Arrival

I wish I could say that it was easy for me to find my way around Helsinki. However, every great journey begins with chaos and confusion.

Well, today is the day for which I have been waiting! Finally, the chance for me to explore my passions and find myself have come to fruition! Words cannot describe my emotions right now... I am excited, nervous, hopeful, and every emotion in between. I have been wanting to travel and learn about another culture my entire life. Now is my chance to pursue this dream and work independently in a new environment.

Flying from Pittsburgh to Iceland proved to be relatively simple. I read a couple books and stared out the window, admiring the beautiful landscapes while the sun set. Although it was a six hour flight, the time flew by in a blink of an eye.

After arriving in Iceland, I experienced my first chaotic moment. My flight was changed to an hour earlier, and there were no signs that led me to both my baggage pick up and the check-in stations. The airport was empty with no staff in sight. However, I remained calm and asked random strangers for help. Thankfully, through the generosity of others, I was able to check-in and make it to my gate in time.

The flight to Helsinki from Iceland took about three hours. I forced myself to nap during the flight so I would have enough energy to think clearly and find my way to the Airbnb. Looking back, I am glad that I pushed myself to contain my excitement and get some sleep because I did, in fact, need that energy later.

It was not until I landed in Helsinki when I realized that the time to undertake my Magellan project has come. When I hopped off the plane, I quickly went to retrieve my baggage. Because I did research on Finnish transportation prior to my departure, I knew I had to obtain a travel card to access the buses, trains, subways, and ferries. I found the nearest kiosk and bought a single ticket, which lasts 75 minutes once on the first bus. I thought that surely I would have enough time to reach my Airbnb. Using the airport wifi, I looked up the directions using the Google Maps. Even though I had purchased an international cell phone plan, I screenshot the pictures of the route just in case. Thank goodness I trusted my gut. When I stepped on my first Finnish bus, I had soon realized that I had no cellular service AND no data. I had only my screenshots and the kindness of others.

Stepping out of my comfort zone, I asked a lady sitting behind me for assistance. I told her about how I am new to Finland and do not know how to get to Herttoniemi without a GPS. She was very warm and helpful. She gave me the composure I needed to stay calm and find my way to my Airbnb. In addition, she asked me questions about American culture, while she gave me useful tips for living in Helsinki. She taught me about the simplicity of the subway system, the safety of Helsinki, and the kind nature of the Finnish people. Her words provided me with the knowledge and serenity I needed to find my way. Once I got off the first bus, I had to find the Junatie bus stop heading to Kipparlahti (the bus stop in Herttoniemi). Unfortunately, the bus stop was a distance away, and I had no clue where I was going. Therefore, I asked any person I saw for guidance. Because most adults speak English in Finland, I was hopeful that they would help me. Although each person I asked was receptive and nice, they had no clue where the Junatie bus stop was located. I kept my cool on the outside, but on the inside I was panicking. Forty minutes had already gone by, and I only had thirty-five minutes left on my single ticket. With nothing left to lose, I followed a small group of strangers. With my backpack on and my suitcase in hand, I trusted my gut for the second time. After following this group for two blocks, I could see a bus stop in the distance. With hesitant joy, I sprinted across the crosswalk and looked at the sign. Low and behold, I found Junatie. The bus I needed arrived in a matter of minutes. I hopped on the bus with a moment of relief.

Thankfully, Kipparlahti was not far from Junatie. After a ten minute bus ride, I got off the bus and wandered till I found an apartment complex that looked like the picture on the Airbnb website. Although there were many apartment buildings that looked similar, I found the one that matched the picture I had saved to my phone. However, I needed to reach my host, Tea, in order to obtain the key I needed for the building and the apartment. I had her number saved in my contacts, but I still had no service or wifi. Again, I asked someone for help. A lady who walked out of the building was gracious enough to call my host to let her know that I had finally arrived. Tea came out of the building and greeted me with a warm smile and embrace. She led me to my apartment and gave me a quick tour of the studio apartment. Seeing the dark circles under my eyes, Tea told me to relax and get some sleep.

In the quiet of my temporary home, I collapsed on the bed and cried. My tears were not ones of sadness, but rather pure relief and happiness. I was truly proud of myself. Never in million years did I think I could handle the stress of being completely lost in a foreign country alone. That day, May 18th, I not only found my way; I found myself.

05/18/18