Let the work begin

Tomorrow it's time to start working again. Friday I went to lab for the first time since I arrived. Mostly organising stuff and etc. Yesterday we went out of town and relaxed one day in onsen. Weather in Hakone was perfect. Unfortunately I forgot to download the pictures from Vitaly, who is on his way to Moscow right now.


Got this from near to a temple. I'm supposed to paint one eye for him after I start my PhD studies (after they have accepted me in HUT) and the second after I finish it someday. So I'll be carrying this guy with me the following years... (^_^)b



My work station for office work for this year...hopefully I'll be spending most of the time in the lab...haha.

I downloaded lots of pictures from my cellphone today and I'll posting them here when ever I have time...some catch up what has happened at the busy end of last year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!!!!

5 days since I returned to Japan. Great to be back. Missed the sunny days and rice in all meals. This year I try my best in updating this blog. Just updated the end of last year. The end of last year was really busy with finishing the thesis and everything. The holiday came to in right place.

So how about this year? First of all it seems that I'll be returning to Finland on next September. Secondly, I have been neglecting my training for too long time. Time to get back in good shape before returning to Finland. Unfortunately no judo before 10th of this month. However, last 3 weeks I haven't done anything except eating, sleeping, drinking and sauna. So I have now some time to prepare myself for real training again. Started jogging (40 min. every morning so far) and it feels great. The injured knee is not totally healed but at least wearing supporter the running is ok. Found a good place to run near by our house (10 min. by bicycle), outdoor "park" next to Tama river.


My breakfast here...believe or not but I was missing rice in breakfast. (^_^)/

Trip to Finland

Made Christmas trip to Finland between 7th and 27th of December. Had great time with my friends and family. Couldn't meet all of my friends even though I tried my best. Sorry to all who I missed. Finland was quite dark this time of year. No snow during my stay there. So no cross-country skiing for this year either...hehe, which I still don't mind. ;P Winter time it seems that the Sun is broken in back home. This time I saw the broken fire ball maybe 3 times during my trip...was a bit cloudy weather...or I slept over...

Oh by the way, garaduated during the trip. 18th of December I became M.Sc. (Technology). Phooooh, finally it's done. No more writing for a while. (^_^)b

Few highlights from the trip:

(1) drinking with Jari & Vesku, traditionally one weekend in every summer is for these good friends from the army. This year was exception and the weekend was taken from December. Hehehe, this didn't stop us grilling sausages (or eating mämmi).

(2) graduation sauna-party in Otaniemi...can this be counted as a last student party for me...as a student...öööö? Thanks and deep bow to everybody who joined it!!! Nobody lasted until sunrise...but the Sun rises so late this time of year, if raises at all.

(3) Eating Christmas pork. Gained only 3 extra kilos this time.

(4) Christmas. Santa Clause seemed to have remembered that I missed one Christmas while being here in Japan. Double amount of presents this year. (^_^)/



Hee. Graduation sauna-party.


Ooops. Sorry, didn't mean to wake up anybody.


Family's dogs. Left: Ruska (brother's dog), middle: Sara (mother's dog), right: Milla (sister's dog).


The Christmas pork (~12kg).


The Christmas eve (don't believe camera's date...still in Japan time). Father Christmas comes to visit us on 24th in Finland.


Our most eager volunteer for Christmas tree decoration.

Trip to Hakone

On 3rd of November we went Hakone for small hike and relaxing in onsen. At the same Saturday there happened to be some kind of matsuri (=festival). Here are some pictures from the trip.


Our merry group of hikers. Starting from left Janny, Fujita, Sebastian, Tomoe, Emi and uncle-Al.

Ok, next there is many pics from the carneval. Happy people with colorful clothes.































After passing everybody we continued walking up hill for some time. When it seemed that soon it'll be dark we turned our noses 180 degrees and started to come down. On the way we stopped eating, or was it only me who was eating...? Well, after that we headed to onsen (the part of the trip which I was awaiting most). Body and mind relaxed it was time to make empty stomach happy with a big dinner. Stomach full it didn't feel right to continue walking so we took taxi to the station. Train to Shinjuku where I met Antti and it was time for traditional rock-night (which doesn't end before sun rises).


Heheh, nice invention.


She was always the bad girl in my childhood animations.


Small waterfall...or somenthing close.


Hakone, mountain area.


Antti, scared of dark...music.

Time to relax

Home sweet home. Arrived to Kuopio last night. Slept whole train ride here and after that 15 hours more. Now relaxing and eating mom's cookings...

Master's studies in Helsinki University of Technology are almost finished. Yesterday gave my thesis for evaluation and wrote my last exam. Hopefully I'll graduate on next Tuesday.



Backyard, not much snow at the moment.


And from front...


Minni and Muska.


ps. Hehe, didn't survive without some cutting and glueing. Wrote title in english for Finnish abstract...and noticed it after the press.

Flight

Flight a bit late. Leaving after 5 min. and flight time 10h 15min. Strong head wind...

Blue wings of Finnair

Now sitting in this plane.

Hectic week behind and holiday in Finland close. Had to finish my thesis and give a intermediate master's presentation for Tokyo-tech. Yesterday did Christmas shopping. Started to pack my stuff at 2am. last night. No time to be exited about the trip. Maybe I could start now...

Btw, unlike last time now I'll bring sake. (^_^)/