Arriving back home in exactly one week :(

It isn't possible for me to be more serious when I say, "Where has the time gone?!" Wow... just wow... I cannot believe that my stay here in Finland is already almost over. This has been the most wonderful experience of my life! I wish it never had to end...

The last few days have been (and the next week or so will be) filled with tears! Not only because I'm leaving this amazing country, but because I am leaving all the AMAZING people I have met in it! I have been truly blessed to become friends with so many wonderful people from all over the world. 

This is going to happen

Only a few friends have left as of right now, but it was so hard to say goodbye to them :'( More friends are leaving over the next few days and then I will be leaving Oulu on Wednesday. I don't know how I'm going to handle it! I better stock up on tissues because I will definitely need them. Besides my grandpa passing away, this is seriously the saddest time ever! I miss everyone so much already!

Luckily my last exam was yesterday so I can enjoy this last week without worrying about studying, but I still have a ton of stuff I need to do! It's really going to fly by...

Some of the best people I know!
I wish we didn't live so far away..

Back to how wonderful my friends are, we had a Christmas party this last Monday. Instead of gifts, Sara had a great idea that we all should write nice notes to each other, so that's what we did! It was so wonderful. I love these people so much it's ridiculous!

envelopes filled with amazingly
sweet messages from everyone <3

It dawned on me that I never mentioned how the 95th Finnish Independence day was celebrated (Dec. 6th) and seeing how much I love this country, I think that needs to change.

It was -22 degrees celcius (-8 farenheit) that night, but that didn't stop us from riding our bikes in the snow to the city center where they were having a torch light parade walk.

We each got a torch and walked in pairs in
a line through the city center. Leading
us were people carrying the flags.

Our first stop was at the City Hall.
We stood in a semi-circle (as seen above)
and listened to a choir sing Finnish songs
and the National Anthem.

We then continued to walk through the city
and ended at the cemetery where we sang
more songs. Every grave had a candle.
It was to honor all the deceased soldiers
in the war. So beautiful.

It was so beautiful and amazing to be part of it! It would have probably brought a tear to my eye, but it was so cold that my eyes would have frozen, so I held it back. I am so proud of Finland and what it has become after all it's been through. Mina rakastan Suomea! :D

<3 Hannah