I have a sudden rush of ambition. I feel like I have been so...not me...in several ways since I have been in Finland. This is not in every aspect of life, mind you. But I feel like I lack creativity and the motivation I usually have for the things I love. Maybe that's just the day job syndrome. I sometimes feel like I write uninspired shit at work. (And that's not because my writing is uninspired shit; some of my assignments are uninspired shit.) When I come home, I make dinner, watch TV online, and, depending on my current supply of booze, I may or may not partake in beer-drinking.
But I suddenly got a rush. I feel like writing something. Maybe it's the fact that I finished my strange episode of binge-watching 30 Rock, the beer I just drank, or the corn I had for dinner that has done this to me -- but I am going to start a project. Let's hope it's half-decent.
Hurrah!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Space and the Woods
Some pictures of Finland sans Jaba.
My new friend Orvokki at a BBQ, where I met her.
BBQ.
Some design-y architect party. The architect is hula dancing.
Bars and clubs, duh.
Relaxing in the sun in the park up the road from my apartment. With music, a book and some grapes, it's a good time.
My new friend Orvokki at a BBQ, where I met her.
BBQ.
Some design-y architect party. The architect is hula dancing.
Bars and clubs, duh.
Relaxing in the sun in the park up the road from my apartment. With music, a book and some grapes, it's a good time.
Empty Shell
I'm actually doing things with my time now. The first few weeks of being here in Helsinki, I didn't do much. I was incredibly inactive. I'm sure it was in part because of being apart from Jaba and part because I had no motivation to go out and do things. But that has definitely changed, at least partially.
I am starting to be a lot more active. Last weekend was so much fun. I spent all of Saturday volunteering at a music festival (Basso Festival) held in Koffin Puisto. It was really fun and I hung out with this girl named Orvokki, whom I had met the week before. I talked to one of the bands that performed about a possible story. I ate and relaxed and drank in the park, in between helping out and photographing the event.
I got to ride a segway at the Basso Festival!
On Sunday, I played in a soccer tournament at Finnair Stadium called the Lapin Kulta Cup. Lapin Kulta is a Finnish beer, and they held a small tournament. Not many strict rules. I played in converse and without shin guards. The fields were small and the games were only 20 minutes each, but it was so tiring, especially since I hadn't played in two years. One of the rules was that a girl had to play the whole game every game. I was the only girl on my team, so while the guys got to switch in and out, I had to keep playing. But I survived. The team advanced to finals, and the guys were all very grateful to me for playing, since most of the girls (save maybe two) were shitty players.
Finnair Stadium.
I scratched up my leg something awful from sliding so much.
That night, some of the group went to Molly Malone's, the bar that the team represents in the tournament. There are some Finns on the team, but the others were Irish and English generally.
Monday and Tuesday, however, I was extraordinarily sore. I was walking around like I had a tree stuck up my ass -- not just a stick. Laughing and coughing were even slightly painful. I had muscles hurting in places I didn't know I had muscles! But the soreness is lessening now.
Yesterday was Fern's birthday, so we went out for drinks again. Tomorrow, I might go see a French film with Riikka. I was initially supposed to go with Hanna, the girl Tuomas' introduced me to, but she's busy. This weekend is Provinssi Rock, which has many big name bands and DJs playing. I still don't have a ticket, but I'm going anyway. I will see if I can get a ticket at the festival doors. But the festival is in Seinäjoki. If I don't get a ticket, Riikka offered to drive me to Ilmajoki, where my grandmother and other family members live, so that the trip won't be wasted. That way I get a free ride to visit family.
It's nice that I actually have stuff to do. I don't sit alone in my apartment sulking as much anymore. Life has been tough here, but being this active takes my mind off of things, at least for a little while. On the sulking note, I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I think I need to organize some sort of resolution, good or bad. It will just be better in the long run, I think.
I am starting to be a lot more active. Last weekend was so much fun. I spent all of Saturday volunteering at a music festival (Basso Festival) held in Koffin Puisto. It was really fun and I hung out with this girl named Orvokki, whom I had met the week before. I talked to one of the bands that performed about a possible story. I ate and relaxed and drank in the park, in between helping out and photographing the event.
I got to ride a segway at the Basso Festival!
On Sunday, I played in a soccer tournament at Finnair Stadium called the Lapin Kulta Cup. Lapin Kulta is a Finnish beer, and they held a small tournament. Not many strict rules. I played in converse and without shin guards. The fields were small and the games were only 20 minutes each, but it was so tiring, especially since I hadn't played in two years. One of the rules was that a girl had to play the whole game every game. I was the only girl on my team, so while the guys got to switch in and out, I had to keep playing. But I survived. The team advanced to finals, and the guys were all very grateful to me for playing, since most of the girls (save maybe two) were shitty players.
Finnair Stadium.
I scratched up my leg something awful from sliding so much.
That night, some of the group went to Molly Malone's, the bar that the team represents in the tournament. There are some Finns on the team, but the others were Irish and English generally.
Monday and Tuesday, however, I was extraordinarily sore. I was walking around like I had a tree stuck up my ass -- not just a stick. Laughing and coughing were even slightly painful. I had muscles hurting in places I didn't know I had muscles! But the soreness is lessening now.
Yesterday was Fern's birthday, so we went out for drinks again. Tomorrow, I might go see a French film with Riikka. I was initially supposed to go with Hanna, the girl Tuomas' introduced me to, but she's busy. This weekend is Provinssi Rock, which has many big name bands and DJs playing. I still don't have a ticket, but I'm going anyway. I will see if I can get a ticket at the festival doors. But the festival is in Seinäjoki. If I don't get a ticket, Riikka offered to drive me to Ilmajoki, where my grandmother and other family members live, so that the trip won't be wasted. That way I get a free ride to visit family.
It's nice that I actually have stuff to do. I don't sit alone in my apartment sulking as much anymore. Life has been tough here, but being this active takes my mind off of things, at least for a little while. On the sulking note, I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I think I need to organize some sort of resolution, good or bad. It will just be better in the long run, I think.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Let's See It
Here are some highlights from Jaba's week long visit in Finland!
We went to Erottaja Bar for my birthday.
He did some graffiti for me.
We went to Zetor for Finnish food. He hates Koff and he hates the smell of reindeer.
My apartment is bigger than it looked in the first pictures.
This is mess from when James' stuff was all over and I had just moved in. NOW, that stuff is gone, but it's still just plain old messy.
Jaba bought this Marimekko dress for me, half as a birthday present, half as a going away present. I bought him a guitalele (the smallest guitar in the world) and drew a Moomin in Sharpie on the back. I also bought him a cheap little Moomin poster.
We made Chicken Tikka Masala together!
On his last full day in Helsinki, I took him to Suomenlinna.
Jaba's head is a cannonball!
Fernando and my cousin Riikka joined us at Suomenlinna.
That night, Jaba and I went to Mikko's for dinner and sauna. It was the first time he had ever tried sauna. He liked it.
Riikka took us to see a band called the Winyls that night. Jaba got a tambourine and went on stage!
I took him to the airport the next morning.
SO SAD! I miss him very much.
We went to Erottaja Bar for my birthday.
He did some graffiti for me.
We went to Zetor for Finnish food. He hates Koff and he hates the smell of reindeer.
My apartment is bigger than it looked in the first pictures.
This is mess from when James' stuff was all over and I had just moved in. NOW, that stuff is gone, but it's still just plain old messy.
Jaba bought this Marimekko dress for me, half as a birthday present, half as a going away present. I bought him a guitalele (the smallest guitar in the world) and drew a Moomin in Sharpie on the back. I also bought him a cheap little Moomin poster.
We made Chicken Tikka Masala together!
On his last full day in Helsinki, I took him to Suomenlinna.
Jaba's head is a cannonball!
Fernando and my cousin Riikka joined us at Suomenlinna.
That night, Jaba and I went to Mikko's for dinner and sauna. It was the first time he had ever tried sauna. He liked it.
Riikka took us to see a band called the Winyls that night. Jaba got a tambourine and went on stage!
I took him to the airport the next morning.
SO SAD! I miss him very much.
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