Scotland Edition | Gaiverruksia

“Gaiverruksia is a blog that tells about my adventures as an exchange student in the University of St Andrews in Scotland. The entries in this blog will mostly be in the form of comics. I will try and update irregularly regularly.” //
(This information is no longer valid :P) //
“Finally, I’d like to point out that the address of this blog will be on the exchange blog pages of the University of Helsinki. Gaiverruksia is therefore a public blog. Please remember that if you leave comments and don’t tell any personal details about anyone. Thank you.” //
“Where can I find a scanner here?”

This blog has a main character. Her name is Kati. “C’est moi! And that’s about all I can say in French.” Dark curly hair is a good way for recognizing me. //
There have always been three important things in my life: books, drawing and animals. 2 years: “Buttelfly!” 7 years: “Sea hare!” 16 years: “Eagle!” 19 years (biology entrance exams): “Rats!” //
“Now I’ve studied biology for four years and there are still a couple of years more to come. On my free time I mostly read and draw.” I’m also interested in camping, science fiction and westerns… //
“So I am a b(io)logist. Heh. But there are other people than just me in my life (and in the comics). Here are some of the most important ones…”

FAMILY:
Mother: Likes carrots, woollen socks and old TV-series.
Big Brother: Plays tennis and bakes the best chocolate cakes in the world.
BEST FRIENDS:
Snowhorse: Comic artist and horse nutty since birth, my mental twin since middle school.
Mr Brony: Writes stories, plays music and watches birds and thinks that Scottish drizzle is the best kind of weather.

EXCHANGE STUDENT FRIENDS:
Sunshine: American exchange student for the autumn, loves her house plant and her yellow frying pan.
Whale: German exchange student for the autumn and my most devoted baker student. Likes whales.
FRIENDS:
Rikku: Tea-powered literature and film student who is the only actually Scottish person in the group.
Ezra: A medic fresher who knows every YouTube video ever made and suffers from fangirl problems.
Mudkip: My neighbour and a great fan of Pokémon. Will conquer the world with his bad puns.
Jimothy: A devoted fan of Star Trek and cats, and the only person I know who actually plays golf.
Astrid: My academic stepmother. Loves all fluffy and cute things and gives lucky rubs that help us pass exams.

KUINKA VAIHTOON LÄHDETÄÄN – HOW TO GET ABROAD (3.09.2015)

In high school: ”I could get abroad some day.” //
As a fresher: ”Some time, when I have the time…” //
Second year: ”Maybe on my fourth year…” //
Fourth year: ”Well NOW!” //
“I had had the idea of becoming an exchange student – at some point – for quite a long while. Funnily enough, the last straw was reading M. L. Montgomery’s Anne-books last winter.” //
Reading about Anne’s life in a new city made me want something new, too! //
My earlier studies had been like this… My high school and university are really situated on different sides of the same field… Well, to the point! //
I went to exchange info. I read the exchange web pages. I filled in the papers.

But then: “I don’t know how to fill all these papers! I can’t apply after all… I won’t get abroad… Bu-huuu!” //
Round 2 of applying to Erasmus exchange begins… “I can still apply to my favourite place…” //
“Now damn it.” “Guess what? I’m going abroad for the spring!” //
A couple of weeks later: You’ve been given the Erasmus grant…” //
About two minutes and 17 seconds later I started to think what I had done. “So I’ll move to Scotland for a year. Fancy that.”

Ja siitä se ajatus sitten lähti…
And that’s how it started…

MIKSI SKOTLANTIIN? – WHY TO SCOTLAND? (3.09.2015)

Why: Lovely people (I have experience on this). The nature <3. They speak English in there. //
Why not: British food. The weather. Nobody understands that English.

SE EDELLINEN SKOTLANTI-SEIKKAILU – THE PREVIOUS SOTLAND ADVENTURE (3.09.2015)
Kiitokseni Lumihevoselle ja Mr. Bronylle mahtavasta matkasta. Ja lauttamiehille teestä ja Digestivekekseistä.
My thanks to Snowhorse and Mr. Brony for a great trip. And the ferry men for tea and cookies.

(Operation packing) “I’ve been in Scotland once before, with my friends Snowhorse and Mr. Brony. It was two years ago.” //
It was Brony who came up with it. “Hey! I’ve got an idea!” //
“Next summer the three of us are going to Scotland!” “Right.” //
So we did. //
I think we all fell in love with Scotland on day one…

We did other things during those two weeks, too: Wandering on the mountains. Loch Ness monster – no, wait. The Botanical Garden of Glasgow. Edinburgh Castle and all those bag pipes. Clydesdale horses. London attractions, such as Hamley’s toy shop and Big Ben. //
After that trip it was no surprise that I wanted to go back to Scotland.

ESITTELYSSÄ: MÄÄRÄNPÄÄ – ITRODUCING: THE DESTINATION (3.09.2015)

“The place I’m going to is a small town called St Andrews.” //
According to Wikipedia there are about 16 000 inhabitants. “I guess the size of the place is the reason why so few exchange students want to go there. Or at least fewer than who want to go to Glasgow.” To me it was a reason to apply to go there! After all, I spent most of my summer in a tent or on field stations and I liked it. //
“The University of St Andrews was founded around 1410. It is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world.” John Cleese has been the headmaster at one point. //
Beside of these reasons (and generally loving Scotland) the University of St Andrews also has interesting modules in biology. “Like ocean biology! They don’t really teach it in Helsinki!”

JUNALIPPUJEN OSTAMISEN KAUHEUDESTA – HOW HORRIBLE IT IS TO BUY TRAIN TICKETS (3.09.2015)
Kiitos, britit. Teette kaiken aina niin helposti.
Thanks, Brits. You always make everything so easy.

“Okay, I need train tickets from London to St Andrews. It’s probably best to buy them online.” //
“Okay, 5th of September… That train.” //
You cannot print the tickets yourself. “Okay, send them by mail then.” //
Sending them by mail costs you 7,5 pounds. “Why you…!” //
“Okay, whatever…” Would you like to pay with debit card or credit card? “Debit.” //
You cannot. “What do you mean I can’t? You just asked…” //
You just cannot. Only credit card will do. “…” //
“But I don’t even HAVE a credit card!!!” //
“Dad…?”
A couple of phone calls later… “Okay, now I got them tickets payed.” “Thanks, Dad, you’re the best!” //
“They ask here how probable it is that you’d recommend this web page to your friends?” //
“Is “no f*cking way” an option?”’

Lentolippujen ostaminen meni kuitenkin ihan putkeen. PS. Kiitos isä <3
Buying flight tickets went all right then. PS. Thanks Dad <3

VIIMEINEN ILTA ENNEN LÄHTÖÄ – THE LAST NIGHT BEFORE GOING (16.09.2015)

The last night before going. Everything is packed. //
The exchange student is worried. “What if there’s something wrong with my papers and there is no room for me?” //
“If I don’t find my train? If I don’t understand? If I don’t have enough money? If I don’t get to study what I want? If it’s just horrible? If I don’t make any friends? If there’s something wrong with the payments? If I’ve messed up with the plane tickets? If the food is bad? If I get homesick? If my room is cold and terrible? If I get lost?” //
“I don’t even have any money after this year!” //
“Was this a good idea AT ALL?” //
(Mother) “Hey, do you remember what you felt like when it seemed that you couldn’t go abroad at all?” //
“Oh yeah right.”

UNIBAROMETRI – SLEEPING BAROMETER (16.09.2015)

Before the first camp I was leading: goal: 9 hours of sleep. “My jaw hurts…” Achieved: 4 hours. //
Before biology entrance exams: goal: 8 hours of sleep. “Genetic drift…” Achieved: 3 hours. //
Before the previous trip to Scotland: goal: 7 hours of sleep. “Have I packed everything?” Achieved: 2 hours. //
Before going to St Andrews: goal: 6 hours of sleep. Achieved: 4,5 hours! //
“I actually slept! What IS this sorcery?!”

MATKALLA – THE JORNEY (17.09.2015)

The 5th of September. I travelled…
By taxi to the airport. By bus to the plane. By airplane to London. By escalator to a train station. By train to St Pancras. Up by escalator. By train from King’s Cross to Edinburgh. By train from Edinburgh to Leuchars. By bus to St Andrews. By foot to my hall. Upstairs by lift. “Huh, I’m here.”

BRITTIEN SUURI RAKKAUS – THE GREAT LOVE OF THE BRITS (17.09.2015)

“Right away on Monday I had to go to this thing called Matriculation where they check your identity and money matters.” //
“And something called Advising where a professor checks the modules you’ve chosen.”
Passport checking / Money matters / Health care registration / Final check / Advising
“We Brits love queuing.” “All right.”

STARGAZING (18.09.2015)

On an evening walk with a couple of other exchange students. “It’s so dark in here that you can see the stars really well.”
“Do you see that constellation over there? We in America call it ‘The Big Dipper’.” //
“In Germany it’s ‘The Big Wagon’.” “In Finland we it’s known as ‘Otava’.” //
“Hmm… Here we are, half the world away from home but the constellations are the same.” “Yes…” “It does feel rather homely, all right.” //
“We’re not that far away after all… Still under the same stars.”

LÄMPIMÄSTI TERVETULOA! – A WARM WELCOME! (18.09.2015)

Freshers’ Week: “Welcome! It’s always warm in here, the Sun is shining, swallows flying around, rabbits jumping on the lawn amongst beautiful flowers…”
First day of lectures: “Haw haw.”

RUNSAUDENPULA – TOO MUCH! (19.09.2015)

The Sunday of Freshers’ week: “What kind of clubs, societies and activities does the University have? Let’s go and see.” //
Sci-fi society / Disney society / Nature conservation / Sherlock society / Biologists / Aikido/ Quidditch / Doctor Who //
“So many cool things! I want to join them all!”
“This is such a small town that the students have to arrange all their activities themselves.” “Working well!”

Oikeasti ylläoleva on säälittävä pintaraapaisu yliopiston noin kahdestasadasta Societysta. Ja tässä siis vain minun mielestäni kiinnostavimmat. Lisäksi oli mm. melontaa, biljardia, hevimusiikkia, neulontakerho, viiniklubi, lautapelikerho, luovan kirjoittamisen piiri, a capella -yhtye, uskonnollisia ja aatteellisia yhdistyksiä laidasta laitaan, eri maille omistettuja seuroja… You name it.
Mutta ei sarjakuvakerhoa.
What’s above is barely touching the matter and all the about 200 different societies. These were only the ones I found most interesting. There was also canoeing, billiard, heavy metal music, knitting club, wine club, board game society, a club for writing stories, an a capella choir, religious societys and clubs for different countries… You name it.
But no comic book society.

LUENTOSALIN METSÄSTÄJÄT – THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST LECTURE ROOM (19.09.2015)

“My first lecture will be about tropical marine biology. Yay! The lecture’s in… Bell Pettigrew Museum?” //
“Probably not here…” //
“Yes, they do have lectures in there.” “Okay, thank you.” //
“Is this the most epic lecture room EVER?!”

Yritän jonain päivänä tehdä oikeutta Bute Buildingin sisäpihalla kasvavalle rautatammelle ja piirtää sen kunnolla. Se on todellisuudessa aika paljon tuota toisessa ruudussa näkyvää isompi.
Viimeisessä kuvassa lattialla makaava koira ei muuten ole täytetty, vaan ihan elävä. Se on opettajan koira, josta tulee opaskoira. Ilmeisesti se harjoittelee luennolla ihmisten seurassa olemista. Tai sitten sekin on kiinnostunut mangrovemetsistä.
I try to draw a proper picture of the huge holly by Bute Building some day. In reality it’s much bigger than in this comic.
The dog in the last panel is not stuffed, she’s alive. She’s the professor’s guide dog puppy. I think she’s training to behave with people by attending to lectures. Or maybe she’s interested in mangrove forests, too.

UUSIA TUTTAVIA – NEW ACQUINTANCES (30.09.2015)
Tapahtui käytävällä…
Happened in a hallway…

“Hi, I don’t think we’ve met before.” “Hello.” //
“We live two floors up from here. We’re neighbours.” “I live here on the first floor.” //
We talked for about then minutes. //
“Well, I have to go now. It was nice meeting you!” “See you around.” //
“I MADE FRIENDS!!!”

Ja huuto kuului rappusiin asti.
We could hear her all the way to the stairs.

KUMMITUSTALO? – HAUNTED HOUSE? (30.09.2015)
Agnes Blackadder Hallin käytävät ovat pitkät ja joskus yllättävänkin pimeät…

The hallways of Agnes Blackadder Hall are long and sometimes surprisingly dark…
“This is like in some horror movie…” //
“Sorry, I was just… scared.” “Okay.”

UUSI PARAS KAVERI – NEW BEST FRIEND (1.10.2015)

“Ahem. I’d like to introduce my new best friend: a plastic bag with a cap, one litre in volume. (There was soap earlier.)” //
“Because if you fill it with warm water…” //
“…it becomes a hot water bottle!” //
“The floors here are really cold!” //
Even though I always wear woollen socks… (Thanks to Mum and Granma!) //
So I get my toes nice and warm in the evenings.

MITÄ SUOMALAISET TEKEVÄT PAREMMIN – WHAT FINNS DO BETTER (1.10.2015)

Things I miss from Finland: //
Rye bread //
Reasonable water taps (What’s the point of this? Too hot – too cold) //
Driving on the right side of the road (I guess it’s just what you’ve gotten used to) //
My binoculars “I wonder what those birds are?” //
Newspaper (I don’t know what’s happening in the world)//
SAUNA!!! “Sauna would be nice…”

LUNTTILAPPU – CHEAT SHEET (2.10.2015)
Ei lintujen tunnistamisessa ole mitään ongelmaa, mutta kun tietäisi, mitä ne ovat englanniksi!
Tahrat ja töhryt ovat autenttista St Andrewsin rannan smäidää.
There’s no problem in recognising the birds, I just wish I knew their names in English!
Stains and spots from St Andrews Estuary.

VUORIVESIRANNALLA – THE ESTUARY (2.10.2015)
Erääseen kurssiin, jolla olen, kuuluu aika paljon kenttätöitä, nimenomaan erilaisten eläinten laskemista. Sain myös opettajalta kiikarit koko syksyksi lainaan.
One module I’m on includes quite a lot of field work, especially counting animals. I also got to borrow the teacher’s binoculars for the whole semester.

“So every time you see an oystercatcher…” //
“…just press your clicker. Like this.” //
“So we’ll count only the oystercatchers today. Ready?” “Yes!” //
“Start counting!”

Opettajan arvion mukaan meriharakoita oli siellä rannalla noin pari tuhatta.
Our teacher estimated that there were about 2000 oystercatchers there.

SKOTTIEN AAMIAINEN – SCOTTISH BREAKFAST (3.10.2015)

“What’s that brown stuff?” “Haggis.” //
“What? It’s good!” “Yeah, but… for breakfast? I just can’t think of eating that much meat in the morning.” //
“What would you like to eat, then?” “If I could get anything – probably rye porridge and bilberries.” “”
The anatomy of a Scottish breakfast: an egg, haggis, bacon, a sausage. //
“Luckily, porridge is not unheard of in here.” “Whatever you like…”

Jälkihuomiona: sarjakuvassa esiintyvä henkilö ei ole Mudkip. En muista, kenen kanssa kävin tämän keskustelun, mutta se ei ollut hän.
As an afternote: the person in this comic isn’t Mudkip. I don’t remember who it was I had this conversation with, but it wasn’t him.

SUURI RAUTATAMMI – THE GREAT HOLM OAK (3.10.2015)
Lupasin yrittää tehdä oikeutta St Mary’s Collegen sisäpihalla kasvavalle rautatammelle. Tässä yritykseni. Paperini oli edelleen liian pieni koko puulle…
I promised I’d try to make a proper drawing of the holm oak by St Mary’s College. So here it is. My paper is still too small for the whole tree…

KAUNIS ILTAPÄIVÄ – A BEAUTIFUL AFTERNOON (7.10.2015)
Lokakuun ensimmäinen oli täällä nätti ja lämmin päivä. Ehdin luentojen välissä istuskella St. Mary’s Collegen pihalla piirtämässä. Pari tuntematonta auringosta nauttinutta opiskelijaa päätti ikuistaa taidetuokioni.
The first of October was a warm and pretty day here. Between my lectures I had time to sit outside St Mary’s College and draw. A couple of other students enjoying the sun decided to take a picture of my art moment.

Picture by Gui & Mano Bortoletto.

TERVEELLINEN LOUNAS – A HEALTHY LUNCH (14.10.2015)

One day I knew I wouldn’t have time to go back to hall for lunch. (Lecture: just ended. Lunch: just ended.) //
“If this happens, you can ask for a packed lunch from the kitchen.” //
“And this is what I got…” Crisps – sandwich – an apple – a chocolate bar – a bottle of water. //
“So British kids actually grew up by the power of these…”

SUOMALAISTA NEROKKUUTTA – FINNISH INGENIOUSNESS (15.10.2015)

“Guess what I sometimes really miss here in Scotland?” “What?” “A drying cupboard.” //
“What is it?” //
“It’s a cupboard with wire rack shelves above the sink. You can just put wet dishes there and they dry out by themselves. No need to dry them with a towel!” //
“But… that’s brilliant!” “Well… actually, yes it is!”

Sunshine, jonka kanssa keskustelin tästä, ei muuten ole britti vaan amerikkalainen.
Sunshine, with whom I had this talk, is not British but American.

LIMPETS! (17.10.2015)
“Limpet” on siis englantia ja tarkoittaa maljakotiloa, toim. huom.

“So, first we go ten meters along the rocks…” “…and then we count the limpets in the squares…” “…in both directions every one meter. This is, what, 25cm times 25cm?” //
“One… about two… approximately three… OOPS! …more or less four… something like five…” //
“Why don’t you count the limpets and I write it all down?” “Okay!” //
“Seaweed, no limpets. Seaweed, no limpets. Seaweed, no limpets. Rock, one limpet.” “Seaweed, no limpets. Sand, no limpets…”

“Sand, no limpets… and UNDER WATER.” //
“All right, I’m NOT climbing down there. “WOOPS!” //
“You okay?” “Ouch.” //
“It’s been two hours, and we have four pages of data…” “Two wet pairs of trousers, several bloody fingers, one hurt back and we smell like seaweed.” “Let’s go home.”

TUPATARKASTUS – ROOM CHECK (26.10.2015)
Asun yliopiston asuntolassa, ja siivooja käy kaikissa huoneissa kerran kuussa tarkastamassa, että siellä ei ole sotkettu liikaa – ilmeisesti siivoaminen on joillekin kanssa-asujilleni ylivoimainen tehtävä. Itsehän tietysti selvisin tarkastuksesta moitteetta. Tällainen lappu oli jätetty pöydälleni viimeviikkoien tarkastuksen yhteydessä.
I live in one of the University’s halls and the tidiness of our rooms is checked monthly – apparently cleaning is too much for some of my hall mates. My room, of course, was perfect. This is the note that was left on my desk after the room check last week.

Meinaan, aika pelottavaa tekstiä: ”Olet läpäissyt tarkastuksen tällä kertaa” jne….
I mean, it’s rather scary text: “You have passed your cleaning check this time” etc.…

VUOROVESIRANNALLA, OTTO KAKSI – THE ESTUARY, TAKE TWO (28.10.2015)

“Today we count how often oystercatchers eat. Understood?” “Yes!” //
“Hey, there’s a WHITE-TAILED EAGLE over there!” //
“Where?” “Who?” “How far?” “Over there?” //
“WOOOOOW.” //
“Could we please just concentrate on them oystercatchers now?” “No.”

OI HATTUNI MUN – OH MY DARLING HAT (4.11.2015)

“Even though I mostly don’t draw it, I often wear this brown hat when I’m outdoors. I’m probably known just as ‘The Finnish Girl with the Hat’.” //
“You’ve not lost your hat, have you?” “No, I just forgot it in my room.” //
“Nice hat!” “Why, thanks!” //
“Indiana Jones, heh heh heh… heh.” //
“No, you can’t have her hat.” //
“Why dho you have thath hath?” “Because hats are cool.” “No, they’rhe noth.” “Yes, they are.” “They’rhe noth.” “They are. And you’re drunk so I’m gonna stop this now.”

Ja nyt kun vaatteista on puhe, niin omistan kyllä muitakin kuin raidallisia paitoja, vaikka sarjiksistani saattaisi toisin kuvitella…
And now that we’re talking about clothes, I don’t only have striped shorts even though you could think so by the comics…

ERÄÄN ESSEEN TARINA – THE STORY OF AN ESSAY (6.11.2015)

“Hey, the Pub Quiz is in an hour!” //
Dear Kati, I haven’t received your essay yet, please send it to me today. Professor X. (Note: X doesn’t refer to Xavier here.) //
“***************!!! I thought it was due on NEXT week’s Monday!” //
“You’ll have to do without me now, I have to magically make an essay somehow!” “Good luck!” //
“This is crap but what can you do.” //
Two weeks later. “Your essay wasn’t very good…” “Yes…” But it passed!”

Meidän Pub Quiz tiimi voitti muuten juuri tuona iltana…
Our Pub Quiz team won on that night…

TYHJÄTASKUT – TWO BROKE GIRLS (8.11.2015)

“Hi, are you coming for dinner?” “Sure! Why would I skip dinner?” //
“I don’t know… Some people don’t always eat here but eat out somewhere.” //
“Yes, people who don’t pay their living here themselves and hence have MONEY to eat out.” //
“’MONEY’? What’s that?” “Coins and bills, with which you can, you know, buy things.” //
“Oh yes! Yeah, I’ve often heard people talking about it…” //
“…But I can’t remember when I last had any myself!” “Indeed!”

MAASTA, JOKA KEKSI KYLMÄN – FROM THE LAND THAT INVENTED COLD (10.11.2015)

“My room is SO cold! I have never used my hot water bottle as much as in here.” //
“Yeah, I bought myself my first hot water bottle last week, and it’s been the best!” //
“Don’t you have a hot water bottle in Finland?” “No. In Finland it’s nice and warm indoors, which is nice I when it’s -20 degrees outside!” //
“We appreciate a working heating system. And we have double-glass windows everywhere.” //
“Actually, in Finland double-glass windows are just called… well, windows.”

SANKARINI – MY HEROES (18.11.2015)

“Like I’ve sometimes mentioned, it’s sometimes rather cold here in the hall. Is there ANYONE who can keep me warm?” //
Tea / woollen socks / hot water bottle / woollen cape / thermos / warm slippers.

TERKKUJA KOTOA – GREETINGS FROM HOME (20.11.2015)

Mom and Big brother came to see me in St Andrews. “We brought you some chocolate.” “Yay, thanks!” //
“And your comics.” “Awesome!” //
“And your mail.” “Overdue bills, great.” //
Ang your aikido gear.” “Thank you.” //
“And rye bread.” //
“YEEEESSS!!!”

J. K. ROWLING TIESI JOTAIN… – J. K. ROWLING KNEW SOMETHING… (22.11.2015)

Why the University of St Andrews IS Hogwarts:
1) You can get here by train from King’s Cross (from platform 8) just like to Hogwarts (from platform 9 ¾)
2) Both are more than 600 years old schools in Scotland (Okay, this is Hogwarts).
3) The use traditional gowns in both places, red ones in St Andrews and black ones in Hogwarts.
4) They play Quidditch in both schools. (Seriously – they have a Quidditch league in Britain.) In St Andrews the “brooms” don’t fly yet.

MARRASKUU – NOVEMBER (24.11.2015)

November. Where-ever you go, it’s always the same. //
You have more academic work than ever but absolutely no motivation to do it. (Essay, article, another essay, study, presentation, report.) //
And each one of us would just like to sit under a blanket with a good book and some hot chocolate… (School work)

LINTUBONGAAMISEN SIETÄMÄTÖN KEVEYS – THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BIRD WATCHING (29.11.2015)
Aka. damn seagulls.

I had to count gulls for a course project. “I probably see best here from the pier.” //
“So…” //
“I’m ready!” //
“No! Don’t go!” //
“All right… One…” //
“…Right.”

Tosin kurssin proffa puhui meille pitkään ja vakavasti siitä, että emme saa käyttää sanaa ”seagull”, koska sellaista eläintä ei ole olemassa. Laskemani lokkilaji oli siis herring gull eli suomeksi harmaalokki.
Our professor told us we mustn’t use the word “seagull” because there is no such animal. So, to be exact, I was counting herring gulls.

MOONGAZING (30.11.2015)

Counting gulls once again. “Okay, it’s REALLY getting too dark now…” //
“What could I do now?” //
“It’s not even too cold yet.” //
“Ooh, craters! Fascinating…”

PULLAA – BUNS (1.12.2015)

“Hi, Kati! Could you teach us to make those Finnish cinnamon buns sometime?” “Sure!” //
I’ve baked cinnamon rolls here a couple of times and they’ve been rather popular. //
“Try to make it square-ish… Though the shape isn’t that important.” //
“’The shape isn’t that important?!?’” For some reason, I heard about this comment for quite some time. //
The most fun part is to explain the dual meaning of the word “korvapuusti”.

The word “korvapuusti” means both a cinnamon roll and a slap in the face. Don’t ask me why…

ONNENTAPUTUS – LUCKY RUB (2.12.2015)

“I have a presentation today.” “Oh. Do you want a lucky rub?” //
“What’s that?” “Well, it’s this thing…” //
“Rubrubrubrubrubrubrubrubrubrub!” //
“Thank you!” “No problem.” “I have to hand in an essay today.” //
“Rubrubrubrub – “ //
“Oh my God, your hair is so soft!” “LOL!”

SE PIENI ERO – THE SMALL DIFFERENCE (3.12.2015)

“Oh, I need a new pad of paper.” //
“Hmm, no grad paper.” //
“Well, lined paper will do as well.” //
“Wait a second…” //
“The squares are 7 millimetres times 7 millimetres…” //
“…and the lines are 6 millimetres apart.” //
“I KNEW they were narrower! It’s probably some British standard.”

MEDITATIIVISTA MÄTKINTÄÄ – MEDITATIVE BUTT-KICKING (5.12.2015)

After working the whole day on a presentation, there’s nothing nicer than going to aikido training… //
…and spend 90 minutes of practicing jo-kata-31. //
(jo=that stick, kata=a series of movements, 31=the number of movements) //
You don’t have much time to think about schoolwork.

VIIKON SUOSITUIN LUENTO – THE MOST POPULAT LECTURE OF THE WEEK (6.12.2015)

“Hey, professor, do you think anyone’s coming to this lecture but me?” “Well, it IS Monday morning…” //
“It’s just that my presentation might want some audience.” //
“Well, now there’s someone coming.” //
“Hello… Sorry…” //
“I forgot my water bottle here.”

Lopulta paikalle ilmesty kaksi muuta opiskelijaa…
In the end two other students showed up…

STOP BLOWING HOLES IN MY SHIP! (9.12.2015)
Omistettu Ezralle ja kaikille muille minkä tahansa asian suurille faneille.
Dedicated to Ezra and all the other great fans of anything.

En ole koskaan katsonut Once Upon a Timea, mutta olen antanut itselleni kertoa, että kapteeni Koukku on tarinan hotti jätkä, jonka kuolema/muuttuminen pahaksi on hermoja repivää.
I’ve never watched Once Upon a Time but I’ve been told that Captain Hook is the hot guy of the story, and his death/turning to evil is nerve breaking.

SILENCE! (13.12.2015)

University Library //
You are entering the quiet zone. “I think I’ll go and work upstairs, it’s quiet there.” //
Silence! / Don’t make phone calls in the stair – the noise can be heard upstairs / Please be quiet in the stars so that others can study! //
“And you call yourselves university students?! How about learning to read first!!”

JOULU… – CHRISTMAS… (14.12.2015)

“*Yawn* I’m still so tired…” //
“Good morning.” “Happy first of December!” //
“What on earth are you wearing?” //
“My Christmas jumper!” //
“So you Brits actually wear those in the real life and not just in movies?” “Yes! Christmas is the only time of the year when British people can wear funny clothes.”
“I don’t know what to think about this…” “Tomorrow I’ll wear my other Christmas jumper! It has a penguin on it. And it says ‘quack!’”

Kävi muuten ilmi, että se ei ollut pingviini vaan punarinta…
Turned out that it wasn’t a penguin but a robin…

PAKOLLINEN JOULUJAKSO – THE MANDATORY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (24.12.2015)
…joka ei liity vaihtoon mitenkään, mutta kun nyt tuli Doctor Who -fanarttia tehtyä, niin iloitkaamme siitäkin. Saanen siis esitellä: ”Deep Within We’re All the Same Man” (eli ”The Thirteen Doctors” eli ”Come along, [add your name here]”).
…that has nothing to do with me being an exchange student but since I made some Doctor Who fan art, let’s enjoy that as well. So here is “Deep Within We’re All the Same Man” (or “The Thirteen Doctors” or “Come Along, [add you name here]”).

And here is a list of what I took from each Doctor:
1. Doctor (William Hartnell): face
2. Doctor (Patrick Troughton): recorder
3. Doctor (Jon Pertwee): cape…gown…thingy
4. Doctor (Tom Baker): scarf
5. Doctor (Peter Davison): celery stalk
6. Doctor (Colin Baker): trousers
7. Doctor (Sylvester McCoy): vest
8. Doctor (Paul McGann): watch
War Doctor (John Hurt): sash
9. Doctor (Christopher Eccleston): leather jacket
10. Doctor (David Tennant): shoes
11. Doctor (Matt Smith): fez
12. Doctor (Peter Capaldi): electric guitar

JOULULOMA – CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS (3.02.2016)

“We has almost five weeks of Christmas holidays so I went home for Christmas.” //
My big brother and Snowhorse had come to meet me at the airport. //
During my holidays, I did, among other things, the following: read (Arséne Lupin = <3) //
Went to movies with Mr Brony (and to another with him and Snowhorse) //
Went swimming and climbing with my friends //
Went to sauna with my mother/
“Then I returned to St Andrews.” //
“Where did those five weeks go?”

OMA PÖYTÄ KULLAN KALLIS – TABLE SWEET TABLE (5.02.2016)

Dinner – the last day before Christmas holidays //
Christmas holidays (five weeks) //
Breakfast – the first day after Christmas holidays. “…and here we are all back in the same table… Except for Sunshine who was here only for one semester.”

VIERAILEVA TÄHTI – GUEST STAR (6.02.2016)

“Hi, I’m Snowhorse! I visited Kati in St Andrews for a week. It was an awesome trip, full of…” //
“Sea shores!” //
“Ruins!” //
“Scones!” //
“This is the best place.”

PS. Lisää Lumpparin mahtavanupeansiistjäcooleja sarjiksia läytyy täältä
PS. You can find more of Snowhorse’s awesome comics here

KAKKU – CAKE (7.02.2016)

“Let’s take a break now. We could do so that someone makes a cake or something good for each lecture.” //
“And since this is the first lecture, I brought a cake!” //
“Mmm, this is good cake.” “I agree. But cake on a lecture – this is just like on that dinosaur module last semester!” //
“I think this is a great idea. It makes the atmosphere nice and relaxed…” “…helps us get through a three-hour lecture…” “…and it is tasty.” //
“I have to take this idea to Finland.”

KAKKU, OSA KAKSI – CAKE, PART TWO (8.02.2016)

“That’s all for today. Remember to think about your presentation topics and send them to me by Monday.” //
“Do you have a topic yet?” “Not yet. Do you?” //
“Me neither.” “What did you think of baking? Will you make cinnamon rolls like on the dinosaur module last semester?” //¨
“I thought so, yes.” “Great. Because they were really good!” //
“Do you think it’s wrong to think more about what you’re going to bake that your course work?” “NO.”

KENGÄNNAUHABUDJETTI – STUDENT BUDGET (9.02.2016)

I spent the weekend in Edinburgh with Snowhorse. A city holiday with a student budget works like this: //
Accommodation: in the cheapest (=largest) room of the largest hostel in town (you might want to invest a euro/a pound to ear plugs). //
Moving around: walk. Everywhere (even if it is snowing). //
Food: cook your own pasta in the hostel kitchen. And drink free tea/coffee/hot chocolate provided by the hostel. //
Tourist activities: go to free museums and the botanical garden. //
Evening entertainment: watch the hostel’s beer bong competition, cheer for whoever you like.

LETTUKESTIT – PANCAKE PARTY (10.02.2016)

“Our neighbours’ idea of making pancakes together is just great!” “Agreed! Would you break a couple of eggs in that bowl, please?” //
CRASH! “Oops.” //
“In Finland pancakes are eaten with jam and ice cream!” //
“The favourite of this Londoner: banana and Nutella!” //
“In America pancakes are thick, have chocolate chips in them and are served with maple syrup.” //
“This is the best kind of cultural exchange ever.”

Mudkip’s comments after seeing this comic: “I broke the egg on the table, I didn’t have it all over me!”
Me: “Well, it’s a comic. You have to exaggerate a little.”
Mudkip: “Haw haw, very funny.”
Me: “What?”
Mudkip: “’EGGxaggerate.”
Me: “Oh. Pun not intended.”

SÄÄTILA – THE WEATHER (17.02.2016)

“Yawn…” //
“Oh, the temperature’s been below zero during the night.” //
Brush brush… //
“And now it’s snowing!” //
“All right, I have to go to the lecture now.” “See you at lunch!” //
“Oh c’mon now seriously!”

LONTOON SUMU – LONDON FOG (19.02.2016)

“From this coffee shop you can get probably the most popular warm beverage in St Andrews…” //
“London Fog! Basically, an Earl Grey latte with milk foam and vanilla. Mmm…” //
“I learned to make London Fog myself. Which means I googled it.” //
“Start by boiling water. And make half a cup of Earl Grey.” //
“While the tea is waiting, warm half a cup of milk in a pot. I used oat milk, it worked well. And remember to whip it all the time so you’ll get the important foam!” //
“Pour the milk over the tea.”
“Sweeten with vanilla sugar or syrup to taste. I didn’t have any so I used honey. But vanilla is a really important part of London Fog, so you should use it!” //
“Took maybe five minutes. I recommend this!”

…JA JOEN RANNALLA LUMIKELLOT… – …AND THE SNOW DROPS BY THE RIVER… (21.02.2016)

TILAPÄIVITYS – STATUS UPDATE (27.02.2016)

Tilani on vakaa mutta kuumeinen ja kurja. Siis joku ketun skottilenssu iski ja kellisti mut vuoteeseen. Hyvään väliin keksi iskeä, kun on neljä deadlinea kahden viikon sisään.
Anyways, mitä olen tehnyt tänään:
Nukkunut
Juonut teetä
Katsonut TMNT:tä YouTubesta
Lukenut pari artikkelia esseetä varten
Juonut teetä
Nukkunut lisää
Lukenut lisää
Katsonut lisää YouTube-videoita
Nukkunut
Juonut teetä
-> toista näitä asioita loputtomalla luupilla
Onneksi kaverini Sunshine lähtiessään takaisin Amerikkaan jätti mulle jotain mikrorisottoa, jonka tekemisessä menee kaksi minuuttia, eli ruokapuoli on onneksi hoidossa. Samoin isä käydessään toi ISON purkillisen hunajaa, että sen voimalla mennään. Mutta oon jo menettänyt parit aikido-treenit tän flunssan takia, ja menetän vielä ainakin yhdet lisää.

Aka. I was having a flu, and that (and missing aikido training) made me sad. So I watched YouTube videos.

MAANANTAIN TILAPÄIVITYS – MONDA’S STATUS UPDATE (29.02.2016)

Vietin koko viikonlopun sängyssä enkä laittanut vaatteita päälle. Nyt tuntuu paljon paremmalta. Köhä on vielä, mutta muuten ihan jees.
After spending the whole weekend in bed, I was feeling much better.

KEVÄT KUKKIEN TULEVI – COMES SPRING AND FLOWERS (3.03.2016)

Eli ”opiskelija sisustaa”. Eihän minulla nyt mitään kukkamaljakkoa täällä ole!
Aka. “A Student Decorates”. I don’t have a flower vase here!

Siis jonkin opiskelijajärjestön jäsenet jakelivat narsisseja Market Streetillä. Keltainen kummasti piristää ikkunalaudalla.
Some student organisation gave people daffodils on Market Street. Yellow brightens my room nicely.

SPOONS! (7.03.2016)

“Constantly drinking tea is what keeps me sane and healthy in here.” //
I usually make tea in the kitchen and put it in a thermos and drink it in my room… because I don’t bother to go to the kitchen for every cup (the kitchen is so far away). //
I also have a gigantic jar of honey that my Dad brought me when he visited me here. I keep it in my room because it doesn’t fit into my kitchen cupboard. //
“I think I’ll just add honey straight to the thermos.” //
“Dropped it in there, then. I’m feeling so smart again.”

TEKOSYITÄ – EXCUSES (13.03.2016)
Tässä siis siihen, miksi en voinut postata sarjiksia vähään aikaan.
For the fact that I didn’t post anything for a while.

“I haven’t updated my blog in a while but now I’ve drawn a couple of new pages. I just need ne scan them to get them online.” //
BLIB! Logging in denied. //
“Yeah, you’re just out of your printing quota. You can buy more with that machine.” “Okay, thanks.” //
(Machine is broken) “Oh c’mon now seriously!”

HANKALA SIJAINTI – A DIFFICULT LOCATION (15.03.2016)

“Hi, guys!” “Hello. How was your day?” “It was all right…” //
“I was offered a job for the weekend. They’d pay for it.” //
“Hey, that’s great!” “Congratulations!” “What job is it?” //
“High five!” “I didn’t take it.” //
“Why not?” “I’d have to be in Finland for it.”

MONIKKOMUOTOJA – PLURAL FORMS (17.03.2016)

VERSAILLES, PÄIVÄ 0 – VERSAILLES, DAY 0 (25.03.2016)

“My bus to Edinburgh leaves in an hour…” //
“And my towel is still wet!” //
“I should not have taken that shower this morning but last night…” //
“But how am I going to dry this now?!” //
“Even the heaters are cold this time of the day.”

VERSAILLES, PÄIVÄ 1 – VERSAILLES, DAY 1 (26.03.2016)

During the first week of our spring break I visited my friend Snowhorse in Versailles. I went there by bus. It took about 22 hours. Plus that two-hour stop in a second-hand book shop in Edinburgh. //
I’ve never felt myself as much a backpack traveller as when I was brushing my teeth at the bus station in Edinburgh.

In Paris I went to the subway to get to the train station from where I could take a train to Versailles. //
“What are they saying? Everyone else went outside, perhaps I should as well…” //
“Where am I? I probably have to WALK THROUGH PARIS to get to that train station! Luckily, my backpack isn’t heavy, I only bought five books from that second-hand book shop in Edinburgh…” //
“And I’m in no hurry…”

SUOMI KIELI VAIKEA – FINNISH LANGUAGE DIFFICULT (27.03.2016)

“I just ate and I’d still to eat!” “Like.” //
“What?” “’I’d still LIKE to eat.” //
“Didn’t I just say so?” “No. You said, ‘I’d still to eat’.” //
“Rhâââââ! Finnish is escaping my brain!” “Is that the thing hanging from your ear?”

VERSAILLES, PÄIVÄ 2 – VERSAILLES, DAY 2 (28.03.2016)

In the morning I went to garden of Versailles palace. //
I walked around the Grand Canal. It took me two hours even though I took a shortcut through the woods. //
In the evening I rested.

VERSAILLES, PÄIVÄ 3 – VERSAILLES, DAY 3 (29.03.2016)

“Come, I’ll show you the comic book section of a French library!” “Yay!” //
“Look what I found! Mug cakes in microwave oven!” “Let’s borrow it and try!” //
“Rhâââââ! All these things are measured in grams and I don’t have a kitchen scale! How much is 50 grams of sugar?” “I have no idea. Let’s try.” //
“This is like bubbling mud… And it stinks.” //
“This is mostly caramelised sugar. It would have needed more flour.” “WHAT is this lump?”

VERSAILLES, PÄIVÄ 4 – VERSAILLES, DAY 4 (31.03.2016)

In the morning we walked on a cemetery. //
We were looking for nice French names for our comic. //
In the evening we listened to baroque music in the chapel of Versailles palace. FOR FREE.

VERSAILLES, PÄIVÄ 5 – VERSAILLES, DAY 5 (1.04.2016)

In the morning I borrowed Snowhorse’s landlady’s scooter to go to the palace garden. //
I spent an hour watching the geese swimming in the canal for my course project. //
In the evening we made pancakes.

VERSAILLES, PÄIVÄ 6 – VERSAILLES, DAY 6 (6.04.2016)

It was my birthday. / Snowhorse bought fresh croissants for breakfast. / Mother, Big brother and mr. Brony had send me cards and gifts – straight to France! You’re wonderful <3 //
We spent the day in the animal and bone departments of the Museum of Natural History in Paris. //
In the afternoon we visited at least five comic book stores. It was a good birthday.

Kiitos myös isälle, isoäidille ja kummitädille, jotka lähettivät mulle kortteja Skotlantiin! <3
Thanks also for my dad, grandma and godmother who sent me cards to Scotland! <3

PALUU SKOTLANTIIN – RETURN TO SCOTLAND (13.04.2016)

I returned to British Isles with a ferry from Calais to Dover. In the middle of the night. ”Well, this is like in the Three Musketeers… though I guess they had a sail ship.” //
I learned that you should always keep your shoes on in a bus. Even though it IS nicer to be without when the trip takes 22 hours. ”I DON’T want to know what I just stepped on…” //
The cat that lives behind the physics building was still awake when I came back to St Andrews.

GOOD FRIDAY (14.04.2016)
Elikkä siis pitkäperjantai.

I look once more
Just around the river bend

Beyond the shore
Somewhere past the sea

Don’t know what for
Why do all my dreams extend

Just around the river bend?

”Just around the river bend” from Disney’s Pocahontas

KAPTEENI SELVIÖ ISKEE JÄLLEEN! – CAPTAIN OBVIOUS STRIKES AGAIN! (15.04.2016)

Brush brush… //
Okay, I think I HAVE to buy a new tooth brush… //
I don’t like buying tooth brushes… //
Well, what does this one say? //
”Why you should buy this tooth brush: 1: it cleans your teeth. //
NO **** SHERLOCK!!! //
”Yes?” ”?”

KOIRATERAPIAA – PUPPY THERAPY (16.04.2016)

”I wonder what’s the topic on today’s lecture…?” //
”Why are you all sitting on the floor?” //’
”Because the professor has a new guide dog puppy and he basically TOLD us to play with her!” //
”Oochy woochy coochy coo!” ”Who’s a good girl? Yeees.”

KOHTAUKSIA LEIPÄKAUPASSA – BAKERY SCENES (14.04.2017)

Take 2:
”Do those people have such a strong Scottish accent that I don’t understand a word? Or was it some other language?” //
”Where are you from?” ”Near Marseilles.” ”Oh… it was French…”

Ilmeisesti minulla on myös ongelmia muistaa piitrtää laukkuni mukaan kuviin…
Apparently I have a problem with remembering to draw my satchel…

SNAPE, SNAPE, SEVERUS SNAPE (19.04.2016)

SKOTLANTIA PARHAIMMILLAAN – SCOTLAND AT ITS BEST (20.04.2017)

One evening I was coming back from my walk on the beach. //
I walked through the golf course and listened to bagpipe music from further away. //
And I thought…

SOME DAY MY PRINCE WILL COME (21.04.2016)
…or not.

”Oh! Hi, dad!” ”Hello! How are you?” //
”Not bad… Hard to believe that my year abroad is almost over!” //
”Have you already found yourself a prince?” //
Because prince William and Kate Middleton met when they were studying at St Andrews University, all my relatives want me to find myself a prince from here, too. //
”No. As far as I know I haven’t met any.” //
”Maybe your standards are just too high.” //
”I mean that perhaps some count or baron could do as well.” ”Haw haw.” //
”Well, I still have a month…” ”Exactly!”

APTEEKKIREISSU – A TRIP TO PHARMACY (22.0.2016)

”Hmm, I need to buy more hand cream…” //
”Okay, who was the mastermind behind the idea of combining a pharmacy and a cosmetics store?!? One cannot breath in here!” //
”And this has to be the best way of placing products. Just saying.” Weight management – Candy.

KORVAPUUSTITYTTÖ – THE CINNAMON BUN GIRL (23.04.2016)

Whale, who studied here in St Andrews last autumn came to visit a friend of hers who studies here now. And she also had time to meet me! //
”Hi! It’s so nice to see you again!” ”Indeed! How are you?” //
I also met a couple of Whale’s friends. ”Hi, nice to meet you.” ”Likewise! I am Kati.” //
”Waaaaaiiiitttt… Are you the famous Finn who taught Whale how to bake cinnamon buns?” ”Ha ha ha ha! That’s the best compliment I’ve heard in ages!”

TUNNEN KUIN OMAT TASKUNI – KNOW LIKE MY OWN POCKETS (26.04.2016)

”I realized today that I was wearing SIXTEEN pockets.” //
Hat (doesn’t include pockets even though I do own a hat with pockets) //
I like pockets.

Näin jälkikäteen ajatellen oikea sana lienee ”takataskut”.

EZRA’S SHIP, PART 2 (28.04.2016)

MITÄ OLEN TEHNYT VIIME AIKOINA – THINGS I’VE DONE LATELY (20.04.2016)

I knitted a mascot for St Andrews quidditch team, the St Andrews Snidgets. He’s a snidget, as he should be. He was named Lord Finn K. Snidget-Cauliflower.

Mug painting. Who wouldn’t want the most epic science fiction mug in all of history? There’s also a Stargate symbol in the mug but I didn’t have time to paint a proper stargate.

My friend Jimothy was going to a ball and he couldn’t tie his own bow tie. I decided to help and learned to tie a bow tie.

KIVOJA IHMISIÄ – NICE PEOPLE (4.05.2016)

Harrastin siis aikidoa yliopiston seurassa, ja oli hauskaa 😀 Mutta nyt on treenit loppu, ja tulee ikävä kivoja ihmisiä… Piirsin aikido-seuralle vaakunan, jonka tunnuslause tulee siitä, että yksi opettajistamme tekniikkaa näyttäessään sanoi: ”Nyt voisimme lyödä tähän tai potkaista tähän… mutta emme tee niin, koska me olemme kivoja ihmisiä täällä.” Ja sitten me kaikki muut aloimme hokea sitä.
I trained aikido in St Andrews University Aikido Club and it was fun 😀 But now the training is over, and I’ll miss all those nice people. The motto in the coat of arms I drew comes from something one of our teachers said when demonstrating a technique: ”Now we could hit here or kick here… but we won’t do it because we are nice people in here.” And then the rest of us started to say it all the time.

PUNTASTIC! (14.05.2016)

Okay, this comic doesn’t really tell very much about what Jimothy is really like as a person. For example, he has never tried to stab Mudkip with a fork. Normally he just uses the Vulcan nerve pinch.

TÄRKEITÄ SUUNNITELMIA – IMPORTANT PLANS (15.05.2016)

”In case of a zombie invasion…” ”Huh?” //
”What would you do?” //
”Hmm.. I’d probably escape in the wilderness somewhere.” ”There’s plenty of that in the Highlands.” //
”What about weapons? We’d need weapons, too.” //
”That’s easy! There’s an army base on the other side of the estuary. They even have small fighter planes there.” ”Good!” //
”And we could always use golf clubs!” //
”At least those are easy to find in this town!” ”True! Scotland is the best place to be if there’s going to be a zombie invasion!”

Jos ette tienneet, St Andrewsissa on maailman vanhin golfkenttä. Ja suunnilleen miljoonaa golfkauppaa.
In case you didn’t know, the oldest golf course of the world is in St Andrews. And there are about a million golf shops here, too.

KOHTAAMISIA SUOMALAISTEN KANSSA – MEETING OTHER FINNS (16.05.2016)

Hall cafeteria:
”Are you staying here for Christmas?” ”No, I’m going home.” //
”And where’s your home?” ”In Finland.” ”Go Finland!” //
Sports center:
”Hi, I’d like to — !” //
(The most Finnish name in the world. Like, ever.) //
”I guess you’re Finnish, then.” ”Yes.” //
In a restaurant with my mother:
”And today’s specials are…” //
”What did she say?” ”She just told today’s specials.” ”Oh, I can tell them in Finnish, too!”

Sarjakuvassa esiintyvä nimi on muutettu.
The very Finnish name has been changed.

HOUSUPULMIA – TROUBLES WITH TROUSERS (17.05.2016)

”Hmm… Should I just throw away these old jeans and not take them back to Finland with me?” //
”After all, I’ve patched them a couple of times already.” //
”Oh, well…” //
”I can still use them when I rumble in the woods.” //
”Well, I guess this settles it…”

PARAS TOHTORI-JAKSO – THE BEST DOCTOR EPISODE (18.05.2016)
Huomautan alkuun, että pidän Peter Capaldista Tohtorina. Steven Moffatista käsikirjoittajana en niinkään…
I’d like to point out that I do like Peter Capaldi as the Doctor. Steven Moffat as the screenwriter, not so much…

”You can run, Doctor, but you can’t hide!” //
”Our destroyer robot…” //
”…will hunt you through space and time to the end of the world… And it will never get tired or give up – EVER!”
(This is SO exiting!)
”I need a… distraction!”

(This has GOT to be the best Capaldi episode ever! Better than anything Moffat has written!)
”I had to sacrifice the TARDIS… to escape myself…”

(Now the Doctor will surely make those destroyer robots fight each other… and then he’ll fix the TARDIS and save the world! OH YES!) //
”Huh? Oh damn it.” //
”…so apparently my brain just couldn’t come up with a way for the Doctor to survive the trouble he was in!” ”OR maybe it was a two-parter! Like, ’to be continued next night’!” //
”I hope so!”

En vieläkään tiedä, miten Tohtorille tällä kertaa kävi, vaikka unesta on jo kuukausi…
I still don’t know what happened to the Doctor even though it’s been more than a month since a had this dream…

Doctor Who (R) BBC

BINGO! (20.05.2016)

”Blah blah blah…” ”Blah blah…” ”Have you ever noticed that when talking with Mudkip, certain topics come up again and again?” ”Yes… Like puns.” //
”And even worse puns.” ”Politics.” ”True. And Pokémon.” ”And other video games.” ”Scifi.” //
”Kevin Spacey. And House of Cards on general.” ”And talking ’bout houses – architecture.” ”Especially bad architecture.” //
”We should make this into a game. Get three in a row and you’ll win something!” ”Hmm…”//
Pun – Architecture – Kevin Spacey – Pokémon – Politics – Terrible pun – Video games – Worse pun – Scifi

JÄÄHYVÄISIÄ – FAREWELLS (21.05.2016)
Ezra piirsi minulle jäähyväiskortin.
Ezra drew me a farewell card.

Featuring our group of friends: me, Ezra, Rikku, Mudkip and Jimothy 🙂
There was also a Doctor Who quote: ”Some people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. It’s not the time that matters, it’s the person.”

Thank you, Ezra!

STAR TREKKIN’ (23.05.2016)
Jimothy ja minä, suuria Star Trek -faneja kun ollaan, jaettiin pikku kaveriporukallemme roolit Star Trek -maailmasta:
Minä olen kapteeni (tämä oli ”miehistöni” ilmoittama asia)
Mudkip on försti ja tiedeupseeri
Jimothy on yli-insinööri (ja kissavastaava)
Ezra on lääkintäupseeri
Rikku on kommunikaatioupseeri.
Aluksen nimi on tietysti USS Andrews, tosin pohdinnassa olivat myös USS Espanjan Inkvisitio ja USS Licked to Death by Cows.

Jimothy and me, great Star Trak fans as we are, gave our friends roles in the world of Star Trek:
I’m the captain (my ”crew” decided this)
Mudkip is the first officer and science officer
Jimothy is the chief engineer (and the cat officer)
Ezra is the chief medical officer
Rikku is the communications officer
Our ship is obviously called USS Andrews though we also considered USS Spanish Inquisition and USS Licked to Death by Cows.

Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry

KOTIINPALUU – HOMECOMING (11.06.2016)

”Where did my year abroad go? It’s already time to go back home.” //
”Sigh…” //
”Hey… I can see Fife from here!” //
”There’s Isle of May… And that’s Anstruther…An Crail… And…” //
”And over there… IS ST ANDREWS! //
”I got to see it one more time…” //
”I’LL BE BACK!!!”

ST ANDREWS VS HELSINKI (8.07.2016)
Kauhee tekstimuuri…
Horrible wall of text…

”Since I came back from abroad, many have asked about the differences between the universities of Helsinki and St Andrews.” //
”And also which one I like better. So I’m going to answer these questions once and for all!” //
First off, housing. ”In St Andrews lots of students (exchange students, too!) live in halls owned by the University.” //
There are lots of good sides in living in a hall: it is easy and safe and you get help if you need it. Many halls offer meals, too. //
My friend Wiivu said when she visited me: ”You get to know others so easily when you live in a hall! It’s hard to make friends if you live in a rented flat!” And I agree! //
In my hall one got meals on weekdays if one payed for it. It was pretty good, too. //
There are no student restaurants. Without the meals in the hall long and busy school days would have caused unpleasant things… ”Hungry!” //
Student meals supported by the state are a great thing!

One great thing in the University of Helsinki are the tutors who take care of little freshers and exchange students. //
All right, in St Andrews the professor checks your module choices and has a little talk with you… ”You can takke the modules you wanted.” ”Nice.” //
…but other than that, a newcomer may be a little lost. (This way… or that way?) //
Okay, in St Andrews the newbies get ”academic parents” if they want but their point is mainly to get freshers drunk. //
Lectures and modules are pretty similar. //
Though there are differences between the numbers and lengths of the modules. (Helsinki: 10 modules/term, 3 credits/module*, St Andrews: 4 modules/term, 8 credits/module* (*standardized credits)) //
So in St Andrews one has to study much more for one module than in Helsinki… if one wants top grades, that is. Getting credits was pretty easy, getting good grades, not so much.

People also stress about their grades much more than in Helsinki. During the exam weeks it was a little like this… //
EXAM STRESS ”C’mon, relax, your first year grades don’t even affect your final grades!” //
Or, like one fourth-year biologist said: ”When it comes to grades, St Andrews is a hissing little pressure cooker!” //
Also, failing an exam was a big and bad deal in St Andrews, and it is not very easy to re-sit them – sometimes it’s not possible at all! //
”In Helsinki it’s not a big deal to fail in an exam – I have re-taken a couple myself. That’s why there isn’t nearly as much exam and grade stress!” //
However, you got a lot of feedback and comments on things you did, and it was sometimes useful, too… ”My eaays wasn’t this long!” (Professor A’s comments – Professor B’s notes) //
School stress may lead to sad phenomena… ”Did you hear that some student killed themselves?” ”They say it happens almost every year*.” (*I don’t know if this is true but that’s what they said.) //
Sense of community was something else in a small university town, though. //
”So was this the thing the principal send everyone e-mail about and why they served hot chocolate in the hall yesterday?” ”Exactly.”

Sense of community doesn’t apply to everything. Whereas in Finland the people who study with you and your own student organisation are really important… //
… I didn’t really meet the biologists of St Andrews anywhere but on the lectures. //
But organisation-vise there was everything else! University’s societies are really active! //
I joined aikido club and Doctor Who Society, among others! !!
”Hmm… So there are differences between the universities of St Andrews and Helsinki. And I can’t say which one I like better – they both have their pros and cons.” ”I think it’s about differences in culture and traditional ways of doing tings, and what you like is up to you.” //
”Maybe that’s a job for us exchange students.” ”To take abroad what we do well… and bring back great ideas from other places!”

JA VIIMEINEN – AND THE LAST ONE (22.07.2016)

”Now when I look back to my year abroad, these kind of things come to mind…” //
Of course all the horrible paper work I had to get through just to get there… //
…how the bank lost my money for a month… ”Get out!” ”But I did pay!” //
Besides, I have no money after all this… ”Hi, you’re broke!” //
All those cold, wet, awful days when I had the flue… //
…when I was more or less lost, didn’t understand or felt like I was failing in school work… ”Yes?” //
…and the rainy nights when I missed home and wondered if this had been a goodidea at all… ”Mum and brother and friends…”

But much more than rainy nights there were sunny days (maybe not literally)… //
I attended interesting classes… //
…drew a lot of comics and wrote letters… //
…trained aikido with nice people… //
…saw new places and the nature and birds of Scotland… //
…and made a lot of new friends with whom I did all sorts of great things! (Not to forget Ghost Tour, walking on the beach, pub quizzes, gigantic portions of ice cream…)

”In the end I could sum it up into three words…” //
TOTALLY WORTH IT //
”The Finnish girl with the hat thanks… and signs out.” //
The end of Scotland Edition.