Andaria's adventures

a day in Helsinki

2006-10-11T22:53:00.000-07:00

woodworking

2006-10-08T03:23:00.000-07:00

getting ready for a night out on the town...

2006-10-08T03:08:00.000-07:00

a day at the farm

2006-10-08T02:51:00.000-07:00

city lights

2006-10-08T02:45:00.000-07:00

painting

2006-09-29T23:26:00.000-07:00

Lapland

2006-09-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

school and golfing

2006-09-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

windsurfing at the summer home...

2006-09-17T02:02:00.000-07:00

our humble abode.

2006-09-17T00:06:00.000-07:00

2006-09-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

so, recently I have gotten a request for stories, lots of stories. So here is the story of how I found this paradise called Finland and why I have decided to spend a year studying here. brace yourselves, it is a loooooonnnnnnnggggggg story.

So, as many of you know, I was living in Galway last summer. Well, on the bus between Dublin and Galway I struck up a conversation with two beautiful and outrageous girls from Finland named Sini and Sarah. They were so free-spirited that they decided to join me on my first tryout at a trail riding company in the most central Eastern region of Ireland called Connemmara (which ended up not working out for more than one reason.) But, instead we had the time of our lives...We (WARNING: Mom this part is not censored) hitchhiked to our desired location...picked up by some very interesting characters...had a picnic on the side of the road of salty beans from a can and white bread...best food we had had all day, oh, wait, the only food we had all day...moving along, though. We found our perfect base camp, the *Monastary Hostel* where we proceeded to have a completely stressfree week with three west coast guys. Oh, those were the days....

Well, as I got to know Sini and Sarah, I came to learn that they were not your ordinary girls... there was something unique about them. They were independent, adventurous, hilarious, pretty darn smart and just plain, outright fun to be with. When they invited me to go sailing with them on the Bay of Finland I couldn't wait. I planned that as soon as I could save enough money to go to Finland that summer, I would.

I got a job waitressing in Galway at a Corsican restaurant...saved a little money and then quit ( you can read about that in previous blog entries...) So, I actually had only enough money to just get an appartment in Galway in order to make ends meet...(plus, calling Mommy and Daddy everyonce in a while...but, that is beside the point.)

Sailing off the coast of Finland soon became a forgotten dream.....

Skip ahead to this Spring....

I randomly applied for an all expenses paid trip to Russia to teach kids at a camp outside of Russia some ropes course games to help them improve there English. (Russia is awesome!!) So, when I sent out emails to all of you guys, one of the people who received it was non other than my Ireland travel bud, Sini!! She said, and I quote;

'hey andaria! good to hear from you!! so you are in russia now? why not take a train to finland and come visit us for a few days before going home (or where ever you're going)?? it would be great fun to see you again and now you're already so close... pleeease concider my suggestion carefully!! and what you said about it being light in there... well, you aint seen nothing yet! we just celebrated the midsummer here and the sun actually didn't go down in 24 hrs. it's wonderful. I'm trying to load as much solar power to my self as possible during our short summer because in the winter time it'll be the opposite; sun shines maybe five days in five months...
everything good for you, i'm hoping to hear more from you and especially waiting for you to inform when to pick you from the Helsinki railway station!

-sini '

So, I was like, okay....I sent her an email and was like 'really? okay!!' But, I didn't hear from her..days passed and I was finishing up my last sight seeing in St. Petersburg and Moscow...still now word....my mind was racing...' do I just go? or do I return home like any ordinary person would? Maybe Sini was just saying that I should come, not really thinking it through, and then she realized what she had done and decided to pretend that I didn't exist...' it was really pretty mad. Then, I started harassing my fellow Russia travelers who were going to be returning to the U.S. soon, also....'what would you do? should I go?'

I bet you are all wondering what I did....ha...oh, wait, you already know...mhhhh...

Well, yeah, I booked a plane ticket from Moscow to Helsinki and decided that whatever happens, happens and I could always go home if need be....so, I figured I would stay in Helsinki a week, tops, and check it out and then, if Sini didn't get back to me, I knew my financial situation would force me to surrender and pack my bags....

I stayed in a hostel, booked it for three nights(60 euros, almost half of all of my remaining money)...met some nice Auzies and enjoyed myself...and then, the most amazing thing happened....I got an email from Sini:

hiii andaria!!! i'm sorry i didn't get to read my mail earlier than today! i hope it's not too late? i jut wish i can trust you being crazy enough to just come here... anyways yes, come and you wouldn't even have to stay in a hostel but at my place.just as long as you would like to! i give you now my cell number so you can contact me in real time and i will also check the msn messenger... my number: +358 xxxx xxxxxx (sorry boys, I had to do that for confidentiality, plus, she has a bf)

-sini

So, that very night, I was hanging out at non other than Molly Malloy's with my new Auzie friends and I decided to give good ol' Sini a call....and she answered!!! Well, you can imagine what happened next.........no!! not that..we just got together and I moved in with her......for a month.....the next blog will tell you how and why I am living with my boyfriend, Jussi. (he is the one in the pictures that is blowing out the candles, yeah, the cute one.)

okay, my fingers are tired from typing so, now you all have to send me something about your lives....I like stories, too!!!! Plus, I am a little homesick!!! it is only fair...meet me halfway here, common' guys!lol
okay, peace,
Andaria

friends, school, Burcin's visit, star-gazing...

2006-09-15T21:22:00.000-07:00

Jessica and Jerry...my little angels

2006-08-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

Aren't they precious, they are even better in person!!!

2006-08-20T22:03:00.000-07:00

Hare Krishna Festival

2006-08-20T21:33:00.000-07:00

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda

Steiner School Pictures

2006-08-17T00:29:00.000-07:00

Steiner School

2006-08-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I just returned from my interview at the Steiner school just outside of Helsinki on the coast in the middle of the woods....Absoluely stunning scenery and architechture!! I think the interview went extremely well. I find out early next week about my acceptance.

I thought I would just outline what a Steiner school is for you as it was explained to me:

It is a method of education based on Rudolf Steiner from Germany, I think during WWII. His schools are actually also called Woldorf Schools after the wealthy owner of a match company supported the finances of the school.

Steiner education integrated three different aspects of the student; Thinking (through discussion based lectures), Feeling (through the arts), and Willingness (through working such as wood-working and gardening.) It is a more holistiic approach that differs from classical education that is centered almost exclusively on the thinking.

The main idea behind this type of education is that the teacher inspires the student to learn for themselves. It has it's roots in Christianity but, over the years, if I understand correctly, it has become more of a Teosophy, meaning, well, I forget. But, there is no real connection to a particular religious practice. As my interviewer and teacher said, the point of this education is to * start the fire inside for individual thinking. * The main question that the schooling tries to answer is *what is a human being?* So, it is a sort of antroposophy, or, human wisdom...

Sounds really interesting to me. I can't wait to find out if I am accepted because I really think it would be a good match! If you would like to check out the website it is http://www.snellman-korkeakoulu.fi/
Though most of it is in Finnish, it also has some English. So, I am gonna learn Finnish really quickly now, because all of the classes, from 9 am to 3 pm are in Finnish!!!!

Okay, gotta run.

2006-08-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

African Cultural Day

2006-08-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

Sailing on the Baltic....with Cuban Rum....

2006-08-06T21:50:00.000-07:00

Helsinki, Finland

2006-07-22T05:00:00.001-07:00

pictures of Russia; a street in Moscow, Red Square, Kremlin, Candy Land....

2006-07-22T04:44:00.001-07:00

When in Finland, do as the Finnish....

2006-07-21T02:23:00.000-07:00

I have been in Helsinki, Finland for the past couple of weeks staying with my friend Sini. It is a really nice city. I am at the immigration center now, trying to get a work permit and a job...hopefully a flat, as well. I am planning to stay here and study at the Helsinki University. When I found out that University is free here, even for foreigners, I couldn't resist. Though the winters are even colder and darker than in Maine, I think all of the activity of the city will make it a bit more smooth. I hear it gets dark around 1 in the afternoon in December and January.
I have been studying Finnish. I can count to ten and I have a couple of phrases down. It is a really beautiful language with lots of rolling r's. My Spanish has made it easier to get the accent.
I haven't been posting pictures because I need to buy a converter and they are pretty expensive. I might get one today though because tomorrow I am going sailing with my other friend, Sara, and her family on the bay of Finland. They have a pretty large sail boat which they have been on for the past couple of weeks exploring Estonia and some nearby islands.
The best part of being in Finland so far has been the saunas. I think saunas originated here. Anyway, let's just say that they get pretty steamy...

Ballet, Circus, Hermitage and some....

2006-07-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

I have been having such a good experience here in St. Petersburg. We have gone to see the Russian Ballet "Swan Lake" by Tchicofsky. It was absolutely delicious. Complete and total eye candy. The ballerinas were so beautiful and graceful and the hall that they performed in was equally impressive. We also went to the Hermitage yesterday. One of the most famous museums in the world. We saw some orinals of Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, Degas and also some Russian artists. My favorites were Monet and Degas. I love impressionism. It was so sureal to see some of these famous original paintings and to be standing inches from them!! I got some great pictures until the camera battery died on me. The museum itself is where Katherine the Great lived and it sure was decadent. Gold and Jade and Marble. The most intricately inlade wooden floors. Absolutely stunning.

Last night we went to a circus. It was a one ring circus typical of Russia. There were clowns and acrobats, elephants, bears, a horse, and such. The tigers stole the show. There were five beautiful and powerful tigers that balanced on large disco balls. The tamer had them rolling around on the balls in syncrony and jumping over each other.... it was very exhilirating to watch. We also stayed up very late last night drinking Vodka at a bar with some locals. John has this wonderful way of connecting with people. He reels them in by making them balloon animals and from there the atmosphere is ripe for conversation. When we were at the Hermatage we were so comfortable on the grass having a picnic of cheese, crackers, apples and dried fruit until a woman guard came up to us and asked us to leave. She was very stern and serious. John pulled out a balloon and made a cute poodle for her and she turned into the most light hearted and giggly girl. It was truly magical to watch the transformation....a technique to promote world peace, perhaps...

It is morning now, about 9:30 and everyone in my flat is still sound asleep. We are going to a place called Peterhoff where there are beautiful foundtains and such. We have to take a hydro-boat, I forget the real name of it. It should prove to be interesting. Then later, at about 11pm we are taking a train back to Moscow. Where we will say goodbye to John and our newfound friend Sasha. Leslie and I are staying at the Maldova Embassy hotel and enjoying Moscow for a couple of days. Then, who knows....

2006-07-04T00:58:00.000-07:00

St. Petersburg

I have just arrived in St. Petersburg this morning. An incredible port city built by none other than Peter the Great. We (John, Leslie, Sasha, and I) took an overnight train from Moscow last night after kissing our students goodbye and indulging in the most decadent feast. One of our campers (Vladamir) invited us to his Babooshka's restaurant in the Maldova Embassy where Putin himself dines. It was out of this world.
We have rented a flat for a few days in St. Petersburg before we return to Moscow. I have a few pictures to show now but, many more to come as we have only just begun our traveling adventure.

Some of my kids and I

Blob tag with Vadim and Natasha!

Simione and Philip showing off there curves!! Oohh la-la...

Tiny Polina

Spider Web

Cathedral under repair

Last night's diner at the Maldova Embassy

Of course I had to try the Caviar...

My accomplices, Leslie and John, toasting to an incredible meal...

We had diner with Putin, a very nice President.

Putin took this picture of all of us together...
Well, thats it for now. There will be more pictures of the city soon!
Love, Andaria

2006-06-24T04:14:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I am in Moscow now with John and Leslie. What a beautiful city. We have been at the camp for the past three days and today is our first day off to venture on our own. We haven't seen much yet but so far it is truly incredible. What an adventure it is to try to understand a completely different language. None of us know Russian so trying to navigate the streets and metro station was pretty challenging...the perfect team building exersize! Everything at the camp has been great. The kids are a lot of fun. I have been working primarily with 7-8 year olds (so cute) and 12-13 year olds(also very sweet). The last couple of days I have led some capture the flag games, they can't seem to get enough of it. Also, John and Leslie are great to work with. They are very fun. I have been learning some Russian but, I have been speaking mostly English at the camp. It has been very hot here as well, aside from the thunder storm that just passed. It also doesn't get dark until 10 or 11. Aparently in St. Petersburg it is 24 hours of light..maybe we will visit it later. I will type more and post some pictures later. Oh, and for the record, it is true what they say about Russian VODKA! Andaria

Budrising in Dublin

2005-08-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

you're filthy!!!

Franz Ferdinand

Budrising concerts

Dublin sunset

Party at my flat

Mom's visit

2005-08-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

I had a great two week visit with my mom. We visited the Aran Islands- famous for the beautifully knit wool sweaters. The Islands are covered with stone walls and rolling hills. Mom and I rented bikes and toured some of the Island. We tented in a field and headed out for a night at one of the local pubs where we enjoyed tradition music and a few pints with four guys from southern Ireland. By the end of the night Jon had my headlamp on as though it was underwear and he went skipping around the pub shining the headlamp all over, it was really quite funny, maybe you had to be there...
We woke up to a nice Irish rain that left our tent nearly submerged in water. It didn't slow mom and I down though. We rented a carriage ride for a couple of hours to an old ruin with Ronan and Silver. The Island was really magical with all of it's history.
We took a tour of the Cliffs of Mohar and the Burren (not on the island anymore). The Burren is a region of Ireland that is very densly covered in limestone. It used to be under the ocean. Because of the concentration of calcium the land is very valuable. Cows grazing there would produce twice as much milk as normal. An acre of land there costs about 80 grand, despite all of the rocks. The cliffs of Mohar a quite stunning. A shear drop to the ocean. Every year a couple of people ( probably tourists) die from falling of the cliffs.
We also visited Connemara. I left Mom out there to discover the region on her own. We visited Kylemore Abbey(the castle in the first sets of pictures). We also traveled a couple hours north of Galway to Sligo to visit the beaches. We had a really long siesta on one of these. I also took a trail ride in some of the most beautiful landscape. It was nice to gallop on the beach. Then back to Galway where Mom departed from. I am on my own again. In the search for a job. I will be here for another 3 weeks and then back to Farmington for school on September 2nd. Hope all is well! Keep in touch. Andaria

2005-08-10T01:36:00.000-07:00

Cliffs of Moher

Ancient tomb

carriage ride with Ronan and Silver on the Aran Islands

Mom in Galway

2005-07-31T02:26:00.000-07:00

a surprise for this adorring little boy.....ouch!

a day at the market

Ciron, Paul and I

Mom's first Guinness! Cheers!

BOUNCY CASTLE!!!!!!

a jockey and his horse

Paul backing a horse- Robert perhaps....

where's the rider

horses speeding by on the track

There he is! In all his glory, my French friend Olivier and his sidekick Malek

another sunny day....

2005-07-27T01:45:00.000-07:00

disk silhouette

feather silhouette

feelin' cheeky getting ready for lady's day at the races

Rebecca with Tin Man

Busker

Me and Casius

swans at the Claddagh

life in Galway

2005-07-25T02:48:00.000-07:00

University 'Quad' in front of where we play Frisbee

statue at the races

Murphy the Irish reporter man at the Galway Races

Roberto!!!!

Good old Doug! Incredible in the enzone (Frisbee again) as well as singing and playing on the streets.

Fire-juggling busker

Cathedral in Galway

My ultimate Frisbee playing, doughnut making friend, Daniel and his beautiful daughter.

Blooming Artichoke Heart

friends in Galway

2005-07-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

busquers everywhere

2005-07-22T10:46:00.000-07:00

So, not too much is new here. I've had the last few days off so I have just been relaxing and playing Frisbee. You could spend an entire day being entertained by the busquers on the main street. There are some really good shows too...comedians, majicians, pupetters, musicians, acrobats (who juggle knives while holding there girlfriend on their sholders while hula hooping...!!!) Unicyclists and fire throwers and djembe players, didgeridooers and flute players...really some excellent music. SO thats what I have been doing..nothing to productive. I have the flat to myself this weekend because my flatmates have rented a car and driven all around Ireland. Have to work basically every day for the next week for the race week so I have to rest up...My bestest friend just walked in...JAMIE!!! Yeay! Gotta go!
Over and out!

more of Connemara

2005-07-21T03:20:00.000-07:00

galway races next week!

2005-07-20T04:37:00.000-07:00

Hey! Things are good here in the bustling porttown of Galway. I have been working and playing. The restaurant work is getting a little bit better...the chef's have a little more respect for me after a few really busy days without any mess-ups. The sun has been shining an unusual amount here...which I have been enjoying on the beach. Frisbee has been so much fun. I have also been looking for Frisbee tournaments throughout Europe, like Italy or Latvia...might have to register for a couple to see how the Europeans play. Next week the Galway horse races begin and Galway becomes a complete zoo (more than it already is). I am planning to go to the races on Lady's day when all the women dress to the max with fancy hats and all. The best dressed wins 500 Euro!!! My flatmate- David- and I have been playing the didgeridoo and flute together..we are playing in the art gallery where he works in a couple of hours...it sounds so cool. THe pictures are of me in Connemara with two friends - Sini and Sarah- from Finland...I am going to go sailing with them in Finland I hope.
Oh, my mom is comming to visit me on thursday as well...I look forward to taking her out to the pubs....he eh...

pictures....

2005-07-20T02:14:00.000-07:00

Hello

2005-07-20T02:05:00.000-07:00

New Flatmates!

2005-07-13T00:28:00.000-07:00

More Pictures to Come!!!

I decided to live with a friend of mine and his girlfriend. They offered me a much better deal and I can stay until the 28th of July...so almost after the galway horse races which end on the 31st. They are really sweet. I met David at a local art gallery that I always walked past to get to my cousins apartment. He is from England and Jo, his girlfriend is from New Zealand. Jo works as cabin crew on a local airline. They are both about 27 and they feel like my surogate parents. It is nice to finally have a place that I can come and go as I please...I have the keys so no waiting outside the door for someone to get home.
It has been so sunny here. Yesterday was so hot me and a bunch of friends went down to salthill and went swimming and Frisbeeing at the beach. And then, of course, we went out for a pint (or 2).

Sunny Day!

2005-07-12T03:41:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I worked from 5 to 130 am...what a night. It is a sunny day here! Absolutely beautiful. I also found a beautiful flat for the next two weeks. I will have to find something for the galway races week. I am going to be living with a Polish couple. I like Polish people. There are a lot of Polish here because they just got accepted into the European Union and their economy isn't that great. So they all come here to find work. I have about 10 Polish friends here. Oh the address that I gave for the galway disc is wrong. It is actually http://galwaydisc100.blogspot.com check it out! So I have to go move into the new place. Until later.

I have a flat! Finally!

2005-07-12T03:33:00.000-07:00

galway ultimate

2005-07-11T03:29:00.000-07:00

also check out this new blog I made for the Galway Ultimate team!
http://galwaydisc100.com

More pictures

2005-07-11T02:57:00.000-07:00

pictures

2005-07-11T02:51:00.000-07:00

more on Galway

2005-07-11T01:54:00.000-07:00

hey!
So this French Chef is really quite a character...I need some suggestions for dealing with him. He is so mean and he sits on a very high horse. Absolutely every time you see him he has something to yell at you for. I could do everything 'right' and it would be all wrong and he is sure to let you know. He made the other two girls cry yesterday. I just yell back at him but I don't think that really helps anything except maybe he respects me more...but he doesn't really show it. So I think I will try different techniques with him. Like tonight I might just be all apathetic. And another day I will just laugh at him...I don't know yesterday I just wanted to tell him that I quit. I even had a dream that I did last night. But the money is good and so I think I will just stick with it.
Other than that things are good. The Galway Arts Festival starts today so it will be very busy. I work at 5pm today so I will look for somewhere to live today. I want to know how everyone is doing...please e-mail me...I will also be sending pictures soon too so keep checking this site if you want to see Ireland.
Okay, bye. andaria

Ireland

2005-07-05T01:23:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

So this is my blog....huh, I guess that makes me a blogger....cool.

I got a job waitressing at a really Fancy French Restaurant Last night.. The whole horse guiding thing fell through, basically they just wanted free labor for the weekend.... I feel so used! Oh well, I got to gallop a beautiful Palamino on the beach so it wasn't a total loss.
Well, I was feeling kindof blue walking down the main street of Galway after telling the horse exploiting lady off and I decided to check into this restaurant where I had dropped off a resume and the French Chef was like
'Wee' (phonetic)
and I was like ' okay'
and he told me to buy a white shirt for him and one for me and return as soon as I could. So that is what I did and I worked until 12 midnight....cool huh? I guess he tends to yell at the waitresses and the turn over rate is one a day...so this just might be my opportunity to say ' you can't fire me...I quit!' I decided that the fact that he is a Frech chef adds to the drama... I won't say that of course until a few weeks after I have banked up some money...if that is even possible here. Anyway, I decided to move out of the appartment where my 3rd cousins have been so hospitable to me and find my own flat....that is the task for today...and of course another game of Ultimate later...and maybe a couple of pints to follow..
It is 930 am here so I guess you are all sleeping soundly in your little beds, or maybe still celebrating the 4th of July.....
Peace out
Love,
Andaria