Sunday, July 28, 2013

Suomi Time

          Well I have been in Finland for a week and it has been a great adventure. After battling the jetlag (which has proven to be very strong this time), I finally got to see the city. My days have been filled with delicious food (including chocolate), and good company. My hosts have been very kind, and entertaining me all week, for which I am very grateful. Soon, my friend will be here (my hosts are her parents) which will make this whole situation even better. It seems like I have been here a lot more than a week because I have done a lot more than I usually do in Colorado in a month.
          In the land of the midnight sun, I still go to sleep around three and wake up around eleven. This jetlag has put up an awe-inspiring fight, however, it will soon be defeated. The days that I have spent in Helsinki have been fantastic. My hosts taking me to the city and showing me around. To say the least Helsinki is one of the most modern, yet, winsome cities I have been in. Some streets are filled with fashion boutiques, and the most hip design stores. Others, are cobblestone streets with the harbor to one side and a charming market on the other. To say the least, Helsinki, should be on everybody's Bucket List. Since this computer doesn't have a place to read a sim card, and I can't find where I put the charger for the PC I will simply have to put photos from Google. Don't worry I am getting a SD USB reader, hopefully, soon.
Helsingin tuomiokirkkoSuurkirkko



 The city of Helsinki is filled with beauty and fun things behind every corner. One thing I would definitely suggest visiting that isn't quite on the beaten path is a place called the Crypt Cafe. It is near the main white cathedral, and it is one of the most charming cafe I have had the pleasure of taking tea in.

        Also, my hosts, were kind enough to take me to a charming town west of Helsinki called Turku. Turku is a very interesting town with an medieval church and castle. There is no way to describe this town except for a fantastic weekend get-a-way. Although we were only there for a couple hours, it was still well worth it. I will write more about it, once I can upload my pictures, and explain more thoroughly. Well that is it for now, hope whomever reads this is enjoying my adventures. Also everybody send out their thoughts/prayers/good karma/whatever you want to my friend so she can get her passport back from an embassy so she can join me here in Helsinki soon!  


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Helsinki at last!

Well after some sad goodbyes and hours of flying I am finally in Helsinki, Finland. I haven’t been here too long and I haven’t gotten to see too much! However, from what I can tell it is an enchanting country. I left Denver International Airport around five o’clock, and arrived in Reykjavik at 6 o’clock in the morning the next day. Iceland was really foggy and I could barely see ten feet past the window, however, the airport was really nice. The small airport was refreshing due to the fact that most airports could almost be considered small cities themselves. Iceland air was a fantastic airline to go with. The planes were smaller, which caused the trip to be a little bumpier, however, you weren’t on a plane with hundreds of people.  
The flight attendants were very kind and friendly. The only down side is that one has to pay to get food, I didn’t get anything on the plane for the reason that plane food usually makes me want to go die in a corner of the plane. I had about twenty minutes in Reykjavik before boarding my flight to Helsinki. I arrived in Helsinki around 2 o’clock, took a nap before four o’clock. Now I am up around 4 o’clock in the morning. I have a feeling like myself and jetlag may be at war. The hardest part is right now at 4 AM the sun has already risen and so has every bird. There squawks echo throughout the room, making me not want to go to sleep even more.

            Helsinki really is a unique city, not only because of the climate. I have only been here a couple of hours, and I was asleep for about half of them, but one can definitely tell that it has certain happiness about it. At the airport I was trying to find a luggage cart, much to my dismay I found a broken one. Some men helped me carry my bags out to where I was meeting my friend’s I am staying with. Then on the bus a woman with two adorable children started talking to us. It seems like small things that do happen everywhere, however, this little things made my day. The city itself has architecture like I have never seen. It is a mix of modern and early nineteen hundreds. It is truly a spectacular city. The Finnish language is an extremely adorable and yet difficult language to learn. Just listening to the tid bits I have only picked up was how to say “Thank you,” and I have already forgotten.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Three days!

Well I now have only a whopping three days left in my home town in Colorado. The excitement is becoming almost too much for me! I will be getting my UK tier 4 General Student Visa tomorrow! Which, also, includes my passport! I was quite worried for a little bit due to the fact that to get my visa I needed to send my passport to New York, and in order to go to Helsinki I needed my passport. Now that is all cleared up, and I am clear for take off! Excuse my strange pun. I don't have much else to report on...... I will keep you updated once I get there ;)

Monday, July 8, 2013

Visa time!

I have had the most stressful two weeks of my life. First on Friday I went to an old housemate's wedding. It was one of the most gorgeous ceremonies I have ever seen. They were quite adorable and everything seemed perfect. Then I had to leave early, much to my dismay and leave for my cousin's wedding. My friend Anna and I drove throughout the night and got to the wedding just in time the next day. It too was also a beautiful ceremony and wedding. It was nice to see all of my relatives for the last time before I left. Now I am sitting at an Einstein's Bagels waiting for my visa appointment. Throughout these weddings I have also been frantically collecting documents so that I can get my visa in time. Today though is the last day. I am taking my biometrics (fingerprints, facial scans, etc.) and then I will be leaving for Helsinki in two weeks. It is strange to thing that I only have one more weekend left in America. The bittersweet sense of saying of goodbye has kicked in, but also the excitement of a whole new chapter. I cannot believe that for the next four years I will be living in London. One of the world's biggest metropolis's will be at my disposal. I am still quite nervous for many things including that I still don't have a flat/house there. I have been looking around and London gives a new meaning to expensive. The next two weeks, I have a feeling are going to give my nerves a run for their money, but hey that is what adventure is!