Monday, September 6, 2010

To Finland







So after many days of packing and unpacking, I finally made it to the airport and my destination. I woke up at 3:30 in the morning to catch my flight. Everything was going good. My passport was in my hand. I had my resident permit newly placed in it. All of my documents were copied so that I had a copy and my mom had a copy so if anything should happen I would have proof of citizenship. My acceptance letter was filed away in my book bag for customs along with my laptop for the plane.

Pretty soon I was in New York and wondering "why am I here?" Well I said to myself, "It's too late to turn back now." When it was time to leave I basically wanted to cry my way across the ocean. I literally had this guy laying on top of me the whole way to Finland and everyone was acting very cold and pushy. Pretty soon I found that was just normal Finnish behavior toward strangers. The whole trip was basically very awkward.

When I made it to Oulu, I was sooooo tttttiiiiiireeeeeed that I just wanted to sit in baggage claim and sleep. But I found the illustrious bus 19 that I was suppose to ride to my apartment just sitting there. However getting on the bus was a different matter. I had two very heavy duffel bags and a driver who didn't speak any English. Let's just say it was a miracle that I got on the bus with my bags and a receipt in my hand. My ability to call people at that moment wasn't working so I had to facebook my kummi student (student tutor (godmother) or basically student guide), Anne, by cell in order to tell her I was coming. I was just sitting anxiously, looking at the driver for some sort of signal, looking out the window for a glimpse of Anne, looking at the driver and then I saw her. I waved to make sure I was looking at the right person and she sort of waved back smiling. I got up fast and said "Sir. Sir. Sir! Stop the bus. I am getting off." The driver looked at me like I was crazy and the other people on the bus were smirking but I didn't care. I just wanted to find my room, unpack my things and just fall to sleep. But of course that wasn't going to happen to me.

First I had to power up my phone since it was dying and then unpack. I was paused due to me blowing the fuse with the adapter I used for my phone. One minute I was happy and sleepy, then the next mad and frustrated. I ended up with no electricity for awhile and pretty soon I found out I had not internet until I signed my lease. To say the lease I was pretty much sadden at my arrival.

My name is Nichole Fraser. Business Administration student at UNCG. Current cry baby and I am signing off.