Jul 07, 2006 13:56
I had actually planned to write this entry exactly one month after I'd got back from Finland, but I forgot. Blame the weather...
Anyway, 3 days late, but here it is!
See, you come back and well yeah, I was rather disappointed in some people I considered friends (past tense...) Out of sight, out of heart it seemed to be. "You have to keep us updated!!" "Okay I will." So I did. I send an email with info before I left, updated my LJ from time to time and well the people that aren't on my friendlist, but who I know have been following my LJ can be counted on 4 fingers. Mom, dad, grandma and Jojanneke. Those were the only ones letting me know they've been following my LJ (Sorry if I've forgotten about you, it's the heat ;)). The others couldn't be arsed to write me a message and therefore I couldn't really be arsed to contact them. Does everything has to come from my side? Or am I just to blind and weren't we even friends? Well anyway, we aren't now anymore, I am too tired of it! And there's plenty of other, friendly fish in the sea!
In general Finland has been great. It's been a wicked experience. A little tough from time to time, but mainly it was just fun and very interesting as well.
As I'd already had predicted I have easily passed this semester, but according to previous students it wasn't too hard and indeed it wasn't. Whatever you did, they thought it was very good anyway...
It was a tad disappointing that it took so long until spring. In the beginning of april I was fed up with the snow and actually halfway may the trees were getting green. Rather have a 1 month winter and flowers and green trees for the other 3 months. Oh, btw, in the snowy period it was pretty slippary outside, but I did not fall. How cool is that? :D
Helsinki was simply great to live in. It's the capital, but it doesn't feel like it at all! I wans't too pleased with the flat when I got to hear where it was, but it turned out to be the ideal location: 5 mins from the city centre, 7 mins from school, 4 mins walking from the trainstation, 4 supermarkets in the near area, swimming pool in 10 mins walking distance. Couldn't have asked for much more! The room was quite small, but certainly big enough for 4 monts. Even managed to sleep there with mom and dad, their lugagge and everything else that was in my room, so yeah, a lot does fit on 10m2!
And of course the public transport has been brilliant. So easy to travel without paying for your ticket. Shame we can't do that in NL :(
The trips we've made were all great! I've seen so many new places, I've taken soooo many pics (no less than 2388 *shock*) and they will always remind me of the wicked times. Russia still was sort of the uncivilised world, Tallinn was very pretty, though I woul have loved to have been there in summer, even prettier. Stockholm was beautiful and Lapland was fun.
I've met a whole lot of new people, though with most the contact was rather superficial. 'we stay in touch!' yet I've not recieved any email. Ah well, it's not the end of the world as I didn't even know those people very well. There's 2 girls I will try to stay in touch with as we were rather good friends. Would love to visit them in their home countries, but not this year *cough* money...
Tried to keep it short as I doubt you'll be interested in anything too long. So I guess this is it. The whole exchange period in Finland is over. I've got my list with grades, it's said we will still recieve an X-amount of euros from the Erasmus scholarshop (SOON please) and with that on my bankaccount it's officially over.
I still have the pics and the remembrances and I will cherish them as much as I cherish my other pics and remembrances :)
Now all I've got to do is find a job for the summer, but that's easier said than done *sigh* I am just too bored now...
Hope you've enjoyed reading about my Finland experience. I've certainly enjoyed keeping the few that were following my adventures updated from time to time.
Thanks to those of you who have been there for me when it was a little tough. Thanks mom and dad for coming to visit me. That's been one of the highlights. Was great to have you come over. Thanks to those for all of your support!
Kiitos paljon!