Minun nimeni on Melanie

Whew. This has been quite a whirlwind of a few days, that's the only way I know how to describe it!

First, let me explain the process of how I got to Savonlinna. It was long, and it was crazy. I'm amazed that it went down without a problem.

After arriving in Helsinki, I knew that the my journey was just starting. I was a little nervous going through the border control because as U.S. citizens, we can only be in the E.U. for 90 days at a time. My trip is 89 days. However, the guy started questioning me, asking me why I was coming, where I was going, who I was staying with, and how I was going to Savonlinna. After this hoard of questions, he started looking through my passport for a visa. My heart was pounding! When he understood that I was staying for 90 days, but he gave a look, like "you are cutting it close" and then let me in! It was scary!

After the airport, I had to catch a bus to the city center, then catch a train to Parikkala, and then switch trains there in order to get to Savonlinna. That first train ride was 3.5 hours! And it was so empty. I was the only person in the whole train car, and I sat in a very cute, Harry Potter-esque compartment. Like so....

I have to admit, the thought crossed my mind several times that if someone tried to attack me there, they would get away with it because no one was around! But really, I felt very safe.

All in all, I had it very easy and it was very smooth. Leena met me at the station and we drove to her house, even though it was a short walk. As we were driving, she put her hand on my knee and said "I think we will get along well." I was really happy because I was worried that she wouldn't like me! It was a huge relief. It turns out there is a lot to talk about with her. She speaks Spanish very well, and when she found I do too, she was very excited, and now sometimes we talk only in Spanish. I think it may be easier sometimes for her to use Spanish instead of English.

The very next day I had to show up at the school for registration and orientation. There are 8 other nursing students here. 4 from Portugal and 4 from Kansas, but the Kansas girls are only staying for one month. There are several other students studying different things as well, and I think I will become good friends with some of them. They will be staying here as long as me.

The really weird thing is that I haven't at all been hungry. That is so odd for me because as my family knows, I really love to eat! I still don't think I have gotten over my jet lag either because today I slept until 11! I was so embarrassed. It doesn't help that the sky is darker so the sun doesn't really wake me up.

I have to admit, after the first day I was feeling very overwhelmed. Leena took me to Finnish lessons Thursday night after my long day and then we visited her daughter's family, and we were gone all day!

Finnish is the hardest thing so far for me. I forgot what it was like to be in a country where you don't speak the main language. I can't even pick out some words! I literally knew no Finnish when I got here.  Leena has a "plan" though. She is determined that I will learn Finnish. She is going to ask me to say ten words a day. For example, before we go to the pool tonight (in an hour) I have to recite 1-10 in Finnish. She is very good at teaching. She teaches me something and then tells me to say it to people. For example, this morning, she quickly taught me "minun nimeni on Melanie" and then insisted I use it all day. (That means my name is Melanie.) She also signed me up for a Finnish class that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I haven't really had time to settle down because there is so much to fill my days. I feels like I have been here longer than two days! There is so much more I would want to add. I will be grateful when school starts on Monday because then I will have a routine! I hope to take more pictures this weekend when maybe I'll have more time? It finally snowed today so it is prettier :)