The past week or so has been amazing, especially this past weekends, probably some of the most fun I've had in an extremely long time. I had the chance to go around the city and explore. The weather wasn't exactly the best, but it was on and off, it only poured down two or three times. And when it wasn't raining, it was sunny, so that was nice. It wasn't completely the things that I saw, but the two other exchange students I was with made it even better. Then that night I went and met my host cousin and her friends and just hung out. It was a lot of fun and I got to make new friends with people from a nearby town, Hamina, which is about 25 kilometers to the East.
On Sunday, I was able to go to a nearby national park with my host-family, and extended host-family, the nature was amazing. It was like something out of a dream. The air was so pure, and the sights so awe inspiring that I couldn't help but hike in silence, just trying to take everything in.
I think I'm finally getting the hang of public transport, and everyday life in general. I can do simple things, like get myself around town pretty easily, I can also do little things, like order a coffee in a shop, or a sub from subway without having to rely on English (granted my Finnish probably isn't the best).
School is school. Except I like it more. No surprise that English is my favorite class, except for the fact that they teach British English, so I occasionally get something "wrong" because I use American English, it's no big deal though.
I'm still getting used to Finnish social practices. I'm mostly used to it by now, but I was on a bus with over 35 people today, for a complete ten minutes, nobody said one word. Like absolute silence. And I thought it was the coolest thing to see. In the US that would never happen.
I'm still doing things here in order to fully adapt, like get my student's card, and my library card. But eventually I'll have been able to have everything I need  in order to do anything I need.
Obviously the idea of consistently updating this has failed. But, all is not lost, and I'll still post more and more.
Today is my one month mark for being here. I feel like I've changed and experienced so much, it makes me excited to even think about what the next 10 months have in store.

Saying goodbye

Just ten more days until I depart to begin my new life in Finland for the next year.
I have begun to say goodbye to all of my friends and family. The words, "I'll see you in a year," sink in pretty quick. I don't have my visa, plane ticket, or passport yet, but I'm hoping those will come in the mail any day now. Everything I'm doing seems to fly by faster than I ever could have imagined. Tomorrow is my last day of work, then I have a few days to pack, and prepare to leave. And then, I'll be on my way. 


It's pretty hard, to say goodbye to everyone you know. Because the entire time, you know that, down deep, you might never see this person again, or your friendship may dissolve over the trials of time.


But it's absolutely worth it. Never before have I been so excited to do something. And never before, have I ever been so close to achieving one of my dreams in life. The people I'll meet, the experiences I'll have, and the things I'll learn, will be priceless.


I cannot honestly say that I am prepared to leave. I still have to pick up a few things, and get gifts for people I don't even know yet, let alone learn the basics of an entirely new language.
I may not be prepared, but I have never been more ready, or eager to do anything like this in my entire life.
Sure I'm getting a little nervous, but after all, as Charles Lindbergh said, "I don't believe in taking unnecessary risks, but a life without risk isn't worth living."


I'll try to keep posting as the year goes on, but no promises. For all I know, nobody is reading this, so I'll post updates, and sometimes make some pretty long entries. At some point I may even switch it over to Finnish, so you might have to translate it into English, or whichever language you happen to speak.


-Sam

The Beginning Stages

I am in the end of my first year of exchange, the preparation year. It is finally time for me to get my stuff together and start thinking of gifts for the people I'll meet, the clothes and shoes I'll pack, and the pins and gifts I'll give. I have but 34 days (about) until I get on that plane and leave everything that I've ever known behind me. On the other side of the ocean.

I finally know who my first host family is,  I've applied for my residence permit, and I'm doing as much as possible to learn the language. The only thing left to do is buy the plane ticket, get on the plane, and have the time of my life.

This blog will cover my year in Finland, and I'll do my best to update it and share my experiences on a regular basis.