Friday, April 24, temp 10C- 15C

APRIL 24, I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS DAY IN FINLAND AS SPRING HAS FINALLY ARRIVED WOOHOO!!!:D:D Winter was beautiful and nice, and everyone said that it wasn't a bad winter as there was tons of snowfall, rather than rain! The forecast for this summer is a great one! Clear skies these past three days, shade temperature is a BEAUTIFUL 15C and its nearly 20C under the sun!! VERY CLOSE TO SINGAPORE HEAT!

People are taking off their winter jackets, the kids are coming out to play, people are stocking up on summer barbeques, the sun sets at 10pm, all the trees are budding, flowers are almost blooming everywhere, Jyvasjarvi is melting fast, theres almost no more snow left... I think Finland is ready to PARTY!! My bicycle is still screwed up... Met Earnest who wanted to sell me a bicycle but 70 Euros was steep for me, I was expecting 50 euros +.

Thats all folks! Going for a bbq with a friend living next door!!:D

alone in the snow...4:23 PM

Day 50-51, Mar 19-20, Temp -6 - 10C

The weather these past few days was described as CRAZY! There were blizzard-like conditions for the two days, strong "gale" for the whole week...

Blizzards are really interesting here... the sky is blue and clear for a while, then suddenly in ten lightning minutes the sky becomes overcast. It then becomes really windy (gale) and chunks of snowflakes the size of your thumb starts falling like crazy! Strong wind and snow= Blizzard!! After snowing for twenty minutes the whole landscape falls back into winter scene: White! Then the clouds pass again and the sky becomes clear:D Then twenty minutes later, the sky becomes overcast and this time... it was really interesting, there was HAIL! It was the size of tiny ball bearings and the funny thing was the they were bouncing and rolling down the road:D Very interesting sight!

This is unfortunately the last winter storm before winter loses its strength and Spring comes it! The weather forecast is as follows for the next week: 4C on Tuesday, 6C, 8C, 9C, 10C, 11C, 13C for the following days. Oh yes, what a big jump! Spring is short here, only a couple of weeks! Today's temperature was already 10C under the sun! However, due to the really windy conditions, it felt like -5C.

Managed to buy some toilet paperi to wipe my ass! High quality "Lambi" on offer- at 4.40E for 12 rolls!WHAT A BARGAIN! And What I really respect is their transparent and "honest culture" in advertising ads. If the toilet roll says it feels like wool... IT DOES!! But to me it really felt like SILK:D Imagine wiping your ass with silk... HAHA MAKES YOUR DAY!:D:D And of course, those cheap ones, makes going to the bathroom an everyday hell as its as rough as sandpaper!!:...(

Work has been great as usual. Tuula the "Tomboy Aunty' found a bag full of injection syringes with blood and all... VERY CREEPY... I think she is the best person to work with!! She didnt' understand English and she speaks to me only in Finnish. Of course I have to play Pro so I always use "Joo, Kylla, Ei, Noniin" (Yes, ok, no, ok) hahahaha and other times we make actions like :make the bed action, clean the toilet action, arrange the tables action, time for lunch action etc etc + lots of weird sounds HAHHHA!!' Its eally FUN!:D

My bicycle is dead... I got fed up and left it somewhere on the street, didnt bother to find it:) Walking is better!!:D But I think its time to get another one soon! And I managed to get a job, woking at Fransmanni Ravintola Kitchen:D Im operating the dish washing machines, replenishing plates, do the bread butter etc etc." Its hectic but its definitely great FUN! Plus I have to wear a 'chef's" uniform and get paid a really handsome salary hehehehe:D I really hope I can earn my money back and lead a normal life here!!"

Oh yes Oh yes hahahah today something really funny happened!! There was a conference goin on and I was at the next room arranging tables and chairs. Once everything was done, I walked out of the room and switch the lights off! SUddenly, people in the next room were creating a commotion... Thinking they were having team building games, I walked off. Then someone came out of the room looking lost. I turned back and CRAPPPPP I accidently switched the lights off in the other conference room as it was pitched black LOLLLLLLLLLL!! I was so embarrassed and hid at one corner. When she walked back into the room, I hurriedly ran back to the room next door and switched the lights on!!! *Claps and cheers* once the lights came back on:D It was so FUNNY:D

Thats all for the week folks!!
Kovski

alone in the snow...9:43 PM

April 16, Day 49, temp 6C windy & clear

I sent my boss a letter yesterday, requesting for training allowance. I know it is not a norm, neither is it company policy to provide exchange interns with allowances. But I tried it anyway, wrote a page long letter in English, for a boss who only understands Finnish!!:(

I got one of my work mates, Suvi-Maria to read and translate it to her. Eeva than told me that it would have been really nice to provide me with a much needed allowance, however there was a problem... I didn't have the necessary employment documents and most importantly, the tax card. A tax card is a card which states the amount of taxes the holder must pay. I didn't have that. I had nothing. Therefore today, I headed off to Keski-Suomen Verotoimisto (The tax administration) to register myself. I can gurantee that no ever Singaporean exchange student has done this before lol.... it's out of this world:D I registered myself in their database and there: I GOT IT:D.

If I were to receive salary, I have to pay 35% of my gross income. Thats TOTALLY RETARDED but its normal here as taxes are always high in a welfare state! I have gotten my tax card... Now, its up to God and the Hotel Management to determine whether to give me my salary or not... FINGER'S CROSSED PEOPLE!!:D

Kovski

alone in the snow...3:16 PM

Day 41- 44, Apr 10-13, Lappland

Hello Folks! I am finally back from Lappland:D I had mixed reactions while I was there... It's a long long story and im going to shoot em all out anyway!!

Arrived at Jyväskylä Matkakeskus at 1.30am witing for the Lappland express bus to take me to Lappland:) Waiting can be an unnecessary torture, with windy conditions and cold weather!:...( The bus finally arrived at 3am, 1.5 hours late) Boarded the bus and realised that many people were asleep. Found one next to a Spanish Girl by the name of Maria and here I began my exciting 8 hour bus ride to Lappland!

Upon arrival, we visited the largest ice castle in the world: Lumi Linna! It didn't look as fantastic as it seemed, maybe its because the sky was overcast and it was snowing. Also, there were two or three days when the temperature went above 0C. This meant that the castle has melted a little and became dirty from black snow. I didn't want to go in because it costs a hefty 15E for s guided tour. Everyone went in and I was all alone to walk around town:) It was beautiful as the castle was located right next to the massive gulf of Bothnia. The whole sea was frozen and it was Beautiful:D I walked around the old town and by chance, managed to sneak my way into the castle hahahaha... It was really funny as I just walked in like a normal walk-in guest and confidently pass the ticketing counter! It was nice inside due to the lightings and that was it-_-. I was glad I didn't pay the 15 Euros:D Managed to make a few new friends: Rachel and Lamia from Holland, Panagiotta, Kely and Ourainia from Greece, Osman from Turkey, Joghen of Austria, Lukas and a few others from Germany! (During breakfast before the castle trip!)

It was really difficult as due to the previous experiences from the last batch of Earsmus students, I was afraid of being ignored by everyone:.....( I WILL NOT LET THAT HAPPEN TO ME AGAIN I thought to myself. So I bravely walked towards the first group of people (The german Students) and said ," Hi my name is Jordan, may I sit with you guys?".... "Sure! Please!" was their reply. Deep inside me I felt a sense of achievement... And then we started chatting and sharing information of each other's countries. I was glad that things headed the direction I was hoping for!! Then outside the Hotel where we had our breakfast did I meet Rachel, Lamia and the wonderful Greek Girls:D

Our next stop after Kemi castle was Ranua Zoo, located in the City of Ranua. This "city" (town) is located close to the state of Lappland and it's zoo is said to be the most interesting one in Finland, as all the animals: Bears, Foxes, Birds, moose and deers all live under one roof! It didn't really interest me as Singapore zoo is still said to be one of the best in the world:D Also it costs another 15E for a guided tour = 30SGD which was ridiculous!!! Till date I have managed to save 30 Euros heheheh:) Bought lots of sweets and chocolates from the Fazer shop. Fazer is said to be one of the most delicious chocolate brands in Europe.. and I certainly have to agree with that!!

As everyone entered the zoo, I sat down with Kelly, one of the greek girls and we had a great time talking to one another:D She told me lots of things about Greece and I think il be going there after my attachment:D It seemed like a really great place!!

After about tw and a half hours of chatting, we were sent to our accomodation for the two nights... Rova-motelli... ROVA-MOTELLI... A MOTEL BY A HIGHWAY W$#%*#$%$#@!!! There was nothing surrounding the motel.. only trees!! Also, this was when a number of us encountered our first problem: Rooms. We expected a maximum of around 5-6 people per cottage. As we walked down the street, after the 5th group of students, the raminder 26+ of us wew thrown into one main cottage with only one shower area with three showers, no dividers, and a miserable toilet bowl smacked next to one of the showers, with no walls, no doors NOTHING...NOTHING!!!! The german students were quite pissed and refused to enter. I did... but after realising that it wasn't fair for me, I packed my bags and went out, together with two other swiss girls. We went off to look for our guide Katja (a russian) and complained about this unfair designation of the room. It almost turned ugly as Katja wanted the german guys and us to pay for an upgrade to a better room (400 Euros for 10 persons).. OF COURSE WE DISAGREED!!

As she spent so much time talking to her boss, who was the ASSHOLE, we had no choice but to use the Singaporean way... So I told her, " Fine... we will stay in the main cottage with 20 other GUYS, but I expect a refund for the accomodation or you will see me taking this case to the Helsinki Consumer Board.. Also I will definitely ruin the name of your travel agency, which has given us the worse kind of impression, try ME! She was kind of freaked out and had to talk to her boss again... and FINALLY, after 1 Hour of waiting, she agreed and we got the "suite cottages" Wheeeeeee;D It was large and had a very homely feel:) And finally, we have gotten more that what we have paid for!!

Had a good sleep, even though I was worried that after all the arguing, the people (apparently russians owned this motel), would come and shoot us dead and bury us in the arctic circle... interestingway to die:) Woke up and headed to Santa Claus Village:D It was a really nice place and it seemed like some set in a child's impression of winter wonderland. There were gian snowmen, candy bar sculptures, "santa" houses and playgrounds! Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to meet Santa as despite his size, I couldn't find him anywhere and taking a picture with him costs 25E bloody Euros anyway!!! Walked around and bought myself two really cute Husky dogs (toys lah... and two for only 30SGD:D

After an interesting time at Santa Village, we headed off to Ounasvaara Ski Centre. I regretted not going there as everyone had so much free fun!:...( Instead, I chose to go for the Rovaniemi City tour and visit the Arktikum Museum with the Greek girls and my new friends from Italy, which was also interesting and fun:) Were supposed to meet the huskies today but it was cancelled as the season was over... awwww. Anyway we returned back to our motel where I spent my dinner time eating and having lots of fun with the Greek girls, together with Lamia and Rachel!! We were laughing all the way even though we were not drunk LOL:D Then we played "tai-ti"= chinese poker LOL We taught them how to play it and they got really addicted hahhahaha:) I had a really great time:):) Also, Kelly occassionally behaved "serious"to try and scare us.. For instance, when she said a joke about herself and we all started laughing, she became serious and said, " Oh, you think its funny? why are you laughing? YOU THINK ITS FUNNY?" Then everyone in the room becomes sober IMMEDIATELY and we were like looking at one another and "oh shit... she's mad, we're screwed!" And then she startd laughing with all our stupid faces on LOL:D It was so funny and I really really had hell lots of fun!!

Returned to my cabin at 1am and managed to catch a really faint moment of nothern lights... It was really really faint as it was cloudy and the clouds became a little green for a moment. But I think it was good enough for me:D:D

Next morning, I arrived at breakfast late and everyone left for their rooms to pack up. I was suddenlt approached by a gay man who TOTALLY FREAKED ME OUT!!! He had his fingernails painted bright red and was wearing cog shoes!!! He did an action that almost made me burst out into laughter LOL! ( He was doing this "sweeping" motion on his right cheek and his hands stayed on the cheek) HAHAHAHAHAHA He walked over and sat next to me... I couldn't eat anything cuz I was realy freaked out hahahaha:D Worse still, I was holding a banana I bought yesterday and it was peeled and BELIEVE ME, He kept glancing at the banana and me.... He was telling me about his plans to visit Thailand and Bali ( For gay stuff I think) and when he asked me where I was from I said I came from the jungles of Malaysia... I really had too cuz if I said Singapore, my chances of getting caught and grabbed by him would be 42km by 24km, really high LOL!!:D:D

Suddenly, Panagiota and kelly (the greek girls) rushed into the restaurant and was speaking in a really anxious tone.. " OMY OMY JORDAN WE HAVE TO LEAVE NOW IMMEDIATELY AS OUR BUS DRIVER IS DRIVING OFF!!! Knowing that they were trying to save me, I went " OH F*** F*** F*** WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!!!! Then quick as lightning I ran out of the restaurant and I believe he shouted... "REMEMBER ME!!!'"

Once outside, Panagiota and Kelly told me that they had to "OMY, Jordan is all alone and this gay man is sitting next to him... WE HAVE TO RESCUE HIM!!!" I thanked them over and over and all of us were laughing!!! Spent 6 hours on the bus going back to Jyväskylä. I gave all of them a really big big hug before I got off the bus as they were my best friends for the trip!! I missed everyone badly but it certainly felt great to be back home!! Overall the Trip to lappland was great and I truly enjoyed myself.. photos soon:D

Kovski

alone in the snow...10:47 AM

Day 40, April 9, temp -1 - 2C, cloudy

Hello folks im back again!!

I managed to make my payments for my trip to lappland... and now here I am, waiting for my bus to come pick me up at 2 am:....( Will need to pack some food as tomorrow, being good friday, the whole country STOPS functioning!!! I certainly hope I have enough food to last me for breakfast, lunch and dinner haha:)

I will be travelling with a student group of around 30 students, both local and international and I really hope I willmake lots of friends, unlike the eramus scenarios I encountered a few weeks ago. I managed to type a letter and send it to my hotel Director, Eeva, requesting for training allowance, so FINGERS CROSSED:D

Nothing much really happened today... Perhaps il talk about some things interesting about Finland!

1) Finns LOVE Salmiakki (Liquorice)
2) Durians taste like shit to them
3) People drive 3rd hand cars here, buy things from second hand "Malls"
4) Clubbing and hitting bars is a MUST
5) Groceries amounting to 50Euros (SGD100) a week is normal.
6) It has never gone above 10C so far
7) Welfare is Highly important in this society
8) Being paid 10Euros (SGD 20) per hour for a student job is considered low... avg usually hits about 15-20 Euros per hour
9) It is not as developed as most Singaporeans like us think.
10) Pendolino high speed trains stop for only 2 minutes at stations... you better be early:)
11) You see more old people than anywhere else in the WORLD! If im not wrong Finland's popn is 30+% Elderly...
12) Pineapples are sold almost everywhere:D
13) Berries, caviar and fish are quite cheap here

I think thats about it folks... I got to go and pack my stuff!! Se ya in three days:D
kovski

alone in the snow...9:16 PM

30th March- 5th April, -5- 0C, Snow, Cloudy, Windy, Foggy

Apologies to all my blog readers for not being able to blog for one full week!:...( Sometimes I have to work a little later than usual... visit bars with Antti, Johanna etc, perform my favourite hobby (Grocery Shopping- I never FAIL to buy something I dont need!!:D), do some exercise, laundry, iron my clothes and so on!!

This week was by far the WORST week of my life! Work was great as usual, after having known them for at least two weeks now, we are definitely starting to get comfortable with one another:) The main pathetic crap ass potato shit problems came from my dear old BICYCLE. every single darn day, this bike never cooperates. It presents me with a very unique and complex set of problems I couldnt solve.... WORST THING IS: at the WRONG TIME! Allow me to state a few examples so that I can get this boiling heat off my head!!

On Monday, I woke up early and prepared myself for work, which starts at 8 am... With my bicycle it usually takes me around 20 minutes for me to get to my workplace, and I usually leave the house at around 7.25am. While cycling to work, halfway at Kekkola neighbourhood, the chains just gave way and flew off ... IT GAVE WAY AND FLEW OFF... I stood there thinking for one minute...HOW IN BIRD'S CAGE CAN THIS CHAIN EVEN FLY OFF THE BICYCLE?!?! I was almost late for work, as I hurriedly pushed the bicycle back to my home to fix it. My hands were black and greasy when I arrived home and I was MAD!! Fortunately those Ang Moh Aunties never fail to make my day hahaha:D

I went back home... and the EXACT SAME BLOODY THING HAPPENED... I was really boiling... but having no choice, I walked and pushed the bicycle 3km back home! (I only sat on the bicycle when going downslope he he he:) As I walked, people were zooming past me on their dear old bicycles... Then I thought to myself again: WHO ON THIS PLANET PUSHES A BICYCLE INSTEAD OF CYCLE THEM!?!?!?" Arrived back home 30 minutes later then usual:( I could have killed everyone around me man!!! As i didn't know how to repair bicycles, I simply tightened some bolts and knobs. And everything was back to normal:)

On Tuesday, after work I was supposed to meet Antti for a game of badminton. Halfway while cycling to the Hospital campus, 4 kilometres away, my bicycle chains gave way AGAIN and it got stuck. It took almost 30 minutes to fix it and considering that my hands became black and greasy, I couldn’t wear my gloves and my hands were freezing! Worse still, I cycled towards the wrong direction and got lost! By the time I arrived, I was already 30 minutes and couldn’t play as a result. I felt really bad that Antti had been waiting for me, and was burning at my bicycle... so much so that it could have MELTED before me!!! I cycled all the way back with fury and OF ALL TIME AND PLACES, my rear tire punctured, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD! Fortunately there were no cars. I then pushed my bicycle to one corner of a block, AND KICKED THE HELLISH CRAP OUT OF IT. IVE NEVER FELT SO SHIT PISSED ALL MY LIFE!!

I was laughing myself as I walked back home as this was the unluckiest day of my LIFE! What a day, SERIOUSLY:D I was going to Helsinki the next day and I had no choice but to take the public transport:....( 6SGD just for one ride on the bus... its INSANE!!

Wednesday was a great day as I was invited by Haaga-Helia AMK to do a presentation on Singapore for the incoming exchange students. Guess what happened???:) The public bus didnt come on time... my train was at 7.30am... and the bus only arrived at 7.20am...I arrived at 7.35am... The train left... I guess you get the point! Fortunately I met one guy who happened to have missed the same train as I did! His name was Jenne. He lived just next block to mine and we had great fun chit-chatting on the train.

As this was my first train ride to Helsinki. It was definitely one Hell of a ride:D The trains were travelling at at least 120km/hr and I managed to stop by at a few cities, notably Tampere! The scenery was beautiful and GORGEOUS! And it became warmer as I approached Helsinki (further south). Arrived at Pasila station three hours later!

The presentation went all well, as I was helped by an Eurasian Girl called Stella. We clicked almost immediately as we started communicating in Singlish! At first I thought she was Finnish... then she said,"You from Singapore arh??" It sure was great fun! Managed to arrive home by night fall to join Antti and Riku for dinner at a pizzeria. Arrived home at 11pm.

I had to take the bus to work the next day. After work, I walked 10 kilometres to Prisma Supermarket to buy a new rear tire and tube I was thinking about the bicycle melting down and being thrown into the lake of fire as I walked. Managed to purchase my bicycle tube and walked another 3 kilometres back home to realize that I had purchased the wrong type...¤%&?!#%&%!?!&%&!??#%¤... Fortunately, Jaakko, the great guy who gave me his bicycle, came over to help me! He was nice enough to drive me back to the supermarket and we had to purchase a new tire as the old ones were in serious condition. We nearly got ripped off by one guy who tried to sell us a 17 Euro tire. As it was way beyond my budget, we took a gamble and purchased a 6 Euro tire… and it Fitted PERFECTLY!! It was tough work as we had to fix the thing under freezing rain. I owe Jaakko one big favour! He saved me from the killing transport costs and lots of time!

Cycled to work again the next day... AND ANOTHER NEW DAMN PROBLEM!! THE PEDALS GOT STUCK EVERYTIME I STEPPED ON IT... And AGAIN... for the 4th TIME, I had to push my bicycle and walk to work:(:(:( ...... and BACK!! For almost the past week, I arrived at my work place ANGRY... and arrive back HOME FUMING... Fortunately the problem is solved for now... But I certainly hope this bicycle wont give me any problem in the future:(

Also... Considering the expensive rental of apartments + grocery costs here. I have written a letter to my manager Eeva for a training allowance... I certainly hope she will grant me the money:) Fingers crossed people!!!

That’s all for week 5. Spring is definitely as 90% of the snow has melted away, really quickly! Im definitely looking forward to summer! Oh yes oh yes... I have a small little box on my balcony for little birds to grab a bite... I have placed grapes... leftover bread... (all expired) into the box and they seemed to LOVEEEEE IT:) as they always disappear so fast... even bread slices the size of my PALM!! Then I realised who the greedy rude culprit was... Some HUGE flying penguin bird has been grabbing all the food and leaving those poor hummingbirds with nothing... SO RUDEEE!! But if im not wrong... that bird lives just one tree away and has little kids... so i think its all cool:D I also believe this bird is the national bird of Finland... so better give way if not it will bite me hehehehe!! Thats all folks... And OH YES OH YES.... Im going to lappland this Friday... Northern Lights and Santa Claus Village here I COME:D

Kovski

alone in the snow...2:24 PM