Mall of America

The biggest mall in America was huge. And by huge I mean gigantic. For a shopaholic like me it was a paradise and definitely a dream come true. If you wish to go to every single store for 10 minutes, it would take you 3 days (including the nights). There are more than 520 stores in the mall and if someone still thinks that shopping is not a sport, they should try to go trough those stores and see if they still think the same way. 

The bus drive took 5 hours, but it went fast because I had the best company; all the (about 25) exchange student friends. When we arrived to Minnesota, we went straight to the mall. After 8 hours of shopping with Veera (can’t lie, we were exhausted) we finally got to the hotel. The next day we spent couple more hours in the mall and even though there was an amusement park inside of the mall, we were still busy with shopping. Mall of America almost made me buy hair extensions, but (luckily) my credit card got locked. ”Broke but happy,” I thought when we left the mall.

Excited girls from Finland!
 Ruan (Brazil) & Giorgio (Italy) learning Finnish 

 The amusement park 

We met another Finnish girl!
Veera got a new nickname; Beera!
Halfway through, still smiling
 
Photo booth haha 

After 8 hours, oops! 

Bye bye money, welcome happy Heini
I was a tired girl next morning 
 
My breakfast date Veera 

Exchange students
 
The place was just huge!
Trying to be cool 

She is a blessing <3 

We like to shop :) 

Broke but happy


Mall of America; see you soon!

Road trip to Milwaukee

Oh how I love road trips with this family! A month ago they introduced me to the city of Milwaukee. On our way, we stopped in a small village called Mount Horeb and guess what! This thing was so unexpected and made me so happy that I started crying! I found some Finnish products (fazer’s chocolate). I can’t believe how happy I was from one plate of my favourite chocolate. When you are abroad for a longer time, your nationality gets a lot stronger.

We found out that the townspeople had nordic roots. That also explained why they had the weird little trolls there, I think they are a thing in Norway. Unfortunately we couldn’t find rye bread but we will keep looking. When I had a bite of Fazer’s chocolate, I thought that this day can’t be anything but good. And it was.


No words needed.
 
 Norwegian troll 
 
Beautiful Milwaukee  
Selfie in the Milwaukee streets! 
 

So happy! 
 
The Discovery World  
Us kids 

There was a german village in Milwaukee, so we ate in a German restaurant. I bet Theresa, the exchange student from Germany, was jealous. At night we went to see a show, Walking with dinosaurs, and it was amazing! The dinos looked very realistic and I learned a lot during the show. We were also exploring the city and after that, enjoying the hotel's swimming pool. 

In the German restaurant  
 Food, finally!
 
 Dinosaurs in action
 
 Isn't it cool? 
 
 Swimming
 

On the next day we went to a museum which was kinda like Heureka in Finland, The Discovery World. Mike was clearly in his element, he knew everyhting that I would ask. Believe it or not, I started to miss studying physics when I was there! Even it’s hard and annoying, it’s cool to learn more about this world and understand why things are the way they are. It gives you another perspective to look at this world, and that’s never a bad thing. So folks, if you want to see the world differently, study physics. And do road trips with your loved ones! 

The entrance of the Discovery World  
 Mike being a geek  
Lying on the bed of nails  
DJ Alyssa combining different sounds  
I remember when we learned this in school!  
Mike doing god job with the airplane simulator  
I wasn't that bad either!  
The Great Lakes  
Trying to light up the lamb by running  
With team work you will feel the blow  
Loved this city!

Hope you guys are alright! Hugs and kisses, Heini 

Happy Halloween!

Trick and treating, scary movies, costume parties, pumpking carving, yummy candy, tricks around neighborhood, spooky decoration and haunted houses. That’s what American Halloween is made of. Halloween is definitely a bigger thing here than it is in in Finland. A week ago, we had a party for exchange students. We went there as cats with Veera. I am lucky to get to experience the American way of Halloween, even though I didn’t have an opportunity to go trick and treating. We were cheering at the game on friday, which was at the same time as trick and treating. But at least we had a great costume for the night; frozen cheerleaders. I mean seriously, it was so cold that the smiles almost froze in our faces. The friday’s game was also the last football game and now the season is over. For me it means that cheerleading is over and now I have time to focus on the musical. Which is by the way Tarzan, isn't that cool? I am a jungle animal and a jungle plant dancer. We are all singing in the chorus parts. After that my next activity will be soccer in the spring season.

 
 

Exchange students 


Cats
 
You better give her treats  
Picking up pumpkins  
Pumpkin carving is fun! 
 
My very first carved pumpkin 
 
Like a pumpkin like a carver, right?  
Alyssa's pumpkin got sick  
Theresa's birthday! Locker decoration by me and Madi  
She is my best friend from here  
 At movies (horror) with the girls
 
Friday is a game day
 
On our way to the game

It was the very first time for me in a haunted house on saturday. If there is someone who doesn’t know what a haunted house is, I can tell you that it is very scary. It is a house full of scary things and spooky people with (f.ex) chain saws chasing after you. They are trying to scare you in all the ways that are possible. It feels like being in a horror movie by yourself. You have to walk trough every room in the house and try not to freak out too much. I have never been so scared in my life, but at the same time it was so much fun and I am proud that I did it. Just like Hannah said: ”I fell, screamed, cried and totally loved it all.” 


Still excited 
 
Picture tells more than a thousand words  
 Ready or no, let's go! 
 

Still wanted to take a picture

Never been so scared in my life

My halloween was great and I am happy here. Next weekend I am going to Mall of America in Minnesota and then in few weeks Thanksgiving is already here. I feel so blessed to have a chance to experience all of this. See you soon and hope you had a happy Halloween!