Perfect summer day elokuu 12, 2007

Helsinki +22 Celsius degrees, thunderstorm.
Sunrise 5:25 am, sunset 9:24 pm.

Yesterday we had a perfect summer day. Our father turned 53 years and we decided to arrange him a surprise. The idea started couple of days ago when my sister called me and said that it would be nice to figure out something like that for him. I suggested that we would take him out for a dinner. My sister was happy about the idea and asked me to make a table reservation for all of us (that means nine persons all together: my sister, her husband and their son, my brother and his girlfriend, me and my boyfriend and of course our mom and dad). I promised to do so after confirming it from our mom.

When I called mom she was absolutely certain that dad wouldn’t agree on leaving anywhere from their construction site on Saturday (which is his birthday), because they have to work there hard so they can move there in the end of this month. She suggested to me that I would call dad and try to persuade him to join to dinner with me and Tuomo.

When I called dad he was absolutely against the idea, like I thought he would be. But for the reason I thought. He had decided to work very hard at the construction site for the end of the week and then on Saturday travel to Hanko with mom as a surprise to her. Since I couldn’t persuade him otherwise, I decided to ask everybody if we could all go to Hanko. This meant that I had to call mom and convince her that our plan wouldn’t work and we would have to postpone it to the future. Of course it’s never that easy to convince mom, but in the end it worked.

So yesterday morning I called my dad to congratulate him and incidentally enquired about their plans and schedule for the day. This way I was able to inform my sister and brother and we were able to plan our timing. My brother and his girlfriend came to pick me and Tuomo up and we drove to Karjaa, where we met my sister and her family. From Karjaa we drove all together to Hanko and ended up to the beach we knew mom and dad would be. We must have been a scene when we were sneaking between the dunes searching our loved ones! Finally we spotted familiar sight of my dad sleeping on his beach towel. We tiptoed just next to him and started to sing “Happy Birthday To You”. You should have seen his face! It was full of disbelief and confusion.

Rest of the day we spent at the beach eating cake, sandwiches, drinking coffee and juice, swimming and enjoying each others company. In the evening we went to wonderful restaurant to eat and drink. I think we were not back home until around 10 pm, feeling all happy and tired. But what a wonderful day it was…

Goodbye practical training! elokuu 10, 2007

Helsinki +17 Celsius degrees, clear.
Sunrise 5:22 am, sunset 9:26 pm.

Today was my last day at Design Forum Finland. I’m really happy to start my summer holiday, though I loved working for them. And everybody so was nice to me today! My boss took me out for a lunch and our treasurer offered me some coffee and cake. Then my work mates gave me a beautiful Focus Fabrics pillow case and Life Saver reflector as a gift. I truly had a wonderful day so thanks to that belongs to my work mates!

Now I’m going to just relax and enjoy my holiday. Actually I’m not entirely going to be at holiday until my school stars at 3rd of September. I’m going to start my career as a part time Exhibition secretary at Design Forum Finland! Yes, I guess my practical training went well since they decided to hire me! I’m quite happy about that; because this is an easy and pleasing way of making some money aside my studies. I’m also planning to help my dad at their renovation site. And then I have to travel to Jyväskylä, to sign our tenant agreement to our new apartment and off course arrange my moving. Oh, that’s one of the thing I haven’t told you yet! My good friend Mari is also moving to Jyväskylä, and we are going to move together! That’s really exciting. Let’s see how it goes.

It most definitely wasn’t easy to find apartment from Jyväskylä, but we finally made it. Even though it’s SO small!!! I think we have about 38m2 altogether. The layout of the apartment is good, but let’s hope that we are able to fit ourselves in there. Only time will tell, if we have to find a bigger place for us, but for now this is best we could get. For our console I have to say that we maybe have the smallest rent ever…

Now good night, sleep tight.

Freedom heinäkuu 21, 2007

Helsinki +20 degrees Celsius, mostly sunny.
Sunrise 4:34 am, sunset 10:19 pm.

Somehow the summertime seems to be time of not thinking, but just doing what you need to do and nothing extra. At least that is how my summer has been. I’ve got up every morning, went to the work, came back and went back to sleep. I haven’t have time to read, knit, write my blog, cook meals, meet friends or visited beach. Now I’m having FOUR days of work, and I’m going to do it all. Today my mission is to do some laundry, cook wonderful meal (containing: chicken souse, rice, boiled cauliflower and fresh tomatoes), go for a walk and maybe hoover a bit. In addition to all of this I might watch some soap operas, like “Murder She Wrote” and “Diagnose: Murder”, knit a bit and just lay on the sofa. And as you notice I also manage to update my blog!

All of this I can do because Tuomo is spending all of his time at the studio, and I don’t have anything else to do. Tomorrow I’m going to go to Hanko with my parents and Juha (my brother) and Meiju (his girlfriend). We don’t other plans for the trip, than leave early, enjoy ourselves and come back whenever we feel like. Sounds good to me!

Recreation day kesäkuu 20, 2007

Helsinki +16 degrees Celsius, partly cloudy.
Sunrise 3: 54 am, sunset 10:50 pm.

Yesterday was our work crews’ recreation day. Our boss had decided that we are going to spend it in Tallinn and so we left from Finland at 8:00 am. We travelled in a business class (my first time ever), which meant that we were served a nice breakfast on our way to the destination. First item on our program was to visit Tallinn’s Art Museum, Kumu. Because of the wonderful weather we decided to walk there, which was really good idea. If you ever are in Tallinn, I definitely recommend of walking to the Kumu. It takes only about 20-30 minutes to walk there and the landscape is wonderful! Beautiful old houses and really outstanding parks.

Kumu itself was stunning inside and out. As you might know the architecture of Kumu is result of a design competition. The winning proposal came from Finland and I have to say that it didn’t win for nothing. All the exhibitions were quite interesting; though I think I could’ve spent there more time (we were there little less than two hours).

Next we rushed to have some lunch to posh place called Gloria. The restaurant was full of crystal chandeliers and live flower arrangements. I think, I would never been mistaken to choose a place like that for myself, so I really appreciated the chance to experience it. We enjoyed awesome five course lunch and each others pleasant company (all 16 of us ).

After eating everybody went where ever they wanted; shopping, drinking, ect. I went to search a hairdresser for myself. It wasn’t too easy task, but I finally succeeded with it. I didn’t exactly get a new model, but now my hair looks like human beings hair again. And that’s a big change! It all cost me 250 kr, which is little bit under 16 euros. Not too bad!

Best thing about our trip was that I got to know my work mates better and I really enjoyed their company. What a lovely group of people!

Tired but happy… kesäkuu 15, 2007

Helsinki +16 degrees Celsius, sunny.
Sunrise 3:54 am, sunset 10:48 pm.

It’s been shamefully long since I last wrote. I’ve been working so hard at my trainee place. It most definitely has been very rewarding but also exhausting. I started to work for Design Forum Finland at the 1st of June. First week was just some learning getting to know all the ropes of the place. First I felt a little bit outsider, but fortunately the whole staff welcomed me nicely and as soon as I learned the basics, I was able to fit in.

This last week has been just crazy. We’ve been building a new exhibition (New Arrivals – 15 finnish designers) so I’ve also worked trough the weekend. It’s been wonderful to work with all the designers and get to know new persons. Especially Aki Choklat, Anssi Tuupainen and Minna Parikka have really impressed me. All of them have their strong personalities and all of them are really nice persons. On Tuesday we had a press conference which was really interesting for me, since I’ve never been at one. Our boutique wasn’t ready for the conference, so we have had lots of work after it as well.

I’ve been doing days which are from 11 to 14 hours long, and I have to say it has taken toll of me. Now I have a weekend off, and I think I’m going to rest as much as I can. Tired but happy…

Lazy Living toukokuu 27, 2007

Helsinki +12 degrees Celsius (expected +22!), partly sunny.
Sunrise 4:17 am, sunset 10:19 pm.

Yesterday was so wonderful day. I felt happy and some how I had this weirdly serene feeling. We didn’t do much with Tuomo, just hung around home and the city. Day started well with listening rain pounding roof and window sills. There’s something magical with that sound. Then we watched a very strange Finnish black and white movie from the sixties from TV. Or I watched the beginning and the end and slept through the middle part. Luckily I had Tuomo who informed me what had happen. The movie was a comedy, but what made it so strange was that it was very brave for the movie of the sixties. It actually had some nudity scenes in it!

After movie we decided to go for a walk. So, quickly we put clothes on and hair in order. We had no idea what to do where to go when we stepped out from the archway leading to the street. We just started to walk one direction and see what it had assigned for us. Suddenly I saw a poster of World Village Festival. That’s it, our destination was set! We didn’t really stay at the festival; we just walked through the festival area. But the atmosphere was great and we enjoyed our walk. The weather was great but a bit weird for a Finnish weather. We had about +16 degrees and because of the rain it was really humid. Strangely it also was very warm (this is not usual in Finland [humid and warm]). It reminded me of my time in Virginia, USA.

Later at home we made really delicious dinner, slept a bit and listened some music. Then Markus came to our place and boys went out. I tried to find some cheap museums to visit today (Sunday). I truly have some financial problems, so I don’t afford to spend too much money on anything. My schoolmate is here today so maybe we are going to do some museum visiting with her. We’ll see…

But back to the beginning: As you were able to observe, my day’s are now (that I’m on my vacation) very easy going and I just don’t bother to stress on anything. I just feel great about everything. And I and Tuomo have certainly enjoyed each others company. Though we joked yesterday, that we’ll see how long this is going to last. But unfortunately that’s the truth; no-one’s always happy and content. I just have to try to keep the same attitude and I’m going to be happier than otherwise.

Summer is here! toukokuu 25, 2007

Helsinki +15 degrees Celsius, partly cloudy.
Sunrise 4:19 am, sunset 10:17 pm.

Summer is here! No, I don’t mean the weather, though weather is great. I don’t mean the date, though it’s almost June. And I don’t mean the atmosphere, though it’s good as well. What I really mean is that I have started my summer vacation TODAY! Today I also became a resident of Helsinki. Today I organized my move from Jyväskylä to Helsinki (=it meant carrying hundred and one boxes to the moving van [thank god I got some help from Tuomo, Linda and Hannu]), I helped my dad with their renovation at Mukkula (Lahti [by carrying hundred and one slabs to the sixth floor]) and then made a visit to the waste disposal site. It’s now 9:30 pm and we just arrived to OUR (this place is now officially my home as well) home to Helsinki. I’m feeling a bit washed out, but I’m truly so happy that it doesn’t matter.

Packing my stuff was a big job for me (just believe my word: I have SO much [too much] stuff), especially when I had to do all the last school work at the same time. Luckily I was able to do it all and after all trouble I feel really rewarded. And happy. And really happy…

My practical training isn’t going to start until next Friday, which means that I really have a week long vacation. I’m so excited about the job. Yesterday I got the first official work related e-mail and I instantly felt like a professional…

Now we are going to go out to the Helsinki night with Tuomo! And what is really nice, we are going to see lots of our friends there. Dear reader, have a great evening! We definitely are going to!

A bit of our trip to Sweden toukokuu 15, 2007

Jyväskylä +17 degrees Celsius (real feel +14), partly sunny.
Sunrise 4:22 am, sunset 10:08 pm.

I didn’t want to write about the trip to Sweden before I got the pictures. We made a deal with Markus, that we are going to take the photos with his camera and I’m going to get them from him. Well, sometimes things take longer than you would think… Now I have some of the photos, so this is my report of the Trip to Sweden!

The main thing we did in Stockholm was walking. We walked so much that our legs were still aching after one week back home. All this were, of course, totally optional and we could’ve take public transportation to everywhere, but we choose to use and ancient way of moving. Stockholm is a city full of beautiful parks and glorious water side and that’s why I could recommend walking there.

Tuomo and I in one of the parks:
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Our main purpose for the trip was to enjoy Bloc Party’s gig in Cirkus, which is a wonderful old building in island of Djurgården.

Outside of Cirkus:
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The gig it self was really good. Afterwards we all pointed out: “It was a good gig, but not the best I’ve ever seen”. I had some problems at the beginning of the gig with getting trampled by the crowd little bit too hard. I almost lost my shoes and was absolutely certain that my feet were taking a new form of mush. After the beginning I withdraw myself bit and were able to enjoy for the rest of the show.

During the trip we were able to eat the first ice creams of the summer,
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see some balloons escaping from their salesman
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and enjoy each others company.
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After all, it was a really nice trip!

Eurovision song contest 2007! toukokuu 12, 2007

Jyväskylä +5 degrees Celsius, partly cloudy.
Sunrise 4:28 am, sunset 10:02 pm.

Now that I was writing the sunrise and sunset times, I remembered something I do everyday: I wake up at the same time with the sun! And I don’t do it in purpose! You can imagine that it isn’t always that nice.

But what I really wanted to write about is Eurovision Song Contest 2007. It’s actually happening right now! Eurovision song contest 2007 in Finland! You don’t maybe know this, but Finnish people are crazy about Eurovision. It truly sounds strange, but that the way it is. Last year we finally got what we have always been hoping for: We won the contest! What make the winning little bit funny, is that our candidate, Lordi divided opinions beforehand, but after the won they have raised to the whole nations heroes.

Here is a picture of Lordi (From Wikipedia):

Even though in the Western Europe the Eurovision song contest is considered quite funny and ridiculous, in Eastern Europe people take the contest really seriously. Although there always are those who make fun with it! And I don’t blame them! Good example of this is Ukraine’s candidate…

Picture of Ukraine’s candidate (From Yle’s official Eurovision pages):

It’s really unique to follow the contest which is held in Finland. Of course I’m hoping that Finnish candidate, Hanna is going to win, but somehow I doubt it. My other favourites are Georgia’s and Sweden’s candidates, Sopho and The Ark. Let’s see how the contest ends…

Finland’s Hanna (From Yle’s official Eurovision pages):

Georgia’s Sopho (From Yle’s official Eurovision pages):

Sweden’s The Ark (From Yle’s official Eurovision pages):

Trip to Sweden! / Ruotsin reissu! huhtikuu 29, 2007

Helsinki +1 degrees Celsius, Sunny.
Sunrise 5:24 am, sunset 9:13 pm.

Today we are going to Sweden!!! It’s so great! We are going there today (Sunday) and coming back on Thursday. So it’s going to take little bit longer than an ordinary Stockholm cruise. For my travelling company I have two hansom, irritating and great guys Tuomo and Markus. I think that it’s little bit sad that this is going to be THE trip to abroad on this year (at least it looks like it right now. But then again, I get to go somewhere!!! Our original reason for the trip was Bloc Party’s gig on Tuesday. We bought the tickets already on January, so I’m really waiting for the experience. I’m also excited to meet our Swedish friend Mattias, who promised to accommodate us. The boat trips to Stockholm and back we paid with my moms Silja–club card’s client points. Thanks mom! So this is a true student trip… I’ll try to take a camera with me, so maybe I could so you some photos from the trip.

Tänään lähdetään Ruotsiin!!! Jee!! Lähdemme tänään sunnuntaina ja tulemme takaisin torstaina, joten tämä on vähän pidempi matka kuin tavallinen Ruotsin risteily. Eli ihan kiva pikku loma on tulossa. Mukaan lähtee tietenkin Tuomo ja Markus. Surullista asiassa on, että tämä on vuoden ainoa ulkomaanmatka (ainakin näillä näkymin), mutta toisaalta pääseepäs edes johonkin. Matkan alkuperäinen syy on tiisainen Bloc Partyn keikka, johon ostimme liput jo alku talvesta. Odotan keikkaa innolla, kuten myös sitä, että näen Mattiaksen, ruotsalaisen ystävämme, joka ystävällisesti on luvannut majoittaa meidät. Laivamtkat maksoimme äidin Silja-clubkortin pisteistä. Kiitos äiti! Toisin sanoen, tämä jos mikä on sitä opiskelijamatkailua… Yritän muistaa ottaa kameran mukaan, niin jos vaikka muutaman kuvan onnistuisin ottamaan.