So, today was the first day of classes. First of all I wan't to mention that it's not good idea to stay up all night and then hit the classes. Especially when you instructor is having VERY thick Spanish accent in his English and sometimes "forgets" it and speaks Spanish instead. Was kinda funny tho. He was being all silly and was jumping from one subject to another. If anyone of you ever watched a Spanish show called Los Serranos... yea, this guy would fit to that show perfectly !
I just noticed that I haven't yet introduced my roommates. There's four of us girls sharing this apartment. Katie (Astrophysics major) from Detroit, Kathleen (Civil Engineering major) from Hawaii and Youla (Bio Chem. Engineering major) from South Korea. I couldn't get any more lucky with roommates. People keep telling us that they thought we've been knowing each other for years. And yeah, we met a week ago. I like the fact that we are so diversed and everyone of us is having a different major. We are going to have so much fun during our time at Tech (:
Love,
Riina
maanantai 29. elokuuta 2011
lauantai 27. elokuuta 2011
I made it thru the week one !
Just a quick update.
The first week has gone by faast. Feels like I just got here and on the other hand feels like it's been forever. It's been nice to have the whole week off. I was told earlier that I need to be here by 20th to attend to the orientation week and when I got here I was told that the only orientation stuff I'm having as a transfer student is this few hour thingy on Friday 26th (Note to myself: do not ever go out the night before some important stuff such as orientation. There's a chance that you still might be drunk in the morning..). No matter of the condition this morning the orientation was pretty helpful plus we got awesome t-shirts !
I also got all set up with my classes for the semester and for the first time in years I could not be more excited about them to start. The one thing I wasn't so pleased about was I need to take one extra language because of my major. I need to pick either Spanish, French or German. Obviously I'm going with German 'cos I've studied that before and obviously I'm not telling that to anybody so I can start with the most basic level. It's going to be awesome to lear how they teach foreign languages in the US. The only thing is, the class is currently full so I need to wait and see if there's going to be any room. But anyways, these classes I'm having at least:
Well it's 3.17am here so I'm off to bed. Just wanted to share the latest details.
Love,
Riina
Ps. It is weird right when a guy wants you to give him your skinny pants that he could wear, waits you till your class is done, follows you back to where you live, tries the pants on like right in the front of you and then gets disappointed when you don't give him your pants (that you are wearing at the time) ? I'm just wondering...
The first week has gone by faast. Feels like I just got here and on the other hand feels like it's been forever. It's been nice to have the whole week off. I was told earlier that I need to be here by 20th to attend to the orientation week and when I got here I was told that the only orientation stuff I'm having as a transfer student is this few hour thingy on Friday 26th (Note to myself: do not ever go out the night before some important stuff such as orientation. There's a chance that you still might be drunk in the morning..). No matter of the condition this morning the orientation was pretty helpful plus we got awesome t-shirts !
I also got all set up with my classes for the semester and for the first time in years I could not be more excited about them to start. The one thing I wasn't so pleased about was I need to take one extra language because of my major. I need to pick either Spanish, French or German. Obviously I'm going with German 'cos I've studied that before and obviously I'm not telling that to anybody so I can start with the most basic level. It's going to be awesome to lear how they teach foreign languages in the US. The only thing is, the class is currently full so I need to wait and see if there's going to be any room. But anyways, these classes I'm having at least:
- Introduction to Rhetorics
- Literature Across Borders
- Communicating Across Cultures
- Perspectives Coaching
Well it's 3.17am here so I'm off to bed. Just wanted to share the latest details.
Love,
Riina
Ps. It is weird right when a guy wants you to give him your skinny pants that he could wear, waits you till your class is done, follows you back to where you live, tries the pants on like right in the front of you and then gets disappointed when you don't give him your pants (that you are wearing at the time) ? I'm just wondering...
maanantai 22. elokuuta 2011
FINALLY!
Heyy everybody!
I'm now finally settled in to my new home. I decided to blog about my trip here since everybody's asking how did it go.
So I left from Helsinki on Friday the 19th and got here the same day at midnight on the US time. Everything went great until I got to O'Hare, Chicago. The 8 hour wait wasn't pleasant. At all. And the wait wasn't even the worst part of my trip. When I finally arrived to Hancock's airport most of the luggage of the people on the plane was not there. The plane was packed with luggage of the earlier flight and the day before. The feeling when you realize that there is no chance you're taking a shower or going to bed after an extremely stressful and tiring day because everything is in your bad... I was so mad but cause of the tiredness I didn't even bother. I humbly filled out a form for lost luggage just like everybody else did trying not to be too pissed about it. Obviously it wouldn't have helped at all.
Luckily the students that were taking us to the campus told that there is going to be extra blankets and pillows for us that didn't get our luggage. Before that we stopped at Public Safety office to get out room keys. I was the last on the line and when I got to the desk, handed out my passport and the lady started searching for my key package, I knew something's wrong. After she went thru all of the envelopes about six times she looked at me saying "I'm sorry dear but I just can't find your key. I've seen your package and I know it's here but I cannot find it." All I was able to think was "THIS IS NOT HAPPENING..." So I spent my very first night in a quest room. The room was included with everything which was more than nice! I finally hit the bed somewhere around 3am and I was supposed to go to the Housing Office at 9am to find out where my key package is.
I did surprise myself the next morning waking up at 8.20am. Got dressed and called home to let them know that everything is alright and headed upstairs to the office. As my disappointment I got the same answer there that I did last night at the Public Safety office, they didn't know where my key package is. She promised to find out what had happened to it and told me to come back later.
Last night we were told that there is going to be a trip to Walmart for international students at 10am on Saturday morning and obviously I needed to go there since I still didn't have my luggage. I waited outside the residence hall like forever and no one showed up. Luckily I met a couple of guys from last night at the lobby waiting for the same ride. The ride never came. During the waiting I chatted with this older guy who got very excited about my Finnish background and he was also wondering about the key thing. He went back inside and soon came back out telling me that I need to go to this Rozsa Center to register myself and they will have my package there. So I walked there (NOTE: the day was burning hot and the only clothes I had were the ones I had on when I arrived. It was pretty awesome to walk around with a thick cardigan and jeans..).
At the Rozsa Center I got to hear the same thing I'd have heard three times before: "We do not have your key package or your orientation file. You should go to the Memorial Union Building first to get your Tech Express (aka Student ID)." At that point I was sooo mad and cursing the school, the way they have been treating me so far and pretty much everything. I hated the fact that I felt so alone since I didn't know anybody and haven't met my roommates yet. I however went back to the Housing Office at first where I met Paul (the older guy I was talking earlier) and he had found out that the Walmart drive leaves at 11am from Memorial Union B. So I planned to head to the Walmart first and then go to get my ID card.
In the front of the MUB waiting for the drive I met a couple of other Finns. I was standing there alone when I suddenly heard someone talking Finnish. Suddenly my bad mood was gone and I felt so relieved. Henna is from Tampere (and she is all crazy about this place already. I see alot of myself in her and the excitement she has) and Henri is from Oulu. I'm really happy that they have the perfect attitude to be here and I'm sure they'll enjoy their time in the UP !
After the Walmart drive I went to MUB to get my Tech Express, ran back to the Housing Office to register my card and then they told me that the Tech Express is the key to my apartment. REALLY ?! Someone could have told me that earlier.... But yea. Now I'm all settled into my new home at the Hillside Place and I got my back yesterday morning (: I am also having the best roommates ever. It's going to be an awesome year!
Love,
Riina
keskiviikko 17. elokuuta 2011
Exclamation points and hugs
EEEEK! One day left before the departure ! YAY ! Couldn't be more excited ! It has been exclamation point after exclamation point for the whole week so far.
One thing I haven't even started considering is ... packing. I - hate - packing. There is only one thing I hate more than packing is unpacking. Maybe 'cause I'm so bad at it. I'm always waiting to the last minute to do it because it's just something I HAVE to do. Not something I'd love to. I'm just lacking the excitement(?) of organizing things. Anyways... Not only the whole packing operation is causing me stress, but now that I saw the list that I should bring to the States with me. NOTE: this is a list of the stuff my school thinks would be handy:
One thing I haven't even started considering is ... packing. I - hate - packing. There is only one thing I hate more than packing is unpacking. Maybe 'cause I'm so bad at it. I'm always waiting to the last minute to do it because it's just something I HAVE to do. Not something I'd love to. I'm just lacking the excitement(?) of organizing things. Anyways... Not only the whole packing operation is causing me stress, but now that I saw the list that I should bring to the States with me. NOTE: this is a list of the stuff my school thinks would be handy:
keskiviikko 10. elokuuta 2011
Loving the Internet .... NOT
I just wrote the longest blog ever which was highly thoughtful and awesome. But then my Internet de-connected itself and everything I wrote disappeared. Way too tired now to write a new one so this is going to be it.
Love,
Riina
ps. I had the visa interview today and my application was accepted. YEY. Now just waiting for the embassy to mail it to me ...
pps. Had an awesome time today with Eve. She's the best. Dunno what I'm going to do without her being in Hancock.. October is YEARS away.
Love,
Riina
ps. I had the visa interview today and my application was accepted. YEY. Now just waiting for the embassy to mail it to me ...
pps. Had an awesome time today with Eve. She's the best. Dunno what I'm going to do without her being in Hancock.. October is YEARS away.
Finally!
I finally found a perfect leather jacket and timing couldn't been any better, just before leaving. I think I'm now ready for the fall ;D
6 shifts at work left. I know I asked for as many hours/week I can possibly get before I quit, but it starts to feel like this way more that I bargained for. Now I'm not just stressed, I'm also tired as hell. When you are doing over 9h shifts a day after another one day off just does not seem to be enough to relax. I would give pretty much ANYTHING if I could just be doing nothing for a one day. Or at least sleep as long as I would like ..
Today started with the visa interview.
6 shifts at work left. I know I asked for as many hours/week I can possibly get before I quit, but it starts to feel like this way more that I bargained for. Now I'm not just stressed, I'm also tired as hell. When you are doing over 9h shifts a day after another one day off just does not seem to be enough to relax. I would give pretty much ANYTHING if I could just be doing nothing for a one day. Or at least sleep as long as I would like ..
Today started with the visa interview.
maanantai 8. elokuuta 2011
Next week !
Next week my life is going to change again ! Excitement grows with every minute spent. Everything is now all set and visa interview is the day after tomorrow. Only 8 shifts at work left. Can't wait to start packing !!
Love,
Riina
Love,
Riina
lauantai 6. elokuuta 2011
Whoopsie...
Just noticed that it's been FIVE months since the last time I updated my blog. Those months went by so fast and so many things have happened after the Oscar's.
In two weeks I'll be in the States again. In two weeks I have settled my life in a new frame. Or maybe I should rather say that the frame is the same but the picture is going to be a whole lot of a different this time. It's funny that I am now more nervous and impatient that I was couple of years ago before my student exchange experience. I did not have any idea what it's going to be like and yet I felt so calm about it. It turned to be the best thing I've ever experienced.
One of my best friends asked me the other day what I am missing about the States when I'm in Finland and all I was able to come up with was some products and a huge variety of awesome clothing stores. But actually the very thing that I'm missing is the feeling of being home. It's indescribable.
Love,
Riina
In two weeks I'll be in the States again. In two weeks I have settled my life in a new frame. Or maybe I should rather say that the frame is the same but the picture is going to be a whole lot of a different this time. It's funny that I am now more nervous and impatient that I was couple of years ago before my student exchange experience. I did not have any idea what it's going to be like and yet I felt so calm about it. It turned to be the best thing I've ever experienced.
One of my best friends asked me the other day what I am missing about the States when I'm in Finland and all I was able to come up with was some products and a huge variety of awesome clothing stores. But actually the very thing that I'm missing is the feeling of being home. It's indescribable.
Love,
Riina
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