Spring Time

This morning I was having breakfast in my kitchen where there is a big window with a view of the playground and the rest of the apartment complex. I kept looking at the view for several minutes when I realized it´s a completely different place outside now. When I came to Oulu everything was white, snow was all over the place. I couldn´t see the benches, shrubberies or sandbox. White Nordic snow was enough to define my view in February; a couple of months later the snow has melted but the panorama was still a little icy, but at the end of May this is my new view. 

The sun is shinning, flowers are about to bloom, the birds are singing and the children are not dressing like penguins anymore. Summer is coming!!!  

These past couple of months I have done so many things … at the begging of April we went to Russia. The trip was organized for exchange students who are living in Oulu, Tampere, Helsinki and some other cities. I met lots of people and everyone had a great time. The trip was brilliant! In fact I never considered going to Russia, but when I found out about the opportunity and that my friends were going I decided to join them at the last minute; I made the right choice because I got some great memories. The country, Russia, was very different for me, the culture, atmosphere, language, food, weather, places… we did several things, sightseeing, museums, traditional dinner, ballet, party … it was a great weekend and since we came back from the trip I have spent a lot of time with the other exchange students.

I must say that the trip had some unexpected details … I got an ear infection in Russia and I needed to spend one week at home. I went to the doctor the day after we came back; doctor service is not free though, but the prices are very low; honestly I was surprised because in general, prices in Finland are high. Health service is an exception; you can even go as student and pay low prices for dentistry, a doctor´s visit and other services.
 
Well, when I recovered my health my friends and I went to the lake to have a walk and enjoy the gorgeous sunset in Finland. One of the best views, for me, is at the lake next to the University, the lake is still frozen and when the sun is going down the colors of the sky turn red and the panorama its beautiful!!