Multicultural girl

Finnish girl, living in Germany, listening to Korean pop while reading American book in English. Yes, that's me. 

From this thought, I decided to write a post where I tell about the differences of Finland and Germany. Even though I haven't been here for so long, I have come to meet some big and some small differences between the daily life in these two countries. 

First of all I want to write about food (this was one of the things that concerned me the most before I got here.) In Finland we eat about five times a day: breakfast, lunch, "day snack", dinner and "evening snack." I know it sounds a lot but we don't eat so much at a time. Here it's normal to eat three times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner/"evening bread". Of course it depends on the family too but this is the norm. 

In Finland we have free lunch in school everyday. It always doesn't taste so good and sometimes it's really weird looking but during these two weeks that I have been in school here, I have started to miss it. Not so that I would have hunger or something here, no. But every night I have to make some breads or slice some vegetables or fruits, and the lunch box takes awfully lot space in my bag. In our school there's a cafe where you can buy "hamburgers", chocolate or chicken nuggets etc. and it's luckily it's not that expensive. We can also visit the near supermarket or bakery or ice cafe when we have free periods. 

In my host-family we eat usually in the evenings between 6 and 8. My host-sisters and host-mother are all vegetarians so we don't eat that much meat. This doesn't bother me though, and the foods are so delicious I always hope that I would be able to stuff even more food in my tummy. 

Secondly the drinks. Back in Finland I drank a lot of milk but only fat free milk. Here in Germany we haven't been able to, at least yet, find milk without fat and I don't like the taste of the milk with fat so I drink water. But even that is different. While in Finland everyone drinks the tap water, and to be very honest, it really tastes good, here everyone drinks bottle water. Water with gas, water with few amount of gas and water without gas. Or if they don't drink water they drink different sodas or juices. 

Then back to school. In Finland the high school system is based on courses. You have to pass at least 75 of them to be able to graduate from the school. When we have the courses, we have lot of different subjects to choose and we have the possibility to choose not to go to school everyday at 8 o'clock. So with that being said, I usually have only two mornings at 8 and the three others at 9 or 10. The longest day is from eight to four but it's normal that school day ends at two or three or sometimes even at 12. 

Here school begins at 8 every morning and usually, I guess, you have two or three days to four or five and then two days to two or three. Right now I have two days to five one to four and two to two (xD). The subjects are quite similar here and in Finland. 

I'll leave at that today. I might do this kind of a post again since there isn't really much going on now that the school started and all, so. And if there is something you want me to write about, please leave a comment. :)

Tschüs!

The first day part 2

Hallo :)

This week I baked some Finnish pastries for my host-family, school started, I got my new timetable, I hanged out with the cats and went riding with Sophia. It was a pretty good week I could say. Normal but good.

So, for everyone who reads my blog and is planning to go to exchange themselves, the beginning of the school really isn't that bad. At least it wasn't for me. The night before the first day I didn't sleep well at all. I wasn't able to fall asleep even though I was really tired. When I finally drifted to the dream world I didn't get much of a rest. I was so nervous for the upcoming day that my whole night was full of nightmares. 

I woke up before my alarm clock, I was tired, I didn't want to leave my bed. But I had to. I got up, I got ready and before I even noticed, I was at the school's office planning my subjects and such. Because I go to the same school with my host-sister I spent the fist day with her and her class. I had met couple of her classmates already so it was okay. 

School started on Wednesday, and on Thursday I met my new class. Luckily my classmates are really nice and I was taken care of so much that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. On Friday I went for the first time ever to school with the school bus. Before we got a ride from Sophia's friend but I had to learn to use the bus since next week I have to take it to school everyday, alone.

And last Sunday we visited this one castle and there is a cafe too

View from the hill where the castle is

A piece of apple cake with whipped cream, sehr lecker 

The "pullas" that I baked

One day we had Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) and apple sauce for dessert 

Simon♥ und ich 

Stoppelmarkt und anderes

Hallo again,

This week I have been getting use to living here in my new country. It has been pretty awesome I think. I have been sleeping a lot, which is great since next week the school starts and then I don't have any time to sleep I guess. My German still isn't that great so I feel like I haven't talked that much but it will get better!

In the first half of the week I went to visit the nearest "bigger" city, Melle. I bought a diary, a calender and one shirt. Then I ate some ice cream with my host-mom and -sister. Later that night we went with my host-sister and one of her friends to drink cocktails. Damn that stuff was delicious, and ohne alcohol. ;) 

Kiwi-strawberry ice cream

Mine was HUGE xD

I have also enjoyed the awesome scenery that this village has. It's so beautiful but kinda windy, don't know if it's just the season or what. Lotta is an awesome partner to walk around the nature. 

Lotta ♥

Okay, then to the Stoppelmarkt. We went to Vechta with two of my host-sisters, Sophia and Hannah, and Hannah's boyfriend and Sophia's friend. Hannah and her boyfriend have an apartment there, and that's where we stayed. In Thursday afternoon was this parade thing, which I think was awesome (and apparently, it's typical Germany). Later that night was, I guess, the actual Stoppelmarkt. Lots of food and drinks, rollercoasters and the like, and of course lots and LOTS of people. 

Next day we went shopping with my host-sisters. I was finally able to find new jeans! ♥ And I bought one shirt too, suitable for autumn. Later we ate turkish food. It was my first time and I liked it, even though the portion was way too big for me :D

From these things (and others too) the members of the parade threw candies, lollipops, chips etc.

This one kept on glaring at me 

They even had The Simpsons

Finnish flag tagged ;)

Chinese noodles with chicken

CUTE

 

View from the Ferris wheel

Cute little Sprite bottle, only 0.2l

I don't know what it's called but I guess it's gingerbread with icing,
DANKE SCHÖN HANNAH :)

Turkish food, Falafel Kumpir with stuffing

For somebody, like me, who loves ice cream
 Germany is an totally awesome place

Strawberry ice cream from earlier this week

The jeans ♥

The first day

Hallo Leute!

This week we had the OWO, orientation week, in Mölln. There were 39 other exchange students from Europe, from Finland were 8, including me. The others were from Italy, Switzerland, France, Lithuania, Hungarian, Norway and Denmark. 

The orientation week was okay, I think. It wasn't that nice to wake up every morning before eight and we didn't have wifi and all that I didn't like, BUT still it was really useful. The team members talked almost only German to us but if we didn't understand something they explained to us in English or in our own language. The first day, I didn't understand much but in the end of the week every time at least the main points. 

Today our orientation week ended and we all traveled to our host families. Most by train but some, like me, were picked up. I was so nervous when we were waiting for our families, but everything was good after all. The ride was long but I slept almost the whole time. 

When we arrived home with my host sister and father, my host mother had prepared lunch for us. Everyone are so nice :) After we had eaten, my host sisters showed me the house and the stable and the garden, so schön. Then I slept some more. 

We went riding with my sisters and Lotta, the dog, came with us too. It was nice, I had already started missing riding and horses and everything. 

I'm really tired right now. The past week was kind of tiring and everything is new and I have to translate everything in my head all the time but I'm sure it will get better! Now I think I'm going to sleep :D

All the Finnish exchange student who will spent their exchange year in Germany
(and travelling via YFU)

Me and Oona, one of the Finns during our OWO in Mölln

Last night at the camp

Today riding

Okay so now to bed, gute Nacht ♥

Departure day

Departure - TOHEART

Today is D-day

I woke up rather early today, don't know if it's just nervousness or what ever. I still have stuff to do. I need to pack the rest of my things, I have to go to stable for the last time to say goodbyes to my baby pony and I want to write here once more before I go. So yeah, next time I'll be writing from Germany.

In less than 8 hours I'll be sitting on the plane with the other exchange students from Finland. I have already said my goodbyes to my family, I might have cried a lot or might not. My emotions must have been going up and down like a roller coaster. I'm headed to my orientation week and after that, finally to my new home. 

Good Bye Bye - NU'EST

Earlier this week I finally started packing. It was so HARD to choose what I take and what I'll leave behind. I'm sure I'll miss many of my stuff when in Germany, especially my books and PS games, but I'll just have to cope with it. 

Oh, and I finally bought the gifts to my host family! I won't tell what they are until I have given them, just in case. :D 

On Wednesday I visited my aunt and my cousin and I had my friends come over and eat some cake. Last time seeing them all, it was really nice. Thanks all for coming! <3 And Thursday and Friday I spent with my best friend. We had fun. On Friday we were at Linnanmäki, a fun park, and we created some beautiful memories that I can think of when we are apart ♥ 

But yeah, that's about it. I'll keep it short so I can start doing my last minute preparations.

Good luck to me from BEAST ;)

I'll miss you, my best friend ♥
Ida, oot super tärkee, nähään ens vuonna! :*

A farewell gift from two close friends ^^
Kiitos Elli ja Alisa, tää lähtee mukaan ♥