The Pulla is baked (even several times), once it was original and once Korvapuusti Pulla (Engl. slaps) that were even better. Who the recipe will, simply contact me;)
The first essay is finally checked off, tomorrow I need my previously acquired Finnish art in the final examination to demonstrate and on Friday we will fly for the weekend to Riga - before the final sprint begins. Two weeks, three essays, but also I get out somehow. Must stop, you know. There
a small report, it also ma l again it's really nice crisp cold:
Catching of snow in recent days course times are finite. Today seemed even the sun - that's something special that it must be mentioned. So the snow landscape looks nicer but a lot. We are still every day with the bike on the road, which is also not a problem if you are warm and attracts careful when driving a bit. The air and the snow is so dry that you can drive better on the latter than on wet roads. The ducks seem to also feel quite comfortable yet. It really is beautiful here.
The second course (after Suomi 1) is over, Russian, fortunately, was the final exam today, more for entertainment than intended for evaluation. Morning, then first in Suomi 2, a small presentation, in Finnish, mind you, next week, nor the consideration and then (and in between) then have time for more important things. All are currently in the universities rather Tress, also does not work the semester system so well and all the work piling up at the end.
keep me from today for 30 days in Jyväskylä for three and a half essays, two trips, a few lectures, sauna, Finnish winter, and slowly creeping Pullabacken anticipation mixed at home with a funny feeling that this great time here, with so many great people slowly coming to an end.
However, 30 days, too, finally almost 1 / 5 of my time Finland, then, to make there's a lot:)
Already the weekend again - this is the last but not long ago. From Monday to Wednesday I was in any case visit Eli and Maike, it also snowed fairly orderly, and we had two beautiful days and on Tuesday evening, a fine double birthday party with Matt. A few party pictures are online .
many great gifts I have received , with other news too good and what I believe a total of three Advent, a Moomin box for coffee and, and, and ...
Otherwise, really not so much to say, it's snowing always a little bit, and because of the snow on an average 3 ° C are also remains are the by now fairly short day at least, not quite as dark (these days the sun is here an hour earlier than in Bremerhaven).
early as mid-November, the time goes really fast. I have left a little over a month here. When I think of what I create in all of the time nor the university has to me is very different. So get stuck in;)
thus gave much snow as it previously announced but not, it was more gray than white. Today, once again came down a few flakes, but for the long stay beds, it is probably too warm. After all, snow at this time I've never seen:)
This weekend is quiet and the time I need finally to my essay (it's preceded by finally!). In addition, on Monday is yes again the next visit at the door and then is enough action already announced, including Party on Tuesday, of course.
Ok, so my report is still Russia, are photos it already. That's now been a week since I've pushed me long before that - but at beautiful things just always remembered to prefer;) Okay, it was not so bad now. Actually, even interesting and impressive. But as always from the front - sometimes see s if I get together all ...
On Thursday morning at 6 clock it started, by bus to St. Petersburg . All naturally equipped with passport and visa, without the That `s nothing on the Russian border. There, even then it was also unexpectedly sc hnell it were controlled only about four or five times the passports and visas of various Russian customs officials, but a baggage check was fortunately spared us and we had to wait long for not actually . On the "other side" then we expected a completely different World: through the steady rain and muddy roads of broken Russian driving style, which is actually the exact opposite to the Finnish: hectic, chaotic and without regard to losses. Fortunately we had a Russian driver, who was familiar with it. So it went a bit by the Russian Pampa, until we at some point in the afternoon by St. Petersburg's suburbs with the Sowietbauten drove. Not pretty, especially in the rain. And that there gleamed and shone on every corner like in Las Vegas, it did not look necessarily better. We felt like in a science fiction movie. According to the suburbs, then came the turn of the Rush Hour in St. Petersburg, it was said, at least an hour through the slow traffic torment, until we finally reached our hotel around 16 clock. This was at least fairly central. And huge, with its determined kilometers (ungelogen!) programs it did not get the name of Hotel Moscow, probably for no reason. went Well, after checking in and a small break, then again go to the "original Russian" dinner. If we mean by "original Russian" tiny and cold portions, and a painful, tourist entertainment folklore show, it was perfect. Vodka of course there was, after all, one could then still take the show somehow. And after the few shots of vodka I could sleep in the super plush hotel bed.
the next morning for an interesting breakfast (with salads, sausages, omelettes and cakes) we went to old Touristenbusgruppentradition (ätz!) go to Pushkin to the first attraction, the Catherine Palace (a detailed description of all sites I will spare everyone involved had better, I know not even what was actually was). It was actually quite impressive, just a huge palace with lots of gold and splendor. And - taddaa - the Amber Room . The latter was then compared to everything else not so spectacular. Well, followed then by bus back to town. Brief photo shoot at the famous Church of the Resurrection and then we had run until the evening. After the annoying bus ride was also necessary, and we explored the city on foot, despite the icy cold. bought first to find out about a souvenir bazaar and one or the other mandatory matryoshka , and then it went off. I could really enjoy (bring any valuables, just not go anywhere alone, watch out for pickpockets, ...) but not the walk, on the one hand because of the stories that had been hammered into us before the trip and secondly because of the stressful Russian big city mentality. Again, all hectic, fast, full of mad, bad air and unfriendly people. Once again the exact opposite to Finland:) Well, but we have the best of it and made the afternoon, just so moved to regain our way to the hotel. Fortunately, it successfully. And so we had the typical Russian Taxi (easy in any car can be, whether taxi enter or not, and there get where you want) saves. After a festive meal at McD (luckily right next to the hotel) there was still an evening cruise on the Neva, with Schampanskaya and tidy cold wind in their noses. And vodka was also on board.
The next day began for me a bit more relaxed, because it's all not was as dangerous as you have heard before. After breakfast we were again typical tourist umhergekarrt by bus, three hours on a city tour along all the sights. Including the Aurora and a few other important places where I can not remember what it was all. Well. In the afternoon we have our "free time" spent in Hermitage and us two hours of acute devoted to sensory overload . Over 60,000 exhibits no wonder that the time was too short. But at least we have - albeit fast - seen a few Picassos and Monets. After that then the "rest" a little walk through the streets before we are with the deepest metro in the world went back to the hotel. That was quite an experience, on the escalator down one could see a pretty long time no end. In the evening we then conducted a pizza and a walk to heart.
So then the days were around, and Sunday morning it was already back home. After breakfast we have the men Dostoevsky and Tchaikovsky on the Tichwinder cemetery opposite our hotel even paid a visit. Then a little pass the time, your legs and photos shot at one of the many bridges, and then it was already on the bus and the direction of Finland. But first a little stop for shopping in Vyborg to stock up again properly with vodka and other cheap things. On the Russian border with Finland or rather said it was also unexpectedly large bag again no control or the like, so that we soon were on Finnish soil and in the evening and again in Jyväskylä are reached.
That was very nice to finally be able to breathe clean air:) And since the Russia trip, I realized how much I've fallen already in the Finnish tap water. Apart from the fact that here in Finland is drinkable and actually even really tastes good - if you can not even clean the tap water in a Russian hotel, the teeth, is highly appreciated, only what you have at home.
St. Petersburg itself was quite beautiful as a city is dependent, with lots of interesting buildings, and send less to send back streets. But the fact that the city early on major international Influences has enjoyed, we search a little bit the typical Russian image. I have also noticed once again how little big city guy I am. 4.6 million inhabitants have a city then it will be very hectic, there are some 84 349 people in my Jyväskylä be much more sympathetic. Which are not as unfriendly. And in comparison to Russian one the strange Finnish language comes before surprisingly familiar:)
My crazy great Russian language gave me the way, do not so much, except for the fact that I am at every sign and every inscription in Cyrillic letters took me some time and with the brain and the tongue have twisted, until I read it (and usually do not understand) could. Exhausting!
An interesting and thought-giving stressful trip to the land of my ancestors. Who knows when I get there so quickly. The extreme contrast between rich and poor was the first terrifying and depressing then. It does not take long to think about why people are so unfriendly.
what more pleasant to: Maike and Eli come tomorrow!
line is the first real snow - and this time not to close! This is the weather forecast for the following days:
Accordingly I also expected the following image this morning from the balcony:
That will be fun this afternoon if I need a bike to campus. In a pinch you can always get off and push yet.
So to Eli and Maike: Please wear SnowFEST:)
a more or less detailed report from St. Petersburg (I survived it) there soon. can photos look you already, they have been reduced from about 600 to 190 pieces. More on that later, however, the university is now first turn, which is currently more important.
The Pulla is baked (even several times), once it was original and once Korvapuusti Pulla (Engl. slaps) that were even better. Who the recipe will, simply contact me;) 
