Saint Petersburg aka Pieteri

Well I just Spent 4 AMAZING days with the most amazing people on Earth. It started on Thursday April 25th When I got on a bus at 4:30 in the morning. Then we had around 12 hours on the bus filled with many jokes, much laughing and hugging. At around 12 we reached a travel center hear the border where all of Exchange students from all 3 buses got together. There was A LOT of laughing and hugging because we were seeing a lot of people we hadn't seen in a long time. Then we went to the border. First we went through the Finnish side, which went really well then the Russian side. It was scary because none of them smiled, at all... but it all went smoothly and we reached out hotel at 8 and enjoyed the rest of the night. On the 26th I woke up at 7:30 and went to breakfast. The breakfast were ok in the hotel, but the eggs sucked. After breakfast we had some time, and then we left at around 9. We went to two museums that day. The first was the former winter palace of a tsars daughter but he died before she got to live in it. It had six sets of buildings all full of stuff. We went through 4 buildings but only looked at the art, which was still really cool because there were rare pieces. The next museum was weird. It was another huge building but this time it was full of cultural exhibits, and dead babies. Yes I said dead babies. Part of the collection came from a German which did medical research on dead babies, especially those with defects. It was interesting. For lunch we had a mix of Turkish and Russian food at a place called 1001 nights. We got back to the hotel at around 4, ate dinner ad got ready for a show on Russian folklore. I thought it was gonna be really boring but it was really awesome. There was a lot of sick dancing and cool singing. Then we went back to the hotel and chilled until 2. Well I took a shower and it was terrible. No pressure, disgusting water, and either to hot or to cold. Well on the 27th I again was up at 7:30, and again breakfast sucked. We went on a bus tour for several hours, seeing all the major spots, then we had free time and lunch in the main center of the city. It was really fun because I was in a group of bout 20-30 kids and I was wearing my American flag as a cape. For lunch we had Russian fast food. I had a pancake with ham and cheese and borscht. Then we met some belibers, waits for Justin Beiber( he never showed) and then went back to the hotel. We had dinner, which was good this time( goulash and rice) and then got dressed for the ballet. The ballet was nice. It was a Scottish play about love and death( broken hearts). I got bored because ballets aren't my thing but it was still good. After that we went back to the hotel. I panicked because I thought I lost my bag but in fact I just left it in the lobby and the staff picked it up. Then we all relaxed and all went to bed really late. On Sunday we ate breakfast at 8 and ere gone by 9:45. We went through the border just fine and then got lunch. Lunch was hard because we had to say goodbye to everyone, many of of which we won't see again. I and many other people cried that day. the bus ride was long yet fun and I got to Seinäjoki at 10:30 but we weren't home until 12 because I accidentally picked up another bag and had to give it back. Then I went to bed a 1. Today he 29th I skipped morning classes and had a very nice short day. I slept a lot today and then went to Rotary. Was a pretty boring day.

22nd-23rd

well on Monday the 22nd I didn't do much. I skipped my two morning classes because I've been sick. I also skipped sports in the afternoon for the same reason. At 4 I had a math retake which didn't go very well. But I came home and slept. Tuesday the 23rd was pretty much the same. I skipped my morning classes so I can sleep to help me get better. I only had 4 classes after that which went fast. After school I went to the bank, brought my huge wad of American money and changed it into Euros. Then I came home and slept. I feel much better. After I woke up I ate, and did laundry. At around 8 I went to sauna which made me feel much better. Now I am getting ready for school tomorrow. On Thursday I go to Russia and I have to be in Seinäjoki at 4:30 in the morning. That means that tomorrow I gotta get packed and get all my snacks.

19th-21st

well on Friday the 19th I had school has normal. It went ok, I was sick which always sucks at school. I ended up not going to my sports class because I did what they did on Monday with the 1st years and also I wasn't feeling to hot. Later that day I went to practice and while there I met one of the men's team coaches. He was from Oregon. He also went to high school with one of my highschool coaches. It was a pretty small world. Practice went ok. On Saturday the 20th I had Rotary all day. It was district conference. That means that we listened to a lot of people talk, we talked, and then us exchange students went swimming At 7:30 the Governors Ball started. The Governors Ball is a very fancy occasion with 3 courses, entertainment, and fancy dress. That went until 11, when us exchangers went back to the hotel. I was up until maybe 2 in the morning because we were a hanging out. Saturday was a long day because my cold had gotten worse so I was coughing A LOT. Today Sunday the 21st was even worse. I woke up at 7 and was at breakfast at 8. At 9 we were suppose to go see some islands but we missed out bus. So we sat there for a while until my ride picked me up. I was supposed to go to my second host moms 50th birthday but didn't because I was coughing so much. Today has been non stop coughing, and I feel terrible. I really hope it go's away because Russia on Thursday.

17th-18th

Well on Wednesday the 17th I didn't have class until 9:35. Well I woke up and did everything normal and then went to school. School was ok, boring as usual. Lunch was fish soup so I went to the store and bought chicken nuggets, a banana, and some tea. I left school at little after 2 and wasn't home until 4 because of my workout. I had a very good arm day, and worked up a great sweat. When I got home my host mom gave me money to go get dinner because she wasn't feeling like cooking. She also asked me to cook up some pork chops, which I did, and did very well. I was very proud of myself. Then I went to go get kebab for dinner. A long the way the bolt holding my bike seat decides to snap and I bought get a metal rod up my butt. So that kinda made me mad. But the rest of the night went ok aside from my cough. Well today Thursday the 18th just sucked for one I was just in a bad mood all day and didn't know why. Maybe it was the fact that I took my bike to a bike place before school and they couldn't fix it. Or maybe the fact that I can't ride my bike without standing which hurts. Well after school It decided to rain, and rain hard. Well I had to walk to another bike place, stand there for 20 minutes just to find out my bike couldn't be fixed because I was missing a part. Then I had to walk home. To make things even worse I have been feeling like crap all day because a cold is taking root in me. I have been coughing and feeling light headed all day. So I got home and slept and have nothing but read an some laundry every since.

15th-16th

Well on Monday the 15th I didn't go to my two early morning classes because I was dead tired from Sunday. I woke up at around 8 I think and I felt like I was hit by a car. Everything hurt when I moved. Well I got up and had a pretty good day at school. I had a sports test in my P.E class and I learned I suck at pull-ups. Then after sports I went and had a nice, hard leg day. After that I came home, relaxed and went to bed early. Weather wise It rained off and on ALL day, so it sucked. Today Tuesday the 16th was less exciting. I woke up at 6:30 for two Finnish lessons that started at 7:40. That I discovered was a class on how to speak in public, which I am already pretty good a except in Finnish. After that I had a break then two English lessons, which are always boring. For lunch we had liver steaks with potatoes and salad. It was ok. After lunch I had two periods of Religion. That went by REALLY slow.I then came home, ran, Cooked dinner of pork steaks and salad and the have relaxed ever since. Weather today was ok. It was cloudy and windy but it got pretty warm today which was nice.

13th-14th

Well the 13th was a good day. I wen to Vaasa at 12 to hang with my bro Santtu and some of his friends from Seinäjoki and also some Italian exchange students. I hung with him for a couple hours and am pretty sure I made some new friends. After that I hooked up with some friends from Laihia. Both were girls so of course they dragged e to all the girl stores.  After a little bit I hooked up with my bro Ben and we went to some sports stores and the girls went of to girl stores. I was with Ben for maybe an hour the he left. After he left the girls and I went to eat at a " Mexican" restaurant. It was pretty good. Then I went home by train and got ready for today.Now today the 14th was great. I woke up at 7-7:30 because my body woke me up. I made coffee then breakfast for me and my host family. At around 12:30 my friends from Vaasa came and picked me up for pregame tape and practice. At 3 our game against the Helsinki Wolverines started.  was one of the 4 captains. Things started bad because they returned our kick off for a TD but then we did the same thing when we returned it. After that it was pretty good except the refs. I actually came pretty close to getting thrown our because I was telling a ref to watch a guy because he was holding me. The ref ignored me so I asked if he was listening and he said to me" shut up, this is your only warning". So after that I had my coach pull me off D until he fixed it with the ref. This was also the same ref that liked to call crap calls. We ended up winning the game 48-20. I did pretty good. I had 3-4 tackles and I was putting pressure on their QB all day. Offense wise I did pretty well. I did make some mistakes but it happens. Weather wise it ws absolutely gorgeous. Sunny day and it was pretty warm at 10-12 degrees Celsius. After that I went and ate, came home, showered, and did laundry. Now off to bed.

12th

Well today was pretty good. I had class at 9:35 so I didn't wake up until 8. I wore my jersey to school because I really didn't wanna mess with the ritual of wearing your jersey to school. I got some weird looks but I didn't care. I came home at 1:30  and went to Vaasa to get my package from my parents that I have been waiting for for almost a month. Then I tried to nap but couldn't so I opened my package from my parents and the one form my neighbors the Spratlings. Then at 4:30 My friends from Vaasa came an picked me up so we could go to practice. Practice went well. I have starting in several positions which is good. After that we went and ate at the Laihian pizza/kebab place. While we were there a group of girls who are about 15 came in and sat down and then a little later a group of guys who are like 18-20 came and started chatting with them. I don't know if they knew them or what but I was really surprised but apparently that's acceptable. So who's knows. Anyway off to bed!

10th-11th

Well on the 10th we had a field trip to Vaasa. I had to wake up at 6:30 and I was on the bus at 7:45. Our first stop was at a engine making factory that made engines and other parts for boats and power plants. After that we went to a pizza buffet and then to a museum. I didn't get back to school until 2:30 and I was in the weight room until 3:30. I got home, napped, then went and shot my host brothers bow. He left it here so I can practice. Now today the 11th was really boring to. I got up at 6:30 for a 7:40 class which was Finnish. It was so boring because practically no one was at school today. Then I skipped my second Finnish lesson and that gave me 3 ours of downtime, so I went home and shaved, ate and relaxed. I had English before lunch and religion right after. Religion is going to be a very..... interesting class if I say it politely. Anyway tomorrow I don't have class until 9:35 and have to miss my last two gym lessons so I can go to Vaasa and pick up a package before I go to practice.

9th

Well today was pretty good. I woke up at 7 and was at school by 8 for class at 8:20. We walked to a plant close by that made aluminum parts. It was kinda boring. Then we came back, I studied some Swedish, had lunch, then went home. I got home and took a nap and when I woke up and checked the mail. In the mail was 6 cards for my birthday from friends and family. I actually teared up reading them. Then I went running, which sucked. Today I was supposed to go bow shooting with my host brother but his friend didn't get his bow so we didn't go. So after that my host brother and I went and got his bow target and set it out back of my host house. Tomorrow he will bring his bow and leave it there so I can shoot whenever I want. So the weather today was at first really cold then warmed up to a really nice day. Tomorrow I go to Vaasa for school and when I get back it is arm day. Then later in the day I should go bow shooting. SO hopefully it's a good day tomorrow.

7th-8th

Well on Sunday the 7th I went horse back riding at 9:30 a.m and that lasted about an hour. At 3 I had a little "party" with my current and second host families. It was really nice. At 6 I went to the gym with my host brother Aleksi from my second family. I did leg day and it went really well. Today the 8th was my birthday. My host parents woke me up at 7 and gave me my gift which was a very nice necklace with the Finnish lion on it. I had school today and we ended up going to the Lahian museum. It was pretty cool. I got home at around 12:30 and took a nap. At 2 my host mom took me to Vaasa to get my cake. At 5 I wet to rotary where I brought the cake and bought coffee for everyone which is what they do. It went really well. I then came home and have chilled since. So a pretty boring birthday. Tomorrow I have school again and it will be boring.

5th-6th

Well on Friday the 5th I was at school at 8 for a class at 8:30. I had to listen to an Italian guy talk until 11 when we ate lunch then a fairly attractive Ukrainian girl talked about Ukraine. Then I went home and chilled. Well today Saturday the 6th I had my Finnish test at 8:30 so I had to be there at 8. It took 3 hours and went TERRIBLE. I mean it was so hard. All the questions were in Finnish. Then I came home and slept, I got my passport sent to the travel agency and have relaxed. I don't know at what time but my host dads sister and cousin came over. The sister lives in Laihia but the cousin is from Sweden. We talked and had coffee and cake and they were here until 11 p.m. But now I am getting ready for bed. Tomorrow I am going horse riding and at 3 my 2nd and 3rd host families are getting together to celebrate my birthday which is on Monday. I turn 17 which isn't a great number but hey every ones gotta go through it.

3rd-4th

Well on Thursday the 3rd I had my economics test and it went very well. After the test I made plans for today(the 4th) and then went and lifted. After that I just chilled. Today the 4th I had my psychology test which went very well, then stayed at school until almost 12 because I was talking to people. My friend was supposed to call me when she got up so we could hangout but she never did I spent a lot of time just waiting. That made me very mad. So to counter it I worked on a project and also did some exercises.At around 7 I had dinner with my host family. We had salad, potatoes and ham. Prior to that I walked to the store so I could think and I got a lot of weird looks because I was walking around in a sweatshirt and no hat. Then I showered and started watching a movie when my dad interrupted me for a skype call. We chatted for almost an hour. Now I am getting ready for bed. Tomorrow some kids Will be going to either Paris or Rome for school trips. That leaves very few of us at school. So for about 4 days we are in a " service week" which means we sit at school and do nothing. Not excited.

1st of april and the 2nd

well yesterday was the first of April. I did nothing execpt study, eat and stay at home. Well today was the second. Today I went to school and had a good leg day. Then I met with the German girl Anna and we chilled fora bit then I came home. I slept for a bit and then went outside to see if  I could find the mailbox. Well I made the mistake of closing the door which was locked. So I got locked out for an hour and a half because I didn't have my phone. Then I chilled, went to sauna and got tickets for the USA vs Russia hockey game in Helsinki in May. So some important things happened this morning. I had my first dream in Finnish which is good. It was very weird thought because it was my real sister wishing me a happy birthday in Finnish, then me saying thank you, and her saying you're welcome all in Finnish. Anyway tomorrow is my Economics test as well as arm day! so hopefully it'll be a good day.