Three days to the final countdown

My heart feels heavy about this leaving business.

At one moment, it feels perfectly clear that the best way to say goodbyes is to say nothing much at all but to try and be cheerful, and another I regret not expressing my thoughts in a more direct manner, truly putting things to words. I found myself feeling comfortable with a small group of people, even trying to learn how one makes use of pyrotechnics with cocoa powder and a small blow torch (never mind I failed 100%). Bunch of good memories gained from these occasions. I will miss them.

Our dinner, Spanish dish made from eggs and potatoes. And the blow torch.

I've certain list of things and places I want to do and visit again before I leave for home. Some of it I need to do alone, such as a forest trip, but last few days I've tried to interact with people as much as possible; today another picnic and trip to the mall for last minute bargain hunt. I'm fairly sure my suitcase weighs around 17 kg, so so far I've only gained 2 kg worth of matter. I have no need for much, but the Scrooge in me compels me to sniff out opportunities to save money.

View from the balcony at evening. Summer is here.

Seventeen days until I'm back home!

For the last two weeks I've been flabbergasted about the velocity in which the weeks have seemingly passed. I just came here, I now know my way around the town without those uneasy feelings so familiar to me from the public transport nightmares I used to have. I know that I need to place my groceries on the left side of the cashier so that they may scan my stuff to the right side and I may calmly count the coins meanwhile and not panic when the currency just is too hard to grasp.

The final exam exams have started preying among us, this week I survived two - of which one is a certain pass - but the coming week requires me to pass five exams. I had grown so used to the relaxed schedule that mere thought raises cold sweat to my brow. Speaking of which, I got me an entirely new skin design to brighten the arm! It's a manta ray, jape at my nickname "ruusku" which vaguely translates to a sort of specimen of rausku (manta ray in Finnish). Additional colour was achieved by groups of few purplish flowers.

Another angle of the freshly painted flesh.

Yesterday I mainly slept; the day wore long on Friday. The original aim of our little group was to find a cozy, dark park at night to watch the shooting star phenomenon while chilling. Well, I led us to a great location in terms of darkness (Normafa), but we were overcome by persistent clouds, so the only actual sights we saw were in total one (1) satellite and a handful of planes (one of which was mistaken as a shooting star at first sight). Not a bad occasion after all, still, some guitar music was provided and we found a kiddy slide quite nearby. Reminded me a lot of some nights back at home, just the darkness was much more prominent there in the outskirts of the city - and we were not the only ones horsing around in the kid's park, there was other people just sitting there a bit further away, barely recognizable in the dark. Maybe we occupied just the spots they wished to play in.

Once we had our share of the gleeful exercise, we walked back to our camp site. A member of the bunch suddenly said that he had shut his backpack but his sandwich had gone missing anyway, at which point we were mainly amused - no phones nor wallets had been taken from the location while we were away. The hilarious quickly turned to horror on my part, when he went and retrieved torn pieces of the sandwich wrappers approximately fifteen meters from our site. We stood there a while and reasoned that it must have had been a small animal. Yes. It must have had been something like that... perfect moment to start heading back home. We waited until the bus came to pick us up, but another fellow forgot their guitar at the bus stop, so we all jumped out and killed time until the next bus by walking the hills. Somewhere around two in the morning. But I met a cat on the way, so the walk was truly a significant part of the experience.

The great outdoors, indeed

Against my better self, I decided to add to this blog instead of accomplishing anything that has to do with actual responsibilities. I thought about topics related to my exchange that have really given me insight into new things, and shining winner on that list is finding hiking. And in the full depth, hiking alone. Initially I went with the music, but second time I went without... and regained much more in calm and relaxation. The silence of no talk, no people loads my batteries better than anything I've ever run across before.

Just when the first spring flowers had sprung from the earth.

On the latest hike, I decided to walk myself to a two separate lookouts. I found the rise quite deep, 300 meters in total - but I stopped often enough to just sit down and munch on good food. I had to also take a selfie with this right angle formation of nature.

I waited until the cogwheel train showed up and waved at the driver before passing over to the forest.

The other one, Káan Károlyi lookout. Vertical panorama, thing was tall.

Imre kíláto. Better to stay on the ground, wind swept my sunglasses away at the top.

Hills I have trampled over so far (accompanied or by myself) are Mátyáshegy (missed the lookout), Hármashatárhegy, Hárshegy (two lookouts), Jánoshegy and the common area of Budakeszierdö. There's so many routes to cover! I will miss this greenery once I go back home.

Song of the day: Bad Sun - The Bravery

Gaahhh

Yes, it seems I wasn't able to keep writing as often as I wished - mostly for the reason that so many things have taken place so far.

My favourites: the spring came around with full force and brought weather allowing for t-shirts, I saw the blooming flowers both in the hills and in the city, I found that hiking is an awesome thing to do, we broke out of the Matrix with a little group of buddies and many have come to visit me here. If I believed in any higher power I would use the expression "feel blessed". As of now, I'm counting myself lucky.

Successful room escape: check.

This has been more than a month now; we took time to first figure out how to access the venue and wandered in empty staircases for minutes - almost as if the game already started from the street level. They say that the concept is Hungarian - so even if I still haven't had any Hungarian foods, I'm scoring at least on some check lists.

Chilling at Mascka.

On one occasion, we conquered Hármashatárhegy despite the grey skies and rest of the time my visitor pointed out all the nice vegan/vegetarian dining joints - one of them surprisingly on my district - and I fell instantly in love with Macska. Who would not want to climb a wooden ladder upstairs where one could comfortably set themselves around low tables and take the shoes off?

My new favourite: cherry sider.

I also found out that cherry sider is actually pretty nice; it tastes more like a lemonade and less like an alcoholic beverage. I've only been considerably intoxicated once during my stay here and it led me to believe that the local pálinka should be left for professionals; it was not comparable to any clear spirits I have had before.

Part of Szimpla Kert.

One of my friends brought me Seiska and chocolate, which I warmly held in high honor; the fresh breath of bullshit will never be so sorely missed again. We had time to circle around few finer establishments (Szimpla and Vittula) and eat out together. All roads eventually lead to Dang Muoi! I even took my relatives there, when they popped by last weekend. I may or may not sort more photographic evidence to present occasions in this blog post, for now this will do to get me to the habit again.

Scroll days like one of those skins

I have hit the mark; it's all about daily routines now with the sprinkling shiny bits of new places to see, new nuances to catch and broadening my shades of happiness of living somewhere else.

I've pondered upon listing down things that have caught my attention during my ten-storey lifestyle. Because, here I witness people stepping into the trams with their eyes firmly fixed on a leaves of a book in their hands; I have been complimented by a friendly stranger who once visited Finland and praised my 'rock style', that gentle old lady, I've learned that Hungarians are everywhere in the neighboring countries as well because they used to cover a plenty more land, such rich history, and down at the door there's always a guard or two with whom I exchange smiles and szia's before stepping in or out. I've noticed the homeless and the poor sleeping at the quiet spots on the metro stations, beggars and signs and plethora of parks soon turning to the brightest green and my inability to remember the direction my Google Maps app points me to go in order to catch the bus back home, and how sunshine burns through the thick winter coat when I sit in the park and read a book.

When I went to Vienna, I immediately thought of the word "polished". After my home streets and the romantic splendor of ragged meeting the sophisticated, it's just felt like an item of smooth surface. Nevertheless, I was charmed with the details and followed a day in the tracks of my partner, who used to live and work there in 2011. Special happy moments occurred when I met the Sphynx at the Belvedere; I had an old friend from my exchange in New Zealand to show me places and discuss how the time has flied - and it has, we last saw each other 2007. I'll never forget New Zealand either, but a word for it in my memory is a combination of mountainy green and cold mornings. Oh Aotearoa.

YAAY!

Garden, upper Belvedere.

Next week I'm going back home for a few days, initially intending to surprise my partner, but since one of the cats is having eye issues I decided to spill the beans to make both of our lives a bit easier that moment. Before that, a dear friend of mine will hit the town and we'll have time to catch up on each others lives. Yes, summer, I'm ready!

Buzz

Bit of a break in writing! Many agreements have been made, my spring is filling with delightful visitors and even my partner might pop in for a spell.

My relationship with Margit Sziget is deepening; I decided I'll have running goals to achieve, so I get to improve the performance of my paper-bag lungs and see how the summer transforms the landscape. The running track has white markings for each kilometer; so far I've got it covered in forty minutes - there is definitely room to improve.

Sun, be my best friend.

Today I overcame my greatest obstacle in cooking: laziness. That moment shone upon me when my eye attached itself to a section in the isle where vegetarian options were sold (THEY HAVE THAT?!), and, furthermore, to a package of paprika-infused tofu. Once my roomie told me how to operate the rice, I grilled the tofu with spices and veggies and became a very happy cook indeed. Resulting dish was delicious. And after last week's pizza Sunday, I'm confident I'll knead my way through a good pizza base. I learned you can pre-bake the base with the sauce and mozzarella slices which is pretty damn tasty.

Pre-grilled cubes. I used to hate tofu for years, strange it's okay now.

I went to the Great Market Hall today, which is a real experience in itself. Finally I was concentrated enough to bring home a kilo of strawberries. Next time I'll try the fried dough!

Song of the Day: J. Karjalainen - On kaikki niin kuin ennenkin

Third week slams the Monday

I've tasted Vietnamese food before, since one of my flatmates and I go some way back, and once upon a time she allowed me to slice the squeaking  mushrooms fated for veggie spring rolls. Last Friday we took the claustrophobic's nightmare (public transport; tram) to the restaurant that was able to deal me a huge meal I was unable to finish; does not happen often. I never leave food.

Chicken + veggies = great!

This brings me to the painful realization I might never go back to vegetarianism, especially while I'm here - regardless of the saddening facts and customs behind the production of meat, dairy and eggs. It's almost as if I'm on a leave from a certain mindset I set to myself years ago; determined to jump where the hedge is at it's lowest. So far I'm able to live with it and enjoy the paprika salami.

Other highlights at the still rather chaotic situation with the courses (got stuff from welding to sociology, huh?) have been playing cards with a small group of other students and getting a new, accidental haircut. I get to know the Pest side a little better every day; pieces of history and street names and pronunciation. I've just finished reading Magda Szabó's book The Door, and hair at the back of my neck still stands on end.

Song of the day: The Faint - Southern Belles in London Sing

With sugar on side

Rain came back to this city yesterday, when some of us had to commute to a campus further away at the Buda side. I was the only one with rubber boots, but the fact kept me no longer comfortable once the relentless droplets permeated my jacket. Wet-dog feeling all day; Chinese buffet we had visited once before delivered delicious food again - with a slice of steel hidden in the attitude. Around the evening, I still managed a quick trip to play billiard at Amigo, which felt both friendly and familiar from the moment I set a shoe inside, before I had to scurry back home. There seems to be a technique to opening our gate after 10 o'clock, but since I failed once before I'm not taking any risks until I master the secret art.

Today consisted of commuting and courses postponed without our knowledge; at least the decent coffee and lunch (pita-gyros, I recall) set a few happy notes to the ever-present tune of looming failure. On our way home from the class that wasn't there, we failed to even exit the building gracefully. But lo and behold! The last class of the day was actually held and I felt happy about the nature of problem-solving that seems to be involved with the database planning.

Song of the day: Ratatat - Montanita

Sometimes high school comes back to me

Whew. Last few days have been bit of a hectic run; for me the school started today and the idea is to try out the courses and figure what to keep in the schedule. Sociology is definitely a subject I last had when I was a teenager, but it felt interesting to delve into humane subjects for a change. Two days back I spent some quality time with self discovering radio channel 103.9 and Margit Sziget. I'm off to run there as soon as the weather warms a bit; the concept of an island packed a running track with scenery and a water park and a rose garden and some historical ruins... Sold.

Ruins.

I love you, tree.

I got flashbacks yesterday from Ressun Aikuislukio when I needed to line up among strangers to shed some light on the mysterious circumstances obscuring my course choices. Kafkaesque, I'd say - time just kept stretching over me in a suffocating fashion and I racked my brain in vain to start conversations. Every time I go abroad thinking that I'm one fabulous lion in spirit, naturally talkative, just to be reminded I'm all sheep and no bark. Still, with perseverance everything can be turned around - my goals lie within socializing at least to the extent I see other people daily. Other goals, such as seeing and doing a lot of stuff, I'm sure I'll reach eventually.

I need to stop offering crumpled documents

Today's ordeal was a sightseeing trip to Buda Castle area, where we pretty quickly lost all the other fledglings and walked slowly in circles in search of relief. I'm putting it down on my books as a good trip.

I'll never get over the fact that we, people of the Dark North, will never have this depth in history; such layers upon layers and stories and countless of shingles. But - on the other front of my sightseeing goals are local curiosities. One of my classmates at the homeland hinted that this place is worth visiting - my inner immature teenager is giggling.

Here comes, I'm finally uploading some proper (ish) picture material into this blog! 

Panorama mode in my Samsung Galaxy S III is the only one that really makes me think pics turn out just fine.

Monument horsie facing the Danube bank (photographer facing the building).

Songs of the day: the whole Peltisydän album (I'm still partial to Maj Karma after all these years).

Settling of the dust

Day five; after one chaotic trip to the apparent Chinatown quarter of the city and Welcome day later, I'm richer in knowledge and determined to look out the directions myself. As always, it was nerve-wrecking to meet new people and survive the icebreaker game (oh, shudder) but it was relatively quickly over and we took the adventure of finding a Vietnamese shop with another Erasmus exchangee.

It was a great gathering yesterday that took place, and I started to feel a bit more comfortable after the second beer. I did enjoy the venue; ruin pubs are definitely something Finnish officials would frown upon and slam the places down with a sheer weight of bureaucratic measurements - glad to have more to experiences here in Budapest. I did exchange pieces of conversation with many people that night, after a frantic run for nearest tobacco shop to indulge in vices.

Two days back I wandered about in this old, great cemetery - I could spend days in wonder in any of the roads that stretched over the quiet landscape. I did not take any pictures that time, but I'll be visiting the place again in the near future.

Slowly waking up. The view helps.

That ecstatic blur of buildings you've never seen before

 Like she promised, mother turned up on time (3 am) and I had all the time I needed to perform check-in and baggage drop. Due to my recurring nightmares of missing transport vehicles in places vaguely known to me, I have a great need for being in time (and if by any means possible, greatly ahead of time).

I had sufferable substitute of sleep on plane through Helsinki-Vantaa to Copenhagen and from there to Budapest; but even my zombie state of no sleep and crooked neck could not keep me from feeling that warm welcome of never being in that exact spot before. Through the effective and extensive public transport to our new apartment, and from the new apartment to closest McDonald's (hey, nagging hunger asks no questions) I walked, in awe. I insisted we take the stairs once we left the apartment, and the whole visible concrete on walls spiced with myriad of plants in the window sills running next to stairs and plethora of different types of doors on the way out... ahh. All the way through ten store building.

Today I plan to pick up few essentials such as a reading lamp and hangers for my clothes. I've been out to balcony twice: the height still gets to me but I must say it adds to my delight of being abroad. It's 9.22 in the morning here, and since I'm yet to accustom to the local tap water I boiled sparkling water for my instant coffee. Works.

Four days to frantically check what I forgot

My flight leaves 7 am from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport. So far I've told it to my mom 126 times this and previous month to make sure she truly shows up 3.30 am at my home street. We have a notorious history of miscommunication; everything is better said thrice among my little tribe.

I may finally flood my last minute thoughts on this piece of white box as the other cat, the special one, finally plopped out of my lap. Softly, just like a that: she's really special. Her big little sister Madde has been casting some A-level judgement down from her fortress all the while, but now she can nap again.

What I'm currently feeling with the force of thundering typhoon (Thanks Capt. Haddock) is guilt. The special cat needs treatment for her conjunctivitis and I only have four days to administer the meds myself, last three days of the given duration my partner has to juggle work, two cats, their litter cleaning, feeding and other one's 4-times-a-day eye drop treatment. I'm a shit cat mother.

I myself got diagnosed for a case of overactive thyroids, which means I need to pack 4,5 months worth of meds with me. This Grave's disease is not even worth mentioning wasn't it for the fact that I need to organize blood tests to define the correct dosage... each month. Out of Finland. Oh blergh. They've taken so many samples of blood out of me last two weeks I'm starting to suspect someone is short of my blood type.

Feigning defeat (There'll be Fazer)

Yes, I'm going abroad again. This time it will be approximately four and a half months in the heart of Europe by some standards - destination Budapest. I start this blog for two reasons: to improve my casual English and to record the events of my stay which I hope there will be plenty of.

What I think the main difference between me and other wanderlusters is:

I wish to always stay in the same safe haven for the whole duration of months and relish the phase of waking up every morning to drink coffee before departing to duty. In other words; there is something about routines abroad that make me tick in a happy fashion. To wake up in a friendly, new city, but to wake up and know exactly what the instant coffee will taste like in the next fifteen minutes. Conservative approach to living somewhere else, if you must. But seriously, few things make one as happy as soapy coffee in a place you've inhabited just for few months.

I take this leap at some cost, since I need to leave my little family behind; my partner and my beloved felines. He's the person I've spent 18,46% of my life with since I lost the umbilical cord. Good thing is, I know I have a home to return to. Bad thing is, months tend to be longer for those who wait.

Like the heading suggests, I started making important decisions. Inevitable decisions. When I first went abroad, I loaded my suitcase with Finnish chocolate to give as a gift for my host family (I was seventeen). What actually took place was certain exchangee eating all the delicious pieces of confectionery over the course of two weeks. Last ten months I suffered.

Song of the day: Humpty Dumpty Love Song.