Kathleen's Adventures

(written on August 27 - just now posting) Tuesday marked three months since I moved away from Austin.  I wouldn’t really say I’ve been in Helsinki three months since my schedule has been so crazy, but I’ve definitely been somewhere other than home for that time.  The thing that happens each time I think three months is another number automatically pops in my head – 21.  Probably not great if I’m already counting down the months – if not consciously, subconsciously.  I’m on the plane from London to Austin with several hours on my hands and am hoping I finally post an update or two (or draft them – no wifi which is highly unfortunate). Overall, I’d say the last three months have been fairly high or fairly low – not much of an in-between.  The highs are when I’ve traveled with family or co-workers or when they have been visiting me.  The lows are when I’m in a new place alone or in Helsinki without much to do.  The unfortunate thing about the hig...

I've had three days out of the last four that somewhat resemble what I would have expected for "summer" in Finland - maybe a bit cooler than I expected, but still nice and worth spending many hours outside.  I have come to recognize and appreciate a few things here recently and feel that they are worth noting - if nothing more, to remind myself come about November or so when I wonder why the hell I moved here. 1.  Public transportation is great.  Granted it isn't quick sometimes (getting home takes ~50 minutes usually), but I can mentally check out while on the bus - I'm not stressed in traffic. 2.  Amazing running routes.  My only regret right now is that I have about zero endurance so I can't make as much use of the trails as I'd like.  I am exploring some by bike which is nice too. Combination of 1 and 2: Taking public transportation to run.  I can hop a tram or bus and go however far away and run home. 3.  While it is a bit of a pain a...

I will never forget the feeling of driving away from Camp Olympia in the backseat of my parents' car year after year.  The pit in my stomach presented itself the second we drove out of the gates and hung around for a while.  The realization that it was going to be a full year before I was there again and the realization that I had to go home without my amazing camp friends were sometimes almost too much to bear for my adolescent self.  I would walk around almost like a zombie the first few days back home, numb, just not sure what to do with myself.  Sure enough though it was never long before regular life got going again - the longing in my heart to be back there would go from insatiable to a more manageable presence that never fully went away. My nieces have all experienced something similar, even after their first year at age eight.  Kate's hangover started before closing day lunch was even over her first year and I had to take her on a walk (she was little ...

My amount of "busy" has certainly not lessened however it is thankfully somewhat moving away from the frustrations of the first several days here.  I've been here three weeks and one day now - in some ways it seems like I've been here way longer and in others, I'm surprised time has gone by this fast. I had my residence permit appointment on Monday, June 1.  I asked them how the timing of my 90 days allowed in the country worked and they (immigration) said they didn't really know, that they had heard different things, and that I should call border patrol during one of the three hours they are answer phones a week.  Seriously.  The attorney checked in after my application and seemed to think it was taking around 2 months to process specialist applications (what I applied for), but that they couldn't guarantee anything with summer holiday coming up.  Awesome. Looking like I would probably get kicked out (run out of my 90 days) before the permit comes.  ...

Posting from my phone on the bus to work Monday morning. This weekend went by way too fast. I slept until almost noon Saturday because I kept assuming it was early each time I woke up. I guess I needed it, but it seriously ate into my day.  I went on a short run after I woke up and saw some pretty sights. I meant to take my credit card because I wanted to stop in Finlayson and see if I saw any bedding/sheets there I liked. I didn't go back for my card because I figured I could still look and would go back another time if there was anything I liked. Well of course there was something I liked, duvet covers that were 25% off for my guest room. Sale ended Saturday. Store closed at 4. I had kayak plans at 3 that I had to leave home at 2:40 for. It was 1:48. So I sprinted back home, got my card, sprinted back, bought the covers (in their famous elephant print) while dripping sweat in the store, and then hightailed it back home. Got home at 2:30 and left at 2:40 to walk to the kayak ...

Update in pictures. Holy cow.  My 50 euros worth of kitchen stuff.  6x two sizes plates, 6 bowls, 6 coffee cups, 6 classes, 6 wine glasses, 6 silverware place settings, 3 pots, 1 saucepan, 2 mixing bowls, 1 serving bowl, 1 cutting board, and I don't remember what else.  All thrown in my Ikea bags I've already grown to hate.  I carried these a few blocks to the tram, rode the tram 2 stops, and then carried them a few more blocks.  Without breaking anything, including myself.  But, I can have cereal and tea in the morning! My fine living room furniture at the moment. At first, I wasn't sure what I'd do with such a big entry hall.  It didn't take long...this is the cleanest it has been and I doubt it will stay that way for long. My lovely washer/dryer setup Not the first color of plates I'd choose from Ikea, but I suppose they are burnt orange and were close enough to free. My bathroom is really pretty....

I got up this morning to be ready for my 8-10am window for the internet people to come figure out why I don't have internet.  I was excited to have some tea in my new pink teapot and a bowl of cereal.  I was proud of myself for actually buying tea, cereal, and milk yesterday as well.  The milk is somewhat scary though because they have 18 kinds of milk and yogurt here and I can't read any of it.  Apparently one kind is "old milk."  I don't want old milk.  I also don't want buttermilk.  It is possible I ended up with both though.  I didn't get to try it though because after I got my tea bag out, I remembered I don't have any cups to put the tea in!  And then I don't have any bowls to put the cereal in!  I have plastic silverware and paper plates, but neither of those are going to help with tea and cereal.  Moving to Finland fail #87. The internet guy did come fix my problem which is good but the bad news is he said he has no i...