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

                                           Hillside Place