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!