Wednesday, April 30, 2008
I am happy because spring in Finland is so beautiful!
Today is a rather productive day as we managed to settle our Russia Trip stuff. In the afternoon, we went to the travel agent to collect our passport as our visa to Russia is done. Then we walked to the train station to get our 2 way train tickets to St.Petersburg.
After getting our trip stuff done, it's time for shopping! We went Seppala, H&M and Jim & Jill. I need a jacket because my bubble jacket is too thick to be worn now! But i didn't see any really nice ones... But then again i will still need to get one before my trip!
After shopping we were too lazy to cook dinner so we went to eat at Altun's Kebab. We were all so full after dinner and we decided to walk to the habour as we heard that the habour is now open. We went there some time back in January when the water is frozen. Now it looks completely different... The place is really beautiful!
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Hot fuge Sundae at McDonald! =p
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Beautiful habour!
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We walked to the fortress as well and I climbed up to the railway track! It's a short cut to get home! Home is just behind!!
I am so in love with Spring! It's just so beautiful!!! It's just like living in a movie. :)
Labels: Finland
3:35 AM
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Monday, April 28, 2008
Today we had a road trip to Luumaki which is about 30 minutes drive towards Kouvola from Lappeenranta. We went there by a mini bus that sets off from our school at 11.30am.
We had a tour in the woods to fortifications system in Luumaki. The fortification line was build in early 1940s and it's over 1200 kilometers long! We had a nice walk in the forest and we visited authentic wartime dugouts, bunkers and a large cave that was used as a wartime hospital! It's kind of interesting to go into the bunkers as it is really dark inside and i have to bend down to get in there. At least you can see how the soliders lived during the war!
We had camp fire in the forest as well... I had fun grilling sausages over the fire. I felt like some cave man! HAHAHA. But i really enjoyed the process of it because i have never cook in a forest before!
The highlight of the trip is to climb down a cliff!! I was really excited about it because i have always wanted to do something like that! But when i got up to the top of the cliff and looked down, i got kind of scare! I was really nervous while waiting for my turn to go down! At the start, i really can't go down because the guy that is supporting the rope said that my position is wrong so i really don't know how. After a long while, i finally managed to get down slowly and in the middle of the cliff i stared to scream uncontrollably! Lolx. My hands were trembling when i reached the ground!!! But at least i am proud of myself because I DID IT! :)
I tried archering too. But i only did it for awhile because there wasn't much time left! It's a pity because i think it's really fun!
It was a really awesome spring trip! Victory! :D
This is the link to the photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111649&l=ad662&id=874370102Labels: Finland
5:04 AM
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Friday, April 25, 2008
I AM FREE!!! Today was Alliance and Partnership Exam and this is the last exam for this period. And English Conversation on Monday will be my last class then i won't have to go to school anymore!
How fast time flies!! I am going back to Singapore SOON. Part of me can't wait to go back home and part of me can't bear to leave... In the past 4 months, i have learnt so much, experience so much and seen so much... It has been such an exciting adventure for me! I am glad that i have survived the harsh winter and now that spring is here it is so much better. I can wear lesser layers of clothes and enjoy the sunlight! The day light is so much longer now. Even at 8pm, it seems like it is only 6pm!
I will sure miss Finland when i go back!!! The first thing i will miss is the weather! Singapore is too warm!! I will miss the food... Altun's Kebab, Karelian pie, stuffed cabbage, lunch at school's canteen (they serve different food everyday), banana yogurt, cinnamon biscuits, cinnamon buns, cinnamon cakes and all the home cook dinners! I will miss the people, the crazy times, the bible study class, the snow and maybe my apartment. But of course i miss my bed in Singapore! It is so much more comfortable than my current bed!! I will definitely miss travelling around Europe!
But then again, all good things come to an end. I will visit Finland again. Some day...
It is 7 days to Russia, St.Petersburg!
12 days to the Scandinavian!
24 days to Singapore!
Labels: Finland
8:29 PM
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Thursday, April 17, 2008
I am glad that Logistics exam is over today!! :)
The whole night was so stress because i only started studying yesterday morning!!
Studied until like 5am... Sleep and got up at 10am to study again...
Took photos to stay awake!! HAHAHA!
Mariana's artwork. The hamburger is ME! And the rest is my family!! LOL!!
Now we are left with one presentation and one exam and my studies here will be over! :)
22/04/08: Cross Cultural Communication presentation
25/04/08: Alliances and Partnership Exam
Labels: Finland
11:06 PM
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Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Cruise to Estonia, Tallinn!!
On Sunday night we cruise to Tallinn from Helsinki with 23 other international students. The journey there was about 3 hours. The ship set off at 9pm and reached Tallinn at 12 mid-night. We can choose to go out or stay on board. We chose to stay on board because once we go out we can only go back at around 4pm. I feel a litte sea sick on the ship because the sea was very rough and it's difficult to walk on the ship steadily.
And so we had a mini cabin party inside the Bulgarian girl's cabin with drinks and chips. It's a mini seven people party. We chatted and chatted until around 1am and went back to our cabin while the rest continued to have party elsewhere. I slept at around 1am and then wake up 3am to chat. I could hardly sleep at all because i feel really uncomfortable and my head's like spinning badly! I think i finally fall asleep only at 4am. I woke up at 6am to shower as we have to leave the ship at 7am!
From there, a bus took us to have breakfast at Reval Hotel Olumpia. After breakfast, we started to explore the city... The buildings are so ancient! It's a beautiful medieval old town... We also went into Tallinn's best cafe! We had a good 6 hours for sight seeing and shopping! I think the time is more than enough for me because the town is rather small and there is nothing interesting to buy from there!!
Finally, we made our way back to the ship at 4.30pm. This time i was really tired so i slept and woke up at 7pm. By then, i can't wait to be back home so that i can sleep!! From Helsinki we boarded the bus and after 3 hours bus journey we finally reached Lappeenranta!! Oh no... i think i am getting lazy to travel around!!
Photos 13.04.08- 14.04.08!
In my cabin.
Having a mini cabin party.
Our ship!
Tallinn Town Hall. The most well-preserved medieval town hall in Northern Europe!
Viru Gates. This gate was built in the 14
th century.
Isn't the sky beautiful?
Look at the steps we have to climb!
Narrow walk way.
Under the tree!
Cheese!
In the middle of the circle!
Goodbye Tallinn!
Labels: Estonia, Tallinn
11:51 PM
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Thursday, April 10, 2008
Today had amazing race around Lappeenranta...!!!
Despite the heavy snow we had a fun day running around! Yes, weather had gone crazy...
Anyway, our team name was Huopatehtaankatu (the name of the street where we are staying at and there is 6 us in the team (Varun, Mariana, Gillian, Jerald, Isabel and I). We started from school at 3pm and by the time we reached back school it was almost 8pm! The weather was freezing cold today and we have to walk around in the cold. After the fifth station, we drive around in Varun's car.
There were 8 stations to be completed. We had to answer questions to some quiz, play pool, sing KTV and some other running games. Of all the station, the one that i like the most is the station at a pub where we have to choose a song and sing! We sang "My heart will go on...". Infact more like shouting!! But it was good. :)
We didn't stay in school to find out about the results as it was too late and we were all tired. But it's the fun that matters!!
And we had leftover beers that we bought to bribe.
Labels: Finland
8:16 AM
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Tuesday, April 08, 2008
No more snow? The snow is starting to melt...
Today and the day before it rain! The rain is cold! This is the second time i experience rain here. The first time was in Helsinki. I rather it snow than rain because rain makes my outer coat really wet!
Today we went to the travel agent to apply for visa to Russia, St. Petersburg. Our visa is the cheapest! It cost 45 euros while for the German girls it's 50 euro and for Mariana from Indonesia it's 58 euro. And the woman told us that they might give us furthur discount.
After that we went to the Gospel Cafe for some pastry and then to the supermarket and headed home. The internet was down yesterday night and could not do any work at all. So it kind of sucks. At least i have completed my Alliances and Partnerships home assignments and case study on Sunday! :)
Tomorrow we will be having something like amazing race around Lappeenranta that is organized by our school. I hope it will be fun! :DLabels: Finland
11:42 PM
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Thursday, April 03, 2008
I don't know why. Ever since daylight saving, time seems to be passing so fast! Time is running out! There are assignments to do, presentation to prepare and exams all in April! And next weekend will be going to Estonia by cruise with other 24 international students!
I must mention Varun here. He is such a nice person that we met over here. We planned with 3 other german girl to go to Russia in May and yesterday he took us to the travel agent to find out about the visa application. After that in the evening, he also came to our flat to advice us on the mode of transport to take and accommodation.
Varun not only helped us with the Russia trip, he also helped us to draft a travel route to Sweden, Norway and Denmark in just 2 hours! Amazing right! We stared with no plans and we ended up with another trip to go! Then around mid-night he still came to our flat to help us with the booking of the transportation and accommodations. He also make sure that the cost is kept to the minimum. We were really touched and thankful for his helpfulness!
For this Scandinavian trip i will be going with Mariana and Gillian only. I pray that we will have a safe journey and we won't meet any crazy people. We have met crazy people in Rome. Lolx... But Jerald might be joining us though.
April April April = Busy Busy Busy.
Thank you God for everything; the good times and the bad times. Thank you for seeing me through the past 3 months. Thank you for the sunlight these days. Making this winter easier to bear. :D
Labels: Finland
3:58 AM
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Hot fuge Sundae at McDonald! =p.JPG)
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We walked to the fortress as well and I climbed up to the railway track! It's a short cut to get home! Home is just behind!! 
Having a mini cabin party.
Our ship! 
Tallinn Town Hall. The most well-preserved medieval town hall in Northern Europe! 
Strolling through the cobberstone streets! 
Viru Gates. This gate was built in the 14th century. 
Isn't the sky beautiful? 
Look at the steps we have to climb! 
Narrow walk way.
Under the tree!
Cheese! 
In the middle of the circle!
No more snow? The snow is starting to melt...