Wedding

One of my sisters got married yesterday, what a day!

I didn't take my camera so I didn't need to carry anything around the whole day, but i can tell you it was a great wedding.  Many people asked how was it compared to Finnish weddings, so I tried to compare the two.  I think it's because of the church we go to with this family is really casual that the formal part of the wedding wasn't stiff at all.  Here church is definitely a community, families go together, you get to know new people.  It's more active here I think, like they make a timetable so everyone gets to read a text when it's their turn, and after church everyone stays to chat to people and eat something small (it's different people's duty to take care of that every week as well).  

So the atmosphere of the wedding was really friendly and casual.  The priest knew my family well from church and was cracking jokes in the middle of the ceremony; haven't seen that in Finland!

But the concept was the normal; formal part in church, then reception to celebrate the new couple.

Beautiful location, beautiful weather, beautiful bride, beautiful new married couple.  (:  Everything worked and it was a great day in every way.   It was interesting as well, though I was a guest, I was also part of the family, so got to see a bit of the organizing too.  

One sister married, three more to go!  :P

Liisa

ONE MONTH!

I had a post with an exact same name about a year ago.  If you want to check the situation then, this will take you there. 

Then it was a month to the beginning, now it's a month to the end.  Anyways, back then my to-do list included meeting friends, making a presentation, getting visa, packing my bags, ordering business cards, making pins, getting an insurance, paying the flights and who knows what else.  Now my list is a bit different, but nevertheless emptier:
- meeting my friends
- getting Australian gifts to take back home
- catching up with all of my families
- seeing everything possible I haven't seen yet
- buying Australian things I want to have
- packing my bags (ultimate challenge)
- sending some of my things back home somehow.  Because they will not fit into my bags for sure, but I'm not ready to throw everyting out either.
- enjoy my last month, and spend it as well as possible

Starting to realize the fact,

Liisa

Day in Sydney

Continues from my last post and about our little trip to Sydney!

We left the place we stayed the night at early enough to have time in Sydney.  We did a bit of shopping and I got a jacket to wear in the wedding, as the weather is already getting cold.  

We had lunch at Observatory hill, mmm.  One of my favorite places in the world with one of my favorite people.  Can't get better than that!  (:

And a little walk on the bridge.

Views of Sydney, old and new.

After an awesome trip it's always nice to get home.  (:

Trying to use my days wisely,

Liisa

Vivid

We went to the Sydney Vivid show last night.  The whole night was really nice, and there were so many different things to look at.  Only the Opera House wasn't quite as spectacular as we expected, because unlike previous years it didn't change color or get an interesting print all over it.  The weather wasn't the best either; ridiculous rain and therefore wet and cold.  Oh well, great company and Sydney, definitely a night to remember.  (:

We stayed the night in Sydney, so read to next post if you wish to find out what we got up to.  (:

Another short-notice-plan successfully put into practice,

Liisa

Trip

I'm heading down to Sydney today with my friend.  The Vivid Sydney Festival, which I already earlier said I'd like to see, is still on, and today was about the only time we were both free.  So wish me good trip, and expect a heap of photos tomorrow! (:

Excited,

Liisa

They did it again

Today my family wanted to pop in quickly, so I said sure, why not.  They were bringing me another pair of shoes and a handbag matching perfectly to the earlier pair.  Oh gosh.  Love you.

Feeling spoiled,

Liisa

Scandinavia night

Tonight we had our last Scandinavia dinner.  I know Finland is not officially part of Scandinavia, but we started the tradition before we found out.  :P  So three of them came to Singleton to my place where we cooked a dinner all together.  Menu was:

- Starter: Smoked salmon, seasoned sour cream and asparagus on baguette
- Main: Potato bake and meatballs + Scandinavian sauce
- Dessert: Berries with caramelised oats + vanilla ice cream

All the food was excellent, including the dessert which we didn't even remember to take a photo from... :D

Thank you for everyone for an awesome night, next gathering will be in Sweden, Norway, Denmark or Finland.  I'm already looking forward that!  (:

Starting to realize there is not much time left anymore,

Liisa

Gift

My Australian family took me shopping as a gift today.  We got a dress and a pair of shoes for me to wear in the wedding next weekend.  It was a nice day and I got a beautiful outfit for Saturday.  (:

The dress is pale pink, top being lace and bottom one color.  I'll take a photo soon when I have it on so you'll get a better idea.

And my chic shoes!  Love them sooo much, just like the dress!  :))

THANK YOU,

Liisa

Last home

Hello from a mansion!  I just moved into the place where I went for dinner couple of months ago.  And as I already told you then, the house is...well...quite magnificent.  

This is my room.  Notice the fireplace, balcony, and a decent size bed.  :P

And not just that the house is awesome, but it's the last one.  It's kind of sad how the year went by so incredibly fast, but then I think of the time I've had. What a brilliant year, and it's not even over yet.  So why would I not be happy.  Really happy.  Really really happy.

Making the most out of it,

Liisa

Moving, once again

Tomorrow will be my last time of me moving, yay!  The sixth house, sixth room, sixth bunch of people, sixth different habits, HERE I COME!

I wasn't used to moving before this year, as I've always lived in a same place.  During this year I've gotten to know a little bit how it is to pack everything you own and start from the beginning.  Though it's not quite like moving usually would be with swapping the family and everything, but still.

I liked this place too, but I'm moving back to town which will be nice.  I'll be able to do more things, go to more places and catch up with more people on my own again.  (:

I know last house means that I'll be going home soon, but I kind of like the idea of not needing to pack and unpack too many times after this.  The unfortunate reality is that next major packing is for the 8th of July and flights to home.  The real one.  Unpacking and not moving in years.  Ahhh.

Last time tomorrow,

Liisa 

PS. Over 10 000 views on my blog, thank you for everyone for reading!  Hope you'll enjoy and stay with me at least till the end of my journey.  (:

Thingys

Less than 40 days to go, time to get really busy and try to fit everything into these couple of weeks!  :D

Million things to do and only limited amount of time.  That's why I thought to write what's going on so I'd realize that I'm running out of time.  Forty doesn't sound much, but it's likely to hit me really hard when there's only one month left.  I'm seriously leaving this country and this people.  So hard to comprehend

- Tonight my first family will come to where I stay at the moment and we'll have a nice dinner together.  Can't wait for it!  (:

- On Thursday I'm attending a Rotary meeting
- On Friday I'm visiting the Rotarian who with I stayed for a week when I first got here

- On Saturday I'm moving

- On Sunday I'll unpack and settle in.  More photos to come! (:

- The beginning of next week my Scandinavian friends would like to visit, but because I will move before it I'll have to find out if it's doable 

- On the Friday the 8th there's a sports carnival in my school, and in the night we are having out grand farewell party.  We thought it would be a good idea and a good way to see people for the last time as everyone is leaving soon

- On the Saturday the 9th is my sister's wedding  (:

- On the Thursday the 14th I'll have to give my final presentation, which I naturally haven't even started making yet

At the moment there is also a Vivid Lighting Festival in Sydney which we were planning to visit. Then there is a diving course which we've been planning for ages, lets see if it's going to happen or not. And I'd like to visit people from the safari.  And I should go shopping for the wedding, but also for everything I'll take home. Souvenirs I want to have, and gifts to take to other people.

It's so different to plan things when you are an exchange student: the plans reach like two weeks ahead and that's about it.  On the other hand I loooove having so many things to plan and do and see, but I think I couldn't handle it for much longer.  I know I will miss being busy because of something nice and exiting is happening all the time, but I guess there's a time and place for everything. 

It's starting to feel like my last weeks back home. Stress, stress, stress, joy and sadness. Oh well, I guess that's what it is when you leave you family, friends and whole life. No matter if it's the one you've always had, or if you just happened to create it in couple of months.

Ms. Master Planner,

Liisa

Crazy little things

I've been asked sooo many times lately am I looking forward going home.  Well, I love Australia and being here, but doesn't the question already answer itself?  Going home.  H-o-m-e.  Of course I do.  

But I'm not going to write this only to fill up space or entertain you. As I'm now missing things in Finland, I will most likely miss my second home as soon as I leave.  :D  This will hopefully remind me what I should be happy about, what I was missing while I was away.

So besides people, what is there to look forward?

My home. 

My room.

My bed.

Three really good ones.

Spring.

Summer.

Autumn.

Winter.

The first warm day after winter.  The smell of melting snow.  Sun.

First swim.  Sitting outside during the night.  Light all day round.

Colors. Trees dropping leaves.  Dark nights.  The smell of cold air.

First snow.  Darkness.  Candles.  Sitting in front of living fire.

Stability.

Unpacking my bags and knowing I can stay.  No need to impress the people I live with.  Being fully myself with good, but also bad sides. Being able to plan future further than next week.  Not feeling like guest in home.  Not needing to pack and move.  Knowing I'm home.

Freedom.

Being trusted at all times.  Going for a walk in the dark alone.  Not asking permission for everything.  Being independent.  

Routine.

Going to school to study.  Spending weekends to relax.  Deciding about my life without someone else  telling me what they thought I'd do.  Eating proper food at 11am and 5pm.   

Understanding.

Having people who know me.  Who understand me when I say nothing. Who can tell when I'm not feeling good.  Who know my values and respect them.  Not being foreign and amusing people by doing things differently

Rest.

Having free weekends. Having a sleep in, not one where you're supposed to wake up before 8am. Being Finnish; not needing to talk to everyone I see without it being rude, being quiet without it being awkward.

I love Australia. but this is why I like the thought about going home.

Getting deep,

Liisa

21st

Tonight I'm going to my Australian sister's 21st.  It's actually the first 21st birthday I've ever been attending, because in Finland we only celebrate the 18th.

I've been trying to find out for a long time why do people celebrate their 21st.  I get the 18th; you're no more underage, you can vote, smoke and drink, get married and in Finland you get your license.  But what about when you're twenty-one, what new do you get to do?  Not much.

So far the answer to my question has mainly been that Aussies just want to have a reason to party, but I wanted to know what's actually behind it.  So this is what I found:

-  Back in the day 21 used the be the age limit for most of the rights I described above.  Seems to be that the age of 18 is a 20th century thing

- 21 was a coming of age,  time to step out from the childhood and become an adult

- 21st is still seen as a big milestone when you start seriously thinking about your career and life in the future

- In some countries the age of 21 still gives you the right to drink or get married etc.

That's all my research this time,

Liisa

Autumn just hit the town

The beginning of this week was nicer, but now the weather is becoming cooler.  No more sunshine and lots of wind and rain.  It is an odd feeling, but I kind of feel like the circle is closing; the weather was like this when I got here, I was wearing winter uniform, the landscape was as brown, and we were complaining about how cold it was.  Feels like the beginning of my year, but then I remember all the things I've done and seen and realize I'm going home soon.  :(

Autumn means winter and winter means leaving,

Liisa