Terve! Now is the time to talk about the radical FUKSIEXCU! When they told me what it consisted of, I was surprised. 3 days travelling around Finland, visiting companies and partying at night. This excursion would take place in Lapland, more precisely Kemi, Tornio and Rovaniemi. I borrowed Juho's sleeping bag, but I heard nobody sleeps in Excu... well, we'll see about that. The visits to companies we were doing were promising: Lapin Kulta (beer factory!!! or brewer), Stora Enso (paper mill) - one of the biggest companies in Finland (also paper and pulp is the number one industry in this country), and Bombardier Nordtrac (produces snowmobiles). 

   At 11:00 we left the University area on a big excursion bus. About 40 students on their way to Lapland to have a great time! By 13:00 I already had one beer and a sip of vodka, and that's because alcohol was flowing from the very beginning of the trip. The music played inside the bus was really something...: from Metallica to Dream Theater, and also Nightwish for example. It made me feel like I really came to the right country.

   I met a lot of "fresh" faces, since most people going didn't attend the previous events or then I haven't talked to them. I believe half of them were "fuksis" and the other half older students. I was the only non-finnish in the whole party. Sometimes, I have to admit, I did feel lost around all the finnish speaking, but gladly, before I started to become seriously depressed, I always found someone to talk to. For some minutes I felt like the first days in Oulu, without familiar references. It was the first time during my stay I had no foreigners around me for some days. It was like another cultural shock: 100% finnish environment, another challenge I had to face.

   Our first visit (to Lapin Kulta) included something quite original (at least for me) - 1 hour session of "all the beers you can drink", as well as a presentation at the same time. You can imagine how most students were after this visit :) Anyway, that night we stayed at a very nice cottage area in Kemi. I believe Twister was the game to play, and what a fun game it is. Needless to mention we stopped by the supermarket to get the goods (food and... you know what). There was also sauna in the cottages. And this time it really was mixed. But worry not, my friends, I was too busy trying to survive ( = breathing...) to be able to pay attention to that sort of thing. I also played some guitar at the sauna house, which was also a first...

   The next morning, we had a schedule to keep. And it sure wasn't a pretty sight looking at us packing and cleaning up, and going to the bus again, with the word "hangover" written all over our foreheads. Stora Enso was the next. And what happens to me when I don't sleep much at night? Exactly... I fall asleep right after lunch the next day. Therefore, it didn't take long until I discovered the "lullaby" nature of Finnish language. So, I would like to apologise to Optiem for sleeping (at the front row!) during this company's presentation. But since some of you have told me that you also do it in lectures (and you know Finnish!!), I guess that doesn’t look so bad after all, does it? :)

   We then headed to Rovaniemi. I was beginning to be annoying since I couldn't stop saying "This is the northest I've ever been..." every 5 minutes, which was true. The further the bus went North, I couldn't help realising that. Well, I haven't slept much.. what could I do? That evening I visited Rovaniemi with Olli, Jarno and Tero. It felt weird being in "Santa Claus" town finally. However, it didn't seem that "Christmasy" to me (but, of course, still a long time to go before December..). Anyway, its downtown is quite nice. There was a student who became quite famous this evening, for a particular reason: he bought a 27 EUR cigar by mistake (he thought the price was 2,7 EUR but still bought it when he heard the real price from the cashier). Every blow he had on it was worth 50 cents, according to the man himself. Now I call him "kahdenkymmenenseitsemäneuronsikaripoika" (27 EUR cigar boy). Hilarious! Cheers, mate! :D

reindeer whispering: - "Hey Eduardo! You play really good! Drop by again anytime!"

   The next day, we visited Bombardier in Rovaniemi, where I tried moose for the first time, at lunch. I don't think I have mentioned moose: they are much bigger, and also in a fewer number, than reindeers. Be careful in highways, because if one of these friends crosses the road as you're driving by... well, it's not a nice photograph, I can tell you that. The return home was wished for but sad. I think I still had the energy for some more days... This was a great experience and I'm glad I made the sacrifice of paying the incredible amount of ten euros!! to be a part of it. Lucky those who will have the chance to do it again in the Spring....