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!!!
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:
It was a real pain in the ass until I got there, because there was so little time and so much going wrong >.< I got permission to leave work half an hour earlier to catch the bus at 15:00, even though there was a lot to do, because they were holding a rather spontaneous Halloween party for the kids. So, I was standing at the bus station. - The problem: the bus didn't come! Maybe because it was also the first day of snow in southern Finland... In the end, one of my support persons luckily could pick me up and give me a lift home, so I had at least half an hour to change clothes, check my stuff and get ready to go. It was cold, but not as cold as I thought it would be - only around -6° I think. Then, I took the bus to the central place and walked to the park (so relieved when I finally arrived there!)
I'm so glad, because that's one of the bands which I really wanted to see when I came to Finland! And I did!! :D It was an unplugged show, that's rather seldom, so it's even more special! And they played amazingly!! The gig was held in the Delfinaario of the amusement park, in front of the pool and they knew well how to use the lights to create an unique atmosphere.
The stage:
I went there with a hungarian girl, Imola, who is also volunteering in another part of Finland right now and whom I met at the On-Arrival training in Kokkola already. She came to Tampere to join the concert and took the train back to her project the following day. There was also another spanish volunteer, Ruben, meant to meet us, but somehow in the end, he chose not to come...too bad for him, he missed the greatest show, but as far as I know, there's been some onrganisational problems.
The one unexpected thing was that the audience was actually supposed to sit on the places while watching the concert! :O
There was the pool, the seats that were placed like in a theatre and in between of these, there the stage, so -no space for standing in front of the stage...but it wasn't that bad, since we caught 2 seats in the first row, pretty much in the middle too ;P
On the websites they said that there are no cameras allowed at the gig, so I didn't take mine along, but I managed to take some pictures with my mobile phone and the quality is as good as a phone's camera can be ;D
They played most of their greatest songs and I was so happy when they also played the 2 covers of Tehosekoitin (Kaukaisimmalle Rannalle) and Pink Floyd (Wish You Were Here), because I believe they are only heard at their acoustic shows and also because one of them is sung in Finnish! I really admire this band and it makes me proud to live in the same city, because they are actually from Tampere! (:
There's this tradition that, at the end of the concert, the band throws some roses into the audience and I actually caught one!!! :D :D :D Well, since it seemed to be a little trouble to get the flowers out of the plastic wrapping, it wasn't a whole rose anymore, but - doesn't matter, got a Negative's rose!! <3
Haha, so far I haven't received a rose from any guy before - I'd have never thought that I'd get my first rose from Antti of Negative! ;P
After the show there was another extra taking place: a dolphin show only for the audience ;D that was a cool surprise xD
When we exited the hall, the big observation tower Näsinneula was also shining bright:
And there will be more lights, because tonight is the start of the Tampere Illuminations and I'm already excited to go to the centre this evening :D They say there will be fireworks too!
This week I went to eat at a japanese restaurant in Tampere Keskusta, called Maruseki, with Mirkka! :D
It was kind of special - when we went inside, there was such a calm atmosphere and the tables were separated by walls and "Noren" (some sort of japanese traditional curtains) to create more privacy.
As fancy as it was, it was also quite pricy >.< anyways, it was an unique meal and I had the chance to try Sake for the very first time *-* and I love it! I'ts a shame that its so expensive and seldomly found in shops.
...and then we had the most awesome Sushi I've ever tasted *o*
For calling the waitress, there was this button:
I'm so glad my host mommy took me there, it was a nice change to the usual food and I've got a weak spot for Japanese dishes anyways. ;)
Today, one of my friends that I hold very dear has her birthday.
Beci, this post is dedicated to you!! :D
I'm sorry for not being able to congratulate you in person, but I hope you're feeling great and had an awesome birthay party! Enjoy, it's your day!!
Even though we cannot meet right now, I can still send you my greetings - in finnish xD
("Moooooooooooooi!! Hyvää syntymäpäivää Suomesta!" xDD)
I feel like I should thank you for making my life more colourful! You've given me a lot and I'm glad for every moment we share! (especially the photo-shootings with Isi, Lisa and Sophie xD and the concerts, of course! and the music! (*o*)/ )
Someone once told me:
"Music will heal every pain! And when you have somebody to share your music with, it's even better!" :)
Today I got a mail from my coordinating organisation asking about the current situation with our mentor(s) - are we in contact, do they respond, are we dissapointed/happy etc.
This made me think, because I actually have 2 mentors:
- one that I consider someone to meet and do something,
rather than talking about problems or difficulties.
- the other one seems to be more the type of person that
I can open up to and ask for advice, but this one is
recently not responding to my mails and I wonder why...
To me she has always seemed to be a very busy woman.
It's not that I have an urgent need for some outstanding support person right now, but when I feel down or have some kind of problem, it would just be good to have someone reliable to contact.
I don't want to judge before knowing the whole story, but anyways I hope she'll answer soon, because I might start to lose my trust with time.
Anyways, in this kind of situation it's great that I have my host family, my head teacher at work, my family and friends both here and in Austria or other parts of Europe that I can share my thoughts and fears with and talk to if need be!
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Hey, do you remember these fancy toilets at Tampere-talo? xDD
Here's the one at Klubi:
It didn't take me long to find out why the fuck there's so much stuff written everywhere - I found these near the toilet paper dispenser:
Chalks!! xD best thing to do while sitting on the toilet xDD
(I feel like an idiot, posting all these pictures of the restrooms, but I thought this was worth sharing xDD )
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Yesterday I went to "Ideapark" with Mirkka and Niia - totally awesome, I'll definitely go there again soon! *-*
There were some shops where I was like:
We also had lunch there. You know these tiny wraps that they sell at Mc Donalds?
- Well, this is what a mexican wrap in Finland looks like:
6,50€, drink included! *Q*
And in the middle of the shopping centre, there was an ice skating place:
Niia suddenly wanted to bake some christmas cookies, so we got the necessary stuff and at home we soon had these:
:D :D :D
Early Christmas with cookies and "Glögi" (hot christmas punch)
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Ever since I started writing the blog it's been really interesting and exciting for me to see from which countries people look at it! At first, most visitors were from Austria, some from Finland. As time passed, Austria and Finland became equal on it. Nowadays, it seems I have much more readers from Finland than from any other part of the world. :)
I wonder how it will be in the future!
And I wonder who these people are that visit my blog from Germany, Romania, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, USA, Estonia, France, Poland, Italy etc. :D :D
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Thinking about my previous activities, I'm going to a lot of concerts!! That was one of the goals I've set when coming to Finland and I'm very proud I can accomplish it like that! :D
It's crazy, I'm going to a gig every week xD ...but I really enjoy it and if there's an opportunity, why not seize it?!
Rakastan Suomea!! <3
Next week's programme is "Negative" at Särkänniemi!! *-*
Can't wait to see them!!
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Speaking of bands, there's one Austrian band that I'd really like to see now - Fallen Up!!
I wasn't able to go to their newest CD-release party, because it was just after my departure to Tampere.
I would have loved to come to the show! :/
I heard it has been great and I'm looking forward to getting your CD anyways :D and of course, to meet you again!
Some of you might know them and those who don't - check out the new song and PV:
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I think that's all for today. I'm just having my fall holidays, so I should think of something to do for the rest of the weekend xD
Yesterday I was at Pakkahuone & Klubi to see "Sturm und Drang" and "Poets of the Fall". These days we have "Lost in Music Festival" here in Tampere, so there were also various other bands of many different genres playing, but I don't know most of them (I think this festival aims for promoting bands that are less known).
It was a bit disappointing that the gigs were so short, because there were so many others performing too >.<
However, first off was "Sturm und Drang" at Klubi:
Well, like I said - they were good, but 30 minutes isn't nearly enough!!
I think their first song I ever listened to was this one:
Old, but still one of their best! *-* I would have wished they played it yesterday.
