New zest for life begins

abba photo on cardboard
In front of Abba Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. Photo by dad

Holiday over or in my case a break. Had a relaxing 2 nights in Stockholm with dad. The weather was nice. Warm enough. We went to the island Djurgården where the amusement park Gröna Lund is. Beside it, there is the Abba museum. On the outside, they had put this photo of the band where you could put your own head through the holes so your face is there instead of theirs. We didn’t go inside the museum though. Our main goal was the open-air museum, Skansen. There you can see wild animals for example. There were bears playing with each other in the water. You could watch them through a glass. There is so much to see so it took several hours. It’s a great place for families. We got there in the morning by boat and when we left, there were hundreds of more people coming. It was Saturday so it’s a very popular day and the weather was sunny too. We walked for 8 hours in total in Stockholm. Of course, breaks sometimes. After a break at the hotel, we took a walk nearby to see the evening life. Even a short holiday makes you feel like a new person. It’s almost like a new zest for life begins.

Speaking of which. Next week it begins. Maybe not a new life but still something else for a change. The graphic design education in Helsinki. It’s always a bit nerve-wracking but yet excited to meet new people. The first meeting on Friday on August 24. I already bought the bus tickets and then I get the information the school begins at 10.30 am. So I have almost 2 hours to kill. Usually, the day would start at 9 am but the first meeting is later. But what’s done is done. When you start a new school, there are usually this introduce yourself time and that’s what I dread the most. Last time I went to Helsinki Design School, I was awful at it. I can never guarantee how things will go. Things never come out of my mouth as I have planned it. I might say things too quietly or I stutter but that’s because I’m nervous. The first impression is my weakness. Even at the restaurant in Stockholm, I ordered a salad on the side but they brought us French fries instead. I thought I said it in a clear voice but I guess the waiter didn’t understand. It really didn’t really matter because the fries were much better than the potatoes I had. But when it comes to introducing yourself, you get one shot and then you’re stamped for the rest of the time. It would be easier just to say your name and where you’re from and then move on. But they want your whole story, why you’re there and what you’ve done. Why make it more difficult anyway? If people want to know more, just ask. I guess Finns are to shy so you have to tell things about you straight away. They don’t want to know your whole story though. I survived last time so I will do it this time too. The education itself will be interesting. Learning new things is always a bonus.

Around the world, in my head

StPetersburg
View of Saint Petersburg, Russia, 2016

Not having enough money to travel sucks. You can’t go anywhere because your travel budget is empty. You can only go to places that don’t cost you much. I wish I could go to any place without having to think about how much it’s gonna be. But I don’t think I ever will. We went to Europe after my sister passed away but I was so young I don’t remember about the trip. It would be nice to see those places as an adult but you can’t have everything.

I wish I could travel to New Zealand but since I’m not blessed with money so that will remain a dream. The only travel around the world is in my head. My dream is not a trip around the world though. Everyone seems to want to go to Asia or America but I’m not that keen. There are a lot of places in Europe I haven’t been to so I would do that first. At this moment I wish I could travel to a colder climate. Like Iceland. But again money is the issue. If only money would grow on trees. I really like travelling. It’s nice to see new places. I couldn’t travel alone because it scares me. The only time I travel alone is to school if I study in another city. I wouldn’t want to travel with a lot of other people because there’s always someone who gets drunk or behaves badly. Travelling with classmates is the worse. I rather travel with a person I know well.

I and dad are planning to go somewhere this summer but everything is so expensive. Going on cruises to Stockholm is a bit boring since we’ve done that so many times. It’s been 2 years since we were in Saint Petersburg and I still haven’t written a report like I said I would. I don’t know if I remember much about it anymore. One of these days I will finish that report. A short one but still. I’m not very good at telling about my travels. We’re travelled after that too but it’s all those old places like Riga. We’ve been there at least 6 times on a Christmas cruise. It’s so easy when everything is done for you. All you need to do is enjoying the trip.

I’ve been to 10 European countries, Finland included. Germany is the country abroad I’ve travelled the most in. In 2008 I went with my parents to Rostock, Lübeck, Bremen, Hannover, Berlin and the island of Rügen where the Nazi Germany beach resort called Prora lays. It’s now been renovated but when we were there it looked deserted. My favourite was Berlin. You can really feel the atmosphere when you walk where the Berlin wall used to be. During the trip to Germany, it was as hot as it is now. But when we got to Berlin it was much cooler. That’s the only reason it’s my favourite. There so much history and so much to see. We went up to the Berlin Victory Column and there were so many stairs to climb. But when you got up there, it’s all worthwhile. What a view there was. I don’t like heights so I stayed close to the wall. The walls up there were really beautifully painted. As soon as I took photos of it I wanted to go down. I only had a video camera to take photos with so the quality wasn’t the best. I’m not even sure where the photos are so I can’t show you. We took a lot of video but I haven’t watched that in years.

We were thinking about going on holiday to London or Paris but we don’t have that kind of money. You almost need to be rich to see any places in the world. Or marry rich. Some people never get to travel because they have to pay the bills and other necessary things. I’m glad I’ve been to places. A person who has been outside their own country have another look on life. Luckily you don’t need to go anywhere because you can find so much information online and even watch travel programs. Maybe I will one day find my way to New Zealand. Maybe I should start saving then. Unless someone takes me there which I think is a bit far-fetched. If travelling was free, you would never see me again. At least that’s what a pin in Pinterest said. The way things are going in the world, the home will be the safest place.