Back in November I was having really mixed feelings about the trip. On the other hand I wanted nothing more than to come here and work and see the world, but then again I was really sad to leave all my friends behind for five months. I felt like I was leaving things open and some quite important questions unaswered, and I was really stressing about it for the first couple of weeks here. Those questions were soon aswered though, and that plus the fact that I was getting used to Canada by then helped me get oriented and I really started to enjoy my time here.
December was pretty hectic, work-wise. Everything was new to me. I had to learn the ropes of how the business works in here, how to deal with clients, how to take an existing design and redo it almost completely while still having the same kind of atmosphere as the original one had etc.. I was learning a lot, and I was loving it. I didn't have much free time to do my own stuff, except in early December when my supervisor was absent from work since he had a baby girl on my first day at the office. I'd like to think I brought such a positive vibe to BC that the baby just wanted to plop out of her mothers womb and get into the Micka-Groove that was sweeping across the province.
December was also pretty hectic in a way that I was acting as a councelor of sorts to some people back home who had a little rough times. It took a lot of effort to keep up with all the stuff that was happening all around the globe, but I managed to both do my job and hopefully be of some assistance to my friends.
During Christmas time, we got a new housemate in the house, Lars/Jens (later on he turned out to be Lars). Here's a quote from the Micka of Christmast Past:
Lars (or Jens) is from Germany. Lars (or Jens) came here to our house, because he was kicked out from his previous homestay family. Lars (or Jens) sounds like a real treat to have here living with us! I won't judge him before I get to know him though, since that would be rude, and I am not rude.
I'm glad I didn't judge him too soon. He turned out to be a real fountain of laughter, whether it be laughing with him or at him. We took a whole lot of long walks around the Van City area, the mountains, the beaches and the city. It was so romantic watching the city from the top of Cypress Hill, bathing in sun, looking almost like a jewel in...errr, sorry 'bout that. But man, I have to tell you, Lars reminds me of Olli WAY TOO MUCH. They look similar, they talk similarly, they both are sarcastic as fuck, they have a same kind of sense of humour, their beer drinking ways are the same.. Really creepy. It's like I can't get away from these people, they are everywhere. REALLY CREEPY.
The year ended / started with a letdown, after it became clear that Henna couldn't come here for her internship. I was really looking forward to spending a whole lot of time with her, but that wasn't the case. Luckily she came here later on though, but more on that later. In January I was somehow kinda down for some reason. I didn't know why then, and I don't know why now either. I just thought I'm missing out on everything that's happening in good ol' Kuopio, and was feeling really unconfortable and uncertain. After a few long messages to certain people, I regained my composure and went on with life, feeling a lot better. So thanks to whoever this concerns, you guys were priceless! Other than that, January was pretty uneventful. We went on a few hikes with Lars "I have a photogenic memory and I can just look at a map and go where ever I want ooooooops I have no idea where we are this is your fault why didn't you buy the map you arschloch!!" Malcher. Man, he's such a funny guy.. and as Dave once put it, "I'll never forget him, he's so weird."
February was THE month for me. Henna came to visit me, and oh man.. I was just loving every minute of it. Even though both she and Maick were ill at some point (well, Maick was sick pretty much the whole time Henna was here), we all had a great time hanging out and telling really bad jokes and some stuff that's better not to be repeated (psssst, the infected lady parts, remember??). During those two and a half weeks, we went to Cypress Hill, the Frasier Valley, downtown (or TaoTao, like old school Niko wisely called it), Stanley Park and other places. Oh, and we also saw this small hockey event with Henna, where the Canucks played the Tampa Bay Lightning. Also during that time, even though I'd noticed it way earlier (like say, in august/september), my realization of how awesome she really is got fortified immensly. I've really missed her since she went back home at the end of the month, and I just can't wait to see her again.
I'll write more tomorrow, since I have to start getting ready for my final pub night. It's gonna be my semi-official goodbye party, so I should probably take a shower and not smell, well, like Wiixy-Willy.
