Movies, mostly. Series sometimes serve as an inspiration as well.
- The most romantic thing to do is to tell you love someone - about two days after you have first met. Also, every relationship must inevitably lead to a marriage (the sooner the better) and marriage, of course, leads to babies.
- If anything with a motor collides, it will catch fire and explode in a matter of seconds. (If Michael bay is involved, anything can explode.)
- It always rains when you get dumped. Even if the sun shines don't be so sure it's going to be a good day - the skies can start pouring water in a matter of seconds.
- If it's a problem, burn it.
- No one needs maps or phone numbers, they have them in their heads.
- Pianos usually play 3-7 different instruments. Also, if you feel like bursting out into a merry song in the middle of an isolated beach, a dramatic cliff or even a high school cafeteria, the music will follow.
- Bad guys and psychopaths never get caught if the main characters aren't cops.
- People in different universes and long-ago centuries were better at putting make-up on than I am.
- It's safe to take frequent hits to the head. That's why most quarrels end with the other participant hitting the other one and dramatically walking away.
- If you point someone a star, they immediately know which one you mean.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Random facts.
(Source: Internet, so I'd suggest you don't build your life around these facts... Although I must say I see no reason why they wouldn't be quite correct.)
Duck's quack doesn't echo in any environment.
Police dogs are trained to react to commands in a foreign language; commonly German but more recently Hungarian. (That's clever. German actually sounds scary.)
After death hair still keeps on growing for a few months.
The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing her hands in jelly.
The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 672.
The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets. (This actually solves so many questions! If only I knew what they were called in Finnish...)
Shrimp's heart is located in its head.
Fighter pilots are more likely to have daughters than sons, because the X-chromosome can take the G-force better than the Y-chromosome.
Flying from London to New York by Concord, due to the time zones crossed, you can arrive 2 hours before you leave.
Snail can spend 3 years asleep.
The man who invented the electric chair was a dentist. (Seems like we have a reason to be afraid of dentists then... Oh, and the name for the fear of dentists is denotphobia, and anatidaephobia means being afraid that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you - it sounds funny even though it's all made up.)
American Airlines saved 40,000 dollars in 1987 by removing one olive from each salad served in the first class.
No paper, no matter how big it is, cannot be folded more than seven times. (I tried this. On my way to find a bigger paper now to prove this one wrong..)
Crocodiles are colorblind.
Amsterdam police has a whole department for saving car drivers from channels.
The average flight speed of a butterfly is 32 km/h - not sure how many mph that makes. Oh, and they taste with their feet.
Native Americans don't have swear words.
All of you have probably at some point of your lives had synchronous diaphragmatic flutter - but don't worry, that's only how medicine calls hiccup!
Akon's real name is Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam.
ps. I noticed that my fiftieth post is soon in turn! Have you got any ideas how you'd make it special?
Duck's quack doesn't echo in any environment.
Police dogs are trained to react to commands in a foreign language; commonly German but more recently Hungarian. (That's clever. German actually sounds scary.)
After death hair still keeps on growing for a few months.
The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing her hands in jelly.
The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 672.
The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets. (This actually solves so many questions! If only I knew what they were called in Finnish...)
Shrimp's heart is located in its head.
Fighter pilots are more likely to have daughters than sons, because the X-chromosome can take the G-force better than the Y-chromosome.
Flying from London to New York by Concord, due to the time zones crossed, you can arrive 2 hours before you leave.
Snail can spend 3 years asleep.
The man who invented the electric chair was a dentist. (Seems like we have a reason to be afraid of dentists then... Oh, and the name for the fear of dentists is denotphobia, and anatidaephobia means being afraid that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you - it sounds funny even though it's all made up.)
American Airlines saved 40,000 dollars in 1987 by removing one olive from each salad served in the first class.
No paper, no matter how big it is, cannot be folded more than seven times. (I tried this. On my way to find a bigger paper now to prove this one wrong..)
Crocodiles are colorblind.
Amsterdam police has a whole department for saving car drivers from channels.
The average flight speed of a butterfly is 32 km/h - not sure how many mph that makes. Oh, and they taste with their feet.
Native Americans don't have swear words.
All of you have probably at some point of your lives had synchronous diaphragmatic flutter - but don't worry, that's only how medicine calls hiccup!
Akon's real name is Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam.
ps. I noticed that my fiftieth post is soon in turn! Have you got any ideas how you'd make it special?
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Answers you didn't ask for to questions presented over the Internet.
So, yesterday not only a blogger I follow but also a friend-in-the-making of mine, Emily, posted a general challenge in her amazing blog and I thought to take some time to answer the questions asked. If anyone is thinking of taking the challenge as well then alright, it's on! Please let me know in the comments that you copied my questions because I'm eager to learn what you answered.
3. Answer the questions asked for you:
1. Share the rules
2. Post 11 random facts about yourself
- Everytime someone on TV asks, "What do you want from me?" I have to sing it.
- When I'm about to fall asleep in public transport, my limbs start to twitch. Really awkward when I have to travel by night.
- I used to know how to say "platypus" in 18 languages. Now that skill is getting a bit rusty from the lack of rehearsal.
- I like to let people know when I'm drunk (even though at those occasions I strongly insist on NOT being drunk). I should be deprived of both my cell phone and company - especially those that I don't know very well (I'm not good at making good first impressions....)
- Jared Leto has greeted me in Finnish.
- I would like to participate in a reality show like Survivor or Amazing Race.
- When someone comes to me telling that they like to listen to instrumental music, the first thought in my mind is "ugh, snob". I'm so sorry pals! I can't help it.
- I have sent small stone animals as fan mail to Smosh.
- I'd like to punch someone in the face. I don't have anyone special in mind and I know being aggressive is very wrong... But we all have our dark sides, right?
- My sleeping position is cuddled up facing the wall.
- I'm very good at writing concisely, most of the times I just don't want to because I love words too much and I wouldn't like to prevent them from streaming.
3. Answer the questions asked for you:
1. Who do you respect most in your life?
- I think I should name my best friend. I mean it's unfair to pick up the best one but she's been there for me for twelve years now and though we differ like day and night - pardon me this cliche - there's no one else like her out there. I'd be lost without her. I respect her and appreciate her for her strong opinions, her old soul and for the person she is.
2. What even had the most impact on who you are? and why.
-I could go on talking about this for hours if someone listened, but that wouldn't be anything near wise since it's all past now. In a nutshell: I fell head over heels for a guy who was damn near the king of the school, grew confident because that's what I needed to get myself to talk to him, I had my first conversation with him when I asked him out (and on my palm I had Coldplay written down: "But if you never try, you'll never know just what you're worth...") and was kindly turned down. More than that hurt both the obligatory letting go of the idea of him so that I didn't have anyone to dream about and the new sense that I wasn't as amazing as I had thought I was. That was the toughest disappointment in my life so far. It took horribly lots of time to get over it and I don't know if I've still regained all that self-confidence I had back then but I think that made me grow stronger and also gave me some sense of reality. I'm happy I went through all that.
3. What color makes you happy? (either to wear or see)
- Bright colors, especially red and yellow. My favorite shade is navy blue anyway, it just seems I prefer warm colors as to the surroundings.
4. Where do you want to be in 7 years?
- Yet I haven't managed to find a decent direction for my life so for now let me just answer that I want to be someplace I feel happy and with someone that loves me.
5.What one thing makes you happiest in life?
- This one is tough. I'd say to feel loved and missed, by friends and family and a special someone. Knowing that you're needed and important is what keeps us all going and creates some sense to this crazy crazy world.
6. What do you know to be true?
- What an interesting question! Life is true. I cannot argue with that.
7. Are you happy with where you are (physically or spiritually or emotionally or any other way)? why or why not.
- I am happy, but I also yearn something more, that's why I'm traveling away as far as I can. This place has been an endearing city to grow up in but it doesn't simply answer my needs anymore... As to the spiritual aspects, I'm growing as a human being all the time and seeing I'm this young, I don't think I'm supposed to find out all my spirituality quite yet. So I guess you could say that I'm happy with halfway through. Emotionally I'm a little bit distracted at the moment... Confusing things going on right now.
8. If you could choose your own name what would it be?
2. What even had the most impact on who you are? and why.
-I could go on talking about this for hours if someone listened, but that wouldn't be anything near wise since it's all past now. In a nutshell: I fell head over heels for a guy who was damn near the king of the school, grew confident because that's what I needed to get myself to talk to him, I had my first conversation with him when I asked him out (and on my palm I had Coldplay written down: "But if you never try, you'll never know just what you're worth...") and was kindly turned down. More than that hurt both the obligatory letting go of the idea of him so that I didn't have anyone to dream about and the new sense that I wasn't as amazing as I had thought I was. That was the toughest disappointment in my life so far. It took horribly lots of time to get over it and I don't know if I've still regained all that self-confidence I had back then but I think that made me grow stronger and also gave me some sense of reality. I'm happy I went through all that.
3. What color makes you happy? (either to wear or see)
- Bright colors, especially red and yellow. My favorite shade is navy blue anyway, it just seems I prefer warm colors as to the surroundings.
4. Where do you want to be in 7 years?
- Yet I haven't managed to find a decent direction for my life so for now let me just answer that I want to be someplace I feel happy and with someone that loves me.
5.What one thing makes you happiest in life?
- This one is tough. I'd say to feel loved and missed, by friends and family and a special someone. Knowing that you're needed and important is what keeps us all going and creates some sense to this crazy crazy world.
6. What do you know to be true?
- What an interesting question! Life is true. I cannot argue with that.
7. Are you happy with where you are (physically or spiritually or emotionally or any other way)? why or why not.
- I am happy, but I also yearn something more, that's why I'm traveling away as far as I can. This place has been an endearing city to grow up in but it doesn't simply answer my needs anymore... As to the spiritual aspects, I'm growing as a human being all the time and seeing I'm this young, I don't think I'm supposed to find out all my spirituality quite yet. So I guess you could say that I'm happy with halfway through. Emotionally I'm a little bit distracted at the moment... Confusing things going on right now.
8. If you could choose your own name what would it be?
- When I was younger I used to wish my name would be Cassandra, shortened to Cassie (mostly because of a namesake in Animorphs), and I did use that as my internet name for a good run. Nowadays I'm perfectly happy with my name. I think Elina is special but not too extraordinary, plus, it's not giving that much of a hard time for foreigners to pronounce it. 9. How do you de-stress?
10. Why do you blog?
- I find making up lists amusing past of time and it's twice as fun when someone's actually reading them! Plus, this is a space for me to spill out my thoughts and I find it more satisfying that scribbling on the pages of a private diary, and well, I have to admit - I have this feeling that sharing my thoughts might even help someone who can relate with them but I don't really know if I should take any credit for that.
10. Why do you blog?
- I find making up lists amusing past of time and it's twice as fun when someone's actually reading them! Plus, this is a space for me to spill out my thoughts and I find it more satisfying that scribbling on the pages of a private diary, and well, I have to admit - I have this feeling that sharing my thoughts might even help someone who can relate with them but I don't really know if I should take any credit for that.
4. Create 11 new questions for another person:
- If there, supposedly, was the possibility to be born again, what would you like to be?
- What is the most romantic thing you can think of?
- Which song, at the moment, fits your life?
- Are you comfortable with your body?
- What was your childhood dream job?
- What are your religious views?
- What is a one thing you have always wanted to do but have never dared to?
- Which super ability would you like to have?
- Do you believe in zodiacs? Do you think your zodiac suits you?
- Are you impulsive and/or easy to dare to do things?
- Would you do anything if you were paid enough?
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Things that make me happy in April!
Tickets for awesome shows
The yellow one is actually already gone by - last night I went to see my first ever bar gig and Jukka Poika, a Finnish reggae artist, played awesome 65 minutes for a crowded club. Then there's The Dø concert (and you remember I can't praise&love this band enough) on 23rd this month, in June Two Door Cinema Club performing on a quite famous Finnish festival (I'm also expecting to see Metronomy, French Films and Jukka poika again on the same day but TDCC is the real reason I'm going... Another fans out there? If you like Two Door Cinema Club, I can't recommend highly enough to click this) and at the beginning of August, Bon Iver! I'm probably most excited about that one. Super super super amazing.
Oh, and I heard Coldplay's touring Australia in November... Guess who'll be there at the same time?
Sneaking home at five AM...
....after the most wonderful night spent with the most wonderful person who has a way of making me, as corny as it sounds, feel safe and feel beautiful. I just thought to mention him - again, it seems I can't stop talking about him. But he deserves every word.
Baby animals
5 months left in this town
As I've told about a kazillion times to anyone who even bothers to listen to me anymore, I'm traveling to Australia in September. Last week I spent hours googling for stuff I'll have to take care of before I go - the visa, insurances, real life stories about people that have actually made it there... I'm falling apart from the seams for both enthusiasm and terror. Leaving people I'm fond of will be the hardest thing I have ever done but making my greatest dream come true does taste sweet - plus, I get out of this town. Finally!
/datingfails
Check it out if you are in a mood for laugh. It's hilarious. Just a little warning... You might want to make sure your parents aren't around to peek over your shoulder!
welikehair
An awesome tumblr blog dedicated to the most important accessories of a girl - hair! Like Lady Gaga put it, "I am my hair." The only problem that browsing through this multitude of dye jobs, up-dos and curls is, that it makes you want to grow and extra head or two so that you could try on all those amazing styles...
spring & beautiful dresses
Oh yeah, have you noticed that the sun is setting every day later and rising earlier? Soon it will be warm enough to put on a pretty dress and prance around enjoying the sun!
Oh, and I heard Coldplay's touring Australia in November... Guess who'll be there at the same time?
Sneaking home at five AM...
....after the most wonderful night spent with the most wonderful person who has a way of making me, as corny as it sounds, feel safe and feel beautiful. I just thought to mention him - again, it seems I can't stop talking about him. But he deserves every word.
Baby animals
(source)
TOO. MUCH. CUTENESS. 5 months left in this town
As I've told about a kazillion times to anyone who even bothers to listen to me anymore, I'm traveling to Australia in September. Last week I spent hours googling for stuff I'll have to take care of before I go - the visa, insurances, real life stories about people that have actually made it there... I'm falling apart from the seams for both enthusiasm and terror. Leaving people I'm fond of will be the hardest thing I have ever done but making my greatest dream come true does taste sweet - plus, I get out of this town. Finally!
/datingfails
Check it out if you are in a mood for laugh. It's hilarious. Just a little warning... You might want to make sure your parents aren't around to peek over your shoulder!
welikehair
An awesome tumblr blog dedicated to the most important accessories of a girl - hair! Like Lady Gaga put it, "I am my hair." The only problem that browsing through this multitude of dye jobs, up-dos and curls is, that it makes you want to grow and extra head or two so that you could try on all those amazing styles...
spring & beautiful dresses
Oh yeah, have you noticed that the sun is setting every day later and rising earlier? Soon it will be warm enough to put on a pretty dress and prance around enjoying the sun!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A brief petition for the shy out there.
Dear shy people I know and don't know,
everyone gets insecure at times. It's hard to live second-guessing and looking over your shoulder and worrying that you should have done something differently but at the same time you wouldn't have done ANYTHING different, even if you were given the chance to re-live that regrettable moment ten more times, because you were too scared to crash and burn. Life doesn't work that way, you know. If the universe is kind enough it will be indifferent whether you succeed or not but in the worst possible scenario it will give you a dreamy mind and brains that will rewind those moments of insecurity like they were tapes.
Life is here to be lived. You can't expect that what you've been yearning for for your whole life will one day just pop out of the pale street and walk to you and say, "Oh, there you are. I was looking for you." No! Real life is not Hollywood. You won't bump into a tall dark stranger and drop the pile of paper you were holding so that he would have to help you to recollect it. In real life you meet real life people.
Also, this is what pushes me the most - if you have someone special in mind, why don't you do anything about it? I could justify this obvious indifference with the argument that seems to be valid in all kinds of situations: the Finns are so introvert that they are more scared to expose their hearts that to die. It's just that I've seen the same phenomenon all around - in Sydney, in Liverpool, in Istanbul. And this call out is especially directed to the shy guys out there - wake up! Wake up now! If you have a crush on a girl it's nothing to be embarrassed about! Go and ask her out! She might turn you down but on the other hand she might not, and you can never know if you never take the chance. Only the bold will find happiness.
It hurts to be abandoned. But loneliness is even worse. And a heart can indeed survive being turned down - I promise you that. If you don't take the step, no matter how terrified you are to do that, you might just miss out some major opportunities. Trust me. I know what I'm talking about. One day you'll find that it's too late and he or she has already slipped right out of your reach.
Take your chances! Go out and live your life! Stop being scared!
You will be happy eventually. I took my chance and it worked for the first time ever. That is bound to happen to you too.
Have a happy rest of your lives and take care.
Sincerily,
Elina
everyone gets insecure at times. It's hard to live second-guessing and looking over your shoulder and worrying that you should have done something differently but at the same time you wouldn't have done ANYTHING different, even if you were given the chance to re-live that regrettable moment ten more times, because you were too scared to crash and burn. Life doesn't work that way, you know. If the universe is kind enough it will be indifferent whether you succeed or not but in the worst possible scenario it will give you a dreamy mind and brains that will rewind those moments of insecurity like they were tapes.
Life is here to be lived. You can't expect that what you've been yearning for for your whole life will one day just pop out of the pale street and walk to you and say, "Oh, there you are. I was looking for you." No! Real life is not Hollywood. You won't bump into a tall dark stranger and drop the pile of paper you were holding so that he would have to help you to recollect it. In real life you meet real life people.
Also, this is what pushes me the most - if you have someone special in mind, why don't you do anything about it? I could justify this obvious indifference with the argument that seems to be valid in all kinds of situations: the Finns are so introvert that they are more scared to expose their hearts that to die. It's just that I've seen the same phenomenon all around - in Sydney, in Liverpool, in Istanbul. And this call out is especially directed to the shy guys out there - wake up! Wake up now! If you have a crush on a girl it's nothing to be embarrassed about! Go and ask her out! She might turn you down but on the other hand she might not, and you can never know if you never take the chance. Only the bold will find happiness.
It hurts to be abandoned. But loneliness is even worse. And a heart can indeed survive being turned down - I promise you that. If you don't take the step, no matter how terrified you are to do that, you might just miss out some major opportunities. Trust me. I know what I'm talking about. One day you'll find that it's too late and he or she has already slipped right out of your reach.
Take your chances! Go out and live your life! Stop being scared!
You will be happy eventually. I took my chance and it worked for the first time ever. That is bound to happen to you too.
Have a happy rest of your lives and take care.
Sincerily,
Elina
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Fictional characters I had a crush on when I was little.
Don't laugh at me, I'm serious here! We all have had our moments of weakness, right? (I regret nothing.)
Artemis Fowl
There's something very attractive about villains, especially if they're criminal masterminds. I mean, please try and name me someone else who's as cool as Artemis? Never losing his temper, always having a plan, always making those smart moves... Although, I have to admit I wasn't that fond of his total personality makeover, these days he seems to be a little bit, hmm, soft?
Ash Ketchum
I was a Pokémon kid. No further explanations needed?
Lucky Luke
The trick is to be cool and charmant... he did it. Plus, he has a hi-intelligent horse! How could anyone resist that?
Harry Potter
This is probably one of the easiest confessions on this list - I mean, we all have had our "Harry is so super hyper mega awesome!!!!1!11" phase, am I right or not? We have that empathy written all over our human nature and that's why we love to cheer for the underdogs, especially if we can identify with them, and if that said underdog is a main character in a lenghty serie of books, well... He's bound to arise from his misery. He did it when he caught that Golden Snitch the first time. That's when my heart melted.
Marty McFly
Boys with cars are popular. Boys with DeLoreans that can travel the time and become such a cult that even Adam Young wants to ride them are beyond that.
Tobias (you know, the guy from Animorphs)
I have no explanation for this one, except for the fact that I mentioned before - we like underdogs. I was a huge Animorphs fan back in my childhood and somehow Tobias immediately became my favorite character. Such a shame they stopped translating the books years ago... I would have liked to know how it all ends. (Don't tell anyone but I'm considering I should read the books through again. I know I'm supposed to be a grown-up now and everything but hey, the insecurity keeps me awake at night!)
Uncle Scrooge
Yes I know, this last one is probably the worst... But have you guys never read any Don Rosa? I mean, c'mon! He was quite a tiger back in times of Klondike!
Please share your dark secrets now in the comments so that I won't have to feel so utterly stupid for posting this.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Travel fever!
I need to hit the road soon.
At the moment I'm occupying myself with finals (or at least I should be instead of scribbling on a half-baked blog) and worrying about not getting a job for the summer. I wouldn't mind spending my time chilling and just enjoying the heat (since I love summer more than any other phase of the year) but I'm in a serious need for money. Guess why? Simply because I'm finally so close to fulfilling one of my greatest dreams. Yep, that's right folks, if things go as planned - and I can't see any reason why they should not - I will already be down under in six months.
I've been counting days since last fall, which is curious because I still can't verify my exact date of departure. All I know is I'll be taking off at the beginning of September. I've known for a couple of years now already that after I graduate, I want to travel away for a year instead of immediately starting studies at an university (assumingly I'll be able to get a studying place), but now that there's so little time left to be here I'm suffering from mixed feelings. On the other hand I'm shivering form excitement to finally be able to ditch this cold, drowsy town, on the other hand I'm more scared than I've ever been in my life. I mean, I have never had to lead such an independent life that I will need to when I travel on the other side of the planet. Also, I'm leaving behind my friends and family, and sadly (and way too soon) someone significant too.
Of course it would be easier if I stayed and turned out to be like everybody else. But that's not the way I am programmed.
I'm thinking about how it will be in Australia and I try to remember all those times when I arrived in a new country. I'm feeling calm - I know I can do this. Then again I start to think in numbers, and I count again and again the distance between Finland and Australia - I count in both kilometers and miles and I feel dizzy. It's unfathomable. There shouldn't even be distances that great, the world cannot be that big in any case, I just can't fit that into my small head. I feel like any minute now my mind will blow. That's the furthest I can escape without throwing myself over the verge of the Earth.
In a couple of months I'll book the flying tickets. In a matter of weeks I'll apply for the working on holiday -visa, which allows me to live and work in Australia up to a year, and I'm assured to be eligible for the visa, so I'll certainly will get it. Doing these concrete things make me enthusiastic - applying for a visa and booking flight tickets means that I am really going, it's not just something I'm telling myself in my head.
I'll be traveling on a train a lot this spring - I'll have to go around the country to take entrance exams for universities, because even though I don't have the slightest intention of starting my studies right away, it would be nice to know there's something waiting for me here if I ever come back. I'll also be going on a lot of music shows this year so that will add up to all my traveling. (And the shows will only make my yearn for traveling burn brighter, because half of the bands I'm trying my best to get the chance to see are those that a former Australian friend of mine recommended to me - and sorry, I have to say "former" because I really don't know whether you're interested in staying in touch anymore. I am though.) And I know that every time I get on board that train I'll only be thinking of the day I'll finally leave. It's not that far away anymore.
I'm thinking of putting the blog down. Not before summer though, so we'll still have a couple of sweet months left! The main reason is Australia, of course - I could keep on blogging from there too but I don't know if I would have enough time, assuming that I'll be putting up a new blog which will concentrate on my experiences down under. When the time comes though, I will make sure to put a link to the new blog here, and I hope to see as many of you as possible follow me down to the new blog. But for now that's precipitated, so don't worry quite yet!
Oh dear. Australia.
At the moment I'm occupying myself with finals (or at least I should be instead of scribbling on a half-baked blog) and worrying about not getting a job for the summer. I wouldn't mind spending my time chilling and just enjoying the heat (since I love summer more than any other phase of the year) but I'm in a serious need for money. Guess why? Simply because I'm finally so close to fulfilling one of my greatest dreams. Yep, that's right folks, if things go as planned - and I can't see any reason why they should not - I will already be down under in six months.
I've been counting days since last fall, which is curious because I still can't verify my exact date of departure. All I know is I'll be taking off at the beginning of September. I've known for a couple of years now already that after I graduate, I want to travel away for a year instead of immediately starting studies at an university (assumingly I'll be able to get a studying place), but now that there's so little time left to be here I'm suffering from mixed feelings. On the other hand I'm shivering form excitement to finally be able to ditch this cold, drowsy town, on the other hand I'm more scared than I've ever been in my life. I mean, I have never had to lead such an independent life that I will need to when I travel on the other side of the planet. Also, I'm leaving behind my friends and family, and sadly (and way too soon) someone significant too.
Of course it would be easier if I stayed and turned out to be like everybody else. But that's not the way I am programmed.
I'm thinking about how it will be in Australia and I try to remember all those times when I arrived in a new country. I'm feeling calm - I know I can do this. Then again I start to think in numbers, and I count again and again the distance between Finland and Australia - I count in both kilometers and miles and I feel dizzy. It's unfathomable. There shouldn't even be distances that great, the world cannot be that big in any case, I just can't fit that into my small head. I feel like any minute now my mind will blow. That's the furthest I can escape without throwing myself over the verge of the Earth.
In a couple of months I'll book the flying tickets. In a matter of weeks I'll apply for the working on holiday -visa, which allows me to live and work in Australia up to a year, and I'm assured to be eligible for the visa, so I'll certainly will get it. Doing these concrete things make me enthusiastic - applying for a visa and booking flight tickets means that I am really going, it's not just something I'm telling myself in my head.
I'll be traveling on a train a lot this spring - I'll have to go around the country to take entrance exams for universities, because even though I don't have the slightest intention of starting my studies right away, it would be nice to know there's something waiting for me here if I ever come back. I'll also be going on a lot of music shows this year so that will add up to all my traveling. (And the shows will only make my yearn for traveling burn brighter, because half of the bands I'm trying my best to get the chance to see are those that a former Australian friend of mine recommended to me - and sorry, I have to say "former" because I really don't know whether you're interested in staying in touch anymore. I am though.) And I know that every time I get on board that train I'll only be thinking of the day I'll finally leave. It's not that far away anymore.
I'm thinking of putting the blog down. Not before summer though, so we'll still have a couple of sweet months left! The main reason is Australia, of course - I could keep on blogging from there too but I don't know if I would have enough time, assuming that I'll be putting up a new blog which will concentrate on my experiences down under. When the time comes though, I will make sure to put a link to the new blog here, and I hope to see as many of you as possible follow me down to the new blog. But for now that's precipitated, so don't worry quite yet!
Oh dear. Australia.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Trying out new things, getting rid of old routines.
In January I was aimlessly surfing around the Internet, as I accidentally saw an interesting topic on a girly chat site. It was a call out for people like me - people that are satisfied with their ordinary humdrum life but who, at times, feel like they need to spice up their daily routines. Who are willing to step out of their comfort zone, open up and try something new - leap out of that ledge that defines the borders of our minds. I enthusiastically jumped in. By far it has proved to be a great success.
The idea is simple: you just try something new every day. Yes, every day. At first I thought that experiencing novelties every single day would be a) too exhausting, b) too hard to come up with, but soon I was caught by the inspiring atmosphere that ruled the chat and found that it wasn't impossible, in fact, it would be ridiculously easy because new ideas would pop in bulks in my head and I would also get ideas from my fellow challengées. Besides, no one expects you to do a bungee jump every day, sometimes smaller things will be enough. I, for example, have among other things learned a new chord on the guitar, started watching new series (it's called Gran Hotel and it's supposed to help me understand Spanish better... I know I know, the finals are only two weeks away but watching a foreign tv-show counts as studying right?), solved a Sudoku and bought a new scarf.
Of course that's not all. The main point is to reach out beyond one's limits and start feeling confident, relaxed and alive. That's why there's sometimes need for a bigger step, if not a complete leap then at least for a stride. If you never try, you'll never know as they say, right? So I have been taking chances even when I've been afraid. I have been struck by a crazy idea and I have spoken out because hey, if my dear fellows don't take to the idea then so what? It might seem insane to them but they might as well get excited and help me see it through.
For example, I was at a stand-up gig a couple of weeks ago, and after the show neither I or my companion didn't know where to go. One thing was for sure - we wouldn't be heading home on such a beautiful night when the sky was cloudy in such a marvelous way and nasty sleet sweeped throughout the streets ruthlessly but oh so beautifully. (This is the part of the story that films always leave out - I mean, universe, sleet? C'mon, everyone else gets the softly falling flakes of snow so why does it have to be sleet for us?) Anyway, despite the Finnish weather conditions we decided we didn't want to go home, not quite yet, and since every coffee house and even the fast food restaurants were already closed I, half joking, went "Let's drive to the Skiing center and climb to the top!" Surprisingly he took to the proposition without hesitation, so we drove there, and we climbed all the way up in the middle of the night, wondering if we were even allowed to be here, giggling and stumbling in the dusk. When we reached the top we just stood there shivering from cold, only being able to filter the city by a couple of shady lights when on a clear day we would have been able to see over the whole town. We stood there talking, blushing, laughing. I felt relaxed. I also felt the tiny sparks biting off the bottom of my belly. When we finally returned to the car we were covered in sleet, but we returned happy because that's how coming up with adventures out of the blue makes you feel. Next morning I had a sore throat. I didn't regret anything.
There are still so many things I'd like to try... Like sending a message in a bottle or going to zumba or learning to headstand or taking a road trip or making a Spanish friend (the kind that is not annoying) or shout loud in the woods or sew my own dress... My school's practically finito, the only thing to do now is to study for finals (I don't even have to go to the school before the tests!) and after a month they'll be over too, and I will lose my title of a 'student'. It seems funny, thinking that I've been a 'student' for twelve years now, but I guess things end at times and now it's juts the time for this to end. At least it should be a chance to build up a new daily routine or even avoid routines completely, who knows.
What I'm trying to say here is just that let lose at times - it makes you feel alive. When you intentionally push your limits, you learn to break out of your comfort zone and it's also easier to get used to the changes the life will, unquestionably, throw at you. I'm challenging you, my dear readers, to take the challenge as well! I'm sure you can do it! I know this whole post is like a mumbo-jumbo Dr.Philish life controlling junk but it works, and at the same time it's so much fun!
The idea is simple: you just try something new every day. Yes, every day. At first I thought that experiencing novelties every single day would be a) too exhausting, b) too hard to come up with, but soon I was caught by the inspiring atmosphere that ruled the chat and found that it wasn't impossible, in fact, it would be ridiculously easy because new ideas would pop in bulks in my head and I would also get ideas from my fellow challengées. Besides, no one expects you to do a bungee jump every day, sometimes smaller things will be enough. I, for example, have among other things learned a new chord on the guitar, started watching new series (it's called Gran Hotel and it's supposed to help me understand Spanish better... I know I know, the finals are only two weeks away but watching a foreign tv-show counts as studying right?), solved a Sudoku and bought a new scarf.
Of course that's not all. The main point is to reach out beyond one's limits and start feeling confident, relaxed and alive. That's why there's sometimes need for a bigger step, if not a complete leap then at least for a stride. If you never try, you'll never know as they say, right? So I have been taking chances even when I've been afraid. I have been struck by a crazy idea and I have spoken out because hey, if my dear fellows don't take to the idea then so what? It might seem insane to them but they might as well get excited and help me see it through.
For example, I was at a stand-up gig a couple of weeks ago, and after the show neither I or my companion didn't know where to go. One thing was for sure - we wouldn't be heading home on such a beautiful night when the sky was cloudy in such a marvelous way and nasty sleet sweeped throughout the streets ruthlessly but oh so beautifully. (This is the part of the story that films always leave out - I mean, universe, sleet? C'mon, everyone else gets the softly falling flakes of snow so why does it have to be sleet for us?) Anyway, despite the Finnish weather conditions we decided we didn't want to go home, not quite yet, and since every coffee house and even the fast food restaurants were already closed I, half joking, went "Let's drive to the Skiing center and climb to the top!" Surprisingly he took to the proposition without hesitation, so we drove there, and we climbed all the way up in the middle of the night, wondering if we were even allowed to be here, giggling and stumbling in the dusk. When we reached the top we just stood there shivering from cold, only being able to filter the city by a couple of shady lights when on a clear day we would have been able to see over the whole town. We stood there talking, blushing, laughing. I felt relaxed. I also felt the tiny sparks biting off the bottom of my belly. When we finally returned to the car we were covered in sleet, but we returned happy because that's how coming up with adventures out of the blue makes you feel. Next morning I had a sore throat. I didn't regret anything.
There are still so many things I'd like to try... Like sending a message in a bottle or going to zumba or learning to headstand or taking a road trip or making a Spanish friend (the kind that is not annoying) or shout loud in the woods or sew my own dress... My school's practically finito, the only thing to do now is to study for finals (I don't even have to go to the school before the tests!) and after a month they'll be over too, and I will lose my title of a 'student'. It seems funny, thinking that I've been a 'student' for twelve years now, but I guess things end at times and now it's juts the time for this to end. At least it should be a chance to build up a new daily routine or even avoid routines completely, who knows.
What I'm trying to say here is just that let lose at times - it makes you feel alive. When you intentionally push your limits, you learn to break out of your comfort zone and it's also easier to get used to the changes the life will, unquestionably, throw at you. I'm challenging you, my dear readers, to take the challenge as well! I'm sure you can do it! I know this whole post is like a mumbo-jumbo Dr.Philish life controlling junk but it works, and at the same time it's so much fun!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
My favorite music videos.
(I'm sorry for the lengthy pause and that after that I'm only giving you an entry that's been written with a half heart, but I have a good explanation - I've been too busy being happy. Recent times have included studying like crazy, dressing up in awesome costumes, desperately meeting up with friends and a special someone saying, "You should travel to Lapland to see the northern lights because they are so beautiful... Although in case you'd like to see something beautiful, you'll only have to look into a mirror.")
The Dø - At Last!
(Finding tru love by accident - what could be a better theme for a music video? Also, see Slippery Slope. It's fantastic.)
OneRepublic - Say (All I Need)
(I gotta say I could've chosen any of OneRepublic music videos - they are visually breathtaking, at least I love them!)
Oasis - Wonderwall
(The green guitar got me.)
Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats
(Well THIS is attitude!)
Adele - Chasing Pavements
(Two words I can say - so beautiful.)
Plain White T's - Rhythm of Love
(When is the summer here again? Anyway in the meantime please enjoy this and think about last summer. This one will be even better.)
(ps. I intentioanlly left out the music videos of my favorite songs, which I have already listed here, to avoid monotony.)
The Dø - At Last!
(Finding tru love by accident - what could be a better theme for a music video? Also, see Slippery Slope. It's fantastic.)
OneRepublic - Say (All I Need)
(I gotta say I could've chosen any of OneRepublic music videos - they are visually breathtaking, at least I love them!)
Oasis - Wonderwall
(The green guitar got me.)
Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats
(Well THIS is attitude!)
Adele - Chasing Pavements
(Two words I can say - so beautiful.)
Plain White T's - Rhythm of Love
(When is the summer here again? Anyway in the meantime please enjoy this and think about last summer. This one will be even better.)
(ps. I intentioanlly left out the music videos of my favorite songs, which I have already listed here, to avoid monotony.)
Monday, February 13, 2012
My rights & responsibilities.
- I have the right to speak up when I feel uncomfortable, insecure or neglected.
- I have the right to be afraid of the most ridiculous things and I have the right to be understood when I'm so terrified I shiver.
- I have the right to fall in love with whoever I want to.
- I have the right to say, "No I don't have an opinion about this matter", "I don't really care" and "I don't want this. I don't need this."
- I have the right to be childish, naive and starry-eyed - the fact that I dream does not make me a fool, and the fact that I can't read people and therefore think I like them more than I should, should not count as a fault.
On the other hand:
- I have the responsibility to stop dwelling in self-pity when there's absolutely no sense in getting stuck with the things you cannot help, and thus move on.
- I have the responsibility to say, "I love you" when I mean it, but remain silent when I'm not quite sure.
- I have the responsibility to stand by the weak, offer my hand to those that have been beaten up and encourage my fellows to keep going. We all deserve a little push sometimes.
- I have the responsibility to smile when I'm being smiled at and respond when asked a question, but always remain truthful and never let false interpretations ruin my relationships with the ones I love and who love me.
- I have the responsibility to leave something behind when I go. Not every one of us can be Al Gore or Einstein or Mother Teresa, but if there's someone who will remember you or a beautiful thought you once expressed, your life hasn't gone to waste.
- I have the right to be afraid of the most ridiculous things and I have the right to be understood when I'm so terrified I shiver.
- I have the right to fall in love with whoever I want to.
- I have the right to say, "No I don't have an opinion about this matter", "I don't really care" and "I don't want this. I don't need this."
- I have the right to be childish, naive and starry-eyed - the fact that I dream does not make me a fool, and the fact that I can't read people and therefore think I like them more than I should, should not count as a fault.
On the other hand:
- I have the responsibility to stop dwelling in self-pity when there's absolutely no sense in getting stuck with the things you cannot help, and thus move on.
- I have the responsibility to say, "I love you" when I mean it, but remain silent when I'm not quite sure.
- I have the responsibility to stand by the weak, offer my hand to those that have been beaten up and encourage my fellows to keep going. We all deserve a little push sometimes.
- I have the responsibility to smile when I'm being smiled at and respond when asked a question, but always remain truthful and never let false interpretations ruin my relationships with the ones I love and who love me.
- I have the responsibility to leave something behind when I go. Not every one of us can be Al Gore or Einstein or Mother Teresa, but if there's someone who will remember you or a beautiful thought you once expressed, your life hasn't gone to waste.
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