Greetings from May 06!

Dear Friends!

How are you doing? I am very well. The summer is on and the football-championships are on and I am mostly on a holiday!
I received more response last month when I reminded you with an email about the new update. So I am doing that again this month.

My teaching-job is now over. I am grateful that I got that experience. I learned a lot about how to be a teacher and how to construct good lessons for the students. I would not be surprised if I would do similar work one day again. As I have said before, it is tough but rewarding work. My lessons with the 1st class got a bit better in the end too. I was happy about that.

Right after I had finished my lessons it was time to go to movie-school exams in Lahti.
Before that I visited few friends of mine in Röykkä, small place about one hour from Helsinki. One good friend of mine moved to countryside last year and I had not yet visited her there. The place was adorable. And they had a great sauna. It was easy to relax there and feel peaceful. We had delicious barbecue and we watched how Finland gained it's first victory in the Eurovision song-contest. A hardrock band named 'Lordi' did it for us. There was a bit of controversy surrounding the band, for the whole band is dressed as monsters. Their costumes could be taken from some horror-movie. We all cheered for Lordi as the band scored the highest points in eurovision history. Finland has never done well in that contest, so they put up a big celebration in Helsinki afterwards, something like 90,000 people showed up, including the president Halonen.

I was satisfied with my performance in the exam. But, sadly, it was not enough. I was ranked 14th and only 10 people got in. I worked hard for this exam, so I was quite disappointed that I did not get in. Maybe I will try again next year. But if I do, I will also apply to other school. They take so few students in at this school. And maybe some other school likes my style and way of doing this type of work even more.

My drawing-job is almost finished now. I still got one picture to draw, then I can give you a link so you can take a look at the drawings if you like. That job was quite enjoyable too. I could do more of drawing-work too.

I also went to another entrance-exam last Tuesday. It was Politics, Valtio-oppi, at Helsinki University. I did not have very high hopes about it, because I had put lots of energy to those other projects that I just wrote about. The exam was tough. Five hours and six essay-questions to write. It was still good to give it a go. Even if I don't get in, I now know more about how to do well in this subject's exam.

I also held couple of meditation-evenings at Mandala-talo. They all went well. Not a lot of people, but all of the evenings have had a good atmosphere and I think people have got good experiences there. I am not sure yet if I am going to keep organizing them next semester at Mandala-talo. I have to consider it.

I went to see DaVinci Code at the movie theatre this week. It was quite entertaining, but after all that hype, I have to say that I had set my expectations a bit too high. I enjoyed the historical stuff in the movie, I dont' know how much of it is 'strictly historical' though.
Another movie I have watched lately is 'About Schmidt' by Alexander Payne. Jack Nicholson is playing the leading role. It is not a new movie, but I wanted to see it again. I really liked that one. Good actors, good story, good atmosphere.

Now when the WorldChampionships in Germany have started I have been watching lots of soccer. Every day there is at least one good match coming up. I don't know which team is my favourite. Good thing that I don't have too much work-projects on now. This summer I am mostly going to do just University-work. Maybe be a concert-roadie in couple of concerts if I get a chance.

It is so nice that it is summer. Here in Finland you appreciate it a lot. I haven't gone to swimming yet, but next time when I write to you I promise that the situation will be different!

I hope you have a wonderful month! Lots of Joy, Blessings and Peace to You! Let's be in touch!

Lots of Love,
Anssi