Vauhdikas Kevät Hollannissa

Hellou everybody!

Today I got a nice lesson once again that everything doesn’t go as you plan. I’m travelling now in a train from Luxembourg to Groningen. I was supposed to arrive in Groningen 3 pm, but thanks to Belgium railway system going to be there 5pm and going to miss the first period of Holland-Slovakia World cup match. Belgium way of thinking is kind of strange they don’t really care that people are late. The train broke down just after we leave the station of Liege and they could have just arrange us bus transportation from Liege to Maastricht, but no, they drove little by little really slowly to middle of nowhere and dropped us out of the train and said wait here 40 min for the next train and then they drive the train back to Liege. So after all 20 min trip from Liege to Maastricht took over 2 hours .

I have only two days left here in Holland, I feel quite sad about it. It has been so great time here and meet hundreds of new friends. The time I spend in Holland has been definitely one of the best times of my life, and I think many exchange students feel the same way. And Im having great ending also before Ill be back in Finland. I was just whole weekend in Luxembourg for this Rock a field Rock festival it was a total blast Today gonna see the end of Holland game and after that will be last parties in Groningen at bar Pacific. Its gonna be a hard goodbyes for many people, but same time so awesome to see everyone last time

Lately I have been thinking of my life and how has the living in abroad and travelling effected to me for example what do I want for my life. In Finland I have had motivation problems since I graduated from High school, and many times I have feel bad about that cause I used to be an excellent student. Many people plan their life that there are going to have a great house, car, wife/husband, summer cottage etc. Well I don’t(at least not yet). It has come more clear for me in this time in Netherland that all I wanna do is travel and search the world and for that I need money of course. For next semester I have much more enthusiasm and I’m more eager to learn, because I feel I have some goal to reach at the moment. I want to graduate and get some better job abroad or if it isn’t possible first in Finland. For summaries that; all I want to do is go all round the world and have fun and legendary time in my life Now Is time for me to shake myself to study hard and then come back to same life what I have been having past couple months

My old Finnish teacher would probably kill me if she would be reading this blog . I jump from subject to subject and so many mistakes but I like it that way, anyway perfect writing is boring wouldn’t you agree? So now I`m gonna tell you what has happened after the EILC Reunion in Utrecht in the beginning of May.

Middle of May ( 13.5-16.5) I went to an ESN organized sailing trip to Heech. The weather was really good for the whole trip. On first day we were divided to 5-6 person groups in which groups we would be sailing and canoeing. Thursday afternoon we spend on the Heech citycenter where was really cool festival which includes lot of live music and all kinds of performances. Heech was like a perfect model city, everybody is living on own houses which has really beautiful gardens and channels come to everyhouse so they all have boats or yachts, well basically rich people playground. On Thursday night we have superb party by the accommodation place which was kind of huge old farm changed to a hostel. I was happy for my decision to go on that sailing trip because I actually met there new friends and got to know lot of people which I haven’t been being in contact earlier in this exchange. From Thursday night I remember the awesome drinking game what we later on played there every night It was called flip the cup, well I had actually played that once before already in my student house. On Friday we went first canoeing to the channels of Heech. I really enjoyed the canoeing; last time I canoed was probably on high school so it was really great. On the evening we started to learn sailing and went to the lake, and we have the best teacher also Friday evening we hit the Heech Nightlife. There was a really cool nightclub, I was a bit surprised that in so small city there was so nice party place, well we danced and drank there whole night and then back to accommodation. On Saturday we sailed to another small city and had nice chilling day over there and sun was shining and the weather was so sweet On Sunday we sailed to a small island and had lunch break over there. I started to feel on that day that I can actually sail and it was so fun to be on the back of the boat and just enjoy it Well I actually almost flipped the boat and my friends got wet but it was so high waves not my fault!. On the evening we drove to Groningen by bus and I must say It was really legendary weekend and the sailing trip is held in every year so if someone is going to exchange to Groningen I really recommend that ESN trip .

In the end of May I travelled to Mallorca, It was really good choice because the weather in Holland was so cold on that time. I arrived to Mallorca on 19^th of May , I was really tired and just went straight to my hostel which was called Hosta la mimosa. Hosta la Mimosa is a really great Hostel theres really good bar with cool british bartenders and the owner helped me with everything I needed during my stay. Next day it was time to start discover the Island but first I rented a mountain bike for my whole stay which wasn’t in the end good idea . Thursday was really hot day which I spend mostly walking and biking around the Palma historical center with my British roommate well and on the evening I started to get tanned on the beach next to Palma. I also biked to the mountain where was this cool ancient castle where you can see all over Palma city and the coast On Friday I decided to take a bike trip to the small island next Mallorca. It didn’t went as I thought I was driving through rough terrain and I broke my tyre twice and fell once again, and so I was so late that I couldn’t made it to the last ship to that Island. Instead of going to the Island I then just chilled at the beach getting tanned and swimming At the evening  I visited the bike rental place I changed my bike for the rest holiday for a more comfort “Dutch” bike which has really soft seat and  good suspension it felt much better cause my back was hurting after  felling couple times on Thursday and Friday.

Saturday was really fun day. I took a bus from Palma to Deia and also managed to take my bike with me. Deia is so beautiful place I don’t even know words to describe it, totally breathtaking no wonder why K.Z.Jones and M.Douglas has a mansion there too. Matter of fact I saw them cruising with their red roofless Ferrari twice on that day. On the midday I went to swim on the playa del Deia which is one of the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca. I was so happy to chill there with some Spanish girls and from there I went to climbing near the beach where some really awesome hills and unbelievably beautiful landscapes were J  On the same evening was the champions league Final which Inter Milan won well it wasn’t any surprise cause Mourinho was their couch We watched the game on Hostel bar and after game we had wild night with bartenders and couple other hostel visitor. Next morning I took a 100 year old museum train to Soller and port de Soller. Travelling to Soller with museum train was really cool and I think the most memorable thing of that day, the train went so high on the mountains and it was so fun to stand outside back of the train and enjoy the views:) Soller wasn’t so special city, I preferred port de Soller which was at the coast. I checked the cities and then back with museum train to Palma. On that evening I was too tired to go out. On Monday I travelled to north coast of Mallorca I went to the old Alcudia city where was this cool remains of the old Roman city and some Roman theatre. And the walls of Alcudia from middle age were also really worth to see. On afternoon I headed to the Port D´ Alcudia to the coast to swim and get tanned once again. Tuesday was a legendary day too. I took a bus to Formentor which is also at the north coast of Mallorca. The beach of Formentor is said to be the most beautiful in Mallorca Island. I definitely enjoyed the viewed of the beach there On late afternoon I hitchhiked with some German model couple to the Cap de Formentor.  They were really nice and the views at cap de Formentor was totally wicked, looked like  a bit new Zealand and Scotland mixed together. I went back to Formentor with those German and chilling at the beach and the beach bar and then it was time to take catamaran boat to port de Pollenca city really memorable ride too.  Next morning I was a bit tired of all travelling around the Island so I decided to spend my day with my Hostel friends at the closest beach which was Cala Major, and I didn’t regret that cause the atmosphere, weather and views were perfect there and on that evening really fun party night for a changeJ Thursday was my last day at Mallorca. I managed to end my trip for a really great day. I travelled by fast bus through the mountains to the port de Soller and took catamaran ship to Torrent de Pareis.  Just the boat trip to there was really beautiful and didn’t even care that couple birds shit on me . Torrent de Pareis canyon is the most beautiful place in Mallorca and I recommend that to everybody who`s travelling to Mallorca. I explored the whole long canyon and did some crazy climbing again without any equipment, it was so fun and wanna return there someday J My Mallorca trip was really fun but next time I will go to Ibiza, I think it`s more for me;) My flight back to Bremen from Mallorca on that evening was 6 hours late and I had to spend my night at Bremen airport but Bremen airport has pretty nice couches.

On the very same day that I return to Groningen I heard there’s some awesome Estonian party at the Melkweg Student house. Well I’m such a party animal so I couldn’t resist even though I was really drained after 9 day at Mallorca. Estonian party was a real success, the place was full of people and I met lot of new friends there. And after long night we went traditionally to nightclub Warhol and crazy partying there till morning light. On Saturday I wasn’t feeling so well but I joined to my finnish friends and we went to Scandinavian village couple kilometer south from Groningen to have some chilling Sauna afternoon. Going to Sauna first time in half year felt so good Because in Finland I go to Sauna almost every day.  Same Saturday evening there was in Winschoterdiep some birthday parties but then I heard about Mexican party in Albertine agnesplein and so I biked there with some friends, Mexican party was real blast, some different music and hot atmosphere and from there everybody of course cycled to wicked Groningen nightlife. Next couple days was just easy chilling at Groningen hanging out with friends and getting tanned outside.

Second of June me and my crazy party friend Timo, took a plane from Bremen to Zadar to discover Croatia. Welcoming at the Zadar airport was really a big surprise, we didn’t knew that it was actually the first flight from Bremen to Zadar so there was really big welcoming ceremony and press was there too. Some local bands were playing nice music and we ate free snack and cakes and tasted lot of local drinks. We travelled from Zadar to south Croatia to Island Brac where was our destination Bol. Bol is an amazing place with nice small city, perfect beaches and Croatia`s biggest tennis center. We spend there eight days chilling at the beach, partying in local nightlife (even found the best local illegal club ) and bit discovering the Island; one day we climbed to a mountain and one day we went searching caves.  I liked Bol a lot and our hostel (Apartment Gospojica) there was really nice, only 17€ per night and it was proper apartment with free mountain bikes, satellite television and a bit local drinks.

Ninth of June we returned back to Groningen and well yeah there was parties again in Melkweg student house on that night. The whole June in Groningen after coming back from Croatia was basically just party after party. I spend lot of time with my Finnish friends Tiia and Marja, we were watching all the Holland world cup games and some other games too at bars and of course crazy party nights after games.The atmosphere at Groningen bars during the games was wonderful and so fun, everybody wearing orange and after every Holland goal everybody starts to sing “Viva Hollandia” song. After Holland victorious games all the street are full of “Oranje” people and everybody is so friendly and no worries, just free beers for all The whole June was really hot weather in Groningen and this cool Sunset roof terrace at the Grote markt become really regular place to chillout. From Sunset roof terrace you can see the whole city and they play really good lounge and house music there allday till 2 am.

I have been Oranje fan since 1998 world cup and that was actually one of the reasons why I came to do my exchange in Holland. I wish same kind of football atmosphere will come to Finland someday, I really loved to watch world cup in Holland.

In the middle of June there was also a huge beachvolley event in Groningen. They built a huge beach and beach volley fields in the Grote markt and there was some serious games and also anybody could go and play there time to time. It was really awesome and so much fun to getting tanned in Grote markt and watch some hot beachvolley games On 18^th of June we had the farewell BBQ at the Hanze University. Farewell BBQ was cool evening with classmates and it was nice way to say goodbuy to all fellow students and teachers. So it was enjoyable evening and its great that it wasn’t actually farewell to everybody cause two girl from my class is coming to Jyväskylä studying IFM in my home school in Autumn semester.

On Juhannus we had nice midsommar party in Groningen. Swedish girls organized huge event to Noordplantsooen which is a big park in Groningen. There was approximately over hundred exchange student partying midsummer It was really fun day with lot of delicious Swedish treats and games. And some crazy old dutch woman came there too and thought we were crucifying something because of the Swedish summer cross it was so hilarious . On that night it was second last party night in Groningen and on next morning I took train to Luxembourg.

Luxembourg weekend in the end of June was legendary. I didn’t knew anything about Luxembourg before and it really surprised me positively.  These huge valleys and canyons are so cool with all old castles and bridges from Roman time. On Saturday night I went out with some animal doctors who were staying in same Youth hotel. We had really fun night in the new part of the city where is all the nightclubs. On Saturday morning I went to This Rock A Field rock festival at Luxembourg with one Brazilian friend I just met in animal doctors party. The festival was perfect, the weather was sweet plus 35 celsius and sun was shining from cloudless sky. There was playing lot of my favorite bands; Paramore(Hailey Williams <3) , 30 seconds to mars, The Prodigy and Pendulum. Especially I enjoyed the Prodigy concert because I have been fan of them over ten years and now I finally saw them live. The whole festival was well organized and maybe I will go there in future again

I came back to Groningen on Monday the 29^th of June just in time to watch the second half of the Holland-Slovakia world cup game and of course we won the game On Monday night we had the final exchange student party at bar Pacific and it was nice to say goodbye to so many friends, dance and have fun last time together. Well on that night we party also at het Kastel which also became traditional place for us exchange students on this semester. Just to mention other places too in Groningen we used to party many times in Ocean 41, Blue Angel, Kokomo beach club, Warhol, Rumba, Het Feest, Drie Gezusters, etc.  so many good memories on these and other places too. Groningen nightlife is so awesome with so many clubs and bars, so many places I didn’t even have time to visit

On Tuesday 30^th of June it was time to pack my stuff and say final goodbyes to my neighbours and some other friends. At Tuesday/Wednesday night I took bus to Bremen with Tiia and Marja and we started our long way home.  First we travelled from Bremen to Hamburg by train and from Hamburg with other train to Rostock. It was really slow trip cause we had so many baggage’s and we had to wait in every places. From Rostock harbor we took this Tallink boat, well we had fun 30 hour boat trip to Finland and finally on Friday morning we were in Helsinki. We said goodbyes and then separated to our own ways. Girls went to Oulu and I took train to my home city Jyväskylä. By the way girls have their own blog about Groningen exchange too , you can check that one too at: http://tytotrokkaa.blogspot.com/ So my exchange was over and felt a bit sad of that but I was glad it was hot summer day when I returned. On Friday afternoon I already met some old friends and we watched Holland-Brazil game at the terrace bar Passion and nice victory for Holland, it really made my day

Well I started to write this blog update when I was leaving Luxembourg on 29^th of June but I didn’t have enough time then to finish this. Now I`m here chilling at our Mansion, not so far from Jyväskylä.  It`s really perfect weather in Finland now (6.7.2010) and going to be same way at least this week.

I`m gonna talk little bit more about my experience. I really loved Holland and all people there. Had so much fun in this past half year and really I don’t regret anything I did, life is too short for that. I`m a shy person and all my friends knows that, I think this exchange change my personality a little bit less shy. In Holland and among exchange student it is different than in Finland. In Finland I really have to go and make the first move myself to get know somebody but in Holland it was so easy when everybody comes to talk to you and want to get to know you. It is also the thing that Finnish people aren’t so good at small talk comparing for example British or Dutch people.  Many foreign people don’t understand how Finnish people are so quiet many times, but they have to know that silence is a essential part of Finnish conversation and that comes also from the respect which we have to other person who we are talking with.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog and learn something. Please comment so I can get some feedback to become better blog writer For everybody have a great summer and on autumn back to studies!

Vielä suomeksi pakko jotain sanoa. Elikkä todellakin kannattaa lähteä Hollantiin vaihtoon, jos jotakin kiinnostaa. Todellakin sen arvoista ja Hollannissa tapaa vaihtareita ympärimaailmaa ja tutustuu todella monenlaisiin ja mielenkiintoisiin tyyppeihin. Päivääkään en vaihtaisi pois mitä Hollannissa ja ympäri Eurooppaa vietin. Elämäni parasta aikaa ehdottomasti oli ja palaan varmasti Hollannissa käymään viimeistään ensivuonna. Hauskaa kesää kaikille ja tsemppiä kaikille kesäduunareille ja syksyllä koulussa nähdään

Tot ziens!  Doooooieeeeeee!!!

Viva Hollandiaaaa!!

Moikka moi!

It is again time for tell a long story what all has been going on in my wicked spring in Netherland I have to apologize once again that it took so long to update my blog, I have tried to update my blog at least everymonth but now I just noticed that it has been almost two month since last update.

After Sensation White Belgium there has been lot of really cool parties, but still SWB is the best party that I have been so far. In the beginning of week 11 I remember I was really drained because of all partying and travelling. On that week we had some nice International week in Groningen organized  by ESN. It included lot of cool events, for example on Tuesday was movie night plus some really quality live music in Pakhuis. But the most memorable event was the Pupquiz on Thursday evening in Dizkartes. I hadnt participate any pupquiz here before so I was really excited about it. When the pupquiz started they told us what is the grand prize: Free beer tab for the party on that night. I was like is that even legal apparently it is here in Netherland. Well I of course with my team mates put really hard effort on that 2 hour quiz and managed to win it. We were really happy about our victory and started to pour free beers for us. As you can imagine we had a real blast and we stayed on that place whole night. I actually had so much fun that I left the bar at 9am on next morning   On that week i had also quite many lessons and meetings for doing group project in Hanze, I wasnt so excited about school on that week cause it was just getting harder and harder. On Saturday I had also really fun day, me and my friends went to this beer bar De Pintelier to taste different and little bit not so known beers. I have to say I really liked that place even it was really crowded on later hours. On Sunday 21.3 it was first terrace weather in this spring It was nice to sit on three sisters terrace and enjoy the sunny weather

On the next week was also warm spring weather and it was nice to chill outside  That week 12 I had only some coaching and groupmeetings on Monday and Tuesday so it was really easy week. Wednesday was quite legendary on the evening I was in some suprise birthday party for my friend and on late hours I found myself in Holland Casino first time in Netherland. The Casino was really awesome and entrance was free on that night and I got many free drinks there. I loved the place and the good service I got there, afterall I wasnt that upset of the money I lost there cause it was really fun to play for a long time in a real Casino. There wasnt any texas holdem on that night so I was just gambling, a bit stupid but fun experience anyway On Friday there was actually another birthday party and going out to clubs but the highlight of that week was the trip #2 to sunny Maastricht. We came to Maastricht on Saturday afternoon, it was me and 4 friends from the EILC course, well it was almost like small reunion. Weather was so perfect and we were walking all round the city, I love Maastricht so much, I still think its the most beautiful city in Netherland. On evening it was of course as always time for dinner,drinking and spank the monkey. At night when we were walking to citycentre it was time for some life saving action. We were just passing this suburb area and I noticed something wierd going on on one of the houses courtyard. I walked there and saw one car was in flames, well we called to 112 then. Couple cars and little bit trees burned before firemen extinguished the fire, but gladly most of the cars and houses were saved After that it started to rain and we ran in to the citycentre and had some fun partynight in couple bars in Maastricht. On Sunday we went to some riverboat in the city , It was awesome and the weather was getting also better. And after another superb day chilling in Maastricht it was time to return in Groningen.

Week 13 was really busy for me, I was doing group projects all week long, gladly I didnt have so many lessons. On Thursday I had interesting experience about dutch health care. I needed to go to dentist, I went to this some kind of dentist school where students are doing the operations and their teachers are supervising. Whole procedure took over two hours and the dentist student was making mistakes. Finally she managed to fix my teeth and I was happy for the result and actually it was much cheaper than dentist in Finland. Im not sure do we have similar system in Finland somewhere but it was a bit x-treme to be a guinea pig for dentist student   And then was the long waited Trance Energy weekend:) I went to Utrecht on Friday 2.4 for the Tance Energy preparty “Luminosity”. Preparty was also quite big there was two stages and couple thousand party bunnies and many superb DJ`s like Ashley Wallbridge, Johan Gielen and Blizzard to mention couple.  Ashley Wallbridge was my absolute favourite The party started on 9pm and end 7 am , it was really crazy dancing whole night and I totally loved it. On morning it was time to go back to my best host ever to campus area to get some sleep. On Saturday I slept quite long to get energy for the main party. And after proper dinner I went to citycentre where I met my friend and we headed to Jaarbeurs Utrecht and for the Trance Energy Party started around 9pm with 4 huge stages, there was approximately 50 000 partier with us. The night was so wicked I dont even know words to describe how awesome was it. Best DJ`s from allround the world was there and partiers were also come from all over the world. There was playing for example, Above & Beyond, Armin van Buuren, Marcus Schulz, Sander van Doorn, Simon Patterson, Super8 and Tab, Proteus etc. My fav DJ`s of the night was of course Above & Beyond <3  We were dancing whole night and drinking drinks and water, and actually on late hours we got so many free tickets for drinks and the party got better and better. So legendary night that I seriously have to come back on next year. Music was  so intensive and ”heel leuk” and visual effects had been planned so well also it was best experience since Sensation Well everything fun ends finally and I went to Uithof campus on around 8 am for a rest and on Sunday evening back to Groningen.

April`s first week started with hardcore studying: On Tuesday we had in Hanze our group project`s final presentation and it went quite fine. On Wednesday and Thursday I did my project file and was able to start reading to next week exam. Of course I didnt forget to have some quality freetime on that week too On Tuesday I was an official photographer in Charity Event in Platform theatre where was really cool comedy evening. I have been in this photographing course in Hanze on this spring so that was the reason I was there. It was really fun event and I was borrowing my friend SLR so I managed to took really cool pictures There were performing the same comedy group as in our introduction week on February and they were still so hilarious . Thursday evening I arranged an awesome preparty at my place here in Winscho with snacks, drinks and of course around 20 crazy party loving person On late hours we all went to this new nightclub called Kokomo wheres every thursday really brilliant student parties with cheap drinks. I think Kokomo is on of the best clubs in Groningen nowdays. So it was once again legendary party-party night. On Friday I was just chilling outside it was quite warm weather and that week was I think first one when it was over +20 degrees here in Groningen. Early in Saturday morning I went with my friends to this Dutch manscape excursion:Randstad which was a bus trip to Urk, Amsterdam, Den Haag and Rotterdam. It was sunny day travelling with good mates and the same wicked guide as in last dutch manscape excursion one month earlier. We saw some interesting places as the crash site of Israelian cargo plane from 1992 in A`dam suburb, Rotterdam harbour etc. and the day ended in some fancy dinner in Rotterdam. Next three days I was just studying for my final exam of the first block which was in wednesday 14.4.  I prepared to the exam for my opinion quite well but the problem for me became the time. We had only 2 hours time to complete the exam. I managed to do well the financial part( calculations mainly)  but for the second half of the exam I didnt have anymore time, maybe 20 min so it didnt went so well. I havent used to do exam so fast, in Finland I think we have always at least 3 hours minimum time to do exams. So I didnt pass the test because little over half points  isnt enough to pass test here in Netherland, maybe ill try to do it again in June with better success. After the exam I had this photographing course and there was some pro photographer to give a presentation to us it was really nice and I liked his pictures and stories. And on same wednesday evening everybody wanted to go party cause exams were over and everybody could take it easy. We cooked some tasty home made hamburgers in Winscho and on night went to party at Nightclub Warhol, really great dancing night once again but it ended pretty badly for me cause my jacket was stolen and also lost my keys. But sometimes you had just bad luck when youre in exchange and its just part of the experience. At least I havent yet drive with my bike to channel, get into huge fight or jumped accidentally from 2nd floor as some other exchange student here in Groningen You can always think positive. Rest of the week was just lazy hanging around. On Saturday couple friends of mine came from Leeuwarden and we were at center sitting on terraces and some shopping etc. It was really sunny Saturday and on evening I felt like partying again. On Night we were having fun with my local friends in many clubs in Groningen I think Vera, Kokomo and Blue Angel. Blue Angel is a nice small place where the y always play just 90`s music just like in my home town Jyväskyläs Giggling Marling`s Retro part, felt like home there …I think we danced and had some legendary party there till 7 am. On morning me and one HC finnish party dude met some our exchange friends in central station and they were heading with train to Walibi World amusement park which isnt so far for Amsterdam. We just came from the club but the idea of the biggest amusement park of Netherland sounds so crazy that we decided to join them and hopped in the train with them. It was so right decision, the weather was really hot on that day and Walibi world had some real bad ass machines including 5 awesome rollercoaster. The Goliath was mine and my friends absolute favourite and we went to it quite many times, it was the biggest rollercoaster in Walibi World. We had there long chilling day and on evening we took train back to Groningen. I certainly wanna go back there someday and ride Goliath again

19th of April my second block in Hanze university started. The week was quite rough cause we had long days in Hanze every weekday cause of the so called “The Game” simulation. But here in Winschoterdiep it was happy times as always. On wednesday evening we had superb special finnish dinner in D-wing of the building eating smashed potatoes,meatballs sauce, salad and redwine On Friday there was awesome party in my corridor in A-wing, we were cooking and eating in our big kitchen. It was quite rare party cause most of the people from my corridor was there, even most of them are Master and PHD students who usually never party. On night we went to nightclub Warhol and Het Kasteel which are both really popular amongst exchange students. It was really nice atmosphere in both places on that night. Most legendary thing on that night happened was this one girl from our corridor cycled with her bike in to the channel, my neighbour heroicly jumped after her and saved her and her purse. I heard that the water was freezing, quite dangerous those channels on nighttime. Next day I was just laying with my friend in park and enjoying the hot day in Noordpark. On sunday it was getting even hotter and all people from hour corridor cycled to this lake and beach south from Groningen. It was awesome place and we all just layd there whole day and cooked some BBQ food together. This place Hoornse Plas is the most popular beach in Groningen but there seems to be enough place for everybody and u can choose weather u wanna chill on the beach or just next to it on huge grass area.

End of April in Netherland its the Queensday party which includes Queensnight on 29th and Queensday 30th of April, it is like the “Vappu” “Labour day” in Finland which is also 30th of April, but the parties in Netherland are much more wild. Couple facts about Queensday: everybody is wearing orange party clothes, it is a celebration of Queens birthday but actually Queens birthday isnt in 30th of April and There are lots ans lots of concerts and the best parties are in Amsterdam where are hundreds of thousands people on the street and for example Dj Tiesto is performing there for free every year   So the Queensday partying started on thursday 29th of April. First just laying in park and gueensday dinner in one of my dutch friend. On the evening I was crazy partying here in Winschoter and the whole building was full of orange party bunnies and loud music. Well eventually everybody headed to the concerts in citycentral. It was really crowded in Groningen Vismarkt where the bands were playing. I lost my friends many times but end up partying with other friends everytime. When the concert was about to end it started to rain heavily and then I accidentally found some of my finnish friends and we actually went some “different” club  which I didnt even know that kind of club is in Groningen but it was fun blast there too cause all the clubs were full on that night. On morning I was partying with soe other friends in Warhol and then just biked to home to grab my backbag and it was time to travel with train to A`dam and for the biggest Queensday party . Amsterdam on Queensday was so wicked, streets full of orange party people and so nice weather and atmosphere me and my friends from Leeuwarden walked 2 hour in a party crowd to Museumplein where all the best artist were performing. On museumplein was playing for example dj chucky, Marcus schulz, Inna and of course the reason of the whole trip to A`dam DJ Tiesto from Breda,Netherland Tiesto concert was so powerful and everybody loved it we were just dancing there happily whole 1,5 hour Tiesto trance gig. I was really happy to see Dj tiesto on live finally and it was totally free concert

First week of May my Holiday was continuing and I had nothing to do so I decided to go to Germany and visit my my colleague whos studying in Erfurt. All the flights and trains for so short notice was really expensive so I decided to use this http://www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de/ where you can get car rides from place to place and its quite cheap, Its like hitchhiking put you prepair everything beforehand with driver and pay small amount of money. First I went on Monday/Tuesday night with bus from Groningen to Bremen cause I couldnt get car ride from Groningen. In Bremen I had 5 hours to wait my car ride to Berlin so I decided to take a little city tour by myself, and it turned out Bremen is really beautiful city with Historic citycentre and really awesome park down by the river. So on the morning my car ride began to Berlin and I reached Berlin on afternoon. In Berlin it was pretty ok weather, not so warm but at least it wasnt raining. My friend came to Berlin from Erfurt and we walked allaround the Berlin city centre. We went to the high Tv-tower in alexanderplatz it was really nice over 200 meter high and you could see the whole Berlin from there. Almost one of my favourite places in Berlin was this area where were all the museums and so many historic buildings. Brandenburg was also cool to see , so much history on that place   We also visited potsdamer platz wheres many scyscraper and for example sony center. Berlin wall and checkpoint charlie was also memorable places. Before midnight we took a ride to Erfurt in some van which was delivering post to Erfurt, well the ride was cheap but also scary. The old lady driver was driving 160km/h and passin cars in a road construction area were was only one lane! but we survived alive to Erfurt. Finally I got some rest because I hadnt sleep since Sunday. On wednesday we were wondering around Erfurt . I liked Erfurt theres lot of old churches and castles and the citycentre was nice even it  used to be in east Germany but most of the buildings has been fixed already. On the evening we went to some Cuba Libre student party. It was huge party, we had to stand in a line for 1 hour to get inside. But I think it was worth , the place was underground and there was many different bars inside. I liked the music except some traditionally german songs really good atmosphere and everybody was in a good party mood. The Club name was Engelsburg if somebody accidentally end up in Erfurt in future. On Thursday I travelled with my friend to Buchenwald concentrationcamp which is in Weimar, only 1 hour travelling from Erfurt. Buchenwald was really creepy place. Most of the buildings were still standing. The weather didnt make the experience any easier cause it was raining heavily all the time and it was really windy and freezing. On concentration camp there was all the torturing cells, krematorium etc. at the same condition as in 1940`s. Huge SS building has been changed to an exhibition where they told everything about Buchenwald, for example the inmates in Buchenwald had been forced to build legendary V2 rockets to Nazis. Its Ironic that Weimar is propably the most beautiful area in Germany but sadly it was favourite place of nazis too and so horrible things happened in Weimar in 2nd WW.

My next destination on Friday was Frankfurt, first I took half hour train to Jena and from there a car ride to Frankfurt. It was quite cheap only 15€ for 300km. Frankfurt was so beautiful with all the high scyscrapers and pretty parks. I like cities with high skyline like Frankfurt and Rotterdam In Frankfurt I went to the rooftop of one of the scysraper, it was so cool stand there over 200m and just enjoy the view. After spending day in Frankfurt cafe`s, parks and scyscrapers I took a car ride from Frankfurt suburb to Utrecht,Netherland. Driver was this time a business man from Frankfurt whos living in Netherland and his giving these rides to people every monday and friday. Ride from Frankfurt to Utrecht cost only 35€. Driving from Frankfurt to Utrecht was supposed to take only 3,5 hour but before Köln there was accident on autobahn and the whole traffic was stopped, so we were standing still there around 1,5 hour, but it wasnt so bad I could choose the music and we had nice chatting, on that ride there was also these two business woman from USA. After the traffic jam riding on that autobahn 230km/h was really smooth and fun. And I arrived to Utrecht round 11pm and met my friends in uithof campus.

The reason I came to Utrecht was a reunion of our EILC dutch language course which we arranged this time in Utrecht. On Saturday everyone from the course arrived one by one to Utrecht and we first took some nice lunch in Pancake restaurant:P  I was really happy to meet all EILC friends once again together   On the evening we made traditionally chicken dinner in Star wars building and had a real blast together. And of course the evening wouldnt be anything without werewolf and spank the monkey games On late hours most of us headed to Utrecht central and to Havanna Nightclub where was good dance music and club full of young crazy partiers. I loved the party it was real fun to dance with old friends and also really tasty drinks were there and really late hours me and couple friends even continued to a typical dutch pub and suddenly it was morning and back to Uithof take some rest.   On Sunday last one of our EILC group arrived and we went with bus to centre to watch this Giro D`italia biking race. Most of the Utrecht citizens were wearing pink clothes because of mothersday and Giro D´italia`s theme colour was pink. Sun was shining and we had wonderful day in Utrecht and managed to see the Bikers quikly on live when they pass the centre. Well we had dinner too and then said goodbye eachothers and we all headed to our home cities. It was really awesome to see all together, cause Im not sure is there going to be another Reunion where everybody will be. So I arrived from my one week trip on Monday night and I have to say I was dead tired after so much car rides and travelling and parties, but also I felt happy and I got so nice memories on last week. And more cool trip are still to come, on this Thursday for example Im going to Sailing trip organized by ESN, its starts in Heeg and last 4 days including canooing and parties etc.

Couple things that I have lately prooved to be true. In Netherland everything is so unpractical, but you can get used to it. Most of German people really cant speak english or then they just wanna be rude . And in Germany everything is so well organized new proof http://www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de/ I really recommend that to anybody travelling in Germany or near Germany.

I hope this weather get soon better in Netherland, its so wierd that oncoming weekend in Netherland +12 degrees and in Finland +25 .

Well I wrote again so much text:D  this is almost more like a diary without dirty stuff and not a blog. I hope somebody likes.

And in end a Finnish lesson for Nina: Hyvää Yötä! Nähdään huomenna!=Good night! See you tomorrow!

Duuuuuiiiiiiiiiiiii!

Goede Avond!

This time I`m gonna tell you about my long extended party weekend which just ended. I`m sitting now on a train from Maastricht to back Groningen.  Today evening I felt a bit tired and depressed because my weekend and best parties ever was over. I took a train from Maastricht at 8pm and sit with some nice Italian couple and an old man who looked just like a Santa Claus. They were really entertaining people and really cheered me up. Italians had some cool puppy with them and it was playing all the time and jumping to my lap and Santa Claus was joking all the time with some Dutch women which were sitting next to us. When I arrived to Utrecht I had to change a train and now I have still 2 hours travelling left to get to Groningen.

My trip started on early Thursday morning from Groningen central station. My class and teachers gathered in station and get in to the train to Haag. In Haag we had a nice excursion day. We went to the Haag Hogeschool and we walked with some guide trough the building and I must say the building is really impressive and interesting. After lunch and wondering around the building we had some debate with local students. There were topics about sustainability and experienced economy and we had some real nice debate with these themes. And especially my Chinese classmate proved to be a super debater. Later my classmates and teachers went for a dinner but I didn`t join cause it was time to continue my trip and the next destination was Breda.

From Haag to Breda it took only one hour with train and I was in Breda early in the evening. My good friend from Finland who is studying in Breda was waiting for me in the station. We hadn’t seen each other for so long time and it was really nice to come Breda for a one night. We had some nice party in their student house and of course went out to some nightclubs. Well I was maybe a bit too excited to see my friends again and partying got little bit out of control. For example I lost my jacket on that night and fell asleep before after party, but it was still an awesome party and I even found my jacket next day from the De Boulevard nightclub wardrobe. On Friday I also did some sightseeing in Breda city centre and I really liked it. I also get some proper nap and breakfast and so I was ready for new adventures. Next destination was Maastricht.

I reached Maastricht at 8 pm on Friday evening. My really good friend from Januarys EILC Dutch course was picking me up from the station, it was really cool reunion because we hadn’t seen each other after January. We went to some drink shopping and dropped my bags to his place. I had still a bit hangover and tired from Thursday so we had some good dinner first. Then I was ready for a new party night. Another Latvian joined us and we headed to some campus area with bus. This building where we went had been a hospital before so it was quite strange, it seems to be common way in Netherland to change some office buildings, hospitals, mental hospitals etc. to a student houses. On that place we had some cool prepartys with many Swedish, Latvians etc. students. We played this drinking cardgame called Waterfall, it is really often played in Finland too but this time was different again because now it was Swedish rules. Swedish rules included this green hat rule, and who has green hat is drinking all the time, well surprise surprise I had to wear it almost through the whole deck. We had really fun time on that evening and we went to clubs quite late I think 2.30 am or something like that. It was great night and I think it was morning already when we went to sleep.

Saturday came with really bad feeling again but It was the day of Sensation White so there was no time to sleep all day. Everybody was so hungry and we walked to the city centre to get some fast-food from McDonalds. At the same time I saw Maastricht first time in daylight. Maastricht is really cool and beautiful old city with a big river and its different than Utrecht and other old cities I could almost say it is the most beautiful city in whole Netherland. I can really recommend people to go study there because also the student houses are much nicer than for example in Groningen. Me and my Latvian friend walked back to his place and started to get ready for the best party of our lifetime so far. Of course it was the Sensation white so we weared all white clothes. We were then suppose to take a bus to back city centre but we just missed the bus and then we were screwed . Because the other bus to Hasselt, Belgium was leaving in 25 min. Well we didn’t have any other option than to run. Running was really killing us because hangover but we made it on time and we met our Swedish friends in the station. Well the Hasselt bus was actually really late so we ran for nothing but I think it was really good half our running exercise When we finally get into the bus it became full of white wearing people and all we had the same final destination: Wicked wonderland Sensation white party at Hasselt Belgium . The atmosphere in bus was really fun but after an hour we started to fed up Spanish people who were singing so loudly all the time, but gladly then we arrived to Hasselt. First we went for a pit stop to subway to get some nice Subs that we would have enough energy to dance the whole night. When we finally got to the arena were the party was we were so excited and happy. I felt like that this is the reason why I came exchange to Netherland. We made it just in right time the party and crazy dancing started in 10.30pm. DJ Erick E started the Sensation with some cool effects and everybody was jumping and partying wildly. The arena was perfectly decorated and effects were so perfect through the night. Drinks were quite expensive there but nobody really cared. We just danced the whole 8 hours and then the morning came. It was definitely best party where I have ever been so far, It`s like life`s purpose is: Sensation White. I can`t wait to go some other Sensation white event. So it was perfect night with so good friends and all DJ`s were really in shape too on that night. Sander van Doorn was the last DJ played on the morning he was also superb.  On six a clock we came back Hasselt station and ate in subway again, all of us were really dead tired on the morning and we first started to wait for a bus back to Maastricht but  the first bus was leaving on 9 am or something like that. So I called us a minibus taxi where we all 7 people could fit in. It was 8 am when we arrived with taxi to Maastricht on that hospital student house and all just went immediately sleeping cause it had been so long weekend. Today I got up like 4pm and had really bad pains, but I didn’t care cause I had the best night ever on Saturday . We just said goodbye to our partypeople in that Hospital studentplace and went to my friends place for freshing up and I took this train on the evening…..Soon I will finally arrive to Groningen. And tomorrow the boring normal life comes back. But on April is the Trance energy party in Utrecht so life goes on can`t wait for those party too.  And before that I`m also going again to awesome Maastricht at the end of March.  Take care people!

Good night and Tot ziens.

-Mister green hat Risto-

PS. Just remembered It is my nameday today, but I think no party for me this week, need some rest after this weekend

Hoi!

Its again time to tell about my crazy Netherland life   It has been a month since I wrote last time, after that has been suprise suprise lot of awesome parties and also some real hard IFM studying. First Im gonna tell you something about my studies here in Groningen.

Lately my IFM studies have became really intensive, we have lot of different groupworks going on at same time in this Sustainable Housing block. I have felt being a bit lost cause so many things have to be done at the same time. Also here in Hanze university studying differs quite lot comparing my studies in JAMK in Finland. In JAMK its usually really clear what we have to do and we have more contact lessons, here students have to figure out more by themselves what to do whit assignments and also more active and strict groupworking in school. On this week I have been wondering why I didnt choose those first year blocks when I was doing my learning agreement on December, I bet those would have been more easier   Well at least my classmates have told me that the next block (Quality management) will be easier and more fun and it would be more clear what we are supposed to do. Today our group was again at Hanze doing our assignment for many hours, I think I Finally have better idea what we are actually doing in this block and tomorrow morning we are going to keep on working whit it at train…

Well lets continue what has been going on after 12th of February. After get beaten up on week 6 I wanted to take it easier and I really did on that weekend. On sunday 14th of February I did this 5 company mission and Vision presentations for monday. On monday I had to present it in front of the class, well I little bit missunderstood what was I really supposed to do but afterall the presentation was fine. On the same evening it was time to party again. We had some nice preparty on one of my friends place in the city centre and from there we traditionally went to the international student night to Pacific. On this night there wasnt any specific theme, just some great partying with other exchange students. Wednesday was really superb day whit so many activities. After some financial management studies at school it was time for International games at ACLO sport center. It was ESN organised event which was kind of a tournament, we were playin in some 6 student groups floorball, basketball, volleyball, football etc. it was so fun play all those games on the roll whit hardly no brake early evening we had also a dinner at ACLO. After eating me and some other exchange students went to the also ESN organised Speed dating at Pacific. Speed dating was really fun and meet lot of new people there, allthough it could have been organised much better. Later on the evening we went with my friends to a bar/cafe called Images which is kind of lounge cafe of Movie theater. Images is an awesome place with excellent customerservice and good collection of different beers. And of course from Images we went to Pacific where everybody were crazy partying again. Even though I took it easy on wednesday just dinking beer I felt really sick on thursday and had some pains in my chest, probaply also because of international games was on wednesday. So I had to skip that schoolday. On 19th my winter holiday started. Almost all of us EILC dutch course group from Utrecht gathered for a reunion here in Groningen on that weekend. It was so cool to meet eachother again after 3 week break. On friday we(Groningen citizens ) showed our friends a bit Groningen city centre and on the evening some nice cooking together here in Winschoterdiep student house and of course this one of our favourite drinking games werewolf. Saturday was quite similar funny day with friends but on the evening we all went out, first to some private reggae party on some riverboat. Reggaeparty was really legendary and I even bought these guys CD, well everyone of us wasnt so keen on reggaemusic so we continued our partynight at nightclub Warhol. Warhol was full of people and with good club music it was really cool party too and I think I was a bit ” Ristokänni” according to my friends , but in Warhol bartenders really knows how to satisfy me . Sunday was quite horrible day for me, had terrible hangover and we were again wondering around in the centre and my knee was also getting worse. We had some nice dinner in some eating cafe and then our EILC friends left the Groningen on the evening.

My actual holiday started on monday 22nd, well I hadnt planned anything special for that week cause I didnt knew about the holiday so early. But at the end it was relaxing and chilling week. So on monday my colleague from R.A.Y whos having her exchange in germany came to visit me. It was nice to meet for a long time. And we were just hanging around and a bit drinking and partying. On thursday we went to Leeuwarden where couple of my friends from EILC are studying tourism. In Leeuwarden there was really nice pre parties at their student house and after that we walked to Nightclub Noa. Noa is really stunning place, I liked it so much, couple DJs playing together all the time some wicked club music and ahuge dancefloor, It was so my kind of place At this moment in Groningen here isnt any that kind of huge proper club open, cause the Palace was closed on 6th of february and it will be replaced by Kokomo beachclub, Im so waiting for the opening of Kokomo beach club on 19th of March . Saturday on that same week 8 we had awesome Angel and Devil theme party here in Groningen, on the evening we were cooking with our ESN group some really tasty pancakes with chocolate etc. those were so delicious and on the night we went of course again to some wicked partying on nightclubs.

Last day of february I decided that I need some break for drinking and partying I promised to myself that not even one drop of beer for me on the next 7 days. The 12 day holiday was so crazy I think a bit too much parties. So the week 9 started with some bad ass studying in hanze on tuesday and wednesday. On wednesday evening all of my friends were going to this 70s party, so I joined too. It was quite different partynight cause no alcohol, but still had fun night with the power of cocacola and redbull 70s party was real awesome also because many people put some real effort for their 70s costumes   Thursday and Friday was just hard studying again in Hanze university and we were really working on with our group works. Saturday morning it was early wake up and hurrying to the bus cause it was the day of Dutch Manscape Excursion: ” The war between water and land”. Our trip started here at Groningen we travelled trough the Friesland and stopped there on many nice places like “Terps” and we even climbed to a mountain it was huge 8 meter high from friesland we came to the ” Afsluitdijk” the 30kilometer long damn which closes the Ijsselmeer and for example stops any big storms or flodding going to Amsterdam etc. From the Dam we drove to the small city called Volendam. Volendam is really nice coast city with cool typical dutch architecture. We travelled also to trough Ijburg which is new Amsterdam residential area which is built on 10 artificial islands, the Ijburg area looked like Lutakko residential area in Jyväaskylä, Finland. And from Amsterdam we drove trough these huge reclaimed areas as Flevoland etc. Which we were still under water 100 years ago.  The excursion was really awesome basically because 3 reason: Travelling with good friends, best guide ever and Sun was shining all the 600 km that we travelled around Netherland and after excursion it was time for Saturday night partying and dancing   Next day was as super as Saturday. ESN got to us some cheap tickets to footballmatch FC Groningen-VVV, and nice weather keep on entertaining us. The match was really good and the atmosphere at the almost full stadium( for 22 500 person) was really great. I even bought FC Groningen Scarf to be more part of the audience. In FC Groningen is playing also one finnish player Tim Sparv who is also playing at the Finland national team. When there was 12 min left of the game Tim Sparv was able to join the game too and of course all of finnish people on the staium was excited, and he played actually really well. At the end FC Groningen won 1-0 but could have won with much bigger number without blind referee .

This week has been just hard working at the school on lessons and groupmeetings, but tomorrow starts a great trip. On tomorrow morning Im going with my class and teachers to Haag to some excursion to Haag University and we have to suit up and we have there some debate or something. Well after excursion I will take a train to Breda and visit my good friends from Finland there. On Friday its time to go south to Maastricht to visit one of my friend from EILC. And on Saturday we are going from Maastrict to Hasselt,Belgium for the Sensation White Party its gonna be so wicked. Gonna be so super weekend, I hope weather will be nice too

Now Ill give some tips for students who are coming to exchange in Netherland in future. Dont ever get an appartment from SSH or Housing office, they just make lot of money by stupid students. You can get much better appartments from private market and you dont have to pay these wierd service costs for doing nothing. But of course if you wanna live in crappy student house and you dont care giving them money for nothing you can choose housing office. For example I have now waited one and half month that they would repair my heating system .   And when you are planning a budget for Exchange, first plan a nice proper  amount of money and then double it and then you might have enough big budget to do all the fun stuff during exchange. Because I can guarantee that for you its gonna be lot of partying and travelling  all the time as well

Have to go and get some sleep, early train tomorrow to Haag , next week Ill tell you about my wicked trip to sensation white:)

Tot ziens!

Hello fellows!

I`m writing this time in english because many friends here in Netherland can`t obviously read finnish. I apologize my bad english but I`ll do my best. I succesfully moved from Utrecht to here in Groningen 2 weeks ago. I was supposed to update this blog much earlier but again I have been so busy with school, partying, moving to Groningen etc. I think I`ll continue telling what has happened after 17th of january when I last time updated my blog.

So it was week number 3 in Netherland. My Dutch lessons continued as earlier but new grammar came like almost everyday so dutch studies got harder all the time, but at the same time we had so great EILC group and perfect teachers that it didnt really matter. On week three me and my friends had some serious fun with parties and everything. It was wednesday the 20th of January we all went after school to bowling to citycentre of Utrecht. Bowling was really fun, but my shoulders and hand were in real pain after that for three days, but I think it was worth it Have to try some bowling also here in Groningen.  Next day after school I finally bought some proper walking/trekking shoes from Perrysport, cause my feet has been hurting cause all this walking on Excursions etc. Same evening almost all of us went to this Pub which is near the Rabbit statue, cant remember the name of it. It`s really great pub with cheap beer and good atmosphere. We were just having fun and played this Werewolf game, which I havent played earlier, that`s really funny drinking game. On that thursdaynight we took it easy and went home quite early. On Friday we had this awesome excursio to Haag. We went to Haag early in the morning by train. We were really lucky cause on that day it was really warm and sunny, and on Haag there was no snow . First we just walk around the city and saw many superb old buildings for example this awesome Parliament house and Netherlands primeminister office tower. Next to primeminister building was the Mauritshouse which is a famous museum. We went there and there was so many beautiful paintings made by rembrandt and other famous painters. From Mauritshuis we continued our city tour and really enjoyed the beautiful weather. My favourite building in Haag was definitly UN International court of justice, It was so huge and looked almost unreal. We also visited the panorama mesdag tower, it was really cool, It`s a small tower inside of the building and top of it you can see beautiful views which are actually just one big painting.  The highlight of the Haag excursion was without a doubt the Beach were we went by tram from the citycentre. Sun was shining so beautifully then and we just had fun on the beach, and after that we had some hot chocolate and food in one of the many restaurants by the beach. We came back from Haag to Utrecht quite early on the evening. On the same evening we all went to the Hostel where Marta one of us lived, and we just got party started. After having fun couple hours in Hostel we walked to nightclub Gekko where was this balkan beatz party. The Gekko was pretty ok place and we just danced and had great time there until 3 or 4am. After Gekko everybody else went home but I still wanted to party. What happened after that is a different story and I dont put that on this blog, all of my friends already knows everything about it. Eventually I found home at 7.30am. Also on Saturday there was this great party in my International Student House in Beneluxlaan, I think there was couple hundreds international students from all over Utrecht partying on the Groundfloor. No one other from EILC group wasnt there maybe cause of Friday partying, and I met some new friends there then. On Sunday morning me and 3 of my friends took a train to Rotterdam. It was quite foggy wheater so we didnt go any boat trip or euromast tower. We just walked all over the city and saw so many beautiful scyscrapers. I really liked Rotterdam it`s so modern and beautiful city. We visited on Rotterdam the cubic houses which were really awesome and strange. After Cubic house we went to maritiem museum which was at the harbor, I especially liked the Buffel ship which was from the 1860`s.  One of my favourite places in Rotterdam was also Erasmusbrug, which I find really awesome   After I got home from Rotterdam I was supposed to read for the Dutch Language Final Exam but I was too tired for that. So that was what happened on busy week number 3

The last week in Utrecht started with hard studying. Whole Monday I studied for the Tuesdays Final exam of the Dutch language course. I was a bit worried will I pass the exam on Monday. On Tuesday when we made the exams I found out that the exam wasnt that difficult at all, afterall our teachers didnt make so hard exam for us that they told earlier I passed easily both Writing and listening exams. On that Tuesday evening we all EILC group gathered to Zeist where most of us lived and had a final party cause on Wednesday some of us had to leave Utrecht and go to their actual exchange city. We were supposed to go nightclub also on that night but we had so fun in Zeist we just stayed there and played drinking games as Spank the monkey which is really fun swedish card game .  On Wednesday we had the last school day in James Boswell Instituut, we just studied a bit more dutch and had lunch together with our both teachers. The teachers Wimpie and Winnie were really great teachers the whole month that we were studying there and on last day we gave them some wine and presents . At the evening all of us who were still in Utrecht went out to bar called Stariway to heaven, it was really nice place. We tasted lot of differrent beers there and I found my favourite beer “Westmalle”. On that evening we had to say goodbuy couple of us again cause some of us was leaving Utrecht on Thursday. Next day we had this extra excursio to clock museum of Utrecht. There was lot of cool clocks, self playing pianos and other similar things and for example worlds first Jukebox from 1880`s. On Friday morning  I just got this idea to go Amsterdam by myself, so i had been there earlier on January with our group girls, but I just wanted to take a trip again alone so I didnt have to wait anybody and could go where ever I wanted to go. I took train to Amsterdam but this time I was a bit unlucky cause it was a bit bad weather. First when I got to A`dam I took a boattrip around the city, it was a bit boring with bad weather. After boattrip weather gladly was getting a bit better and I went to some Hotel and rented a bike. I just biked all over the city all day long and visited many nice places as Marihuana museum, parks, this one tropical garden, Hard rock cafe etc. It was really great day. Saturday was my last day on Utrecht so I wanted to spend it with three girls from my EILC group who were staying in Utrecht the whole exhange. On Afternoon we went to this Mozart concert on Dom church, a little bit different musical experience, but it was actually pretty cool. On the evening we were planning to go this famous Belgie pub but it was so full that we didnt go there. Instead we went to another pub called something about balloons I cant remember its name. We had really fun evening with excellent beer and good company.

On Sunday morning 31 st of january I packed my stuff and cleaned my room and took train to Groningen. The tarin trip was pretty fast , was just reading book all time. First night in Groningen I was staying with my EILC friends in student house in Van houtenlaan, because I got my own room on Monday. On monday I moved then to here in Winschoterdiep International student house. My room was really crappy and I complained about it and on Wednesday I got a bit better room on here in second floor. On this first week in  Groningen I had lot of introductionally things At Hanze University where I have now started my IFM Studies. At the beginning I didnt knew much people here in Groningen and we were spending evenings with my 4 EILC friends  which are also studying here. Basically just making food and drinking beer etc. On Friday 5th of February started the ESN introduction week where we all hundreds of exchange students were separated to 10 people groups. First we had this nice citytour with our group which included visitin ESN office. After tour we walked to a dinner at ours Guide home and had there some good time with eating and cardgames. It was great evening when we got to knew eachoters. After dinner we started the ESN Pub crawl which included about 10 pub/bar. It was so fun night with lot of dancing and so so many drinks and shots. On Saturday we could choose whether go to swimming or to museum, me and two girls from our ESN group went to museum, it was quite boring with lot of really strange paintings and exhibition. I have to say Groninger Museum was the poorest museum of all which I have seen so far in Netherlands. On the evening we had nice dinner in Oosterpoort with all ESN intro groups, and after dinner was this Salsa workshop. Salsadancing was actually fun even it was difficult cause never had danced it before. Also on that evening we went to some pubs and had some awesome parties.  Sunday morning I felt quite bad but I made it to the Comedy afternoon to Huize maas, it was really entertaining interactive comedy . We also had dinner on the same place and then there started this Karaoke where all ESn groups had to song some karaoke song. Karaoke was very funny too, but I wasnt feeling so good on that evening so I went home early but some people continued parties on some other bar.

This weeks Monday my studies started properly on Hanze University where I`m Studying International Facility management. I was a bit suprised that I`m actually the only exchange student on my class, so I`m  studying IFM the whole semester with only dutch students. I think maybe I will improve  my dutch skills within this semester. My class looks so far really good with lot of different and interesting personalities. On Monday we had too this ESN parties on the evening at australian bar Pacific, the theme was orange and actually everybody weared lot of orange there so it was really awesome party and met some more friends ther too. On tuesday I had some IFM studies and on the evening we went to movies with all ESN groups. We watched this Dutch movie about this 1963 big skating competition, the Cinema was really nice but the actual film was quite boring. Next day at Hanze we had some serious studying, we had to wear suites and we got our assignment for the Sustainable Housing course. On the evening was the Final party of ESN introduction week. First we had some international dinner here in winschoterdiep, we ate some nice turkish food and some good wines and beer. After dinner we all headed to the nightclub enzo where the theme for the night was gold and silver. This night ended pretty tragically for me. We were just dancing with my friends on the dancefloor and then suddenly securityguys took me to some small backroom. My friends were a bit shocked what was going on. Security guys hit me at least two time and then its just black and I found myself being outside the nightclub without my jacket. My stomach and leg hurt quite badly. Still me and my friends dont know what was the reason to beat me out. I also lost my bike after that happened but gladly found it on next day. I just have to try to forget the whole night, I told about this for the police on that night too but they didnt take me seriously, I think its the same thing in  every country: Securityguys are always right and nobody believes what partying student say. Well on thursday I obviously couldnt make it to the school cause was feeling so bad after they beat me on wednesday at enzo. I have been taking some painkillers and voltaren paingel and now my stomach is ok and leg is also getting better. I just have to think positive things and try to forget that night. Today was beautiful sunny day here in Groningen, I went to ESN office and signed in to some oncoming excursions.

I still cant get used to these same odd things here in Netherland: How people dont eat warm lunch and crazy biking. Everybody is using bike here but I have seen so far one single person wearing an helmet …..well neither I have a helmet but seriously thinking about buying one, cause dutch people drive so madly with their bikes, and these crazy crossroads where is green light for everybikers at same time, just cant understand the logic of that.

Well this was a lot of text, I hope somebody bothers to read it all. Sorry again about typing mistakes and my bad english I have to try to improve it (wink to Nina )  And please give me some critic and comments what do you think about my blog.

Doei!!

Hoi.

Viimeaikoina vähän jäänyt blogin kirjoittaminen paitsioon, kun  niin paljon ollut reissuja, juhlia ja koulua. Tosiaan viimeksi päivittelin tätä blogia kun olin vasta saapunut Utrechtiin. Todella nopeasti mennyt tämä tammikuu ja ei meinaa itsekkään uskoa että yli puolet hollannin kielikurssistakin jo mennyt. Tänään oon koittanut latailla akkuja, kun takana aika rankka viikko, siitä kohta enemmän. Päivällä tuli tänään tsekattua tuo ihan naapurissa oleva puisto, aikaisemmin en ollut huomannut koko puistoa kun täällä omalla asunnolla lähinnä nukkumassa vaan aina käynyt , ihan hieno puisto jonka yhteydessä tuollainen mini eläintarha ja aika  iso leikkipuisto. Nyt tässä illalla siirsin kirjoituspöytäni tähän ikkunan eteen, ja täytyy sanoa että paljon inspiroivempaa kirjoitella ym. tehdä koneella kun voi tsekkailla maisemia samalla. Todella upeat maisemat avautuu tästä kuudennesta kerroksesta kuten tainnut jo mainita aiemmin, toisaalla näkyy keskustan tornitaloja ja kirkontorneja ja suoraan horisontissa kajastaa Utrechtin Futis stadionin valot ja tuossa vieressä puisto ja muutama tornitalo.

Kaikenlaista tässä ehtinyt sattua ja tapahtua 4 päivän jälkeen kun viimeksi kirjottelin tänne. Maanantaista torstaihin meillä on ollut hollannin opiskelua J.B.I ssä suunnilleen 6 tunnin päiviä sisältäen itseopiskelua, ja muulloin on kyllä tekemistä riittänyt. Kuudes päivä tuli ekaa kertaa nautittua alkoholia Hollannin maaperällä, kun koulun jälkeen jäimme J.B.I hin nautiskelemaan viiniä, heinekkeniä ja pikkupurtavaa. Instituutin johtajakin oli paikalla ja meidän opettajia, mukava ilta kaikenkaikkiaan, seurusteltiin koululla ja nautittiin tarjoilusta.

Hollannin opetus on meille järjestetty päivittäin niin, että aamulla pari tuntia intensiivistä opiskelua opettajan johdolla luokassa, jonka jälkeen ruokailu ja pari tuntia itseopiskelua ja iltapäivällä toinen opettaja pitää vielä pari tuntia. Itselleni tällainen opetusmalli toimii ainakin ihan hyvin, toisaalta asiaa tulee niin nopeasti että tuntuu välillä ettei ehdi sisäistää kaikkea. Koulutilatkin on kaikenkaikkiaan ihan mukavat, ainoastaan ruokailu kahvilassa jokapäivä tarjottavat keitot alkavat kyllästyttää. Ilmeisesti olettavat että kaikki tykkäävät keitoista eikä paljon muuta ole tarjolla koskaan. Monet kurssikaverini tuovatkin itse eväät kouluun ja ajattelin tehdä niin itsekkin jatkossa, ei jaksa enää syödä hollantilaisia keittoja ja leipiä

Seitsemäs päivä tammikuuta lähdimmme kaikki koulun loputtua Zeistiin joka on tuolla Utrechtin pohjoispuolella, jossa suurin osa kurssilaisista asuu. Zeistissa vietimme iltaa yhden kurssikaverini asuntolassa. Teimme kaikki yhdessä kunnon illallisen ja nautittiin kukin mitäkin alkoholijuomia. Hauska ilta oli ja oikeastaan ensimmäinen kunnon illanvietto kaikkien kurssilaisten kanssa yhdessä. Tuolloin alkoi jo hieman tuntemaan kurssikavereitaan ja taisi olla tarkoituksena lähteä baariinkin mutta jäi sitten väliin kun oli niin hauskaa omalla porukalla.  Seuraavana päivänä oli ensimmäisen ekskursion vuoro, perjantai aamuna kokoonnuimme koululle ja lähdimme ensiksi vierailemaan lähellä kouluamme sijaitsevalla kuuluisalla Rietveld Schröderhuis talolla. Meille oli järjestetty opastettu kierros talossa, pidin talon tyylistä erittäin paljon. Vuonna 1922 tehty Rietveld Schröderhuis näyttää ulkoa kuin se olisi tehty ehkäpä paremminkin 1970-1980 luvulla, kuin vuosisadan alussa. Mielenkiintoinen talo kannattaa pistäytyä, jos on Utrechtissa käymässä. Seuraavaksi siirryimme Utrechtin ydinkeskustassa sijaitsevaan Miffy piirroshahmosta kertovaan museoon. Miffy museo ei minua henkilökohtaisesti kiinnostanut, koska aika tuntematon piirroshahmo minulle. Miffy museosta menimme kadun toisella puolella olevaan Utrecht central museoon, joka on jättimäinen kompleksi. Central museossa riitti kierreltävää loputtomiin ja en ole varma tuliko edes kaikki nähtyä, itselle mienkiintoisena jäivät mieleen pohjakerroksessa ollut 1000 vuotta vanha laiva ja singer ompelukone/levysoittimen yhdistelmä . Museoitten jälkeen olimme kaikki aika poikki ja nälkäisiä ja kävimmekin sitten yhdessä syömässä Oudegrachtin(kanava) vesitasolla sijaitsevassa italialaisessa. Halvaksi tuli porukalla syödä kyseisessä raflassa, mutta ruoka ei kovin kummoista ollut. Illalla tuli vielä italialaisen jälkeen pistäydyttyä eräässä kanavalaivassa, jossa oli kyllä mukava chilli meno.

Lauantaina 8. päivä vietettiin kavereitten kanssa leffailtaa Zeistissa, katsoimme “In Bruges” leffan, joka sijoittuu Belgian Bryggeen, jotenkin sopi tuo leffa tähän Utrechtissa vietettyyn aikaan, samantapainen kaupunki kyseessä kanavineen ym.  Leffan jälkeen lähdettiin sitten porukalla läheiseen Wombat-baariin joka on opiskelijoiden ylläpitämä ja ihan viihtyisä paikka. Tämän blogin, kun on tarkoitus olla asiallinen vaihtoraportin korvaavuus seikan takia,niin en mene yksityiskohtiin sen enempää, mutta allekirjoittaneelle maistui hieman liian hyvin Wombatin halpa viini, eipä siitä sen enempää. Kallis yöhän siitä tuli taksimatkoineen ja lompakon hukkumisineen, onneksi löytyi lompakko, mutta kyllä pitää koittaa olla varovaisempi juhliessa… Sunnuntaina vietin kivan päivän sängyn pohjalla, ehkä yhden elämäni pahimman krapulan kanssa.

Tällä menneellä viikollakaan tekemisestä ei ollut puutetta. Maanantaina koulun jälkeen tuli keskustaa kierreltyä parin kaverin kanssa ja käytiin parilla tuopilla yhdessä kotoisassa pubissa, jonka nimi ei nyt muistu mieleen, kirkontornin lähellä kuitenkin. Ekaa kertaa maistoin kunnon Hollantilaisia oluita ja täytyy sanoa, että kyllä voittavat suomalaiset oluet mennen tullen, vaikken itse kovin usein olutta nautikkaan kotosuomessa. Hinnat olivat oikeastaan tuossa pubissa melkein samaa tasoa kuin suomessa, kun ottaa huomioon että oluet tarjottiin 2,5 desin tuopeissa eikä suuremmissa kuten Suomessa. Torstaina vietettiin taas yhdessä iltaa kaikki kurssilaiset Zeistissa nauttien kunnon aterian ja siinä sitten nautittiin juomista ja juomapeleistä. Railakas ja hauska ilta oli taas kavereitten kanssa tällä kertaa puvut päällä, kun Wombatissa oli blacktie bileet, Wombatissa jatkettiin juhlia sitten valomerkkiin asti. Perjantai aamulla satuin heräämään järkyttävässä darrassa juuri oikeaan aikaan että ehdin rautatieasemalle kello kymmeneksi, ekskursioreissuna oli tällä kertaa matka Kröller Myller museoon ja kansallispuistoon lähelle Eden kaupunkia. Kröller Myller kansallispuisto on todella kaunis paikka, paikan päällä pyöräilimme ensin valkoisilla 1960 luvulta peräisin olevilla”wit fietsen” pyörillä museolle noin puoli tuntia. Wit Fietset ovat todella mukavia istua ja ajaa, paras sana kuvaamaan noita pyöriä on letkeä . Kröller Myllerissä on kymmeniä kilometrejä rakennettuja pyöräilypolkuja, joten pyöräiltävää ja nähtävää siellä riittää. Museokin oli ihan kiinnostava paikka, itsellä vaan väsymys ja järjetön päänsärky tahtoi viedä voimat. Museossa oli mm. paljon kuuluisia Vincent Van Goghin ja Henri Fantin-Latourin maalauksia. Kröller Myller museo on rakennettu 1930-luvulla rikkaan hollantilaispariskunnan toimesta, jotka myös perustivat aiemmin museota ympäröivän kansallispuiston. Museon kierrettyämme kävimme vielä pyöräilemässä pari tuntia ympäri kansallispuistoa ennen paluutamme Utrechtiin. Valkoisilla fillareilla pyöräily oli hauskaa ja koitan löytää jostakin yhtä mukavan ja letkeän pyörän kun muutan Groningeniin Helmikuun alussa. Pyörällä kulkeminen täällä Hollannissa paljon kätevämpää ja halvempaa kuin julkiset kulkuvälineet. Tämä Tammikuu ollut vain niin kylmä täällä Hollannissa niin olen tyytynyt kulkemaan Tramilla ja Busseilla. Muuten aika jännä juttu, että Utrecht on täynnä pyöräilijöitä ja suurin osa liikkumisesta tapahtuu pyöräillen ja pyörillä kulkeminen on järjestetty parhaiten varmaan koko maailman kaupungeista, mutta yhdelläkään hollantilaisella pyöräilijällä en ole nähnyt kypärää päässä!

Tämän viikon kruunasi sitten Amsterdamin reissu eilen. Lähdettiin junalla tekeen päivä reissu A`damiin, melkein koko luokan kanssa. Aamupäivällä tultiin perille ja alettiin kierrellä kaupunkia. Selkeä, mutta vähän kylmä sää oli kierrellä jalkaisin kaupunkia, mutta pidin kyllä paljon Amsterdamin arkkitehtuurista hienoja vanhoja rakennuksia paljon ja kanavia. Parempi olisi ollut kierrellä kaupunkia pienemmällä porukalla, koska tahtoi vähän aika tuhraantua odottelemiseen kun aina jotakin piti odotella liikkeestä ym. Ruokapaikat joissa päivän mittaan syötiin olivat todella mukavia ja kotoisia, ja iloista ja vieraanvaraista palvelua joka kahvilassa/ravintolassa saatiin. Yhdeltä torilta mitä kierreltiin, tuli ostettua lonely planetin amsterdamin ja hollannin opas halvalla, voi vähän seuraavaa Amsterdamin käyntiä suunnitella vähän paremmin. Todella mielenkiintoinen kaupunki, jossa en ollut aiemmin käynytkään. Red light districtiä kierreltiin tyttöjen kanssa myös ja ihan mukava alue, jossa myöskin paljon ihan normaaleja ravintoloita ja kahviloita. Illalla syötiin vielä yhdessä ravintolassa ja lähdettiin sitten kohti Utrechtia kun sää muuttui räntäsateeksi ja kaikki oltiin jo aika väsyneitä.  Seuraavaa Amsterdamissa käyntiä varten on nyt mielessä muutama paikka joissa voisi ainakin käydä: hard rock cafe, toisella puolella kaupunkia olevat puistot ja pari pikku museota ja kanavaristeilyä voisi kans koittaa paremmilla säillä ja tietysti Klubeille pitää Amsterdamiin lähteä jossain vaiheessa myös. Amsterdam on kyllä upea kaupunki jossa riittää nähtävää melkeinpä loputtomiin.

Utrechtin yökerhoihin en ole itseasiassa vielä ehtiny tutustua kun lähinnä kielikurssilaisten kesken pidetty hauskaa ja pienissä baareissa tullut vasta käytyä, tarkoitus olisi korjata asia tällä viikolla. Muutenkin kyllä reissuja taas tulossa: perjantaina on ekskursio Haagiin ja lauantaian tutustumaan Rotterdamiin. Huomenna taas hollannin kielen opintojen pariin. Otsikko lauseeni “Niet zo snel, alstublieft”=not so fast,please on kyllä hyödyllinen täällä Hollannissa, vaikka tosi paljon periaatteessa oppinut jo hollantia, niin hollantilaiset puhuvat niin nopeasti ettei sitä tahdo kuitenkaan ymmärtää ollenkaan Kuvia päivittelen Facebookkiin useammin kuin tänne tätä blogia niin sieltäkin voi tsekkailla reissujani jos kiinnostaa. Ehkä tässä myöhemmin laitan tänne blogi sivullekkin useamman kuvan tältä keväältä. Tähän loppuun täytyy vielä sanoa että hajotkaa ihmiset suomen pakkasiin, täällä on jo pari astetta plussan puolella ja suurin osa lumesta sulanut ja puistot vihreänä

Tot ziens!

Tere taas vaan kaikille.

Perille tänne Utrechtin kämppääni saavuin eilen, matka tänne Suomesta ei ihan ongelmitta sujunut, jos näin lievästi sanotaan taikka ainakin siinä kesti kauan.  Varauduin eilen Sunnuntai aamulla siihen, että Helsinki-Vantaalla paljon ruuhkaa kuten oli Lauantainakin ollut, joten tulin kentälle hyvissä ajoin noin puoli yhdeltä. Lentoni siis oli tarkoitus lähteä vasta klo 16.40 suomen aikaa. No tullessani kentälle check in:iin oli vähän jonoa kävin siinä sitten syömässä vähän aamiaista ja takaisin palatessani jonoa ei ollut yhtään ja check in:issä ja turvatarkastuksessa meni about viisi minuuttia. Olin hieman yllättynyt, kun uutisissa ovat jatkuvasti puhuneet miten Finnairilla Helsinki-Vantaalla ei oikein mikään tahdo sujua kenttäpalveluiden ulkoistamisen jälkeen. Tosiaan siinä olikin sitten aikaa vielä koneeseen pääsyyn 3 tuntia vielä, aika ei onneksi pitkäksi kuitenkaan käynyt. Katselin odottelu ajan läppäriltä “how i met your mother” sarjaa, on kyllä tosi hyvä sarja, suosittelen kaikille jotka eivät siihen ole vielä törmänneet. No siinä sitten tuli kioskilta myös ostettua ennen lähtöä “Clive cusslerin Takaa ajo” kirja, varauduin siihen että odottelua piisaisi vielä matkalla. Koneeseen päästiin suht oikeaan aikaan, mutta sitten tuli kiva kuulutus että lento myöhästyy tunnilla, kun jouduttiin Oululaisia odottelemaan. Siinähän sitten lueskelin kirjaa ja viereen istui ihan mukava pariskunta, jonka kanssa tuli juteltua pitkin matkaa. Lento sujui ihan mukavasti lueskellen ja ruokana tarjoiltu pasta ateriakin oli ihan hyvää. Lumimyrsky teki lennosta hieman töyssyisen alkumatkasta, mutta Hollantia kohden sää kirkastui kivasti.  A`Damin Schipolin kentälle päästyämme  ilta seitsemältä Hollannin aikaa menimme odottelemaan laukkujamme. Laukkuja odottelin tosiaan lennolla vieressäni istuneen pariskunnan kanssa, oli vähän ajatus meillä kaikilla ilmeisesti jäässä. Ihmettelimme missä meidän laukut viipyy ja kaikki muut ihmiset löysivät laukkunsa. No siinähän vihdoin tajuttiin puoli ysiltä että ollaan väärän hihnan vieressä laukkuja odottelemassa, oltiin oltu koko ajan KLM:n hihnalla eikä tajuttu heti

Vihdoin pääsin yhdeksältä sitten Utrechtiin matkaavaan junaan laukkujeni kanssa. Utrechtissa yksi James Boswell Instituutin kielikurssin järjestäjistä toi minulle avaimet asemalle ja neuvoi miten bussit ja Tram lähijuna/metro kulkevat. Hän myös neuvoi miten löydän asunnolleni joka on Beneluxlaanilla. Luulin jo pian pääseväni nukkumaan kello oli tuolloin melkein kymmenen illalla, mutta toisin kävi. Avaimet tuonut henkilö oli ymmärtänyt väärin osoitteeni ja neuvoi minut väärään osoitteeseen . Tramilla lähdin liikkeelle kohti beneluxlaan katua. Minun piti jäädä neljännellä pysäkillä pois, mutta siinähän kävi niin että jäin viidennellä pois vasta, joka lopulta olisikin ollut asuntoni vieressä mitä en tuolloin tiennyt. Siinpä  sitten tarvoin rätti väsyneenä puolitoista kilometriä edelliselle pysäkille jonka vieressä kuvittelin asuntoni olevan, laukkujen kanssa oli aika tuskasta touhua jo, painoa kun oli yli 30 kiloa tavaroillani. En millään löytänyt asuntoani koska etsin taloa numero 616 jota ei ole olemassakaan, vaan 616 oli huoneeni numero, mitä itsekkin arvelin, mutta kontakti henkilöni vakuutteli minulle että se on talon numero. Tuli sitten kysyttyä apua hieman hämärältä tyypiltä, joka ei osannut aluksi auttaa mutta yhtäkkiä osasikin. Hänen neuvonsa olivat suhteellisen oudot. Lähdettyäni kävelemään tyypin neuvomaan suuntaan huomasin pian että yhteensä 3 kieltämättä rikollisen näköistä miestä seurasi minua selvästikkin ja yksi niistä oli se neuvoja mutta hän oli laittanut hupun nyt päähän, siinä vaiheessa käännyin äkkiä takaisin beneluxlaanin vieressä kulkevalle kevyenliikenteen väylälle. Sattui onneksi olemaan joku pizzeria siinä auki ja menin heiltä kysymään neuvoa, he sentään osasivat neuvoa tien asunnolleni. Ulos mentyäni samalle sivukujalle mistä olin tullut meni poliisi auto ja niitä hämärämiehiä ei onneksi enää näkynyt missään. Siitä sitten Tramilla menin vihdoinkin asunnolleni ja kello oli jo kahdentoista ja olin aivan jäässä ja väsynyt. Yökään ei sitten mennyt ihan putkeen, ihmettelin miksi asunnossa on niin kylmä vaikka patteri täysillä. Kämpässä ei eilen vielä ollut edes petivaatteita, joten laitoin vaan pirusti vaatetta päälle ja kävin nukkumaan, yöllä piti vielä pipo ja hanskat pistää päälle ja pyyhettä käyin peittona. Aamulla heräsin sitten aika jäässä ja hartiat kipeänä. En tiedä miten olin niin idiootti yöllä, kun en tajunnut että tuuletus ikkuna katon rajassa oli auki ja siksi kylmä , kait olin vaan niin rasittunut matkasta ettei ajatus kulkenut.

Tämä on kyllä aika siisti talo kieltämättä, ihan hienot näköalat täältä kuudennesta kerroksesta ja huoneen pääty melkein yhtä ikkunaa. Opiskelijoita tämä talo täynnä ja sen kyllä huomasi viime yönä tänne tullessa. Tuossa käytävällä oli melkoiset bileet menossa vaikka oli Sunnuntai, eipä tuo haitannut hyvää musaa soittivat. Itse en jaksanut eilen liittyä seuraan kun olin niin poikki. Tämä ylin kerros tuntuu olevan pahin biletys kerros, sopii minulle , tosi rentoja kaikki tyypit täällä. Yhteiset suihkut ja vessat aika karmeassa kunnossa ja yhteinen keittiökin, mutta onneksi omassa huoneessa jääkaappi, mikro ym.

Tänä aamuna oli aika aloittaa Hollannin kielen opinnot James Boswell Instituutissa. Lähdin kämpiltä ajoissa puoli kymmeneltä ja uskoin ehtiväni hyvin 10.45 alkavalle Hollannin Kurssilleni. Mutkia tuli kuitenkin taas matkaan. Ajatus ei oikein luistanut pakkasyön jäljiltä ja hyppäsin väärään suuntaan menevään tramiin, no siinähän sitten pian aloin epäilemään että nyt taitaa olla väärä suunta , Ijsellsteinissa hyppäsin pois tramista lähteäkseni takaisin tulo suuntaan. Lopulta pääsin Utrechtin Ydinkeskustaan normaalisti 10 minuutin matkassa menikin sitten yli tunti. Bussilla lähdin sitten kampukselle ja tunnilta löysin itseni vihdoin puoli yhdeltätoista. Kielikurssiryhmä on kyllä tosi mukavaa porukkaa, ja lopulta suomalaisia ryhmässä olikin 5 ja loput 9 ympäri maailmaa tulleet. Päivä menikin Hollantia opiskellessa, ja huomasin että saksan opinnoista on kyllä hyötyä hollantia opiskellessa tosi paljon samantapaisia sanoja ja kielioppi myös aika yhtenevää. SSH Utrechtin toimistolta kävin petivaatteetkin hakemassa päivällä, vähän mukavampi koisia tämä yö.

Puhelut täältä Hollannista aika kalliita suomalaisilla liittymillä, joten päätin tuossa illalla käydä ostamassa prepaid kortin. Prepaidilla saa suht halvalla puhelut 9 senttiä per min suomeen sekä hollantiin. Puhelin hommassakin tuli sit kiva vastoinkäyminen, ihanan kytkykaupan takia rakkaaseen samsung z-540 puhelimeen ei käy muut kuin saunalahden ja elisan sim-kortit. Hieman harmittaa, kun pitää käydä huomenna kattelemas jostakin uus puhelin, moitteettomasti tuo Samsung kuitenkin edelleen pelittää vaikka melkein 4 vuotta vanha puhelin. Nälkäkin tuossa illalla iski, kun ostoskeskuksessa pyörin ja eksyin jonkunlaiseen pikaruokalaan jossa oli kiinalaista ja vaikka minkälaista sapuskaa. Tilasin muhkean kanahampparin, ranskalaisilla, dipillä ja kokiksella, ja täytyy sanoa että oli ihan älyttömän hyvää ja ihan sikahalpaa suomen hintoihin verrattuna  (esim. suomen hesellä kuminen ja mauton kana-ateria 7.1€ ) vain 3,5€, tulee kyllä tuolla käytyä jatkossakin, nimi ei kyllä nyt muistu mieleen, mutta onneksi muistan missä paikka on. Melkein voisi tuon yhden paikan perusteella jo sanoa että Hollannin roskaruoka on sata kertaa parempaa kuin suomen vastaava:)

Keskustasta päästyäni päätin käydä vielä ruokaostoksilla tuossa läheisessä Lidlissä, oli kyllä aika vikatikki. Suomen Lidlin valikoimat vielä menettelee, mutta täällä Hollannissa valikoima on aivan surkea. Jatkossa aion käydä tuossa seuraavan tram pysäkin vieressä olevassa hypermarketissa. Tässä loppu illasta tuli laitettua myös tämä huone asuttavaan kuntoon, voisi pian kömpiä unten maille. Huomen aamulla taas Hollannin kielioppiin paneutumaan, toivottavasti huomisaamun kouluun meno sujuisi paremmin kuin tänään

Moro vaan kaikille.

En ole aiemmin Blogia kirjoittanut niin tämä on ihan uutta minulle. Olen siis lähdössä Hollantiin opiskelijavaihtoon 3.1-30.6.2010. Tammikuun vietän Utrechtissa, joka on tosi lähellä Amsterdamia. Utrechtissa opiskelen Hollannin kieltä James Boswell Instituutissa. Odotan innolla hollannin opintoja, koska hollannin kieli on tosi vaikeaa niin riittää ainakin haastetta sen oppimisessa. Helmikuusta Kesäkuuhun olen sitten Groningenissa itä Hollannissa lähellä Saksan rajaa. Opiskelen siellä Facility managementtiä  Hanze Universityssä. Molemmat kaupungit vaikuttavat ainakin ennakkoon mukavilta opiskelija kaupungeilta.

Vaihtoon hakemisen aloitin viimekeväällä. Aluksi minulla oli mielessä monia muitakin kohde maita. mutta lopulta päädyin valitsemaan Hollannin. Hollannin valintaan minulla oli aika monia syitä, opetuksen toteuttaminen tutulla englannin kielellä oli yksi syy, toinen oli Hollannin hyvä sijainti sillä Hollannista on kätevä matkustaa esim. viikonloppuisin mihinpäin tahansa eurooppaa, Hollannin kulttuurista pidän myös paljon varsinkin konemusiikista ja vapaasta lainsäädännöstä.

Mennyt syksy on ollut minulle aika hektistä aikaa, koska olen työskennellyt kahdessa työpaikassa samaan aikaan, kun olen opiskellut Jyväskylän ammattikorkeakoulussa. Vaihtoon lähtemis järjestelyt vain lisäsivät kiireitäni, mutta omasta mielestäni selvisin kaikista hommista ihan hyvin. Hakupaperit hollantiin laitoin jo kuntoon viimekeväänä joten niitä ei tarvinnut enää syksyllä stressata. Eniten päänvaivaa minulle oikeastaan aiheutti asuntojen hankkiminen kevääksi, varsinkin kun marraskuussa päätin lähteä myös tuolle hollannin kielen kurssille. Tosiaan jouduin hankkimaan kaksi asuntoa erikseen. Asunnotkin lopulta järjestyivät tiiviillä sähköpostien lähettelyllä Hollantiin. Tammikuulle sain hommattua aika kalliin yksiön, mutta loppukevääksi Groningeniin sain ihan näppärän soluasunnon.

Tosi paljon sai asioita tässä Joulukussa vielä järjestellä että pääsee sunnuntaina lähtemään kohti Alankomaita. Apurahat hoitui koulun kautta aika kätevästi eivätkä ne aiheuttaneet päänvaivaa, samoin Learning Agreement hoitui käden käänteessä. Pankki ja matkavakuutus asiat kävin kanssa hoitamassa kuntoon viime viikolla. Lentolipun hankinnassakin minulla kävi ihan hyvä tuuri; sain Kilroyn kautta halvan lipun opiskelija hinnoilla Finnairin suoralle lennolle A`Damiin.

Tällä viimeisellä viikolla Suomessa koitan pakkailla ja tarkistella että kaikki asiat on varmasti hoidettu vaihtoon lähtöä varten. Nyt kun enää vajaa viikko lähtöön aikaa, alkaa tajuta että oikeasti lähdössä puoleksi vuodeksi pois Suomesta. Tavallaan tuntuu hyvältä ja odottaa ulkomailla opiskelua, toisaalta taas jännittää mitenkä pärjää ulkomailla suht pitkän ajan. Eiköhän se tajuntaan iske viimeistään sitten kun nousee lentokoneesta Sunnuntaina . Toivottavasti Hollanti yllättää minut vielä positiivisemmin, kuin mitä itse odotan Hollannissa opiskeluilta, matkustamiselta, opiskelijaelämältä ja juhlimiselta. Tammikuussa minulla on hollannin kielen opintoja aina maanantaista perjantaihin, mutta viikonloput on pyhitetty koulun järjestämille matkoille ja tapahtumille. Eniten tulee kuitenkin matkusteltua ympäri eurooppaa ja juhlittua sitten keväämmällä ja kesällä kun on vähemmän opintoja ja pidempiä vapaita