Scandinavian Christmas Market

 Hello dears!

  It's really busy with course work and lectures since we are approaching the end of term 1. I have had a really productive term. I've surprised myself many times writing an essay when I was only going to go to Facebook. How did this happen? I guess when you love the subject you are studying. Course books are so interesting (especially the psychological disorders one) that I find myself stuck with them for hours! Not complaining at all though! :) 

  So Christmas is approaching and London gets all worked up about it. Many of us will be flying home for Christmas to see our families. But while we are still here we decided to go to the Scandinavian Christmas market with the Nordic Society. The market was put together by the Finnish and Norwegian churches of London. I've never seen the church so this was an opportunity to see how the Finnish people are integrated in London. 

  You can't imagine how much I have missed the Finnish chocolate, rye bread, salmiakki (Finnish candy that only Finnish people enjoy but if you come across it and you are brave enough give it go), dairy products (they seriously are missing many here), Karelian pies and just the Finnish atmosphere! There is nothing better than Finnish candy! So you can imagine that I was in heaven! The others were also excited about cinnamon buns (not really my thing). We also saw Father Christmas and if you don't know yet he is from Finland from a place called Korvatunturi! Most of all it was amazing and weird at the same time to hear Finnish! And you can really tell who is Finnish and who is not! What I really liked was that our Greek flatmate came along with us and she was as excited about everything as I was! :)

Finnish chocolates :P

Sail Olympic bronze
medallist Silja Lehtinen
and husband Ville Frost
at the Independence Ball 

  In other news: I've tackled my insomnia which seems to be a problem for many in University. I didn't use to be able to get any sleep at night, but I skipped a night and started going to bed at 10-11pm. Now I wake up at 5-6am and study or get things done while others sleep! It's great! 

  Plus the Finnish independence day passed on 6. of December. On this day Finnish people honor the veterans that fought in the world war II, listen to Finlandia by Jean Sibelius, watch a movie called the unknown solder and watch a broadcast of the Finnish Independence ball from the President's castle. I was actually able to watch the ball via Internet (I couldn't watch last year when we were living on campus). 

Three Former Presidents and the
current one with spouses

  And above all this I got a job offer! I was jumping up and down when I got an email from a lady who got my email via the Finnish Church of London. She needs someone to babysit her kids occasionally next year which would be perfect for me! I love kids and I have worked with kids a lot. 

 I think good things happen when believe they will! :)
Happy Christmas time to everyone!