Fiona Eloise King

It's been a while

2008-04-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

Firstly I would like to share some photos of the development of my weaving which I am learning here in Finland. I am really enjoying it and think I could have a talent in it if I manage to find somewhere back home that could train me in this area more.

It's been a long time since I last wrote and it is nice to finally be able to sit down with a clear head and relax.

Since my last post I have made two visits to Lapland, my first one was to a town called Kemi where I visited the famous snow castle, it was amazing, it was alot smaller than I thought it would be but I still really enjoyed going around it. I also made a trip further up north to a town called Tornio which is a connecting town to Harparanda wich is in Sweden. Here I made the quik walk accross the border into Sweden for a few hours, it was only a small town so I didn't do anything there. I made a visit to Ikea (as it origninates from Sweden it was a visit that had to be done, and quite touristy :o))

My second trip up to Lapland which was 2 weeks ago was to a city called Rovaniemi it is based near the arctic circle and is also the home os Santa's office. I went up to visit Santa and also had to take the opportunity to stand on the arctic circle line as I know I will never do that again. this rip was a trip to make the most of the snow as down here in Southern Finland the snow has completely melted and it is quite sad as I really enjoyed being surrounded by the snow.

Imbetween these trips I have been very busy doing uni work but I luckily got the chance to go on an international students gathering trip at the end of march. I loved this trip and I must say it has been the best weekend throughout my time here. I went to a town called Pori where we spent our evenings at a night club and saturday we went to a town nearby called Rauma, it was a very pretty town. Here we worked in small teams trying to find a few well known spots in the town whilst competing in some small challenges. It was such a good day and I met a really nice girl from London who is spending 9 months in Pori (a lot longer than me). On this weekend I was able to meet a few more English girls and also some very friendly Finnish people, I enjoyed the opportunity to hear lots of stories on what people study and about the countries they are from, it was a very cultured weekend.

Since then I have been non stop working. I only have a few more days left until I return back to the UK and although I look forward to being abl eto see my family and friends I am going to miss living here. I wish I made the most out of my time ehre and was able to get a chance to do all the travelling I wanted to do but now I have a reason to return :o)

Lots of love xxxxxx

Skiing - it really hurts

2008-03-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

On Friday I started to weave and for my first time I think I did amazingly well, so I have started with a couple of pictures to show what I'm good at before you reach the part where I tell you about my skiing experience :o)

Finnish people seem to get stranger every day, on my long walk to university on wednesday when it was -7 I was wearing a lot of layers whilst everyone I passed was wearing short jackets and jeans etc but on a day when it was -1 a day where it can be quite warm people around me were wearing thermal gear, it all seems very strange to me how they are like that.

This weekend I went Skiing in Jyväskylä which is just over 2 hours away from Hämeenlinna on the train. On saturday I spent the day teaching myself how to ski on the kids slope, it was quite amusing how I was surrounded by children between the ages of about 3-9 who could ski perfectly then there was me a 20 year old girl trying to stop myself crashing into them, after a while I managed to get the hang of it and was quite proud of myself.

I spent the night in the ski resort hostel watching Finnish dubbed disney channel cartoons which was quite amusing and what I thought was the try outs for eurovision (their host is no where near as amusing as good old Terry Wogan).

Today I had a snowboarding lesson first thing in the morning which seemed to go really well I managed to stay stood up 90% of the lesson whilst learning how to direct myself, turn and also learning how to shuffle myself down the slope forwards and backwards (it's hard to explain but it was all good fun), once my instructor left me I headed back to the kids slope to improve on what I had just been taught, unfortunately the next few hours turned out to be the complete opposite of improving, every time I went down my board went the opposite way to what I was doing and where I wanted to go and I kept repeatedly falling over or crashing into children, I think I only managed to go down the very small part of the slope properly 2 times, it was fun trying even if I did bruise myself in the process. Later in the afternoon I went back onto the ski's progressing more and more, finally I plucked up the courage to go on the big slope (only half way up tho) I was doing really well until one unlucky time when somebody cut up in front of me whilst I was speeding down the slope, I tried to swerve around them but unfortunately I turned too far and lost my balance and ended up summersaulting and landing on my head, getting hit with my ski sticks in the process too, this was the final crash my body could take for the day so I had to retire early.

Although I am battered and bruised it was such a good experience and I hope to do it again one day in the near future.

xxx

Ice Hockey

2008-03-04T03:43:00.000-08:00

I went to watch an Ice hockey match on saturday, where the town I am staying in were playing.

It was so much fun, ice hockey is Finlands' major sport so a lot of people take the games very seriously, there are even cheerleaders and I thought this was very strange.

Even though I have seen ice hockey on TV and films I never realized how aggressive it was, people push and ram each other into the sides for no reason and there don't seem to be any rules.

Luckily Hämeenlinna won so it was a good ending. I would like to go see a few more matches whilst I am in Finland.

Yesterday was my first weaving class, I found it quite stressful as I didn't realize how much time and effort went into preparing and sorting out the machines and weaves, I just wanted to start learning how to weave but hopefully I will learn that next lesson.

I am really looking forward to going skiing on saturday and hope to take a lot of photos if I manage to stay stood up long enough.

xxx

Time to get busy

2008-02-27T06:57:00.000-08:00

Today was yet another fun Finnish lesson, I was very eager to learn today and my teacher really appreciated this. I am not going to have another Finnish lesson for 3 weeks now as next week is a holiday, the following week I will be in lapland and then the week after that is yet another holiday (teacher training day) so I will miss having lessons.

On my way into university I stopped off at the betting shop and bought myself a ticket to watch an ice hockey match on saturday here in Hämeenlinna, I am not sure which towns are playing but I am looking forward to the experience and I hope to watch a match where some major cities are playing. I managed to yet again get student discount on my ticket so it was very cheap, I seem to be able to get student discount on almost everything here and they never ask to see my student card, the discount is unlike back in the UK, here I manage to save about 50% on most things so i really appreciate it as it means I can do more things.

Also today I have made my final arrangements to go skiing/snowboarding for 2 days in 2 weeks time I am really looking forward to it as the slopes are not too far away so I can always return if I like it, and I am spending the night in a hotel next to the slopes so I will be able to make the most of my days there.

The beginning of March I am going to be very busy as I won't have much time to rest between activities I have planned, I am really looking forward to it as I am finally starting to make the most of my time here and get around as much as possible.

xxx

A day in Tampere

2008-02-24T12:47:00.000-08:00

Today I went to Tampere, on my way to the bus station in Hämeenlinna it was a snow storm which was great to walk in, although it was cold it is something I have waited for, for a couple of weeks.

On my arrival to Tampere there was snow everywhere it was so good to see white surroundings again after a short period where it had started to melt.

I went to a gallery/museum where I saw a weaving exhibition which I really like and it helped to inspire me for when I have my weaving lessons in march and I also saw a shoe exhibition which wasn't as good as I thought it would be.

After I saw these exhibitions I went to a small craft centre which was a disappointment as there was not much to look at or even buy. Once I had seen that I went to a very small photography museum which I thought sounded interesting but I was disappointed yet again as there were very little photographs.

Although the exhibitions I saw were not up to my expectations I still had a really good day and got a chance to explore most of Tampere.

I think from now on I will go back to Helsinki when I am in the mood to look around some galleries as there are lots there.

xxx

2008-02-21T11:22:00.000-08:00

I haven't really wrote for a while as I haven't done much, I've had days where I stay in my apartment to do work so don't get out exploring.

Yesterday was yet another fun Finnish lesson but I am getting worse and worse at pronouncing words, yesterday we learnt numbers and they are just impossible to learn so that is going to be my weakest area in my exam.

Last night I went to a house party as a Spanish boy who is in my Finnish class was celebrating his birthday, I had so much fun and met so many exchange students. I got talking to a lot of people and heard a lot of interesting stories as the night went on. In the beginning of the night I got into conversation with a guy from Afghanistan who seemed really friendly at first but all of a sudden he turned sour against me and was being really rude about England and the fact I was from there, it made me think about how rude some people can be but it's best to ignore it as they won't change their views on you so you can't try change it. It was quite upsetting to hear what the guy was saying but luckily I soon started talking to a lovely Finnish girl who made me laugh all night and we bonded straight away, we have exchanged e-mail addresses and are going to meet up a few times whilst I'm here which I look forward to. Also I met a guy from South America (I think) who was extremely funny and a girl from Estonia who I hope to meet up with again before I leave.

Anyway apart from last night I haven't been up to much, as of this weekend I am planning a few trips to Tampere and Helsinki as well as my exciting trip to Lapland. I hope to get a fair bit of traveling done whilst I'm here as there are so many places I want to visit and so many galleries to see.

xxx

temperatures dropping

2008-02-14T14:10:00.000-08:00

After my long walk into university (1 1/2 hour walk each way) for my Finnish lesson my body and muscles are starting to hurt, although the walk is worth it to see my extremely funny Finnish teacher I don't know how many more trips it will take until my legs say "no more walking". Most days I dread the 40 minute walk into town but once the snow starts to fall again I will thoroughly enjoy a long walk in the snow as it's so exciting to see the ground covered in snow.

Yesterday my teacher played a song by a Finnish country singer, the song so funny to listen to so it has become my new favorite song to listen to to cheer me up when I get bored.

The temperature here in Hämeenlinna has started to drop today as it is going to start snowing again soon. I was walking over the bridge over the lake and had a -4 strong wind in my face and I'm pretty sure I felt my nose and ears start to freeze over but I'm sure I will soon get used to it as it will be worth it to see pure white snow surrounding me again soon.

Today has been a strange day as I have struggled not being able to be there for the people I care about and say good bye to an old friend, times like these make me realize how lucky I am to be able to have this experience. I am starting to make the most of my once in a life time chance here and I'm starting to plan a lot of traveling. I have started to organize my trip to Lapland next month as I am very excited about this trip and I know I will never get a chance to do it again. Experiencing a place where temperatures can drop to -30 will be a shock to the body but it will be well worth it.

xxx

new sights and new thoughts

2008-02-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to Hameenlinnä art museum it was quite interesting, one of the buildings the art didn't interest me at all as I personally didn't think it was good enough for an exhibition but the second building which had the contemporary art in was really good, I managed to find a few Finnish artists who will help inspire me.

Today was such a good day I went to Helsinki ( one of the cities) and I went to the contemporary art museum, it was amazing I went to look at an exhibition by a photographer called Nan Goldin it was so good to see. The american photographer has taken photographs of her close friends who have AIDs, many of the photographs are quite sexual but so interesting to look at, she has also done some self portrait photographs of her life through an abusive relationship, drugs and rehab. There were also short films which she had made showing her photographs and also explaining her work. I love the idea how she photographs her friends during their lives and also on their death beds so that she never forgets them and she also feels the more she photographs people the longer they live.

This exhibition got me thinking about how I don't feel like an artist who is meant to study in one area, there are so many areas and techniques I would love to use and today made me think about starting to work more with photography as there are so many things you can do and create with an image.

I hope one day soon I will find a perfect media to use which I can fall in love with and stay in love with but that's what life is about, experimenting and trying new things. One person said on a documentary on Louise Bourgeous how as an artist she feels like it is sometimes torture which I fully understand but how often can you go through life making mistakes and being able to work on them and go through days working hard on something and be able to say "I did that" whether it is good or bad? the hours, days and weeks seem like torture but in the end it is all worth while.

xxx

Lazy times

2008-02-08T14:52:00.000-08:00

Last night I had my first night out in Finland, it was so much fun. It was a student night out as fancy dress, I didn't go out dressed up but we went with 2 girls who are on an exchange from scotland their outfits were amazing (a cake and a Liptons tea bag). The Finnish people don't dance but seem to really enjoy themselves.

At the end of the night us British people met a lot of German people and got them all singing '3 lions on a shirt' it was so cool. I was quite suprised how it was mainly British music playing all night. I look forward to my next night out here.

Today was a lazy day in the apartment as i didn't have uni. I just chilled out and did some work, it was a well needed break form all the walking I've been doing lately. I feel so fit from all the exercise I've been doing, so I think when I return I will be a different person.

xxx

A change in life

2008-02-07T08:50:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I had my fist Finnish lesson, it was so much fun. My teacher is a bit crazy, she loves her job so much which is obvious. I learnt the alphabet and many of the letters sound the same and trying to pronounce them is funny. My teacher is addicted to saying the word good which is hyvä (sounds like hoover) it is so funny every time she says it and is a word I am not likely to forget it.

I also met my tutor who seems nice, the course specializes in weaving so I am looking forward to trying a new way of working.

Last night I heard some sad news an old friend of mine and a very close friend of craigs' died in a car crash so today i have been thinking about life alot, I am so great full for the experience I am having here in Finland and it's times like these when you realise how much family and friends mean to you. I have been lucky to receive alot of support through out my life so far, it means alot to me how great my family are and I miss you all when I am away from you.

I wish matts family all my love and regards during this tough time.

Love to everyone xxx

It's getting colder

2008-02-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

It's starting to get colder here. On sunday I went for a walk down to the castle with everyone and it was almost -5 we walked around the lake and stopped on the opposite side of the lake from the castle and the wind was so cold but it was amazing to see the lake partly frozen and surrounded by thick snow.

Once we had finished looking at the lake we headed off into town and it was like a ghost town everything was closed it was so strange to back home as we are unsure what people around here do on a sunday if there is nothing open.

That evening it started to drop colder and snow a bit more covering all of the black ice on the paths.

Yesterday I had my enrollment at uni, I will be studying in two different buildings which are both about half an hours walk away from my accommodation. I found out that I will be getting taught Finnish once a week as I will have an exam on it at the end of my three months here, I'm quite nervous about this but i'm sure it will be fun to do

I am already starting to lose some weight as everything I eat i burn off straight away fighting the cold and walking into town everyday. I am still really enjoying walking through the snow everywhere and I love it even more when I walk over grassy patches and the snow can be knee deep it's a big change from the snow (or lack of snow) back in England, as cars etc still run in the snowy conditions.

Today was a relaxing day, I only went to the supermarket as I'm wanting to try reindeer but unfortunately the supermarket near me doesn't sell it so I will have to wait and experiment later on in the week.

It is meant to snow again in a couple of days so I look forward to getting a sledge and finding time to play in the snow (a good excuse to act 5 years old again).

xxxxxxxx

First days in Finland, what a change

2008-02-02T02:18:00.000-08:00

After all the hastle at the airport it was bliss to land surrounded in white.

Tampere airport was so strange when we went through customs we had to walk through doors which felt like I was walking through to a firing squad, the whole airport looked like an army base it wasn't luxury thats for sure.

We got a taxi from the airport into Tampere town asking the driver to drop us all off at a cheap hostle but he every where closes so early and the only place to stay was a hotel for 40 euros a night, it was luxury the I felt like I was in heaven.

The next day we travelled to Hameenlinna where I'm going to be living for the next 3 months it was so much colder than Tampere as we arrived during a snow storm, it was cold but still felt amazing to be here. we were greeted by a student who took us to the uni where we had lunch before getting everything sorted for my internet and accommodation. Mid afternoon we arrived at our accommodation, my apartment is really nice and doesn't feel like it's student accommodation which is great.

Later n in the afternoon rachel and i walked into town (which is about half an hour walk) for a look around, the town here is really nice I look forward to seeing the difference in towns on my travels.

In the evening us 3 girls stayed in my room and stayed up most of the night chatting and listening to music it was such a good night.

Today I am going to go for another walk around town before i build a snow man (it's got to be done)

xxx