Trip to Ukraine!

My squad for the trip! 

Last weekend, the last weekend of February was the first weekend this year that I was able to relax. January and February were full of studying and working. My boyfriend had a dancing competition with his partner in Ukraine and I decided to go with them. We had a nice small group going to Lviv. The competition was on Saturday and we wanted to stay for Sunday as well to go sightseeing. Saturday was a great start for the weekend as my favorite dancing pair won the competition! ;) After the competition we went for dinner to this amazing meat restaurant. The theme of the restaurant was torture but the food was nothing like torture, it was delicious! After the dinner we decided to stay in the city center for drinks.

Lviv is something very different from Poland or Wroclaw. Everything seemed to be old: buildings, cars, everything. The roads were in such a bad condition that I felt like jumping and hitting my head in the bus. Nobody was speaking English in there, I tried to communicate in English, Polish and showing by gestures and then I got understood. I wouldn't have survived without knowing any Polish. However, I really enjoyed the city. It was something different from the places I have visited before.

On Sunday we were walking around the city. We ended up eating in a restaurant that was very nationalist, we needed to say some password in the door before getting in (Ukraine first or something like that), people were singing nationalistic songs and the decor was Ukrainian military oriented.

On the way back from Ukraine we spent 6,5 hours in the Ukraine-Polish border. The bus was full of people, there were no extra places and the air was very bad. It was interesting to see what everybody needed to do to get in to the area of the European Union.

I came sick during our trip, so this week has been mostly resting. I wanted to go out so bad and enjoy the beautiful spring weather. I hope next week will also be as sunny and warm!

-Camilla

Independent Finland!

6th of December is the Finnish Independence Day, 99 years ago 1917 Finland gained it's independence. For a Finn living outside Finland, the independence day brings in mind all the good things about Finland and why Finland is one of the best countries in the world.

Reason to put some lipstick on! ;)

We spend our independence day with the other Finns who live here. Our Honorary Consul invited everybody to a dinner on the occasion of the 99th Anniversary of the Independence Day of Finland. Violins were playing the national anthem of Finland and the food was so good!

Our menu for this evening!

Finnish flag cake, nobody wants to get the blue parts as they may be coloring your mouth!

Starters were tasty!

Finland is among the world’s top countries according to a range of international measures. Studies have shown that Finland is among the best performers in the world based on criteria such as honesty, innovation, literacy, success in education and opportunities for girls. We have also been deemed the world's most stable country. This provides a strong starting point for celebrating our independence.

-Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland 

(Message from the President of the Republic of Finland to Finnish expatriate communities on 6 December 2016)

Finland is the best!:

1. Finland is the most progressive country in the world
2. Finland is the greenest country in the world
3. Finland is one of the best countries for girls
4. Finland is the most stable country in the world
5. Finland is the safest country in the world
6. Finland has the best governance in the world
7. Finland’s judicial system is the most independent in the world
8. Finland has the least organised crime in the world
9. Finland is the best country in protecting fundamental human rights in the world
10. Finland has the smallest difference in the employment rates of women and men in EU countries
11. Finland has the most human capital in the world
12. Finland's primary education is the best in the world
13. Finland has the most forests in Europe
14. Finns drink most coffee per person in the world
15. .....

http://www.stat.fi/ajk/satavuotiassuomi/suomimaailmankarjessa_en.html

Today I'm so proud to be a Finn! Happy Anniversary Finland!

-Camilla