Russia II - St. Petersburg

The trip to St. Petersburg started early in the morning. I was flying, so I had to go to the airport,which took despite the proximity over 1 1/2 hours. Everything went smoothly and soon I was sitting in the plane. The flight with Rossiya Airlines was unspectacular, even tho I read worst things on the internet about the airline. Yes, ok, the seat pitch was nearly zero, but for 1 1/2 hours it was of no matter.

In St Petersburg it was easy to come from the airport into the city and to my hostel. The people were nice and helped me as far as possible with directions and advises, which bus and which metro to take. I was anyways amazed by the friendliness of the people. When thinking about Russians normally the cliche of a grumpy soviet bureaucrat comes to mind. My experience however is totally different. Yes there are grumpy people, but you will find these all over the world. I was mostly treated nicely and people were helpful even tho we were not speaking the same language.I arrived at the hostel by noon and was happy to finally take a shower in the hostel I was actually staying in. It was also located centrally and furnished and decorated modernly. From the hostel it was easy to reach the main attractions by foot or metro within a couple of minutes. During the next days I was strolling around the city and visited the most important sites, such as the Hermitage, several cathedrals and churches, the Fortress and the Aurora, the cruiser, whose cannons started the October Revolution in 1917.I really enjoyed the time in the city. The weather was nice and warm. I was walking around alone, even tho the hostel was fully booked. I tried to talk and connect with people, but I wasn't successful. The mix was anyways difficult; some Russians, two families, an Asian couple and a big organized travel group, who had come from Beijing with the Trans-Siberian Railway and had the last station in St. Petersburg. I was talking to B. & T., an Australian and a Scottish guy, who seemed cool and were already on the road for over 10 months each and they admitted that they wanted to enjoy the last days without "disturbances".
For me this was no problem and I realized that this was making many things easier. I could go where I wanted, eat when and where I wanted and sit down whenever and how long I wanted. When I passed a building, for example, I saw the sign "Zoological Museum" and just went in without thinking. I was able to stroll around the Hermitage for four hours and didnt had to worry that my company might be bored or tired. Even tho I am a communicative person and consider it nicer to walk around with other people, there are also positive things about solo tripping.The last day of my trip actually came faster than I thought and although I had seen nearly everything in St. Petersburg I would have liked to stay a little bit longer. I realized, that I just ran around for six days and had nearly no possibility to just sit on a bench or in a nice cafe enjoying a cup of coffee or the Russian national drink (no, not Vodka), tea. I really missed that and have to say, that this short city trip was refreshing, but not really relaxing. Therefore it also took me some time to post here. The last two days I was just sitting around not doing anything, I had to relax a bit.Now I am back and will take care of my duties again. I will apply for more internship places and will try to help here as much as possible. Today I was mowing the lawn and hope that A's parents will have more for me to do in the next days. I feel so useless, not doing anything sometimes.

~M~

Russia I - Moscow

I havent been writing for a long long time now. The reason is simple: I've been traveling. Well, not really traveling, rather a short city trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

I really needed this trip and I feel how much energy it gave me again. Even tho I was yesterday and am today just sitting around I feel how this one week filled up my batteries a bit. It was good to meet new people again and have good conversations to them.

I left Ekenäs, where I'm staying with A and her parents right now, on the 5th, so last Saturday. I went to Helsinki and took the night train to Moscow. I had really nice cabin mates, brother and sister, both Russian. They came from an AC/DC concert in Stockholm. I was lucky, since they spoke English and we were talking the whole evening. It was funny, because the guy, Ivan, bought beer on the ship as he explained it with a thick Russian accent:
"On boat I came downstairs in shop. I saw Koff 24 beer, I saw cheap price, I bought. Now have to drink, but it is too much. You help me."
While saying that he poured me the first drink into my glass. I thanked him and drank it. When my glass was empty he took my glass and said again:
"Too much beer. We have to finish!"
and filled up my glass. This went on and on until late in the night and left me quite tipsy.

When the train arrived in Moscow the next morning I had a slight headache. I was picked up from the train station by K., a Russian girl, who I knew from university in Helsinki. I had contacted her before, just to have a local contact. But since she was scared of me being alone in Moscow for the first time and not speaking a word of Russian, she agreed to meet up and to be my private tour guide.We went first to the hostel, so I could leave my luggage. Then we made our way down to the Kremlin and the red square, the attraction, that shout more than anything "Russia". I felt bad that K. used her day off to take care of me and so I paid her coffee and entrance fees. After half a day she said goodbye and I realized, that, since I paid everything twice, my budget for the day was nearly used up. Later that day, when I went to the supermarket my money was just enough to buy water and dry bread.After the goodbye I was strolling around the city alone and was amazed how many people considered me one of them. A lot of people were asking me stuff in Russian and were totally disappointed when they realized I didnt understand a word of what they were saying nor could answer them in a way they would understand. In the evening this changed. My hostel, which didn't had water or electricity, was mainly used by Germans. I talked to them and they agreed, that we could do something together during the next couple of days. The most important thing was, that we were helping each other to cope with the situation of the hostel not having water or electricity. Next to the hostel was a construction ground and in a talk to one of administrators of the hostel I found out, that the hostel was standing on extremely valuable ground and that the construction workers did cut the utilities off, so they hostel-owners would finally give in onto the buying offer of their neighbors. According to the guy I was talking to it was pure anarchy and everybody could and would do things like this to get what they want.

It was however not such a bad situation as it might appears. The owners had another hostel just five minutes away and we were able to shower and use the toilet there. Even tho it was not that convenient it was working and to be honest, I was anyways just sleeping in the hostel and during that time I dont need running water nor electricity.

During the next days I was walking through the city with the four Germans I met. We visited the Museum of modern Arts, a very impressive graveyard of Moscow and went to the university of Moscow, which is located a little bit outside on a small hill, in order to get a good view over the city. But when we came there we could not enter. Since the terror attacks a couple of months ago the whole city and especially important buildings were secured by police, military and security companies. This however gave a safe and controlled feeling in this rather hectic and intimidating city. Although a lot of weird people were on the streets, even in the night it felt safe. Therefore we decided to go one night to a classical concert in the Tshaikovski Concert Hall, which is one of the biggest classical theaters in Russia.
The three days in the city passed like nothing, especially because of the good company and the many sights to see. It was really nice and I was a bit sad to leave and was envying M. & L., for whom Moscow was just the first station of there 3-months trip through Russia, Mongolia and China. After the three days together I wished them good luck for the rest of their trip and took my plane to St. Petersburg.

~M~

On my way again!

I am shortly posting! I am leaving now to Russia, Moscow & St. Petersburg! I am so excited and cant wait to be there.

It's incredible, I really feel how I need to get out again. It's even more exciting, since it is my first solo-trip. I am traveling alone. Nobody of the ERASMUS people is still in Finland and A. has to work. So I am the first time going somewhere alone.

I think it will be a good opportunity to see if this is my thing or if I prefer traveling with one or two other people. I've never done this, so I am looking forward to it!

I am happy however, that I have a local contact for the first day in Moscow. One of the Russian girls I met here in Helsinki was willing to meet up with me tomorrow to show me around! I reckon it will be fun!

I will try to post in between, if I find the time and if I am in the mood. Otherwise, I will be back on the 11th in the night, so first opportunity to post will be the 12th! See you then!

~M~

A lot to do!

I am back in Helsinki. I came yesterday late evening. After these days in Stockholm and Ekenäs it was weird to come back. In the meantime nearly all exchange students left, Kannelmäki and especially the houses are quiet and dark in the evening. It is almost scary.

Anyways, the reason why I came back for some few days is, that I have to empty my flat, have to take all my stuff, which is left, out. But I also came back to pick up my visa from the Russian embassy. I went there this morning and thought everything was fine, I saw my passport, ready to pick up, through the window of the counter. But when it was my turn came the disenchantment; I didn't see that there was a note on the pick-up-paper I got from the embassy. It stated, that you just receive the visa, when bringing this paper plus the confirmation that I paid the fee. Since I did this online and didn't print it out I didn't get my passport back. Also all my pleading to check if the payment was registered as received were turned down. Now I am stuck here in Helsinki at least until Monday.

However, after this negative part of the day I went to the train station, where I met up with S., a German girl, who is doing her Au-pair here in Finland. I met her in the German school, while working. Since I hadnt been working for a long time I hadnt seen her. We went to grab a coffee and then, when the weather cleared up, we started strolling around the city. We went through Kamppi to the German school, where I just said "Hello and Good-bye" and thanked all the people for the good time and opportunity to work. Even tho I was there just every now and then I really enjoyed the work and the company there. Anyways, S. and I were walking on, through the city and through parts I have never been before. Actually this is such a shame. They are directly at the center and I've never been there in the last 9 1/2 months. We were talking, laughing and just having a good time. Then we went back to Kamppi and had ice cream while sitting in the sun. We split up round 2 o'clock, since she had to work.

I went then to Pasila. I still didn't had a print out of the payment confirmation. I had called A., since we used her bank account for the payment, and she agreed to send me a screen shot of the payment, when coming home after work. So I sat down at a PC, was checking my mails, reading news and doing stuff and then finally got the mail with the picture. I printed it out and now I hope, that the embassy will accept it on Monday. If not I will tell them to stamp my visa as invalid so I can get my passport back and then I wont go to Russia. Lets hope the best.

Anyways, I went home after that, put my laundry in. While it was washing I cooked lunch and ate. Then I put my stuff in the dryer and now I was watching streams online. I love these lazy days, even tho I wish there would be better weather and more company. It's pretty lonely here in the flat, since S., my flatmate is on Åland. But soon he will come back and then I go back to Ekenäs and A. I miss her already... after just half a day... incredible!

~M~

Nearly done!

I have one more exam tomorrow and then I am done. I just finished one more assignment and sent it to the teacher. Tomorrow is my last exam and then I my exchange time in Finland at the Haaga-Helia University is over.

I dont really know if I should laugh or cry, it's mixed and weird feelings.

I was before in the city center with E., one of the tutors, and S. for a beer. It was really nice, we went to a small local brewery, which makes the beer just for the own consumption. It was a really nice beer and so much better than the Finnish mass-production. We were sitting there for like two hours and then E. met up with two friends to go to a stand-up comedy show.

This morning I went to the Russian embassy and applied for my visa. Now I am waiting desperately until next Wednesday to pick it up. I hope it will work, since I had a missed call on my cellphone, without a number, when I came home. I hope they did not call because something was wrong with my application. They did not call a second time. I will wait until tomorrow or Friday before I pay the visa fee. Just to give them chance enough to call me again.

Anyways, I am tired and will watch some TV now!

So long...

~M~

Going forward!

I am happy, the weather is nice, I had a presentation today, which went well, I finished with G., a French guy, one assignment and whats even more important, I got my Invitation Letter for my Russian visa. Now I can start booking my trip!

I actually right now just came back from a group meeting for another project, which we also have nearly finished now. The rest of the day I was, as I said in uni, and when I came back I started learning again. This is basically what I am going to do also after this post.

It's really nice and summery here and this has a positive effect on all people. I was in the students union office after the group meeting and wanted to buy the last batch for my Halare. I didn't had enough money in cash and wanted to pay with the card, but the women in the office just asked: 'How much do you have?' - '1,50€', I replied, 'Well, just give it to me, it's ok!'
Also when I went to the supermarket today there were people dancing on the place in front of it. Somehow there was a small yet loud stereo and the people were dancing. Something I would have never expected to see here in Finland, since the people are normally quite reserved.

Anyways, it's always nice to get positively surprised!

~M~

Nice!

There is nothing more to say!

Well, maybe a little bit! It's a wonderful day, the weather is awesome, I can wear shorts and sunglasses and the best thing about it, it is not making me look ridiculous. The Finns are still shy and nobody is really wearing summer clothes, even tho it is 25°C.

However, everybody is outside, everybody is smiling. The people are taking walks, riding their bikes, taking care of their gardens, playing football, running and doing all kinds of stuff. The sad and quite time is over and I really don't recognize this country anymore. It totally changed within a couple of days. This is the Finland I like!

Anyways, I just had half the day to enjoy this wonderful weather, since I was working this morning and doing stuff for uni. I was therefore sitting the first half of the day inside, but now I just went out for a walk, went to a park nearby and was sitting there on a bench in the sun, reading my book.

I actually wanted to write this post outside in the sun as well, but the small park here between the houses is super dirty, since someone left his waste from a grill party there and the birds ripped the plastic bags open and scattered the stuff all over the place. Not so nice to sit there now.

Anyways, I planned also my trip to Russia further, but now I am stuck a bit. I wanted to organize the trip myself and not with a tour operator. The problem is, that the information given on the internet is not clear. Some websites of the government say, that a normal accommodation booking and the train/airline tickets are enough to issue a visa, some say that they are not and that I need some paper from the tour operator. It's a bit confusing and now I am waiting for an answer from the Russian Embassy here in Helsinki. The problem is, that today is a public holiday and they are not working, so I will pass by the consular section tomorrow to get information.

Otherwise everything is fine, I am going to go on doing stuff for uni now and then I will see, what the rest of the evening brings!

~M~

First Day of Real Spring!

This day was awesome! It was 22°C (finally) and I was a lot outside. It started with a long walk this morning with A. here in Kannelmäki. We walked pretty far and were enjoying the warm morning sun. For lunch we went to Pasila and met S., who went to the city center before to take pictures.

After lunch I had a group meeting and A. and S. went to a park overlooking the harbor of Helsinki. As far as I know were they sitting there in a café and were enjoying the good weather. My meeting took about two hours and afterwards I called A. to ask where they were. We agreed to meet up on Esplanadi, the one and only Boulevard of Helsinki. In the middle of the street is a nice and wide park, where you can sit on the benches and just observe people walking past.

This is also what I did, while waiting for A. and S., but instead of looking at people I was reading a book. It was so nice and warm, that I didn't had to wear a jacket nor a pullover. However, after a while there came a cold wind and since I anyways feel a tini-tiny bit sick, I put my hoodie on - just in case. On the way back it got even better, since we got free Nescafé® in front of the train station.

Now I came back from Pasila. A. took the train back to Ekenäs and I am alone again. It is now really weird. She took all her stuff from here, emptied out here space in the closet and the cupboard. My parents left Finland today and took also a lot of stuff with them, as I mentioned before and now I really feel, that the time here in Helsinki is soon over.

However, I am going with A. to Stockholm for two days, soon and right now I am planning already the next trip. This time I wanna go to St. Petersburg and Moscow. I actually planned to go by train, but when I - more as a joke - checked the flights I realized, that they are way cheaper. There is one airline, which is flying within Russia for super low prices. The trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg costs just 14€. I will inform myself a bit about this airline and see if I really wanna fly with them.

Anyways, I will go on planning and then to bed. I have to get up early tomorrow. Even tho it is a public holiday I will do a lot for uni!

~M~