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

One month!

As you can see from the right (counter) there's only one month until my departure to Russia! My flight will leave 23rd of August 9.25 am. It's a straight flight and I think it will go to Moscow or somewhere near it because I will have my departure/first orientation camp in Russia. It will last three days. I'm so looking forward meeting all the other exchange students coming to Russia all around the world and of course seeing Russia and my host family in Krasnodar. I will come back 28.6.2014. These weeks will go by fast and I'm already so excited!!

Love
Nella

Summer before my departure

This hasn't felt much like a summer holiday because I have been working all summer.. But I will get a lot of money what I need making this dream come true and that I would have some money to use in Russia too :) Anyway I have done something besides working too:

-I spend a lovely Mid summer with my relatives in my grandparents' summer cottage in the coast in a fantastic weather. It was really relaxing. What else can a girl hope for :) I have A LOT of pictures so there's no need to write what you can see in the pics.

-I ran half a marathon! (I still can't believe I made it)

(This was from the beginning. In the end I didn't look that peaceful :D )

-I have met my friends quite much <3 and I visited an amusement park called Linnanmäki in Helsinki with two of my best friends.

I love you my friend <3

+ I have been reading material got from AFS and filled my visa application and some other forms. As I read long documents telling about Russia and AFS's practises and rules in Russia I got really excited! I also read other exchange student's (who are leaving earlier than me) blogs and I felt like my departure is too very close! I felt so excited yesterday evening that I almost couldn't sleep last night at all :D 

  I can't wait to get to Russia but at the same time I feel stressed about the fact that there are only few more weeks until my departure! I have been thinking all along that 'there's still plenty of time until I go' but now I truly realized that these weeks will fly away before I even notice. I have been sending e-mails with my host mom in Russian which has been very interesting :)

  So this is what has happened in my life in this summer so far.

Love

Nella