Goodbye, Suomi!

Posted by:
anjci

Under:
Finland, Travel: Nordics

Ok, some things have to be officially closed before they are over.

I am leaving Suomi tomorrow. For the past couple of weeks, everything has been a reminder of my imminent departure. I have withdrawn all money from my Finnish bank account. It would have been closed for good but I am still waiting for some bureauctatic reimbursements from several parties. The electronic key to Hanken, my school, has just been submitted against a collateral payment. I have had about a dozen of church friends sign my memories’ book. Last week, I was invited to numerous “last” lunches, teas and dinners. Our “knitting club” (ladies’ group at St. Nicholas’ church in Helsinki, secret name to keep the men away… ahem) has gone out to Simone’s restaurant (great food, location and atmosphere – recommended) to bid farewell to three leaving members, including yours truly. I have done 4x60km cycling trips around Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa – the Tapiola/Vuosaari/Tapiola one yesterday can still be felt in my knees and calves. I am going to my beloved Itäkeskuksen uimahalli (swimming pool) for the last time today. Finally, I have sat through all required exams and applied for my degree papers.

Nothing appears to be holding me here, in the finally warm and sunny Suomi. Yet it is the saddest I have ever felt (beating Frankfurt in January 2006, would anyone believe?) about leaving a location of temporary residence. Finns are remarkable for the love they have for their country. I think it is contagious. Suomi may take a while to get into one’s liking – yet, when it finally does, the effect is absolute and unbeatable.

It is like marrying someone you do not love and realising, two years later, that, hey, we cannot live without each other. We have been through thunders and storms together, and now I can put my hand on where my heart (hopefully) is and say – I love you, Suomi. You have given me a chance to gain invaluable cultural exposure, good education, excellent church fellowship and wonderful memories. Most importantly, I am leaving tomorrow knowing that I have amazing friends in this often cold, seemingly unwelcoming, but, overall, uniquely lovable country.

Thanks to everyone for making it special over the past two years: Allisa, Damian, Theo, Rupert, Melanie, Sarah, Olli, Mike, Alma, Kateryna, Paul D, Pirjo, Peter K, Peter J, Ritva, Wanjiku, Tuomas, Mika, Riika, Andy, Anna, Birgitta, Arthur, Marja-Leena, Tomi, Brenda, Tero, Joan, Grace, Beade, Kristiina, Sin-Hwa, Tapani, Bryan, Edem, Tracy, Niklas, Alec, Katie, Helen M, Stella, Helen L, Ari, Tiina, Elina, Markus, Tom, Saara, Eunice, Richard, Hanna, Dennis, Liz, Kyle, Manu, Paul K, Nana. Kiitos kaikesta ja… näkemiin.