Location: Hostel, Imatra
Time: 2225 Finland
Weather: cold
Thinking: dang…there is school tomorrow

We found out that there is wireless connection outside our hostel but in order to use it, we have to endure the freezing weather.

We went to pick berries and mushrooms today. We were supposed to go to a forest located 4km but we decided it was too far and went to another one nearby. The six of us were accompanied by our Russian neighbours. We picked a lot of berries and learnt how to differentiate mushrooms. The berries we picked were mainly blueberries as they are the ones in season. I managed to get one raspberry though. The blueberries can really stain your hands. After picking them, my hands looked like they just when through a war. There were bruise like stains and “blood” on my hands. I collected half a yoghurt cup as I lost interest after awhile à I was more interested in eating them, duh. Well at least I collected some. Swee Ting didn’t have anything at all. She ate all of them. We made friends with the Russian guys who came with us and learnt more about their country and them. One Russian guy showed us this plant that can be used as a musical instrument. It looks something like very long grass. You pull it apart in the middle vertically so it becomes very thin. You then put it between your thumb palm (?) and thumb and blow into the hole. It’s supposed to make a sharp whistling sound but I failed miserably. I realized that Swee Ting needs to be more exposed to the outside world. She doesn’t know what and where the Eiffel tower is. I was totally shocked, I mean, shouldn’t everyone know such things?

When we returned to the hostel, we persuaded the Russian guys to cook the mushrooms for us (yes, they are edible) and in return, we cooked potatoes for them or at least the Taiwanese girls did (we provided 3 potatoes). After eating dinner, we went over the Russian boys’ flat and waited for the mushrooms to cook. According to them, the normal looking mushrooms we picked today had to be cooked until they turn black o.O While waiting, Tze Yi tried if she connect to the wireless internet from their flat and surprise surprise, they had connection from their balcony.

Finally the mushrooms can be eaten (they are really black). They taste different from the ones in Singapore, sweeter and somehow crunchier, not bad for wild mushrooms.

We then showed them pictures of Singapore e.g. the chalet, Pulau Ubin, class bbq etc. Seems like they like Singapore. Halfway through photo showing session, the guys said that they had to shower and had to go to the sauna to do so as their bathroom is under construction. We peeked into their bathroom and it was really empty. No sink, no shower, and there is still some cement here and there. So we told them we will meet up again tomorrow night as we had not showered too and we had morning class tomorrow.

Ok…it’s almost 12mn and all the Russians have gathered at the dining area of our flat and are talking quite loudly. Feeling tired now but I don’t feel like sleeping.

31st Aug 2008
We promise to abide by Espall's #1 rule