sonjabueno

Christmas hasn't felt like Christmas since 2011.

Perhaps it was the change in traditions, lack of relatives living in the same country, or just simply growing older and getting over the big excitement I felt as a child. Or all of the above.

How is it even possible to preserve all traditions when everything else has changed? Surely, we celebrate a Finnish Christmas. There shall never be a time when I wait until Christmas Day morning to open the presents. Why? It is the exact same response I give to everyone whenever they question something I do;

I'm from Finland.

Even if someday (hopefully) I'll legally become American, I will never be American. I am a Finnish person. (And very proud of it, if it's not too obvious...)

So there are traditions that I refuse to let go of. Some that I do not want to let go of but I really do not get to choose. What do you mean I can't just teleport myself to Finland for Christmas???

Maybe it's all about making new traditions. But even those don't always work out. So what then?

Live in the moment?

For someone like me, going by that statement is extremely hard. There is always something to look forward to. Always something that I need to work hard for. Always.

In middle school, I had planned out which high school I wanted to go to; (Note to my American friends reading this: in Finland, you get to choose which high school you want to go to. But it requires an application and getting in. And no, the process is nothing like college applications in the States.) I did not end up going to that high school. During the first two and half years of high school, I had planned out which university I wanted to go to; I will not be going to that university. This makes it two times that I've had to revise my vision regarding to my future.

Having had to think my life and future over and over again a few times in the past, you'd think that I would have learned to not worry about the future. It is always going to change, so why think about it so much? What I am doing right now is more important.

But even if I still can't fully live in the moment - which I totally cannot - I can appreciate and be happy about what I currently have. This means that I do have to make some adjustments when it comes to traditions. An open mind is needed - but that is good to have with you in general. Changes are always going to happen, and now I can only wait for what next year will have waiting for me - not just holiday-wise but... college.

Right now, I am happy and thankful for the great Christmas we had! It was not completely traditional - is that even possible anymore? - but it was a Finnish Christmas. With Finnish friends. Speaking Finnish. In America.

I also cannot not admire a friendship still going strong after 40 years. I hope my friendships will last as long! Yet I won't be that person who only invites her best friend to her wedding... Yes, mom, I'm looking at you. May I mention, this wedding was also pushed back a few days because of this said best friend? ... Next week, it's going to be 21 years since all of this happened... Congrats, parents, you've made it over 20 years!
 
Conclusion: It's the Finnish people that make Christmas feel like Christmas.


I wanted to try something new. My hands are so shaky...

Sidenote: What do you mean it's confusing to speak two languages? Usually I struggle with writing in Finnish but right now - after speaking ONLY Finnish for a week - my English grammar is all over the place.

I've had a lot of things in my mind lately... so beware, the mess inside my head is directly transferred to this post.

To me the word "phase" signifies something temporary, something that only lasts for a certain amount of time. So when exactly does a "phase" transform into a permanent form of itself, also known as "me being myself"?

You might or might not know this, but it has been years since I last really listened to (or was a fan of) any Western artists or bands. I think my latests favorite Western band was Green Day, and this was - I dare to say - 6-7 years ago. Considering my 18 years of age, 8 years seems too far away, so I would say it was at 11 years of age when I first started my "phase" - as that is what my parents and adults in general like to call it.

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We have a pair of pink, plastic flamingos on our yard. They reside on the side of our house, where you can't exactly see them unless you decide to go around that way.

We first received those flamingos during the fall of 2013. A family friend of ours brought them over for us as a housewarming gift. According to him, you had to have a pair of pink flamingos on your yard. It was a MUST. Needless to say, my mother hated them. There was no way they would stay on her front yard. So eventually, they found a home on the side of our house.

Whether or not it was our family friend's intention to get that reaction from my mom, I thought it was hilarious. She laughed it off too, obviously. It was meant to be a joke, and it was very much like him. In fact, this family friend was someone I first meant on the fall after we moved to Charlotte. After a few months of being lost, he really made us - or me at least - feel home in this big new world. He had the most welcoming personality, the kind you don't meet too often. And he cared about so many people.

I specifically remember our first thanksgiving with him. I mean, we spent it shooting targets on his backyard by the lake, and eating so much food that you could've fed an army with it. The same repeated the next year. Not to mention the birthday cake he once got for my mom. The frosting said "hyvää syntymäpäiää". One letter missing made it all the better!

During the first few years in the States, we had formed a tradition with our new, crazy American family; to celebrate Thanksgiving the Southern way, and then celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve the Finnish way. However, the third year when this tradition was to happen, some unfortunate events came along.

Thanksgiving was spent a little differently, with old Finnish friends who had just moved to the United States. It was different and fun. Definitely more Finnish this way. And then it was already December.

A week before Christmas, we received bad news. Heaven had gained a new angel.

However, the flamingos are still there, on the side of our house. When I checked on them today, one of them seems to have sustained some kind of an injury, but hopefully he'll be back on his feet soon again. I'm not sure about my mother's current feelings on them, but I'm hoping that they will stay there, and watch over our house.

And, of course, bring that Southern redneck flare, that Mike was all about.



We love and miss you.

I have finally decided to give blogging an another try.

I'm not sure where this blog will take me from here, but let's start from the beginning, shall we?

My name is Sonja. I'm an 18 year old girl from Finland. Currently, I live in Charlotte, North Carolina, the United States. I'm going to be a senior (12th grade) in high school next school year. My life mainly consists of school, friends, and music. And stressing out over everything... since I happen to be very good at that!

I figured, that this would be a good time to start blogging, since it's the beginning of summer break. (Well, almost, I still have two more final exams left.) Also, in a way, I want to document my last year of high school... so, hopefully, I won't fail this time.

Basically, this blog will be a splash of thoughts on random topics. Whether it'll be about my life, current events happening in the world, or kpop... mostly my life, though. Not to mention some bad quality pictures here and there - since it is easier to use iphone camera than my actual camera. (Oops)

Oh, and the language will mainly be English. Since I don't really feel comfortable writing in Finnish... (Oops!)

Here, have some of those low quality iphone pictures.


The beach is pretty awesome.