Post-Thanksgiving, Pre-Lapland

I've come to think of my exchange in terms of how I've changed. When I think of who I was when I started high school, I know for sure that I have grown up a lot and have developed the kind of person that I was in so many ways. I see my exchange in the same light; the person who got on that plane on August fourth is no longer with us- instead we have me! And I'm thankful for it. When I left I thought I knew who I was, but in fact it was that kind of thinking that was keeping my mind closed. Now, I realize that growing up never ends. Every day, I wake up, and I am the way I am because of the choices I made yesterday.
Needless to say, my short four months here have been nothing like what I thought they'd be. I thought I would make tons of friends on the first try, I thought I'd never miss home, and I would get through my exchange the same way I got through senior year (I'll let you interpret that as you will). Never did I think that making "aquaintences" would be the best I could do after four months- and that's hard. I never realized how lucky I was to know everyone I knew for as long as I had known them. But the tears make the laughs worth it, so I'll keep going.
As you know, if you are American, this last Thursday was Thanksgiving. Usually when I'm at home, Thanksgiving isn't really a big deal. Everyone comes over for dinner, and that's it. Being here, though, I realized how lucky I am to have my family, and how lucky they are to be together. I've never had a more thankful Thanksgiving, if only for knowing that I have spent every holiday with my family for my entire life, and once I get home, I can do it again. Small things like that really make me realize how important family is.
However, I was kept distracted by the fact that my younger host sister, Olivia, turned 6 on Friday. We had guests in and out of the house the entire weekend, and despite the fact that we spent all of Saturday cleaning, I think we're headed for a mid-week cleaning day anyway. But I think Olivia had a nice time, and I got a taste of what kid parties are like for big people, which made me reconsider having lots of children when I get married. I always thought having kids was easy, but now I realize how much there is to worry about. Even I worry about how my little host sisters are getting on at school and whether they're making friends and whether they're keeping up with other kids-- and they're not even my kids. I think it'd be fair to say at this point that I'm going to be a worried mother.
In addition to having Olivia's birthday in my mind for the last couple of weeks, I've been crowded by a million different events and tasks to do. Okay, maybe not a million, but it feels like that when it's all in Finnish. About a week ago, me and the girls in my street dance class had a performance to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Viri, a program that organizes community sports around Leppävirta (I think). Anyway, I thought it went pretty well, and even if it didn't, at least it made a good memory to look back on.
(Here's an action shot!)
 
The weekend before that, I was in Tampere to see the Nightwish concert, and this Friday, of course, I take off for Lapland with my fellow Rotary exchange students! It's going to be so fun, I'm sure. We are having dog sled rides, hikes, skiing, and I'm sure lots of sauna, coffee, and talking- something I'm sure at least the Americans are missing at this point. I'll be sure to make another post when I come back, and I'll share lots of pictures!
Once I'm back from Lapland, it'll be a straightshot for Christmas, or Joulu, which is the half mark of my exchange. I can't believe I'm almost half way through this year. It feels like I have an entire year ahead of me still, but I'm sure the next couple of months will fly by too. Unfortunately, accompanying my halfway mark is a change in host families. I'm terribly sad to say goodbye to this family; they have been with me through what I think will be the most crucial parts of my exchange, and they have been so supporting and loving that I think I could not have found a better match. But, I have to change, and I'm sure I'll feel the same way about my next host family when I leave them too!
Also, I forgot to talk about this in my earlier posts, when it actually happened, but I completed my first mittens (hanskat)! Here's proof:

Nightwish Concert

Despite initial doubts about whether I should have really spent that much money on a concert, I had a wonderful time when I spent this weekend at a friends house in Tampere. We took a bus to Helsinki to see Nightwish, then a bus back to Tampere at 1AM. Needless to say, we were exhausted, but it was so fun! My friend's host family was very nice, and we stayed up Friday night till 1 playing a game called Dixit.
Although I've never been a fan of metal, we decided to go to this concert. My mom told me it would a good experience to see a band I've never heard of before- anyway that's why I'm on exchange, right? To see things I've never seen before and experience things I can't experience at home. She was definitely right (why should I be surprised, mothers are always right...). Nightwish is a Finnish trademark- everyone knows who they are, and everyone is a fan. I almost feel bad for stealing those tickets from a true fan!
Anyway, here are a few pictures.

  (Me trying to be as metal as I can...)









I can't wait to visit my friend in Tampere again! Thankfully we will see each other again in 2 weeks when all the Rotary exchange students go to Lapland! :)

3 Months...

I think it'd be safe to say at this point that I'm bad at doing routine things.... Like writing a blog regularly. But who can blame me? I've been having the time of a century. I've been dancing ballet, and next week I'll be performing with the other girls in my "street dance" class. I've been visiting Helsinki, meeting exchange students, meeting Finns, and learning every step of the way. Learning that if I say "saata" instead of "sataa" people will think I'm trying to say "satan" instead of "it's raining". I've learned that there's an essential difference between the words "tuhma" and "tyhma", and that the Finnish language will always have new surprises for me. I've discovered that I have another family; they have just been living on the other side of the Atlantic so I didn't know. I've realized that no matter how far I am from my family back home, I still have my memories to carry me through my rough times. That even if I miss them terribly, in a couple of months I'll see them, and I'll be missing my life here...
(Me and my host family in Helsinki)

I understand more every day; I think my classmates get a hit off of me trying to define the word contaminated in Finnish during our English 8 class. Despite the fact that I'm terribly busy, I always have time to play with my little sisters, bake pumpkin cookies just to remind myself that it's fall even though it's snowing, and laugh when my host dad uses the spoon I was going to eat soup with to scratch his back- it's ok, it happens to everyone.
(Here it is- in the digital flesh. A winter wonderland in October.)

Last night, I attended the "Lukiobileet" in Varkaus, a small town near us (though admittedly, twice as big as Leppävirta). It was a party organized by a lukio, or high school, in Varkaus, for four surrounding lukios. The theme was red carpet, or punainen matto. It was almost nothing like Homecoming or prom; sure, the girls were all dressed up, but I saw a one girl wearing jeans! Oh, and not to mention the fact that the party didn't end till 2AM. What kind of school event is that?
(Here are some pictures of the event...)


That's all I got for now... But hopefully I'll remember to write again soon!