Like Never Before

Matt (Drums), Mikey (Guitar) & Me :)

I'm back in Austria for 2 weeks again and it's the strangest feeling to come home after 3 months of living in Finland. The landscape is different, mountains everywhere, there's no city life around, but that's not the point - what's changed is me, I feel like there's something missing. (Must be the lack of concerts here ;D) When I left the plane at Munich airport, I was really glad that I'll be returning to Finland soon, even though I was looking forward very much to seeing my family and friends again and also walking on homeland. I guess that's what Päivi warned me of when she said to take care for I will not be the same as before.
Maybe I just need a little time to get used to it again and after all, I've got some plans for these 2 weeks too.

--

Just before departing from Helsinki, I was at a concert of

"Baby Jane" 

and 

"The 69 Eyes" 

I went there with Rodrigo, a friend that I hadn't seen since 2,5 months and despite of the fact that he was almost an hour late, I enjoyed myself like I haven't done in ages! The 69 Eyes were great, but I was even more happy because of Baby Jane. I hadn't heard of them before, but they were a real surprise! - Everyone who doesn't know them yet:

What was probably really special was that they didn't only bring up a great show, but just looking at them I could feel how much they were enjoying it, how much they love making music. And this feeling was contagious to the audience as well! Also after the concert, they were all friendly, not hiding themselves in the backstage area, allowing photos and talks, giving autographs....and when I came near, Mikey even spoke up to me and said that he remembered me from the show *-*
I hope they'll have more concerts coming up soon!

(more photos to come as soon as I can use my own computer again)

It's almost the end of the year and I think this band was my best discovery of 2012! I just love their music <3
When I came home, my little brother and his friends welcomed me with Jägermeister and he showed me his new audio equipment, so the first thing I did this morning was to put my new CD from the concert in there and turn up the volume! lml

...maybe I should go to Sweden sometime soon too :D

Thank You!! ...for 1.000 Pageviews ^.~ / Sauna & Ice-Swimming

Today I'd like to say "Thank you" to all of my readers - you're best!
It's been 3 months now every since I came to Finland and opened this blog and I'm so proud that this week we could reach 1.000 (!!) pageviews!

Please keep it up! I'm looking forward to these next months already.

________________________

So, yesterday I was at Rauhaniemi (northern Tampere) with my workmates to enjoy sauna and  ice-swimming.

I felt so crazy! Honestly, this has at least a little hint of insanity and masochism xD

...but anyways, it's a great opportunity that everyone should try and definitely an unique experience!

After changing in the dressing room, we had to walk outside in the snow at -10/-15°C already to the sauna and then again to get to the lake. It was sure freezing and in the end a question of courage whether we decide to take a swim or not! 

I went to the lake 3 times, always "sauna - lake - sauna - lake - sauna..." and so did Despoina and Sini, only Andi chose not to come...and Päivi couldn't make it to the sauna, because some unexpected changes in her time schedule appeared.

When attempting to swim in the ice-cold water for the first time, my body instinctively tried to curl up and I knew that I had to get out as long as I was still able to climb the stairs...crazy!

As freezing as it was outside, it was really hot inside! I stayed only for a little time on the top row of the sauna, it wasn't like I felt extremely hot, but it became somehow difficult to breathe, so I moved one step down later. 

Besides, the usually reserved Finns seem to become unusually talkative during sauna too, it was quite interesting talking to them and learning new things about Finland.

After all of that, I felt active and exhausted at the same time, because of the adrenaline and the effort of taking the challenges.

Then, we went to Andi's place, had some Finnish meal with Greek salad and then played Monopoly (Helsinki Version). It didn't become too late though, since we were all rather tired and apparently decided to go home. 

Still, it was a great evening, so thank you to everyone that participated. :)

Since I didn't take any pictures yesterday, I went to the beach again today and took some nice ones. It was a really breathtaking view, but see for yourselves:

This is Näsijärvi :)

A Lot To Tell

Dear reader,

I'm really sorry for not updating for so long - however, I finally found time and motivation to do so! :)

___


Snow has finally come to Tampere too these last days and it's growing colder every day. They say on Monday we'll already have -18°C - should I rather be scared or look forward to it? ;P


At work, everything's still going well. I've been intrusted to take responsibility for the childrens' christmas calendar, together with Despoina. So she's doing clay figures and I've been working the whole 2 last weeks on making a puzzle with all the kids and teachers drawn on it, Middle Ages style. I have to confess, it was a lot more work than I believed it would be, but I had fun doing it and I'm happy with how it turned out to be:

It was also quite a challenge to prevent the kids from seeing it as soon as I started colouring it, since it should be a surprise.


So there's 20 days left until I'm flying back home and thinking about it, I'm missing my friends and family more than ever >.< I'm really looking forward to meeting all of them again, but people here in Finland don't need to worry that I might not be coming back after Christmas, for I'm also already thinking how much I will miss my time here after June!


Yet, before going home, there's still almost a month to make some great memories and another thing I'm looking forward to is watching "Hobitti"!! :D
I've always been regretting that I was just a little too young when "Lord of the Rings" conquered the cinemas, but this time, I'll definitely won't miss the chance! *o*


Today, I'm also having "Pikkujoulu", something like a Pre-Christmas-Party with my workmates - we're going  to Sauna, ice-swimming and then food, drinks and whatever else we might come up with ;D
Right now, it's -10°C outside and it's snowing non-stop...thinking that on top of that I'm going to enter an ice cold lake in some hours already sends me shivers down my spine, but you never know how it is until you try - YAY!!! ...I feel crazy though xD


Oh, and look what else I have found - I've been waiting for this picture to come online:

Hihi, can you see me? xD

Sabaton @ Pakkahuone

Yay, concert reports are back!! ;D after the little break I'm back in front of the stage!

So, "Sabaton" was playing in Tampere and I went there with Thirza, a Dutch girl that I got to know at my language course.

As expected, the concert was really great, though we had to wait for about 3 hours until "Sabaton" was actually starting their show - BUT meanwhile 2 other bands were playing.

First off was "Dynazty":

Then there was "Raubtier":

(did you see these awesome drums on the background?xD ) They scared the shit out of me, because the guitarist on the right looked almost the same as my host daddy!!

And then of course Sabaton:

As soon as it was their turn, everyone suddenly wanted to fight their way to the front, so me and Thirza, standing in the first row, were maybe a little smushed >.< but we proudly stood our ground and defended our places! Many people went crazy about coming close to the stage for a little to get some photos and there was that insanely annoying guy right behind me that kept on leaning against and pushing everyone around him, trying to get to the stage, but at some point he finally gave up.

Regardless, the crowd was all fired up and so was  the band - so everyone was enjoying, screaming and banging their heads off  \m/

I don't know the person that took this video, but since he/she was standing a little further away, it shows the audience pretty good:

At some point the vocalist even decided to do some stage-diving:

The band also commented that the show's really great. After the first 10 minutes the vocalist said that we're an awsome audience, that he was having goosebumps and that they're now really looking forward to coming to Tampere again in June for the Open-Air with the most Finnish name ever --> SAUNA!!!
 - I think I'll go there too ;D

Beautiful Kangasala

Lately I've taken the chance to catch the awesome view of Kangasala's sunrise. It's the city that I work in, 20 minutes by bus from my home in Tampere.
It's been a breathtaking morning, so I decided I want to share it with everyone:

*no photoshop*!!
This is a glimpse of what I get to see every morning when I go to work and the sky is clear *-*

One Moves Away and One Moves Forward

Moving away:

This week's been the last time of this year that I've seen Kate (at the language course). She's going home to Chicago for some months and return probably at the end of February.
Goodbye, Kate, and have a safe journey to the United States! ;D I'm looking forward to seeing you again next year. 
And maybe I'll sometime have the chance to follow your invitation and visit you there. :)


Moving forward:

My host mommy was celebrating her 25th birthday this Wednesday :)
We had some awesome cake again!!
Happy birthday once again, Mirkka! 2,5 months and I'm still as grateful as ever that you've become my host family. :)

______________________________________

more news :)

Dear readers:

Sorry for not posting any news for so long...BUT I'm back now to tell you what happened during these last days:


* I've met Silvia from Italy (another volunteer in Finland) again. We hadn't seen each other since our stay in Kokkola, so I was happy to be able to meet her again. We met in the city, had some coffee and talked about random stuff.


* I've gone to a "Kabuki" (traditional japanese theatre). Actually, this was part of Silvia's project and also the reason why she was travelling to Tampere. The performance was quite interesting, though I have to say that it seems rather odd, when Finns try to act as Japanese people (especially for me, who's very interested in everything about Japan). What made it even more confusing was the main talk in Finnish and actually most of the few phrases that I understood were those in Japanese xD
On the contrary, it was also impressing that they used so many different kinds of media and techniques to add some variety to the show (music, karaoke, movies, shadow games...)

Haha, by the way, this is what a Finnish orchestra in a Japanese theatre looks like: (wtf E-guitar?! xD )

* I gave an interview for my coordinating organisation Maailmanvaihto about me, my workplace and my feelings about being a volunteer. It will be published in their magazine ^.^


* This Sunday was Father's Day here, so we celebrated it with Lasse's parents and sister and the amazing food of Mirkka:

Yummy *o* this chocolate-mint cake was just as awesome as it looks like ;D
The celebration was great, though all the happy family gathering made me remember my own parents and siblings and showed me that I actually miss them a lot if I seriously start thinking about it.  


* At home in Austria, my mother had to undergo a surgery (not a difficult one, but still...), so I was kind of distracted for some days and also worried. It's strange how much more intense you feel the fear of something bad happening, if you're not near the ones you cherish...
However, everything went well and she's already back home waiting to fully recover and receiving visits of some family members.                                                       


* I've been attending so many concerts every since I set foot on Finland that it felt a little strange not to go to any the last two weeks...but there's just not been any band around that I would have really wanted to see. Anyways, I'm continuously looking for new gigs and I've already been making plans for some upcoming ones  ;) and some I'm not sure about yet.
At any rate, I'm going to see "Sabaton" and "The 69 Eyes".


-- Well, as much from my side. It's time to start into a relaxed evening :)

Awesome Post from Awesome People

Today I got a legendary letter from David (I really really can't wait until you come to Finland too!!!) :D

I knew that somewhen these weeks I would receive post from him, because we talked about it, but when it actually arrived today, I was so euphoric! I was expecting to get his band's (Fallen Up) new CD, but the handwritten letter came as a surprise and I can't say for sure which filled me more with joy and still does!! You're best!! *-*

haha, 1 letter, 4 languages used (German, English, Finnish and Latin) xDD
And I love these little extra comments in the corners ;P


And here's 10 reasons why you (and the other band members) are awesome:

- Mirror Split 
- Condemned
- Death of Conscience
- Three Nails
- Elegy
- Erased
- Never Mine
- Track 8
- Circle of Addiction
- To Everyone

There's none among these that I could call a song I don't like. They are all great!
However I especially like "Never Mine" - listened to it once, melody stayed in my ears immediately!
And I've been longing for "Erased" anyways ever since I heard it for the first time.
Same to "Track 8".

I really enjoy listening to the CD - it's epic!
And it makes me think it's a real pity that I couldn't take part in the Release Show >.< ...and that I won't be able to make it to your last concert for this year... but the time will come that I can finally listen to you guys live again!! :D 
Oh, and I love the CD cover and design, but of course you need great packing for great songs!

Thank you so much!!!

Tampere Illuminations

So I was at Tampere Illuminations in Keskusta ;D
There was some programm, so I was expecting it to last long, at least some hours, but somehow they managed to have a fire show, a speech and the fireworks in less than 1 hour xD

Anyways, it was nice!

Have a taste yourself:

...feels like New Year xDD

After that, they  put on the light figures in all the main streets which was like:

I also went to Särkänniemi again, because I knew they were also lighting up the big tower:

At the end, I just walked around a little more:

g