Random

Tomorrow I will give a presentation on Swedish and Finnish literature/film/theater. I must admit I don't know the subject very well and yesterday I did some research and realized that there are so many books and films I haven't read/seen. So when I come back home I think I must lock me in at my room in order to make up everything that I haven't read/seen..

In the beginning of the week I visited Josefina's Swedish course again. They were watching the Swedish movie "I taket lyser stjärnorna". I glad I went, because I really liked the film I recommend it if you haven't seen it.

It has been snowing - YES! It was so beautiful when I walked through the city to the metro back home after the movie. So now we have real winter weather. Today it's colder again around -10 I think. Everybody here is worried that I'm not wearing enough cloths and that I'm freezing outside. But "hey come on, I'm a Finn", this is what they always say in Sweden if I sometime complain that I'm cold.

My room in pictures

View from my room




Bob keeps me company, when he doesn't fall down on the floor



I have a TV (and now also a DVD-player) :)



















As I told you before I live in a student house. I never see any other students, because I live in some kind of hostel of the student house. You have to be home before 23.00, after that the doors are closed. There always standing a guard checking who's entering in the entrance. I have name for them all, the unfriendly guard, the cute guard, the friendly guard, the woman guard :)

The flu

I read about the new flu on Internet, in newspapers from Finland and Sweden and was thinking, oh it seems to start getting serious there, luckily I'm here, it doesn't seem to be so big here and I felt content. But then the day after I started to see people with masks and a teacher told me that several schools and universities are closed. You're quite unaware when you don't know the language and aren't able to follow newspapers and news on TV... But now I know, the flu is everywhere. It's watching us!

But the performances of the other countries...

were really good and interesting to watch! There were dances and songs from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Tadzhikstan, Kirghistan, Armenia, China, Japan, Mongolia, Africa and probably some more that I don't remember. My favorites were from Turkmenistan I think, they were a group of dancers dressed in some national dresses and the music was really cool.

Africa was rapping, China kung-fu-ing, Armenia singing opera, Mongolia acrobating. Russia contributed with the orchestra of the university playing Kalinka! Very nice!

I'll put up a video later. I really like this kind of multicultural shows. I remember there was one in Quebec as well (then I didn't dare to participate myself). I just wish I would have some fellow-countrymen/women so I could do something more than "Finska polkan" at the accordion. There were certainly a lack of dancers in my number (blink, blink Baletten)!!!

The performance

No comments...

Problem

There exists a big and quite heavy problem. It's going to haunt me my whole life. This problem is right now green with white and black stripes. Normally it's red with white and black stripes and my own one, but I try to hide it in my wardrobe at home in Malax. Who could think that they would have an accordion at the university?!!! And now the problem is that there is a concert with international students at an other university at Friday. And this university invited our university and my supervisor said "Yes, we have a student from Finland". And the asked if I can play and sing something and me stupido said "Well... I can play the accordion,..." then this man was so excited about this, so I promised to play if they find an accordion. And they finded an old green accordion at our university, nobody has probably used for ages. It doesn't sound were well... So now I'm going to be in this show with other international students from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine...

So now I'm of course nervous. And yesterday I tried to practice, but since I haven't played for a long time my fingers get tired directly. Why, WHY, did I say yes? I think Catariina would call this angst! But luckily I have been studying sports psychology so I know how to reduce stress :) This time I will use the method to try to put into my head that it's not important. If I can do these persons happy if I play, I will do it. I think the main thing is that I sit there with my accordion and say that I am from Finland. And I will probably never see them again, so now matter if I'll do mistakes... so no need to be nervous!! Or will I make a fool of me and my country? Aaaarrrghhh!

Yesterday it was holiday here, so we were free from university! Nice!

Results of week no 2

* I don't get lost between my house and the university anymore

* I'm not afraid walking in the streets anymore

* I know all the metro stations (there are only one line with 7 stops...)

* I bought new boots

* I talked with Russians students for the first time

* I realized that the food at the university is about the same every day

* I learned that in Russia you don't shake hand if you are a woman

* Russia is a big country, I realized that the border of Kazakhstan is further away than I thought (sorry Andrea!)

* I managed to make my orders in Russian in the restaurants

* I've got my first Russian friend on Facebook - ulalala

* I realized that there is a risk that I will turn into a pirogi, since I'm living on pirogies here


Yes, things are happening here :)

Yesterday my supervisor had a class about cultural shocks and we were discussing a little bit about it before her class. One sign of cultural shock is that you want to stay alone and don't communicate with people. Like me in my room :) But I think I'm gradually getting over my cultural chock.