First impressions June 26, 2008

License plates on cars look BIG. The toilet bowl looks different. Bottles look funny. It is so incredibly light outside I cannot sleep. My old stuff looks familiar and my old room comfy. Yet, I don’t seem to fit in myself. Maybe it’s the amount of luggage I have with me, maybe I just feel a bit out of place right now. 

New potatoes are tasty, water has no taste of chlorine, and my hair feels so soft after taking a long shower! 

The weirdest thing: everyone around me everywhere speak Finnish. Gotta get used to not hearing English spoken everywhere…

When nothing has changed June 26, 2008

…yet it feels like everything has changed. Arriving in Finland felt weird. At the same time, everything seems unchanged, all the people are here, the things look familiar, and even my room has all my stuff in it. On the other hand, I have changed and it feels unreal to be here instead of Toronto. I’m supposed to start living this life again, but I’m not sure if I want to. I know it’s just the first day here, and I’m still confused, jetlagged and a bit sad. I should give Finland a chance. I’m just missing Toronto and some people so much that it blocks me from experiencing the good things Finland has got in store for me.

Six months ago, I was trying to think up to this day and couldn’t wait to be here with my people, my work, my life etc. But now it all feels so uninspiring. Not that I don’t look forward to seeing my friends and family, I do and that’s the greatest part of being back. But at the same time, it feels as if I have to find another kind of path or insight for my life. Because the things that I am missing the most right now, I cannot have. I just have to learn to deal with it, and figure out other things that will make me happy again.

Here I am June 24, 2008

The last 10 days went by so fast. I cannot believe it’s time for me to move on and leave Toronto. I know it’s not goodbye, since I will be coming back because I fell in love with this city and miss it and the people already, but it still feels tough to return to Finland.

After the heart-ripping goodbyes with that someone, I feel empty inside. It’s hard to think that my everyday life will be so different back “home”. I’m not saying it isn’t good, because it is, I’m just saying I’m going to miss this life I have here in Toronto.

The last 6 months have been the best and the most life-altering in my entire life. My heart is full of good memories and good times, things and people I will never forget. It’s always heard to leave, but this somehow feels so unfair -although I did know I would only be here for 6 months. I could easily just keep on living here, and hold on to the things I have here.

Luckily, I have a lot to look forward to back in Finland -the people, a new apartment, my studies. And luckily, I can return here whenever I want. Although I feel like there’s something missing from my life and my heart right now, I’m happy to know I can have all of this again. Nothing in this life is impossible, and that’s exactly what this exchange-experience has shown me.

The road goes on and on… June 14, 2008

The trip, which started as a dream over a year ago, is almost done. We have driven 2500 kilometres in the beautiful continent of Canada, taken buses from one place to the other, trusted way too much on googlemaps, and eaten many a delicious dish throughout the continent.

The day spent in Cavendish, P.E.I was simply amazing. The views were gorgeous and it was awesome to visit the “Canadian East-coast cult”, Green Gables, a.k.a the home of Anne, the heroine of the Montgomery book. The beaches in Cavendish were definitely postcard -material: sand dunes, red sand, beautiful cliffs and the deep blue sea, i.e. the Atlantic Ocean. Dipping my toes in the ice-cold ocean and walking barefeet on the hot red beach was one of those moments I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.

One thing I’ve also learned to love during our roadtrip is cruise control. Driving 700 kilometres a day doesn’t feel that bad when the only thing you’re doing is steering the car. I’m very proud of our endevours, and the fact that we chose to do this trip. Now that we’re back in hot Montréal and closer to “home”, if feels a bit odd not being on the road. I don’t really feel sad, but I could continue travelling for another two weeks for sure. But I do look forward to getting back to TO, the love of my life. Spending the last 10 days of this 6-month-long trip in the city makes me so, so happy. Although Finland is less than two weeks away, I still have many things ahead of me here. And I intend to make the most out of those days, things, and moments.

Many memories to treasure for the rest of my life.

Following Ann of Green Gables… June 11, 2008

As much as I enjoyed vacationing in the French-speaking Canada, it was a pleasant feeling to cross the Québec border to New Brunswick, where everything was in English, and people knew how to speak the language… Driving from Québec to Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick, was rather pleasant. The 700 kilometre drive went pretty fast and I made myself very proud driving over 200 kilometres on the Trans-Canada highway! The views in those parts of the two provinces were incredibly beautiful: apparently the appalachian mountains reach all the way to Québec, and I was amazed at the hilly, green, mountainous views while driving.

Fredericton itself was not really worth seeing: the capital city only has a population of about 45,000 people. After a night well-spent in a private room for only 20 bucks each (!!!) we started to journey over to the land of Anne of Green Gables, Prince Edward Island. The 300 kilometres went fast, and it was pretty amazing to cross the 12-kilometre long Confederation bridge over the Northumberland Strait (Atlantic Ocean!!) from New Brunswick to the Island. Charlottetown seems pretty and green, and the dirt here on the Island is bright red, which, for some reason, intrigues me a lot.

Oh, and apparently the Islanders do know how to make money: Ann of Green Gables is everywhere -in chocolates, soft drinks, musicals, little stores, postcards… and apparently the advertising worked for us, too. Tomorrow we’re heading to Cavendish, the home of Anne of Green Gables…

Viva Quebec! June 9, 2008

Driving a brand-new Chevy Impala from Montreal to Quebec city turned out to be a pleasant journey. The views were great, and both the driver and the passenger survived the traffic and highways very well! We made it to humid and incredibly hot Quebec city, and I fell in love with the city right away. It really feels like I’m on vacation here-in the utterly-romantic and beautiful city that is on the banks of St.Lawrence river. The only thing that is missing is someone to share the romantic side of the city with…

The city was built 400 years ago by the French and the actual old town with its walls and citadels was built later-on by the British. The confusing history doesn’t show, though, as the city is as French as a city can be. I can’t help but wonder where I am -this certainly doesn’t feel like being in Canada! Now I understand how they sometimes refer to Quebec as another country…

After two hot days in the sun, slight suntan and sunburn, crepes and lots of water, walks in the little streets and a cruise over St. Lawrence river, I feel refreshed enough to move on to new waters. Tomorrow we’ll drive to New Brunswick, and then on to Prince Edward Island. New places, new experiences!!

Not here, not now!!! June 6, 2008

No way, I’m saying. The last thing I want to come face-to-face with during my roadtrip around Canada is Finnish tourists. The kind of tourists that make me feel, well, ashamed of Finland, ashamed of being “one of them”.

This had to happen here in Montreal, in the romantic, charming streets of the old town. A middle-aged couple, dressed up in beautiful Finnish outfits (read=the normal tuulipuku-look) suddenly walked into us on one of the small streets and we heard the woman very loudly say to her husband “Let’s do some serious shopping, Pena”. In utter shock and embarrasement for some incomprehensible reason, I closed my mouth and started to walk away very fast.

No. I am not ready to see these people that call themselves Finns. Not here, not now.

Vacation a la French June 6, 2008

And so the roadtrip continued from the capital city of Canada to the beautiful Quebequois city, Montreal. The last days in Ottawa went well -we were able to skim through both the Museum of Civilization in Gatineu and the National Gallery, which, I assure, was an achievement in itself. The museums were huge. The last night was great. We met up with some friends and enjoyed a night out on patios and local pubs. Nothing to complain.

Montreal greeted us with humid weather and hundreds of tourists. We were more than surprised to find out that both the Fashion and Design week and the Formula 1 Grand Prix are here this weekend. We were clueless about these huge events, but it has certainly been just a positive turn considering our trip: the city feels so crowded and alive, there are free concerts and happenings around, we’ve gotten free stuff from all kinds of places, and seen some real Ferraris and people working for Ferrari. I swear I am not interested in the circus, but I do acknowledge the fact that it is “kind of” cool to see this kind of event from up close.

Otherwise I’ve fallen in love with Montreal, like I always do. I am happy we came here during the summer months, the trip in January was certainly different with biting-cold weather and a lot of snow. This time around it has been comfortably summery and everything looks prettier and feels more glamorous… the old town was incredibly charming with its cobblestone streets and little cafes, and it feels pretty neat to hear the romantic French language for a change. People dress better than in my TO, and look, well, good. If I had to choose a city to live in Canada, Montreal would definitely come number two after my beloved Toronto.

Roadtripping has gone very well and I am excitedly waiting for moving on to places I have never seen or visited before. It’s great vacationing around Canada and enjoying the free time. On the other hand, I do miss my Toronto and wish that I had more days left there to live that life that I have grown accustomed to. I miss Toronto, but I do miss that someone even more.

Roadtrippin’ June 3, 2008

Today it started: we embarked on our roadtrip, on the grand-tournee of Canada. It’s strange that we’re actually on the road now, it feels somewhat surreal -after all, we’ve been planning this trip for over a year now, and until today, it has felt so so far away.

It was a bit rushed, and also slightly sad to leave my room and house this morning. Packing up all my stuff from the last five months in just two suitcases was a challenge. I definitely need a third one to take home with me. It’s good that I got a good backpack for the roadtrip, though, travelling with a suitcase would have been a nuisance.

The bus-ride to Ottawa was comfortable and we made it to our hostel quite alright. The hostel used to be a jail -we’re sleeping in a cell, which is quite creepy… but an experience to remember, for sure. Ottawa welcomed us with sunshine and nice hot weather. The city looks pretty and more European than Toronto, and way way smaller… Our first day was full of walking and taking in the sights. I also experienced a kind of deja-vu: walking in the Rideau Centre mall and by the Chapters bookstore reminded me of the visit to Ottawa 8 years ago. I remember the 16-year-old Matleena sitting in the bookstore, reading books for hours, waiting for her parents to pick her up. Good memories.

We also experienced a little bit of home here in Ottawa: we ran into a bar/club called Helsinki, and Darude’s music was playing on TV… the world is small.