The beginning of the end

This week has been, I think, the most normal one I’ve had so far in Budapest… maybe because of that one of the best ones too. I haven’t done that much, but for a change it feels great!



End of April is the time of the year when everybody has birthdays. So I’ve been celebrating a lot for other people getting older. Outi had her 25th birthday on Tuesday and Charles his 22nd on Friday. We went to eat in a restaurant called Trofea (or something like that). All you can eat and drink for about 10 euros. Not bad, yeah? We sat there as long as we could, three hours. Then they kicked us out. It was a very nice night. Lot of sparkling wine!!

On Friday Fergus talked us to go out in Buda side, the granny side, as we call it. It was his last weekend here so we gave up and went for drinks on castle hill. The view from there is absolutely amazing. Pest is the best, so beautiful.
On Friday I tried on new kind of shoes too. We went bowling! I haven’t done that in ages, but I’m sure that my final score was satisfying enough for a ‘beginner’. I think I still have some hope to be a proper bowler and the shoes are quite cool...

It starts to be the end of Erasmus program for some students. Many people, like Hayley, Fergus and Bozan are going home in few weeks. It is really sad… Luckily I’m able to stay longer but it will be weird without some of my closest friends here. It’s not going to be the same at all.

The sun is still shining here and past few days has been amazingly hot, boiling actually. I’ve been on Margit island every day just hanging around and doing some work. This week has been a bit more successful with my uni stuff. I decided to give up the packaging design course. Simply I don’t have time or energy to do it. My chairs are doing very well. We got the final presentation date and now I have to start building the models and finish my presentation boards.

Oh, it starts to look like I will spend this summer in London. I’ve got three work experience offers from different design offices. I’m very happy about that! And it might be that I have to travel to London before the end of May for job interviews so everybody in Rochester, maybe I’ll see you before summer!!

For those who are not following the world championships of ice hockey I have to tell that Finland has won all the games they have played so far.
On Tuesday they are playing against Russia. It will be the first not so easy game to win. Denmark and Ukraine weren’t that much of adversaries…

I write more later this week… I’m so tired after yesterday that I need to go to get my beauty sleep. Last night was crazy. We went to West Balkan and, well, you all know what happened!



halipusimuiskaukset

To Sanna (Matami)

Like almost everywhere in Europe right now the crazy hot weather has been carrying on here too. I cant get enough of the sun and being outside. It makes me so relaxed but otherwise it is quite dangerous, specially to my schoolwork… I did finish my essay last Friday but after that I haven’t even gave thought about my university career. Uuups!!

I was thinking about this time last year and I’m pretty sure that it was exactly the same. Nothing but having fun was on my mind and the back yard in 24 Rochester Avenue was my favourite spot, even though I had that massive old red van next to me. Matthew, if you by any change read this I really miss you and that tin can of yours. Last time I heard from you, you told me that your van is actually working (in the true meaning of the word). I hope it hasn't changed!

Monday was a normal night in Morrison’s. That place starts to loose its fascination though. It is still a great change to meet people you otherwise would not meet so often, but the fact that it’s always TOO packed has started to really annoy me. And the three free beers are too dangerous to my belly…
Oh, I met Andrea for the first time in weeks. It was great to see her and realize she hasn’t changed a bit. Yeah, it’s only been three weeks but it felt like a lifetime here!! She is so poor with her leg. She is as slow as a turtle but still keeps on smiling and keeps on trying.

Funny thing happened to me on Tuesday. I got a text message from an old, old friend of mine from Helsinki. I haven’t spoken with her in years but every time when I contact her or actually do some serious thinking about all the time we spent together in the 1990’s (God that sounds that I’m old!!!!) something special has happened in her life.
Well, on Monday before I got the message from her I thought what's going on and how is she.
I was thinking about the time when we made a totally random trip to Turku and Tampere. We had hardly any money and we were under 18, but some how we ended up in crazy bars all around Southern Finland.

Wednesday and Thursday were like all the other days. Hanging around in Budapest and enjoying life but Friday… Oh dear, I don’t even want to remember Friday! We had a small dinner party in my flat. As usual it got totally out of hands and we ended up in a club/bar called Szoda. We danced all night and had really, really good time, as far as I know. But the hangover I had on Saturday... You know, it was so bad that I have to mention it.
I haven’t felt like that after my high school graduating party, when I felt so sick that the taxi driver had to stop in the middle of the highway so that I could go speak Norwegian.
Yes, Pirjo came drop by on Sat morning too. I still managed to drag myself to Margit island and moan to Andrea and Galate about my miseries.In the end I survived and had a good night at Galate’s flat… Even though the red wine didn’t taste that nice.

Today we went to Szechenyi spa. Budapest is full of different kinds of spas. Some of the are only open during the summer time, but the one we went today is open all year around. It is a bit different than Kumpula in Helsinki… Here’s some pictures from there. We had relaxing time and went swimming again. The water was a bit warmer than in Balaton…

Now I’m in Szimpla with my computer. I had an interesting day today in other ways too but I can’t really talk about it yet. I'll let you know later!

Puss o kram

If you go visit Andrea's blog there's a quite funny video about English and salmiakki.

Annuskalle iso kiitos etta oot aina (jossain) mua varten. Oot rakas.

I did my weekly routine today: bought Budapest Sun (don’t laugh, it’s not as bad as it might sound) and went to read it on my favourite spot next to Danube. It is strange how you miss simple stuff when you can’t have them… Like I really miss a proper newspaper. It is not the same to read them online.

I love Hesari

Anyway, there was an article about how happy the citizens of EU member states are with their work life. Finnish were the second happiest after Danish.
The article claimed that in general you should live in Northern Europe, leave education as late as possible and preferably run your own business to be satisfied with your life.

Hungarian people are the second miserable with their career lives. Almost 65% were dissatisfied with their incomes and they claimed that they are too stressed and get too much responsibility at their jobs… Now I found out why Hungarians don’t know anything about customer service.

The ice hockey world champion chips starts next week, 27.4. Can’t wait!
I have to mention that Sweden lost to Hungary in a friendly game last month… What’s going on Tre Kronor?

Life less ordinary

Here are few pictures to show you how hard my life has been for the past few days… It looks exhausting, doesn’t it?? The weather here has been absolutely amazing. I can’t believe that it’s this hot in April.
When I woke up in the mornings I almost, just almost, hope that it would be a little bit cloudy because I’m so faaaaar behind with my uni work. It is just physically impossible to stay inside when the sun is in the sky all by itself.



I was working really hard with my essay last week until Anton, the saving angel, told me that the deadline is not until Monday next week. I was relieved but annoyed at the same time. I spent most of my Easter holiday week writing it, but when you sit outside in the sun postmodernism in not the first thing on your mind... Even though my mat was very willing to work with me.

Our trip to Berlin was cancel the day before we were suppose to leave. So we decided to do something else and made a trip to Balaton, the biggest lake in Europe, Northwest from Budapest (I think?).
We booked a hotel from a village called Tihany. Quiet and peaceful, proper granny town actually, but all we wanted, apart from Fergie, was to eat, sleep and sunbathe. The hotel was great. Only thing we missed was some vegetable at the breakfast…

We had troubles on our way to Tihany… We woke up before the sunset on Saturday morning just to be sure we don’t miss any of the amazing weather. The trip there took almost three hours even though it’s only 130 km away. There are at least 20 stops on the way there (next time we’ll rent a car).
Well, we checked the timetables from internet (of course) before Sat but when we got to the train station there wasn’t a train to our destination…!
We asked about it from a very nice ‘English’ speaking lady at the ticket office. She told us “plat form seven, plat form seven”. We went to sat in the train but found out it was a wrong one. Yes, it went to Balaton but the wrong side of the lake. And believe me, it is a big lake. So we missed our train and we had to wait two and half hours for the next one. Thank god Hayley and Fergus lives on the Buda side. We went to have some breakfast to their flat.

By the way Andrea, we are not making any trips without you!!

Luckily Balaton was worth waiting for. That place is so unbelievable beautiful. Tihany reminds me little bit of St. Anton, the village I worked in Austria. Cute houses built on the hills, small shops and restaurants.
It was nice to be in the countryside for a change. Yes, yes, everybody knows I can’t survive without a real bed and a hot shower but still... Grass felt nice under my feet and I even went swimming!!! Twice!! The water was freezing though.

On Saturday we sat outside I, drank few beers and enjoyed the sun and our huge terrace. Sunday was pretty much the same. We ‘broke in’ to this private beach. We didn’t have any problems until an angry looking Hungarian guy came and told us we are not allowed to stay there, at least we think that was what he said… But Gaby went flirting with him and in the end he let us enjoy our day there.
And we stayed until Fergus started to go mad/crazy/bored after four hours. He didn’t enjoy the sun as much as girls so we left the beach, rested and happy.

Now I’m back in Budapest. Feels like I came back home.
School week starts again tomorrow. It feels a bit odd. I haven’t been there in two and half weeks. But maybe it is good to have some meaningful to do again.

I think that’s about it about my last week. We haven’t played molkky in ages. People have been away because of the holidays but hopefully we’ll do it soon again. I need my weekly entertainment and excitement.

It’s not that exciting anymore though… we always beat the French team.

pusipusimusihalipusisuukkomuiskaus

Check this out.

www.britishcheese.com/morethanjustcheese

and click the link 'Cheeseboards of the future revealed".

Monday: I went to Magrit island to write my essey. It was warm.
Tuesday: I went to Margit island again... It was a bit cloudy but ok. Some crazy Hungarian bloke offered me money and tried to take a picture of my feet... I said no.
Wednesday: HOT!! First proper tan lines and I burnt my shoulders. Essay writing is not going so well...
Thursday: HOTHOTHOT!!!

Helsinki & bosom soup

Back in Pest

Helsinki was cold. I was waiting for nice spring weather but it was +1 degree, windy and rainy. Absolutely super cold. I couldn’t wait to get back to Budapest because little French bird sang that the sun is shining and that it was ridiculously warm in Pest. But of course Finland was wonderful in it’s own strange way. It was great to sleep in my own bed, see family and friends. Oh, I have to mention that Nora’s boyfriend is great… Full 10 points. All tough she can’t talk about piereskelysta with him yet. Hahaha.

On Tuesday morning I went to see a dentist. I booked my next appointment for 20th of June so that is the latest when I have to be back in Helsinki. I fell asleep there as usually. I don’t understand why people are so horrified about going to dentist. I think it is relaxing.
In the evening I saw Suvi. We enjoyed some Finnish delights all night, cider (oh dear I’ve missed proper cider), salmiakki, chocolate, Baltic herring and new potatoes (Mika on silli englanniksi?). Nora was with us too.
Wednesday was the day for the funeral. Of course it was very sad but in a good way, if I can say that. It felt like a closer and the ceremony was beautiful.
My mother’s crazy cousins were there also so after the funeral the evening was full of laughter.
We went out every nigh. What a surprise…! But nothing special happened so I’m going to save you from boredom.
I was back in Budapest on Friday evening. My French came to pick me up from the airport.

I had one of my top 10 weirdest experiences in Budapest on Saturday. We went to this club called Studio. I heard before that it is a very fancy place, the club for posh and rich Hungarians BUT I think it was more like a circus. Seriously.
They had all kind of silly performances there: dancing midgets, rocking angels, dancing devils (men with leather shorts and capes), dance group dressed up as alien characters, cheerleaders… etc.
And the people there!! Oh my God! Studio wasn’t full of the cream of Budapest. It was a mixture of meat counter and bosom soup. The experience was interesting but I definitely don’t have to go back there.

It’s quite quiet here at the moment. Many people are home for the Ester holidays. Andrea is in Eger. She just sent me a message that she broke her angle… Poor girl. Now she has to wear a splint for six weeks.

Ok, that’s all for now. I have to go cook some meatballs.

See you later!

Helsinki here I come! 2.4.2007

Once again I have an excellent week behind me. The beginning was quite heavy though. We had our mid term presentation on Friday so I was working my ass off all week (sorry the language). On top of that my mother and my sister came here on Wednesday so I was busy showing them the best terraces and shoe shops in Budapest. In total they bought fife pairs of shoes in four days. Quite impressive, I have to say. Now you know where my shoe-holism comes from…

I was really nervous about the presentation. It’s been a while since I had a critic and specially because of the language barrier I was wondering who will it go. Attila saved me, as usual, and translated my presentation.
There were six masters from different design departments evaluating our works. I presented two chairs instead of three. I had to skip one of my ideas because I have so much work to do with the other design course. All of the masters gave us numbers in 12 different categories, like presentation, design ideas and skills, time management, etc. I got a really good mark, 89 % in total. The masters were so excited about my designs that they said I should keep on working with both of them.
But once again I noticed that I was nervous for nothing...

On Friday we went celebrating. It was a normal night out, except we drank a bottle of Salmiakki kossu with French and German exchange students. They loved the drink but hated the candy. I don’t understand what’s the difference? Salmiakki is wonderful in every way you can eat or drink it…

On Saturday we went to Escer flea market again with Kaisa and my mommy-dearest. They were amazed of the amount of stuff there was and spend money on weirdest things. My mom bought an old toilet flusher. You know one of those ceramic ones that hang from the ceiling.

I was so tired after the night before that I went to bed at 10 o’clock on Sat night. It was nice to sleep though and great to wake up without alarm clock.


On Sunday we had our Molkky tournament again. The weather has been crazy good for the past few days. I’m seriously working on my tan already. Hih.
We sat in Margit hid all day, drank wine, ate and played. It was a wonderful day.


And now I’m sitting on a plane on my way to Helsinki. I have to go back for my uncle’s funeral, which is held on Wednesday. I’m a bit ‘nervous’ but at the same time it is great that I can see all my favourites girlfriends; Jani, Suvi, Anne and Nora. AND I’m going to meet Nora’s boyfriend. That’s so exciting!!
You know this is the first time ever all my best friends are in a relationship at the same time, me included. Fabulous! I’m happy because important people around me are happy.

We finally booked the car for our road trip to Berlin. Me, Yael and Gaby are leaving from Budapest on the 11th and coming back on 16th of April. The drive is about 12 hours so I have plenty of time to write my essay in the car (isn’t the hand-in on 17th?). I don’t think the girls trust me to drive…

I try to get some sleep now.

Putzi x 10000

Ps. All the newspapers in Finland are full of Eurovision news... Already!! The competition is no sooner than in May... And I heard that the Ark (one of my true loves) is presenting Sweden. So I tell you already now that Sweden will win this year with exellent band.. of course Swedish are going to kick our asses in Helsinki.