Two Months In

I can't believe that it has been two months already that I have been here. It still feels as if last week I was flying to come here. I often think back to those days, me on my plane from Alanta to Amsterdam, eating airplane food and never deciding on a movie to watch and constantly checking where in the world we were. I think back to language camp, the first day how tiring it was but also eating my first taste of Finnish food right when we go to Karkku. Back in the states I never realised how fast time actually went. Here I blink and it is already the next week, which is why I like to reminiscence about my time here so far. Everyday when I'm walking home from school, I picture the country of Finland and where in Finland I am right now. I'm amazed that I am here, I still can't believe it, I don't think I will ever be able to believe it until I have to leave.

My yes's and no's are turning into joo and ei. My sorry and thank you's are turning into anteeks(i) and kiitos. My language is changing, I try often to translate what I will say into Finnish in my head even though I will say it in English. I can understand a lot better then a month ago, I can speak a lot better then a month ago.

I have friends! They are really sweet and nice and I'm glad that I have them! One of my fears about coming here to Finland was that I would not be able to make any friends, as Finns are not as open to strangers as other people are. Just the other day we made cupcakes for our English teacher as she is moving to California for a year in a few days, and it was fun making cupcakes and spending time with them outside of school. Here is a picture of when we were making cupcakes haha.

School is going well, I just finished my first Jakso and the next Jakso starts on the 5th. This Jakso I will be taking Music, Spoken English, Chemistry, History, and Math. It is quite boring just sitting in class not knowing what is going on but I find someway to burn time, haha. My school here is quite different then Bethel, and in a lot of ways I'm thankful it is. I'll be making a post about Finnish schools soon.

This past weekend 1420 had our District camp in Suomenlinna. All the inbounds in my district we all met up Saturday morning in Helsinki, where we for the major part of Saturday were in Helsinki being toured and shown around. At about 5 we caught a ferry to Suomenlinna and rode for 20 minutes then a minute walk to the hostel we were staying at! We took pictures and such, I also plan to write another post on the District Camp about everything in detail.

My 2nd month here in Finland has been great! I should have my District camp post up in a week or so!

-Hailey

The Little Things

     I've been here in Finland for a month in a half and I've realised it's the little things so far that make me happy. When I was getting dressed one morning, I was putting on my cardigan and there was something in my pocket and I pull it out and released it was a ticket number. In Tampere when Olivia and I had to run to the Forex Bank to exchange our money, Olivia went to the teller and I had to wait till one of the two tellers were available. While I was waiting a man came in and pressed the button for the ticket to get a number to be in line. Me being me relised that I didn't do that and didn't have a ticket and started flipping out on the inside (we only had less then 30 minutes to be back). The man saw this and gave me his ticket so I could be next and I put it in my cardigan I was wearing and have forgotten about it until I pulled it out the other day.  There are just many little things that make me think and smile and just appreciate where I am. I'm living for now because I won't be here forever.
     Time really goes so much faster on exchange then I thought. All ex-exchange students will tell you your exchange goes by fast and before you know it you're leaving on a plane to go back home. I always brushed it off, but I now know what they meant. My days are going by so fast, one minute it's 4:00 and next it's 8:00. I still can't believe that in 13 days it will be 2 months since I've arrived in Finland. Honestly I don't know where the time has gone, it just seems to be escaping me. It wasn't until last week I really saw how fast my exchange is going by and I've started to enjoy it.
     Yesterday I went to Helsinki to meet up with a friend Marce, from Mexico, and walked around Helsinki and shopped a bit. We got a bite to eat at Barbarossa, where they have these large pizza for 5 euros (perfect for an exchange student budget) and it's pretty good pizza. We later met up in the park with the South Americans, Spanish girls, Cora (Alaskan), and Marie(French) and they are great <3 I had such a blast.
I've started my language classes, they are once a week on Mondays, I got a library card, I've made friends, and I'm getting used to eating fish. Exchange is amazing!

-Hailey
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For those of you who are interested in exchange, it's applying season! Do it it's amazing and you won't regret it! Also if you're interested in applying to YES Abroad app's are out!!! Apply! Please! I love to see other's having this wonderful opportunity! Even if you're a senior this year chances are you're still eligible go do a gap year! Why not?! 

1 Month!

Today marks one month since my arrival in Finland. Though I've only been here for a short time, I've gained and learned so much!

I am living my dream! I am finally living my dream! It makes me so happy to say that I am an exchange student. After 2 years of trying to become one, I am one! I'm happy with my life right now, I am happy that I am outside my comfort zone, I'm happy that when I go to sleep at night I'm exhausted, I'm happy that Finland is becoming less foreign to me, all because it means I'm doing my exchange right, to me.

Though I've only been here for a month I still can't believe that I am here. I feel so lucky to experience a year here in Finland. I am very very grateful. I try and write every night because I don't want to forget anything. This post should be grander but it's hard for me to put into words the wonderful things I have experienced this month and what I have felt. This is life to me, it's home.

I am home. 

-Hailey

I posted a new video on Youtube, just sort of summarizing my month of August. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiu4EqtkXXQ

3 Weeks In Finland

I've had a pretty good week this past week!

On Keskiviikko (Wednesday) I had my sorta first soccer practice!! Ahh, it felt so good to be back out there. I had practice with the women's team and a few of the girls who I will be playing with this year. I'm not as out of shape as I thought I was but I'm still way to out of shape for my liking. 

On Torstai (Thursday) I left school early, I missed gym so I don't think I really missed much haha. I left early to head to Helsinki!!! The 1420 rotex had scheduled us a meet up in Helsinki for the Night of Arts. I think it was sometype of cultural event, but I'm not sure. I had a lot of fun. We first went to a Hesinki Night Market they had one place selling bugs that you could eat. I didn't want to wait in line so I didn't go. I hung out with Charline and Emma and we got a bite to eat, while we were there.

Charline: From Belgium, Emma: From Canada, and Me

Charline and I payed 8 Euros for this, yes my wallet was crying

Oh Finland you make me laugh

After we left here at about 6:45 we rode the metro back to the center of Helsinki for the Night of Arts. We got our name written in Chinese, by the students who attend Helsinki University.

Charline and I

Mandarin

Then some people were playing African type music and we watched for a bit.

Then it was basically time to go. It was so good to see everyone (well almost everyone) in our district. I had a swell time. 

Lauantai (Saturday), I went to Kellar's for her welcoming party. She lives in Hyvinkää which isn't too far like 15 minutes. I had an hour in a half till the bus came that I could take to her house, so I explored the center for a bit and went into the mall which is great, I know I'll be back there soon haha. Once I was on the bus that would take me to her neighborhood, I started getting worried that I would get off at the wrong stop. Lucky I got off at the right stop, but then I couldn't find her street, it was horrible. I walked up and down for a good 30-40 minutes before I found unlocked wifi and was able to tell her I was lost. Thankfully, her host mom came and got me and it turns out I was around the corner from her house. Just my luck haha.  We made hats that looked like the Finnish flag a bit, then played some type of card game, sang karaoke and talked. A few of the others from out district was there so I talked to them and at around 9:30 my host mom came and picked me up. I had a lot of fun and it was really nice.

Now today (Sununtai) I have soccer practice with my team in an hour. 

I'm really enjoying Finland. Sometimes I remind myself that I need to take a breath and cherish that I'm here. It still feels a bit unreal that I am here. 

- Hailey

Pictures From This Past Saturday

    

 

2 Weeks in Finland!

I have reached the 2 week mark and it is crazy!

2 weeks and a day ago I left my family

2 weeks ago I arrived  in Finland with 9 other exchange students

School has been great! I've met some pretty cool people there. Finnish is well, still on going.

This past weekend, I went to a church camp. Though 95% of the time I had no idea what was going on or being said, I still had a pretty cool time. On Saturday we went hiking and climb through caves and had to jump from rock to rock. It was crazy but I had a lot of fun and got a scab from it. I'll post pictures tomorrow on a separate post.

I'm 2 weeks down into this adventure of a year. I haven't really began but the days are already flying by and I don't even want to think about leaving. The thought of having to return back to Hampton is frightening, since here it is so nice, small, calming, fresh air, and its just overall amazing.

Now I have to go to bed since there is school tomorrow.

-Hailey

ps- they canceled my French class for this marking period and I just about cried because French is just my world. So now I have to go and try and get into another French class because if not I might just die.

First days in host family

My host family is wonderful! It is so nice to be able to not live out of a suitcase and be surrounded by actual Finnish people and be in my city!

One of the most fun things I've done is go blueberry picking in the forest! It is strange that you can just go into a forrest and pick blueberries instead of buying them. I had quite a lot of fun!

Also yesterday I went to pick blueberries again and we also went to the beach at about 6! The water came from a spring so you could see the bottom and it was so pretty out!

Little host sister, Emmi
pc to Tuuli

That's the major things I have done so far! I start school tomorrow and I meet to pick my classes today!


-Hailey