch the first plane as far away as possible. Then I'd come back and do it again.
If my endurance was the opposite of the current one, I'd run a marathon. I want the amazing feeling of crashing all the barriers of disbelief in myself.
If
I spoke perfect French, I'd sit in a
little café in Paris chatting to French people, reading a newspaper
while wearing Chanel sunglasses and just enjoying life.
If my life was a movie, I would want the perfect fairytale. If I could choose to be anyone for a day, I'd be someone who is so low and broken that I'd be forever happy that I am myself.
If I was brave enough, I'd always say aloud what I am thinking and feeling. If I really wanted, I could achieve all of that. I could get it all, I could experience what it really feels like to go through the emotions and situations I can so clearly picture in my head. But I don't mind if I won't. Some things are meant to be dreams and hopes and it's okay for them to stay like that.
I haven't really understood it yet, though the empty walls and shelves are pretty strong indications of the end of the life as I know it. Five nights left in my old bed, four days left to prepare myself for the exciting, new life.
And I still haven't found that painting.
I have written all kinds of things here and then deleted them 'cause nothing seems right and I don't know how to express what I'm thinking and feeling now so I'll just end this by saying that I love this song.
Here we are again, at the end of a yet another amazing year. Since tomorrow it is the last day of the year and I have already taken my time to look back on my accomplishments, sources of joy, learning opportunities and life experiences of the past year, it is time to look ahead. I know for sure that the year 2014 will be one to remember, if not for anything else then at least because of starting my independent life. However, now is the time to make promises for the year to come and this year (like every year) hopefully to keep them. And at least try to remember what I've promised.
I have already given up the endless planning of my life ahead so I will not make any promises of what will happen next year. Whatever life throws at me is what I'll experience, no plans needed. I want to hold on to this way of thinking, the exciting feeling of freedom makes me curious to every single new day.So, I won't promise to do anything or not to do anything 'cause it wouldn't work out like that anyway. Instead, I promise to try. Try to live in the moment, try to take a leap of faith when an opportunity is given, try to demand what I deserve while giving back.
I promise to enjoy my life. Not forgetting that it's okay not to be okay sometimes, I welcome the new year with hope. I am grateful for this past year but somehow I am also happy it's over. Now all there's left to say is happy New Year everyone, I hope you will have a good time celebrating tomorrow and let's keep our minds and hearts open for 2014!
This is it, my 100th post. It feels like I've at least made an effort trying to express my thoughts, so tonight I am going to give you something else. As a tribute to the number of the day I turned to our dear friend who always helps us when in need of information, google. I simply googled the number 100 and here are the first 10 results it gave me. Some of them are in Finnish, so the titles are translated by me. 100+ club members This sounds weird at first 'cause at least I was immediately thinking of people older than a hundred years, but the description below says that to the 100+ club are accepted all the people who have ran at least a hundred marathons. This is an unofficial list of the Finnish members of the club. Uhm, okay. Didn't really guess that the first search result would be this, out of all the possibilities with a 100 in them. And it isn't even a sponsored ad. Wave 100 - front page Apparently this is the website for a new, local television channel in Tampere, Finland. Allright, I don't live there nor have I ever heard of it so this one could be useful someday. Maybe. Thanks for the information, anyway.
The 100-year-foundation of the technology industry Ookay. Goggles and Accessories -100% Official Site | ride100percent.com Some kind of biking equipment... I would really like to know on what basis does google choose to suggest me websites. Definitely not by interpreting my personal life through my search words. Top 100 food blogs Wow, this one is actually a website I might even visit. I like eating and food is good. So thanks, google, for making me hungry when everyone else is asleep so I have to wait until the morning. Though I guess I wouldn't go to eat anyway 'cause night eating isn't healthy. 100 push-ups - 100 push-ups with a 6-week program Is this a hint? I know that lately I've been pretty lazy physically (read:I haven't done a thing to work out) and I know Christmas time is all about eating and chocolate and not doing anything. But I promise, when I go to Helsinki and get my sports pass that makes me go to the gym since I've paid for it which means I really have to use it, I will fix this and start doing push-ups. Or something else. Probably something else.
100 things for a better nightlife - Night People Group Good, I'll probably be exploring the nightlife quite a lotin the beginning of my studies so I am glad if someone has bothered to make a list of how to improve it. They'd better have actually done it, too, instead of just writing about it.
100 - Wikipedia Not suprising, Wikipedia has to be in the search results no matter what you're searching for. It knows everything about everything and likes to share its information. This particular article is about the year 100. First one of these results the appearing of which makes sense.
39games The description is the following: Traffic Killer · Raze · Raft Wars · Bloons Tower
Defense 4 · Age of War 2 · Command Grid · Solipskier · Rocky Rider ·
Swords and Sandals 2 · Learn to Fly · Toss ... I'd like to know how the number 100 is related to this? Good job getting it to my results, can't be easy claiming to be something you're not.
100 questions to a pediatrician - Health library Finally, a reliable and informative website that I have heard of and isn't totally useless.
I didn't actually go to any of these sites so I can't be sure if they actually are what the descriptions and titles say but never mind. At least I've made my point clear which is that I have written already a hundred times! I had never heard this song before. But I gotta stay true to the theme.
Only a week and it's Christmas! I can't believe how fast time has passed this year, it is almost too insane to grasp. However, I can't wait for the morning of December 24th since it is one of my favorite days of the year if not the absolute favorite. I know exactly how the day is going to go but I don't mind, it is the whole point of it. I am usually a fan of keeping up traditions, and this one is the one I never want to go away. I know it will change at some point of my life and that's why I am even more dedicated to enjoying it while I still can. That day is magical every year and though growing up makes it lose its magic a little bit, there's always something in the atmosphere.
This year there will be one difference but it is a happy one. Our grandmother will join our precious tradition and she is probably even more excited than we are. The activities of the day aren't that different or unique compared to the normal life but it is the one day when everyone agrees with how to spend it and that is together. Decorating the christmas tree, cooking as a family, eating way too much and giving and receiving gifts, not to forget the most Finnish thing there is, sauna. It always brings a smile on my face thinking about our family's Christmas celebration. This year will be the last one when everything's the same as so far since I will leave home and nobody knows what life is going to throw at you in a year. Believe me, this year has thrown so many unexpected things at me that I have almost decided to stop planning my life and just going with the flow.
I have really got into Spanish Christmas carols this year, they are just so beautiful.
