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Published: January 8th 2007
So it’s now Monday - and it took me about 3 days to send a first blog entry out there about me arriving here! I am only a day late for sending an update about the weekend. I guess I am catching up!
Saturday - All I really wanted to do was to stay in my flat - but I ended up going out with my roommate, Sandra, and a friend of hers from Germany, Suzie. We really did not have an agenda - So it was a fun day of wandering around and finding out where we would end up. We walked down to the Senate Square and saw the Lutheran Cathedral. It’s a huge Church. We did not end up going inside of it - perhaps another day. From the Square, we walked down a street to the harbor. Everything is walking distance in downtown Helsinki, or City Centre as they call it here. I was a swan down at the harbor. It was my first time seeing a swan!!! Another famous site in Helsinki is the rock Church (or the Temppeliaukio Church). It is a church in the middle of the city made from rocks. We were wondering
down a street and happened to see it! It is a must see in this city. At this point you must be thinking that we were hungry after seeing all these sites! Well, we were. SO, where did we go to eat? Pizza hut! Out of all places, we eat at pizza hut. It was my first time eating out in Helsinki and I go to a pizza hut! I know - it’s a shame! But - it was also cheep! It’s a give and take I guess. It was also a holiday that day, meaning that just about everything was closed. They were celebrating the Epiphany. Besides everyone taking the day off, I do not know how they celebrate it. Honestly, I think that’s it. They just get the day off! Well, that’s about all the exciting events for Saturday.
Sunday - Sunday morning I got up early and went to the city centre to go to church. I found it all on my own too! Except that I gave myself extra time in case I got lost. The church was not even open when I got there! Oops. At this point it was drizzling and still dark. I
walked a few blocks and found a ferry station open. So I sat and waited a bit. It was nice to get out of the cold! After church, I got on the right tram - but I missed my stop. I decided that I wanted to take the scenic route home -really - that was my intent all along! But, along the way I saw a second hand shop, a flea market, and a dollar store (or euro store I guess). So it proved to be worth it after all. Now if I can just find them again.... Oh the adventures!
Sunday afternoon we made lunch - Sandra, Giacomo, and I. Giacomo is an Italian student who lives in our building, he has the same tutor as my roommate. He made us Italian spaghetti, his mother's recipe. Oh it was the best spaghetti that I have ever eaten! I never want to go back to the American way again! Really it was not all that different - but it was. It was the best meal here yet.
And then there was Monday! What did I do? Sleep. Yep - that’s about it! I don’t even want to tell you what
time I slept until - it was so late! Even after I woke up I was still tired. But after I ate a bit and showered, I felt better. I guess my body was tired for trying to keep up with my activity level. Everything in time, I guess.
Tomorrow I am going to school to find out what my classes are, and all that good stuff.
Don’t worry - I do not think that I will be writing every day in this. A lot has happened in these past few days. I am slowing adjusting to life here, as well as my bed and the lack of sunshine. The sun rises around 9am and sets around 3:30 to 4pm. But everyday it gets lighter and lighter!
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Joan Rohde
non-member comment
Hi Emily
Hi Emily....you go girl!!! It is so great to hear how you are doing!! Thanks for the updates -- write when you can. Love, Aunt Joanie