02/04/2010 - Hello Finland!

So. I was not creative for the last days, but... how to say? I was busy. Busy with writing some essays, busy with partying, busy with visiting friends and busy with traveling. I was in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Cologne, visiting some friends, doing some studies and trainings, going out, going out and going out. Therefore, I recognised, the real costs in going out are not the drinks or entrance fees, the most expansive ones are the hidden costs. So the costs for the beauty trade party in Düsseldorf: Entrancefee: none. Drinks: moderate (but the companies and hosts were very generous, so, who cares?). Overnight stay: Friends =free. Some costs for clothers, hairdresser, makeup and tanning, that's all.... maybe a taxi, but than the bill should be closed. HA! Excactly my though. But I am sooo wrong: I do not know, how this happened, but it happened: This party was one of the most expansives I have ever been: Next to the normal costs, I lost my jewels (neckless AND earrings), my shoes (!?!?! HOW?!?!? and WHERE?!?!) and my blouse (???). and it was no "wild party" .. no "afterparty" or elsewhat. So far, the blouse is found (= was at friends), the jewels too (are now at the other end of the republic with one of those beauty manager guys... wtf?!!? and will I ever get it back?!?!) but my shoes are still lost. And no idea where. And until now, I have still no idea how I lost them.
So, I received an other "to do" on my list: buying new black ankleboots. Sounds easy, but it is difficult. And important. Important, because without fitting shoes, I cannot wear this cool black jeans and the cool black lether leggins (for remote friends: I lost 10 kg. Now with size 38 it looks awesome). And difficult? Well, according to the fashion calendar, it is summer. Everywhere are sandals offered, the snow outside is just ignored! HELP! - Finaly, I found none shoes, but I bought some "fancy socks" for my sandals. Maybe it will look somehow... maybe not. I would not take a bet on the first choice... But I am sure, I will be sick soon.
Well, after that I went back to France, (lovely Alsace), met one of my oldest friends, walked 20 kilometers in a day, because I forgot my laptop (hello Alsheimer), done my appointments adn treatments, updated my family and sprinted back to the airport to my plane to Riga, to catch my connection flight to Finland. Also here, I have had some problems, by finding out, that the nice "OPODO" operater was booking my ticket WITHOUT any luggage and without informing me about that. So, I could take just 1 single hand luggage with me, not more than 8kg and for sure without any dangerous liquits like make up or toothpaste. Guess when I found this out? Right! 2h before the take off. So, I rearranged my stuff and hoped my lovely brother will take some of those "very important things" with him to Helsinki. With my "1-piece-handluggage" my laptopbag and my purse I passed the german security controls and flow to riga. On the way, there was no food, and I was suffering. Even in the transferflight zone, there was no restaurant, only coffeeshops. So, the nice lady from the information desk sent me out to the restaurants. ... I have had enought time, so no problem. grapping a salad and going back to the security check in.
But Latvian and German officers are not the same.
This nice lady saw imedaly that I have 3 bags and not one. And that all together are more heavy than 8kg. So, she won't me to pass. I was shocked and angry about this stupid salat in the same time. Why I have to be that hungry? A small diat would have safed my day. Now she wants me to go back and check my luggage in, which are extra costs and extra time, because the plane is leaving in 20 minuts. Grrrrrr. As I learned in my smart self management seminar (was on monday and tuesday this week, so the lessons are still present) there are two ways: offensive attac or defensive escape. I took my 3 step plan:

1. do not get emotional, take a time out
2. analyse objective the situation: is it adequate to react like that?
3. react.

After my fast analyses, I was very sure, it is ok to react like that, if my flight is leaving without me, and my brother and friends are in Helsinki without me (having fun). So, it was the time for biiiiiiiiiig drama. The lady was unimpressed (welcome to central europe, here is enought drama for all of us) but, I guess the other officer (male) got soon a headage, so he demand me to put some bags together and pass the security check. Puh... done. And: never ever salad in the airport! It can be too expansive (hidden costs).

Some hours later, I arrived in Helsinki Airport Vaanaa. It was easy to find a bus for some euros to the city center. At the trainstation, I took a taxi, which charged 14 EUR for 600 meters. WOW - welcome to the real world. In the hostel, I found some fanta for my duty free vodka, I found my bed, I found internet, but I did not found my friends.... I found their luggage. I found their beds. But where are they? And why are they not answering the cellphone? ....