I'm in Love!

Oh, last days have been so great. I have this new love in my live :) He's white (well, colour doesn't really matter), soooo cute and much more clever than I ever going to be. We have been having the most amazing time and I can't wait how it's going to turn out in near future. We have know each other just for couple days but it feels like he's been always there for me. I know that must be the world's biggest cliché but that's how it is.

I never thought I could get love home delivered but believe it or not that's how it happened. He arrived last Friday morning. It had been raining all morning but the minute he walked in King's Cross station the world just lighted up. At first I was a bit worried how my friends are going to react. After all, my choice is not the most common one. But everybody have been so supportive and encouraging. Especially after they have seen how happy he makes me feel. He is just an amazing creature.

But the best part is that now the waiting is over and I don't have to be alone anymore. His appearence has make just a difference in my life. I don't understand how I have managed all these weeks without him. Life without him seems so impossible now that he's here. He's everything I've ever dreamt of and much more. Actually he goes beyound my wildest dreams in every matter;D

Oh, and just in case you're wondering, the love of my life is called Mac.

The Wonderful World of Banking

I just came from the bank. Finally I have a British bank account and cash card should arrive on Friday. Yee haw! Or at least you would think so. When I arrived to the Barclays this morning I found out that my account is going be the most basic one. That means I can only withdraw cash from ATM. International money transfers aren't possible and in order to put money on that account you have to pop into a bank and have cash with you. How lovely is that!

Okey, now you must be wondering why an earth I didn't get a different kind of account. Well, I would have done that if only I had 2000 £ to keep on that account. And quite obviously I don't. I need all the money I can get to survive in this ridiculous expensive country (ok, it's not that expensive if you just stick with the basic stuff like eating and drinking at home:). With that account you could get access to those regular things like international transactions, internet banking and local debit card but cos I don't have that money I won't be able to do that.

So, now on I have to transfer money from my Finnish account to my friend's account. Then withdraw some cash and walk into the bank in order to put that money on my cash card account. After that I'm able to get some Sterlings from local ATM. Don't you just love Britist banking system ;D

Gyms and exercise

First some good news: my lectures have finally started! And i'm not that frustrated any more :) Had my first Hausa lesson yesterday and it was fun even though it was at 6pm (what a brutal time to learn new language). The course is called Hausar Baka, Spoken Hausa and it includes lots of audio clips which you can listen at home (or even download to your iPod if you've got one). University of Helsinki has lot to learn from Soas (ok, Soas is getting the stuff from UCLA...).

Today I had my first real lecture, Government and politics in Africa by Professor Stephen Chan. I just love him! He speaks in low pace so even I have enough time to write notes. And the course is so exciting. I'm really looking forward it (though I'm not so keen on those presentations we'll have to give at some point). I'm going to have more lectures tomorrow and on Friday so I'll get back to you with those later.

Ok, now back to whining. Everybody knows London is an expensive city but still I have to complain about the prices of gyms. It seems that regular student price for gym is 25-30£ (that's 37-45 euros). Living here for nine months means that I would be paying around 270£ for just to stay fit! Well, at least that's nothing if you compare to regular Londoner. Yesterday's paper had this piece of news that average Londoner spends 2000£ for health every year. Can you imagine!

So, I think I'm going to continue my walks around the neighbourhood (walk yesterday to St. Paul's Cathedral->Waterloo Bridge->Covent Garden->Russell Sq.) and hopefully find some cheap African dance through Soas Student Union :)

Investment bankers

I have recently pumped into this extra-ordinary group of people, investment bankers. Their lifestyle couldn't be more different of mine: working long hours, earning huge amounts of money and spending it hell for leather. But I don't mind. Have been having couple wild nights with them.

Latest one was on last Friday when some friends of mine and I went to this Student Union's Freshers' Event. This event was held at this regular bar/club near Oxford Street and we just expected regular night with bunch of students and some drinks. At the bar we wandered around a bit and then settled in downstairs near the bar.

We had been sitting there in this booth for a while when suddenly out of nowhere our table was full with shots. Then these two guys in suites appeared with a bottle of white wine. They introduced themselves and wanted to play drinking games with us (how obvious!). Well, the result was quite clear: we all got blasted! I personally blame the champagne that came after the shots and wine ;D

It's unbelievable how much money people can throw in just to get some girls drunk (and then make out with them). But anyway, the night was success: we ended up having great time with those guys and got totally wasted for free (it's not that I would rate the night according to the level of drunkenness...) :D