What's Up With Courtney....

Hey All!

I know its been FOREVER since I have posted, but I want to announce my official candidacy for President of the Management Students' Society at the University of Lethbridge. If you want to know all about my platform, check out my facebook fan page "Courtney Whitney for MSS President 2010/2011". Thanks for checking up and don't forget to vote Tuesday February 9th-Wednesday February 10th from noon until noon at ulethmss.ca!!

xoxo Court

"It's Not Good-bye, It's See You Later"

Hiya Everyone!!

December is absolutely flying by with killer speed!! I can't believe I am home in three sleeps!! It has been a great adventure for me and I am sure to round it off with a great couple days in London with Beth!! At the beginning of December though, Gerrit & I ventured off to the great North of Finland called Lapland. There, we crossed over into the Arctic Circle in the city of Rovanemi and went to Santa Claus' Park. I even got my picture taken with Santa and some huge snowmen!! It was a great final trip with some of the people from the exchange group and very cool to see Santa at his workshop!!

In front of the biggest snowman ever! Santa Claus Park, Arctic Circle, Finland

Never has it been so hard to leave a group of people. Sure, leaving home to go on this crazy adventure was difficult but this group of amazing students at Kajaani University of Applied Sciences are fabulous in every way! All of us are from different countries, different towns, different ways of life yet we all have meshed together so well. I am really going to miss them!! However, it is not about only saying good-bye because most of them I will see in the near future because I cannot bear the thought of being away from them for so long. Some of us just clicked together. That is a matter of fact!

Orgasmus Students, Kajaani Finland, December 2008

After drinking many glasses of Feuerzangenbowle during my final evening, I had to say good bye for now to all of my new friends. I don't think I have cried so much in one evening ever!! It was almost ridiculous!! However, the evening came and went and it was time for me to board my plane back to London. It would have been easier to leave if I hadn't been delayed in the airport for four hours in Kajaani though!! Just thinking that I could have slept in killed me!! 6am is way too early!! But I eventually did make it to London, missed Beth completely at the airport...but we are now together and having as much fun as two gals could possibly have in their last weekend together for at least six months!! I am going to miss this girl so much!!

Some of the Volleyball People at KUAS, Finland

Well, hope you all are doing great. I will be home on Wednesday in the evening so I will speak to you after that. I cannot wait to have a catch up with you all!! Heaps of Holiday Love to you and yours...

xoxo Courtney "Canada" Whitney

Back from Russia, Filled with Love!

Gerrit & I in front of Christ on Spilled Blood Church, St. Petersburg Russia, November, 2008

Hello my loves!!

Well, here I am back in the winter wonderland of Finland. I look out my window on this beautiful first day of Advent to the snow falling peacefully onto the cold ground. Christmas is coming up fast!! I arrived back late last night and in front of my dorm was a beautiful snowman that Michael, Walli, Franny and Sabine had built on Friday. Talk about perfect snow!!

A Night in Helsinki with Gerrit & Lolo

Russia, Russia, Russia....where to begin? Well, this was my first official trip as "Trip Leader" and I had an absolute blast! Topdeck- watch out!! I took my group of 37 Finns, French, Austrian, German, South Korean, Hungarian, Vietnamese and Chinese for the trip of a lifetime. We not only got to do company visits and learn some things about Russian business, but we all got to taste some of the local delicacies like Vodka, Baltika Beer, Sushi, Borscht, Pancakes and of course Meat Pasties!! In between the 2Euro shots of Vodka, free beer tasting and LOTS of Borscht, I am no longer wondering why I feel ill this morning!! However, we also did some interesting sightseeing with our great guides from Peter's Walking Tours (peterswalk.com- check them out if you go!!) and I got A LOT of breakable souvenirs. Beer glasses for 20cents?!? What?!? All in All, I spent about 125 Euros for a week and it was a blast!!! Helsinki also rocked my socks!! Gerrit, Lolo, AD, Lea, Estelle, Mark and I had a great dinner at Raffelo in downtown Helsinki. MMMMM STEAK!! This was a great beginning to a fabulous trip. Cheers to my trip team for their hard work, the participants for keeping me on my toes and to Sami for the bottle of Russian Champagne on the way home!!

My Trip Team Member Stefan after the last company visit...ya, it was like that...Cheers Mate!!

Well, it is that time again to make those lists and check them twice! Mine includes: finish web courses, study for exams, pack my bags for Canada and lose 10kg!! Haha...if only everything could be done in 2 weeks!! That's right. 2 weeks until I am back in London for 5 days of last minute, crazy winter shenanigans with my best mate Beth!! It should be a gooder lady!! For the rest of you in Canada, I will see you on or closely after December 17th! Happy Advent...

Love all you crazies heaps!!

xoxo Courtney "Canada" Whitney

Gerry Goose & Other Adventures...

The end of the semester is fast approaching and it has been an absolute blast to hang out with a bunch of crazy exchanges students from many different European and Asian countries. This weekend we have been partying and getting ready to go to St. Petersburg on Monday!! On Friday evening, Gerrit (my wonderful German friend who knows me better then I know myself...he's a mind reader- creepy!!) and I decided to celebrate the end of a stressful week by sharing a few shots of the always fabulous Grey Goose vodka. This is Gerrit's favourite and has hence been named "Gerry Goose". It was a very interesting evening to say the least!

American Thanksgiving Chefs Michael & Courtney, Kajaani UAS Finland, November 2008

Tonight, we celebrated American Thanksgiving. Michael (Gerrit's flatmate & my new friend from Austria/Bavaria) and I even cooked a ham with scalloped potatoes and corn!! For dessert, I made my infamous Apple Crisp. I have made it so often here in Finland I could probably do it in my sleep now!! We had an amazing meal and it was shared among great friends. If not for Michael, Gerrit and Charlie (my German "flatmates") and Lolo and AD (the french connexion), I am not sure if I would be laughing as often as I do now! Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in America, whether you are at home or abroad!!

The snow is falling in Finland!! It is like a winter wonderland. I have taken some photographs but it is nothing compared to the experience!! I quite enjoy waking up and looking out my window to see the snow gently falling on the ground. It is peaceful...that is until I go outside and freeze my butt off!!! Snow may be pretty but the weather is Killer Cold!!!!

The first snow on campus, Kajaani UAS Finland, November 2008

Well Monday morning at 4am, our exchange group will be departing for Helsinki and St. Petersburg in Russia!!! This is a trip that I have worked hard in planning the last couple months and I am so excited to finally be experiencing it!! I will be thinking of you all, even though I may not be on Facebook or my blog that often. I will post pictures when I get back to Kajaani UAS!!

Love You All & Miss Ya Heaps!!!

xoxo Courtney "Canada" Whitney