moving on

three days left. i can't believe the time has gone by so fast. half of my apartment is packed and ready to go while the other half is waiting for me to buy another suitcase. anything with a 220v cord has been donated to european friends. my plants are being inherited as well as the decorative odds and ends i picked up in order to liven up my blank apartment. the work bench is being picked up by a fellow metalsmith today. i'm glad that i found someone who can not only use it but lift it. i thought i'd be ready to go but it seems that i have way too much to tackle in the next few days. i guess that no matter when you plan to leave, you'll always be in a rush towards the end. at least, that's how it is with me.


this week has been filled with good-byes. today it was to elina, someone i met when i first arrived that has remained a constant source of laughter and friendship over these ten months. she cried and i held it in, promising to visit as soon as i can. even though i know we will now live on opposite ends of the earth, i can't help just knowing that we'll not only stay in touch but meet again.


now it's time for visits with old friends, moving to a new city, catching up with family, and the dreadful job/apartment hunt. i don't know exactly what will happen to this blog. i began writing as a way of keeping friends and family back in the states up-to-date. now that my time in estonia is over, should the blog end as well? i'd love to hear what you think.

the proof

contrary to popular belief, the last four months haven't been all fun and games. after the fashion show and fallen nature exhibition i began working on a series of necklaces inspired by estonian history. the theme of each necklace ranges from estonia's occupying forces, fight for independence, and european union accession. i've just recently completed the series so now you can check out the photos at my online exhibition.

thanks to graham mitchell, the photographer who shot the work!

lit

senior year of college, my bedroom was windowless. that might drive some people crazy but i was in heaven. any time, day or night, my bedroom could be pitch black like a cave. no matter when i got to bed i could get a full night's sleep without the sun waking me up. this led to an extreme light sensitivity. after moving out of that apartment it was difficult to get my usual eight hours. okay ten.

when i arrived in estonia each day was progressively shorter. the fact that i don't even have a door on my bedroom wasn't an issue. until now. the days are getting longer and the sun is creeping through my curtains earlier each day. i never anticipated that light would be an issue, especially after months of longing for it, but this has got to stop. i'm not the only one. no, there are others. those who purchased sun lamps in winter are now putting up their blackout curtains. it seems that light, or lack thereof, is a constant issue in estonia.

now, to illustrate i have some photos for you to compare. one was taken at 10pm, the other at 3am. can you tell which is which?



pretty tough to tell huh?