All systems go!

Today it started, it finally started! The moment and the journey I’ve been waiting for and been thrilled about for 5 months. Today I stepped onto the train to Helsinki at Joensuu train station and kissed goodbye to my dear hometown for the next 5 to 6 months. My travel plan for the next few days ahead is to travel to Helsinki and Turku by train and meet some good friends of mine for the last time before my departure. After Helsinki and Turku I’ll travel to Tampere and fly off to Spain for the next 5 months!

Why I'm so anxious about this moment is because for the last five months I’ve done tons of preparations and arranged my life in every aspect so that this could be possible. And I’m now finally starting my journey to Spain. My name’s Aaron Ilmakari and I am 23-year-old BBA student from Joensuu, Eastern Finland. I study in North-Karelia University of applied sciences and am majoring in marketing and entrepreneurship. Now I’m off to complete my practical training as a marketing assistant in a small international office in Sevilla, Spain. Now, how cool is that? ;)

Feelings that are going through my head right now are most controversial. In the other hand I’m thrilled as hell because I get to see a whole new country, new culture and a whole bunch of new people. Also, I’ll surely get some very useful professional knowledge and experience. But in the other hand I’m also a little bit afraid or should I say reserved about the fact that I’m leaving virtually everything behind me and from now on I'm on my own and nearly everything will be new to me. But I think it's just healthy: people do tend to get stressed about lesser things, right?

As I started travelling, I started wondering what I will miss from Finland. The first thing that comes in mind is of course friends and relatives. But I can’t start whining about that, because it was me who chose to leave and they’ll be here when I get back – if I get back. Another thing I’ll most likely miss will be food. It’ll definitely take a while to get accustomed with only white bread and so on... But they’ll probably have kebab in Spain as well? ;D

“All systems go”

The thing is that this very moment I’m feeling that there aren’t so many things I will miss from Finland. I’m somehow so full of all the serious, dark-minded and arrogant people in there. It's no offense to anyone, but Finns tend to be a little bit like that. I’ve also had so many bitter disappointments in my human relationships past year or two so I’ll feel incredibly relieved to leave it all behind me and get a new start from “a clean table”. There’s nothing that holds me back or gives me second thoughts about leaving – nothing – de nada! Instead, there are rather things that are pushing me to leave. I’m at “all systems go” –mode at the moment!

Another thing is that I really can’t say what to expect from the time in Spain – besides the fact that it isn’t dark all the time and it isn't raining water filled snow all the time. The weather in general is a bit more humane :D But the big question is whether the grass is greener on the other side or not? You see, this journey, it isn’t just a “great experience” or a “possibility to improve my professional skills”. It’s more to me. It is an end to one section in my life and a beginning of another. It is a chance for me to rethink my life and the direction I will head.

Well, maybe I’m now getting a little too serious about all this. I really should consider my energy on how to adapt to Spain and my soon-to-come working assignment. I don’t really know much about it yet, but I’m pretty confident about it. I’m a fast learner and relatively good with people so I don’t believe there will be any objects that I will not eventually overcome. Although I maybe should feel a little skeptic about how do I go along with people and how do I manage my tasks, I am determined that I will not stress about it! This journey, it’s not about performing; it’s about having the time of my life! Period.

Soundtrack: Metallica – Turn The Page

Here I am, on the road again
There I am, up on the stage
Here I go, playin' star again
There I go, turn the page...