Today has been amazing. Yesterday sucked because I slept all day (luckily it was cloudy). BUT today it's sunny warm and glorious!
I got up and opened my window (the pleasures of not having a roommate! *sigh*) and began doing research for my silly Iceland paper, which is imperative that I finish today. Then went for a run, my first run outside the gym, and WOW! I was really hesitant to go running because I like a set path. I like to know how to get back. Well, I somehow ended up by the St. Peter's Church and just kept on going straight for a few minutes and then BAM! It was glorious! I was running beside a highway and there was grass and trees on either side of me. The sun was out. The wind was blowing. Even the Estonians were enjoying the weather by riding bikes, in-line skating, and walking. It was really cute to see families out. Some were teaching kids how to ride bikes, while others were showing the children how to skate. Anyway, it put me in a super super super good mood.
Came back and am now eating a delicious salmon salad. It has really lettuce leaves and fresh basil. *Squee* YEAY! So happy. Now I must write that stupid paper. Ta!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Honorary Dutch for a Day!
I know, I know. I skipped yesterday but I had the intention of writing. I just didn't get up early enough to do so.
Wednesday, April 1
Awesome. I did go to the gym after writing my last post, which surprised me. I didn't know I was that hardcore about working out. Although, by the time I got back I only had an hr to get ready for the soccer match and eat. How did I solve that problem? Well, I got ready with 20 min to spare and raced off to the bakery to get a plethora of goodies. It was funny because the English speaking girl at the bakery knows my usual order: a cabbage roll, a beef roll, and an aleksander...something so she was audibly surprised when I ordered twice as much as usual.
For the day Colin and I became honorary Dutch while we hung out with the real Dutch, Maaike, Maartin, and Auke. It was really a great group to have in Tallinn. Maaike had spent a month previously in Tallinn so she knew which winding roads to take. We walked around and basically fell in love with Tallinn. It's so old and lovely. The doors are AMAZING! Just the way they are painted and the detail in the carvings and the way the wood is placed. Wow! I really can't wait to go there again next weekend for Easter to be a real tourist.
However lovely Tallinn was, we were there for the game: Estonia v. Armenia. The stadium we went to held about 9,000 people so it was relatively small. And it was cold. But having the Dutch with us who knew the football cheers really created a "I'm at a World Cup Qualifying match" atmosphere. I wish I knew some of the cheers before, but luckily with football matches you just have to make noise. I really loved watching the match and it makes me want to go home, lace my fabulous boots up (if Dylan hasn't destroyed them), and go dribble a ball around out back. That's sounds perfect right now. Uh! But yes, back to the game, #9 on Armenia was a drama queen and should quit playing soccer if he is just going to fall, pretend to be hurt and waste my time. If I wanted to see acting, I would have gone to the theater. Geez! In the end, Estonia won 1-0. Yeay! It was during the second half so everyone was really anxious to see them score.
The Dutch stayed in Tallinn that night while Colin and I left on the 11 o'clock bus. When we got back to Tartu (at 1 am, but I was sooo tired. Lame. I know) we stopped by the Micky D's and got some Chicken Premiums. The sandwich guts (mayo, ketchup, and lettuce) got all over our hands and faces. That has been my fattest American moment here. Once again, a lovely ending to a trip.
Thursday, April 2
What a boring day?! I did nothing. Well, I went to class, the gym, and then international food night. International food night was alright; it was great to taste all the "wordly" flavors. I wasn't knocked off my feet by any particular dish though. The American girls made chocolate chip cookies (which were a hit. But really not a surprise, I mean butter, sugar, chocolate. Why wouldn't people love it?) and a variation of rice krispy treats.
Top Row: Maaike, Martin, David (USA), David (Germany) Bottom Row: Colin, Me, Auke, Mathias (Germany)
Wednesday, April 1
Awesome. I did go to the gym after writing my last post, which surprised me. I didn't know I was that hardcore about working out. Although, by the time I got back I only had an hr to get ready for the soccer match and eat. How did I solve that problem? Well, I got ready with 20 min to spare and raced off to the bakery to get a plethora of goodies. It was funny because the English speaking girl at the bakery knows my usual order: a cabbage roll, a beef roll, and an aleksander...something so she was audibly surprised when I ordered twice as much as usual.
For the day Colin and I became honorary Dutch while we hung out with the real Dutch, Maaike, Maartin, and Auke. It was really a great group to have in Tallinn. Maaike had spent a month previously in Tallinn so she knew which winding roads to take. We walked around and basically fell in love with Tallinn. It's so old and lovely. The doors are AMAZING! Just the way they are painted and the detail in the carvings and the way the wood is placed. Wow! I really can't wait to go there again next weekend for Easter to be a real tourist.
However lovely Tallinn was, we were there for the game: Estonia v. Armenia. The stadium we went to held about 9,000 people so it was relatively small. And it was cold. But having the Dutch with us who knew the football cheers really created a "I'm at a World Cup Qualifying match" atmosphere. I wish I knew some of the cheers before, but luckily with football matches you just have to make noise. I really loved watching the match and it makes me want to go home, lace my fabulous boots up (if Dylan hasn't destroyed them), and go dribble a ball around out back. That's sounds perfect right now. Uh! But yes, back to the game, #9 on Armenia was a drama queen and should quit playing soccer if he is just going to fall, pretend to be hurt and waste my time. If I wanted to see acting, I would have gone to the theater. Geez! In the end, Estonia won 1-0. Yeay! It was during the second half so everyone was really anxious to see them score.
The Dutch stayed in Tallinn that night while Colin and I left on the 11 o'clock bus. When we got back to Tartu (at 1 am, but I was sooo tired. Lame. I know) we stopped by the Micky D's and got some Chicken Premiums. The sandwich guts (mayo, ketchup, and lettuce) got all over our hands and faces. That has been my fattest American moment here. Once again, a lovely ending to a trip.
Thursday, April 2
What a boring day?! I did nothing. Well, I went to class, the gym, and then international food night. International food night was alright; it was great to taste all the "wordly" flavors. I wasn't knocked off my feet by any particular dish though. The American girls made chocolate chip cookies (which were a hit. But really not a surprise, I mean butter, sugar, chocolate. Why wouldn't people love it?) and a variation of rice krispy treats.
Top Row: Maaike, Martin, David (USA), David (Germany) Bottom Row: Colin, Me, Auke, Mathias (Germany)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
I've Seen the Light
I have decided to try and write every day. I know, it's revolutionary and requires tons of discipline, but I think it will be easier than trying to remember what occurred every day at the end of the month, which I tried to do this morning. Failure!
On Sunday after writing my entry, Peter and I met Colin and his friends at the Tartu Choir concert. Poor, Gen was there too, but didn't know how to get in the room. It was really cool and made me miss choir. Alas! We left early because I was hungry, and I suspect Peter was too. (That happens a lot these days. I am so lazy I don't feel like eating. Ugh! But when I do, watch out! Eh! That sounds totally unhealthy! Oh geez can't wait for summer and all the fresh things from the garden! I'll eat all the time.) Anyway, while at my dorm I checked up on UNCG's choirs and BIG news! One of our choirs got chosen to sing on Ben Folds new album! What, what?! So that totally made me happy.
Monday, March 30
Got up, did my hair. Now, this may not seem too important but sadly folks I haven't like attempted to look nice in like a month or two. Sad, I know. Mmm then went to the bakery got my favorite (or some of my favorite) treats: the cabbage roll (it's better than it sounds), the beef roll, and the shortbread with jam in the middle cookie for brunch before class. When I got to class my prof told me that we were going to City Hall to meet the Deputy Mayor, which I totally had forgotten about! Therefore, it was pointless to bring my laptop, the charger, my Russian notes, and that class's notes. I was so prepared to entertain myself for allotted time. The meeting was neat, although dry and slightly dull. It was worth it just to sit at a round table and pretend to talk politics. Yeay! Go me!
That night I went to the gym and found out I only have 4 days left of my membership, which breaks my heart into a billion pieces. I love the track and all those fit people whose muscles bulge out of their lycra outfits. I think I will survive. No gym membership, means I have to start running outside and play on the playgrounds more often for strength training.
Tuesday, March 31
..that's today...I am going to help out at the orphanage. Heeheehee. So excited! In my made-up world, the children would sing the songs from Annie in Estonian and know all the dances; however, Whitney tells me this rarely happens in the real world. I am sure the experience will be just as entertaining (or traumatizing) though.
On Sunday after writing my entry, Peter and I met Colin and his friends at the Tartu Choir concert. Poor, Gen was there too, but didn't know how to get in the room. It was really cool and made me miss choir. Alas! We left early because I was hungry, and I suspect Peter was too. (That happens a lot these days. I am so lazy I don't feel like eating. Ugh! But when I do, watch out! Eh! That sounds totally unhealthy! Oh geez can't wait for summer and all the fresh things from the garden! I'll eat all the time.) Anyway, while at my dorm I checked up on UNCG's choirs and BIG news! One of our choirs got chosen to sing on Ben Folds new album! What, what?! So that totally made me happy.
Monday, March 30
Got up, did my hair. Now, this may not seem too important but sadly folks I haven't like attempted to look nice in like a month or two. Sad, I know. Mmm then went to the bakery got my favorite (or some of my favorite) treats: the cabbage roll (it's better than it sounds), the beef roll, and the shortbread with jam in the middle cookie for brunch before class. When I got to class my prof told me that we were going to City Hall to meet the Deputy Mayor, which I totally had forgotten about! Therefore, it was pointless to bring my laptop, the charger, my Russian notes, and that class's notes. I was so prepared to entertain myself for allotted time. The meeting was neat, although dry and slightly dull. It was worth it just to sit at a round table and pretend to talk politics. Yeay! Go me!
That night I went to the gym and found out I only have 4 days left of my membership, which breaks my heart into a billion pieces. I love the track and all those fit people whose muscles bulge out of their lycra outfits. I think I will survive. No gym membership, means I have to start running outside and play on the playgrounds more often for strength training.
Tuesday, March 31
..that's today...I am going to help out at the orphanage. Heeheehee. So excited! In my made-up world, the children would sing the songs from Annie in Estonian and know all the dances; however, Whitney tells me this rarely happens in the real world. I am sure the experience will be just as entertaining (or traumatizing) though.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Eh, Commitment, Maybe?
I have decided to try and write every day. I know, it's revolutionary and requires tons of discipline, but I think it will be easier than trying to remember what occurred every day at the end of the month, which I tried to do this morning. Failure!
On Sunday after writing my entry, Peter and I met Colin and his friends at the Tartu Choir concert. Poor, Gen was there too, but didn't know how to get in the room. It was really cool and made me miss choir. Alas! We left early because I was hungry, and I suspect Peter was too. (That happens a lot these days. I am so lazy I don't feel like eating. Ugh! But when I do, watch out! Eh! That sounds totally unhealthy! Oh geez can't wait for summer and all the fresh things from the garden! I'll eat all the time.) Anyway, while at my dorm I checked up on UNCG's choirs and BIG news! One of our choirs got chosen to sing on Ben Folds new album! What, what?! So that totally made me happy.
Monday, March 30
Got up, did my hair. Now, this may not seem too important but sadly folks I haven't like attempted to look nice in like a month or two. Sad, I know. Mmm then went to the bakery got my favorite (or some of my favorite) treats: the cabbage roll (it's better than it sounds), the beef roll, and the shortbread with jam in the middle cookie for brunch before class. When I got to class my prof told me that we were going to City Hall to meet the Deputy Mayor, which I totally had forgotten about! Therefore, it was pointless to bring my laptop, the charger, my Russian notes, and that class's notes. I was so prepared to entertain myself for allotted time. The meeting was neat, although dry and slightly dull. It was worth it just to sit at a round table and pretend to talk politics. Yeay! Go me!
That night I went to the gym and found out I only have 4 days left of my membership, which breaks my heart into a billion pieces. I love the track and all those fit people whose muscles bulge out of their lycra outfits. I think I will survive. No gym membership, means I have to start running outside and play on the playgrounds more often for strength training.
Tuesday, March 31
..that's today...I am going to help out at the orphanage. Heeheehee. So excited! In my made-up world, the children would sing the songs from Annie in Estonian and know all the dances; however, Whitney tells me this rarely happens in the real world. I am sure the experience will be just as entertaining (or traumatizing) though.
On Sunday after writing my entry, Peter and I met Colin and his friends at the Tartu Choir concert. Poor, Gen was there too, but didn't know how to get in the room. It was really cool and made me miss choir. Alas! We left early because I was hungry, and I suspect Peter was too. (That happens a lot these days. I am so lazy I don't feel like eating. Ugh! But when I do, watch out! Eh! That sounds totally unhealthy! Oh geez can't wait for summer and all the fresh things from the garden! I'll eat all the time.) Anyway, while at my dorm I checked up on UNCG's choirs and BIG news! One of our choirs got chosen to sing on Ben Folds new album! What, what?! So that totally made me happy.
Monday, March 30
Got up, did my hair. Now, this may not seem too important but sadly folks I haven't like attempted to look nice in like a month or two. Sad, I know. Mmm then went to the bakery got my favorite (or some of my favorite) treats: the cabbage roll (it's better than it sounds), the beef roll, and the shortbread with jam in the middle cookie for brunch before class. When I got to class my prof told me that we were going to City Hall to meet the Deputy Mayor, which I totally had forgotten about! Therefore, it was pointless to bring my laptop, the charger, my Russian notes, and that class's notes. I was so prepared to entertain myself for allotted time. The meeting was neat, although dry and slightly dull. It was worth it just to sit at a round table and pretend to talk politics. Yeay! Go me!
That night I went to the gym and found out I only have 4 days left of my membership, which breaks my heart into a billion pieces. I love the track and all those fit people whose muscles bulge out of their lycra outfits. I think I will survive. No gym membership, means I have to start running outside and play on the playgrounds more often for strength training.
Tuesday, March 31
..that's today...I am going to help out at the orphanage. Heeheehee. So excited! In my made-up world, the children would sing the songs from Annie in Estonian and know all the dances; however, Whitney tells me this rarely happens in the real world. I am sure the experience will be just as entertaining (or traumatizing) though.
What?! Another Week's Gone By?
Amazingly, it's the beginning of yet another week.
Friday, March 27
We decided to go the Tartu Art museum with Ali and Thomas in the early afternoon. The museum is in a bubble gum pink building that leans to one side. It is Estonia's equivalent of the Leaning Tower in Pisa, Italy. I was not really sure what to expect inside since I didn't do any research. So it was a surprise!
The first floor was covered in sketches and statues by Anton Starkopf, an Estonian sculptor from the 20th century. The sketches were amazing especially since all of his subjects were people and it is one of my goals in life to properly draw people. So I spent a lot of brain power studying the different shapes he used for the torsos of both women and men, etc. His shading was pretty intense too. The statues were pretty interesting. In the first room, there was a wooden statue (oohh I know amazing!) called Devotion and I was like I need that. Sadly, there were no postcards of it at the desk. Then in the last room, there was a bronze statue called Embarrassed where the girl was crumpled on her knees covering herself spewing forth the emotion. I had to chuckle though because I could totally imagine that being me falling off my bike in London.
As I said I spent most of my time focusing on the first floor. The second floor was eh. A few paintings caught my eye but just because of the way it was painted (impressionism again!! *squee*). There was one of three men standing side by side and all had the same colour selection of jackets (greens and browns); however you could tell where one ended and one began. In that same room, there was also one of two hooded women in a field of grain that I enjoyed. I love when you can't see the faces of people in art. In the third room, there was a painting of an orchestra that Colin thought had tons of political meaning behind it, and I was thinking about the art techniques and how everyone was positioned and such. So I guess it's a good thing that I am studying studio art rather than art history since I am more concerned with technique vs. political implications.
The third floor was Soviet Art, which I think when I go back I'll find more entertaining, because by then I was dead and ever so depressed (which isn't the best way to tour a Soviet art collection). Going to museums make me this way due to the fact that I can never be as awesome as the people who created the art. One of the paintings that stood out was called Scorch and Burn, or something like that. The forefront was composed of reds and oranges with a black tree in the lower right corner and a black house separating the red sky from red fields. I really liked how there were globs of paint that weren't smoothed out. It just makes my day when artists leave that kind of stuff.
After the art museum we went to visit some churches that Peter had found. On the way there was an awesome playground, on which we all thoroughly enjoyed playing.
Saturday, March 28
Chillax day. Nothing really occurred except I bought my ticket to go to the Armenia v. Estonia World Cup Qualifying match on Wednesday. I also hosted tea for two Estonian students who may be attending UNCG next semester. Uh! Love our international scene! We then went to Illegard to pick up my ticket, watch some football, and celebrate Gen getting the Social Justice Position at her university. Sadly, I wasn't in a big partying mood (I blame the test earlier this week for messing up my sleeping schedule.). Eventually we went home and then I went back out with Peter for a walk. We managed to walk almost all of our routes, which was pretty cool because I wanted to go to some spots twice. He was a good sport.
Somehow during our walk we realized it was daylight savings in Estonia and started to freak out because Colin had friends coming in from Russia later on in the day (early morning for some people). We decided not to call him at 4 am but get up early, meet the girls at the station, and bring them back to Raatuse if Colin wasn't there at the station. So got home, went to bed, froze to death, slept, got up at 8:45, marched downstairs to meet Peter, and began to walk to the station. It was sooo nice outside. It was gray and almost rainy. I thinking if only it was spring with grass, perhaps this would have been my favorite morning! On the way, we were joking about how funny it would be if the girls missed their bus b/c of daylight savings. The bus comes...no Americans come off. So we call Colin and apparently, the girls did miss their bus and were coming later. Ah! It seriously made my morning. I love irony. Jeez! So went back to the dorm, cleaned, took a shower, and laid in bed listening to BBC radio, which had a panel of specialists debating about the relevance of Roman jokes in today's society. Alas! I adore the BBC. I was perfectly happy for an hour until I had to get ready for Werner.
So here, another Sunday afternoon at Werner at our table for eight with my cafe latte and quiche relaxing on pillows. Serenity in Estonia.
Oh! i forgot...watched a movie this week... ah! I remember "I am Sam." The movie was about a handicapped man with the mental capacity of a 7 year old trying to raise a daughter by himself. It was a feel good movie in the long run. I think I connected most with the lawyer who represented Sam in the family courts. She was so focused on her career that her home life was crumbling around her, which I am totally afraid of becoming and that's what killed me the whole time. I think if I had watched it by myself I would have emptied a box of tissues. And it was Beatles oriented. Heeheehee. Alas! But it gave me something to think about for the night.
Friday, March 27
We decided to go the Tartu Art museum with Ali and Thomas in the early afternoon. The museum is in a bubble gum pink building that leans to one side. It is Estonia's equivalent of the Leaning Tower in Pisa, Italy. I was not really sure what to expect inside since I didn't do any research. So it was a surprise!
The first floor was covered in sketches and statues by Anton Starkopf, an Estonian sculptor from the 20th century. The sketches were amazing especially since all of his subjects were people and it is one of my goals in life to properly draw people. So I spent a lot of brain power studying the different shapes he used for the torsos of both women and men, etc. His shading was pretty intense too. The statues were pretty interesting. In the first room, there was a wooden statue (oohh I know amazing!) called Devotion and I was like I need that. Sadly, there were no postcards of it at the desk. Then in the last room, there was a bronze statue called Embarrassed where the girl was crumpled on her knees covering herself spewing forth the emotion. I had to chuckle though because I could totally imagine that being me falling off my bike in London.
As I said I spent most of my time focusing on the first floor. The second floor was eh. A few paintings caught my eye but just because of the way it was painted (impressionism again!! *squee*). There was one of three men standing side by side and all had the same colour selection of jackets (greens and browns); however you could tell where one ended and one began. In that same room, there was also one of two hooded women in a field of grain that I enjoyed. I love when you can't see the faces of people in art. In the third room, there was a painting of an orchestra that Colin thought had tons of political meaning behind it, and I was thinking about the art techniques and how everyone was positioned and such. So I guess it's a good thing that I am studying studio art rather than art history since I am more concerned with technique vs. political implications.
The third floor was Soviet Art, which I think when I go back I'll find more entertaining, because by then I was dead and ever so depressed (which isn't the best way to tour a Soviet art collection). Going to museums make me this way due to the fact that I can never be as awesome as the people who created the art. One of the paintings that stood out was called Scorch and Burn, or something like that. The forefront was composed of reds and oranges with a black tree in the lower right corner and a black house separating the red sky from red fields. I really liked how there were globs of paint that weren't smoothed out. It just makes my day when artists leave that kind of stuff.
After the art museum we went to visit some churches that Peter had found. On the way there was an awesome playground, on which we all thoroughly enjoyed playing.
Saturday, March 28
Chillax day. Nothing really occurred except I bought my ticket to go to the Armenia v. Estonia World Cup Qualifying match on Wednesday. I also hosted tea for two Estonian students who may be attending UNCG next semester. Uh! Love our international scene! We then went to Illegard to pick up my ticket, watch some football, and celebrate Gen getting the Social Justice Position at her university. Sadly, I wasn't in a big partying mood (I blame the test earlier this week for messing up my sleeping schedule.). Eventually we went home and then I went back out with Peter for a walk. We managed to walk almost all of our routes, which was pretty cool because I wanted to go to some spots twice. He was a good sport.
Somehow during our walk we realized it was daylight savings in Estonia and started to freak out because Colin had friends coming in from Russia later on in the day (early morning for some people). We decided not to call him at 4 am but get up early, meet the girls at the station, and bring them back to Raatuse if Colin wasn't there at the station. So got home, went to bed, froze to death, slept, got up at 8:45, marched downstairs to meet Peter, and began to walk to the station. It was sooo nice outside. It was gray and almost rainy. I thinking if only it was spring with grass, perhaps this would have been my favorite morning! On the way, we were joking about how funny it would be if the girls missed their bus b/c of daylight savings. The bus comes...no Americans come off. So we call Colin and apparently, the girls did miss their bus and were coming later. Ah! It seriously made my morning. I love irony. Jeez! So went back to the dorm, cleaned, took a shower, and laid in bed listening to BBC radio, which had a panel of specialists debating about the relevance of Roman jokes in today's society. Alas! I adore the BBC. I was perfectly happy for an hour until I had to get ready for Werner.
So here, another Sunday afternoon at Werner at our table for eight with my cafe latte and quiche relaxing on pillows. Serenity in Estonia.
Oh! i forgot...watched a movie this week... ah! I remember "I am Sam." The movie was about a handicapped man with the mental capacity of a 7 year old trying to raise a daughter by himself. It was a feel good movie in the long run. I think I connected most with the lawyer who represented Sam in the family courts. She was so focused on her career that her home life was crumbling around her, which I am totally afraid of becoming and that's what killed me the whole time. I think if I had watched it by myself I would have emptied a box of tissues. And it was Beatles oriented. Heeheehee. Alas! But it gave me something to think about for the night.
Friday, March 27, 2009
New Update
This week was relatively abnormal on many accounts. It mainly began on Sunday as all weeks do; however, I just realized this while debating in my head where I should start. Sunday seems like the appropriate day because that is the day I became proactive in Estonia.
Sunday, March 22
The Americans spent the day at Werner, the closest thing we have to a coffee shop. Technically, by definition, it is a coffee shop; it sells coffee. Werner does not sell the fraps or mochas etc that other coffee shops sell at home. ***oh I miss Taste Buds! This just hit me, uh!***The decor is plush: purples, black, and white on couches and pillows. It's a really nice scene. We went there to do homework. Personally, I had to study for a test I had on Tuesday in Baltic Sea Region Economies. I had not read anything so I was freaking out, but after four articles I decided to work on my schedule for next year. While working, I found my second major, Problems in a Global Society. I basically get to learn about the human aspect in addition to poliy of environmental studies, which is what I have been looking for. Amazing! So I was stressed, and hungry when we left so Gen, Colin and I made veggie lasagna (not my best) while Pete hung out with an Estonian that interviewed Colin earlier in the day.
Monday and Tuesday, March 23 and 24
Still had to study for that silly test. I had the teacher for another class that day and decided to tell him that the materials were not on the study system, which he immediately fixed. That made my night much more enjoyable. I went to Palo's goodbye party downstairs in the Old Indian Pub after Ancient Near East class. It was a shame that he was in isolation for the majority of his stay. So came home from his party, read one group of slides, fell asleep, woke up at 6, studied, went to bed at 9:30, got up at 12, studied, went to class at 2. The test, I felt, was easy although I probably did not do well. Then I went to the gym and had a crappy work-out. Yeay! ...not really.
Wednesday, March 25
My day off, yeay! I don't have classes on Wednesday so I clean and such. This Wednesday I had to work on migration papers. I still don't have my residency in Estonia due to my insurance, but I refuse to buy insurance for 2 months. Pff really? Uh! Anyway, also bought my dress for casino night. It gorgeous and I totally love it. I can't decided on my fav part b/c it's that wonderful, although I wish it was just 1/2 in shorter. Casino night was posh at the Tikke Tiger. Peter and Colin played poker while Gen and I chatted it up with other internationals. During the event, they had a live band, which made me so happy because I thought of Salisbury's Night Out.*oh* Afterwards we went to Peppe's birthday at Zavhood and had Italian-made tiramisu. Mmmmm.
On Wednesday it also hit me that I am in Estonia! Omg! Oh kinda makes me sad that now I know where I am and won't be in a couple of months. Tear drop! I suppose, ending with a naked bike ride in London is not that bad either. I'll just keep telling myself that.
Thursday, March 26
One of the most amazing days in Estonia. The battle between spring and winter continued yesterday. At times it would be sunny outside and then like when I was leaving Werner, where I had lunch, I was blinded by the huge soft soft flakes. I really wanted to just twirl around, laugh, and fall in a pile of snow, but I had class to attend and didn't want to scare the Estonians.
In Estonian Culture this week we were in a new classroom which did not allow me to use my computer so I had to learn. I walked in late (due to deliciousness at Werner) and entered while a VHS was playing. The video was one of the most amusing I've seen in a while. Black and white, silent film, drawn. At first I was horrified, because these people who were dancing looked so gaunt and haunting. It was so amusing b/c the you could tell what each couple wanted. Like the fat lady and the small man, I figured the fat lady wanted to be loved and all she could get was this little man who enjoyed being suffocated by her huge breasts. I feel like I identified most with that couple not cause I have huge boobs or scary dwarves following me around, but whatevs. But then the people looked normal when the fiddle began to play. It was like when the clarinet played I feel like their most selfish desires were shown and when the fiddle played, everyone relaxed. It wasn't so obvious then. Towards the end the clarinet player wins and everyone turns into trees. One of the most memorable scenes was when the people turn into trees and the boobs of the women turn into a tree and these little scary imp things start drinking the outpouring liquid in a drunken state. Weird, but it made me laugh. I love when movies are so weird, just makes my day. And it did! .. now that i think about it, it reminds me of the animated movies of Maurice Sendak's books. Loved those as a child!
We talked about the beginning of the Soviet Era in Estonia. One phrase she used when talking about the Soviet censorship that was like wow. "A massacre of the printed word." It sounds so poetic like all these words are so kind and then wham! Wiped out. I really enjoyed the imagery. Also saw two paintings I need to own. Picture of Koidula by Adamson Eric was pretty amazing, but this might be because I love pastels. They are one of my favorite media. Um and then Council of Art Rating An Artwork by Kits, which is about the censorship of paintings during the occupation. Both are impressionism, which might be another reason why I love them so. Some other fun facts I learned, lots of kids were in orphanages because their parents had been deported. It never really had occurred to me before to think what happened to the children. We also watched this video that I enjoyed because it freaked me out ....ah! Estonians never cease to amaze me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR-gCT3jx80
But that wasn't the end of my awesome day, truly it was only the beginning and it was only 4. While in class I debated which languages to learn. I decided on French (already know that), Finish/Swedish/Norwegian (I can't decide, eh!), Arabic, Russian, and Urudu. Then Whit will teach me Spanish, German, and Japanese. This made me happy. Went to Zavhood to talk to some Estonians with Gen and Peter. Then we made crepes. The End.
Oh, wait! On Wednesday like I said I was proactive, so I emailed all these people back at university and I received replies. So far they have been really positive, which made Thursday even more amazing. Yeay! Go me! Now it's the end. You can leave. Cheers!
Sunday, March 22
The Americans spent the day at Werner, the closest thing we have to a coffee shop. Technically, by definition, it is a coffee shop; it sells coffee. Werner does not sell the fraps or mochas etc that other coffee shops sell at home. ***oh I miss Taste Buds! This just hit me, uh!***The decor is plush: purples, black, and white on couches and pillows. It's a really nice scene. We went there to do homework. Personally, I had to study for a test I had on Tuesday in Baltic Sea Region Economies. I had not read anything so I was freaking out, but after four articles I decided to work on my schedule for next year. While working, I found my second major, Problems in a Global Society. I basically get to learn about the human aspect in addition to poliy of environmental studies, which is what I have been looking for. Amazing! So I was stressed, and hungry when we left so Gen, Colin and I made veggie lasagna (not my best) while Pete hung out with an Estonian that interviewed Colin earlier in the day.
Monday and Tuesday, March 23 and 24
Still had to study for that silly test. I had the teacher for another class that day and decided to tell him that the materials were not on the study system, which he immediately fixed. That made my night much more enjoyable. I went to Palo's goodbye party downstairs in the Old Indian Pub after Ancient Near East class. It was a shame that he was in isolation for the majority of his stay. So came home from his party, read one group of slides, fell asleep, woke up at 6, studied, went to bed at 9:30, got up at 12, studied, went to class at 2. The test, I felt, was easy although I probably did not do well. Then I went to the gym and had a crappy work-out. Yeay! ...not really.
Wednesday, March 25
My day off, yeay! I don't have classes on Wednesday so I clean and such. This Wednesday I had to work on migration papers. I still don't have my residency in Estonia due to my insurance, but I refuse to buy insurance for 2 months. Pff really? Uh! Anyway, also bought my dress for casino night. It gorgeous and I totally love it. I can't decided on my fav part b/c it's that wonderful, although I wish it was just 1/2 in shorter. Casino night was posh at the Tikke Tiger. Peter and Colin played poker while Gen and I chatted it up with other internationals. During the event, they had a live band, which made me so happy because I thought of Salisbury's Night Out.*oh* Afterwards we went to Peppe's birthday at Zavhood and had Italian-made tiramisu. Mmmmm.
On Wednesday it also hit me that I am in Estonia! Omg! Oh kinda makes me sad that now I know where I am and won't be in a couple of months. Tear drop! I suppose, ending with a naked bike ride in London is not that bad either. I'll just keep telling myself that.
Thursday, March 26
One of the most amazing days in Estonia. The battle between spring and winter continued yesterday. At times it would be sunny outside and then like when I was leaving Werner, where I had lunch, I was blinded by the huge soft soft flakes. I really wanted to just twirl around, laugh, and fall in a pile of snow, but I had class to attend and didn't want to scare the Estonians.
In Estonian Culture this week we were in a new classroom which did not allow me to use my computer so I had to learn. I walked in late (due to deliciousness at Werner) and entered while a VHS was playing. The video was one of the most amusing I've seen in a while. Black and white, silent film, drawn. At first I was horrified, because these people who were dancing looked so gaunt and haunting. It was so amusing b/c the you could tell what each couple wanted. Like the fat lady and the small man, I figured the fat lady wanted to be loved and all she could get was this little man who enjoyed being suffocated by her huge breasts. I feel like I identified most with that couple not cause I have huge boobs or scary dwarves following me around, but whatevs. But then the people looked normal when the fiddle began to play. It was like when the clarinet played I feel like their most selfish desires were shown and when the fiddle played, everyone relaxed. It wasn't so obvious then. Towards the end the clarinet player wins and everyone turns into trees. One of the most memorable scenes was when the people turn into trees and the boobs of the women turn into a tree and these little scary imp things start drinking the outpouring liquid in a drunken state. Weird, but it made me laugh. I love when movies are so weird, just makes my day. And it did! .. now that i think about it, it reminds me of the animated movies of Maurice Sendak's books. Loved those as a child!
We talked about the beginning of the Soviet Era in Estonia. One phrase she used when talking about the Soviet censorship that was like wow. "A massacre of the printed word." It sounds so poetic like all these words are so kind and then wham! Wiped out. I really enjoyed the imagery. Also saw two paintings I need to own. Picture of Koidula by Adamson Eric was pretty amazing, but this might be because I love pastels. They are one of my favorite media. Um and then Council of Art Rating An Artwork by Kits, which is about the censorship of paintings during the occupation. Both are impressionism, which might be another reason why I love them so. Some other fun facts I learned, lots of kids were in orphanages because their parents had been deported. It never really had occurred to me before to think what happened to the children. We also watched this video that I enjoyed because it freaked me out ....ah! Estonians never cease to amaze me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR-gCT3jx80
But that wasn't the end of my awesome day, truly it was only the beginning and it was only 4. While in class I debated which languages to learn. I decided on French (already know that), Finish/Swedish/Norwegian (I can't decide, eh!), Arabic, Russian, and Urudu. Then Whit will teach me Spanish, German, and Japanese. This made me happy. Went to Zavhood to talk to some Estonians with Gen and Peter. Then we made crepes. The End.
Oh, wait! On Wednesday like I said I was proactive, so I emailed all these people back at university and I received replies. So far they have been really positive, which made Thursday even more amazing. Yeay! Go me! Now it's the end. You can leave. Cheers!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
I Give Up
So I give up writing about Helsinki. I know, I know, you all are wondering what happened to the fearless heroes. Well, we can treat this two ways. First, I could say it's like the end of a television series who only had one season. Or I could tell you that everyone lived happily ever after and plan to go to Norway in April.
Oops! Now that I've told you...I am totally excited to go KAYAKING in the FJORDS!!! We are planning to go the second to last weekend in April. Yeay!
Today is actually the first day were I have accomplished something worthwhile. I cleaned the flat! Although, no need for that much celebration, I still have an incredibly long list of assignments to complete.
This upcoming weekend Leigha, from North Carolina, and I are planning to fulfill one of the requirements for our honors course by going to Poland. As of right now, I am not that excited, but it's Poland! I am sure once I get there I will feel much better. I suppose, I like not thinking about trips so then I have no expectations. As a result, once I get there, I am always immensely happy.
Oops! Now that I've told you...I am totally excited to go KAYAKING in the FJORDS!!! We are planning to go the second to last weekend in April. Yeay!
Today is actually the first day were I have accomplished something worthwhile. I cleaned the flat! Although, no need for that much celebration, I still have an incredibly long list of assignments to complete.
This upcoming weekend Leigha, from North Carolina, and I are planning to fulfill one of the requirements for our honors course by going to Poland. As of right now, I am not that excited, but it's Poland! I am sure once I get there I will feel much better. I suppose, I like not thinking about trips so then I have no expectations. As a result, once I get there, I am always immensely happy.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Finland!!
So my lovelies, I have decided to try blogging again. This time I actually have something worthwhile to talk about (aka Finland) although as we all must acknowledge, the midlife crisis a dryer is very important. Perhaps not to some, but for instance the Maytag man, I am sure he'd love the dryers here.
Anyway, gather around children as I tell the story of a magical land called Finland, where travelers can only hope to explore if they find the right wardrobe in the highest-rated hostel. It began a long time ago, two weeks, when our four heroes, Genevieve, Peter, Colin, and Kelsey found themselves left behind for the weekend in the international dorm while their fellow internationals were, well, being international. Many had left to see the old, yet expensive city of Riga (Latvia), while another when to Tallinn and Helsinki. In spite of their self inflicted abandonment, they decided to come together (over chili cheese hashbrowns, beer, and Blazing Saddles) and take a trip to Helsinki the next weekend.
That week they divided and conquered. Everyone had different tasks to accomplish such as finding housing, the cost of transportation, entertainment, and touristy things to do. The Finnish consume the most coffee when compared to other countries (oddly enough, never saw a Startbucks there). My guess is perhaps because the alcohol is SO expensive there (about $6 a beer). As a result, bringing beers in addition to clothes was also arranged. Planning the trip was not the only obstacle facing the four travelers, staying home that Wednesday night instead of going to Illusion, a club that used to be a Soviet theater, almost killed our favorite, Kelsey.
So Thursday morning, the sleepy excited travelers clambered down the freshly waxed stairs of the dormitory into dark snowy wonderland that is Tartu at 4am. On the bus ride from Tartu to Tallinn Kelsey (who really needed the sleep) managed to nap. Unlike her bus ride from the airport to the university many weeks ago, she managed to sleep without creating a waterfall of drool on window.
Now, the ferry that would take them across the Baltic to Helsinki, was going to leave within an hour of the group arriving in Tallinn. Surprisingly, none of them had extensive knowledge of the town; however, Peter managed to steal Kelsey's map of Tallinn and correctly navigate them to the harbor. Sadly, Kelsey slipped and fell so many damn times! It was traumatizing. Fortunately, her beer managed to make it onto the ferry without a single crack. In general they were lucky to make it onto the ferry (the people and the beers) because when the explorers arrived to the harbor, ticket sales had officially closed. But as fate would have it, the robotic-like saleswomen allowed all four to buy tickets. It was quite a scene, my dears. Wallets were flying, sweaty passports coming out of secret pockets located beneath layers of clothes, the steely sound of "Please hurry" coming from within the glass containers, the faint clinking sound of beer bottles rattling as the travelers made their way through the endless hallway to the boat, and the alarming warning beep to signal that the boat was leaving.
The travelers were on a boat, perhaps not with flippy floppies, but they were on a boat... in the icy Baltic!
h/o... will get back to this. (5 minutes later) Sorry, I had to decimate some pear yogurt.
So where was I? Mk, the Americans landed in Finland! And they were hungry! But before they could delve into a vat of Finnish goodness, they had to check into Helsinki's highest-rated hostel, of which I cannot remember the name. However, it was the best! The charming and wise hostel lady suggested to the weary travelers that the pizza buffet, Iguana was cheap and they could stuff their faces without looking to suspicious. Now, here comes one of the magical parts. Are you ready? ...The water was free! I know, omg! There were three kinds of pizza, salad, and chips/salsa! Once they had reached their fill, they returned to the hostel for a short nap of three hours.
That night due to the high exchange rate of kroons to euros, the group made spaghetti and played Spades. This time the loosing team had to eat a handful of spaghetti instead of the traditional chocolate vodka shots as punishment. After a few duels, they decided to go to a bar. Located in the basement of an Italian restaurant, the Ice Bar was as the name suggests, composed of ice. The walls were ice. The tables were ice. The bar shelves were ice. And there was ice in the drinks. Each person tried different vodka mix .
Anyway, gather around children as I tell the story of a magical land called Finland, where travelers can only hope to explore if they find the right wardrobe in the highest-rated hostel. It began a long time ago, two weeks, when our four heroes, Genevieve, Peter, Colin, and Kelsey found themselves left behind for the weekend in the international dorm while their fellow internationals were, well, being international. Many had left to see the old, yet expensive city of Riga (Latvia), while another when to Tallinn and Helsinki. In spite of their self inflicted abandonment, they decided to come together (over chili cheese hashbrowns, beer, and Blazing Saddles) and take a trip to Helsinki the next weekend.
That week they divided and conquered. Everyone had different tasks to accomplish such as finding housing, the cost of transportation, entertainment, and touristy things to do. The Finnish consume the most coffee when compared to other countries (oddly enough, never saw a Startbucks there). My guess is perhaps because the alcohol is SO expensive there (about $6 a beer). As a result, bringing beers in addition to clothes was also arranged. Planning the trip was not the only obstacle facing the four travelers, staying home that Wednesday night instead of going to Illusion, a club that used to be a Soviet theater, almost killed our favorite, Kelsey.
So Thursday morning, the sleepy excited travelers clambered down the freshly waxed stairs of the dormitory into dark snowy wonderland that is Tartu at 4am. On the bus ride from Tartu to Tallinn Kelsey (who really needed the sleep) managed to nap. Unlike her bus ride from the airport to the university many weeks ago, she managed to sleep without creating a waterfall of drool on window.
Now, the ferry that would take them across the Baltic to Helsinki, was going to leave within an hour of the group arriving in Tallinn. Surprisingly, none of them had extensive knowledge of the town; however, Peter managed to steal Kelsey's map of Tallinn and correctly navigate them to the harbor. Sadly, Kelsey slipped and fell so many damn times! It was traumatizing. Fortunately, her beer managed to make it onto the ferry without a single crack. In general they were lucky to make it onto the ferry (the people and the beers) because when the explorers arrived to the harbor, ticket sales had officially closed. But as fate would have it, the robotic-like saleswomen allowed all four to buy tickets. It was quite a scene, my dears. Wallets were flying, sweaty passports coming out of secret pockets located beneath layers of clothes, the steely sound of "Please hurry" coming from within the glass containers, the faint clinking sound of beer bottles rattling as the travelers made their way through the endless hallway to the boat, and the alarming warning beep to signal that the boat was leaving.
The travelers were on a boat, perhaps not with flippy floppies, but they were on a boat... in the icy Baltic!
h/o... will get back to this. (5 minutes later) Sorry, I had to decimate some pear yogurt.
So where was I? Mk, the Americans landed in Finland! And they were hungry! But before they could delve into a vat of Finnish goodness, they had to check into Helsinki's highest-rated hostel, of which I cannot remember the name. However, it was the best! The charming and wise hostel lady suggested to the weary travelers that the pizza buffet, Iguana was cheap and they could stuff their faces without looking to suspicious. Now, here comes one of the magical parts. Are you ready? ...The water was free! I know, omg! There were three kinds of pizza, salad, and chips/salsa! Once they had reached their fill, they returned to the hostel for a short nap of three hours.
That night due to the high exchange rate of kroons to euros, the group made spaghetti and played Spades. This time the loosing team had to eat a handful of spaghetti instead of the traditional chocolate vodka shots as punishment. After a few duels, they decided to go to a bar. Located in the basement of an Italian restaurant, the Ice Bar was as the name suggests, composed of ice. The walls were ice. The tables were ice. The bar shelves were ice. And there was ice in the drinks. Each person tried different vodka mix .
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Alas, the Dryer Hates Me
Hey guys,
I have some time in between doing laundry and my events for the night so I figured I'd do a little fireside chat.
As you can tell the clothes dryer hates me. No, it has no known affiliation with sock monster; it is just confused. It's called a dryer but doesn't seem to know how to dry clothes. It is a peculiar object and three times smaller than the ones at my university. I think it maybe questioning its purpose in life. Who knows?
Today was pretty warm, the weather website claimed that it was above 30 F today! I actually did not have to wear gloves when I went outside!
So what is it like? Um it's hard to explain. Imagine Boston with it's quaint little wooden houses intermingled with huge gray cardboard boxes and you have Estonian architecture! There are tons of "malls" here. To make it easier for the walking consumer stores are grouped in single buildings. I haven't really seen a store that is by itself. Although you must bring your own bags to carry your purchases home or buy plastic bags at the store.
I really have no clue what to chat about my dears. What would you like to know? ?
xoxo
I have some time in between doing laundry and my events for the night so I figured I'd do a little fireside chat.
As you can tell the clothes dryer hates me. No, it has no known affiliation with sock monster; it is just confused. It's called a dryer but doesn't seem to know how to dry clothes. It is a peculiar object and three times smaller than the ones at my university. I think it maybe questioning its purpose in life. Who knows?
Today was pretty warm, the weather website claimed that it was above 30 F today! I actually did not have to wear gloves when I went outside!
So what is it like? Um it's hard to explain. Imagine Boston with it's quaint little wooden houses intermingled with huge gray cardboard boxes and you have Estonian architecture! There are tons of "malls" here. To make it easier for the walking consumer stores are grouped in single buildings. I haven't really seen a store that is by itself. Although you must bring your own bags to carry your purchases home or buy plastic bags at the store.
I really have no clue what to chat about my dears. What would you like to know? ?
xoxo
Friday, January 30, 2009
First Entry....and Not Much to Say
Hey guys,
If you find yourself while reading this particular entry, trying to crave a ravenous hunger with rice pudding from Harris Teeter and listening to British rap star Breezy wondering why anyone would mention George Foreman in a song, well, then we're soul mates because that is what I am doing while I compose this.
As you probably know, I will be spending the semester in Europe in a little country named Estonia. It's situated next to Russia and below Finland. Don't worry if you didn't know where it is, most people don't. Just to save you from googling the place and being exposed to its mail order bride system, I am going to provide a few interesting tidbits. People there like mushrooms almost as much as I do. Seals live there. The Estonians revolted against the communistic USSR by singing. And believe it or not they speak Estonian (a language of which I only know a few words). Oh, it snows there a lot, too.
Since it is so snowy, I am dreading packing because I am determined to have only one suitcase. As of right now, I have many tank tops, a few scarves, and two pairs of boots; however, the majority of my suitcase belongs to a myriad of Rick Steves travel paraphernalia.
So that's about it. I'll get back to you while I'm in Stockholm.
xoxo
If you find yourself while reading this particular entry, trying to crave a ravenous hunger with rice pudding from Harris Teeter and listening to British rap star Breezy wondering why anyone would mention George Foreman in a song, well, then we're soul mates because that is what I am doing while I compose this.
As you probably know, I will be spending the semester in Europe in a little country named Estonia. It's situated next to Russia and below Finland. Don't worry if you didn't know where it is, most people don't. Just to save you from googling the place and being exposed to its mail order bride system, I am going to provide a few interesting tidbits. People there like mushrooms almost as much as I do. Seals live there. The Estonians revolted against the communistic USSR by singing. And believe it or not they speak Estonian (a language of which I only know a few words). Oh, it snows there a lot, too.
Since it is so snowy, I am dreading packing because I am determined to have only one suitcase. As of right now, I have many tank tops, a few scarves, and two pairs of boots; however, the majority of my suitcase belongs to a myriad of Rick Steves travel paraphernalia.
So that's about it. I'll get back to you while I'm in Stockholm.
xoxo
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