My year 2/3

My YFU essay 2/3

Life in a big city

Viimeiset seitsemän kuukautta ovat menneet yllättävän nopeasti ja kotiinpaluuseenkaan ei ole enää niin pitkä aika. Vaikka Suomesta lähtö tuntuukin kuin eiliseltä, alkaa näin monen kuukauden jälkeen olemaan jo monia asioita mitä kaipaa kotisuomesta. Aika Meksikossa ei ole ollut helppoa mutta en myöskään sano, etteikö kaikki se olisi ollut sen arvoista. Olen joutunut kohtaamaan monia vaikeita asioita ja tilanteita, mutta ne ovat puolestaan kasvattaneet minua. On aikani Meksikossa ollut hyvin hienoa ja silmiä avaava kokemus. Aina sanovat, että kaiken sen jälkeen osaa arvostaa taas omaa 

kotipaikkaansa, ja se on hyvin totta.

 The past seven months have gone by so fast and it's not so long time anymore when I am heading back to home. Even it feels like yesterday when I left but I have been starting to miss a lot of things in Finland. Being here haven't been easy but I think it have been worth it. I have had to face a lot of tough things and situations but I think they have grown me as a person. This have been awesome and eyes-opening experience. Now I know how to appreciate my home country.

Meksiko ei ole ollut sitä mitä kuvittelin, hyvällä sekä huonolla tavalla. Vihdoin voin kuitenkin sanoa, että olen oppinut uuden kielen ja tavannut aivan ihania ihmisiä. Meksikolaiset ovat erittäin ihania persoonia. Olen saanut uuden perheen, itseasiassa kaksikin sekä elinikäisiä ystäviä Meksikosta sekä monista muista maista. Olen saanut kokea monia uusia ruokakokemuksia, mitä on vaikea jättää taakseen tämän vuoden jälkeen. Olen asunut kaupungissa, joka sijoittuu maailman suurimpien kaupunkien listoilla aika korkealle ja pienen kaupungin tyttönä sekä vihannut ja rakastanut sitä. Olen käynyt elokuvissa ja ulkona syömässä monen kymmenen vuoden edestä koska hintataso on niin eriluokkaa täällä puolella maailmaa.

Mexico wasn't what I imagined, in a good and bad way. But finally I can say that I have learned a new language and met tons of awesome people. Mexicans are so kind and sweet. I have gotten a new family, actually two and friends for life from Mexico and from many other countries. I have tasted many new foods and some of them I'll miss a lot. I have lived one of the biggest cities and as a small town girl, have be hating and loving it. I have been in the movies and in the restaurants more than a lot and that surprises me because with Finland-prices I barely never go. 

Vaihtovuosi opettaa näkemään maailman uudella tavalla. Olen joutunut oppimaan kaiken taas ihan alusta alkaen. On ollut kokemus tiskata astiat, kokata, ruokailla ravintolassa tai se, että tietä ei ole lupaa ylittää kävellen turvallisuussyistä. Sen myötä olenkin kokenut asioita, mitä tuskin tulen kokemaan ihan heti uudestaan mm. kiivennyt 50 metriseltä vuorelta alas sekä hyppinyt vesiputouksilla.  Arki kuitenkin on alkanut jo rullaamaan täälläkin ja enää en ylläty joka päivä uusista asioista niinkuin alkuvuodesta. On kuitenkin vuoteni Meksikossa jotain, mikä tulee pysymään mielessäni loppuikäni. Vaikka myöskin koti-ikävä jo painaa päälle mutta päätin silti pidentää vuottani muutamalla viikolla ja se tarkoittaa 116 päivää aikaa vielä kokea uusia asioita ja nauttia ajastani Meksikossa. Kaikin puolin olen edelleen yhtä kiitollinen tästä upeasta mahdollisuudesta enkä sitä vaihtaisi pois mistään hinnasta. Eikä ole hetkeä, jolloin en suosittelisi vaihtovuoden toteuttamista sitä suunnittelevalle. Meksiko tulee aina olemaan sydämessäni sekä se on toinen kotini. Toivottavasti Meksiko tulee ikävöimään minua yhtä paljon kun minä sitä.

An exchange year teach you to see world differently. I have had to learn everything all over again. What a experience it have been to wash the dishes, cook, eat in a restaurant or all the things I can't do for safety reasons. I have given me an opportunity to do things that I'm not probably doing anytime soon, including rappelling from 50 meters high mountain or jumping from waterfalls. My days have already become kind of daily routine and anymore I don't get excited about things everyday like in the beginning. But the whole year will remain in my mind forever. Even this point a year I have started to miss my Finland a lot but I did decided to stay few more weeks here what I was supposed to. It means that I still have 116 days to experience new things and enjoy my time in Mexico. I am still so thankful for this opportunity they have given to me. I would recommend doing an exchange year for everybody who are thinking about it. Mexico always will have a special place in my heart and it will always be my second home. I hope you will miss at least little bit as much I will miss you.

Emmi Katajisto

2014 - 2015

Sneak peek to my 7 months in Mexico

ELOKUU - AUGUST - AGOSTO

What did I do during my first month in Mexico? I left Finland 6th of August and cried with my bestfriends at the airport. And had a too long journey from Finland to Mexico city and it didn't succeed without problems, of course not.

Had 4-days camp in Cuautla with all the exchange students. Had an awesome finnish roomie with who we escaped from everything what annoyed us.

Met my first hostfamily in Mexico city and had vacation with them there few days. Lot of turist things + never have been so tired before.

Had the hardest first 2 weeks and only wanted to go back to Finland and cry.

But met lot of new awesome people and after all were the happiest that I have been during this year.

Started school. Hated the morning wake ups more than anything but loved the school.

I was dying with weather.

SYYSKUU - SEPTEMBER - SEPTIEMBRE

In September I started getting more school friends.

I was still so out of everything and still figuring out everything.

Went to my first Mexican party.

Got my first problems.

Met my ex-finnish exchange student and went with her to my first concert.

Celebrated Mexican Independent day and remember that actually I were really happy, like I was a lot in those times.

Reunited with Monterrey + Saltillo exchange students. And found my Danish soulmate/bestfriend/party partner.

Visited at awesome Cola de Caballo.

Didn't feel homesick at all!

LOKAKUU - OCTOBER - OCTUBRE

Loved my class.

Went first time out with my school friends 

Still had so my places in Monterrey that I didn't have no idea that they exists.

Went first time while being here to US for shopping and spent way too much money.

Celebrated halloween.

Had a love-hate relationship with Mexican guys.

MARRASKUU - NOVEMBER - NOVIEMBRE

Got Hanna Banana to my life from Montemorelos <3 and we spent like 2 weeks 24/7 together. Love you Ms. Montana

Also got to know also one awesome Mexican girl with a really curly hairs<3

Realized how freezing it can be in Monterrey...

Got problems and were ready to run crying to Finland. Skype calls to Finland made me to stay after all.

Went to see Martin Garrix even I was so sick.

All in all november was quite a boring month.

JOULUKUU - DECEMBER - DICIEMBRE

Did some turist sightseeings wiht my new hostfamily.

Took 1000 selfies wiht my youngest hostsis.

Had posada with 303<3

Time with my exchange students.

Sad because of christmas but it end up being not-so-bad after all:)

Mood changes from happy to sad and from sad to happy

Freezing out at home with our dog at christmas break.

Went FINALLY first time to a bar in Mexico.

Celebrated New Year's Eve pretty differently than I am used to.

TAMMIKUU - JANUARY - ENERO

Turned finally 19! wuuwhuu And had good few days celebrating it.

Got a cake on my face, like it supposed to be in Mexico on your birthday.

Went first time to a nightclub.

Actually the whole month was lot of partying and going out.

Went YFU Reunion to hear how everybody in this world went to exchange to Germany.

Started school again after 8 weeks vacations...

HELMIKUU - FEBRUARY - FEBRERO

Finally, finally had my YFU- mid year trip and had the best time of my life

Won so many fears during that week. Thought I would die too

Had an awful but awesome Valentine's day. Still hating the day though

Spent A LOT time with my international besties<3 Love them to the moon and back

Feeling homesick too much

For a person who never really fights, I fighted a lot with people during this month

And bored of death for going school again

Which one is the mexican?