Last Day

Tomorrow is my last day at work. I can't quite believe it. Have I really finished my 10-month placement? Is it really over? If it werent for this extra month trip with my mum, then I would probably be at home already. In less than a week, I will be heading off to Stockholm (woo, Cd shopping!!!), and so then in less than a month, I will be heading home home. For good. How final. So maybe not for good. But I will have to say my final goodbyes to Turku, and the amazing people I've met here. Still, best not to think too much about it just yet...

Sind Wir Allein?

So I heard today that this great German tune, Allein Allein by Polarkreis 18 is going to get a UK release. So just doing my part to spread the word. I really like this tune. There's something magically anthemic about it. I have a really strong memory of walking through Turku late-ish one night back in February when it would actually get dark, and this came on the ipod just as it started to snow. I just remember looking up to the skies as the hauntingly pretty chorus kicked in. Magic.

July Plans

So I guess its about time I reveal to you the truely ambitious month of travel I have planned for July. My mother is coming to visit me here in Turku, but she doesnt like to fly (problems with her ears you see) so she is coming via 5 trains and a ferry! So since she was coming all that way. I foolishly suggested that I extend my lease on my student flat (assuming there was anyone wanting to move in as early as July) and she stay for a few weeks and we could really explore. Little did I know what a headache organising everything would be. We got a little carried away with where we want to go and what-not, but here is the final plan...

05/07: I leave for Stockholm on the night ferry.
06/07: Mother joins me and we spend a few days exploring the Swedish capital.
09/07: We head to Turku on the night ferry.
12/07: We get a night train to Rovaniemi.
15/07: Return from Rovaniemi.
17/07: Head to Helsinki.
18/07: We take an early ferry to Tallinn.
19/07: Return to Helsinki, and meet my brother from the airport.
20/07: Head to Turku for the week.
24/07: Head back to Helsinki to see my brother off. Spend the night.
25/07: Take a train to St Petersburg.
28/07: Return from St Petersburg.
31/07: Sat moi moi to Turku. Take the night ferry to Stockholm, and then 5 trains to home!

How crazy is all that?! Well, its been a bit tricky booking all the various hotels, trains and ferrys. Not to mention arranging for another visa to Russia. I know that for my mum it is the trip of a lifetime, and she is so excited to see everything. I am happy to be visiting Stockholm again, and for a longer stay this time. And then I'm always happy to go back to Tallinn. Can't say I was overly enthused about going to St Petersburg again so soon after I've just been, and all the extra complications of getting visa's a what-not didnt help, but luckily the Russian consulate is here in Turku. Anyway, nearly everything has been booked now. Well, all the things my mum was in charge of is at least. I only just started my end of the deal, but I'm slowly getting sorted. Although maybe I should stop being so slow, what with it being less than 2 weeks away!

I finish work on tuesday. I can't believe it. Especially since there are still many assays to be done. Will have to trust that someone takes over from me. So anyway, you might not hear that much from me in July other than the odd quick update here and there.

Se Malja Vain Sua Oottaa

I bought Jenni Vartiainen's album last week. I listened to it this week. Its very good. I've been told the lyrics are very clever, but what with it being in Finnish, its a bit lost on me. But the music is quite funky. Not your cheesy pop, more mature than that. And not so typically Finnish either. I shared Ihmisten Edessä with you all a while ago, which is also the name of the album, but this is another good track from the album called Malja.

Dedicated to Rach

Lyrics used to be worthless to me

The cold has struck with a vengeance and I feel rubbish :( Also, went into work today to start an experiment and decided to stick around and do some more work on my report. I was there for 3+ hours, and only wrote around 200 words. So frustratingly slow progress today.

Anyway, since I won't have much time over the next few weeks, what with last minute planning for my mums arrival, and this report, along with finishing up at work (just 7 more working days, can you believe the year is almost over?!) I thought I would go back to the good old days of sharing music.

I heard this song on the radio in the lab the other day, and the lyric "No hot water, I'm stood in the shower, I think that my boiler's died" just made me laugh so much at its naff-ness, that I couldnt help but remember to look for it on youtube later.

Its called Every Song I Hear by Koop Arponen, the winner of the latest series of Finnish Idols (beating Anna Puu, posted below). Its so incredibly 'Magic FM' and I love it...

Happy Midsummer!

Seems I've not been keeping this blog very up-to-date with my goings on, but to be honest, there isn't that much to tell. I've just been going to work, spending time with my lovely boyfriend, and planning my mums mammoth visit (more on that another time). Mira has now abandoned me to go swanning off around Slovenia, Austria and the USA. Students, eh? But before she left last week, we headed off to Ruisalo for a bit of a swim. Was freezing cold, but I didnt care. I love swimming, but to swim in the ocean here is just one of my favourite things. Shame the sea is frozen half the year...

Also, this weekend its Juhanustasjsdfoudgcjsdbvohn. Well something like that. Basically, its midsummer. This weekend sees the shortest night (it really is only dark for about and hour or so these days), and traditionally everyone leaves the city to go to their cottages and spend the weekend grilling, swimming, and of course drinking. However, I don't own a cottage. So instead the boyfriend is coming here, and I'm going to attempt to cook cottage pie for him and his friend. I'm getting quite good at British cuisine out here. No microwavable equviliants in the supermarket you see... Plus I don't have a microwave.

Example of the sunset at 00:39 (note time stamp)

In other news, I have a terrible sore throat, I just got drenched in a rain storm that decided to come on just as I was leaving the supermarket, I've spilt blue cheese all over my keyboard, and yet another vehicle with blue falshing lights has driven past (the fourth in 20mins).

In other other news, I finally bought something from Marimekko (a famous Finnish designer). I bought this rather bright snazzy bag...


I spotted another bag I want from there on the way out too, but have decided to wait and buy it as a reward if I can write at least the main first draft of my final report by the time I leave Finland. It has to be ~6000 words, and I've made it to nearly the 2000 mark. Wayhay! So only another 4000 to go, and then I can have another bag :)

Oh, I've also decided I want the oven mitten, pencil case, and tin box to match my lovely new bag :) I'm going to be spending a lot of money come July...

C'est La Vie

A few days ago I was introduced to this song by Finnish singer Anna puu, and I found the video so darkly humorous that I thought I would share it with you. I think fans of Duffy and the like will particularly enjoy it. Although saying that, I hate Duffy and still like it...

Pargas

Last weekend me and Mira decided we would investigate one of the islands. Turku has what is supposed to be a very beautiful Archipelago region. I think perhaps best appreciated from a boat or a bike, but it is possible to get a bus to some of the more populated areas. After much discussion, we decided to head to Pargas (or Parainen in Finnish). This is supposedly the sort of 'capital' of the Archipelago and just a 40minute bus ride away.

Apon arrival, we discovered there was a strange market going on. I later found out this was for Paraisten Päivät (Parainen days?). Anyway, there was some odd music, a man on a segway, a man in a tutu offering potatoes, a stag night party (more on that later), and most notably a CD stall selling Swedish CDs :) Actually I didnt buy any as I'll be going to Stockholm soon, and am confident I'll find them cheaper there, but still it was exciting to see Måns, Sanna Nielsen, Alcazar, MF and many others.

After looking at a map we decided to head towards what looked like a nature trail. It was also close to a beach. As we walked along the coast, the sun started to think about shining... We then cut through a very nice little residential area. I'm guessing these are very sought after houses. They were fairly big (in terms of Finland at least), had lovely gardens, and most had views of the ocean. Also as we were walking along, we passed another group walking along who said a friendly 'Hej/Hei' to us as we went past! What?! That never happens in Finland. I've decided if I move to Finland permanently, this is where I want to live. Especially after we reached the beach...


The sun came out, and I decided to go for a paddle. It was so nice. I could have happily gone for a swim in fact. Although I nearly did when I foolishly decided to try and walk along a group of rocks. They were a bit slippery...


After that we went and sat on the pier so I could wash and dry my feet without the issue of sand. Unfortunately I somehow ended up flinging my sock into the ocean :/ So I had to walk around with just one sock on for the rest of the day... Oh, and then it started hailing. Yes, it was cold enough to hail. In June. Crazy country.


So then we explored the woods. Not much to say really. Trees, plants, pine cones, you know the drill. However, due to the recent rain, it did smell nice. Must be the Brit in me, but I love the smells after it rains.


We then went to explore the old town. Well, it was no Porvoo, but there was an interesting church. Something about the shiny roof made me think of the Wizard of Oz for some reason.


We then went back to the river, where we found a nice little cafe place to sit and have what was in fact a very big portion of chips and a burger. Yum Yum. Possibly the highlight of the day was the stag party mentioned earlier. Sadly I have no photographic evidence, but the stag was dressed up in a blonde wig and carried a guitar to serenade unsuspecting victims with. Luckily we were not one of these victims, so it was just funny :)


After that we went back into the old town and continued to walk around marveling at all the lovely big houses. After sufficiently walking off said burger and chips we went and sat down by the bay again, and watch a seagull attempting to catch his own lunch. Was quite impressive to watch him diving for the fish. Didnt see him actually catch any mind you...


And then it was time to say goodbye to Pargas. It was a fun day. The only way it could have been better is if the weather had been a bit better, and if we had found the mysterious sheep farm, haha! But still, it was so nice to get out of Turku for a while. In some ways it did feel like we had gone abroad (Swedish was the main language, and although most of what we heard was Finnish, shops and signs were all written in Swedish first, and then Finnish). I would definitely like to see some of the other islands before my time here is up.

Walking Around in the Rain

Its been raining allll day, and was just 5 degrees(!) as I left the Kauppatori this afternoon. What happened to the summer?!

On the plus side, me and Mira found some of the best postcards ever...

I found my place in the world

Not thinking much of Antti's outfit here. And whats with the emo hair? But the scenary in this video is very pretty indeed. I approve...