Monday came, I packed my stuff (had acquired quite a lot that didn't come with me from Finland) and gave away the key to Wexford Street. M left at 4 AM for London, he didn't really help with the packing, since he had a 10k weight limit (and when he took some items to take home, he instead left some behind).

Three months have passed quickly. I'm not leaving the same as I came, after all I have now been an embassy intern, met minister Roche (twice), am a part of the intern community, know about Ireland politically, historically and economically (unfortunately), am an aunt, am better at writing reports and dancing ballet, know the best places to go in Dublin, have driven on the left side of the road, have bathed in the Irish Sea, have well, in a nut shell, done lots.

I'm writing this from a hostel in Madrid where I arrived after first saying goodbye and emptying my desk at the embassy, then taking the "travel in luxury" air coach to Dublin airport, sleeping the whole flight to Madrid Bajaras and then finally taking the metro (only 2e!) on three lines to this hostel. I noticed the climate was hot when walking from the metro station with my 23kg suitcase, three "hand luggage" items (glad no one complained, Iberian Airlines is good) and a painting I of Sandymount in Dublin, which I got from the Deputy Head of Mission during my first week as an intern.

So all in all, that was it from the fifth capital. Now its www.thesixthcapital.posterous.com that's hot. At least way hotter than Dublin. So why buy a winter coat when you indeed can emigrate to a warmer country?! Birds are smart.

On Saturday we went to the last of the Fringe Festival. A concert at Christ Church cathedral after a coffee and tart at Fallon and Byrne. It was very Catholic, the concert I mean, not the market café. According to M the coins I gave to the collection went straight to the child molesters. The church was beautiful, one of the must see's in Dublin, and the choir was good. Then after that it was time for my goodbye party at the Solas bar diagonally opposite on Wexford. We decorated the venue with a Finland poster, some Fazer chocolates and Salmiakki on the tables and I ordered a giant platter of finger food. The bar man confiscated my Salmiakki kossu.

First there was a Finnish dominance with a couple Germans, then the bunch of Danes came. I really like Danish people, the seventh capital might be there then. The farewell party went really well and I got my 100e deposit back. We continued the night at Whelan's (what a surprise) and I am very glad to have hosted a final get together to the amazing people I came across in Dublin. I surely will see most of them again.

On Sunday we had a final brunch with M at Milk and Honey café and walked around the city where you could clearly smell autumn. We stopped by at the Science Gallery in Trinity College to see the Biorythm; Music and the Body exposition. Way more interactive than the Finnish coordinated video art installation at Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, which we saw quickly during Culture Night. We also rode the "Dublin eye" ferry. M has learned to cope with his fear of heights. A Ferris wheel is nothing compared to Fritt Fall. It was the perfect day to see Dublin from a bit higher, since there was sun.

We had a final goodbye three course dinner at Bang restaurant. It was a great culmination to my stay in Dublin. There are indeed still a couple restaurants we haven't tested, so there will be a next time in Dublin some day.

On Thursday it was Arthur Guinness day. There was a toast at 17.59. M's flight arrived right after five. It was the best Arthur Guinness day I've ever experienced.

Friday was Culture Night. M had prepared a surprise evening program. I only knew he had booked tickets to something and that he had made a table reservation, he is getting better at not revealing surprises right away. We ended up going to Green 19 for dinner (M's first, my fourth time) and then to the Fringe Factory where Ólöf Arnalds played as a part of Icelandic Music Weekend.

At first I wasn't completely sure what the concert would bring, since they sang the first song glancing at lyrics on paper. My final verdict was that she was extremely good, as well as the two men who played with her. They surely looked like vikings. They were very honest (glad not to be in Hamburg anymore) and the Icelandic accent was the best with their rolling rs.

They came back for three encores since the audience wouldn't stop applauding. The reviews from Dublin were certainly to be better than what they got in Brussels. There they didn't like their tuning of the instruments on stage and didn't appreciate her EU related jokes (send the plead to one committee, who send it to another committee, who send it to yet another committee and maybe they can play music in one year) which weren't really jokes. The Irish loved them.

On Thursday we had an intern exchange day with the Danish embassy. It was nice to get to see another embassy in action. We ended the intern exchange day with cupcakes and coffee at our embassy. The initiative was conducted with success and now the diplomatic relations of Finland and Denmark are saved. This is the proposal letter sent to the Danish embassy.

In light of the current intern exchange the German and Swiss embassies have conducted with great success, we at the embassy of Finland have discussed the possibility of introducing a similar project.

When thinking of our closest allies, both in theory in the north and in practice here in Dublin we came to think of the embassy of Denmark because of your location geographically on the map of Scandinavia as well as here on Harcourt street. With this introduction I present to you the idea we have in mind which combines the educational benefit of cultural exchange with a recreational aspect of pure fun.

The project would take place during working hours next week, week 38 and only take up around three hours in order not to disturb other important consular affairs of the high profile work interns contribute to at the embassies. We have drafted a plan of action to make the most of this exchange program. Further ideas are welcome and changes to the preliminary schedule may be made.

My last week in Dublin has "gone on wings" i.e. fast. Tuesday night I had the joy to go over to my Danish friends house for a slice of freshly baked bread. I had forgotten how much I love Nutella and all kinds of hazelnut spread. Though don't ever buy me that stuff, since I eat it straight out of the jar with a spoon. Not in company though.

On Wednesday I interviewed professor Vincent Durac from University College Dublin on the Palestine - Israeli situation, from an Irish point of view. Ireland has been very active on the issue and the Foreign Minister Martin actually visited Gaza in February. Ireland also is directly involved in the building of the apartheid wall in Israel, since they company supplying the cement indeed is basically Irish. Ireland sees the situation in the Middle East in light of their own past with Northern Ireland, and have quite a pro Palestine approach and there are at times Israeli critical petitions and boycotts arranged, especially in connection with the flotilla incident and the misuse of Irish passports.

All in all, the interview went very well. I was a bit anxious since it was my first "real" interview I conducted alone. The professor had also been speaking at a conference on the media's role in conflict resolution last week, which I unfortunately wasn't able to attend. I served tea, coffee and biscuits in the embassy's meeting room. Would have sent my report to the professor, but of course it was in Finnish. And confidential.

Wednesday evening I had my last ballet class. Sad to leave the group with which I had danced the past 12 weeks. Our Russian teacher said she would miss me, not having someone to yell "alignments" to all the time. The card and box of chocolates (ballerinas do eat chocolate) made her day. Unfortunately I forgot to invite our group to my farewell party, only the ones I have as FB friends got invited. For them I wouldn't have had to order another finger food platter at the bar.

In a week I'll be in Madrid! Booked the venue for my going away party. Though I prefer to call it a "see you all soon again / good bye (for now) Dublin" party. If all of the friends I've invited and plan to invite (they're not all on FB), I'll have to go tell the guy at Solas bar (here on Wexford) that the amount will be tripled of what I thought in the beginning. I have met quite many amazing people during my stay here.

I had the "last supper" at Yo! Sushi, since I'll be sunbathing next week when it's time for Blue Monday the following time. H promised to continue the tradition. Had the "pancakes" with strawberry purée and prawn katsu, they've become the favorites. Firecracker rice with chicken and the smoked salmon skin (like muikku) sushiroll weren't too bad either.

The bad part of today was my battle with airline tickets. I received a notification last Friday, that Air Baltic will stop flying the Riga-Madrid route that I was supposed to take back from Helsinki the first of November. The last flight operating is on Friday the 29th. I was offered another connection, but luckily spotted they had in addition to changing the date to the 2nd, altered my final destination. What? Barcelona is a six hour drive from Madrid!

I called the booking company on Friday, but they had already closed, so I sent an e-mail stating that there has to be a mistake since my final destination was indeed MAD not BCN. They told me my options; I could either get my money back (166, now the flights with reasonable times are around 400) or fly on the 29th. Neither one suits me. I also called the European Consumer center and checked my rights. I am entitled to be transported to my original final destination. The same reads on the Air Baltic policy and I do hope they respond to my message in 48h as they promised.

M "helped" me by booking a ticket in my name without my consent (in his defense, he did give me 10min time to respond to an e-mail) from Barcelona to Madrid on Tuesday the 2nd. The problem is I don't want to fly to Barcelona in the first place. HEL-RIX-BCN-MAD is a bit too much. I would prefer a re-routing HEL-MAD with Finnair on the 1st.

The good part of today was receiving a picture of my nephew who was born yesterday! Such a cutie (everyone in the embassy agree) who apparently makes noises like sheep, dogs and pigs. He'll fit right in the family. Can't wait to welcome him properly!

The weekend was packed with excitement so now I'm beat. Shouldn't you rest during Saturday and Sunday in order to gain strength for the upcoming work week? It will indeed be my last at the embassy, so strength is something I would need. I have an upcoming interview with a professor from UCD and an internship exchange program with the Danish embassy in addition to finishing the reports I have been working on lately. Then I should probably structure a plan of action for the baking process, since you should bake a cake or something for your last day, right?

On Saturday I was a guest at the Iveagh Fitness club, which is said to be one of the nicest in Dublin, thanks to my roommate. We attended a fitness class (ow, my thighs) type body pump and then did her exercise program, or at least the cardiovascular part since we figured we had done enough upper body and abs during the class. Then to my favorite part; the club was equipped with a pool and a jacuzzi. Needless to say I didn't swim that many lengths before slouching into the bubble pool and then the steam room and sauna.

In the evening we went to Temple Bar to the Porter House with my Danish friend M. Porter house brews their own beer and I had Irish Stew! It was good, not culinary fireworks but the lamb and potatoes and carrots were tasty. Then we shopped some desserts in the form of grapes, chips and Oreo's and went to my place for a pre-party where others joined, before going across the street ti Whelans.

Today we continued our cultural exploration of Dublin with the same Danish M. We split muffins (banana walnut and carrot orange) at a café and when the other Danish M walked past with her boyfriend who is visiting, they came to say hello. See how small Dublin is. Then we went to the Project Arts Studio to see some contemporary dance that was part of the Fringe Festival. The first piece, Hang On was the one I really wanted to see with all the aerial acrobatics.

The second piece Dancehall Paradise was just a plus, extremely contemporary. Then I went over to M's place and when I walked home, I got soaked and had to hide from the rain at Tesco. Due to being drenched and tired, I decided it was best not to go to the French interns leaving party. It was a hard decision, since Mother Reilly's where it was held is said to serve the best pints of Guinness you get in Dublin.

Ballet Ruse was the best I've seen. My Russian ballet teacher Elena at the National Dance Academy said had talked to Muirne Bloomer and Emma O'Kane who had choreographed and performed Ballet Ruse, when they were still planning the piece (which was first to be on dating). I totally agree with the five star and must see - recommendation of the Irish Times. The little intimate venue of the Project Arts Centre in Temple bar was packed and I think everyone stood up for the applause and whistles at the end (can't be sure since I sat front and center). I had expected the show to be good, but this good I couldn't even have imagined.

It was a lunch time show "without sandwiches" (the only thing the two ballerinas ate was toilet paper, they did though down a pint each of Guinness in less than five minutes) and I'm grateful the embassy is very flexible so I could go see it during lunch. I have no regrets anymore about missing the flash mob which took place the same time by the government buildings since it was the National Campaign for the Arts' National Day of Action today. Or that I missed the visit of the Nurses and Midwives interest organization who came to the embassy for coffee.

I laughed out loud and almost cried during the performance; it was very touching and so real and true to the world of ballet. It was from "barre to bar" as their ballerina ambitions weren't fulfilled though they worked so hard. They danced, rehearsed, stretched and rehearsed some more. They didn't have leading roles in Swan Lake and when the other tried to unnoticed tell the other on stage that she had forgotten her legwarmers on it went "legwarmers!" "what?" "legwarmers!!" "what?!" "LEGWARMERS!" "F*CK!".

The other had stopped eating for a summer for a part in Giselle and when she was "thin enough" she was then said to be too tall. She started eating again. But throwing up. And that lasted for ten years without anyone knowing. "Confessions of bulimia and abusive teaching cut through the good humoured jinks, but in spite of the disbelief and regret at their past there remains a warm sense of respect for ballet." Like the Irish Times recension said, there were raw truths from the two ballerinas' training and the old fashioned conventions of ballet were made fun of, but in a respectful manner.

There was music from Tchaikovsky to Lady Gaga's Just dance  The dancing spoke for itself and the few lines there were, were meaningful and the situation comedy aspect was hilarious. I would go see it again if it weren't sold out. I'm happy for the ex aspiring ballerinas, you could tell they had poured their hearts and souls into the piece.

I've been questioning my decision making abilities the past few days. I have no problems to decide where to go, what to do etc in a group, but when it comes to decisions that only concern me and a few others I'm impossible at fulfilling them immediately. I keep my options open too long. I have attended several leadership workshops so I'm now calling out for a "make decision - fulfill it immediately" course which M has promised to give when he comes next week.

For example I had advertised this ballet satire lunch time performance which is a part of the Fringe Festival for my friends, and got one interested. I meant to book the tickets soon, since the Irish Times had given it a five star rating, but when I eventually came around to actually doing it, there were none left for Saturday. So now I'm going alone tomorrow during my extended lunch break. Another friend did say he'd be interested, but his ignition was even slower than mine, by then the whole thing was sold out.

Another example. My internet has been malfunctioning the past days, so I meant to go to a café or bar to use their wifi. I ended up speaking on the bad skype line which disconnected every two or three minutes for almost two hours because of not taking the decision to go downstairs sooner. My Father will be pleased once I complete the crash course of immediate decision making since he's been inquiring whether I've decided on a flat in Madrid, what stock I've bought with my student loan (haven't decided yet, see?) etc. I'm also horrendous with buying air tickets. And all tickets for that matter.

I can though decide other things. The route I decided we take with H and V on our evening walk was very nice. We had the option of going to an art exhibition but didn't really feel like it. Instead we walked along the Liffey to see the green and red Monopoly houses float in the river (it's art for the Fringe Festival) and then follow the Grand Canal which resulted in a ninety minute brisk promenade. My sore muscles are getting better. The plus side is I know my fellow rock star body workers M&M also feel the pain. The other M sent a text if she was the only one who walked like she s*** her pants, but when she saw the other M from the Starbucks window, she observed smirking they share the walk. We gathered to whine about the soreness last night for a girls night in with tea and chocolate. Good to have a varied exercise schedule.

I finished a book last night. With the last hundred or so pages it's hard to stop reading. So I always end up reading past midnight, since I can't stop no matter how tired I am. So now Käsky by Leena Lander was returned to the embassy library (or actually my colleagues library in her office). It took place in 1918 and was sort of a love story (I interpret most things like that now, also the movie Rukajärventie I watched on Friday) between a "red" convicted woman and a man who fought on the "white" side during the Civil war in Finland.

I never thought I liked books and films on war, but the ones I've come across lately were really touching. Then I watched Disturbing Behavior today, starring Katie Holmes twelve years ago. Not something I'd recommend, unless you need to put your brain on the shelf (and relax sore muscles, inevitable). I spotted also Grey's Anatomy Miranda Bailey in the cast. A bit younger twelve years ago.

I feel the need to share a funny episode from the embassy today. The driver came to the office room which I now share with H with today's copy of the Irish Independent. The big picture on the front page was of Lady Gaga at the 2010 video music awards. He said "Comparing to Lady Gaga's usual style, this dress is actually quite down to earth". He was shocked when we revealed that he was way wrong. He hadn't noticed the dress was actually made of pieces of raw meat. He was quick to take back the initial comment.