A Continuation

Although it's been almost six months since I left Finland, my year in Leppävirta is still actively a part of my life. Admittedly, I rarely speak Finnish anymore, but every where I turn in my new life in Montreal, I am reminded of what the past year brought for me. Walking down the streets, with the cold wind in my face, I can only imagine that I am in Finland again. I welcome the feeling now, though during my exchange I always dreaded the way my cheeks would burn after the brisk walk to school. Every day, I look at pictures from my year, pictures of my host families, friends and home, and I wish I could go back, or at least just enjoy the Finnish winter once again. I'm coming to visit soon, though. This summer, I'm planning to stay a week in Leppävirta, so I've already started practicing my Finnish again, just in case it's gotten a little rusty.
Last week, I skyped with one of my host families for the first time since I left. It was such an odd experience, to see my family again and to feel like I was with them. My little sister, Loviisa, kept asking me if I'd be coming home tonight. We promised to write to each other, even though she's only 4.
Recently, I've been picking up the old hobbies I had in Finland, too. With all my free time during exchange, I spent hours making paper snowflakes with my little sisters or knitting with Mummo. Now that it's exam time, oddly enough I have plenty of time to do these things during study breaks. While classes were in session, though, I was always rushing from one lecture to another, using my breaks to catch up on reading or prepare for a midterm. I don't have classes anymore, though, and my next exam is on Friday, so I've been knitting a lot, but mostly just reminiscing.
The thing I miss most about Finland is the feeling of belonging. Although, it's true, I'm not anywhere close to being a Finn-I'm talkative, outgoing, and I find it hard to keep to myself, there was always something about not belonging that made me feel just right living in Finland. There, I always knew what to expect, and finding an excuse for something I wasn't ready for was easy- it's just because it's Finland. Every day, I think about those last months I spent in the Finnish spring. The memory is stark in my mind; all the light made the colors brilliant, and the warm air and budding flowers make for the most beautiful picture. What I think I never would have predicted, though, was how much I'd miss the winter. I hated it while I was there, but there was something especially novel about it. Here, it's dark, but there's no snow, and it'd be embarrassing to say it was cold outside. I miss walking down the street over snow that's been packed since November, not being able to see the sky because there's a blizzard (again), and having to kick your shoes against the wall when you walk inside because the rocks and snow are all stuck to the soles of your feet. I miss going skiing with my host families, falling over in the snow, not being able to get back up when I'm alone...
I miss my host family, too. Memories of going to sauna every week, of waking up at midnight and hearing my host dad leaving for work. My little sisters running and screaming in the house, or coming home during the day because I didn't have class- or worse, because I didn't feel like going.
I miss my school in Finland. Granted, I hardly fit in till about February. My Rotary counselor, Markus, was so kind, and what I understood of his history lessons was actually quite interesting. I think I'd enjoy it even more now. I remember how we'd sit in the common room, and the younger boys would play techno music even though it was 10 in the morning. And the people who would later be my friends were always too shy to speak English in front of me.
Every day, these memories form a huge part of my life. A lot of the time, I thought that when I left Finland, that would be the end of the story. But maybe it was just the beginning. The beginning of a lifetime of continuing the memories I started there, and of treasuring the love and kindness that was shown to me. I can only hope that one day I can offer the same thing to someone else, because everything that was done for me in Finland was a gift that changed my life completely, and every time I remember that gift... Well, it makes me all the more thankful.

Kotona Taas // Home Again

After a tumultuous plane ride home, riddled with tears, sleepless naps, and hours of television, I finally made it home at about 6PM on the Fourth of July, just in time to sleep my way through the remainder of our Independence Day. My homecoming was a bit less exciting than I had expected. Not that I was waiting for a surprise welcome-back party with all of my old friends and family, but when I came home, I was shocked with the realization that home was home; nothing and everything had changed. I think the hardest part of exchange is coming home, because that's when you're forced to appreciate all the wonderful, and not so wonderful, moments that you experienced in the past year. You have to come to terms with the fact that moments are exactly that- moments, and they disappear without us even noticing. One 8 hour plane ride turned into a week, a month, and finally 11 months in a beautiful country with friends from every corner of the world and a language I'll probably never need outside of Finland. That was just leaving; coming home made me realize that I had let go of my past, and that my life truly existed (or exists) in Finland. My friends are all there, and now I'm left to fend for myself, once again, to try and find my way of life here. I knew when I left for Finland that it would take time to get used to things. I never thought that upon my return I would struggle to understand social cues or find my old place in my family. Of course, I'll never have my "old place" back. A year has passed, and we're all new people, with new roles and new experiences. That means finding a new way to fit into the world, and adapting to home the same way I adapted to Finland. Despite the struggles, I will never, even for a second, regret going to Finland. It was the most life altering, amazing experience I've ever had, and I'll never be the same. I met people whose beauty shined inside and out, and I learned so many things about myself, and about others as well. For that, I have to thank everyone that I met on exchange, and all of those who helped me get there. I will always remember you as the people who made my dream of going on exchange come true and as those who helped me realize that happiness can be found anywhere, but especially inside yourself.

Till next time, Finland. Tule ikävää.

Eurotour 2013

It's been a month and a half since I last posted, but trust me, it's worth the wait. My last weeks in Finland have been so busy, but more importantly I just arrived home yesterday from the most amazing vacation I have had in my entire life. I bonded so closely with a group of people from all over the world that I met mostly for the first time just 18 days ago. After 16 days stuck in a bus with them, though, I feel like they are family, and they know things about me that would have taken years to share with anyone else. But, what happens on Eurotour, stays on Eurotour.... Unless you're an exchange student and post all your business on your blog. So get ready for a brief description of the most tumultuous, crazy, and fun trip I could have ever experienced.
The schedule:
We left early Sunday morning, the second of June. After a few hours on the train, we arrived in Turku, Finland, where we took an overnight boat to Sweden. After driving through Sweden all day, which was surprisingly beautiful, we took another boat, this time only an hour or so, to Denmark. We stayed in Copenhagen overnight, and got to experience first hand the kindness of the Danish people. Everyone smiled at us and was willing to share things with us and were not disturbed by our many questions and willingness to make conversation with strangers. I hope to make it back to Denmark again! Next, we headed off for Germany where we met a very amusing man dressed in a tiger costume. Apparently it was his birthday, so we had a nice rendition of "Happy Birthday" for him, both in English and in Finnish. The next day, we visited and cheese and clog factory, which resulted in both a total weight gain of about 50lbs since we ate so much cheese, and also the unfortunate experience of having to listen to each other walk around in authentic clogs from Germany. We then drove to Amsterdam, and visited the Anne Frank museum. It was very moving, and, in my opinion, one of the best museums I have visited. Next we drove to a farm where we stayed the night, sleeping right next to the ostrich cage. After breakfast in Holland, we were off to Brussels for a tour of the city, where we got to experience first hand governmental protests (smoke bombs and all) while meandering the streets. After lunch, we headed straight for Paris where we spent the night. (Three meals in the three different countries on that day!) After a good night of sleep in Paris, we were off to see the palace, Fontainebleau, an hour outside of downtown Paris. We then made our way back to town, and ended our tour at the Eiffel Tower for free time and dinner. The next day we had completely free to do and see what we wanted in Paris. Me and a couple other exchange students decided to hit the main shopping street and then spend our afternoon having lunch in the park near the Eiffel Tower where we met some Americans as well as a few Frenchmen who remained unaffected by our charm (our charm consisting of various questions about their lives and whether or not they would kiss on of the other exchange students. Don't you wish we had visited your town?). The next day was an 8 hour bus ride to Southern France, which was rather boring (and stuffy), but the scenery was breathtaking, especially once we arrived in the Alps. We spent the night in Grenoble and headed out to see more of Southern France in the morning. We visited some small towns and got to see a perfume factory in Grasse. In the evening, we arrived in Nice for some free time, after which a small group of exchange students accidentally followed my lead on the way back to the hotel. I got us all extremely lost and we had to ask several people for directions at 11 PM at night. Fortunately we weren't in too much trouble when we got back. The next morning was a long drive through the Alps to Italy, where we got to see Verona. We visited the balcony of Romeo and Juliette, and then headed to the beach for some free time in the evening. Our second day in Italy, we got to see Venice. We had a gondola ride, and then had free time in Venice as well as free time on the beach near the hotel as well. The next day was free again, to go visit anything we wanted. We spent most of our day on the beach, where we all either got sun burnt or tan; most of us got both. The next day we changed hotels again, and had a hike through the Italian Alps. Of the three mountain ranges I have seen in my life, the Alps was definitely the most beautiful! The next day we were in Germany again, the final destination of our trip. We saw some Bavarian dancing during dinner, and then drove to Nurnberg for the night. On the following day, we visited a war museum in Nurnberg, and then drove to Berlin. We had a very emotional goodbye party that night, as we all hugged and kissed each other for the last time. In the morning, we had a bus tour of Berlin as well as some free time to shop and see a bit of the city, but then we were off for the airport. We took a flight to Helsinki where the final goodbyes truly took place, and I can honestly say I have never cried so much when saying goodbye. This group is really like family to me, and I'm astonished by how close I have become with these people. I never knew I would meet people who could be so different on so many levels, nor that I would have the chance to share such an experience with them. For many, it may have been goodbye for life, but I know that I will see some of these people again. I have already started making plans for when I get home from Finland...
Here's just a couple pictures of us, traveling across Europe:
In Paris, France

 In Innsbruck, Austria. From the left, Parker, Calvin, Maddy, Noah (behind Maddy), Rae, Blaine, and me

 In the Italian Alps. From the left, top row: Alyssa, Parker, Rae, Blaine, me, Sarah. Bottom: Maddy, Calvin

Hyvää Syntymäpäivä // Happy Birthday

Although I wrote on my blog just 10 days ago, it feels like a month has gone by. My birthday was last week, and I was so busy, I don't know how I didn't collapse in the middle of it!
I was living with my first host family for the week because my current host parents were out of the country on respective vacations. We didn't have school last Thursday or Friday, because of religious holidays, so I had a 4 day weekend to celebrate my birthday! Marika and I made plans to go out to dinner on Wednesday, after school. We were going to go eat at a restaurant in Varkaus, a nearby town, but when her grandpa came to pick us up, instead of driving us to Varkaus, he made a turn to the local hotel and dropped us off in front of a summer cottage! Inside, all my friends from the Wanhat Tanssi (that dance we had in Februrary) were waiting for me, with cake and presents and all! I'm still in shock from the surprise party-- I've always dreamed of having one, but it's one of those dreams that you can't really fulfill on your own. Thankfully, I've made some really amazing friends here in Finland who love me enough to throw a party for me. We danced and ate pizza, and stayed up until the sun rose (which was around 3 or 4AM). This is one of those memories that I know I won't forget for the rest of my life- I've had a lot of those this year!

After a "recovery day" on Thursday from my surprise party, I was back at it again on Friday, my actual birthday. I was woken up by a cheerful round of "Happy Birthday", first in Finnish, then in English, and got hugs from all 4 of my Finnish sisters, and my (host) parents. We don't do that at home, so it was really surprising to me when, before I could even brush my hair, people were singing to me. Around 10 o'clock, we left for Kuopio, where we first did some shopping (and I guiltily bought myself some birthday presents), and then went to eat at a Viking restaurant (that was a surprise too!). All the waitresses and waiters were dressed in period pieces, and we had traditional Finnish food from the viking times, like smoked reindeer liver and smoke sauna pork. It was delicious! Once our pants started feeling tight, we left for some coffee, because we're in Finland, and we can always make coffee fit, no matter how full we are. Once we got home from Kuopio, I didn't have any plans, so I called my friend Jenna, and she asked  me to come watch ice hockey with her and her boyfriend's friends. After the game, we just hung out, and then decided to go to the local bar- my first bar experience as an adult! It was fun, although very empty. We ended up going home around two, but it was still a fun way to spend my birthday. I always have fun in Jenna's company!
The next day, Saturday, I slept for a long time, and then headed over to Julia's house, a girl from high school who lived for a time in the U.S. We had all kind of little snacks and flavored coffee drinks, and we got dressed up to go to a bar in Kuopio. That was quite a different experience from the local one, and we just danced all night long. Needless to say, I was exhausted on Sunday! But I still got up to celebrate Mother's Day with my host mom. She's done so much for me, getting up early on a Sunday is nothing if it means I can show her I care! She's really become like my own mom, and, like the rest of my host family, I love her like my own. There's no question that I will see her again in the coming years!
Here's a picture from me and the girls in Kuopio:

Me and Jenna on the lake at a summer cottage earlier this week. <3 

Kevät!

So it's been about a month since I've last made an entrance, and last you heard Finland was still in full winter. In the last couple of weeks though, spring (kevät) has hit us hard-finally. Of course all Finnish people were telling me about how long this winter has been (as if I needed to be told). But now flowers are starting to bloom, I saw the first mosquito of the season, and the temperature has been rounding off at a good 7 degrees Celcius (that's about 44F). The sun rises between 4AM and 5AM and sets just around 10PM. While for most people this means less sleep and longer days, I find it refreshing after several months of utter darkness. The light changes so quickly- in just a couple of weeks the sun will be setting at 11:30 and rising around 3AM. To me, it seems like a miracle. Having lived all my life with "average" sunlight, I realize how precious light is and I've learned to appreciate the sun so much more.
Along with my appreciation for sunlight and warmth, I've come to notice a huge change in myself. Where before I dreaded going outside, opting for the sanctuary of my dark bedroom with a good movie or book, I have started spending larger and larger amounts of time outside. Maybe it's because in Finnish culture, where nature and outdoor life is a major part of everyday routines, or maybe it's because after 4 months of being forcibly kept inside by bone chilling temperatures and snow storms I'm itching just to feel the breeze in my hair. In any case, I know I'll being spending my entire summer outside this year, soaking up the sun (and fighting off mosquitoes).
On another note, my days in Finland are dwindling down. Only about 70 left; the closer I get to the finish line, the more valuable my days become. Although I've been missing home a lot lately, I know that my time here is soon at an end, and I realize how much I've become attatched to this eccentric nordic culture. I hate to say goodbye to what has been such a life altering time, but in many ways I find I am prepared, because of my year in Finland, to face the rest of my life. I realize that I have been blessed in so many ways, and that I have the time and ability to do anything with my life. My experience as an exchange student has showed me so many new things that I know now how lucky I am to be alive.
Here's a few pictures of some stuff that I've been up to lately...
Me and my friend Marika :)

 

Me and a group of friends when we went to a summer cottage (mind you, I call it a summer cottage, but there was still a foot of snow when we were there) :

Me and Amanda, my host sister from the first host family I had in fall. She got back recently from her exchange in New York, and we've been fast friends although we just met recently! Hän on niin kuin oma sisko! <3 :

I went with my first host family to an Easter celebration at their relative's house (yes, it was Easter, and yes, that's the lake frozen behind me, and yes, we walked across the lake that day). Anyway, I got the chance to try shooting a gun-- and got the bulls eye! I obviously have natural talent... I'm expecting a call from the FBI any day now. Or maybe just the Finnish Army (I don't want to get my hopes up too high):

Me and Amanda, and our little sister Loviisa:

Here are some pictures from when me and a few friends went to another summer cottage:

Here are a few pictures from my dance performance yesterday. We've been practicing for 3 months and finally got to show it off yesterday at the spring show. All the dance groups performed, and I was amazed by the amount of talent there is in our dance company! :

Hockey is my new sport

The shouts and screams covered everything else, along with the beating of our paper fans against our thighs. We cheered, we chanted, we believed until the end. I've never in my life seen a game where the worse our team played, and the longer the game went, the louder the fans cheered. The stadium was just as full when we sat down to win the game as it was when we cheered them through the last 10 seconds of what was one of the worst games (I am told) of the team's history. Of course, having never watched any ice hockey, I had no idea it was a bad game until my host parents said they wanted to leave. I've never been one for watching sports in the first place, but last night was a really new experience for me. It was truly the most amazing experience because for the first time during my exchange I felt sad that this wasn't my own culture and I didn't get to live it every day. On the bright side, I feel a little more prepared for my move to Canada now, and I'm looking forward to watch some hockey next year in college! 

A million things in a matter of weeks...

In the last month, a million things have happened. Maybe that's why I haven't written anything in a long time. I'll keep it to the major points though.
In February, my class celebrated their moving to the oldest class in the school by having a big dance. This is the normal kind of prom or spring fling that we have in the U.S. though... I mean big, princess dresses (I was one of two who didn't have a hoop skirt), boys with bowties and tailcoats, and, of course, balloons. First we trained, for a couple of months, practicing "old dances" like the waltz and the franseesi. Then, on the big day, we had four performances throughout the day for the elementary school, middle school, high school, and finally our parents. It was an incredible experience, and I was really thankful to my partner, Sebastian, who agreed to dance with me even though he's not in the same class as us.

What made the day even more special was the afterparty. We hired a bus to drive us to Kuopio, the big city near us, and joined hundreds of other students at a party in a hotel. There was a dj and some live performance by a Finnish rap artist I'd never heard of... But most importantly we were all together, and as a class I think everyone really bonded (me included!). Some of the people in my class who had never so much as looked me in the eye had long conversations with me about the most off the wall topics... It was a night of my exchange that I won't forget for the rest of my life. These are the moments that are most important to exchange students; the ones where we feel a part of the crowd.

A short two weeks after the dance, the Rotex in our district (Rotex is an organization for young adults who want to be active in Rotary but are either too old for exchange, have already done exchange, or don't want to do exchange) organized a winter weekend for us exchange students. So we packed our bags, skis and toppuhosut (snow pants) and three pairs of socks, and headed out for Siilinjärvi, a small town north of Kuopio. Me and a few other kids decided to do crosscountry skiing instead of downhill, so we set off on an afternoon tour of Siilinjärvi's country. We skiied a good four kilometers, through a farm and then back across the frozen lake (yes, we skiied ON the lake). Over the weekend, we had makkara, or sausage, and lots and lots of soup, and even more cookies and chocolate. It was good that we went skiing or else I'm sure everyone would have gained a couple pounds. Maybe we did anyway... Anyway it was nice to see other exchange students, and finally meet the new ones who came in January to our district from Australia and Brazil. I was especially happy to meet an Australian girl, Amy, who lives a short 20 minutes from my town!

Unfortunately, when the weekend was over, it was time for me to change families agian. Although it's always hard to say goodbye to host families, I was happy to find my way back into town. My new host family, with whom I've been living for 3 or 4 weeks, have been very generous and welcoming, much as my first two were. They live a different way than either of my previous families did, though, and for that reason I'm really happy I chose Rotary, one of the only programs that give students the oppportunity to be in more than one host family.
My host parent's names are Ilkka and Eeva, and they have one daughter who is studying at the university in Joensuu. My host father is an architect, and my host mom works at the bank. I've loved living in their family. They are both very active and engaging; we always speak in Finnish, and since moving there my Finnish has improved very much- though my English has gone the other way... We go skiing together and spend time at cottages (even though it's winter!). My host dad and my host sister's fiance made a hole in the ice for me at the cottage for me to try avantoon (jumping in the frozen lake!). It turns out, you can't actually swim in the frozen lake because it's too cold, and you have to wear a hat and gloves and socks while you do it, but it was such an amazing- and refreshing- Finnish experince. I think I might be doing it again before the spring really comes!
Sauna before avantoon...

 

After avantoon, outside!

My host parents also took me along to go ice fishing. It was a great learning experience, and I also realized that I have a weaker stomach than I thought. But no one will ever say I didn't try!

This past month has been filled with highs and lows, both associated with feeling truly at home in your host country. I'm only just realizing how important this experience has been to me, and how far I've traveled from the person who got on that plane seven months ago. It's true what they say- it's not a year in a life, it's a life in a year. And every day  I know I'm a day closer to saying good bye to this life... But at least I still have three and half months of this amazing experience. Going home will be the hardest part of my exchange.

Sauna

Picture this: you're sitting in a room, with the door locked. You're naked, and there's an oven in the room. The oven keeps the room at a temperature of, minimum, 60 degrees Celcius, probably closer to 70 or 75. There's a bucket of water at your feet with a big metal ladel in it, and you've been throwing water onto the oven till the tiny window in the corner fogs up. You've gathered some braches from a birch tree in your back yard and tied them together. You start to hit yourself gently with the braches, and, past the slight sting in your nose from the heat, you can smell the aroma of birch trees filling the air. When you can't stand the heat anymore, you step out of sauna, and wander into your backyard. Mind you, the snow is up to your thighs in places that haven't been touched this winter. First, you're just walking around, trying to cool down after the heart-pounding heat you underwent during sauna, but then you decide to lay down. Naked. In the snow.

What you've just pictured in a typical Finnish sauna, as well as what I've been experienced time and time again since my arrival in this beautiful country. Sauna might be the thing I miss most about Finland when I leave! Here's a picture of my "body print" in the snow from tonight's sauna.

New Year, New Family

I was planning on writing another post directly after my Christmas post about New Year's and moving into a new family. However, as you can see, it's taken me a little time to catch up... I've been sick three times since Christmas, and I'm told that's normal for a Finnish winter. Fortunately, I have a family that is very understanding of how my immune system isn't used to the hot and cold (being inside, around 20 degrees celcius, and immediately going outside to a more often than not bone chilling minus 25 degrees). But, I've been taking my vitamen D, not that it fulfills my constant craving for grass and a hot summer's day on the beach, but at least it's supposed to keep me healthy.

As for the new family, I am overjoyed. My family is kind and welcoming, not unlike the last. I have found one more reason to appreciate the Rotary Youth Exchange (the only exchange program with multiple families). I see my first family more than once a week, and they have been so supportive of me during this inbetween stage. After five months of living in the Utriainen family (August to January), being in a new host family required almost as much adjustment as it did when I first came to Finland. I've been here almost an entire month now, and it feels like home. From the late night movies and UNO tournaments, to the everyday hustle and bustle of conforming four adults' schedules, I've found that there is yet another family in which I find myself a part of. That being said, I won't forget to mention the obstacles that come with living in a family you've never met. In my new host family, the Auvinens, I have found three different and strong personailities- much like the family I have at home, in the U.S. But despite big personalities, there is so much love in this house- especially for the cats!

The new house I'm living in is very warm. They use the heating system very little, and in place light a fire almost daily. I have my own room, and it's really spacious (which is nice since I've accumulated so much stuff!). The only thing that seems really different to me, comparing ´to my own family's house in the U.S., is the shower. Instead of having a shower in the bathroom, like most American homes, here the shower is a separate room (with sauna!), next to the fireplace. The sauna is heated by the fireplace; it's difficult to explain, but the fireplace can be opened up in the back to heat the bottom of the oven in the sauna. I guess as far as weird Finnish customs go, this is the least of my problems. So far, I've had to face a gruesome plate of raw fish for breakfast, at least twenty offerings of salmiaki (or salty licorice), probably 100 questions about how I feel about raw fish and salmiaki, and the prospect of drinking salmiaki vodka, which is a practice entirely normal to the Finnish people. I think I can deal with the shower.
The house and my room:

As for New Year's Eve, the Auvinen's gave me a warm welcome with a typical Finnish tradition involving tin horse shoes. We melted the horseshoes over the fire, and dumped them into a bucket of cold water. When the melted tin hits the water, it takes solid form again, and the form it takes tells about the kind of year you should expect. Mine was rather shaped like a volcano, in addition to lots of little rigid pieces that supposedly represent money. My host mom bought me a fram to place the tin pieces in so I can have a memory of my New Year in Finland.

My calender for the next few months is packed- which I love. I've never been one for sitting around the house, waiting for someone else to invite me somewhere. From the new friends I've made at school, to outings with other exchange students I think I won't be bored for the rest of my exchange. This weekend, my host family and I are going to Helsinki to visit my host grandmother, and get some shopping done. My host mother says she'll be taking me to an American shop that sells things like Hershey's chocolate- can't wait! Next month, the 2nd graders (or 11th graders for us Americans) are going to be having a performance called the Vanhojen Tanssi. I know, it's a mouthful. It translates as Old Dance; in celebration of the ABIT, or seniors, graduating, and the 2nd graders becoming the oldest in the school, they perform a selection of old fashioned dances, like the waltz, tango, and, most special to me, the Virginia Reel. I am also participating in the dance, and personally am very excited to be able to partake in a very Finnish tradition for young people. Besides that, in February, I have a Rotary weekend of skiing and snowboarding, and most importantly, meeting the new members of our district from Brazil and Australia. I won't get too far into my plans for the next few months, just so that I have some things to surprise you with, but I'm excited to be here, and my exchange has become more about meeting new people and having new experiences than I thought it could be!
Here's a beautiful picture of the Finnish sunset, which I'm always awake to see!

Joulua: Christmas!

Christmas has been one of the best experiences in my exchange. I know I probably start every post with that, but I felt so happy this Christmas. Christmas started on the 24th, starting with dinner with the family. We had ham, casseroles, potatoes, and lots and lots of fish (Finnish tradition). It didn't feel like Christmas dinner at all; I'm used to squash, okra, honey ham, bread rolls, gravy, green beans, along with an assortment of pies, cakes, and candies made by my grandmother and various aunts. NO FISH! I never knew I should appreciate that before- now I know. Anyway, after we had our candlelit dinner, with my host grandparents and host aunt, we headed for the graveyard, another Finnish tradition. We visited the graves of various family members, clearing snow from their tombstones, and lighting candles. It was very cold outside, so once my family had paid their respects, we headed back home. Once warm at home, we started playing Christmas songs so that Joulupukki, or Santa Claus, would here us calling him. After three songs, Emilia saw someone through the window! He had come to pay us a special visit, right in our home. He came in bearing, not one, not two, but actually five bags full of presents. (No, not those big red ones Coca-Cola portrays Santa with. This Santa had plastic bags from S-Market, the local supermarket.) He settled down in the rocking chair, took Olivia and Loviisa into his lap to hear whether they had been kilti tai tuma (naughty or nice).

Once it was established we had all been very nice this year, he started handing out presents. We all ended up with big piles of packages around us. Santa took his leave then, since he had many more houses to go, and left us to our package opening. I got lots of tights and socks and hats, as well as two books on knitting socks, balls of yarn, and knitting needles. I guess he knew I've been cold!

Once we were done opening all our gifts, the sauna was ready, so we headed for an extra warm sauna. For the rest of the night, we just played with our new toys, and then went to sleep. On Christmas day, we went to my host dad's mother's house, where we had Christmas dinner (number 2). We talked, ate, talked, drank coffee, ate some more, opened presents, had desert, then it was time to go again. The day after Christmas, or Tapaninpäivä, we had morning sauna. Usually morning sauna takes place at 7 in the morning, but considering the fact that we're all late sleepers, we postponed it till 11. So maybe it was more of a lunch-time sauna. After that, though, Christmas celebrations had finally come to a close. I have to say this Christmas has taught me so much about the importance of family, and making people feel welcome. I truly felt like I was a part of the family, and I have learned that I will always have a home in Finland. Considering that, I was really sad to leave my first host family, but, now that I am in my new host family, I have also realized that, as Anu-Rikka (my first host mom) said, I am not losing one family, but gaining another. I was nervous for nothing, and I love my new host family! I'll write more about the transition into this family later, but everything is going really well, and I'm so grateful to have the chance to add three more people- and three cats- to my family!

Lapland

So, I know this may be a little bit late, but since I've come back from Lapland, I have been extremely busy. my trip was absolutely wonderful though. Stick 160 exchange students from all over the world into one hotel, and we're bound to make a good time of it. I got picked up from Leppävirta around 11:30 on Friday night (the 30th of November) and we made it to Muonio around 10 the next morning. After getting assigned rooms, three other buses arriving, a quick lunch and meeting about the rules for the week, we were off for our first day of skiing! Me and a couple others, though, decided we were too tired for skiing so we made for the sled (or as my canadian counterparts would say, tobogan) hill. Unfortunately, the hill was ant hill rather than a legitamate sled hill. (Can you blame me for being judgemental? I come from West Virginia. My yard makes for better sledding than that.) So, after a few rounds, we made straight for the bon fire for the rest of the afternoon. After warming up at the hotel for an hour, everyone was back on the buses to go to dinner. Outside. As if a day of skiing in -26 degrees Celcius wasn't enough to freeze us, Rotary decided to stick us out for another round of permafrost. At least that's what we thought before we got there. Yes, it was outside, but it was also a beautiful venue- one that I might even use for my wedding if it weren't for the cold. We had some salmon soup and apple pie while seated around the fire. Maybe you've never had soup outside when it was minus twenty degrees out, but that night was beautiful. Everything was steaming: the soup, our hands, the hot juice... If it weren't for the fires, we wouldn't have been able to see a foot in front of us. So, that's how we ended our first day in Lapland. Great start, no?
For the next day, Rotary had planned another day of skiing, but once again me and this time several others, opted for a day at the hotel building ice sculptures. Well, it turned out that only took us an hour, so we hung out in the hotel, did some sledding down a fairly steep hill behind the hotel, and visited an igloo the hotel was building for tourist purposes. The igloo was really incredible! First, they blow up a big balloon and set a machine beside it that blows snow onto the balloon. Then, after a day or so of freezing in the Finnish winter, they deflate the balloon and start decorating. There were "beds" made purely of ice, and carved out designs on the walls of reindeer, suns, and other wintery dreams. There were several rooms inside the igloo, and I have to say that was one of the more incredible experiences I had while in Lapland! Anyway, once every one else came back from the slopes, we all headed to sauna. Not only was the sauna itself interesting (two separate saunas, connected by a door made of hanging branches), but once we got hot, we all headed outside... and straight into the snow! I know I'll remember that for the rest of my life, even though for Finns this is a really normal activity. We all had scratches on our legs from jumping onto the icy mound directly outside the sauna door. I can't wait to do it again! After sauna, we were in the bus again, this time headed for a lukio in Muonio. There, the students had prepared something for us. Some 7th grade girls did a dance, and there was a band, too. Everyone was really into it. Then, every country had to perform something. The Mexcians had a great dance sequence, as did the Brazilians. It was a great night!
The third day was probably the most interesting day for me. In the morning, we headed straight for the cold after a breakfast of "puuroa" or porridge. We were all fitted with snow shoes, and then we made for the reindeer. After a 15 minute walk, we finally arrived. There was a sort of teepee shaped building (I'm still not sure exactly what it was!), and then a man dressed in typical Lapland attire taking care of 3 reindeer. After a short discussion about his attire and the reindeer, we were loaded onto three three person sleds. The reindeer were attatched, and off we were! The reindeer behind my sled accidentally hit me in the head with his horn, too. I forgive him though, since I'm sure I'd hit people with my horns too. After that, we walked just a few minutes over to where they kept the sled dogs. We're all loaded on to sleds, this time with dogs pulling.  That was really incredible! The dogs are so coordinated- and fast! After we arrived back, we got to pet the puppies (no gloves, apparently these dogs have a taste for mittens), and our guide told us everything to know about the dogs. We had free time, then, to pet the dogs and take pictures. It didn't take us long to get back to the hotel, though, since it was so cold outside. That afternoon, we went to a real Sami (the original inhabitants of Lapland) person's house. We saw some traditional clothing, and were explained what the marks signified (every family has a different pattern and colors). We talked about reindeer herding, and how the reindeer aren't kept in fences. They get to roam anywhere they want- even Sweden! They mark their reindeer by cutting their ears (don't worry, they don't have nerves there) in different shapes. In the spring, when they count their reindeer, the herders go to Sweden to check if their reindeer have wandered over, and the Swedes come to Finland too. After checking that stuff out, we had a taste of lassoing reindeer. I got an entire horn on my first try! Then we visited the Sami person's house, which looked pretty similar to any modern day Finnish house to me. After visiting the house, we headed for the Swedish border! The border is actually a river, so we parked on the Finnish side, then walked half way across the bridge, took pictures with the sign, and headed back. I have to say, Sweden looks a lot like Finland: snowy with lots of trees. But at least now I can say I've been to Sweden! Once back at the hotel, we had dinner and got to have a party in one of the hotel buildings to say goodbye to all of our friends. I was sad to see the end of the trip, which was one of the most valuable memories I'll have of Finland, but I know I'll get to see my friends again, and maybe even visit Lapland again!
Here's Sweden:

 My first taste of reindeer- straight from Lapland!

 The beautiful reindeer that gave us a tour by sleigh of their grounds, plus their keeper (in traditional Sami dress) and half of our guide:

Only 6,700 km between Rovaniemi and New York!

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!

Typical Exchange Student

Here we are- I am, one month into my exchange.  You know how to spot the exchange student: dictionary glued to the palm of the hand, wary looks across the cafeteria, hesitation before flushing the toilet ("Now, how exactly does this one work again?"). Of course, I've fulfilled every stereotype. And, as you might guess, exhaustion has taken over. Despite my ten hours of sleep last night (class didn't start till 10AM), I was still struggling to keep my eyes open during a history class of which I understood mostly just the names of countries and stutter words. Oh, and due to my insufficient education in history, I was made a bit of a fool. No, I did not know that the main difference between a monarchy and a republic was a president; there must be more to it than that, right?! But anyway, it has been a learning experience- not just my history class but the entire month I've spent here. So busy, in fact, that I have failed to write regularly on my blog! But maybe that's a good sign.  Not only is my family most accommodating, but they have been so kind to me and I feel like a daughter to them already. I'm dreading the change of family, but I am sure my next family will be just as wonderful, if only in different ways. 

Now, a bit about what I have done so far. My first week was spent in the Kurkku Language Camp (on the left) where I met dozens of other exchange students from the four corners of the world. I can't wait to see them again during the Lapland trip (early December), but I know that I shouldn't focus only on the tours, but on every day life as well! We were at the camp for 5 days, and the sixth day we met our host families and went home with them. That was so nerve racking! I was so nervous about making a good impression that I didn't want to ask to stop to go to the bathroom on the four hour drive home and I didn't tell them that I felt very carsick after trying my first piece of salmiaki... Well, you live and you learn! Next time: don't eat salmiaki in the car. Or maybe just in general... I don't even like normal licorice! But, when we arrived in Leppävirta, we stopped at the grandparents' house, where Olivia and Loviisa, my two youngest sisters were spending the day, and was greeted very warmly. After having said "Terve!" (Hello!) to Olivia, the first thing she did was drag me by the hand to her toys, and immediately start naming each of them, while I in turn repeated the name of the toy. Quite a good teacher! Here's a picture of a lake near my house:

On Monday, I started school, and a girl named Hanne, one of Amanda's friends (Amanda is my host sister currently doing a year exchange in New York while I am here), gave me a tour of the school and took me to her classes. When I got my schedule, I went to my own classes, but since the school is so small (a hundred students, I believe) I still had class with Hanne and the other students she had introduced me to. And even though the Lukio (high school) is only one fifth the size of my high school in the States, I still got lost... Till I realized all my classes were in the same room. 

As for the social aspect, that has been the most difficult. The Finns are shy- I was warned of that, but what I found was a deeply engrained sense of respect for one another's space- space including not only physical room but noise and eye contact as well. It's a world away from the theatrical company that I kept at home, where everyone hugs and shouts and jokes and mocks. The biggest lesson I have learned is that people are not the same everywhere. Based on the principle that there are nice people and bad people, religious people and atheists, and criminals as well as volunteer workers everywhere in the world I had assumed that I would easily find my kind here, and surely there would be a handful of people who would approach me in the hallways, asking me obscure questions about my home, and maybe even inviting me to coffee or a party. It was quite the opposite. I found it hard to approach people for fear of disrupting their "personal space". I've found in some ways I am very Finnish; I feel like I can't talk to someone without a reason to talk to them, I have little desire for petty small talk, and I have zero to little desire to hug someone when I first meet them. Good luck to the Finns coming to America. You'll never go back... 

As for family life, I get along splendidly with all of my family members and enjoy dinner and coffee with them. I have to say, the highlight of my day is sitting next to Loviisa and making faces across the dinner table. When she tries to look angry at me, but can't keep a straight face, the sense of joy and love that I feel fills me to the brim, and in that moment I know exactly why I want to be a mother. That may seem an exaggeration, but I do feel a love for this family that is unique; different from the love I bear for my own family, but love all the same. On the weekends, they take me various places. For example, one weekend we went camping in Punkaharju, where I met my first reindeer (picture below!),  with a stop in Sovnlina on the way. Another time, we went boating at my grandparents summer cottage, where there is an original smoke sauna (and countless mosquitoes). Just last weekend, we went shopping in Kuopio. They have been more than generous, letting me cook my favorite deserts, buying me cereal, and grandma even made apple jelly for me since she knows how often I eat toast with butter and jelly! Today, me and Emmi are making cupcakes, too!

The Final Countdown

Here I am, less than twenty four hours from departure time. I've had a hell of a time sleeping this week; last night I didn't fall asleep till 5:30AM. that's quite a record for someone who sometimes goes to bed at 8 on school nights. I'm not ashamed- I need my beauty sleep! I could really use it tonight though. My trip will last a total of 30 hours from the time I leave my house to the time I'm (supposed to) land in Heksinki. I could use a good 8 hours of sleep. I'm nervous to leave I suppose (why else would it take me 6 hours to fall asleep?), but I feel confident about my choice to go abroad, and I am comforted by the fact that one of my best friends, Viktor, a former exchange student from Denmark who attended my school this year, made it in one piece as well as the hundreds of Rotary students everywhere. Besides, I've been determined to do this since the ninth grade so now if I bail out, I'll be disappointing my past self, and probably my hypothetical future self. So, onward! And despite the giant knot in my stomach, I'm sure I'll make friends and learn Finnish and make a fool of myself enough times to ensure small talk for at least several months. 
My goodbye party (of sorts) is tonight.  I only invited 6 friends, but my mom invited family friends, like my sister's boyfriend's family, the neighbors whom I have known since I was a child, my cousin and her family who is in town for her wedding. I'll be glad to have this final goodbye, and I'm sure I'll be crying, so I'll have to go easy on the eye liner today. I only wish Viktor could attend, and perhaps a few friends I met in Germany this summer. 
Next time I write I'll be in Finland, so goodbye America! (I've been waiting quite a while to say that.)

Almost Departure Time...

Two weeks! That's all that remains before my departure- not that I know the exact date yet... I don't even have my plane tickets yet, but I know I'm supposed to be in Finland by August 5th. That's when the orientation week starts. I'm really looking forward to my trip, but I don't think it's set in yet. I've known since I was in the ninth grade that I wanted to do an exchange year, and I've known since October that I'd do it, and I've known since January that I'm going to Finland, but I won't know till next summer how much this trip will truly affect me. Already, I've learned a lot just by meeting inbound exchange students from all over the world. At Otterbein, the big conference for Ohio-Erie, I think we all started to notice how different our lives will be from others. And for once, when I told someone I was spending a year in Finland, all I got was a "oh, that's cool", rather than a stream of questions I've only memorized answers to. Our discussions at Otterbein were interesting, opening our eyes to the numerous possibilities that will present themselves while we're away. Of course, I now have several new facebook friends with whom I can share experiences. Regardless of all this preparation and excitement, I find myself still unsure of what to expect. Will people talk to me at school? Will I pick up the language quickly? Will I get along with my host family? I'm sure it will all turn out well- mostly because I know I'll force myself through it if I have to. I'm determined to make this experience everything it can possibly be for me, to learn as much as I can, and to form relationships with people that I will treasure when I'm old. It's hard to think that my life here in Morgantown is over. Yes, I'll come back, but only for a few weeks before I leave for McGill (the university I will be attending in Montreal upon my return). So this means goodbye to the only home I've known my entire life. I'll visit, but it won't be mine anymore. The winding roads that taught me how to drive, the treacherous hills that taught me to hate bike riding... Maybe one day this house won't be my mom's anymore, and I'll drive by, wondering who lives here and if their little children are haunted by monsters under the bed like I was. Maybe they'll look at the marks on the door frame or the chipped piece in the bathtub and wonder who left their memories for them. But that's life. We move on, we change, and one day, I'll call some other place home. Hopefully that place will be Finland.

Long Time, No See

It's been so long since I've posted anything, but I have been insanely busy.  Between performing in Beauty and the Beast in early May, and going to prom and then finally graduating from high school, I've hardly had time to sit at the computer and start my five page paper on the history of Finland.  But, I have been looking forward to my trip and thinking about my packing list and gifts to bring to my host family. I also went to RYLA in April, which was really fun. Getting to know Jennybeth, who's going to Brazil, and David, from the Czech Republic, and Giselle, from Taiwan was fun. Plus I met Ale, from Italy. Getting to know all these people from different countries makes me excited to go to Otterbein and see who I'll be traveling with to Finland.  Even more exciting is the prospect of meeting my host family in a short 2 months.  I received a package in the mail from my district in Finland, and they gave me details about the orientation I will be attending upon my arrival in Finland (theoretically August 5th, although my flights have not yet been booked).  I'm going to learn more of the Finnish language and culture, and I will have classes (I think) on what kind of differences to be aware of and big "faux pas". Plus we get to try saunas for the first time! I'm so excited; I'm sure orientation will be a blast and a good way to start an amazing year.  Some of the trips I'll be taking look really exciting too! I get to visit St. Petersburg, which is going to be so wonderful because I've always wanted to go to Russia; it was actually one of the first countries I had considered signing up for. There's also a three week trip around Europe, which I'm sure will be very eye opening since I've only ever been to France (and soon Germany; I leave next Thursday). I can't wait to hear more from my host family, and I'm actually looking forward to my history paper since I love history! :)

Rotary Meeting, March 8, 2012

The Rotary Club in Morgantown invited me to do a presentation at their meeting this Thursday, and I have to say, it was something of a learning experience.  I've presented a million times to my classmates, but getting up in front of adults intimidates me for some reason. So I spent quite a while preparing my prezi and practicing for my mom, and I think it ended up going even better for them than it did for her! Plus, everyone was so nice and welcoming, I'm not sure anyone could have felt out of place.  Though there was a part where everyone sang, and I blindly followed along, not knowing the tune... But all's well that ends well, and I feel prepared to take on any presentation they send my way! And a special thank you to Clark Reese and my mom who helped me write my presentation :)

Rotary Ski Trip

I just returned home about an hour or two ago from a fantastic weekend! Today was the last day of our weekend ski trip- my first skiing experience ever.  I picked up quickly though and even got on an intermediate slope on my first day! Hopefully I'll learn even more while I'm in Finland since I'm sure I'll end up skiing there at some point. This was the first time I got to know some of the Rotary people, and we had so much fun.  I met Giselle, from Taiwan, and, though I had already met David from the Czech Republic at orientation, we definitely got acquainted, and by the end of the weekend we were all teasing each other and getting along great.  I also got to know Emmy and Raven better, both outbound students like me.  Emmy is going to Spain, and Raven is going to France. I think the best part of my weekend was being pulled across the flat parts at the ski resorts by David.  Kudos to him, his arms are probably sore.... And a huge thanks to Rotary for paying for everything; I'm pretty sure I have to diet for at least a month to make up for the exorbitant amount of food we consumed last night alone....