I'm flying

5,3 kg.

My bag alone weights about 3,5 kg and 6 kg is the smallest restrict what I can carry with me. And laptop in its own bag plus because I'm a lady I can have "purse". Which in this case is my spacewonder bag where I can fit A LOT stuff. But no worries, I made a list where is all I need for few days and I could still pack 700 g stuff there but I won't.

I had to try and weight packed bag so that I'd know what I should leave unpacked etc. But I don't need to do that which is nice.

I ordered flights back to Finland. Though I still need to have flights to New York from Tennessee and from Iowa to Tennessee, but they're no problem. I can order them when I'm in US. I also calculated that I've spent almost 1100 € in flights so far!

Helsinki - Dublin - Chicago - Iowa

Nashville - New York - Nashville

New York - Dublin - Copenhagen - Helsinki

A lot to travel also. Can I already go please?

I also looked flights for Tarmo, they should only be reserved but we still don't know the exact day when he'll arrive. And some of the flights aren't flexible. And he doesn't have money to pay them now so it just needs to be done later.

I'm hungry. I'll go and moan to Tarmo so that he'd do some tortillas for us. Muaha!

Getting real

Finally I feel like the first paperwar against the exchange is over. I mailed my Housing Application on Monday and the first orientation is over. It was nine hours full of information. Still recovering from it.
I went to bank today and took care of some things.
I also ordered The Phone and Camera! Should be mine in a month! Muaha!
And my last course for this Spring will begin next week. I really need a vacation. I'm quite tired. But not in a few months. When my courses end, I need to focus on my Masters Thesis. Blah. Luckily it's weekend now.
I met some new people at facebook.com. Got some valuable information. Nice!

And I spent too much money today. I bought samsonites laptop bag (70 euros!!!). But it was the cheapest of Samsonites bags and should be good one too! Vepa said yesterday that she'd cut my hair on Monday and asked if I'd like, she could dye it too. So I couldn't resist to buy dyes! Though I'll dye my hair later on July I think.
I also tried to look for an adapter for my laptop but the only one I found was strange because my laptop wouldn't fit to it. Weird. The guy at the shop said I should look adapters from some kind of electricity shop. But there isn't any close. So I called dad if he could find one.
Mom promised to buy me new shoes and I found one nice ones but they didn't have the right size. And I thought that I'll save the money (at least from that) and buy new shoes from US. Cheaper and I'm sure there are a lot of better places to find shoes. And other clothes. Muaha!

The exchange is beginning to feel real. And exciting! It's the thing in my head all the time. I already planned to get my bag and pack it to know how much it weights and optimize all. Ah! But my tummy says it's hungry and my head says it's tired so I'll go and do something about them.

New York, New York

This year must be THE year for me! So many of my dreams will come true!!!

1. I rode a horse
2. I'm going to exchange
3. I go to NYC
   

I've been dreaming to ride a horse since I was a little girl but I've never had the change to do so. Last Sunday I did it and I get the change do REALLY do so (and not just sit at the back of the horse).

I've always dreamed of going abroad to study and finally I have a good time in my life to go and a real reason (not just to go to college or something).

And when I was in high school I was sure I was going to move to New York to study. Nowadays I don't want to move there but I want to visit the city.

And all these are going to happen! I just reserved us a Hostel (Wanderers Inn West, a real roleplayers choise!) and requested flights from Kilroy (again). The airline didn't recognize Finland as a country when I was supposed to give my phone number (and it was required for the reservation). Has happened before. Now I just hope that I could get the flights. And this all will cost a lot but I will get some taxes returned by Christmas and decided to use them beforehand. Muaha!

I also asked from Miki if I could leave some of my stuff in his place while I'm in New York. I really don't want to take all my half a year stuff with me in there. This way I can buy more! (Though after all this traveling, I will not have any money left...)

But I feel so GOOD! I love traveling and all this planning makes me so high! Ah! And Tarmo is (of course) so excited too! Ah, Ah, AH!

Can I go already please?

I'm horsegirl!

I rode a horse today!!!
Well actually I was just sitting on its back and Vepa led the horse. But it was so cool! I've never been on the back of a horse before! And Vepa promised that I could do it later too, ever ride! Wow! Wonderful!
I was taking pics of Vepa riding and of daughter of Vepas friend. And got some nice pics too! But they're now on Tarmos computer because Tarmo had my laptop with him. He was playing and needed laptop there.

But today was a nice day. The weather was beautiful, we cleaned (finally!) our home, did some flower beading and went playing role playing games. Actually I wasn't playing but just went to spend some time before going photographing. And it was so nice at the stables. The smell! It brought some memories in my mind. I was working one summer at a farm few years ago an I loved it! And I've never been so close to horses but I wasn't scared at all! And after training Vepa asked if I would like to ride her horse. And of course I did! It was so relaxing and the horse was wonderful and patient. Looking forward the next time! We planned that I'll go with Vepa to the stables on weekends when I'm at home and when Vepa is going to the stables. NICE!

And I met a Finnish girl in facebook.com (ISEP recommended that page to find other exchange students) who is also coming to Iowa. I home I'll meet other people too beforehand. It could then be easier to meet them and go to talk with people when we have just arrived at the place and know no-one there. I also e-mailed with Miki and we planned that I'd write him when I've settled down to US and would then start to plan our visit there.

The whole weekend was quite nice. I slept quite late though we didn't have much time to be home with kitties. On Friday we were late home from university and didn't have any energy to do anything, on Saturday we were at Lillukka making the groups costumes for RopeCon and today we were playing and I visited the stables. At least I started one work report which I was supposed to begin. So no bad feelings about doing nothing.

I'm ready to go to sleep already. So to the bed.

Another Problem

So, again problems.

Finnair is fucker and it doesn't have alliances with other airlines (or something like that) and Aer Lingus is bigger fucker because it doesn't have alliances with ANY airlines. So I'd have to wait for my luggagges to arrive at Dublin and then go to check-in. No problem, but i have only TWO HOURS time! And I should be at check-in an hour before my next flight so only hour time to get my stuff. And if you think what time it takes to get to the place where the stuff comes and then drag it to another place... ONE HOUR?! Not enough!

I took me a while to figure this problem out. And here's the solution:

I will have ONLY my hand bag and one bag for my other stuff. And computer bag.

All the other stuff will be sent for me via mail to Iowa.

So no problem. I just have to wish that if I send my other stuff to US, they will be there few days after I arrive there.

But then I found another problem while I was checking for all kinds of restrictions for handbags. My baggage is 7 cm too big on one side for Aer Lingus! I haven't solved this yet but I asked from Kilroy what I should do. And it's Friday evening so I'll get my answer only on Monday.

But I already planned what to pack! Muaha!

And printed some maps for Dublin and Chicago airports. Maps always comfort me. (Not car maps you stupid, internal maps I mean.)

I finally finished my Housing Application (I finally got the answer for my questions from US). I still need to mail it. But I'll do it on Monday. I'll send it via university so that I don't have to pay anything.

I still need to find out where to buy adapters for my laptop and phone. And buy the camera and phone! I planned to buy them next month (one week to go, muaha). And go to nurse to get my vaccination records, get my pill prescription so that I can buy enough pills form here.
What else? I need to contact Miki and ask about the lab thing, get insurance for my things, go to bank to get Tarmo a piece of paper so that he can deal with my money issues. And get some dollars.

So that much things still to do before I get next hundred thousand papers to fill and things to do.

Another big thing for this day. I prepared about 150 letters with Sira. It took two hours but it's done now. It fas for the Cell Biologists in Finland association (or something like that).

But I think I still have some energy to do something for the exchange thing. Bad thing that the Iowa House haven't still replied for my e-mail. So still waiting... Though I do need to reserve a room from there. But I just don't know for how long. I remember reading somewhere that I might stay at some cheaper place after the weekend. But I just don't remember where I read that. I could find that out...

Flights in Order

So, I got my flights!
So excited!

Though it still worries me if two hours is enough. But it has to be.
I downloaded some maps for the airports in Dublin and Chicago. They should calm me down a bit.

I've also browsed some things for my new cell phone and camera. Yes camera. I've decided to buy a new camera also. I found a RED camera which is also waterproof and shockproof. All I need! It's not that cheap though but I still want that camera. It's not that expensive and cheapest of the shockproof cameras. And if you look my old camera, you'll understand why I need a camera with that feature. And I'm going to buy the cell phone too soon because I need to know that it will be good (as not breaking on the first instant) and I need to learn to use it well. I haven't used Nokia for a few years (6 years to be specific). And my phone hasn't delivered some messages for me.

And Americans are so slow! I wrote an email to the local ISEP coordinator and she still hasn't answered to it (two days ago). I also asked for the Iowa House about room reservation but they either haven't answered my mail. I hope they would answer me soon so that I could send my Housing Application there.

Still much to do though I've done a lot work. Got flights, insurance, ISEP registration etc. Long way to go still.

Traveling

So, I got a letter from Iowa University. And more paper from our International Office. And I just reserved my flights! Well, most of them. I send a request to Kilroy if they could get me a flight which didn't show at their database from Finland. I don't dare to book the US flight myself through internet since I'm sure there will be all kinds of problems. So I hope I can get all my flights via Kilroy Travels.

But so far I'm now in Chicago. Here's my travel plan:

Helsinki - Dublin
07:40 am - 08:50 am

Dublin - Chicago
11:50 am - 2 pm

Chicago - Iowa
9:10 pm - 10:05 pm

The last flight isn't sure yet but I hope I can get that flight.
I'm a bit concerned about the Dublin, since I have only two hours to be there. The thing is that if the flight is delayed or there is some kind of other problems. Or I get lost at the airport or or or... But that was the only good flight for me.

But I got all my flight much cheaper than I expected! Cool! About 700 euros. And do notice: the traveling time will be LONG! All the times are in local time so I'll be on my journey about 24 h!!! A long way to go... And all alone.

I should fill the Housing Application and send it to Iowa as soon as possible. I had some questions about it and sent them to the local International Office contact person. Now I'm just waiting for her answer so I could send the application.

I should also fill the ISEP applications and I'm going to do it today after I've spoked with mom (she should call in any minute).

I got this wonderful thing there (actually two). I can get my courses from undergraduate AND graduate level though I'm going to be an undergraduate student there. And I got meal stipend. So no meal plan. So I can go to shop my own food or if I'm lazy I can go eat to the cafeteria.

And I'm going to share my room with one person and the kitchen and bathroom with four people. Not impossible.
Here's the floor plan:

Though I don't if the floor plan is really this kind (bunk beds or single beds etc.).
I'm going to stay at the Iowa House Hotel for the weekend (I'm going to be at Iowa at evening on Friday) since the residence halls open only when the orientations begin (on Monday).

I'm so happy that I've had so much information. It's beginning to get organized in my brains and I've a quite good image of what I'm going to do, where I'm going and when. I've still been lazy and not downloaded the BiTa pics, and I'm not going to do it now either since I'm going to finish some applications.

It's really good that the paperwork is quite easy to do and all the information are available and I know people to ask my questions. Though one has to see some effort to get the exchange place, it's quite easy when you get it.

And I did some apoptosis experiments today. We'll fix the cells tomorrow, on Friday and if necessary, on Saturday too. Finally I got to play with manganese (I did my Candidate Thesis about it). It's fun but it really needs some brains and when you have been in lab for a six hours, there isn't much brains left to do anything else.

But now some paperwork...

BiTa

Phef, not pregnant. Well, that wasn't the most obvious reason for my lack of periods. But one possibility. Thank God it wasn't so. I worried about it a bit in BiTa but not way too much. And about BiTa:

It was fun. There were more familiar people than I assumed and we formed a nice group there. I was drunk on Friday night but not too much. I didn't have any hang over but I had so much fun! We were the first there (as not obvious since we were the city who arranged BiTa this year). So we had much time to spend so we played games. And because of that most of my muscles are sore now. One other reason was the hard floor we slept on. On Friday we went to the other of the two local bars and it was so fun! I didn't drink much there and had a class of water every time I got cider. A nice way to keep on. And I chatted with many people. And Teppo. Again. He was so wasted that it almost got me pissed off. But I promised him I'd take care him so that he'd end up sleeping at the place where we slept. We'll he had to have a taxi in order to get to the place but I didn't go to it, it was only 15 minute walk! So he went with some other friends and we got to fire place to continue partying. Soon it was 4 am. and me and Reija got back to the place to get some sleep. Then Sari came to me and asked if I had seen Teppo, he was gone missing. So I dressed up again and went to find him. And I found him. He was sleeping in the most tiniest place he could find and since he didn't snore we couldn't find him. And his cell phone was soundless.
So finally I got some sleep but didn't sleep well. At 8 am. we went to get some breakfast and took a short walk since the weather was beautiful. Then we got to the first seminar and after that we went back to sleep. The subjects in the other seminars weren't so interesting for us. And then we got lunch and went back to sleep. And then coffee and back to sleep. Though we couldn't sleep because of the noise but at least we rested. And then we got outside just to hang out and after that on dinner. And after that we got to sauna while others played some games that didn't interest us. And hanged out at there, moved back to the place and at 11pm. to the other local bar. I drunk only one cider because I felt a bit strange and nauseous and worried a bit. And shared my worry with Reija and Kirsikka. They were supportive and I felt better after telling someone. And we were back to sleep at 2am. Though people came back all noisy at 4am. and performed a show (I was too tired to get up and I've seen it twice so I just listened and laughed at my sleeping place). And when it finished I fell back to sleep and woke up at 9am. I felt nauseous again but it was only because of the SMELL there were. Old booze and puke. YUK!
Luckily I had called to Tarmo last night if he and his friend could pick me up earlier to home (we were supposed to be back at 2pm. and there wasn't anything to do anymore, except to clean the place of course). But I was worried and wanted to get home. So they picked me up at 11 am and we got home via Pharmacist. And only after then I finally found out that I REALLY wasn't pregnant. My periods still haven't started.
I'll call to the doctor tomorrow morning.

I still feel a bit tired (not a surprise) but I hope I'll cheer up by tomorrow. But in order to do that I'll go to sleep now. I'm too tired to get my pics on the camera, so I'll do that later.

SO glad my plans won't go all messed up. I hope.

Too Much Thinking

Oh my blogger has been changed in Finnish! Just noticed.

I'm going to go to BiTa today. I'm not in the mood going there but I've already paid it and it has been fun earlier. I believe that I'm getting in the mood when I get to the bus and to the place. Luckily it's near Jyväskylä, so the journey to there won't be long.

I have a worry. My periods haven't started yet. Though my tummy is messed up today (as it always gets on the first day). And though they should've started only yesterday or the day before that. But they were so weird last month too. Only one day period and even that wasn't The Period. Not in details. I hope that my tummy knows these things again. If they don't begin this week (as they should since I eat pills) I'll have to go to YTHS to see a doctor.

I really don't know if I'm more worried about is there something wrong with me or am I pregnant? The latter would change all my plans (including the exchange) and that would piss me off because I've really done a big effort to arrange all my things. But if there's something wrong with me... One of my biggest fear has always been that I am not able to have a child. Though adoption is not an issue for me but still. And abortion. Nothing against to it too but I really don't believe it could be an option for me (though how could I know, I've never been in a situation where I should've had to consider it). And the reason for that is again that if in future I couldn't have a baby I would regret the abortion for the rest of my life. And when it comes to children my emotions are on surface and my baby would be the first thing to be thought of.

I believe that if it would be so that I got pregnant, I would be ready to be a mom. I'd have to. I wouldn't give my baby to anyone. Luckily I'm quite long in my studies, so that if I had baby, I could do some book exams on Fall and few courses on Spring. And then I'd go to USA. But then it might be working business, not studies. Or PhD studies there. So my Big Plans wouldn't change. They would only delay.

And about my love, Tarmo. As always I told him about my worries. It almost got me into tears (again). He's so wonderful! I really can't believe I've such a man. We didn't discuss much about the possibility of me being pregnant. And that's only because I'm too afraid to REALLY think about it. I afraid that it might be true. But back to Tarmo. When I told him what worries me, he didn't say much. He mentioned abortion and I said what I think. Then we did other casual stuff and when we got to bed we talked again. He took me in to his arms and conformed me. Then he said that if I'm pregnant, can I go to US? I said no, at least not for that long time I planned (if so, I might go there for a three months or something like that if that's possible). Nothing much else. But the way he talked to me said that he would accept the baby and wouldn't force me in abortion. At least I feel like that. I think also he doesn't want to think this thing.

Okay, I admit now that I've been thinking this a bit. But as I said, I'm too afraid to think it too much. And I'm too afraid to go to Pharmacist and buy a pregnancy test. At least today. I want to focus my thoughts to BiTa. And if my periods won't start by when I get back I think I have to go to Pharmacist. And then to doctor. But that's the furthest I dare to think this.

I can't deny that I haven't had a baby boom. My hormones tell me a lot of stuff about babies. But my brains say other stuff. And I believe my brains. That's one reason why I wanted our kitties. (One of the other reasons were that I've wanted for long some kind of animal). And I can't say that these darling kitties wouldn't have helped. I do want to have babies as young as possible but not sooner than it's necessary. And I've always thought that that would be then when I have a job and I get enough money to take care of the baby well. I don't say that one can't take care of the baby with a little less money but I'm just that much after money. And I've always thought that I'd finish my studies before getting pregnant. And that's what I want to do!

I believe that it doesn't hurt me to think these stuff even that I'm not pregnant. And I'm so lucky that I have this fiancee that supports me and thinks these stuff with me. That's a lot more that I could have ever hoped (because I'm used to men who are just grumpy if woman wants to talk these kind of stuff). Have I ever told how much I love this man?! And the thing is that I DO want to have his child. BUT NOT YET!

I know that if I'm pregnant our parents will be worried because I know they too want us to graduate first. But I also know that they won't abandon us if that happens and that they will support us. Whatever our decision is. I also know that a lot people will think us crazy. But I really don't care. I'm just concerned about our future and I too obey the Darwin´s laws. I just want to pass my genes on to next generation.

I also know that maybe I shouldn't think these stuff before everything is sure or worry before there is something to worry about. But I don't worry this that much that I couldn't sleep or that it would distract me all the time. This is just me thinking all kind of stuff and thinking what if.

I won't worry too much until Sunday. And that's two more days. And I have all kinds of stuff to do before that. And if I need to worry I know who to call and who to worry with.

But now that I've shared this with the internet I can do some other stuff. I just needed to think these stuff through a text.

Happy Holidays It Was

SO, Iowa it is!!!

I got an e-mail from there where there was ID:s for me to log in. NICE!
And today there was a message: Admitted. VERY NICE!

I've browsed the pages and configured my e-mail (and my other e-mail too). I updated my address books. And that was something what I've planned to do so long. But done.

Eastern. Was nice.

Parties went well and I did just nothing yesterday and today. Played Sims2. Muaha!

People from Tampere were here only too little time. All were gone by 10 PM. And so I had made way too much food. We had to throw away some of them today because they started to smell bad. And we already ate almost three days from the left overs. Now I know that I won't do food anymore. Die in hungry in my parties! I don't care! (I do.)

And the gifts! The gifts were sooooo nice. Our parents updated our dishes and we got luggages, art, flowers (have to keep out of sight for kitties), Moomin cups etc. All very nice gifts.

And I'm SO bored to my cell phone and camera. I moaned about them to Dad so that he would feel like I need new ones. Muaha! Though I will buy them my self but I hope Dad will help me financially a bit. Though I really have a good reasons for new ones.

My phone:

• is about 6 years old
• it's battery is bad
• it won't always accept my button pushes
• I've missed at least one message (still haven't got it)
• it won't work if it is too cold
• it complains that the card is missing
• it won't be useful in US
• it's OLD

My camera:

• won't take pics right away
• one have to push the button several times before it takes pics
• it's ugly
• it's old (3 years)
• it's weared
• it's big

Reasons enough? I'm planning to buy new ones as soon as I dare. Though I have first to buy the tickets to US and the visa and other exchange stuff. So no new cell phone or camera at least in a month. I hope I could buy them soon still!

But back to party. Here's some pictures (well, one). I didn't take many my self because people had better cameras and I'm quite tired for it's behavior (not taking pics when I try to take them).

How did this go again?

More pics in here: http://www.cc.jyu.fi/~antahall/kuvat/kinkerit/
The pictures will tell a lot about the party. It misses though the first few hours at our place.

AND THEN, the exchange! So, Iowa it is. I'm happy. I can't wait to have the info package from there where they tell all! And I'm glad our lab course is now easier (not all day) so that I have time to go to deal all the things (insurance, tickets etc.).

But now I need to write some e-mails and then I'll go to sleep. I'll have a long day tomorrow. And on Friday I'll be going to BiTa (meeting for biologists in Finland) for all weekend. Drunk again!

Party party or not?

Why can't people do things the easiest way?

It makes me sad because I really have made an effort to do food and arranged a place where we could celebrate i peace, and where we'd have a lot of space etc. And then people just say that "we'll just stop by". Fuck them. I even arranged some mattresses there so that people would be comfortable to sleep. But now it seems that NO-ONE is going to sleep there. And I already promised to go and carry some other mattresses away from one building in order to get mattresses for us. And because I already promised it I can't cancel it. So all in vain.

I'm sure I'm going to make way too much food there but that's not that big problem, we'll just have to eat them our selves during Eastern. But the thing that pisses me off is that people don't even bother to say to me that they won't sleep here and will leave early. Not until I ask and have already arranged all.

I know I'm just stressing too much over this but it's just that I'd like everyone to have fun and eat well and me a good hostess and no-one ever thanks me. Well Tarmo says that I'm doing everything well so on. But he'd better to say that! Muaha!

But not anymore about that. If people won't enjoy I'll hang my self. Or not.

But some nice things too have happened. I've done my Bachelor of Sciences courses! All of them! And I got 5 from the virology course! Nice!

And still nothing from Iowa. I keep thinking that they won't take me there and I've arranged all my things in vain. I don't know why it's one of the most biggest things that bothers me always. I mean that I'm always afraid that all my efforts are in vain and I do things just for nothing and all my plans will go fucked. Stupid, I know.

I got some funny pics about our kitties but I've been lazy and they're still in my camera. I should empty it for tomorrow so that there would be only our engagement pics. Our parents will come tomorrow at noon and we reserved a table from Banthai! Tarmos mom Raija and her husband Kari came to stop by already today. They're going to Tampere and will come from there tomorrow. And my other brother and his girlfriend won't come at all. Stupid. They didn't even bother to say anything before. Though I knew already that they won't come the first time I asked them because they were so lame about it. "We'll see" they said. Yeah right!

But again away from the moaning. Our parents will come tomorrow and after they leave I'll do all the salads for Saturday. And on Saturday morning I'll bake some baguette. And then it's it.

I hope we could arrange the places already today so that we could just take all the stuff to the place on Saturday.

I just want everything to be perfect. That's why I'm stressing. I know. Nothing's perfect. And that sucks.

Happy happy

Mom was so cute.

Mom: "So, are you now engaged?"
Me: "Yes, we are" *happy happy*
Mom: "Oh, I'm going to cry!"

And dad also.

Dad: "So, how does it feel now?"
Me: "I'm quite happy." *happy happy*
Dad: "I'm happy too if you are happy." *snif*

I'm so happy!

<3