The journey of WCS has been more than amazing, more than I could have ever dreamed of. The weather was cooler than it has been in years, making it actually very nice instead of insanely hot and unbearable, like it usually is. Our organizer was the most pleasant person to hang around with, and he was the best translator-organizer-photographer, a jack-of-all-trades. On top of that, we were the luckiest to have an omotenashi (they are volunteer students, who help the representative teams out with things) with good english skills (not many students could speak English at all), and she was super nice, efficient and helpful. We got to meet so many people from around the world, and I found myself loving all of them. I am happy to be able to call these people my friends, and I’m sure it’s that kind of friendship that lasts for a lifetime. All of us were pampered with numerous gifts, both from the WCS sponsors and each other. I have also been blessed with lots of hugs and kisses, something I coudln’t get as much and as often in Finland. To top that, I also found out that I can develop feelings for someone, and that it is nice. I have been taken good care of.
When it comes to the competition itself, it was just amazing. All of the teams rooting for each other, not really being there to win, but to have fun. Team Finland went there to experience something extraordinary, not going for the prizes at all. But it still happened, that we scored the best award (imo) in the contest, Brother, which is awarded for best costumes, and the winner team gets sewing or embroidery machines. Expensive ones, each their own. Me and my partner actually did the thing, that had only been a silly dream. We didn’t care about the top 3 pedestal, but when we were playing around with the silly idea, that if we got something (which we thought would definitely not happen), Brother would be the one for us. We are not the performing type, but we do take costume making to our hearts. So being recognized by Brother, for something that we might call our forte is totally overwhelming, and means especially much to us. What makes it even more unbelievable, is that this is the first time in WCS history, that Finland has scored absolutely anything in the competition. The patriotism is high through the roof here. And I can’t belive that we were the ones who did it.
This has been such a blissfull experience I wouldn’t change it for the world. The WCS journey has now come to its end. Today I said goodbye to all the people from around the world, and we went our separate ways, some to their own countries, some still travelling in Japan for a while. Today I am feeling happy and sad, bittersweet.
All the photo credits to the rightful owners. Most of them are taken by me, rest by our lovely omotensahi student Miyu Hoshino or organizor Eetu Lampsijärvi.
