Learning American… August 28, 2009

Before I arrived in the States, I swore to myself my pronunciation would not change. I’d savor the Canadian vowels and keep my expressions as Canadian as possible. Little did I know that I’d be living with an American, and I can’t help it -she’s taught me new expressions that have come part of my speech. So when I come back to Finland, my accent is bound to be confusing. A little bit Finnish, a little bit Canadian, a little bit American…

I won’t let it change too much, but I notice in myself a habit of picking up a style of speech easily from someone else. I’m good at imitating their pronunciation, the way they stress, their body language, and so and and so forth. It’s kind of annoying, but that’s what it’s like for a linguist…

What I’ve picked up so far (and what I keep using all the time):

“Oh good gosh!”
“suckers”
“awesome” (with an “o” in the beginning of the word, not an “ah”)

…fun…

Out and about August 24, 2009

So the first week in D.C. has almost come to its end… a week ago I was still counting down days to my return to Finland, now I’m realizing that three months is such a short time, and I’m desperately trying to do things now, as I know that eventually, time here in the States is running out…

Never before have I learned to love the weekend, but after a week full of work, I realize it’s a blessing! Friday has never felt so good. On Friday, we, the Finnish interns, headed out to the Mall to partake in a Friday night jazz -concert outside at the Sculpture Garden. We had sangria, crackers and cheese, fresh fruit and sat outside, enjoying the music and the weather. Until it started to rain… and it really poured down! We decided to go to a friend’s house and got soaked on our way there. But it was still nice, we met a lot of American med students and got to be a part of their house party! And I drank beer! Can you believe it. This brand, Yeungeling (or something…) was actually pretty good and I ordered one at the bar last night, too…

Yesterday our roommate Natasha took us shopping to Pentagon City, and it was awesome! Besides getting new bedding (we had Natasha’s mom’s credit card…), I found myself new running shoes for 40 euros… later, we had a pre-party at our house and then headed out to Adam’s Morgan, the famous bar/night club -area and met up with some Slovenian interns at Local16. We danced and it was so much fun! Great to see what D.C. nightlife is like! And it was pretty cool there, because they had a patio outside, too!

Today we did some more shopping in Georgetown (lots of cool stores there!!)!! After making a good dinner, I’m ready to head out to the gym! Gotta enjoy Sunday to its fullest… And tomorrow, it’s Monday again…hopefully we’ll get something interesting to do at work!

Doing it DC style… August 21, 2009

Apparently people do a lot of sports here in D.C. I’ve never seen so many people jogging outside, despite the hot and humid weather. I haven’t gone jogging yet, but will try it out in the utterly crazy weather once I get myself new running shoes this weekend.

I did, however, register to be a member of Washington Sports Club, a gym-chain! It seems pretty good, actually. The gym itself was a bit old-fashioned for my taste, but it’ll surely do for the next three months. However, the cross-trainers were out of this world -each one was equipped with a small TV screen and a remote control! How convenient…this is America, clearly.

The spinning class that I tried out was awesome! It was so so so good and the instructor, Billy, was damn good-looking He was wearing a Superman -shirt, flirted with all the girls (everyone was giggling, of course), and played us Ricky Martin tunes throughout the spinning!

Now that’s the way, uh-huh, I like it…

Glover Park August 21, 2009

So a few days after the happy news, I am here in Glover Park. This place is awesome! And gosh it felt so good finally unpacking everything from the suitcases and putting everything in its place! This place is pretty big, too. There are three of us living here, and there’s plenty of space for everyone. We share the bedroom, but it’s quite okay. And then there’s a living room, fully equipped with dvds and what-not, a walk-in closet for our clothes and a kitchen with everything you might need. Natasha, who owns the place, is my age and seems super-nice. On Saturday we’re going to Macy’s for some shopping and dropping…

Anyways, everything is good. Glover Park is a good neighborhood in the Northwest and I only walk 10 minutes to work from here! There’s a Whole Foods -store just outside our place, a Starbucks, CVS, and lots of restaurants. And, our gym is a 3-minute walk away from the house. Things couldn’t really be better. Except that the rent is ridiculously low, of course. I admit I’m really lucky!!!

So if for some reason, you’d like to drop me a line, here’s my address:

3818 Davis Place
Apt. B1, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20007
USA

Hallelujah!! August 18, 2009

This morning I woke up feeling like a grown-up. No school, no fun and games, but off to work we go. I put on nice clothes and slipped in the hot morning weather feeling somewhat important Hopping on the subway here in Arlington was easy and as I had made my way to Dupont Circle, I grabbed a soy latte (btw, weird but here the soy milk they use is vanilla-flavored…) to go from Starbucks and started walking down Massachusetts Avenue towards the Embassy. Mass Ave is also referred to as Embassy Row, because the long street is nothing but one embassy next to another one, and one fancy building next to even a fancier one.

The Finnish Embassy is located on the other side of the street from the residence of the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden… kinda cool, methinks. Also, we neighbour the embassies of the Vatican City, Belgium and Norway. The building itself is beautifully-crafted and the architecture is typically Scandinavian -bright, simple, luminous and close to nature.

The first day went well. I feel so good about the job. Everyone at the Embassy was extremely kind and friendly and we interns were welcomed with open arms. The department of culture seems like the place to be and the atmosphere there is very relaxed. Right away, I got a work cell, Nokia Communicator… and meetings planned for this week. The things I’ll be working with are mostly happenings at the Embassy -I’m going to be organizing and planning a European Food Fair, Kids Festival, some art exhibition and a concert with performers from the Sibelius Academy!!! I’m so excited! Everything seems interesting, fun and challenging. And that’s good. Apparently we will work a lot and sometimes we’ll even work on the weekends. But luckily, we have a good team and surely it’ll be a lot of fun!

And as an inside information, we’re expecting some ministers here… maybe even Vanhanen himself… but we’ll see. If he comes, I’ll offer him some sweet orange juice

Also, meeting the other Finnish interns was great! They took us to their “gang” right away and I feel so excited. Tomorrow we’re going spinning to a nearby gym and on Wednesday night we’re heading out to a Quiz Night, organized for all the EU interns! So hopefully, I’ll meet some good people there.

And last, but not least. Just fifteen minutes ago I got a phone call from heaven. My intern mate called me and asked me if I wanted to move in with her and her roommie… she lives in a perfect location, nice neighbourhood, only 10 minutes from the Embassy by foot! I’m so excited. The rent is nothing, it’s all inclusive and I couldn’t be happier! And best of it all, I’ll be living with another Finn, so that’s gonna be good times for sure!! Apparently, things seem to work out if you just give yourself time to adjust to changes.

Hurray, life is good.

Turbulence August 16, 2009

After technical difficulties and delays, missed connection flights and a good dose of stress, I made it to Washington D.C. safe and sound. Finnair didn’t quite operate as well as I would have thought and so I ended up missing my connection in NYC and had to wait for another flight. Luckily, everything at the customs went well and I got to the country just fine.

It was nice to have my friend Fran and his girlfriend Shelley to welcome me at the D.C. airport. Their kindness has been unexpected. They drove me to my new “home”, in which I ended up staying only for two nights… Although the place was incredible inside, Fran and Shelley told me I shouldn’t live in that area of the city. So after serious talks and a lot of uncertainty, fear, nervousness, stress and some tears, I made the decision to leave and find a new place. All in all, after learning a little bit about this city, I feel more comfortable living in NW than in NE, and I wouldn’t mind having a shorter commute to work either. So after a few confusing days, here I am, at Fran’s place in Arlington, Virginia, a few miles from downtown Washington. I feel good about my decision and have been searching online for new places. I haven’t found anything yet, but it’s good to know that I have a safetynet here and can stay with Fran and Shelley as long as I need to.

Otherwise, things are okay. The weather in D.C. is ridiculously hot and humid. It’s weird that I’d rather be inside than out, because it’s just uncomfortably hot. And they say that this is kinda “cool” for D.C. Looking forward to seeing and experiencing the hot weather… But anyhow, D.C. seems nice and I’m sure I’ll like it once I get settled into a routine of work and play and find a place that I can call home for three months.

Work starts tomorrow and I’m kinda nervous, but also looking forward to it. Hopefully I’ll meet good people and get interesting things to do!

Despite all of the lows, I feel okay and I’m sure things will turn out okay and I’ll end up enjoying myself, too. I miss all of you, but I’ll see you guys soon. And S and J, I’ll let you know what happens with the accommodation… I really wish that I find a place where I’ll have room for you, too. But on the other hand, I really have to find a safe place and staying in that area I was staying, would not have been a nice experience for you either. Now, out for dins!

Flying out August 14, 2009

So this is it. The day that I fly out to Washington D.C! So surreal, so confusing, yet so exciting! In a few more hours I’ll be boarding a plane to NYC and after the journey over the Atlantic, I’ll switch planes in NYC and fly to D.C. I really don’t know what to expect from the city at all, or from anything else, but surely things will be okay. I’m glad that I have an old acquaintance to pick me up from the airport in D.C. so I don’t have to get lost in the public transportation with my luggage.

I can’t believe I have so much stuff with me. I thought that I’d manage with just one luggage, but apparently, I have way too many clothes I want to take with me so that I had to pack another suitcase as well. That’s quite okay, but I’m kinda already stressing out about the return back home…how on Earth am I going to fit everything back in just two suitcases??!? Impossible, it seems, but I do have three months to figure that out. Or maybe I’ll hire some of my friends who are coming over to take some of my stuff back home with them…

Anyways, all is finished here at the apartment. A little bit of vacuuming to be done and then I’m ready to go. And hereby I solemnly swear this is the last time I’ll be doing this packing and moving overseas! So stressful…

I wish everyone a great fall and I will miss each and every one of you tons! See you soon and stay in touch!

Here I come, D.C.!!!

Ends and Beginnings August 13, 2009

It has been a while since I took the time to write. I’ve thought about writing almost every day, but I’ve put it off for several reasons, one of which is that I haven’t really figured out what I have been feeling and going through. So I thought I’d save the writing for a time when I know how I feel. So what am I feeling right now? Sadness, fear, anxiety, excitement, happiness… I feel nauseous, nervous, unsure. And stressed out. And all of this due to a three-month trip to the U.S.

I’m leaving tomorrow…and that feels strange. I’ve left everything for the last moment and that’s probably why I’ve felt so stressed out and worried about everything today. I’ve cleaned up the apartment, had coffee with a friend, exchanged money, cleaned some more, sorted out what I need for this trip and done some last-minute shopping. I feel as if this internship and leaving for D.C. has been lurking somewhere for months and weeks and days and now it has suddenly surprised me with its appearance – as if, out of the blue, I realize I actually have to go now.

All in all, everything is still a mess, but I’ll get top of it sooner or later. As one would think that once you’ve experienced this before, leaving and going for someplace new would become easier, but no. It’s all the same. Even if it’s just for three short months, there are always goodbyes and farewells, the last morning coffees and chit-chats with the girls, the last bus trips to the city and back, and the last cuddles to be shared. It never becomes easier or more manageable, I say. But I guess you can get used to it, if you want to and choose so.

What I’ve totally missed out on this time around has been the joy and enjoyment of something new – I know I will be excited and happy once I get going in D.C. and once everything is new and exciting, but as for now, I’ve been too concentrated in all that I’m leaving behind. And really, that is stupid and unnecessary because nevertheless, come what may, all of these things that I leave behind will be here when I come back -my family and friends aren’t going anywhere.

I accidentally ran into an old co-worker a few days back. When she heard about my departure, she was extremely excited and happy for me: she congratulated me and repeated many times how privileged I was to be able to work for the Finnish Embassy in D.C. and how cool is was that I get to see the world again. Her words have been ringing in my head for the last few days and I realize that yes, this is something I need to go through with because it’s an incredible opportunity that not too many people in the world have a chance to experience. I’m pretty lucky, to say the least, and should feel happy and thankful about it all.

No more work at a coffee shop, no more lectures at Uni, no more cold fall weather… instead, a new job in a cool place, new things to do, new people to meet, a new city to discover and hot hot hot weather. Can’t complain! So here I come, U.S.A… be kind to a kind girl.