Sorry for not writing sooner, but been busy lately with lots of new stuff at work and reflecting on the events of last year (11-09-2001) for a couple of days, trying to figure out what to say here in my journal about it. I have been “hitting a wall” trying to think about what to write until now.

It is truely amazing that how one year has come and gone and you feel that things have been in slow motion around you. It was quite interesting to see how other people, other than American’s, reflected on Sept 11th and how it changed their lives. (other than other Americans living here in Finland.)
From time to time, I do miss living in the US and being with my other friends and family, and just living the American way of life, but its nice to know some other type of life style and culture at that. I have learned so much more over the past year since Sept 11, 2001, that life should be treated as such. Don’t dwell on things and just live it to the fullest each and every single day.
Don’t put off hugging your parents or loved ones or telling your freind what you really mean, rather than keeping it inside making sure you do not hurt them. I would rather hurt them a little, knowing you were able to speak your mind and get things into the open.

I think that if you had to point the finger on one issue that may cause tenstion anywhere at anytime, it is the lack of COMMUNICATION between people. The more you communicate with each other, the less tension you may have, knowing you got what you wanted to say out in the open and not stuck in your mind growing by the minute with anxiety.
I really truly feel that terrorism will never be beaten, but we as a “united front”, The whole rest of the world together as one, we can possibly slow those that cause harm to others down just a bit to perhaps make them think twice about what they are about to do.

It would make me think twice about it.

more to come soon…

Just got back from my little short trip to Prague, Czech Republic with some other friends of mine. First time since a Sramek was there before my great, great grandfather. It was nice to be there. The city is really pretty and the people very friendly.
I was there for a week with fellow Finns / Anmericans / Brits to support our local Girls Salibandy (FLOORBALL – to USA people its like hockey but you play with no skates but run around in shoes) at the 2002 Czech Open.
The team was FINNHITS (Girls Team from Finland). They finished fairly well considering there were over 170 teams there. Unfortunalty the week we left, the worst floods in 150 years to hit Prague, flooding the main square and many other portions of the city, causing much mayhem and destruction for the country, not to mention most of central Europe.
I think this trip will be in my mind for a very long time and I will never forget it. I saw Prague before it flooded and damage was caused. Can’t wait to go to check out what has changed when I go back again for the Czech Open 2003!

more to come soon…

Well, it was lots of fun going back to the USA to visit my family and friends once again. The three weeks I was there was great. Did lots of things and went to different places throughout the Bay Area. I even had a friend come out from Atlanta, Georgia to visit, even though she was working and had a lay over in San Francisco, but it was nice to see her again.
Its nice to be back in Finland and working once again. Next trip out will be to Prague, Czech Republic in August for a floorball (salibandy) tourney. I am part of the backing of the group of people playing there from Finland. Might be able to go to Vienna as well while I am in Prague, so we shall see. So stay tuned for those pictures to come.
More to come soon…

It’s been some time since I last wrote, but so much has happened, that I have been so very very busy with personal and business related items, that I just did not have enough time to write. No more excuses. First thing is first, as I am saddened by the loss of my grandfather on May 25th. I will miss him very much. =(
Work has been quite interesting as they have me creating training material. Interesting and at first did not like it too much, but now that I have been doing it for over a month now, it is quite a large challenge to create something that someone else will be using to read and understand how something works. I just hope that they do not ask me to start training people because that is something that I do not want to do, period. I am totally not interested in teaching others something I really know nothing about.
But now on to some kewl news as I will be going home to California for 3 weeks at the end of June and two weeks in July!. I am so looking forward to this trip. Nice weather, sunshine (that doesn’t come up at 4:30am and sets at 10pm – that is how it is in Helsinki during the main summer months here) and good friends and family. You can’t ask for much more than that.
Summer time here in Finland has hit us quite early, as there really wasn’t any spring time weather, with rain and wind. I am not complaining as the temperatures here have been climbing since the middle of May and have been averaging around 20* to 25* centigrade (around 70* f to 75* f). I think this summer will be a great one. I am also planning a trip to Prague with some friends here in August, so that should be an experience for sure. I will be the first SRAMEK to go back to Prague since my great, grandfather when he left to live in Russia. (little family history there.) So I will take plenty of pictures with the new digital camera for sure on both of my trips, and will try to post my California trip during those three weeks in June and July! Hopefully I will be able to write again before I leave for my summer holiday!

more to come soon…