Spring is coming, supposedly.

So while it is technically spring, and has been for about a month, there are not really signs of it in Finland, yet. I probably sound like a broken record to you all, but I just can't get over how well I have managed my emotions regarding this cold, long, gray winter. The power of positive thinking, music, and appropriate clothing is a killer combination when you're trying to plow your way through a Scandinavian winter. So let me show you some things as of late that have kept my spirits up...

Number one, recently Dave has become obsessed with the notion that I am a carbon copy of the face of Finland's most popular brand of porridge. I am not so sure that I see the similarities, but I'll let you be the judge...

Unedited version

And then as I tried to argue with Dave that he is likely crazy and or blind he then sent me this number...

Ugh...

And then I added my own modification...

Don't mind the extra pair of glasses

Other happenings as of late. Well, because I live in Helsinki I am constantly traveling between Helsinki and Lahti for classes, but sometimes I am smart and just stay in Lahti for the week to ease my life. Anyways, my friend Ulla, with whom I often stay with, has a son and cats and sometimes I babysit so that she can have the night off. Most of you know how much I love both of these subjects, but look how much fun we had... It's hilarious trying to communicate with a 3 year old when you speak different languages.

We managed pretty well I'd say

Speaking of school, it's going pretty well. I am struggling, however, with staying motivated as the end of the semester/school year is rapidly approaching. But nonetheless things are progressing and it feels good to be engaging in some real science that I am passionate about. Ever since I started studying bees for my thesis it's odd how they are all of a sudden everywhere. It's another perfect example of how when you become interested in something you start realizing that it's all around you. Look at the display I found in my campus library...

Beeeeeez

Speaking of my campus library, they have this insanely huge gorilla statue made of tires, and it's super cool. Valeria is sitting in it's lap to show you the scale! 

Recycling art

One of my recent courses was student led, and we got to choose our topic and then present our findings to our classmates. The assignment was to assess the environmental impacts of a product, and I chose surfboards. This course is in an online webinar format and I snapped a screenshot of my presentation because I was so pleased with it haha :)

Wooden surfboards are the answer, by the way.

Sometimes when I stay in Lahti I also stay with Magdalena and that usually winds up in us just making food and watching movies all night and not much studying. We recently watched Benny & Joon and damn what a cute movie. I had never seen it before and think it now makes my top 10 favorite movie list, maybe even my top 5? But more importantly, I loved the part where Benny makes Joon grilled cheese with an iron on the ironing board. Needless to say, Magda and I figured it was necessary to try this out ourselves, and now I finally feel like I should acquire an iron..

So what that I'm 25 years old, it was awesome! 

So in lieu of the snow still being present I thought I'd share some last snowy pictures before the spring really starts showing itself and I don't have to think about snow for another 6 months. My favorite thing about Finns is that they partake in Nordic walking, and they take it seriously. I encourage you to read more about it here, because per usual Wikipedia just has a way with words: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_walking
I basically just want you to know that I doubt that even half of the people that participate in Nordic walking, and there are many, are truly training for skiing. Check out these dudes ...

I especially like the track suit the gentlemen on the left is sporting.

Along the same lines, I love love LOVE that the Finns dress as if they are going out into a blizzard every time they venture out their front door. What do I mean? Well I'm glad you asked, they often wear snow suits every time they go outside, whether it's snowing or not, and this cracks me up!  I mean I'm all about practical clothing, but something about this just seems extreme to me. The best part is that so many of the Finns dress their kids in their snow suits as well, and they just look bloated and uncomfortable and my mind always flashes back to A Christmas Story.. "I can't put my arms down Ralphie!!!" Recently, however, I saw my favorite snow suit wearing Finn to date...

His camo doesn't quite help him blend in at the grocery store...

This captures the essence of Finnish children in the winter...

I have been mastering learning some animals' tracks, and it's so fun to me! Dave has mostly been teaching me, but there are some which I can deduce on my own, and it's so cute to find them in the snow. These little things make the snow still fun and exciting rather than lingering and depressing. 

Ducks!!! :)

Two weeks ago I made my last venture on the lake, and I think that is it for the season because thankfully the ice is slowly but surely starting to melt and the lake will start to look like a lake again, rather than like an ice rink. But I anyways made one last trip on it and it's still so bizzarre to me to be able to walk on water, but I have let go of my fear and I embrace it's ability to help me get from point a to point b far quicker. 

The harbor in Lahti is so cute

Along the same lines, it'll be cool to start seeing these boats unfrozen from their sedentary state in the Helsinki harbor. Summer can't come soon enough.

This guy looks so lonely out there by himself.

Lastly, I will leave you with some cool street finds from Helsinki. I think that until now I have neglected to inform blogland that Angry Birds was invented in Finland, and therefore they are unbelievably proud of this (they don't have many internationally recognized things, so they hold on to what they have). Needless to say, you can find Angry Birds paraphernalia in all shapes, sizes, styles, and formats, but this most recent discovery was shocking to say the least...

Angry birds car decal, seriously?!

And I thought that this bit of street art was awesome! 

"Putin Put Pussy Riot Away"

Here's to hoping that the snow disappears, we start seeing warmer weather, and the trees, plants, and flowers start blooming! 

Helsinki

I have been terrible about updating on my life, I realize, but better late than never, right? Right! So as I mentioned months ago, I moved to Helsinki, and it's about time to show off my new flat. I know this will be a boring post for most, but I know people like my loving mother and father like seeing where I lay my head to rest. I live in a neighborhood in Helsinki called Koskela, and it's pretty cool. If you're curious you can see here where my neighborhood is in relation to the rest of the city, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koskela

The reason I like living out here is because it's not as crowded as the city center, not that Helsinki is crowded, but nonetheless, it's still a bit quieter. This whole country all together only has 5 million people, insane! But anyways, Koskela is an older part of town, and therefore there are a lot of old, beautiful homes, which I love because they keep me entertained on my runs. 

Anyways, I live in a big apartment building (6 floors) on the top floor, with 7 other flatmates. It's a confusing set up, but basically there are two entrances to our apartment, and you first enter into the common room, or living room. In the living room we have 3 couches, a tv, a dining room table, and then off to the back is the entrance to the balcony. From the living room, there are four flats, each with two flatmates, who share a bathroom and a kitchen. Pictures will do this better justice...

Walking in the front door. My apartment door is to the right, and straight back is the living room and balcony.

Our living room

Looking back at the front door from the living room. Around the corner to the right of the photo is the other entrance.

This is our balcony, pretty awesome!

This is the view from our balcony, nothing spectacular, but it's still a balcony! :)

So then I have my flat off to the right hand side of the common area, where I hypothetically share my kitchen and bathroom with a flatmate. My flatmate, however, lives with her boyfriend and uses her flat at our place as storage, I suppose? All I know is that I am not complaining because I have the best of both worlds, I can retreat to my flat and shut the door to the common room and I live in my own little world, or if I'm feeling social I can go out to the living room and socialize with 6 other people. My flat has such a tiny little kitchen, but it's cozy and mine so I like it. I've also managed to successfully decorate my walls like crazy in 2 months, and that also makes this place feel like home! 

When you first walk in this is what you see. My bedroom is in the back there, and then to the right is my kitchen nook, and to the left is the bathroom.

Here is my kitchen nook.

Pretty small, but I manage. I have a stove with only two burners though, so that's kind of a drag

Looking from the kitchen to the bathroom.

Bathroom

Looking into my bedroom, it's pretty cool, if I do say so myself :)

So much stuff on the walls!!!

This is the view from my bedroom window, sometimes I see amazing sunsets!

So I suppose that about does it for my new apartment! I hoped you all enjoyed this virtual tour of a student flat in Helsinki. In typical Finnish style, there is a sauna in the basement that I can use for free every week, I love it! And then there is also a laundry room where I can do my laundry for free as well, amazing! I'd say life in Helsinki is pretty great! I have also managed to find a job as a banquet waitress, so that is also helping out lots and making the move to Helsinki worth it! It just feels good to be in a place where things are happening all around you, even if you're not participating, the option is still there and that makes me feel alive! And the icing on the cake is that all of my flatmates are really nice and easy-going, 6 Finns, Valeria and myself; it's been fun!

The snow still hasn't gone away yet, despite the fact that it's spring :( but I am trying to maintain a positive attitude about it, so I'll leave you with this cool photo that I took when on a walk recently. 

A taste of home buried in Helsinki!