School papers

So far so good. I have had to write four papers out of which I haven't yet started one. The first one was just a half a page paper about the missed lecture. That I returned today although I did it last week. Then there was two pages about the case company of my choice which I also have done and returned (!) although the due date is Friday. Then I have done most of my part and a bit extra to the joint assigment paper. I will be meeting today with the girls, to see how we can combine all our three text into one. (Here comes the extra part:) I already started it and have done a bit editing on the text as well. I just hope the girls won't mind. The due date is on Sunday, so we need to step on it a bit. Well the text is mostly done, we just need to mold it all look like one person wrote it or more academical in other words.

The paper that I haven't yet started properly (well I kind of have, but that is in my laptop...) is the UArctic forum raport paper. Need to start it soon, so that I will not forget it all. Oh, I need to write more about that organization when I have a bit more time. Anyway,... forgot what I was about to write. Better continue with the school/work stuff.

Yes, they were kidding

Just got a call from the company/superintendent. Very apologetic superintendent, I might say. She explained that they had just checked that to that appartment there were x amount of keys and I had returned y amount of keys. Now that she checked where there might have been problem, she noticed that I actually had been given only y amount of keys. This meant that I had returned the right amount of keys and the fault was with the previous tenant and not with me. She promised that the rest of the deposit will be returned to me next week.

This means that I am back in the budget when considering the amount I need to save up for the move to Canada.

Are U F***ing kidding me!

Yesterday I checked my bank account (just because I have received money from my school and my paycheck so I was able to put things in order). To see and rejoice the fact that I have no debt what so ever. Then I noticed that I actually had a bit more in my savings than I had had yesterday, and went to check it out. I was glad to see that my rent deposit was paid back. Unfortunately it was less than expecte. So I went to see if they had written anything as a note, as hell no had they contacted me before about it. No phone call, no letter! So just think how surprised and furious I was after learning that they had taken 250 euros from the deposit for making new keys (not quite what they wrote, but with the same meaning)! 

There was no problem with the keys and all keys were returned! To my luck I had checked my account afted three which meant that the place was closed. So I have had to wait till now to call them. Three more minutes before they open. I already sent an email to them requesting more information, but the person I sent it to is not there. That is just so annoying. I could just scream! Well yesterday I could have. I am writing this now, so that I will be in the right mood for the phone call. I am soo prepared to use some good old swear words to make my point. I might be a single girl living alone, but hell no you are taking an advantage of me. 

Also they could have written down another explanation for the deposit being lower. I might have accepted it if it would have been reasonable. The key thing, is not reasonable!

//edit: Called few minutes after nine; was forwarded to superintendent; got in a loop where no-one answered. Called again after few minutes of wait; got connected to a superintendent; explained my issue and gave my contact information; were promised a contact from my old superintendent. Half hours later I got a call from her; explained my issue and got back "I am so busy right now, tell me your old address and contact information"; ...! Wait what?! You just called me, so you should have my phone number and I already told one person there all the needed information (and I know it is not that big of a place so information should transfer). I was pleasent and gave it to her. So now I am still waiting for news. Just trying not to yell at anyone over the phone, that's my mission for today.

Busy yet again

The travel back was quite nice. Nothing unexpected happened. During my first flight I had a nice chat with a girl about Fort Garry (the hotel we stayed) and it turned out that she knows the owener family. I spoke highly of the hotel before she told me it, so she got a true review of the stay and not polished one. The first flight was about two hours to Calgary, so it was nice to have a local to talk to (as I was not tired yet). Then I spent few hours at Calgary and to my surprise I didn't need to go through passport control. I think I have to point out that I did not go through passport control in Winnipeg either (first local flight and then international flight). I just went through the security checkup and that's it. My first passport control was in Amsterdam. Wierd!

So the next flight was the long flight. I think they changed the plane as I was called to the gate because my seat was changed from 42d to 42d... But I think the reason was that in the original plane the back of the plane was different. So the chance had it that my seat changed, but not the number or letter :) The flight it self was long. I could feel my back start hurting about midway. So nothing new there. Oh, I sat almost in the last seat, because I was in no hurry to get out of the plane. If I would have wanted to be out among the first few then I would have chosen a seat closer to front. But as I had so many hours at the airport, I decided to take it easy.

Flight from Amsterdam to Helsinki was short and sweet. I left when the sun was up, and landed when it was dark. So this means that I was able to see the change of light and darkness while flying. Sweet!

So far so good

Just going to do a brief note about how things have been, as I have been way too busy to post anything earlier. Also I don't think that you would be so interested about what I am doin here you would like to read about it. So we have had some time table issues. Also the discussion and the declaration gathering has not been very organized. Some how almost everyone is complaining but when the organizer asks they are saying how well things are going. Well I too said that for first timers this is pretty well organized. Which I do mean. If they would have been a bit more professional about creating an event, then I would have not been so understanding. I do not complain about the event all the time like others do.

There are few dominant ones, and yes I am one of them. I do try not to talk all the time, but somehow it feels like I at least have taken into consideration what others might think compared to these others "I want it my way!" There has already been things happening where as a group we decide not to do something and then a smaller group does the thing and say's to the whole group that "we thought this was better." and we have to be happy about it. So kind of lost a bit of taste to the whole thing when some really need to butt in on everything. This would be such a good learning experience for some, but I don't think they want to learn that you should go act behind peoples back.

Canad Inn Fort Garry

 First official night spent in hotel was at Canad Inn Fort Garry. I arrived to Canad Inn Fort Garry around 11 am. The guy behind the receptionist was really golden, because he got me in a room before the check in time, which was 3 pm. I think I was able to go to my room about 1 pm. It was just soooooo nice to be able to go to shower after that long period of flying and sleeping at the airports. I tried to to sleep, but since the shower woke me up a bit I decided to update my blog and UAS of how things were going. I also received an email from organizer that there should have been an email saying that you need get your own ride from the airport to hotel. Of course they apologized and stuff.

After few hours of typing on my computer, my roommate arrived. She is a Canadian from west coast. We did little bit talking and decided that we get along quite well. Then it was time to go to first dinner and to meet other students. The dinner went fine, but we heard some concerning news. Original plan that we are going to stay there only one night. Now they warned us that we might need to stay in this hotel a second night as well, because there was a snow storm going around Manitoba that might close some roads.

I'll point out that I did inform the one student that arrived from Finland about all the things he needed to know, like to take the taxi from the airport.

We went to bed quite early, because we had planned to leave to the resort quite early. I have to say I did sleep quite well, partly because I was so freakishly tired that I could sleep anywhere. I did woke up couple of times, but that was mostly because my phone beeped. Learned my lesson and since then my phone has been on silence. In the morning we went to breakfast, not knowing what we were going to do in few hours. Surprisingly the organizers didn't know either what was going to happen. This was because there was indeed a road closed and we were just waiting for more information to come in, wheather the road will be opened or not. 

it turns out that the road was quickly opened but had to be reclosed because there was an accident with big trucks. So we would stay another night in Canad Inn Fort Garry.

Second flight with Delta and airport cont 3

The plane was small, the rows were 2+2. I had a very nice Canadian man sit next to me for the flight. We talked some but not the whole time. The flight attendant was this really sweet middle aged woman. Not much to say about the flight itself. The closer we got to rockier the flight got. Nothing bad really, but you could feel the plane swing when we were landing.

When I arrived to Canada (wohoo!) there was the basic going through the customs with one person outside the cubicles checking the lines and others in the cubicles (well how wonderfully I explained that). I was really tired at this point so I had to think hard on some questions, so I am very pleased to say that I was not held for questioning. Right after this was the luggage pick up. I was through so quickly that the luggages hadn't even arrived yet. In Minneapolis my luggage was waiting  for me when I got through. So anyway, it wasn't the last but not first luggage to come.

After I had gotten my luggage I went to third man who decided whose luggage will be opened. No such luck this time either aka I was able to walk through. Then I was expecting to see my name somewhere. I saw nothing! I thought maybe they are closer to doors; nope. I walked around trying to look someone to pick me to take me to the hotel. Nope. I think I might have seen some who also are going to attend the UArctic forum thing, but am not sure. I was really really tired so I was just trying to find someone with my name on. (The persons that I am talking about took a taxi so no one came to pick them up either.) So then I decided to go through my stuff and try to find a phone number to find out what the hell is going on.

No luck with the phone number, so I send an email (btw still no reply to that.) Then I called to a hotel, which was the wrong hotel but I was able to confirm that I will have a reservation there later next week. Which is good. Then I had to find out the correct hotel. No number in any of my papers or email. Thank God for free WiFi! I do not know what I would have done without it. So I was able to phone to the correct hotel and ask if I have a reservation for tonight. The receptionist said that I do have a preliminary reservation, but it has not been paid. That I would have to pay it when I arrive. So I asked how much the taxi would be there. The total amount was closer to 140$ which made me decide that there is no way I am spending 100€ when I have paid the fee that covers all transportation and stay in Winnipeg area. I was furious at this point. 

The airport looked calm (its fairly small) and there wasn't that many people around. So I decided to sleep there. I thought that I was so tired that I would be able to sleep at least few hours without waking in between. This turned out to be through although I did wake up in between, but after sleeping 1,5 hours the waking for few minutes didn't feel that bad. So at this point all I could think about was the soft hotel bed in Minneapolis... So many hours traveling and still gotta spend a night at the airport. I was furious!

In the morning I spend some time in the bathrooms recharging my phone, got some breakfast from Tim Hortons(?) and paid 2 bucks to use the airport ATM (Automatic Teller Machine). Then I spent time sitting and guessing when should I go. Would I be able to get a room already or not. When I got tired of waiting I left for the hotel by taxi.

Airports cont 2

So when I arrived to the Minneapolis St. Paul's twin city, first I had to go wait in line for the passport control. There was a boarder controller that went through the lines and asked questions about the entry form and why one has arrived to US. Then there was another one with a dog, that was looking for fruits and plants. I had had a satsuma in my back bag, but I ate it just before I got out of the plane. Of course the dog still smelled it, and I explained the situation. I heard that if you take fruits with you, you might get a 300 dollar fine for it.

The passport control went very smoothly, and then I had to go line up for foods and veggies line (if you bring anything that you can eat, you better inform about it.) in which the luggage and hand luggage would go through x-ray machine. When the person there saw that I am only a transit passenger he just said "oh, going to Canada? oh, go on then" and waved his hand :)) It was just so funny! Then there was the last person who took the entry forms and showed if we needed to go open our luggage or go forward. No I didn't have to open my bag this time either. 

Then I came to the transit lounge, where I dropped my luggage to be delivered to Winnipeg and went to queue to yet another security check up. This tie I needed to take off my shoes, but I could keep my cardigan on although jacket had to be put through the machine. There I was told that my two soda cans are too pig and that they need to be thrown away or drank there. So I threw them away. I was too full to think about drinking them. 3 euros bye bye! After I went through the machine (that I have described in one of the previous posts) I was checked again. This time from my back?? After I had come through they re-calibrated it :)) 

Then I found out where my next flight is leaving and instructions to go there. On the way there I bought a bottle of "water" (it had a black berry flavour, which I didn't quite taste) and donated 1 $ for Sandy destruction cleanups. Then continued to walk, and I walked, and walked and walked. Then stopped for few minutes to turn on my phone. Noticed that I didn't have too much battery left, so I needed to find a place where to recharge it. Then continued to walk. When I then found my gate, I saw that there was another flight going from that gate, so I sat down a bit further away from it. I wasn't able to stay put for very long, as I needed to find a place where to recharge my phone. So I started to walk again. 

Luckily I didn't have to walk for too long as I then found a gate where there were no flight leaving until later that night. So I went there and used the blug that Delta provided for the customers. I was able to charge my phone quite much, and then I noticed that I better go and see if there is room at my own gate (in case I fall asleep or something). Luckily there was room and there also was more blug polls to use. So I was able to recharge some more. After a while I noticed that I needed to go to the gate and report that I am there. This sounded so funny, but I did it. It was a good thing to do as it seemed to take some time for the person behind the desk to confirm me. Also this was the point where I was asked for the first time about my travel initiatory to confirm that I have a ticket back home. So basically the thing you do when you drop the bag and get the ticket is also done at the gate. The boarding pass that I had was actually just a reservation and the paper I got from the desk was my new boarding pass. 

I think I will need to fly more through US to get the hang of it, because I will forget it for sure by the next time. One reason the reservation needed to be confirmed was that, the flight's are usually overbooked. They  asked if anyone was voluntery to receive a 600 dollar voucher for Delta and a hotel night + food vouchers and fly out the next day. I was seriously thinking about this, but then I thought that I have no number where to inform that I will be coming the next day and that there is no need for the room or pick up from the airport. It was so tempting to take it and just go to bed and sleep the whole night in a bed! But I didn't...

Soon it was time to board this little plane (well it wasn't tiny or anything) and continue my way.

First flight with Delta

I had chosen my seat with care and it was a window seat (although I normally don't like them) because there was just one person sitting next to me. So if I wanted to go to the toilet I only needed to make one person jump up. My other tactic was to go to the toilet about the same time as the person sitting next to me. It all depended on how badly I needed to go. So windows seat in the last row! I had fours hour layover in Minneapolis St. Paul's twin city airport, so I really did not need to be the first person out. 

Only problem with this tactic of sitting in the last row is that the food and drinks came last to me, so there really was no option of what to eat. The flight attendant really tried it make it look like we had an option ("would you like to have Pasta today? It is really lovely!) although she whispered that we really do not have any other option at the moment. My first choice would have been the pasta anyway, so I was not disappointed. As the plane was full we had to store some of the items in the over head compartments. I felt a bit silly putting my back bag there, but I did anyway. Mistake. (not really a big one.) I had some of my snacks there and some drinks (not that I would have really needed it, but with my experience if you don't have any you are going to need it). The compartments were just a bit too high for me, so I wasn't able to open them by myself. Also because I really didn't need anything from there, I didn't bother asking anyone helping me out with it. 

I watched bunch of movies during the flight. I was not tired at all, although I tried to keep my eyes closed few times. So I watched movies (and closer to end I watched a TV program just so that the time would go faster, but there was not enough time to watch a movie)(and I had already watched all the good ones); Brave, Prometheus, Cars II and Snow White and the Huntsman. There were few more good movies to choose from, but I had watched all those others that I found interesting. The bad news is that I will have the same options available when I go back... So lots of bad movies waiting to be watched on a way back. I will give a review of the movies on a later post.

The guy that sat next to me, was an older gentleman. Very American looking. We did some small talk, but otherwise concentrated on our own business. Just the way I like it. He even game me my back bag when we had landed, and I didn't even need to ask for help. What else can I say about the flight. Food was good, but not excellent. If you want to bring any drinks aboard you will need to put them in a bag, and if you want to take them through to us they need to be small items (I had to throw mine away :( ) No fruits of any kinds can be taken to US or Canada. The flight attendants were all very nice and deserve to be mentioned.

Oh and yes my back started to hurt just a little bit after the middle of the way. It didn't turn into anything bad luckily. Some good things that come out of sleeping at the airport; back gets used to sleeping on hard things and awkward positions. The flight took about 9 hours and I got some really cool pics of Greenland.

Airports cont.

I think I lefted things with me arriving a bit late to the Schipholi airport. Well first I took my time to walk to the connection point, from where you can change the terminal. When I got there it was jammed full. There were no lines and it was everyone for themselves. I ventured there a bit untill I hear someone say that it should calm down in 30 minutes. So instead of standing in the line, I went for a little walk. I walked the terminal D from the check point to the other end and back. It took me about 20 minutes I think. I wasn't really timing it at all. All I wanted was that line to be gone, so I could find my gate and get some more sleep. 

So when I got back to the check point, there was barely lines at all. So I went through without any trouble. To my surprise my gate was quite close to the check point, so I didn't have to walk really really far. As there was still soooooo many hours till my plaine left, there was another plaine using the gare. So I had to change location a bit. Only to the other side where there were nice comfy chairs in which you could actually sleep. I didn't sleep right away as I had just done so in the plaine. I kept my shoes off for awhile, before getting bored and continued to walk around. I went to a store to check what kind of a merchandise they have. Then I went to a cafe, but didn't buy anything because there were some rude tourists that just cut the line. So I decided to find other place to eat. 

At this airport there was a free wifi but only 2 x 30 mins. Not that nice, but I think I was able to do all the things I needed to do online in that time. After I had eaten, I went back to near my gate and this time I found a place where I would also sleep. I think I slept about an hour (20 mins intervals, as I was checking the clock so that I wouldn't miss the boarding) before I noticed that they started to accept people through the security point. 

Like always, first they did a little personal interview; did you pack your bags & did anyone give you anything to carry. I said that I had tried to get someone to help me with packing, but no-one wanted to and that I did have items that someone had given me. I explained that they were the items that I had been given from school. I do not know if they had already checked my bag or not, or if it might have been done in US. Then I went to a desk where the lady asked me something, but I can't remember what... Probably what was the purpose of my travel. Then I dropped of my backbag and jacket (but were able to keep my shoes) and walked through this machine that takes a picture and then highlights all the things it thinks might have something metallic. I think it needs to be high enough of an amout for the machine to register it. Let me say that what I saw only two persons got OK sign from the machine. After the machine I was, of course, checked by hand; mainly from those areas that the machine said should be checked.

Then was about 45 minutes wait untill I was let in the plaine. Luckily I sat in the last row, so I was one of the first (after travelers with children, disability, business and sky priority) to be let in.

Airports

When I arrived to helsinki-vantaa airport I noticed that the baggage drop was closed. So this meant that I would need to try to sleep somewhere there. First I picked up some food from Alepa. Then I bought a tea and croissant from cafe Spoon. Then after eating the snack I tried to sleep in the soft bench that are owned by the cafe. I was not the first one to do this, so I dared to stay. Also it was not  a busy time of the day.

About 4:30 the drop desk opened and I dropped my bag. This meant that I would be able to catch some more zzzz in a quieter place. Luckily the gate was easy to find and empty, so I sneaked into a corner place and slept some more. I also tweeted about flying with KLM and they tweeted me back! Lovely customer relations. The flight was only 2 h 5 mins but due to the plane staying over night there was some frost that needed to be removed. So we left about 20 mins late. I slept almost the whole flight. I woke up to eat and for landing. More about Schiphol airport later. My free wifi time is up.

Here we go

Now I am at the railway station in Kemi. I have about 30 mins before the train comes. Then I will be sitting on a train for about 7,5hours. Oh joy!! This will be just  quick post and I will update this from train if there is a wifi. Should be as it is pendolino.

//edit update: I am in the train. Well have been for 30 mins so far. There is internet and there is electricity for my laptop and my camera battery. Oh I did find my camera in the last minute. I found lots of stuff at the last minute... So funny... I have fully packed luggage with me, which I left in the front of the car. I did it so that I don't have to push it away when people move around or if someone had had a place nect to me. Luckily this is a single seat which means that no-one will be next to me. There just is no room for my luggage here...

//edit update2: Just checked for the times for the bus to airport. I won't have to wait long as the bus goes every 20 minutes except during the night. So I have to wait about 13 minutes or less (probably will arrive a bit late, surely not before) and then jump to the bus. The ride will take about 25 minutes, so I will be at the airport around 20 past midnight.Then I will go search if the store at the airport is open. No I will first take the luggage and then go search if the store is open. Afer that I will go to security check. So I would say if I am lucky that I have gone through the security check by 1 am. That leaves me with 5 hours to eat, sleep and find the gate.

My travel plans

You have chosen the following flight:

9.11.2012 07:00 Helsinki (Helsinki) - 9.11.2012 08:40 Amsterdam (Schiphol)

9.11.2012 15:10 Amsterdam (Schiphol) - 9.11.2012 17:25 Minneapolis (Minneapolis St Paul International)

9.11.2012 21:40 Minneapolis (Minneapolis St Paul International) - 9.11.2012 23:09 Winnipeg (Winnipeg International)

16.11.2012 10:20 Winnipeg (Winnipeg International) - 16.11.2012 11:30 Calgary (Calgary International)

16.11.2012 15:35 Calgary (Calgary International) - 17.11.2012 08:30 Amsterdam (Schiphol)

17.11.2012 13:55 Amsterdam (Schiphol) - 17.11.2012 17:20 Helsinki (Helsinki)

On this return flight you see I have again some time in Amsterdam. The first flight I chose only gave me an hour to change. Let me tell you it is not enough. I remember once running through the airport, cutting lines and still almost miss the plane. So this time I will have enough time to walk through and maybe eat and use the toilet if needed. It's too big of a airport to cut it too close and miss the plane.

//edit: All times are local times. The time difference between Finland and the Netherland is 1 hour and between Finland and Canada (Manitoba) 8 hours. 

//edit 2: My boarding time for the first flight is 6:20. This means that altouhg I arrive at midnight to the airport, I do not have that much time to spent. First dropping the baggage and going through the security (not expecting much of delay there) and then passport control, after that I will be lucky to get few hours of sleep.

Work, school, travel arrangements

I will be leaving in few days, and no I have not yet packed any bags. I have the things I need in my mind and probably will pack something today. The reason why I haven't packed anything yet is that I am busy with work and school. I have to submit few papers in three days earlier than others, because of the travelling. Not a problem per se, but since I was not expecting to be this busy with work I do not have as much time as I had hoped for. 

Well all is going well. I have started both papers and I have 1,5 tasks not done in the first paper and about 3,5 pages to do in the other. Than I am done schoolwise. Work is busy because I need to find all the sites where there is a review of our product and list them (which reciew for which software) plus correspond to any questions about our new software that we released this monday.

My sister already asked me why my boss wants to release the software always then when I am not here... This time I won't be able to consult my sister as I will be way too busy in Winnipeg, Manitoba (wohoo). I emptied our work email address yesterday, when we received a notice that it is to full (about 300 %). So I emptied it quite well. Not sure how it still has so much stuff in it as I took a lot out. Well now it is not over the limit. Oh and at one point it (how much space it took) started to grow and got actually about 500% (where 100% is fully used). It took unbelivably long to sort it out, when all I needed to do was empty few folders... My Thunderbird didn't quite like it.

I am less concerned about what grade I am going to get and more concerned that I will be able to do the papers in time. I will get some extra time when I take the mobile internet with me, but there really is not that much use for it. Well I need the internet to do the searching. But still I will have to send the papers in latest in the morning of 9th. My flight leaves at 7 am. Oh and my train is in Tikkurila at 23:30... So I have few hours to get to the airport. As it is early flight I think I can drop my bag in when I arrive and can use the free internet in some lounge area (can't remember where there was free wifi, but I know somewhere there was).

So yes about the travel arrangements. I will leave Kemi on Thursday and arrive Tikkurila at midnight, then leave to Amsterdam at 7 am Friday morning. Will spent 6 hours in Amsterdam before going to St. Pauls Minnesota for few more hours. Then from there I will go to Winnipeg and arrive at 23:30 PM local time on 9th. Yeah I will be traveling for about 24 hours and arrive the same day. The return on 16th is about the same exept I will be returning via Calgary instead of Minnesota.

Los Ojos De Julia (2010)

I saw the movie Julia's Eyes (2010) few weeks back. It was one of those movies that when you saw the trailer you wanted to see the movie. You had to see the movie as it was going to be all that. Well unfortunately this movie turned out not to be all that. The movie was directed by Guillem Morales and produced Guillermo Del Toro. I mention the producer as well because at first I though the movie was directed by him as it has been advertised as his movie. Well it kind of is his movie, but he is not the director. So at first when I saw the trailer, all I could think about was how like the Orphanage this one was and how it must be a good movie. When a friend of mine asked if I wanted to borrow it from her, I jumped at the occation. I must see this movie!

The plot goes so that there are twins of which the first one dies mysteriously after eye surgery has gone wrong. The second one starts to investigate the death and the events surrounding the eye surgery. The second sister has the same eye problem as her sister and starts to loose her eyesight, obviously, as the movie goes on. I was almost ready to skip to the end at this point as so far the movie was just a cliche to me. I might even say that I was a bit bored about it. I am not goint to give the ending away, so you can make your own opinion about it. All I am saying is that the entertainment value goes down when you can guess what is going to happen next. This is a basic good movie, I can't deny that. If you haven't seen as many movies as I have, this might be even quite surprising. If I hadn't have such high hopes about this movie, I probably wouldn't have been as dissapointed with it as I was in the end. Now don't get me wrong, I don't regret watching it. I like Belén Rueda who playes the lead character and I like the type of movies Guillermo Del Toro makes. It just happened that this one just didn't quite match my expectations. Better luck next!