Hello!
This is your host reporting from HKI. I'm now at my friend's place at Pikku-Huopalahti and have just come from my visa interview which lasted a whole 30 seconds and included three questions. After informing the secretary of my intentions in the US, she granted me my visa, which should be posted to me in about a couple of weeks. In the process leading up to the interview I had to get hold of a fair number of different papers including health insurance, receipts of SEVIS and MRV fees in addition to a proof of funding during the exchange.
Before reaching the half-minute interview, however, I had to queue in the falling snow for about half an hour, enter through a security check in which they x-rayed all of my stuff and then enter the embassy building to sit on a couch for about an hour. My appointment was due 09:45AM but due to the long queues it was delayed until after 11AM. I wonder why the embassy insists the participants come to an interview in person when it is of such trivial nature.
Nevertheless, it's nice to be in Helsinki again! Maybe this evening I'll celebrate my visa with a beer or two (or several).
My study exchange blog, containing writings regarding a study exchange period in Hyderabad, India, and associated adventures.
Friday 3 December 2010
Tuesday 30 November 2010
A blog! Is that something edible?
Hi y'all!
I think it's time to introduce yours truly to those who have not yet had the chance to be spoiled by my inadequate writing skills or lack of manners before. I am a 22-year old university student from the Finnish city of Jyväskylä. My major is English language and I will probably graduate as a teacher in about 3 years. I started this blog to document my adventures in the great unknown beyond the Atlantic, also known as the United States of America. My student exchange starts in the little town of Wise, in Southwestern Virginia, on the 10th of January. I have never before visited the US, so in this blog I will record some initial experiences and my process of adaptation to the American way of life.
I was partly inspired to start this blog when I read about the 100 thing challenge by Dave Bruno. The challenge involves getting rid of most of your stuff in order to free yourself from the burden of things. I'm not a minimalist by nature nor do I share Dave's religious background which affects his writing, but I do believe that consumerism is not the way to roll when our planet is showing symptoms of ill-being, such as the global warming. I began thinking that if I cut down the amount that I consume, while thinking about what I consume, I could learn to live more ecologically and also feel less stressed by all the junk weighing me down. I will begin the process of getting rid of stuff by giving away and selling things that I don't need.
I will also post in this blog some of the best photos from my journey. I intend to be writing this blog at least weekly, so stay tuned to know how I'm doing!
I think it's time to introduce yours truly to those who have not yet had the chance to be spoiled by my inadequate writing skills or lack of manners before. I am a 22-year old university student from the Finnish city of Jyväskylä. My major is English language and I will probably graduate as a teacher in about 3 years. I started this blog to document my adventures in the great unknown beyond the Atlantic, also known as the United States of America. My student exchange starts in the little town of Wise, in Southwestern Virginia, on the 10th of January. I have never before visited the US, so in this blog I will record some initial experiences and my process of adaptation to the American way of life.
I was partly inspired to start this blog when I read about the 100 thing challenge by Dave Bruno. The challenge involves getting rid of most of your stuff in order to free yourself from the burden of things. I'm not a minimalist by nature nor do I share Dave's religious background which affects his writing, but I do believe that consumerism is not the way to roll when our planet is showing symptoms of ill-being, such as the global warming. I began thinking that if I cut down the amount that I consume, while thinking about what I consume, I could learn to live more ecologically and also feel less stressed by all the junk weighing me down. I will begin the process of getting rid of stuff by giving away and selling things that I don't need.
I will also post in this blog some of the best photos from my journey. I intend to be writing this blog at least weekly, so stay tuned to know how I'm doing!
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