When you ask a successful blogger, or someone who is well traveled, what the best thing about what they do is, they'll almost always tell you this: people they've met on the way. Well, I'm not a successful blogger, nor someone who is paid to travel (I wish!!), but I am an international student. You'll see the connection in a sec. I have had this wonderful opportunity to live and study in three European countries, to attend lectures by amazing teachers, try different lifestyles and foods (let's not forget foodies, right?). But twenty years along the road, do you think I will remember what subjects I had in school? I don't think so. I will remember, though, people I met and stories they shared about their distant or not so distant homes.

Instagram Spring

It's been a while, again. This semester is actually much more demanding than the previous one - which is good! I've been reading a lot and really enjoying some of my classes. Before I started my master's I had a vague idea about what I wanted to do in the future. But now I feel even more lost, because every week I'm discovering new amazing stuff that can be done in linguistics, and eventually I would have to choose what to do for my thesis, not to mention PhD if I eventually decide I want to pursue one. (That's a really tough decision to make and I keep delaying it, even though it's high time I did it...) Not to mention the fact that there are some really inspiring people teaching us here at the University of Potsdam, and they make even the disciplines I was never much into look waaaay more interesting that I ever thought they could be!

Anyway, the beginning of the semester was a bit more relaxed, so I had the chance to travel a lot. It was hectic, but very exciting and so much fun! Looking at these Instagram photos makes me want to go back to all the marvellous places I had the chance to visit. I'm one lucky girl, I must admit. :)

Paris, Day 2: To the Eiffel

You could read about my Eiffel Tower obsession in the previous Paris post. Milan told us that the Tower is one of the few things Parisians hate about their city - because it doesn't fit in it. But for me, and I'm sure for many other people outside of Paris and France, it's the most important sight, the symbol of the city - for me the Tower equals Paris. And that's why I wanted to see it so desperately, and that's why I wanted to get on top of it, and I was ready to wait as long and pay as much as it takes.

Loving The World Is Easy

Loving the world is easy when you pack for Paris two days after you unpacked after Brussels.

I tried to sound normal everytime I would tell someone I was going to Paris, but I couldn't - I would just burst into squeaky voice by the end of the sentence. The first two cities I wanted to see since I was a kid were London and Paris. I got lucky with London - it was my first big travel abroad, at the age of 14. London was my favorite city in the whole wide world until I visited Shanghai in 2012 - now I'm not sure, the two of them are on top, maybe sharing the first place? But Paris never seemed to fit my plans. Or budget. But that was something I've always known for sure: one day, I'm gonna visit Paris. I don't know when, with whom, or why (but do you really need a reason anyway?!). I only know I will do it.

A Town or a Fairy Tale?

If you have, like all the other people in the world except me, seen the movie In Bruges, then you probably know a lot about the town - or at least what it looks like. I didn't know anything - I heard that it's lovely and worth visiting, and I knew it was close enough to Brussels, so that's why I suggested my friends we could go there. On our first morning in Belgium we went straight to the train station and bought tickets to Bruges. A day's trip is enough to see the town and its beauty, all on foot. It really is wonderful! Probably the cutest and cosiest town I have ever been to. And we were lucky to have a great weather too!

Together in Brussels

You know the feeling of going out on a Saturday night with your best friends? You know what a good time you have together? You know how good it feels to give a call to your bestie and meet her or him for a coffee an hour later in your favorite café, where you know the menu by heart, know what should be avoided and what the best cake is to eat with your Double Dutch or Caramel Mocha? You know that expression he or she makes when you admit that you couldn't resist texting that guy... again, even though you know you totally shouldn't have? You know how sincere and comforting their hug is?

Us in Bruges - post on Bruges coming up next, there was no way everything could fit into one post

Hyvää Ystävänpäivää!

I know I’m late!

I also know I am probably becoming boring by constantly emphasizing things I love about Finland, and luckily for me, the list seems to be expanding all the time. (But then again, not so luckily when I remember that I am actually leaving the country quite soon.) One of the things I liked not long ago was realizing how Finns perceive Valentine’s Day. I am one of those people who don’t really appreciate the date. I strongly believe it is a holiday invented to make malls happy, as well as candy and silly teddy bears manufacturers. I also believe that love should be cherished and praised every day, not once a year. And last but not least, I have been single for so long that I am a bit sceptical towards a holiday that celebrates love. Not my cup of tea, definitely.

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