Helsinki

After I left Seinäjoki I headed over to Helsinki. Helsinki is somewhat like Ann Arbor, Michigan in that it is a clean, intellectual, environmentally friendly city but different because it is 100 times better.

First I went to the museum Ateneum and saw some works by great Finnish artists such as Hugo Simberg, Helene Schjerfbeck and some interesting ideas from Jaakko Karhunen and Pilvari Pirtola.

Then my uncle Matti picked me up and we went out for a nice dinner. He is a really interesting man; he has travelled the world and had many different careers (pastor, accountant, professor).

The next day my cousin Harri showed me some sights around Helsinki. Harri is a student of economics in Helsinki. He explained to me how the education system works: first you take an exam to get into a specific university. Then if you are accepted, you get a monthly stipend of around 400 - 800 Euro a month to live and free on campus housing. Also, did I mention, schooling is free? Ahh, Finland.

Then I met up with my Aunt Eeva to go to a pre-Christmas party for her gym club at which the Scandinavian Hunks performed. The Hunks are akin to Chippendales. So it was pretty funny and a little uncomfortable feeling. Here's the link if you want to see some of the photos and videos of the Hunks: http://www.scandinavianhunks.com/

Afterwards I went out with Jyri and his friends. I went over to one of his friend's parent's penthouse on the Gulf of Finland which was decorated really modern. The view was quite beautiful. Then we went to his friend's dad's office in downtown Helsinki. The office was outfitted with everything possible a person could need: a grand piano, a bedroom, a sauna, a kitchen, karaoke, the works!

On Sunday Aunt Eeva took me to her work. She works in fashion and took me to the Helsinki House of Fashion and showed me the designer showroom she works in! That would be a dream job for me. Later I went out to lunch with Aunt Eeva and her sister and then I sadly departed back to Russia. When I was in the airport, I thought a lot about not getting on the plane. In the middle of the flight, I was ready to stand up and shout to all of the Finnish businessmen "do you know what you are getting yourselves into! Don't go to Russia!"

But alas, I made the flight and am back in Russia.