Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Galashiels any more...

Orientation day was on the 1^st of September and as you'd expect (lots about library cards and computers). They kept us happy by handing out free cookies and juice all day, and offering a free lunch in the canteen, which, by the way, is amazing! Oh, but they did tell us that the campus we study at, Sepankatu, is called the School of Innovation – how cool is that!

Later that evening, we met with Noora and Mira, our Finnish tutors, to go to Klubi where four bands were playing – Magenta Skycode, Wrecking Queens, Kiki Pau and Delay Trees, all Finnish bands of a very cool chilled out nature. We only managed to see Delay Trees, so relaxed, it looked like the lead singer was going to fall over. Unfortunately, the last bus home was calling our name, so we had to leave before seeing the last two acts (we were late so we missed the first one too).

The next day we had to be in again at 9 for a tour of the building, which we discovered is a lot more confusing than we initially thought. Then naturally, our little lecture wasn't until 12.30, which was a chance to meet the other design students and a tour of the design departments. This is where I discovered that I am doing the wrong degree. I like textiles and all, but getting a tour of the product design department left me drooling! The woodwork and metalwork shops were so cool, kinda made me realise that I did actually enjoy techy at school, I just never realised it.

However, I am hugely excited for the project that I'll be doing here. It involves creating at least 15 designs within 3 collections which will then be displayed at Heimtextil, a textile trade fair in Frankfurt in January. However, it is the marketing part that makes it all feel very real and grown up – we have to send out press releases and invite companies to our stands, have stand graphics and business cards, and after it all send follow up thank you notes! This is for real! We can't just pretend, we have to sell it! Daunting, but massively exciting!

Then, that evening, we gathered in front of the cathedral in town for our first ESN-IAC (Erasmus Student Network – International Action Club) event! This involved running around the city talking pictures of various places, extra points for comedy. Us Scottish lot joined up with two French girls and a guy to become team 'Aye Oui' (we were desperate for a name and running out of time...). Highlights include: 'subtly' raiding Stockmann (big department store) and becoming window dummies for 10 seconds as shop assistants looked on, unamused, and having to do a (terrible) impromptu play starting with the old Finnish proverb 'A blister on the palm of the unemployed, is a scab on the lazy persons ass' and ending with 'tongue of nectar, poisonous mind', luckily is was not recorded! 

  Rachel and Scott posing in Stockmann's window

These seals are all around the city, and all decorated differently – extra points!

Scott picking Lenin's nose outside Turku Art Museum

Sonia, Louise and I in Stockmanns

Yannick posing with the running man statue

 The gawd awful play...

...and Scott being a bitchy butterfly – don't ask!

So, lots of fun and new people and two nights out in a row?! Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Galashiels any more...