Goodbye my lover,goodbye my friend,you have.. JUST KIDDING!

Judit, my dear fat mate went back home yesterday, so it's time to catch up with the happenings of the last couple of days.

On Thursday we finally climbed the church tower (Jazz thought that we'd litereally climb it). Breda's Grote Kerk has been a landmark for us since the beginning of our stay; always when you see the church you're not lost anymore. Felt a bit strange to go inside this "map" of ours. It was tough to go up the stairs, but the view of seeing whole Breda was worth it.

I never realized how beautiful Breda can look from up there; the houses were just amazing. It was a good idea to leave this experience for the end of our exchange period. Now I'll always remember Breda as one of the pretty gezellig cities there are to be. Those who haven't visited the tower yet, do it!

After that we grabbed some Italian food and witnessed like four civil weddings during our lunch.

As it got dark, we were ready to go party for the last time with Judit. We first met all in the park; Judit told everyone that she'd be there around 11, but she thought that no one would come there since no one replied her Facebook message. But half an hour later someone called to ask where she was. OF COURSE PEOPLE WANT TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOU! aih stupido.

But of course everyone naturally thought that she was Spanishly late.

Thursday is the party day over here, and that usually includes De Boulevard and then the Speeltuin. I was a bit disappointed that I didn't hear more of dubstep in Boule, but the Speel had pretty good music now. I saw so many familiar faces that it felt like autumn again.

When I left the Speel, my fear came true; Judit crying on the street. It was deja vu, because same thing happened in December. I was certain that it wouldn't happen again, but there she was just outside the Speel crying AGAIN! They were crying with Jara, and when they started hugging me, I had no choice but to cry too. And then laugh. But they cried for 1½ hour, and I'm not exaggerating at all. Sometimes it was hard to see whether Judit was really drunk or crying, she kind of looks the same in both cases.

It took over an hour to say goodbye to everyone, so it was past five when we got to Jara's place, where we stayed for the night. We talked about how the people here are more than friends; they're family. And we felt that this is not the end, only the beginning of something really awesome. Living with Judit for almost 11 months has created a special bond with her. The year was full of laughters, fights, pranks, silent treatments and so on. She even said "Sometimes I hated you, but I had to think it's Jaleh". Awww! Sometimes I wanted to kill you
too.

In the morning Judit tried to teach Jara some Finnish, which was kind of funny; a Spanish to another Spanish. Three of us and Maria went to Jumbo to get something for lunch, and well the chocolate cake was goed! This time it was hard to see whether Judit was sad or just hungoverd. She kind of looks the same in both cases.

bolita                                             jalita

Then the dreaded moment came; saying goodbye at the train station. It seriously felt like only yesterday that I sent Judit a message saying that hopefully we'd get along, because one year is a long period! And now it felt as if the year hasn't even started and already we had to see her train leave. Also me not crying for ages the previous night showed itself now. Well that's what happens when you concentrate on eating your fries, and looking at the drama queens cry their hearts out, you do it yourself later. lol X

But en serio!! Who's gonna clean our kitchen now, who's gonna be in the living room with her laptop and eating a glass full of cereals in the morning when I wake up, who's gonna say we should clean, who's gonna help me with technical stuff, who's gonna be the clumsy one? WHOO?!

Jazz said that as if we had broken up or something, because I was listening to sad James Blunt songs and looking at pictures. Hahahaha :D Well, what do you expect from 11 months of being fat mates, school mates, and almost team and work mates.

What I'm trying to say is that Judit I love you, you're a sister to me, miss you, gonna see you again, don't know where, but soon for sure! And don't worry I will eat your food. EEEEGSS?! Dankjewel. Alsjeblieft. Adeu bitch you!

The Last Supper

29.6.2011

As most of the fat mates were leaving this weekend we had to have a last dinner all together. It's only the second one though, but still some quality time, before each of us go our own way. The Chinese were responsible for cooking, and a lekker dinner they made. This time luckily we didn't buy whole a lot of food, like 10 different packs of Easter cookies.

After that we went to the park to enjoy the night and the Walkabout (which we didn't enjoy that much, because it was so full). I guess before this we've never ridden our bikes together with the five of us, and people were surprised to see the Chinese in a bar after February or so. So surprised and excited like kids seeing Santa Claus.

All we talked about was the crazy stuff that had happened in our house and to each other.

What happens in our gezellig cottage, stays in our gezellig cottage.

Ponies in Wonderland

25.6.2011

So, Britt threw a "ponies in wonderland" themed birthday party at her place, which was pretty awesome. Cool decorations, good food and drinks. What more could I have asked for; a child-liked birthday party with beer! And yes those who dressed up looked really nice. Shame I didn't have my whole warderobe with me, so I tried to be somewhat of an "emo pony". Or, actually just put my scarf as a tail and Oceansize shirt on, which Britt loves so much, because it looks like a pubic hair shirt to her. Someone's got wild imagination. But hey someone started to talk to me in Speeltuin later that evening, because of the shirt! He liked Oceansize too, and told me the band had split, which I didn't know. How shocking, but glad that I got to see them last autumn. Anyways here are some pics and videos from the evening.

b-day hero so excited, so excited

*group picture!*

oh look the 4th time i've seen maria in speeltuin during the whole year!

soo alone

cheer up emo kid

Bon Iver Bon Iver

I wanted to write somewhat of an album review of (in my opinion) the most anticipated album of 2011, a day before its release date, but I noticed that it was released already today in the UK and Europe. America gets to enjoy it tomorrow. Or actually all of us have gotten the chance to enjoy it for a few days now, since you can stream it online. Don't know how long it will be possible, but don't wait too long!

Click the link and dive into planet Melancholia;
bon iver - bon iver

the new album cover

The whole Bon Iver (a play from French phrase "good winter") project, started when front man Justin Vernon was dealing with a disease and break-ups with his band and girlfriend. So he decided to go to his father's cabin and be alone somewhere were was cold. There he composed a major part of the absolutely BJU-TI-FUL debut "For Emma, Forever Ago", released in 2008, which is personally one of my favorite albums. Here's a song from it;

Fans of Bon Iver have been waiting for a long time for the new album, and actually I had thoughts of that not happening, which in a way was fine. Some artists/bands are better off with releasing only one or two albums, and I only mean good with this. I'd rather not have my favorite bands putting out 5 albums of poor music after 2 brilliant albums.

However, last spring for our delightment and surprise they announced they'd be releasing new music this summer. And that the music would take a new direction with some more instruments added. To be honest that worried me, but so did the newest Iron & Wine, and I learned to love that!

The first single released "Calgary" didn't disappoint me at all. And what best I wasn't in love with the song right immediately, which is a good sign of not getting bored easily- it grows on you.

"hip, under nothing
propped up by your other one, face ‘way from the sun
just have to keep a dialogue
teach our bodies: haunt the cause
I was only trying to spell a loss"

When I started listening to the album, I streamed it 3 times in a row, while studying. Clearly you can hear this "new direction" they were talking about. Horns, drums, synth.. Especially the last song "Beth/Rest" reminds me of an 80's romantic drama soundtrack. And "Towers" gives you a feeling of being somewhere in a field with a straw hat (these might not be positive things though). Also somehow you have this Kanye West vibe in it too, perhaps the collaboration between them has influenced a bit.

I felt that the self-titled sophomore had a lot of potential (songs Perth and Minnesota, WI = amazing), but now today when I listened to it, while reading the lyrics I don't know if it was the feeling of disappointment or optimism for the album to grow on me. It's hard to say now, but what can you do when you love the feeling of the debut, and now there's another kind of feeling being offered? Or actually, a feeling I need to figure out yet.

There's one feeling I know, and that's frustration of not being able to get a ticket for all Bon Iver's sold out UK gigs!

Any other Bon Iver fans wanting to share their opinions?

6FU

The other night, while coming back from Paris by bus, I watched the last episode of Six Feet Under. Thinking it's the second last episode. Luckily I had enough battery in my laptop to see the most amazing last moments of any series finale.

Six Feet Under lasted for five seasons from 2001-2005. Many says it's one of the best series on TV and it has the best finale ever. Couldn't agree more.

I'm glad that I didn't watch the show, when it was shown on Finnish TV. I think I wouldn't have understood all the life lessons it gave as much as I do now. Like Alan Ball, the creator of the show and writer of American Beauty says; "Before you realize your own mortality, you can't start to live".

We watched the pilot during a class and were supposed to analyze a few episodes. Some of us went all the way until the end, and some hated it. All I can say that during these few months, 63 hours of my life are well spent. It gave me much more than just a pass from the course; it gave a different way to look at things. Less regrets and more of a "go for it" attitude.

Just me writing about a series and letting you read tells a lot about the impact the show made on me.

I don't know if it's because there are some things I can relate to in the show, or that the Fishers remind my family so much, but I'm certain that there is something that Six Feet Under can offer to everyone.

Now, there's been a lot of talk about the show even after 10 years of its premiere, and people around us are getting curious about it, GOOD! But don't only be curious, watch it. You'll miss a lot, if you don't. Trust me.

I'm not going to tell anything about the plot or put trailers, I think it's always best to see something without any clue about it. But here's my favorite quote:

"You're not a chicken that I can choose, which part I love the most"
- Ruth

Explosions In Paradise

25.5.2011

After 4h of sleep it was time to leave Ireland. Never would I have thought that going back to The Netherlands could be so depressing. Or was it going back to reality, which depressed me? Didn't even feel that excited to go to the concert in the evening. Just wanted the ash clouds to cancel our flight and crawl back to bed and sleep. It was even more tempting to travel back to Finland and be in the forest.

But all I could do is hope that Explosions In The Sky in Amsterdam would cheer me up. Yes, that was my Facebook status update. And no I didn't mean bombs, although some of you thought so. I meant THE BAND from Texas. Here I can realize how my writing teacher was right about reading out loud the stuff you write, because it just can sound different than on paper.

Have I told you already how much I hated travelling to Amsterdam, because it took so long? Well, only 2 hours max. That would be the same as from Jyväskylä to Tampere, but I've gotten so used to the half an hour train trips already that I'll probably go crazy back in Finland. But during the trip thanks to Tea, I got to taste Swirls ice-cream for the first time. Some Dutch thing that you can just pick all the toppings yourself and it was so good!

Arriving to the former church venue Paradiso, we only saw the end of the supporting act, which I think was a good thing; according to Linda who we met up with after the gig, it felt like he was playing one same song for half an hour, but at least the visuals were nice.

by linda

 The main act Explosions In The Sky is an instrumental band, whose music I got to know through Linda sometime in January. Some might say the music is depressing or something of a war movie where the hero runs for his friend. But actually I find it to be quite hopeful; something you could listen to at a beach when the sun is going down. Or as a compromise we can call it happily melancholic; a feeling I found while listening to a song my Italian flat mate linked me last autumn. The video is really lovely too, please have a look.

The gig itself, what can I say other than great. It's something you have to experience and create your own emotions yourself. I wasn't able to get great photos, nor are there good videos of the gig on YouTube, but here's a good pic taken by Linda from the balcony. And the live video is one of my favorite songs of theirs (sadly didn't play for us) and taken from another gig, so you could have some kind of moving image idea of them playing live.

It did cheer me up.