It's homecoming weekend here in the cornfields, and so far it hasn't dissapointed. I have absolutely no idea what homecoming is actually about, but it seems to be a big deal over here. There have been parties everwhere all week and 60 extra police cars and men have been brought in from other states to makes sure that everything runs smoothly, it's crazy!
Thursday was good fun, involving free drinks yet again (one of the perks of being an exchange student here) and after parties at a sorority house. It's a shame that I'm only here until Xmas because it really is a nice place with great people. My view of Americans has changed an awful lot in some respects, and been re-enforced regarding others. Take the Americans knowledge of geography for example.
American: So wheres Finland ?
Me: Its in between Sweden and Russia
American: *akward silence*
Me: Like go upwards North East from Germany
American: Wheres Germany ?
Me: Bollocks.... you want a beer? this is going to take a while.
Still it has been good fun, and everyone that I have met so far has been really nice.
Today was the homecoming football game which we won, so that was great. Before that we wondered around the grounds for a couple of hours eating free food and drinking free beer courtesy of the College of Business Alumni tent, fantastic.
This evening should be pretty mad, either a kegger (house party where there are beer kegs) or heading out to a bar and some afterparty. Have to see where the evening takes me.
Looks like my calender is filling up pretty quickly. Next weekend I might be going to the Jerry Springer show to be in the audience, and possibly go to a Chicago Blackhawks game. There is also the possiblity of some wild Haloween parties, so I guess I better think of something to wear. Could dress up as a Finnish drunk to raise the profile of our country in the eyes of the Americans... then again, maybe not.
Thats all for now, might try to get some pictures from tonight, but I have to remember who reads this. So the self censorship may kick in!!
Laterz peeps
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Getting around
Well the past week has brought with it snow, freezing cold winds, live music, free drinks, Korean stories of prostitutes, job offers, job applications and yet again *cringe* shopping trips.
So I'll start from the top. At the middle of the week there was a dusting of snow on the ground, fortunately me and Samu were sleeping in as we didn't have lectures, so we didn't get to see it, but the wind was certainly freezing and cut through you right to the bones. Winter is certainly on its way!
All week I have been toiling with job applications, online forms are so much fun to fill out! 7 applications down 46 to go! I will be an expert on these online forms soon! It's also fun trying to remember all the dates of employment as I have left all my official documentaion in Finland! Superb ! (anyone detect a hint of sarcasm?!)
Oh yeah and a job offer came from the West coast for a internet marketing company. Tempting I must say, but not quite for me. However my Prof is looking for a job for me, which is something I never thought would happen!
Thursday evening was spent listening to some absolutely awesome live music, knocking back free drinks courtesy of a class mate who said he wanted to get me drunk. He obviously knew nothing about the amount of alcohol the average Finn can consume!
Today, slight boredom struck in the late morning so we did what any normal member of this American society would do. We went shopping... AGAIN... Needless to say bank account sustained serious damage again, and my logistics skills will need to be employed to get the mountains of stuff I have bought back to Finland. We also decide to go and pop into the local Applebees restaraunt, where our foreign accents were immediately noticed by the waitresses, who then invited others over to hear our cute accents. Needless to say, we shall probably be heading back there sometime.
Had a few beers with the Koreans this evening, and those guys really do not dissapoint, more stories of how cheap prostitutes are in Thailand and ... well somethings are just best left unsaid.
Well tomorrow should be good fun, a local Finnish family is treating us to breakfast (only minus is 9am wake up) and dinner. So all is looking promising. Also the evening looks like it will be spent with the Koreans listening to more xxx stories... I think I might need a "few" drinks!
So I'll start from the top. At the middle of the week there was a dusting of snow on the ground, fortunately me and Samu were sleeping in as we didn't have lectures, so we didn't get to see it, but the wind was certainly freezing and cut through you right to the bones. Winter is certainly on its way!
All week I have been toiling with job applications, online forms are so much fun to fill out! 7 applications down 46 to go! I will be an expert on these online forms soon! It's also fun trying to remember all the dates of employment as I have left all my official documentaion in Finland! Superb ! (anyone detect a hint of sarcasm?!)
Oh yeah and a job offer came from the West coast for a internet marketing company. Tempting I must say, but not quite for me. However my Prof is looking for a job for me, which is something I never thought would happen!
Thursday evening was spent listening to some absolutely awesome live music, knocking back free drinks courtesy of a class mate who said he wanted to get me drunk. He obviously knew nothing about the amount of alcohol the average Finn can consume!
Today, slight boredom struck in the late morning so we did what any normal member of this American society would do. We went shopping... AGAIN... Needless to say bank account sustained serious damage again, and my logistics skills will need to be employed to get the mountains of stuff I have bought back to Finland. We also decide to go and pop into the local Applebees restaraunt, where our foreign accents were immediately noticed by the waitresses, who then invited others over to hear our cute accents. Needless to say, we shall probably be heading back there sometime.
Had a few beers with the Koreans this evening, and those guys really do not dissapoint, more stories of how cheap prostitutes are in Thailand and ... well somethings are just best left unsaid.
Well tomorrow should be good fun, a local Finnish family is treating us to breakfast (only minus is 9am wake up) and dinner. So all is looking promising. Also the evening looks like it will be spent with the Koreans listening to more xxx stories... I think I might need a "few" drinks!
Friday, October 06, 2006
An Englishman, an Irishman and ....... an American
Popped out for a few beverages of the brewed variety last night with an Irish guy who is here on exchange and an American friend of his, and ended up bar hopping around DeKalb.
If Wednesday is the night on the lash in Mikkeli then Thursday is certainly the night that NIU's students go out and large it up. Now in Mikkeli its great going to Kharma and getting 50% off with the club card, but here there is nothing like it. No sir. For the students of NIU Thursday night is the one when you can go out and get completely blottoed without breaking the bank. All of the bars offer 75ct drafts (Used to 50cts but the district council raised it to try to lower it to curb excessive drinking)
Yes 75cts for that lovely amber nectar that in the words of Frank the Tank "Tastes so good" Now there is a downside to this, which is waking up the next morning with more quarters in your pocket than a vending machine!
And it doesn't stop there... I thought early on in the evening it might be nice to enjoy a nice glass of whiskey on the rocks, so I ordered myself a Johnny Walker and was amazed when the guy gave me a glass three quarters full and relieved me of 3 dollars! In fact I was so shocked that I asked the guy if he took the right money.
One conclusion that I have come to here is that Americans can't drink for shit! Unfortunately I had to be proven right by my American drinking partner pouring the contents of his beer down my trousers. Which was to say the least fairly embaressing because he managed to hit the crotch area, and I was forced to explain to everyone that "No I haven't pissed myself, I'm not that drunk yet" But anyway, fairgame, it's all good in da hood.
Sorry for the heavily alcohol biased post, but well, gotta let people know the important cultural differences!
Tootaloo for now !
If Wednesday is the night on the lash in Mikkeli then Thursday is certainly the night that NIU's students go out and large it up. Now in Mikkeli its great going to Kharma and getting 50% off with the club card, but here there is nothing like it. No sir. For the students of NIU Thursday night is the one when you can go out and get completely blottoed without breaking the bank. All of the bars offer 75ct drafts (Used to 50cts but the district council raised it to try to lower it to curb excessive drinking)
Yes 75cts for that lovely amber nectar that in the words of Frank the Tank "Tastes so good" Now there is a downside to this, which is waking up the next morning with more quarters in your pocket than a vending machine!
And it doesn't stop there... I thought early on in the evening it might be nice to enjoy a nice glass of whiskey on the rocks, so I ordered myself a Johnny Walker and was amazed when the guy gave me a glass three quarters full and relieved me of 3 dollars! In fact I was so shocked that I asked the guy if he took the right money.
One conclusion that I have come to here is that Americans can't drink for shit! Unfortunately I had to be proven right by my American drinking partner pouring the contents of his beer down my trousers. Which was to say the least fairly embaressing because he managed to hit the crotch area, and I was forced to explain to everyone that "No I haven't pissed myself, I'm not that drunk yet" But anyway, fairgame, it's all good in da hood.
Sorry for the heavily alcohol biased post, but well, gotta let people know the important cultural differences!
Tootaloo for now !
Monday, October 02, 2006
Thunder & lightning
They say a picture speaks more than a thousand words... this was taken yesterday from my room.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Chi town
Seeing as I have been waffling on the last few posts, I thought some photographic material might be in order. So here are some pictures from the amazing city of Chicago... Enjoy !
The Sears tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world dominates Chicagos high rise skyline
Awesome water attraction in Chicagos Millenium park. The photos are projected behind a glass wall and they are of Chicagoians off the streets.
Walking on water
The "Bean" a polished metal bean that is a beheamouth and reflects the Chicago skyline
View of Chicago from the Navy Pier
This my friends is a heart attack on a plate. In other words Chicagos world famous Pan Pizza. That is 2cm of cheese there, which tastes fantastic but is about as good for you as a gun shot wound to the head.
"The other side of the tracks" Chicagos ghetto is cheap, if you don't mind crack dealers or drivebyes on your doorstep!
Ubelievable man-made scenery makes for an awesome sunset!
ABC 6 O'clock news, moments after this they showed the crowd on camera, so we started jumping up and down like kangaroos on speed. There is however a 5 second delay on the feed ever since Janet Jacksons "Wardrobe malfunction" (read nipple flashing) so any naturists out there wanting to expose themselves on National Tv will be dissapointed. *sigh*
The Chicago river which flows through the city. This river has been widened deepened and they have even reversed the current, so it now flows the other way !!!
The amazing ampitheatre in Millenium park, and I caught Joulupukki that bearded wonder on his holiday!!
A huge structure...... and the Sears tower ! :p
Tourists !!!
Well thats all for now, I guess I should get started with my Sales interview paper which needs to be returned tmr morning, and study for the 2 exams that we have. Our HRM prof recomended reading the book like 35 times..... I think I will be lucky if I open it!
See y'all later !
Awesome water attraction in Chicagos Millenium park. The photos are projected behind a glass wall and they are of Chicagoians off the streets.
Walking on water
The "Bean" a polished metal bean that is a beheamouth and reflects the Chicago skyline
View of Chicago from the Navy Pier
This my friends is a heart attack on a plate. In other words Chicagos world famous Pan Pizza. That is 2cm of cheese there, which tastes fantastic but is about as good for you as a gun shot wound to the head.
"The other side of the tracks" Chicagos ghetto is cheap, if you don't mind crack dealers or drivebyes on your doorstep!
Ubelievable man-made scenery makes for an awesome sunset!
ABC 6 O'clock news, moments after this they showed the crowd on camera, so we started jumping up and down like kangaroos on speed. There is however a 5 second delay on the feed ever since Janet Jacksons "Wardrobe malfunction" (read nipple flashing) so any naturists out there wanting to expose themselves on National Tv will be dissapointed. *sigh*
The Chicago river which flows through the city. This river has been widened deepened and they have even reversed the current, so it now flows the other way !!!
The amazing ampitheatre in Millenium park, and I caught Joulupukki that bearded wonder on his holiday!!
A huge structure...... and the Sears tower ! :p
Tourists !!!Well thats all for now, I guess I should get started with my Sales interview paper which needs to be returned tmr morning, and study for the 2 exams that we have. Our HRM prof recomended reading the book like 35 times..... I think I will be lucky if I open it!
See y'all later !
Friday, September 29, 2006
Black is the new white
Fantastic this exchange lark, new experiences, new culture and funny new "akward situations" Yesterday evening me and Samu decided to go and watch a fashion show that was being held on campus by one of the fashion clubs. The show sucked big time and there was nothing "fashionable" about it. Easy to see how all the American guys dress the same way, I think the most fashionable item of clothing was a D&G tshirt. Tres chic indeed!
It was also funny to notice that me and Samu were the minority, and I'm not talking about being from a different country, rather a different race. Out of about 300+ people there were under 6 caucasians, us included. We had a good old laugh that maybe we shoudl try to join some African American sorority!
Anyhow, today is meant to be a free day but I guess I might have to open some school books as we have loads of exams coming up. Then again I didn't say anything about actually reading! Tmr we are heading off to Chicago so that should be a good laugh, and produce some photgraphic material. Sorry but I've been lazy and really can't be bothered to carry around my camera to document me eating American fast food or drinking piss weak American beer! Although I promise more pictures are on the way.
For now though, ta-ta !
DeKalb over and out.
It was also funny to notice that me and Samu were the minority, and I'm not talking about being from a different country, rather a different race. Out of about 300+ people there were under 6 caucasians, us included. We had a good old laugh that maybe we shoudl try to join some African American sorority!
Anyhow, today is meant to be a free day but I guess I might have to open some school books as we have loads of exams coming up. Then again I didn't say anything about actually reading! Tmr we are heading off to Chicago so that should be a good laugh, and produce some photgraphic material. Sorry but I've been lazy and really can't be bothered to carry around my camera to document me eating American fast food or drinking piss weak American beer! Although I promise more pictures are on the way.
For now though, ta-ta !
DeKalb over and out.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Culture, culture, culture
Well, Thursday evening came and went, leaving behind it empty beer bottles sore heads and promises never to drink again. What started out as the powerhour quickly turned into the century club, which then deteriorated into drinking neat vodka and general...well..... mayhem. It was seriously like a circus because everyone at the party belonged to the uni gymnastic team and were just throwing flips in every possible direction! Certainly made for an entertaining evening!
On a more academic note got the results from one of our courses and was pleasantly suprised as I had managed to get a great score with little studying! Nice to know that I can now sit back even more!! ...... Hope the proffs aren't reading this!
Went out Cd shopping again today as music is so ridiculously cheap here and there are so many great bands. I swear I'm gonna be skint when I get back home, but you only live once!
Thats about all the text that I can squeeze out for now, as the creative part of my brain has ceased to function, time for bed and a movie. But maybe not in that order!
Oh yeah and there was another Tornado that touched down next to campus, so another exodus to the basement (this time I remembered to close the window) In addition to that I experienced an UNBELIEVABLE thunder storm with some amazing lightning! Beats any fireworks that I have ever seen hands down.
N-I-U I-love-you!
Worrying cultural observations about my Korean neighbours
While taking a shower the other day one of the Korean dudes shouted from the cubicle next to me "guess what I'm doing?"
"Taking a shower I hope" I replied.
Well the Korean dude then fired back with some heavy duty fodder........
"I'm masturbating"
......Needless to say I got the heck outta the shower ASAP
Today one of them was walking into the toilets with a videocamera and tripod and proudly told me that he was the director. Director of what ?! Who the hell takes a videocamera into the toilets?! I dread to think what the hell they were doing in there......well whatever floats your boat.
On a more academic note got the results from one of our courses and was pleasantly suprised as I had managed to get a great score with little studying! Nice to know that I can now sit back even more!! ...... Hope the proffs aren't reading this!
Went out Cd shopping again today as music is so ridiculously cheap here and there are so many great bands. I swear I'm gonna be skint when I get back home, but you only live once!
Thats about all the text that I can squeeze out for now, as the creative part of my brain has ceased to function, time for bed and a movie. But maybe not in that order!
Oh yeah and there was another Tornado that touched down next to campus, so another exodus to the basement (this time I remembered to close the window) In addition to that I experienced an UNBELIEVABLE thunder storm with some amazing lightning! Beats any fireworks that I have ever seen hands down.
N-I-U I-love-you!
Worrying cultural observations about my Korean neighbours
While taking a shower the other day one of the Korean dudes shouted from the cubicle next to me "guess what I'm doing?"
"Taking a shower I hope" I replied.
Well the Korean dude then fired back with some heavy duty fodder........
"I'm masturbating"
......Needless to say I got the heck outta the shower ASAP
Today one of them was walking into the toilets with a videocamera and tripod and proudly told me that he was the director. Director of what ?! Who the hell takes a videocamera into the toilets?! I dread to think what the hell they were doing in there......well whatever floats your boat.
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