Monday, February 04, 2008

My First Day At The Full-Time Course

A VERY interesting day, everybody!!! I woke up at 7.10 am and had time to do Taebo with Billy Blanks, then I had breakfast and packed my lunch and read some notes to prepare myself with my Finnish course and then I was off.

I was a bit late (I left home at around 9.50 am for my 10 o'clock lesson), so I walked fast. Along one road, there was this one old guy who turned around and started talking to me in FINNISH!!! Talk about practising Finnish HA HA HA HA HA HA...I told him that I didn't understand him since I only spoke a little Finnish. He then asked where I came from and upon reaching the traffic lights, I hit the button and he said that we had to wait until it turned green. That much I understood. He kept on chattering merrily even though I couldn't understand all of what he was saying hi hi hi...I understood the part when he said that the day was cold and when he asked me if there was snow in Indonesia ha ha ha ha...Then gladly we parted ways and I said goodbye to him. It was nice, though, meeting someone that friendly. *grin*



Anyway, I reached my class 5 minutes before it started. It didn't start at precisely 10 am since they were waiting for all the students to come. Upon arriving, I noticed an Asian woman sitting already and she noticed me right away HA HA HA...There were 3 rows of tables and 4 chairs on each row and I sat at the back row. The Asian woman sat on the second row and she kept on turning around HA HA HA HA...

Then my Brit friend MC called me since she couldn't find the place. I knew the place already since Arttu took me there once. After all, it is on the same floor as where his office is. After I gave her proper direction, she found the place and she came into class not long afterward.

Then the introduction started. Our Russian teacher doesn't speak fluent English, but gladly she understands most of what we're saying in English and she has an online dictionary to help her translate the words into English HA HA HA HA HA...THANK GOD for technology, eh? There are 3 computers in the room, so it helps!!!

Before we started the introduction, we were given a folder along with the writing paper and the pencil, pen, and eraser. I also noticed a table filled with two hot thermoses and cups and buns. Turned out we had two coffee breaks and OF COURSE I took the bun since it looked SO delicious and it was really YUMMY HO HO HO HO...Free buns!!! YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! ;-D What can you say? I'm a foodie HA HA HA HA...



After that, we introduced ourselves to our teacher (after she introduced herself to us, of course). There's an older Swedish guy, a French guy, a Thai woman, a Russian woman, a French woman, me, a Turkish guy, my Brit friend MC and her husband. There's going to be another student coming later on, so there'll be 10 of us.

From what I gathered today, the Turkish guy, the French woman, and the Thai woman don't have much knowledge about the Finnish language. Even though my own Finnish is still limited, at least I have the basic grammar in my mind and some vocabulary. But those three people really suffered in the class, I think. I had time to speak to the French woman during one coffee break and she was totally confused. The Asian woman also expressed the same thing.

The teacher tried to translate her words into English or Russian, but still she started at a pretty fast pace. I'm SO THANKFUL that I had had time to learn some basic Finnish grammar and vocabulary before I started this course. Otherwise, I'd also have to either learn REALLY hard on my own or be as absorbent as a sponge (read: be a genius that absorbs everything very quickly). I understood at least half of what the teacher was saying in Finnish to us. But of course after her added explanation in English, it all became MUCH more clearer ha ha ha ha ha...

Today we've got some homework. We're asked to write down what we expect from the course: the lessons, grammar-wise, exercise-wise, and everything. GREAT idea!!! I have an idea already on what I expect, and it's going to be fun since the other students will also give her ideas, so it's going to be helpful. ;-D

I'm pretty optimistic about this course even though the teacher doesn't speak English fluently. After all, there's always a silver lining behind every cloud, right? HE HE HE HE HE HE HE...

After I got back home, I felt SO sleepy, yet I couldn't take a nap due to coffee. I only drank 3/4 of a CUP of coffee, can you believe it? Tsk tsk tsk...I think tomorrow I'm gonna look like Zombirella (a female zombie) HA HA HA HA HA HA...

Anyway, starting tomorrow we'll get a full-time course, so it's gonna start at 9 am until around 3.15 pm. I don't mind getting lots of homework later on, since I really want to make the best out of this course before our baby program starts. After all, without a kid to take care of, I can really focus on this course HE HE HE HE HE HE...

Okie dokie, that's all my report for today. Oh yeah...it was around -12.5'C in the morning when I went to the course, but it got up to -11'C when I got back home. It was a sunny cold day. VERY beautiful.


23 comments:

  1. Wow, what a busy first day!

    AND free buns? YEAH!! :-D

    I think you're going to do great, maybe make some interesting new friends too.

    :-)

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  2. Good to hear how your course went.
    Good luck for tomorrow. Hopefully more buns too!
    And as Michelle has just said, it does sound as if you'll make some interesting new friends.

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  3. Looks like you had a full day today. But it seems you enjoyed yourself thoroughly. I'd love to learn a new language. If only I had the time. By the way, Amel, I've got a tag for you. I'll check back here tomorrow just to see how you are.

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  4. How is your homework?? Already finish :D Just check hi hi hi hi....

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  5. My oh My,
    It sounds like you had an incredibly busy day,but, a good one too.

    I know you will do just awesome. And, I also know how very busy you are. So please there is no hurry with this.

    You see I also happen to think you're very special so.....

    http://shinade.blogspot.com/2008/02/beautiful-friends-awards.html

    Hugs:):)

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  7. it is funny how memorable 1st days are. & what's amazing, nothing has to happen that's extraordinary. It's just that changing your routine, being with new people, seeing a new authority (the teacher)etches into the memory.

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  8. Michelle: Yeah, I was surprised to get free buns HO HO HO HO...;-D Yep, cheers to new friends! ;-D

    The World According to Me: THANNNKSSSS! And yeah, I think there'll be more buns HA HA HA HA HA...;-D

    Wifespeak: Well, maybe someday you'll get to learn a new language. Never say never! ;-D OK about the tag, I'll also see how I go the rest of the week he he...

    Jul: Yes, I finished it already. Not hard he he he he...It wasn't actually real homework he he he...

    Shinade: Yup, busy and FUN day! ;-D THANKKSSSS for the awards, Jackie!!! Another beautiful thing for me today he he he he...

    Vince: HE HE HE HE...You're right. The first of everything is always surprising, shocking, interesting at least he he he he...

    **********************************

    THANK YOU SO MUCH for everybody who's been with me throughout my journeys and adventures in Finland. You REALLY made my day, 'coz what's a story if there's nobody to share with, right? HE HE HE HE...

    BIG HUGS to all of you, Incredible People!!!! :-))))) LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!

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  9. It's been fun going on your Finland journey along with you!

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  10. you got already homework for the first day ? hehehe..... i've something for you..check it out on my site..hope you like it :)

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  11. finnish? russian? french?!

    there's a ton of culture where you are! thats good..
    : )

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  12. Oh, you're such an earnest learner, you'll surely do very well. I'm sure the teacher will love it when the students show so much interest in the subject. You're a good student, and a smart one!

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  13. Looking Good Amel! All the way Gal! In no time, you would be speaking Finnish like a .... Fin (!?)

    Have a Great Week Ahead!!!

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  14. Wah Amel, congrats and jia you!!!

    eh forgot to tell you that your FIL is cool and famous!! :-D

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  15. Ahhh... A fun 1st day at class. It feels like I am attending the class with you, Amel hi hi hi... I can't wait to hear about it tomorrow, but of course, I know you'll be very busy, so, I'll be very patient. ;D

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  16. Wow! You sound really busy right now.

    I can't wait to see how things go with your class.

    I love reading about you days and no I can't sew.

    love,

    Lori

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  17. Kathy: GLAD to hear that! ;-D

    Jeanne: Yeah, well, not really a homework he he he...we just need to write down what we expect from the course he he he...

    Jay: Yep...it's really an interesting bunch. ;-D

    Blur Ting: I REALLY want to learn this language fast and I do want to get used to listening to Finnish people when they speak Finnish so my response time gets shorter and shorter he he he...These days it takes still a LONG time for me to process everything before I can formulate answers ha ha ha...

    THANKS for the compliments and encouragement!!! GAMBATTE KUDASAIIIII he he he he...

    WaterLearner: Yeah, you were almost correct. A FINN would be the right word he he he...

    You too, Karen, have a GREAT week ahead!!! ;-D

    Trinity: HA HA HA HA HA...THANKKKSSS! ;-D

    Choc Mint Girl: It's GREAT to hear that you enjoyed this post. ;-D

    Lori: Indeed, Sleepyhead me has been pretty busy these days ha ha ha...but it's been FUN, too!!! ;-D

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  18. Hi Amel, sounds like you really enjoyed your first day of the class.. I'm impressed that you do the Tae Bo work out first thing - I can never work out in the mornings :-)

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  19. Fish: I was surprised myself, esp. since I'm TOTALLY not a morning person. But then again, I thought it'd be the best thing for me to "wake up" on my very first day at the course. After all, it'd be impossible for me to be sleepy after exercising and showering, right? HE HE HE HE...And it certainly made me have a good mood, too! ;-D

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  20. Hey Amelia,

    I am so glad that you had fun at school :D!
    I am curious about something: was it a regular first day? Or was it different than when you were in school? :)

    That is cool: to offer coffee and buns to students (how sophisticated)!

    About the old man talking to you: he sounded like an angel sent by God to assure you that everything would be ok, even though you would only understand half of what the teachers would say :D!

    I send you good vibes, and my thoughts are with you, my friend :D!

    Cheers

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  21. Max: Yes, me, too! ;-D Well, it's different from when I was at school naturally he he he...We have two short coffee breaks and one lunch break. ;-D

    They stopped offering buns, but we can still drink coffee or tea he he he...

    And yeah, the old man was really nice and friendly. :-)))) An angel indeed! ;-D

    THANKS for the good vibes, Buddy!!!!

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  22. Wah.. you are very semangat woman Mel! hihihii.... I salute you for practising Taebo... so you can not only snore and fart while you are sleeping, you can also punch and kick R2 as well! Hahahahahahaha... ups..sorry R2...just kidding.

    Great to read your post about your daily activities... hm.. I bet it will be much different when you start pregger..hihihi.. wondering how it will be... :-)

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  23. Trinity: YEEESSS...need to keep our spirits alive he he he...and kick ass, too HA HA HA...

    Nah, I never kick or punch R2 in my sleep. GLADLY not HE HE HE HE...

    HUA HA HA HA...You'll know about my pregnancy later when the time comes. It'll sure be interesting, since I can't get any helper here ha ha ha...My world will be UPSIDE DOWN HA HA HA HA HA...

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