Feel the Love

You know, I really like Finland. 

It's kind of chilly right now, but I don't mind. Today is sunny. Today is my first day of work. I like my work thus far. The people I work with seem to be pretty cool dudes. They are relaxed and fun, but also very serious about their work. They deal with some pretty cool stuff too. I think this summer should be nice.

Yesterday was my birthday. I slept until 11:30 (since I had the day off). Jaba and I went around to do all of my errands. I was so productive on my birthday! I registered my address, visited my work, went to the bank to get rent money, got my tax card for work and, duh, had pear ice cream. It kind of sucked having to do so many boring things on my birthday, but I got to drag Jaba along, showing him the city along the way. Too bad he doesn't like pear ice cream.

At home, we napped. I made dinner -- Karalian pies and makkara -- and we went out for drinks at a bar I remember really liking two years ago. I still like it. Jaba bought all of my drinks, and he's poor, so that was nice of him. He sang "Happy Birthday" to me in parts throughout the day, finishing with the last line just a few minutes before midnight. 

Jaba is thinking about getting a tattoo in Finland. And when I say thinking, I mean he's legitimately looking at tattoo parlors. Crazy boy.

I feel so bad that I have to work four of the days he is here, but he seems content. I'm trying to get him to do stuff (like go to Tallinn or the zoo or something), but he's poor and wants that tattoo. 

I don't think I'll be too lonely here, even though my apartment is one big room. The guys I work with are definitely very accepting. The first night I was here, Mikko got me trashed (of course), though he was definitely more drunk than I was. I met several of my to-be colleagues that night. And today, several of the guys brought me to lunch at Mount Everest, a Nepalese restaurant that I have been to before. It was good, but I don't think I can afford to go to lunch with those guys every day. They also told me about drinking hijinks and stuff, so I feel like it will be a good time.

And now, I will try to meet up with Jaba for the evening.