Russia is not a cold country

A lot has happened during these last days. Yes, I'm in Russia now! From Friday to Monday we had an orientation camp near Moscow. I flew to Moscow together with Tiina, another Finnish girl who also came to Finland for a year. I understood we were the first ones to arrive. We arrived to Moscow airport mid day. There were volunteers who were waiting for us. After that we waited couple hours in the airport for another girl and then drove to our camping site. It was Friday afternoon and the traffic was horrible. The journey took really long. I have to say that traffic, especially in Moscow, is really crazy.
  Saturday and Sunday we had a lot of activities. There were lots of other exchange students from all over the world and Russian volunteers. Everybody was really really nice and we had an awesome time there. Especially all the volunteers are great and very caring. On Monday I flew to Krasnodar. We were lucky because we had a flight - many students travelled by train to their host cities and it can take really long. My host mom and dad picked me up from the airport. The whole family is very nice. I could not have wished for a better family! My mom speaks little Finnish and my dad little English. I would say it's just perfect for me: We speak in Russian but if I don't understand they help me with Finnish or English. They are really patient and supportive when it comes to my Russian.
  Today I was at one school (with will not be my school)  to study Russian. There were the students who are staying in Krasnodar and one AFS volunteer who teaches us Russian language. It takes really long for me (about 2 hours I think) to get to the school. I went there with my host brother. We first we walked then took this water taxi to get over the Kuban river then walked and after that took this 'Russian little bus' and then walked again to get to that school. Officially school in Russia starts the 1st of September but now we foreigners are having this intensive Russian language course.
  At home I will have my own room but at the moment my family is renovating the house and the upstairs is not ready yet. The house is really nice. It doesn't look very attractive outside but is very nice indoors. And really big I think.
  As for the weather. When we arrived to Moscow it was really hot. Weekend was a bit rainy so it wasn't as hot but when we arrived to Krasnodar (about 6 pm.) it was 30 degrees! So anyone who thinks Russia is coldest country in the world - I don't agree!
  I am quite tired because of the hot weather and all the new things I think. I is really exhausting to try to understand and speak Russian all the time. I like it (like I like the weather) but it's hard for me because I haven't got used to that (yet ;) ).
  Now I will go because I  really don't want to spend much time on the computer. So I didn't bother to re-read this and I'm sorry for all the mistakes. I just thought I had to write something because I think everyone are really interested (especially my parents) :)

Love
Nella

Surprise!

Yes, I can't believe I'll leave tomorrow morning. I have been packing and I finally finished.. with 3 kilos too much luggage. I have planned everything so carefully so I don't know what I should leave behind! :s I'm so stressed at the moment.

But I had a fantastic surprise yesterday! My friend ask me to come swimming with her and of course I went. We ended up to a summer cottage where were more my friends. They had rented the cottage and decorated it with balloons and candles and made good food and all kind of stuff for me! They also had made this book for me about our years together and put pictures there. I just felt and still feel speechless. I don't know what to say.. except thank you<3 How can I have such a wonderful friends :) The fact that you're leaving away for such a long time makes you realize that there are so many lovely and important people around you. You really learn to appreciate relationships.
  We ate great food, went rowing with this small boat in there, enjoyed sauna and swimming! We had a blast! It was just a perfect moment of relaxation between all this stress. I just want to say thank you especially for my friends but also for all the people who have been there for me. I could never forget you. I'm sure a year will go by fast and I will be back. I really haven't said any goodbyes.. I just prefer 'see you' because it doesn't make me so sad :) Today I'll go to school to see my friends for the last time. I hope I won't start to cry.

They had written 'Have a good journey!" in Russian.

I didn't have my camera with me but I tried to take some photos with my phone..

Love

Nella

P.s I was thinking about writing this in Finnish but I haven't wrote here Finnish.. yet :D In Russia it would be so much easier for me to express my feeling in Finnish. So maybe I will write in Finnish.. maybe in English

3 nights

I realized that there are only 3 nights until the departure! I will sleep only three nights at home anymore.. It sounds so unreal. Two whole days to do what needs to be done before my year will begin O.o I still don't understand this is actually happening now. I haven't cried yet. Maybe I realize this is true when I get to the airport and then I might start to cry.. It remains to be seen :)

And what needs to be done..is packing. It is so hard for me! I always take too much stuff with me where ever I go but now I can't. I have already started packing because I need to plan carefully what to pack and I want to make sure I remember to take everything necessary with me. I would prefer not to think about it but I have to :D I can take 23 kg plus 8 kg hand baggage (Last time I thought it was different but these are the right amounts I think). That's really not much for a year! I just have to decide what to take and what I will buy in Russia.

Love

Nella

Baking with my other friend :D

I have much spare time now in my hands before my departure so I have time to do the things I love - baking and being with my friends. This time me and my best friend Essi made profiteroles (tuulihatut) with two fillings. It turned out great!

Sweet filling - raspberries, whipped cream, and quark

Savory filling - ham, cream cheese, cream and fresh basilica

Love

Nella

P.s And here's the Finnish recipe online: http://www.yhteishyva.fi/ruoka-ja-reseptit/reseptit/tuulihatut/01236 (but we didn't make those fillings)

Baking with my friend

This has nothing to do with my exchange but as I have said I like baking and cooking :) So my friend Amanda visited my place and she brought chocolate, ice cream and blueberries with her and this is what we end up. It tasted even better that it looks ;)

Mud cake

 Love
Nella

P.s Here you can find the recipe if you're interested http://www.maku.fi/resepti/mutakakku#axzz2bIRNaFhr It's in Finnish thought

Travel plan information

There is a lot of paper work that needs to be done for an exchange! Today I got my more specific travel plan information and the departure seems a bit more real at the moment. My flight to Moscow will leave from Helsinki-Vantaa airport on the 23rd of August (only 18 days!) 9.25 and it will be in Moscow 12.05. I have to be at the airport 7.30. Maybe I'll take a bus from Turku to Helsinki. I will have an orientation near Moscow and after that I will probably fly to Krasnodar. I will get the info about that flight later.

  Packing will be a huge problem for me. I can take 20 kg + 8 kg packages with me (because on my later flight to Krasnodar). I have no idea how I'm ever going to decide what to take and what not.. All in all at the moment I couldn't be happier with my organization (AFS)! It informs me properly all the things needed to be done and they are always willing to help me if I have any problems. So I can honestly recommend AFS to everyone :)
  I think I've said this a million times but I'm so excited but at the same time a bit sad because I have to leave everything here in Finland like my family, friends, hobbies, school.. Even thought I have mixed feelings I am so happy I'm actually doing this exchange. As it says in my headline - this will be once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Anyway I'm trying to enjoy my last weeks in Finland and I want to spend much time with the people close to me here.

I had wonderful time with my friend, thank you dear<3

Love

Nella

Holiday!

I have finally started my holiday (since last Wednesday)! On the other hand time is going way too fast but then again I'm not sure how I'm going to spend these last weeks in Finland. I'm really confused at the moment and don't know what I'm thinking about this whole exchange thing right now.

Good bye early mornings and biking to work

I made this cake to celebrate my last day at work. The other employees ate almost the whole cake! (There were two working besides me) This is what was left in the evening :D 

First summer holiday morning with my best friend <3