...being the most memorable/stressful school year.
This was my last school year and that meant a lot of great events but also A LOT of cramming. I took my finals in two parts so I had to put up my A-game all year. The examinations themselves weren't as bad as I had imagined but I still had to study hard. Nonetheless I made awesome memories with my friends and all in all I think this was the best school year I've had so far.
...a trip to Stockholm
After I got my examinations done I took a Swedish course (to help the younger students) and in April we traveled to Stockholm for a few days. That trip was amazing! I got so many new friends and I was interviewed for radio. We stayed up super late every night talking and playing card which probably was why I got sick because I can't stand not sleeping. Despite being sick and exhausted I was sad to go home but I knew I was going to get back to Stockholm soon.
...winning a 100-euro scholarship.
My friend an I were chosen to take part in a course called Young women towards the path of leadership (free translation by me). We learned things about leadership, psychological differences between men and women and how they might affect leadership and heard very inspiring stories from women in high positions. The task was to interview a woman in a leader position and read some articles about leadership and then make a report based on everything we had found out. At first I was really excited but then it all got too much and I just wanted get the report done and sent no matter the quality. But it just so happened when we had our celebration dinner me and my friend were called out as a winners. Yay!
...MY GRADUATION!
This was the most amazing and important event of the year. Finally the hard work paid off and I finished school with excellent grades. The graduation day went super quick but I enjoyed every moment. We had over 80 people to come over to celebrate and I got so many gifts. Not to mention all the gorgeous flowers! My dress was from Samsoe&Samsoe. This day had a very special atmosphere and I felt myself very pretty.
...getting a job and living in Stockholm for the summer.
I got a job as an au-pair in Finnish-Swedish family in Täby, Stockholm. I already knew about it when I traveled to Stockholm in April and two days after my graduation I was on my way for an adventure. I was so nervous but as soon as I met my host mom at the port she hugged me and the I didn't feel so nervous. I had the best family I could hope for! The parents were so nice and the kids were so cute. I felt really involved and they took me to many places. We visited e.g. Åland and Borlänge in Dalar.
We went to church a couple of times, saw an American football game and attended to a barbeque party organized by someone from the American ambassador. I also got to take part in MaryKay-night (that became expensive). The family had just moved into their new house and at the end of September we had a house warming party. My host mom also took me to see Kräftriket, one of the campuses in Stockholm University. My host-dad had his band's Live Tour -dvd release party so me and my friend went to this rock-pub with tattooed middle-aged men to celebrate with him.
I got the job through Nordjobb and even though they had a lot of activities I was too tired/busy to take part so i did'n really make friends of my own age. But I got to know one girl and we instantly became really close friends. I loved living in Stockholm and everybody was so open and friendly to me. Not to mention the fashion side of the city! My host family traveled with me to Finland at the end of September and we had a nice dinner with my family before we said goodbye (I was crying). I could write a whole book (or at least one chapter) of my summer but I guess I'll leave it to this. I really miss my host family and my friend but I'm planning on traveling there next month.
...my cousin's wedding, triathlon and visitor from Spain.
I spent all July home, in Finland, and had a nice five-week summer holiday. At the begging of July one of my cousins got married. The weather was perfect and the church and the venue were so pretty. And my cousin looked gorgeous! I absolutely love weddings but I've only been to three during my life. With my cousin's wedding I got to take part in the preparations and decorating so the experience was really fulfilling. The only thing I was a bit stressed out about was the wedding walz because me and my sister performed it. But it went pretty well. All in all the day was amazing!
In mid-July I did something totally crazy: took part in landscape-triathlon. I had been sick for many weeks and hadn't trained at all. And to be clear I've never ever trained for triathlon. My friend convinced me to come so I did. Bad idea to be honest:D The triathlon was a mini-version of the real one but that was more than enough for me. I couldn't do the jogging part because I wasn't able to breathe anymore which meant I was disqualified. But at least I didn't drown! Oh well, lesson learned: do not take part in any kind of triathlon without training and especially if you're sick.
At the end of July we got a visitor from Spain. Two summers ago my mom got us an au-pair to teach Spanish to me and my sister. She is a fashion designer and she designed a ball gown for me. This summer we flew her here as a graduation present. We had a great week. We visited many places in my home town and went on a two-day trip to Tallinn. It was very nice to see her again and it was a great ending to my summer holiday.
 |
| This is my custom-made and unique ball gown |
...getting a job that I thought I couldn't get.
I had already decided that I was going to have a gap year after graduation and when I got back from Stockholm it was time for me to look for a job. I had applied for many many jobs but I didn't succeed in getting one. I even lost some interviews because I was out of country. But then I found an announcement of a company (Leo's Lekland) that would open in Finland. I wasn't really sure about the job because the employer was unknown for me but I decided to go for it. I was invited to an interview almost immediately. I did it in Swedish which was very nerve wracking. I was almost sure that I wouldn't get the job because I didn't had experience in any of the tasks I would be doing there. But at the end I got a call from Sweden and I got the job. Unbelievable! In early November we traveled to Stockholm to learn about the job and in the mid-November we opened our own play land. The first one in Finland!
I've learned a lot during these two months and I really like my job. I work full time with great salary and I'm basically a lower supervisor there. And my work mates are the best! On top of everything my best friend works with me there. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
...and many different hair styles.
It was not my intention to change my hair style so many times this year but things happen. Some of the styles were good and some of them were...well...experimental. My hair got pretty badly damaged on the way but at least I now know what I want and what works for my hair. So all well that ends well!
All in all 2016 was a good year. I made great memories and got many new friends and acquaintances. But I'm also looking forward to 2017 to see what it has in storage for me. So I wish you all happy 2017!!
with love
Ada