Having a bad day
Today is not a good day. I woke up and noticed that mom had sent me a text message. My godfather died today (or actually yesterday in Finland time). I new it was coming soon, him having inoperable cancer and all, but it was still a piece of news that shocked me. Not a good way to start a day. And to add to that, I started talking to my boyfriend through Skype and after telling him the news about my godfather, he told me that one of his parents' dogs had died, had to be put down. Their third dog to die in the course of a year, all of them to cancer. Now they only have one left. I can't even imagine how that feels, to have three dogs out of four die in the course of a year. I sort of new that this too was coming, since he was diagnosed with cancer a little while ago, but still a shock. So not a good day today.
Maybe I'll go on to better things now. Before today I have actually had many good days. Thursday evening I went to a Scandinavian meeting. There was one Norwegian, one Dane, one Finn in addition to me and two Americans (the other had been in Sweden as an exchange student and the other is going to Norway as an exchage student). They were the greatest. It was nice talking to people who new a lot about the area I come from. I had fun.
Friday I went to the International Coffee Hour. It was kind of boring. My Mexican friend was there too, and we decided to leave and go see a movie in a movie theater. We saw Marie Antoinette. It cost only two dollars. Apparently you can go see movies, that are no longer in the normal movie theaters, for 1,50 or 2 dollars. This is possible in only one certain movie theater here. Quite nice really. The movie was ok, not really what I thought it would be, but still ok.
Saturday I went shopping by myself in a mall I had never been to. I like going to the malls alone first so that I can go to the stores that I want to go to. That way I can get to know the place better and see if there are any good stores there. Well anyway, I found the best store ever. I went in and right away found a dress I just had to buy. In the store there was this kind of bargain, buy one get one half off, so of course I had to find another dress to buy. I really don't have any good dresses in Finland so why not buy many here. Anyway, I then found another great dress and so bought two for 100 dollars. Quite cheap I think. Now I have a dress for both weddings I have to go to next summer. I wonder where I can find a good shoestore?
On Saturday evening I went out with my Mexican and Australian friends. We went to eat at a Thai restaurant (very nice place by the way, very friendly waitress, good food). Then we went to a bar and bought some drinks. We met new people and had great fun. Must do that again.
On Sunday I met with the two other Finnish girls and my host family. We drove around Eugene. They showed us many nice places. Afterwards we went to their home and watched a movie (a Spanish movie about Finland, Lovers of the Arctic Circle) and ate calzones (which are sort of pizzas but not). Those calzones they sell in that one pizza place in Finland, not really calzones. I ate the real things. You must remember now that my host mom is a great cook and knows a lot about food. Us Finnish girls also took a sauna bath (if you happen to remember that my host family has a sauna). A very nice day.
Oh yeah, I heard a real live police chase one day. I was home and then suddenly I heard a lot of police cars driving by. My roommate came home after that and said that about ten police cars had been chasing this one car. They had put barricades on the streets and all. I didn't think that kind of stuff happened here in Eugene. Why do people really think they can outrun the police? Too bad I didn't see it myself.
So that's what has been happening to me. I have been quite busy. Only today I don't have much to do, and I really don't feel like doing much. Had no classes since it's Martin Luther King holiday. I just hope tomorrow is a better day.
Maybe I'll go on to better things now. Before today I have actually had many good days. Thursday evening I went to a Scandinavian meeting. There was one Norwegian, one Dane, one Finn in addition to me and two Americans (the other had been in Sweden as an exchange student and the other is going to Norway as an exchage student). They were the greatest. It was nice talking to people who new a lot about the area I come from. I had fun.
Friday I went to the International Coffee Hour. It was kind of boring. My Mexican friend was there too, and we decided to leave and go see a movie in a movie theater. We saw Marie Antoinette. It cost only two dollars. Apparently you can go see movies, that are no longer in the normal movie theaters, for 1,50 or 2 dollars. This is possible in only one certain movie theater here. Quite nice really. The movie was ok, not really what I thought it would be, but still ok.
Saturday I went shopping by myself in a mall I had never been to. I like going to the malls alone first so that I can go to the stores that I want to go to. That way I can get to know the place better and see if there are any good stores there. Well anyway, I found the best store ever. I went in and right away found a dress I just had to buy. In the store there was this kind of bargain, buy one get one half off, so of course I had to find another dress to buy. I really don't have any good dresses in Finland so why not buy many here. Anyway, I then found another great dress and so bought two for 100 dollars. Quite cheap I think. Now I have a dress for both weddings I have to go to next summer. I wonder where I can find a good shoestore?
On Saturday evening I went out with my Mexican and Australian friends. We went to eat at a Thai restaurant (very nice place by the way, very friendly waitress, good food). Then we went to a bar and bought some drinks. We met new people and had great fun. Must do that again.
On Sunday I met with the two other Finnish girls and my host family. We drove around Eugene. They showed us many nice places. Afterwards we went to their home and watched a movie (a Spanish movie about Finland, Lovers of the Arctic Circle) and ate calzones (which are sort of pizzas but not). Those calzones they sell in that one pizza place in Finland, not really calzones. I ate the real things. You must remember now that my host mom is a great cook and knows a lot about food. Us Finnish girls also took a sauna bath (if you happen to remember that my host family has a sauna). A very nice day.
Oh yeah, I heard a real live police chase one day. I was home and then suddenly I heard a lot of police cars driving by. My roommate came home after that and said that about ten police cars had been chasing this one car. They had put barricades on the streets and all. I didn't think that kind of stuff happened here in Eugene. Why do people really think they can outrun the police? Too bad I didn't see it myself.
So that's what has been happening to me. I have been quite busy. Only today I don't have much to do, and I really don't feel like doing much. Had no classes since it's Martin Luther King holiday. I just hope tomorrow is a better day.
posted by anniina @ 5:56 PM
4 Comments:
At 11:30 PM,
elisa said…
Sounds like you are off to a good start making friends and all. Eugene sounds like a much nicer place than where I was. More than one mall. :) (And apparently a mall that actually has nice shops and not just nice cheese cake.) Oh and I'm guessing they have public transport. Wow.
If they can outrun police on the tv then why not in real life. ;)
Do remember to be careful with your drinks in the bars. Bad things have been known to happen in smaller towns. And don't forget to tip. :)
At 2:45 AM,
Anonymous said…
Sounds more fun than here, listening to Richard give out about his tummy bug... I'm working from home today as some hospitals can't decide when they want training. I wish I had American malls close by to explore and new people to meet. Oh Well. Eugene sounds like a hub of activity. Is it very cold there at the moment? Did you get any ice storms?
Elisa is right, you have to be careful as always. Us big sisters always worry about the little ones. :-)
Can you get me a couple of dresses as well? ;O)
Dad is flying to States today. I already sent my Clinique order by text.
Loads of hugs from the both of us here.
At 4:42 AM,
A-V said…
I heard about your the loss of your godfather as well, yesterday as I was leaving work with father. Shocking news even if it was inevitable with his bonecancer. This sort of things make sure that we don't take our lifes for granted. It's important to enjoy and cherish what we have and when confronting loss remember what we learned from the one that passed away. It's also good to remember that he is in a better place now.
And not to forget - all dogs go to heaven. Doesn't make it any easier (oh how I still miss Timi), but it's still comforting.
On lighter issues, it seems like you're doing just fine over there - as I knew you would.
The old movies in theathers for a couple bucks sounds like a good idea, although I know something like that will never happen in Finland - price of labour is just too much.
Thai restaurant sounds even more fun than the mall. Not a bad idea, I think I'll get some takeout today.. :) KotiPizza has those kotzones and a couple pizzerias in Pori have real Calzones as well. Delicious fastfood.
Getting too hungry now, maybe I'll skip the last hour and get something to eat.
Take care sis!
At 3:40 AM,
elina said…
Good to know you have company and things to do there. I wanna go to that store too. When Jussi comes over there, I'll send propably hide in his luggage. Or just give him my measurements so you can get me dresses as well. I'm going to a wedding next summer as well. :)
Seems to to a happening trip for you... Maybe you should just be glad you're missing out on all the exciting car chases and all. One never really wants to be in the middle of them getting hurt.
And the drinks there do give hangovers more than they do here. So be careful. ;)
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