A Restful holiday

So for the past week I've just been resting at my aunts place. Before that I visited both grandmothers place for a night or so. Celebrated my moms youngest uncles bday and met their daughters husband :) her cousin was also visiting and thank God for her!! The mini party started pretty late so at least the cousin kept me company. Well, we both kept each others company. She's around the same age as me so had lots to talk about :D

The past week went by a bit slowly. Woke up, showered, ate and sat in front of the TV. First few days were ok cause it felt nice watching Bollywood movies, but then I started to get a bit bored. We went out every other day to buy groceries an such. Even though the market was close it took quite a while to get there. People here don't really drive properly. There are two lanes, but three cars in a row will drive. And another car will try to come between them. If someone needs to go left, they'll first go to the left side then turn from there.... and that's how traffic jams come to be~

I gotta say, i'm starting to miss my Korean shows and even the American ones xD well, I finally got Running Man to work so YAY!!! Using my cousins interwebz :D hopefully won't finish the data on it...

Still gotta do some shopping, that I've left for the last week cause I just gotta go and buy them. Might get me my own saree :3

Well, thats it for now~  MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!! (I miss my friends so much >_<)

A wedding in Ludhiana

(sorry in advance, cause I'm not able to add all the pics to this post... they will be updated when I'll be back in Finland.. Maybe a bit sooner)\

The day I arrived was busy. Got to take a 2 hour nap after which we went to the tailors to give my measurements for the suit I'd already chosen for the wedding, It's a nice red and gold, with some big details around the neck. Then we went to the shops to get clothes for the other functions. I needed at least two (already had a dress for one of them) and then more for home, or just in case. First it was seeming very hopeless I'd find anything, but just as we were leaving one shopping area my aunt noticed a small shop and we checked it out. it had great Indian clothes that looked good on me and the sort i liked. So I got three outfits from there. We were pretty much done at that point. Then I realized I don't have any small purse, cause my aunt had one that was too bling for me. Then we went to Lifestyle to find some kurtas and a clutch. Got one kurta to wear with jeans and found a clutch, AND I LOVE IT SO!!!! it has pics of Audrey Hepburn on it <3 Found some uber stylish bags of Ginger and I really, really, really want one of the satchel style bag. it's be so handy for me!! I've been missing those. Can't seem to find one back home and kind of sick having a big bag/purse with me. I want it >_<  can't seem to find a pic of them online.... weird.

The next day I left by the 16.30 train to Ludhiana and it was a good journey. Put on my fake nails on the way and watched Fault in Our Stars (worst idea ever!!!), took a nap and we reached my 20.30. Got enough to eat also on the way.

Next day was the engagement party and it started early in the afternoon. I wore a peach color saree, that my aunt lent me and just blow-dried my hair. Simple, yet pretty. Spent the whole party meeting new people and taking care of the kids. The ceremony was nice and the bride was looking gorgeous.
In the evening we celebrated the brides brothers bday. They'd set up a tent and catering in the back yard so everything was great.

Next day was the music night, with just the brides side of the family. I wore a dress I bought from KappAhl and the function was in the evening and outside, so had to take a shawl with me. It was pretty chilly in the evening even though the afternoons are hot like Finnish summer.
This function is a bit different and not celebrated that much in my culture. It was great fun :) even danced a bit with others. One of the brides friends arrived that evening to Ludhiana so came to the party a bit late. I finally got some other company than the kids :D 

We arrived home after 2 am and fell asleep around 3am. Next day was when we get henna done on our hands (the bride got hers done the day before so it'll be dark enough). I woke up early enough cause we were told they'll come by noon. well the arrived around 13 and had to eat something first. By the time I was free and managed to get my hads down, they'd dome many and were already tired, so I'm that happy with what I got.... But it's something.
Another friend of the bride arrived just before lunch on that day and stayed with me in the same room. Now that we were around seven people for the shower the next day, we had to plan it. The wedding was for 11.30, before which was a small brunch at the venue starting at 10.30. So had to wake up accordingly and I wanted my hair done and the hairdresser came around 8. She did my hair into a beautiful bun, though I didn't like how she did my front. I tried to fix it without ruining the back. I started missing Kikka so much at that point. Then I helped get the boys ready and they looked SO HANDSOME in their suit and tie!!! They gonna grow up to be heartbreakers one day xD   So the morning went smooth, even had time to hang around for the ride. Then we went with the people that were staying in  hotel. the venue was decorated beautifully!! It was very open so didn't feel so crowded. The wedding ceremony was delayed by and hour (I think), but we got to see the bride before that. She had a pink langha with with golden details and all. HEAVY AS HELL!! Around 7-8kg and it felt like it when I carried it for a moment before. The ceremony was at their temple and so short. So used ti ours which can take ours, had to make sure they got married xD Then it was back to the venue. Food was great, but didn't eat much cause had enough snacks. The butter chicken was so good that I left it for last.  then I got asked to get food for one of the boys and left my plate there. By the time I got back there my plate vanished.

          

One of the hand, the next day. More and better pics of everything later.

After a while it was time to say good-bye to the newly weds and go home. i was wearing my killer heels (that I'd  left for the last day) and was getting desperate to take them off.

When we got home me and Sohini didi (the friend) ran upstairs to change into our sweats. Oh, good God that relief. After eating a bit we went down to eat, but I was super tired and had to get up super early for the train back to Delhi. We ended up watching a movie on my iPad, but didn't finish it. It was the new Cameron Diaz and Jason Segal movie, Sex Tape. really funny.
Next day woke up at 5.40 to take the train at 6.55. Picked up the friend that was staying at the hotel, downloaded my ticket there (cause i'd turned the data off during the night and forgot to check it in the morning).Went well, got onto the train on time, but then had a problem with the condustor. See, on the way there they didn't check my ID, but i was told that they will. I don't have my license with me cause mom didn't let me take it with me. I ain't gonna carry around my passport, cause i won't be able to leave the country if it gets lost. But for some reason I had my first aid card with me (it has the Red Cross logo on it) so the friend with e managed to talked with the conductor and from 3200 rupees I paid 500. I owe that guy big time!!

My aunt was waiting at the platform and got home well :)  Slept a couple hours and just rested at home. We had dinner at Pizza Hut, nomnom.

More pics and text will be updated later, bye for now~

The departure

Packing was hard this time. I had too many clothes to take with me, even though I'm about to buy more. Parents and other people started scaring me about going alone, as if I'm going to India alone for the first time. Okay, I am gonna be traveling to Ludhiana, but I know to be careful!! 

Makes me regret going on the trip. Maybe should've gone to London instead??

I drove to the airport and it was a bit hard cause so dark! And there were some construction going on near the airport so almost took the wrong lane xD everything else went well, even got time to get me something from Starbucks ;) chocolate chip frappaccino as usual~ 

Anyways, now that I'm on the flight and Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is on, (oh, Thranduil ❤️) I'm suppa excited ~ gonna see my relatives after 4 years and get to go to a wedding~ 

yay, party!! 

The most annoying thing that could happen when in flight, is when you've not been sitten on the aisle seat and you're too Finnish to ask the other person to give way, so that you can go to the bathroom... Of course it happened to me, and of course I'm too Finnish  xD 

A little bit of the last day at work practice: we visited the art museum in Salo (taidemuseo Veturitalli),mother exhibition going on was old pics of Salo city from almost the beginning. I found out that Salo was first only a merchant town. Steam boats were able to come by the river, which is much narrower nowadays. Found out the truth about how Salo burned down in 1887 (I think it was then), cause one 6th grade we were told the truth was never sure. Long story short a tennat owed money to people so he burned the house to get insurance. Because houses were made of wood and that house was in the centre, the whole town burned down. 

The first photo studio in town (when Salo became a city) was owned by a divorced women. Which is very uncommon in the 1800. Many of the photos of the town were taken by here and the enlargened some of the portraits. One particular photo got my interest. It's has two finnish girls and a dark skin girl, who looks like from India area. How and why she got here?! What's her story?! I NEED TO KNOW!!! But, sadly, they don't know the story behind that pic :(  (update: I already went to the bathroom and then I found out that we can get water from the back... I'm just so thirsty now -_-)

After the tour we went into the "Selfie studio" where we coul dress up and take pics. The students, including me, LOVED IT!!! The exhibition is till 18.1. so I can go again and take a better pic!! 

I have now moved into Friends cause I did just watch Hobbit a couple,weeks ago and Guardians of the Galaxy 3 times the past week xD maybe will watch How to Train your Dragon 2 or Juno next... 

I'm traveling again!!

I'm so excited!! I'm going back to the city I was born in! That's Delhi, if you were wondering.
It's been four years since my last visit "home" (Finland is pretty much my home) and that's when we had a family vacation there. We'd visited Jaipur together then mom had to come back, so me, dad and Vipul went to Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi.

This time I'm going alone, 27.11-2.1. I arrive in India on 28th, early in the morning and next day I'm traveling to Ludhiana. I'm going there for a wedding and I don't have anything to wear!!!! PANIC!!!! There are four functions 30.11-3.12.  when the wedding is. So relieved that the journey is just four hours. Downloading couple movies so that'll be around three hours and I got stuff to read. I'll also be putting my fake nails on that journey. I only have one Indian clothes and a dress, that I might wear either on the sangeet or henna function. So the day I arrive 'm going shopping for more clothes!! Every women's dream :D Gotta get matching jewelry and maybe a purse. Not shoes though, cause I know it's gonna be impossible to find even one in my size. I'll be taking two choices of heels with me. They'll have to do.
I'll be trying to update my wedding experience every evening (or something...) with my outfit and all.

Dunno when I'll be travelling back to Delhi, but whenever it is, I'm first gonna be staying a couple days with my aunt then visit my cousins and other relatives. It's gonna be around 4 weeks of just meeting relatives and jumping one house to another. And spending a lot, and I do mean a lot of time, in the car and/or other transportation.

I can't wait to see everyone! Missed everyone soooo much!! Not to mention the food xD So expect lots of food pics/updates. I'm not used to India in the winter, cause here we got insulation and floor heating so don't have to bother with layering up even inside. But I get to spend New Years with my relatives, after so many years :)


On other news, well Vipul's news, he's ok. His holidays just started and he's off to Sydney :) Even though I'm going to India, I'm still jealous of him, cause he gets to meet all the people we haven't seen in 15 years!! He doesn't even remember them, but I do!

I've already started packing and noticed I got tons of clothes, so in the next few days I gotta figure out which ones are unnecessary. WHY IS PACKING SO HARD?!?! But some of the stuff aren't coming back with me, so I can do a lot of shopping ;)

Wednesday is my last day at the junior high. where I've been for work practice. Gonna miss this environment. Pretty much been helping out in the class for foreigner students of 13-17 ages who have just moved to Finland. Since January to October I was in the same class, but in the elementary school and I loved it. I knew what they are going through and how hard it is to suddenly learn a new language, because that's where I started at. Point is, I gotta move onto another school when I come back, but hope to one day work in a similar kind of class. I am also now half way to finishing my degree ^^ Should graduate in June and then I'm off to Australia also!! :)

I promise to try and keep my blog updated through the trip, since I will be getting internet on my phone.
Laters~

A weekend in Stockholm

Stockholm in the morning

After a whole summer of planning to visit Stockholm, we finally did it!! It happened quickly cause dad finally kinda got the weekend off, so he just book a ticket. We left Friday night on Viking Lines new ship Grace. It was so lovely and modern! Just walking in you knew its gonna be beautiful. It is bigger than the other one we usually take, so felt spacious. Our cabin was the simple, windowless cabin. Interior was really nice. After a quick dinner we went to see the ship. It had an a la carte restaurant on the top floor and it looked nice. Menu seemed nice, just not for our family. We checked out the buffet and that had more choices for me, not my vegetarian parents. Decided I'll have breakfast there in the morning. Cause parents told me that we won't be coming back on the same ship, I didn't buy anything. Did make a list of what I'll need to buy when coming back. Otherwise I'd have to skip that day at my work practice and I can't do that. The couches and chairs were so comfy, just wanted to stay in them! After the round we ended at the nightclub, bought cocktails just in time for the performance to start. I stayed for a few songs then went to sleep. Felt like I'd just gone to sleep when my alarm went off, but I was excited for breakfast so it was easy to get up. I paid 11€ for the buffet and the choices of food was good.Range of cut meat, cheese, scrambled eggs. bacon, meatballs. sausage, porridge, sweet buns/muffins. Also included were bread, coffee and tea. Surprisingly I had a few meatballs!! :D they were nom~ 

by the sea

Went back to get our stuff then off to the city!! After reaching the place we were staying I went to sleep till 11-ish, showered, had second breakfast and then we went down the road and there was the sea. I liked that they had a few piers where you could sit. You could also swim there and they'd put up those bars to go in and out of the water. It was just by the road, so if you're out on a walk or something, you could just have a quick dip and continue on :D Took some pics with the family and walked by the sea. Then we took the metro into town for lunch, even though I'd just eaten, but it had been longer for the rest of them. We went to the best Indian restaurant in Stockholm and it really was excellent. Since I wasn't hungry I just tasted a little bit from everyone. For starters we ordered Mango Idli and Himalayan Fountain, which had okra. Main included Mango paneer, Paneer tikka, something chicken and a aubergine dish. The best was the Mango Paneer!! Couldn't ever guess that mango and paneer could go so well together! After lunch we went to get some mini cupcakes to eat at home with tea. In front of the cupcake shop was a Dead Sea cosmetics shop and the guy asked my mom if I'd like a quick treatment. I so didn't want one. Cause I am weak with those kind of people and I also couldn't have been bothered. The guy was super cute though... Turns out they wanted me cause of the acne on my face. See, I don't give a shit about it anymore. It doesn't bother me, so I hate it when it bothers others... Just deal with it.

Himalyan Fountain

the idli

Main :)

The next day I went to Gamla Stan (Old town) alone. After reaching there I realized that I didn't even plan anything to see. So I just ended up walking around and taking pics. I'm not that savy with the camera yet, so the pics are what they are ^^  I wanted to walk towards Slussen, but ended up at the palace, which was totally on the opposite direction! Found a gift for Kikka and a AWESOME souvenir for Akira. Can't wait to give to them. I like older buildings a lot. so just walking there was so surreal. I walked towards Slussen on my own pace and just look around as much as I wanted. But finding my way to Slussen was hard. Went in the wrong direction a few times :D From there I took the metro to T-Centralen, where all the shops were. We planned to meet up there with my parents for lunch anyways, so I just arrived a little early. Just as I came up I saw a H&M so went it. Along with me came 4 nailpolishes, a top and a skirt. Gonna be wearing them on Friday for Kikka's brithday :)

the Palace

I love walking through these kind of streets <3

Behind the building

We had lunch at Pizza Hut!! Oh, how I've missed their pizza <3 We went back to the apartment in time to have tea and pack up the stuff we just bought. On the way we stopped to quickly see the building where the Noble Prizes are held. Didn't get my camera out of the bag on time, but took some pics behind it, cause so pretty~
 We came back by Amorella, which is a much older Viking Line ship. Since I'd only had lunch I knew I'd want dinner. Went to the restaurant where you have to weigh your plate. The whole meal was 18€ and couldn't eat it all :/ From the shop I only got some alcohol drinks, cause they were a bit cheaper then in the shops here. Hang out there for a while then to bed. I woke up before 3am and went to the upper decks so I could use the internet. Called Vip, who was just about to leave to go back to Canberra (He'd spent the weekend in Sydney), then went back to try and sleep. No luck. Straight from Turku I went to work practice and after coming home I slept 4 hours straight :D

Now I'm just waiting for Friday cause I get to see people again, especially Kikka <3

dinner~

Online dating... my stories, my tips

A few years ago I signed up on a random dating site just for the heck of it. Couple days later I'd totally forgot about it. I'd gone back to it over a year later and a bit more frequently. Mostly it was random 5 min chats with guys. Gotten to know their pattern so never lasted :D Until I went to UK. Started talking to a really nice guy and we talked for many days until we ended up meeting while I visited London. We're still in touch and all...

In the past year I took up trying out some of the dating apps I can get on my phone (Lumia) or iPad. Lumia doesn't have anything good so deleted them all. The only one I'm okay with is OkCupid. The longest I was on was Are You Interested. Here are some pointers of how to know what kind of profile to watch out:

No profile picture

I usually don't answer to anyone who doesn't have a profile picture. I kinda like to know what kind of face the recipient has... But I do check out their profile cause sometimes they do have pics of themselves. Don't be shy to check out their profile. You can get a lot out of them, or even nothing...

So this just happened today. Since I'm sick and at home all week, I started going on the app a bit more. Talked with a guy a few hours before gave my Kik id. Then we exchanged our pics and the dude wasn't the same as on the site!! Instant bye-bye!! :''D

"Out of your league"
If the profile pic, in your opinion, is of a person who's so good looking and you know that in real life he'd be totally out of your league. It's probably a fake account trying to get nude pics of you. I if I say to a profile "damn, he's totally out of my leagues" I usually just leave it at that. 

The persistent ones
Holy crap there are so many guys out there who just don't get the hint!! Even when I say "Sorry, don't really wanna continue chatting with you". Then they'll just continue the chat like I didn't even say anything.

"Hello... You there" x 15/min
Which leads to the ones who keep sending messages even _after_ I've said that I'll be back in a few minutes! I come back to 20 "Hello's" and "Where are you!". Unlike you _I_ have a life!! (apparently).
 Once i was talking with quite a nice guy, after telling him that I'm gonna go make rice, he says ok. Then I came back to over 15 "where did you go" "Don't you like me anymore" "Don't you want to talk to me anymore?" .... I was gone max. 5 minutes!! He even knew I'm gonna be away from my iPad. Should've taken a screenshot of how ridiculous it was xD

You're not obliged to continue talking to them if you don't wanna.
Guy's do get super persistent and think you have to talk to them. But you don't. If you're feeling uncomfortable with him, or the conversation is going towards a direction you don't want, just block 'em. I've had to do this more than often. Sometimes they just don't get the hint that it ain't gonna go further.

_That_ pic
Please, oh, please stop sending pics of your dick!! I'd be so happy if I never see one more dick pic in my messages. And it's most creepy when it's out of the blue OR it's right after "Hi" xD Also stop asking for nudes in less then 2 min into chatting. It ain't gonna ever happen.

Taking the chat elsewhere
I don't mind taking the chat out of the dating site (since it sometimes only gives you limited amount of chatting time etc..), but I'm not gonna give you my phone number, Skype or Facebook id. All those are private to me, so no. Kik on the other hand, i'm ok with. And that's something I recommend until you're ready to give some other id. Knowing how cool Whatsapp is, it also means you're giving away your phone number. Please reconsider that a million times before you give it. That's why I like Kik.

"Let's meet up" *Lives 3000km away*
I am all ears if you have an idea of how we gonna meet. You coming from the US?? Cause I don't have 2000€ to fly anywhere for one "date". Just saying... Anyone who says this and knows it's impossible to meet and still has high hopes... Be realistic!! Cause I definatly am.

"You're my gf now"
Wait, WHAT?!! We've literally been chatting for 5 minutes. It ain't that fast and I'm definatly not. Also, let's be realistic again.

"Hallo, howz u?"
If I see a simple "Hello" written a different way, I ain't even gonna answer back. Bad grammar kinda does annoy me. Especially if it's something simple. I know my grammar isn't the best either, but some effort does go a long way. And don't try to shorten everything. If it's "Finland" then write "Finland". If I can write the whole word, so can you.

On other news, I watched the fourth season of Pretty Little Liars. Even though the girls annoy me, it's still addictive.. AND HOLY CRAP, EZRA!!!!! totally shocking twist... and there were two song I liked from that season: Sail - AWOLNATION and I Am Dust - Gary Numan . Just been on repeat for the past week :D 

Tomorrow I get to go back to work practice!! I was home sick, all last week. Excited~

#kustumua

About a week ago a story about a Finnish 18 -year old boy stopping bullies, bullying another boy, went viral. That got the attention of the president and a campaign called Kutsu Mua (Call Me) started. People started taking pictures of themselves with words they've been called as. Crossed them over and wrote something they would've rather been known as. This is, in my opinion, brilliant. Definatly something I want to be part of. I wasn't able to take the pic right away, but as soon as I could, I did.

My eyes look kinda crazy xD
"Nigger Alibaba  Indian"

My story starts when we came to Finland  and I transferred to the normal class. I got called nigger a lot. Later that year Alibaba started... No idea why... First I didn't get why they were dissing my color and kept saying it'll rub off on them if I'd touch the. I wasn't familiar with racism in Australia or India. I didn't get why I couldn't just be known as simply as Indian and why it was so hard to deal with a different colored person. I got bullied for other stuff also, but this one still hurts inside. Going to school was super difficult. I still find it difficult when meeting new people if they'll diss me for being darker.

I befriended Kikka and maiju over 10 years ago and they became very good friends. Got some of my confidence back until Maiju and me kinda fell apart. But Kikka and me stayed friends and I over came my shyness even more during the years.
As years went by I got more friends and good friends! Saw that everyone in this town isn't like that and it helped me move on. Now I'm much stronger then 10 years ago and I don't even care to have anything to do with my previous classes.
Not all my friends were there for me, but time showed me who I should really trust. That's all the tip I can give. Trust the people that have been there for you through that hard times, they'll definatly give you strength.  And if after the next 10 years they're still there? Be grateful, be so so grateful!! :)

That's enough for blast from the past, I must go sleep :D