Where does all this stuff come from?

When going to Lappeenranta, I try to go there pretty light. After all, I am going to live there most likely maximum of 4 months after which I hopefully move somewhere else to work during the summer. The amount of stuff is perplexing. Oh well.

Preparing to Lappeenranta

I've done all the necessary paperwork to move to Lappeenranta. This means informing my new address to officials (muuttoilmoitus) as well as applying for student grant. I just need to give a copy of lease agreement to Kela person in Lappeenranta before 10th of Feb. Shouldn't be too much to ask.

I am feeling quite good about the whole move. Life here at home in Joensuu has gotten a boring for me so a change of scenery is more than welcome. I also feel that I am again ready to continue studying and am actually looking forward to get back to school.

Applying for job in the 21st century

Things are definitely not the same than in the past. Today, seeking and applying for jobs is done mainly in the Internet. For a job seeker like me, it means that I have to visit several websites where they post the ads for vacancies. Some of them include lots of same ads, since companies want maximum visibility and do not want to miss potential employees because they didn't use the portal that the company uses. Basically you keep seeing the same stuff again and again with some different postings in the middle.

Quite so often the actual application happens in online portal. Which sucks to be honest. Usually it means entering the same basic information again and again in the form where they are then uploaded to their HR system. They want to know your name, address, contact information, work experience, language skills, education etc. It is really frustrating to input the same stuff that you have in your CV. On top of that, many companies want also your CV as an attachment. Yeah, so what is the point of typing in all the information then to these forms?

As if that isn't bad enough, today I experienced something totally new. After putting in all the required information and answering questions like "are you from UK? What about Canada?", writing a cover letter, copy&pasting my CV as well as attaching it, I had to do series of tests(!) to ensure my application is submitted. First, I needed to answer sixtysomething questions, which tried to get an image of how I work in a group, what is my background, how do I deal with deadlines and ideas and so on. That test took 30 minutes to complete. After that came another one, reasoning test which required me to choose a correct alternative to series of visual problems. You know, the kind that for example Mensa uses.

On some level I can understand these tests. It is a way for the company to profile the people and cut off unsuited people from their selection process. But for an applicant point of view that is really annoying! It took about 2 hours for me to apply to this ONE position! I consider it to be a bit of a long shot anyways so to waste that much time on this is really frustrating. When I began to apply there, the website didn't say anything about these tests. If I'd known, I guess I would not have applied....

So all in all, I just wish it would be easier. Just write a cover letter and CV, send them via email and then wait for response. In the current situation you just throw a rock and hope it reaches its target.

My flu is also getting better. Which is obviously cool.

Uneventful week

During this week basically nothing has happened. On Monday we received the schedule for spring semester which was cool. Makes it easier to plan ahead the spring time. I am quite sure there wont be too many changes in the the schedule unless there is some dramatic health issues on some professors or something. Which is cool, since during the fall the schedule kept changing quite a bit....

I have also applied to few internships during this week and am planning to continue doing so. Quite many companies still haven't started the recruiting process for seasonal workers, which is bit of a surprise. Or then I just don't remember anymore what is it like to beg for a temporary job. The job market is definitely challenging again this year and it will most likely be a struggle to find a job for the summer. But I am staying optimistic.

I've also started repeating the stuff we learned during the fall semester in Russian class. My class in Lappeenranta has already started so I am now trying to study a bit so that I would not be that out of the loop come time to say something in the classroom.

Budapest

First things first: Budapest is a freaking beautiful city. The beauty is different kind than in St.Pete - it is not that flashy but a bit more modest looking place. But, the thing is that at least to me it was more like "let's build a cool building because we can"-kind of place than "okay, now some emperor wants something really flashy". Kind of beautiful in a natural way - not too much makeup but just good bone- and body structure without too much glitter and stuff :) Btw, that is exactly the case with the local ladies too compared to Russian ones :)

Budapest is also cheap city, at least for a Finn. Basically everything in cheaper than in Finland, which is not a surprise at all. It's also cheaper than St.Pete for sure. One of the coolest things about BP and Hungary in general is the foooooooooooooooooooood. It's definitely yummy yummy across the board. They really do like their bread and red meat making the country kind of heaven for me :D Eros Pista - the hot paprika cream - is really good stuff and if you like hot food even a bit and visit Hungary you must, must try that one! Most likely you'll bring some of that with you to your home country. At least I did as did other members of our group.

From this trip I remember the Mexican dudes I got to know a bit and especially Pepes insane sandwiches :D Also the spas - a larger spa with many pools outside and a smaller, but older, some 500 years old spa - were amazing and definitely worth the visit. The water smells a bit funky because of the minerals in there, but with shower gel that problem can be solved. Really relaxing places and not that expensive either I think (something like 9 euros per visit). It was also refreshing to see functioning public transport system (a part of that is the oldest metro line in the continent, really cool in a way. Well maintained, short distances between stops.). Some of the places like the square of heroes were really impressive as was the older part of the city.

I will visit Budapest again for sure.

The old metro line.

The square of heroes.

The parliament.

More pictures in Facebook.

New Years in St.Pete

I have felt a bit lazy recently, when it comes to writing to my blog. About 1.5 weeks of traveling has taken its toll I guess. Or then I am just lazy.

I went to St.Pete after Christmas to have a paaaartyyy. Of course, it being me the ride there wasn't without problems. I went to Lappeenranta by train and from there my friend picked me up and we went together to Vainikkala to catch our train. Or that was the plan. When we reached Vainikkala, it became evident that they don't actually sell tickets in that station! How is that even possible??!?!? I should have bought a ticket from Lappeenranta if I wanted to get in that train. Oh well, L went to Piter by himself and I went back to Lappeenranta. Luckily I have some relatives there who were nice enough to give me a place to sleep and a ride to Vainikkala the next morning with the ticket. Finally, on 31st I managed to cross the border and reach St.Pete.

So remember, they do not sell tickets at Vainikkala!

After arriving to Piter in the afternoon, I took my stuff to the lovely (khmmm.) dorm before attacking the city. Or actually E's place where there was a group of 6 Finns eating together before the party. Thanks E for the blinis and tomato soup, especially the soup was perfect!

The actual party was in a club called Ludovic at Dumskaya. I had never been there before so it was a new experience. It was like a normal night club in Finland - several rooms with a bit different kind of music. But the place wasn't the party piece of the night, it was the company. One of the Norwegian exchange students had arranged the party for us, which was very nice of him. We had something small to eat and also loads of alcohol to drink. And of course about 80 of us exchange students and our friends. Some intensive man hugging and "you rock man", "thanks for everything this semester"-stuff and goodbyes. Some idiotic pictures, idiotic people etc. The normal stuff. Not the best party ever, definitely not but nevertheless a good one.

Unfortunately I didn't actually see that much what was happening outside of the club, so I can't say was there something way different happening in the streets. Well, E wrote something about that, check it out.

Back in Finland, this time for a longer time period.

I came back to Finland late yesterday evening. During my 1.5 week absence not that much has changed here, of course didn't expect that to happen either. New Years eve in St.Pete is now experienced and the life at Karabli is now over. I also took first ride in minibus from St.Pete to Helsinki and experienced the "joys" of it. More about that later. The latest adventure was in Budapest, Hungary. Beautiful city, great food! Some more details coming about that trip later too :)