Something happened this summer. I was so happy that I cried.
Since then, it's been happening quite often. I don't cry with sounds and streams of tears, but there are a few drops, and mostly its this intense internal feeling that leaves me beaming and antsy.
(BTW - Since I have to read the Magna Carta for Intro to North American Studies tomorrow morning, I'm going to keep this blog post brief.)
(Sorry about the interruption. It's how my brain operates!)
Why was today greater than others? I went to school like always, spent two hours in Finnish class like always, where I mostly thought about food, Hawaii and how much more I need to study Finnish. I had lunch like always, with two amazing friends (Shizuka, a last-year student from Japan, studying History, with a memory like a sponge, a subtle sense of humor and a soft touch; Zhenia, from Russia, a young linguistic student with knack for color coordination and picking up on people's defining characteristics). I replied to some e-mails, wrote some postcards, came back home, and took a nap. When I woke up, I ran into Federiko in the hallway, and he told me he was cooking on the first floor. Pasta, like always. I grabbed tuna, tomatoes, onions, olive oil and blue cheese from my room, and went upstairs. Dinner was awesome. I love simple recipes and talks over the table. Later entered Shizuka and Zhenia, and we ate raw carrots like horses.
Now I'm in my room. As I said, I have to read for a class tomorrow. I'm also thinking about joining Intro to Web Publishing.
Before I go, though, I should mention a few updates from the previous blog. I met up with two Finnish students yesterday about a possible excursion into the forest. The origin of this seemingly random meeting is a class called Finnish Society and Culture. Two weeks ago, we had a lecture on trees and forests in Finland. It was one of my favorite topics this semester, and brought me back to discussions with the ILAP team and trips into the forest with Miles (references that will be understood by my science reporting crew). After class, I asked the lecturer if anyone would be willing to lead a group of exchange students into the forest. He said that some last-year students could use this opportunity to earn credit points. So I gave him my e-mail.
I met with two students yesterday, and I'm really excited about this project. The girls have started to create a powerpoint presentation to introduce the excursion. We will continue to discuss the content and organization of the excursion over November. In December will be the first trip. Next year, we'll have a bigger trip.
Second point: I saw Le Havre. It didn't leave such a big impression on me. It was just... average. I enjoyed the cinematography; I liked the awkward dialogue; I liked the music. But the story was so blah for me. And it just danced lightly around the issue of immigration. Don't get me started on the portrayal of gender roles and cigarette smoking! The movie left me desiring France so badly though...
Third point: I spent 20 minutes in the sauna yesterday. It was girl's day, but nobody really pays attention anymore. So Zhenia and I were sitting in the sauna with Nick from England. It was so hot and steamy, and Nick kept throwing water onto the coals. Every time he did it, I put my hands over my face because it burned. After five minutes, none of us could talk. It would be a waste of energy. Our nostrils were very warm and our throats were dry. Zhenia and I left to rinse off, and then came back in. The last cold shower after the sauna is so great. Then we sit on benches and talk about our day and other "things of the life." Our faces are red, and we're so relaxed.
Lastly: At lunch yesterday I met a guy from France. He said that people in France love going to the cinema (not the movie theater because I'm so cosmopolitan now), and they go on an average of at least once per month. A few extra euros get added to the ticket price, which goes to directors. The Ministry of Culture in France is very serious about investing money in French culture (cinema, museums, architecture, art, music, etc.) Fifty one percent of songs on the radio have to be in French, he said. Producers focus on the good parts of France to promote tourism and spread French culture. "You really should go to France," he said eventually. "I would like to," I replied, "but I heard it's hard to get around without speaking French. Plus I'm American..." He shook his head and said that French people don't hate American's like we think. They may be rude, but deep down, they are jealous of Americans. They don't want to speak English because they are jealous of America's supremacy and cultural influence. This hit me like a ton of bricks.
I would like to go to France; I would like to watch more movies; I would like to work on documentaries; I would like to try new cheeses; I would like to send out all this mail; I would like to be more diligent in learning Finnish. I would like to scream loudly from the window of a car on a road trip to a distant town (Thinking about you, Michelle).
Today has just been a good day. Nothing more. If I were having a bad day, this blog post would have a totally different tone.
Hyvää yötä! I guess this post wasn't as brief as I expected.
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