Monday, September 30

Random Happenings

Guess What...

This is...

Bone and Dog House

My guiding star (the cathedral)

KEITH

Red Squirrel 
Free Ferry

Ferry View

Almost to the other side

Nice glass balconies everywhere!

random creepy figure

Pretty whale tale fountain... thing

Pirate Ship

River walk

Flowers

And Bees

Maritime Museum

Again

Another

Summer train tour

Smoke stack?

Dry Dock

Sunday, September 29

Another Movie Night

Another organization on campus hosted a movie night.  They played Kopps and Tyttö sinä olet tähti.  The first was Swedish and the second was Finnish.  Both movies were pretty good.



Tuesday, September 24

Tandem Partner and Movie Night

Meet with my language tandem partner for the first time.  She was a nurse and now a med student at the university.  She wants to learn English and I want to learn Finnish so this give us a chance to practice each others native languages and get credits.  Of course her English is much better than my Finnish, but she has been learning English since age 10.

Later I went to a movie night on campus.  They played Käki or "The Cukoo."  Very good movie about a Russian, Finn and Sami who came together by chance, none being able to speak anothers' language.  It felt very applicable to my current situation in a way.

The Cuckoo

Saturday, September 21

First Sauna!

Had my first sauna with Finns!!  Felt kind of weird being naked, but it's what they do here and I don't want to offend anyone.  Much better sauna experience than at CalFit back home.  No chatty cathys or old people stretching or being disruptive in general.

Very relaxed and the Finns are much more talkative in there.  One told me a story about the sauna gods.  Another even tried to practice his English with me, which was fun.  Then another liked it really hot and dumped a ton of water on the stones, it was too hot for me so I left, I think they do it to show off their tolerance for heat.

The facility was nice and fairly large.  On the top floor of the building with a changing room, shower room and of course the sauna.  Also a toilet was there...

Looked something like this

Thursday, September 12

BioBeer

Went with a classmate to a meeting of bioinformatics people.  Very casual affair with students and professors and technicians.  It was a good way to meet some people in the field, get advice and just make friends!

I had some Aura Beer, which tasted like any other beer to me, but it was nice not to have people pressuring you to drink more!  Not drinking alcohol is totally acceptable too!

Panimoravintola

Sunday, September 8

Bouldertehdas

Meet a Finn on couchsurfing and we went bouldering!  Originally planned to boulder outside but that fell through so we went indoor bouldering instead.  Very nice facility!  Great location very close to my classes.

After we went back to his place, across the street :)  Then met 2 German surfers and ate Finnish Berry Pie (basically blueberry cream pie) and had tea and coffee.

Good day.

Bouldertehas

The Dinosaur

Saturday, September 7

My Room!

Finally got my room all set up!!!  So I live at the Student Village West, near the housing office.  Window faces East :) for the morning sun (even though its usually not very bright with all the clouds).  My own full BALCONY :D.

Best part is no sharing!!

Specs:
18m2
Refrigerator
Oven
Stove
Sink
Full Bathroom

Interesting Facts:
  • Heaters won't work until the temp drops to near freezing, good insulation though
  • Stupid ceiling light needs an adapter (not included)
  • Curtains need special rail type hangers (had to find the Finnish name)
  • Internet is super fast!
  • Very clean water, instant hot, instant cold
  • Dual pane windows, concrete walls


Front Door, Mailbox slot, door bell
3M hook to hold the mop, typical Finnish style rug
Second door, for insulation?  Bathroom on the left
Heater thing against the wall, for drying jackets and shoes I think
Mini Kitchen, Finnish style drying rack
View from my balcony!  Already set up a clothesline 

Luggage stacked under the black thing, my computer made it safely, bed made out of 6 LACK tables
I love 3M Command!  Hooks used for another clothesline for more hanging space
Desk and chair from second hand shop, also dresser thing in the corner 
Look at all that LIGHT!

Pano view, desk is already a mess :(
I added the clothes hanger thing to closet door, screw size just so happened to be the same size as the handle, also added the tray to cabinet door

To the foray 

Shower and sink attached, easy to clean since water gets everywhere anyways

Toilet, big window!, heater thing
 Love the big window and vent so no mold!

Hopefully I remember to do an update when the snow comes :P

Turku Castle

It was big and old...
Back entrance

Old timey key hole

Courtyard

Lunch in the courtyard

Nice sunny seats

Wall drawings

Another giant fireplace

Forgot what these are...

Fake pigeon...

Pretty Arches

Literally Poo onto the people under you

Classroom maybe?

Modern Art

Magic stairs

Too bad the glass was crap (notice the vandalism)

Chruch

Church organ?

Exhibits

My Favs

Creepy and or evil dolls


Wolfy

... protecting the treasure

I want one!