I have been in Yamaguchi since Tuesday but I still haven't written anything to my blog. I'm so sorry!!! The problem is that for some reason internet doesn't work in my computer here :( I will try to write with the computers of the school. But that I can do only next week, because classes start the 4th. So sorry!
But in short: everything is alright here and I cannot wait to tell you the adventures that I've had so far.... ;)
Mata ne!
Friday, 30 September 2011
Friday, 23 September 2011
The Secret Passenger
It could be the title of a movie, but it's not. I'm really going to smuggle someone to Japan without a visa.
Illegal? Not in this case, because the secret passenger is my beloved SP (that my sister so kindly made for me a month ago). He doesn't need a visa, because he's a V.I.P. And he's cute.
SP means "SuperPossu" (or superpig). And here he is:
Illegal? Not in this case, because the secret passenger is my beloved SP (that my sister so kindly made for me a month ago). He doesn't need a visa, because he's a V.I.P. And he's cute.
SP means "SuperPossu" (or superpig). And here he is:
So now you know that I'll have a real superhero with me on the trip! No worries with SP! He will protect me ;)
Next time I'll write from Yamaguchi.... I try to take pictures soon after I have arrived! Wish me luck! Miss you all <3
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Hunting
I'm now back to my hometown in Central Finland where I'll spend the days before going to Japan. Seeing again the documents, passport etc. that I need on the trip made me remember the journey that I made at the end of July to Helsinki to get the visa.
It was like a hunting-trip in the prehistoric times. Ok, I have no idea what a hunting-trip could have been in the prehistoric times but whatever it was like, my experience had surely something to do with it.
I was like Frodo. Trying to take the very important documents (couldn't wear them around my neck, I'm sorry) to the final -far far away- destination that would determine my future. My final destination was not exactly Mt. Doom but in any case I felt some deep connection with the poor hobbit. I could have that connection for some other reasons, too, you could say... heh.
I went to Helsinki by train after reaching Jyväskylä by bus. I arrived to the capital at noon and I immediately noticed something new and strange for me. It was warm! Hot, I could say! And I also saw something else: tourists. But not some tourists, or even many tourists. There were LOADS of tourists there, all packed in the small capital with the locals, which was something very surprising to me. I could hardly fit in the city!
I stopped seeing the tourists as invasive orcs and I really started to enjoy the beautiful weather and the fact that I was visiting the cultural heart of Finland. I went to see art exhibitions in Ateneum (they were about Lapland, what a coincidence!) but soon after that I searched the embassy.
The Japanese embassy was very easy to find. I liked that part of the city because it was cleaner than other areas and it's next to the sea. The embassy is located in a posh bulding with ebassies of other countries. I was told to take the lift to the fifth floor, and so I did.
I must confess that I was quite surprised when the door of the lift opened. For some seconds I thought that I had accidentally entered some closet for cleaning equipment. But I found the right hole in the wall to get into the embassy and I finally reached my destination. Any hobbit would be proud of me.
They were very friendly at the embassy and I even saw the ambassador! So I got the visa in the end! So happy!
I spent four hours in Helsinki that day. It was a long day altogether, but it was worth it. I had spoken on the phone with a lady from the embassy a week before going there, and she strictly told me not to nag and whinge when I go to their office. "Complain", in the polite way of speaking (she didn't use the polite way). I promised her not to do so. And I kept my promise... because there was nothing to complain about there! :D
So my visa-hunting is over now and I'm just waiting to fly to east!
Oh, and a special thank-you for those who read my blog! It is so much nicer to keep a blog when you have even a few reades. Thank you! Kiitos! 謝謝! Gracias! Merci! ありがとうございます! Спасибо! Rahmat!
It was like a hunting-trip in the prehistoric times. Ok, I have no idea what a hunting-trip could have been in the prehistoric times but whatever it was like, my experience had surely something to do with it.
I was like Frodo. Trying to take the very important documents (couldn't wear them around my neck, I'm sorry) to the final -far far away- destination that would determine my future. My final destination was not exactly Mt. Doom but in any case I felt some deep connection with the poor hobbit. I could have that connection for some other reasons, too, you could say... heh.
I went to Helsinki by train after reaching Jyväskylä by bus. I arrived to the capital at noon and I immediately noticed something new and strange for me. It was warm! Hot, I could say! And I also saw something else: tourists. But not some tourists, or even many tourists. There were LOADS of tourists there, all packed in the small capital with the locals, which was something very surprising to me. I could hardly fit in the city!
I stopped seeing the tourists as invasive orcs and I really started to enjoy the beautiful weather and the fact that I was visiting the cultural heart of Finland. I went to see art exhibitions in Ateneum (they were about Lapland, what a coincidence!) but soon after that I searched the embassy.
 |
| So white as usual |
The Japanese embassy was very easy to find. I liked that part of the city because it was cleaner than other areas and it's next to the sea. The embassy is located in a posh bulding with ebassies of other countries. I was told to take the lift to the fifth floor, and so I did.
I must confess that I was quite surprised when the door of the lift opened. For some seconds I thought that I had accidentally entered some closet for cleaning equipment. But I found the right hole in the wall to get into the embassy and I finally reached my destination. Any hobbit would be proud of me.
 |
| Near the harbour |
They were very friendly at the embassy and I even saw the ambassador! So I got the visa in the end! So happy!
 |
Really.. I thought this was funny... |
I spent four hours in Helsinki that day. It was a long day altogether, but it was worth it. I had spoken on the phone with a lady from the embassy a week before going there, and she strictly told me not to nag and whinge when I go to their office. "Complain", in the polite way of speaking (she didn't use the polite way). I promised her not to do so. And I kept my promise... because there was nothing to complain about there! :D
So my visa-hunting is over now and I'm just waiting to fly to east!
Oh, and a special thank-you for those who read my blog! It is so much nicer to keep a blog when you have even a few reades. Thank you! Kiitos! 謝謝! Gracias! Merci! ありがとうございます! Спасибо! Rahmat!
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Goodbye Lapland!
Only a few days left in Rovaniemi, so it's farewell for the moment!
Things that I will miss about Lapland and its capital: *
Reindeer City Race (actually I will see it when I return so "Yiihaa" til' next spring!)
Thing that I won't miss:
Things that I will miss about Lapland and its capital: *
Snow
Northern lights (though I'm so good at sleeping that I hardly ever have the strenght to get up in the night to see them)
Reindeer City Race (actually I will see it when I return so "Yiihaa" til' next spring!)
Thing that I won't miss:
... that this is absolutely normal...
Of course I will miss the people that are so dear to me!!
And the reindeer!
But NOT HIM! I'm sorry Santa!
See you again in March, Lapland!
* To my readers: read it with a touch of humour as I'm quite sure I won't have enough time in Japan to miss my usual life when there are so many new and interesting things around me! ;) But friends will be missed!<3
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