The final countdown

Geia sou (=Jassu)!

Friday 10th of Feb

I'm getting nervous and my friend Lotta must be losing her mind with me panicking every hour.. Today it was my last day at school. I returned all the assignments and past the last practical exam (on a second try though..). Wipii! The next time I'm gonna enter our school is on the last days of August! :) In the evening I gave my sister a ride to practise but I couldn't participate myself since I hurt my arm muscle last weekend on a game and the doctor told me to rest with it around three weeks. So my season is already over and I really would have wanted to play the last game. The hockey thing in Athens is still open because no one has contacted me.. I think I'm not gonna do it, as much as I would have wanted to go there and play ice hockey. I've come to conclusion that it's better for me just to be off ice and get some distance from ringette for a while and now it's a good chance! I think that way I'll be even more excited when the season starts again in August. 

The introduction week starts on Monday in Athens for the new students. I keep reading the partys and trips over and over again, getting more and more nervous and excited. In one way I'm totally counting dates to get to Athens but on the other hand I'm counting the days I've still got here in freezing Finland (-26 or so..).

Also the situation in Athens has been really restless what I've seen from the news. Lost of strikes with no public transportation going anywhere and also lots of demonstrations and riots in the center of Athens. Buildings on fire, over 6000 police officers on the streets, people demonstrating against the goverment about why they are the ones that have to pay for the mistakes of the goverment or the people who had made the mistakes. It's said that the salary for young people is around 500€.. I've also heard that in the near future the general strike might start and that would mean no water or electrity..

It's almost a tradition that something happens at the destination country. Two years ago before our interrailing trip the volcano in Island ereptud so we had to wait until last minute to know whether or not our flight would be cancelled. Last year the revolution fights in Egypt happened only 150 from our hostel..

Weekend 11-12th Feb

The weekend went past really fast! We had a game on Saturday which we won and I was really happy for our team even though I couldn't play. On Sunday morning I went to visit my aunt and both of my granmothers and straight to work from 14-21.

I listened a greek radio and greek songs and it's just so relaxing. The rhythm reminds me of hot summer holidays and the real greek athmosphere on Poros island. I also started seeing weird dreams, like me wandering around the streets of Athens with my backpack on and seeing soldiers and getting afraid and getting even more lost..

Monday 13th Feb

In the morning I had a hairdresser and then I went straight to the doctor to get some vaccination which had aged. Then I was off the see my godmother who is also my cousin and to pick up her son and daughter (my godson and his sister) from kindergarten. The evening went fast playing with them and talking with my godmother. :)

Last night the girl from the hockey team emailed to me and suggested that I would only take my skates there with me. That way I wouldn't have to pay any extra for the aircompany and she would have all the equipment for me. Their championships starts soon and I would also be part of their team by being able to play since she is going to announceme to the federation! Difficult one! 

Tuesday 14th Feb

I was at work from 7.30am till 2pm. Then I was trying to figure out some things to take with me to Athens. (I suck at packing!). Then it was time to leave for the last practise with my sister. Since I couldn't do anything I drove to see my friend Saija. We've only seen each other once after our trip together in Egypt! After the practise I told the team good luck for the last two games and see you after the summer. :/ Now I'm really starting to understand that I'm really leaving 'cause I have to say goodbye to every one at school, at work and to my teammates.

Watching my teammates practise on ice and I had only been of the ice for a week or so, I really wanted to get back on the ice!! It was so stupid just to sit on the bench. I decided that since I have such a good chance to get to know the Greece ice hockey, new teammates and play championship games that I really wanna do it! Especially since Georgia from the ice hockey team made it so easy for me! I'm gonna pack my skates with me, go there and win the championship of Greece ice hockey!

ps. Happy Valentine's day!

Wednesday 15th Feb

The day that I had been waiting for two weeks, arrived! Lotta came to my place in the morning to help me pack! And we got almost everything packed! :) Then it was time for Lotta's surprise. She had planned everything. First we went to our classmate Katja where we ate and then left for drinks to the center of Helsinki. They had planned everything! We went to this bar to which our other classmates also came! I had no idea! :D I had such a good night and while walking to home from the bus stop I didn't know wheather to cry tears of excitement, sadness or happiness. Such a weird feeling. I think I'm starting to understand that I'm leaving alone to a foreign country really really soon! It's quite scary at the moment.

Thursday 16th Feb

I did the last packing in the morning. Lotta came to my place to hang around and I borrowed her some of my clothes that I wouldn't be taking with me. Then we helped my sister get ready and in the afternoon we gave my sister a ride to school since she had her prom. On my way home I gave Lotta a ride to the bus stop and hugged her goodbye.. It was the worst feeling and I just couldn't fight the tears. :( Even though I know we'll talk on skype and text and stuff but still I wouldn't see her in so many months and I'm gonna miss her!! :'( In the evening my family and I are gonna go to watch my sister's prom and then I'll do the last packing and get to bed early. Tomorrow my flight to Copenhagen leaves at 6.40am so I have to wake up before 4am.. This is my last text before leaving so when I'll write the next one I'll be in ATHENS! :)

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed

by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

–Mark Twain