Arrangements and family

I realized a couple of weeks ago, that I haven't been back home in Lapland since October, so I decided to go there for a few days, since I don't have any classes anymore. And I mean, I am going away for four months, so it seemed like the perfect thing to do. I took the night train on saturday after work and my mum picked me up at the far far away railway stop in Tornio (the stop really is in the middle of nowhere). We went home for some breakfast after which we headed to Pello to pick up my grandmother. We had decided to take my grandmother to see her sister, who lives about 60 km away at a small village, where my entire family has their summer cottages. I did have an agenda of my own though, because my cousins were going to be there and I haven't seen my cousins new baby, who is already 9 months old.




When we came to my great aunt, she had lunch waiting for us - as usual. My great aunt is amazing, she cooks the most delicious food, and the best thing is the bread she bakes like a wizard. It is a Lapland speciality called rieska, a flat bread made of barley flour. It is the most delicious food there is, of course with butter. That's not the only thing though, at my great aunt everything is delicious! Season specifically we also had the great pleasure to drink birch sap, which is a slightly sweet, thin syrupy-watery liquid that is extracted from birch trees in the spring. It is very delicious! After lunch I went to see my cousins together with my aunt, who also came to my great aunt a bit after us. We went for a walk in the amazing easter weather. I mean, it is the end of April and it's 15 degrees! Usually we can still go skiing and ice fishing on easter. Now there's no chance!

At about six in the afternoon (after having some more rieska), we headed back to Pello with my grandmother. It had been a long day for her and I could tell she was tired, but also noticably happy! Back in Pello I met up with two of my friends from high school, who I haven't seen for ages. We had fun catching up and talked about seeing more often. I really hope we can stick to those promises this time, because I really miss those guys!




The next day me and my mum decided to go see the rapids in Kukkolankoski. We grabbed three of my mum collagues with us and enjoyed an hour in the sun while looking at the amazing power of the rapids in Tornio river. My mums employer has taken on portuguese dentists for a couple of years now, and there are three here in Haparanda already. I love them all, they are so friendly and outgoing, and I enjoy hanging out with them
very much. So two of them came with us to the rapids, and they seemed to enjoy the sight quite a lot too.




I do have to say I'm very happy that I've lived in Germany before, because I know what I can get there. I mean there are things that you don't necessarily think of unless you've faced problems with them before. I can't for example get my make up in Germany, because of my light skin. It's a small, meaningless thing, which causes a not-so-small problem when you realize it. I can't tell how many times I had my mum send my thing while living in Germany the last time. At least I'm only going away for four months this time.

In between all these relaxing activities I'm enjoying while I still have the chance, I've taken care of some arrangements as well. I finally recieved a signed version of my training agreement from my soon-to-be-employer in Germany, and got to return it to the faculty. I already got an answer from the facultly that the papers are signed and ready to be picked up.

Today is also an exciting day because a guy is coming to see my room, and hopefully he'll rent it. He did assure on the phone that he's very interested and would be able to pay the rent right away and sign the lease. So I'm very hopeful, I mean it is getting critical to find someone, since I'm leaving on saturday. Anyways, my flatmate promised to show the flat, since I'm not there until tomorrow. Everything else is thankfully settled. I found a flat only 1,5 km from work with a quite low rent, and my flatmate seems really nice. My flight is booked (one way!!) and I've even checked in. I've packed almost everything, so I suppose I'm really leaving!

The Internship

So, I though I should start off with why I'm starting a blog. I've studied translation now for four years at the University of Tampere. Before I started studying, I worked in restaurants and bars for about 3 years and continued that while studying. So every summer between academic terms (and also on weekends during it), I've slaved my ass off working an under paid job, which admittedly I've enjoyed most of the time. Last fall I got to thinking though, that I really wanted to get the opportunity to practise what'd been preached, so I applyed for the Erasmus internship grant. After waiting feverishly for a while (which at least felt like forever) for the information whether or not I'd get it, one rainy fall day I received the happy news: start looking for a internship!

I got on with it right away, asked my professor to write me a recommendation and finally sent the application to about thirty-something firms in Berlin (it HAD to be Berlin!). Getting a place turned out to be quite a challenge. I recieved negative or semi-negative replys from a few places. That means they either said that they don't take interns at all and get in touch after graduation or they only take interns for the minimum period of six months. I did get one semi-positive reply from one firm, saying that they'd love having me, but might not be able to get a supervisor for me. After waiting anxiously (at this point it was already mid-March) for a couple of weeks I got a positive reply from another firm. They offered me an internship in translation and project management, which was totally amazing. The downside was that the place wasn't in Berlin, but I could choose from six other German cities. A few days later I got a negative reply from the first firm, stating that they hadn't found a supervisor.

Well, as you might understand I was totally desperate at this point, and decided to take the other offer. After confirming the place (which would have been in Braunschweig), I suddenly recieved another offer for translation and project management in Berlin. I immediately jumped on the opportunity and accepted the offer.

So now the last four weeks I've been working hard on getting an apartment in Berlin, renting out my room in Tampere, taking care of all the details, doing my courses at the uni and working to save some money. Now everything is about taken care of, so on Saturday I can head off to Germany with ease. Well, at least about the practicalities. I am totally excited, I'm sure it will be an amazing summer!

The fact I'm most excited about is that I got a nice job, where I'll be working at office hours. No work at weekends and evenings, how amazing is that! Some plans for the summer involving traveling has already been made, but I'm quite open to spontaneity as well. After all, I have 13 weekends of not working during the summer!

Travel jitters!