Some Thoughts

Here is a list of things I never thought would happen before I moved to Helsinki (but they've now happened):

-Have 32 F feel surprisingly warm, and everyone in class is also remarking on the same fact
-Understand any spoken Finnish ever
-Be able to use public transportation
-See cats being walked on leashes outside
-Think candles are a necessity rather than just decorations
-Be away from home for more than 2 months and not be horribly homesick
-Drink outside and not get arrested (it's seriously great!)
-Stick out a whole semester living abroad
-Make Finnish friends
-See Sabaton!!
-Find a country that is more obsessed with Christmas than the US. Seriously. I see Santa walking around at least once a day. Usually more than that. There are indoor and outdoor temporary Christmas markets everywhere, I bought some really warm mittens from one. I don't know why Americans tell their kids Santa lives literally on the North Pole. There isn't even any land there! Finnish people get very offended when you tell them this, because he is (of course) from Rovaniemi. Where Santa flies away in a helicopter every year to go deliver presents. Pretty crazy.

End of the Semester

I finally had my last important test today. It was microeconomics, it went much better than part one of the course. On Thursday, I had econometrics, which would have gone much better if I had studied more. I think the darkness is having an effect on my motivation level.

There is a ton of snow on the ground - about a foot and half. On Wednesday I went to look at an apartment which is normally 20 minutes away from the city center by bus. Because of the weather, it took over an hour and half to get there! The current tenants must not have been too put off by my lateness, as they offered the room to me for next semester. I was getting worried I wouldn't have any where to live when I returned from the US.

I'm super excited to go back home! Finnair was on strike for 10 days, so I was beginning to get worried that I wouldn't be able to make it home for Christmas. They've finally resolved it, so I'm looking forwards to water fountains and 7-11s everywhere.

Next week is major Christmas shopping everywhere. I'm trying to get people gifts that are super Finnish: Marimekko and Iittala, mostly. They're super expensive though, being Finnish and all.

Tonight I saw Rare Exports, the best selling Finnish movie in history. It was really really good, and pretty hilarious.