Pictures from Lappi (Read blog underneath)

I love dogs, dogs love me

At Santa Land. Me, Jenny, and Jon(Yon) from New Zealand

This is in the cottage and the reindeer farmers house. All the tools and clothes on the wall were from the 5 generations and were used. The guy presenting to us showed us how to castrate reindeer. With your teeth. I won't go into further detail.

Me feeding Rudolph

The guys who managed the reindeer when we got to go on a reindeer sleigh ride...the guy to the right of me hit on me in Finnish...how sweet...by the way, that is traditional Sami wear (lots of reindeer fur, etc)

us on the bus. it got pretty crazy in there...when we weren't passed out

At the school performing take me out to the ball game

Basically our whole bus, this was the breathtaking place that I just cannot describe (10AM)

They took charge (2PM)

A good depiction of me trying to ski. (2PM)



Oh and by the way, I am moving to my new host family today. Email my mother if you want the new address because I don't remember it right now. All for now! Lots of love from Finland!

Lapland!

So this past Wednesday I got back from Lapland. It was such an amazing experience. I don't have the time nor patience to go into ultimate details, but I can briefly go through the activities and post some pictures, because pictures speak a thousand words. For this trip, it was actually bittersweet because a lot of the people we were there with, we won't see again. For example, the Australians, who come in January, will also be leaving in January. This was our only big event with all of them together and they are amazing people.
So after a 14 hour trip on a coach bus picking kids from Eastern Finland up, we ate lunch then we went downhill skiing which I completely sucked at, but it was fun nonetheless. Then we went back to our hotel, had dinner, had a dance party that got shut down because we had no clue that quiet time was 10PM...oops. I roomed with 2 Americans. One from Indiana who I met before I left and another from Washington. Our room consisted of 3 beds, a bathroom (heated), picnic table (random), and a closet. With 3 Americans, you can imagine how messy it got...I may have contributed greatly. The next day we had breakfast at the hotel (which by the way, was at 7.30AM) then went into a multi-roomed igloo at the hotel that was very neat. Then me and my Aussie friend Madlen attempted to carve a chair out of snow. My ass didn't fit and I broke it. Again, oops. Then we just hung out until we went to dinner at an indoor/outdoor fireplace area. It was lit with candles and there were different screened in rooms with fires where we sat and had fish soup and pancakes for dinner. Then after that, we went to a school where different bands and dancers performed for us. Then each country performed for them. We sang "Take me out to the ball game" and did the Batman rendition of "Jingle Bells". Then after that, it was straight to bed since we were so tired. Our final day was the Finnish independence day. We woke up, ate breakfast, then went to another resort where we learned about the nature in Lapland (so fun)...BUT we saw the most incredible view; white trees speckled with pine green for as far as you can see. It was breathtaking. Even if I had a picture of it, you just really could not appreciate it unless you were there. After that, we went to this 5th generation reindeer farmer ladies ranch and she was adorable. We roped some (wooden) reindeer. Then we fed reindeer and they were absolutely adorable (mind you, we had reindeer for dinner the night before). Then after that, we went to the hotel where we went on a dogsled ride and saw all the huskies the place owned. They were SOOOOO cute. I love huskies. They were so eager to go out and run. Now, I am one completely against animal cruelty and I thought it would make me really upset, but the dogs were so happy to run and be outside it was ridiculous. Everyone found out my obsession with dogs there. Then after that we went inside to celebrate the Finnish independence day where a traditional Lappi Sami guy sang songs. Then the Australians handed off gifts to us. My Australian other half, Jenny, gave me my present, as well as my oldie Georgia whom I love dearly. Then we had a no pants party until 12 (it was harmless, don't worry mom). The next day was leaving day. We had breakfast and headed out 2 hours to Santa Land. The tourist equivalent of Wall Drug. No, I didn't meet Santa, but I did buy a huskie which I named Brian and sleep with every night now. He reminds me of my exchange family. Then we ate lunch at about 2PM (It was pitch black by then) and headed back out for another 14 hour drive slowly dropping people off at each city. Overall the trip was truly something phenomenal. I can only tell you the events that took place, but the emotions and friendships have no words I can use to explain it. I always say how awesome it is to be with exchange students, but this really just tore me up inside because there is no other relationship or friendship like an exchange friendship.

Christmas begins!

Went to Turku on Saturday to watch the Christmas tree in front of Turku church to get lit up. :) 200 something lights for the years Turku has been in existence. Beautiful, but cold. Definetely going to need some hardcore warm gloves!

Georgia and I in front of the Cathedral. My head is blocking the tree...

In front of the "old market" in Turku. Left to right- me, Georgia (Australia), Alex (Colorado), ja Safire (Michigan)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Had a wonderful Thanksgiving with exchangees. Got an awesome package from my awesome cousin and it made me cry cause it was so sweet and so unexpected :) And got another package from home with a few necesities (lots of socks) which iam thankful for when I go to Lapland (north Finland) next week and it is -30C...let me put that into perspective. Lapland=30C. My freezer=20C. THAT cold. Getting cards from people warms my soul :) Thanksgiving is over now on to Christmas time! There was a Christmas tree in school...That would NEVER happen in America- too many contradictions and complainers. Oh and my cousin gave me a mini pumpkin- and Michelle, it was in perfect condition when it got here :D I did not see one pumpkin in Finland :(

2 roasted chickens, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, banaffie pie, and cookies. happy thanksgiving!

thanks for the knitted hat and scarf michelle! i love them :)

made 3 batches of cookies. the first batch was eaten before i even made the batter for the second batch...by the way, this was the finnish picture (hence the frowns)

Well

Time is flying by way too fast. November just began and now it looks as if it is going to end soon. What! Well, anyways I have to sum up 2 or 3 weeks now because I have failed to update it weekendly once again. So last weekend I had my district inbound camp (1410) and it was a blast. We played a few games- I won charades :) and ate Finnish food and drank coffee, etc. etc. It was really good to be with EVERYONE from our district because I only see a few sometimes. We meet in a cafe by the river every Wednesday, but it's only the people who live close enough to Turku to go. We arrived in Laitila (where we stayed at) around noon on Saturday and spent the night (I got top bunk -.-) and left the next morning after having a Father's day dinner...with no fathers...in a church...There is something really wrong with that picture...Anyways! OH! And we also did sauna and jumped in the lake. The lake wasn't frozen yet, but it was so much fun jumping in the lake- and addicting! I went quite a few times. The temperatures have remained around -2-5C. And we are also getting a little snow just before Thanksgiving :) Which, by the way, the exchange students and I ARE celebrating. It may not be traditional Thanksgiving, but we'll whip something homely up. The picture below this post is of a parent's night on Thursday at which I sang "Don't Stop Belevin'" and had 5 back-up singers and it was so nice to perform. I miss theatre like crazy. Especially having so many people so close to you. Then on Wednesday Gaby and I gave a presentatin on our life in Lieto. We made a video and I handed out Laffy Taffy...no banana ones though, because as my mom and I both know, those are the best. This week is test week so I will have a test tomorrow and another on Thursday. Both English, but those tests aren't as easy as you'd think! The listening comprehensions are quite tricky...Anyways, I think I am going to a place called 'Caribia' on Tuesday. It has an indoor pool and an outdoor pool that is heated :) It sounds amazing! I have been quite tired lately. It gets dark around 4PM and remains dark until around 9:30AM or so. They put sand down on the streets, but the snow remains on the streets so when it is packed down, it is incredibly slippery...I know because I have caught myself from falling over 15 times now. OH and last week, I also went to Gaby's house and made quesedillas as well as chocolate chip cookies :) They were delicious. I made some for my host family, too and I think they liked them. I also made them American pancakes, too. They have crepes here. But they are both delicious :) I am picking up on more of the language, I think. I went to a party last night and let me tell you, drunk Finns LOVE speaking English. It was refreshing to hear English amongst kids my age again :) And they speak really well. But sometimes when they speak Finnish, I pick up on the sentence about 2 or 3 minutes after they said it...but still! I am learning :) That's all for now! Until next time...

snow! gaby and i

America V. Mexico!

us at the father's day breakfast (it was fathers day in finland by the way)

Wow!

So it has been quite some time since I last wrote...about 2 weeks approximately. I am sure you have all been refreshing the page at work awaiting the next post <Aunt Tina ;)> So I will start with last weekend, which was Syysloma- fall break. I went to my friend Christine's house in Eura (outside of Pori where my family rented a cottage). We went to her friend's houses at nighttime after a little arts and crafts session and just talked about all of the things we have been doing and of course how much we miss Taco Bell! Then the next night I stayed in the cottage and my family took me to the coast and it was absolutely gorgeous! Pori is a semi-bigger town on the coast of Finland. Unfortunately my camera broke because some rain got into it, but I will be receiving my mom's camera shortly. Fortunately, however, my host family was kind enough to take pictures of us on the coast which I will put up at some point in time :P

The next night (Sunday night) I went to an Abi Bileet (third year party). It was a blast!! There were a lot of kids from my school, and a few that I had never seen, at that party. It was at a plce called ParmaHarju, which is kind of like  YMCA establishment to some degree. For example, they have a gym, sauna, eating area, etc. I do not know what else to compare it to, it is cheap to rent though, hence the third years wanting to rent it. It is so funny because all the guys in my class won't talk to me when they're sober...but when they get drunk, they are literally in my face asking me dozens of questions, which is okay, if they all weren't at the same time :P We left around 2 I think and most other people either stayed there or left around 6AM.

That week on Monday I also went to a billiards place in Turku with some exchange friends and it was a blast, even though I completely suck at pool! We were being too loud (what a surprise in a Finnish bar) and a man who had brought his own cue (very serious about his playing) yelled at us to be quiet. Luckily, we had a Finn with us so we knew what he said! I also went to get a prescription and I went to the SCHOOL doctor! They have a doctor and a dentist at Liedon Lukio so that we don't have to leave campus. AND it is free!

Then this Wednesday I went to an indoor cross country skiing place with my host mom, Gaby, my host sister, and her friend! It was so much fun! I was terrible and had snow all over me, but it was so much fun! People go to Paippi, the place, all year round and people go to practice lots of times a week if they are really dedicated. There were literally kids under 12 passing me with flying colors and I thought it was hilarious, but Hanna told me that they have been doing competitions. I thought it was going to be similar to ice skating, but I kept on putting my sticks on top of each other and falling over. Haha! The track is 700 meters long and is about -2 to -3 degrees celcius. My family had skiis for me and I rented boots. But it was incredibly fun and such a treat- a lot of my friends said they had never been there! I couldn't stop laughing because I made such a fool of myself, but people understood when I was on the ground after trying to ski UP a hill...hard work! Lots of upper strength...which I completely lack...

Me and Gaby in Paippi!

Then this last Friday second years dressed as hippies for Halloween, third years dressed as "snobs", and first years whatever they wanted to be. Halloween really is not a big deal here, but that is later.

hippies!

Friday night I went to my German friend Leonard's house with Georgia (from Australia) and Alec (from Colorado) and we just hung out and his mom made us Finnish pizza (peaches and ham)- delicious! It was very nice to be with exchange students, as always! But while I was there, my little host sister, Alina, had her own little Halloween party! I am sad that I missed it because it sounded like fun! There were some kids at another party trying to scare the girls that were in our house and so Hanna played a little trick on them and scared them away- it sounded hilarious! Then my family was in the forest in the backyard and the girls walked around and were terrified of going anyone near my host mom, dad, or brother because they were the scary characters! Then Saturday I went to my friend's Halloween party! On the way there, we saw trick or treaters in the neighborhood...on Saturday! Halloween is a very new holiday here. I think Hanna said there was one group of kids that came to the door! I got a Halloween card from home and it was so sweet :) Always makes my day!! But anyways, I went as a black cat to my friend Sanni's party (so original!) It was the same house that I went to the girl's night last month. It was quite fun! Lots of the girls dressed up, but it is still a strange holiday to them.

cat, rockstar, cowgirl, crazy dead wife! :)

Then the next day, yesterday- Sunday, I went as an 80's girl to the rotary Halloween party. It was held at a Swedish restaraunt place in Turku. It was so much fun! I hung out with 3 Aussies- they come in January (when Australians schoo lyear starts) and they are leaving this January! So soon! But anwyays at the party we played a few games and just hung out and ate. Nothing like a real good old fashioned American Halloween party, but it was good just to celebrate it as I know they do not celebrate it at ALL in other countries. The girl on the right is a rubiks cube. Finns like dressing in grotesque costumes as opposed to America where girls dress in as little clothes as possible using Halloween as an excuse.
After the party, my host parents picked up Christine and I and we came back to our place where we relaxed and had delicious and filling pizza that was homemade. Peaches and ham :) Christine stayed at my house because she lives about an hour away and it would be a while until she got home. So she went to school with me today then we came home after eating lunch around 10.15 with the younger kids took the dog out, and then honestly passed out. We had a long weekend!
My Finnish comprehension is getting better, I think. I can kind of pick out what coversations are about. I don't even pay attention to the endings, right now, I am just trying to listen for words that I know! Over Syysloma, my friend went to Paris and she sent me a postcard and it was so incredibly sweet of her!! I have something from Paris! Oh, and my host grandparents went to Tunis and they brought us all back a little stuffed animal camel and a keychain :) So international!! :D That is all for now! <3

Everythings as if we never said goodbye

Snow!!!

I had my soccer trainings this week at 8PM at night! On a turf field. It was so good to get out on the field again. It is a good stress relief and somehow centers me and keeps me grounded. Literally and physically. I can't really say much about my weekend. It snowed for the first time, though! Nothing stuck to the ground, unfortunately. It is getting quite chillier, but if the sun is out, it is not too bad. I was talking to my friend Jenna Porter who lives in Helsinki and I met her before I left. At the last foreign exchange conference we had in the U.S.A we roomed together. We have gone through the whole process together and now we are here! But anyways, we were talking about how much we missed theatre. We feel so empty without it. Being on stage is so fulfilling and here it is so time consuming it would be hard to do especially since it is in Turku and I would be going there a lot. But I have, however, joined a choir of about 7 people at my high school. We will sing on a Swedish Saint Lucia holiday and also on a parent's night I believe. This week is also the start of the fall break. From Thursday to next Tuesday we have a fall break. I think I am going to a cottage in Pori but my friend Christine lives really close to there so I will stay one night at her house! Yay! I also think that the exchange students near Turku are putting together a Thanksgiving :) Yummy! The leaves are turning and it is so beautiful! Especially during dusk. When I woke up this morning, I thought it was 2AM and really, it was 6! It was still black outside! Ou nouuu!! Anyways, I am going to eat lunch now and warm myself up!

This weekend

This week was my first week with my new schedule. I have a psychology class and when I walked in, he asked if I knew what a white-tailed deer was and continued by saying that he killed two before going to school that morning. Then I have two other English classes and a sports class and hopefully I will be getting a singing course and possibly a dance course. For the next period, I will take a class for the old dance. We have to learn the dance and then perform it for people. Much different than prom! I am also joining the soccer team and some friends from Helsinki are thinking of starting a foreign exchange theatre group (yay!) I am like a fish without water because I have not been performing. On my weekend, well, Friday, I went to a Mexican and Finnish bar. At the Finnish bar, cleverly named "poro" (reindeer), I met two adults from the United States that worked with Carnival cruise lines. I eavesdropped and heard them say "Turku" like an American and I was like HEY! I am going to talk to them! Very refreshing to hear that. I think it is going to be so strange to come back to the states and understand all the conversations being had because I am so used to not understanding fully what people are saying. I am beginning to understand much more, though. Thank God! I can pick up on words and hopefully in a few weeks, I will be able to piece together what people are talking about. On Saturday, I lounged around did laundry etc. Then around 7 I went to Linda's house, the girl from Rotex who went on exchange to Mexico in 08-09 and there was a little girls night. One of her friends went to France and another to Italy. The girl from Itally Anni, did all of our nails and was such a sweetheart! Then today I went to a basketball game with a team from Turku vs. Helsinki. There were two American players, and the coaches were screaming in English (yay!) Then I went home and did sauna :) I have not been warm in a long time and it definetely helped. Supposedly, this is supposed to be the coldest winter in 1,000 years. Perfect timing, Christina! Anyways, tomorrow I will be going to Turku because my English teacher has a colleague there, and coincidentally, it is my next host sister's school! It is called TSYK. I have realized that my English is getting worse and worse. Uh oh. Tuesday I have training at 8 o'clock. Since we do not have practice after school, we have it very late in the night. AKA: cold! No pictures this time, sorry! Hyää yötä (goodnight)

Every weekend

Emppu, me, Gaby and Maiju on the top floor

sunset on the baltic

I have decided that I will blog post every weekend because it will be much easier for me and gives me something to do on lazy Sundays. So this week/end went by SO quickly! It is already October! This week I had my English exam and finished it rather quickly, as you can imagine...But afterwards it was nice to come home and relax. Then on Wednesday, I went to Turku with exchange students and had coffee and walked around. I cannot express how awesome it is being with them. Then on Thursday, Gaby and I went to Turku and then took the wrong bus to a town outside of Lieto. The bus read "Lieto As." which we mistook for Lieto central...gah! So we went to Aura and I was so happy because when we walked into somewhere to ask when the next bus was coming I said, "Milloin on seurava linea-autoa" which is like When is the next bus? And she understood me and gave us a schedule! Gaby's mom came and got us,, that will never happen again!! Then on Friday I just layed low, went to the skatepark, because yetserday morning I got up around 7 to leave at 7:45 for the Picnic Cruiser! Gaby, her host mom, Hanna (my mom), Maiju, and Enppu went on a HUGE cruiser to the middle of Finland and Sweden then we switched boats and came back to Turku. Everything on the boat was tax-free including alcohol and the adults there were not afraid to show it...There were SO MANY drunk people, it was actually quite frightening...I was sitting there thinking "That could be my mom falling down that ramp". It was like a security blanket was just ripped away because average adults were stumbling drunk.

some islands before sweden-ish area

Finland is too good for other vodkas so they made their own :)

But other than that, the sights were absolutely BEAUTIFUL! There are thousands of islands between them and some of them have never had man step on them before. The islands go from lots of foliage, to rocky, and that is how you know you are getting closer to Sweden. There were quite a few foreign people and quite a few people that acted foreign (who were just drunk). The food was SO DELICIOUS! And it was buffet style. Watching the sea and eating fish- not a good mix. I ate deer and it was disgusting. My mom let me have a glass of wine. And I was hammered. Not really. But the shops were really nice and I got a Svea hat! Everyone my age has a Svea hat and theyre about 19 Euro, but on the boat they were 16 Euro. It is a Swedish company, but Finland wears it...strange because they hate each other. Anyways, the boat had I think 7 floors and a nightclub, sauna, etc. Then when we got home around 8PM i was exhausted. I will add pictures later! God bless! Until next time

turku river at night

i thought this was a cool picture of the cold fog riding my bike to school in the morning

The Weekend

So this weekend went by very quickly! But it will continue until tomorrow (Tuesday) because I have my English exam, then after, I will make a new schedule. Anyways, Friday evening didn't do

much. Maiju and I hung around at the skatepark and then I recieved the package from my parents!! :) It was SOO GOOD to get things from home :) They even smelled like home. All of the candy in Finland is either chocolate or salty liqourice (no joke). So when I got Skittles and Starbust, etc. I was so happy. I even got things that I completely forgot I would need. My parents used plastic bags as filler and that is good because you have to pay for them here! I use them in my garbage can and unless I go shopping, I don't have a bag...Anyways, that was a really nice thing :) Especially the old clothes I left at home because I need warm clothes!

Urho appreciates my old clothes being sent here, too :)

         Then on Saturday, I went to my friend Jennna's for a Finland party! Everyone wore white and blue and we had one helluva good time! :) All of the girls are so warm and friendly and are genuinely interested in you. It is not like small talk in America, it is like, "Hey I want to get to know you!" Haha. But it really was very fun. Usually people bring snacks when they go to parties. Like I brought a can of Pringles (yes they have pringles here), and some other people brought candy or a bag of chips. It is very smart, actually...That way everyone gets to eat anything if they brought something! Thats how it goes for most parties you go to.I met so many new girls and they are all awesome people! Very kind and real people. But going to the party, all fun aside, made me homesick for my friends. Then Alina made everyone in the family cupcakes, which were delicious. She is a sweetheart!
But I think I will go to Turku today to walk around, etc. Until next time! Hyvää pääivä!

The Finnish flag came in handy, thanks mom and dad!! Just in time :)

My "C" cupcake :)

Moi!

Sorry I have not been writing much, lately. But this week is test week so I will not be doing very much except on Tuesday I have the English exam and have to write an essay then eat lunch and make my schedule for next period.
 I had my little sister's 11th birthday party yesterday. They had an "Amazing Race" and went in pairs to various parts of town and in the field behind the house to complete tasks and get clues to the next station. At mine and Gaby's station (in the forest behind the house) they had to translate three sentences from Finnish to English. "I am Finnish", "I am 11 years old", "I have a green monkey". It is hard for Finns to remember "I am", "I have", etc. because they put those words at the end. I.E. Tallossa (in the house). Or minulla (I have). But it was very fun. I gave them a bag of Jelly Bellies and Gaby gave them some Mexican candy and it was so cute! They loved them. Finnish people have chocolate and salty candy. So it was quite a change for them! Today I went for a run around town. Going on bikes, runs, and walks helps me to learn where things are and different routes, because, like my dad, I never like to take the same route everyday. Like to spice it up! Hence, why I am in Finland ;)
I got a package from my parents today! It was so awesome to recieve. Since it was so big- it weighed 14 kilos (roughly 20ish pounds). They had to send it through Helsinki customs and then to Turku customs, which was a blessing because Helsinki is about an hour and a half away. Turku-15 minutes. At the post office customs place they had to send it to because they did not know what the candy was. And if it was medicine, it costs around £400 just to have customs look through it! Fortunately, since I am a student I didn't have to pay for the things in my package! YAY! It can cost up to 50 euros- I don't understand- If someone pays to ship it here, why do you pay to recieve it? Just my opinion.
Anyways, inside my box was American candy, clothes, and random things of the sort that are too expensive to buy in Europe- ex. Makeup! Mascara costs 10 Euros! Ah! But I got Pop Rocks, Dots, Sour Patch Kids, Tootsie Rolls, etc. Lots of American things! It was so good to recieve things from home, but it was also very strange. It was like new things, but they aren't new. I don't know! Just lots of mixed emotions, but definetely made me very happy. I had been looking forward to it forever!!! I am trying to get Urho (the dog) used to being in my bedroom because when Fanni is here, he likes to sit and watch out the window, so I let him in my room and he decided to thank me by peeing on my sheets! Haha, your welcome, Urho.
 I have a chalkboard in my room and I put different Finnish things on there to help learn the words. I am beginning to slowly understand Finnish language concepts and different words. For example, last week I drew a stick figure and marked all the body parts. This week I put up opposites (Big, small; Fat, thin; Up, down) Things of that nature.
After this weekend I will put up pictures from the party! I am also going to a Finnish party tomorrow at my friend Jenna's (pronounced Yennnnna) and we have to wear blue and white. I am going to bring my Finnish flag that my parents sent me! Just in time! Thanks mom and dad! :) Much love and God bless! <3

Wow!

So much has happened since my last blog post. I try to keep it updated but it is getting more and more difficult. So let's see, where to begin. I will just go from Friday. So Friday night we had a girl's night at a friend's grandfather's home who passed away. It was lots of fun! It was a nice house, too. Everyone brought different food and I brought my Jelly Bellies to share :) I stayed there until about 12 and Maiju's dad came and got us. Even though they all speak in Finnish, it is fun to be surrounded by girls my age and it's funny because I understand the swear words (normally a good 99% of a Finnish sentence) and I laugh when they swear, then they laugh because they know what I am laughing about! Haha!  But I really do appreciate when people even try to speak English because I know how intimidating it can be trying to speak Spanish to a Mexican. Usually, I can understand their English, although it's broken. Sitting in English class and listening to my friends talk makes me realize how lucky I am to already know English because it seems so hard to learn when not in the U.S.!







girls night!

Saturday during the day I went to a beach in Ruissalo with all of the kids in my exchange distrct 1410. Which, of course, is garaunteed to be a good time. It was kind of rainy to begin with, but then it started clearing up. So much for doing my hair, though! The fall in Finland is similar to the spring in Illinois. Rainy, cold, and wet. Although some days, it is beautiful. Anyways, when we got there we went to a pavillion where two drunk Finns screamed at us in Finnish basically threatening to kill us because we were being too loud. So after that little encounter, we found a place by the beach and  grilled some makkara (sausage) and played games as well as enjoyed the beauty of the Baltic Sea. Being with my Finnish friends is fun, but being with my exchange friends we instantly have a connection and can all talk about our experiences. Especially those of us from the states. At Ruissalo, many of my friends were telling me about the problems they were having with their family. I cannot imagine having major problems because you have to live with them for the next 2 months! Most of my friends said that they go to their house to eat, sleep, and shower and the rest of the time, are not home.

Not all of us, but some rebounds and inbounds from 1410!

After the beach, my friend Christine, from Canada, went to Turku to hang around. Some other exchange students were there including a kid from Colorado, Alec, and we went back to his place, which is about 15 minutes from Turku, and went fishing until about 10:30 then we went home around 11:40 that night. It was not too chilly, but the nightlife in Turku is quite different from the daytime. On Sunday, Christine and I just hung around my house and talked about how different everything is and about all the aspects of Finland vs. America ja Kanada.



Christine and I in Ruissalo

I am beginning to learn more Finnish as time goes on. Listening to music has helped as well as my Finnish lessons. There are only 6 of us in the class so it is very personal and I have realized that I learn by repetition. I have not learned yet how to form verbs, but hopefully I will soon because that is the key component to a sentence. Some of my friends are doing fundraising for trips and they sell all of the above: socks, detergents, candies, and toilet paper ja paper towels. Haha! How fitting for a economically fit country. This Thursday I will go to Turku with Enppu (my next host sister) and Maiju for an ice hockey game!! Yay!!! It costs about 20 Euro. Then on Friday, Enppu will be having a party. Other than that, who knows what I will be doing! Until next time :)



i want cheez its!

Yummy!

Grandmas table :)

There is not really any good junk food here, it is all healthy! I just want some greasy Taco Bell or Doritos...mmm...Doritos...Anyways the days go by very quickly here which will make up for when they go very slow in the winter :( Anyways, have not really been up to much. I met up with an exchange student who went to Mexico 2 years ago with Gaby and we shopped around and had some cafe treats! The weather has slowly been heating up, but I know it will go back down again...just waiting now...anyways, every Wednesday I go to my grandparents house for dinner and it is absolutely delicious! I end school at 2:30 on those days, but the inbound students also go and get coffee in Turku so maybe I will have to switch off! Today we had an italian thing with bacon and noodles and then we had bread with berries and vanilla ice cream. Yummy! And of course, rye bread with butter. At school, they have rye crackers, and oddly enough, they slather them with butter and I am completely okay with that! The school lunches are good compared to the lunches in America, well at least at Lakes...I miss the classes at Lakes, or moreso, how the classes were taught. Here it is strictly for exams and is directly from the books...which I understand now why they have the most prestigous schools in the world...and we sit around and play games. But seriously, I am so used to being loud and running around at school and despite how much I hated Lakes, I truly miss it now when I see how other schools are. I will have one exam during our exam week. And guess which one! Yes an English one. But other than that, I will be free for those 7 days while everyone has tests! And then we all switch classes. Gotta go do laundry and have evening snack!

Pictures for 9.2.10-9.3.10

the boats that they used. the seats go back and forth so it is easier to row.

the HUGE ferries going to sweden. (notice the helsinki boat!)

my host mom, hanna and I waiting for my dad to get back from rowing!

My ate's pizza! €7.50 for the whole thing that could feed a family.

the school decorated! main floor

This is the vending machine they decorate. "You will not eat today...lol"

Rock of love! My friends Veera and Roosa, they are third years.

I felt it necessary to make another post just for pictures. This is just SOME of them.

My family waiting for Esko to arrive!

Another week goes by

Time flies when you are on exchange really. I feel like just yesterday was my first day of school! So on Friday the 3rd years (last years) had 100 mornings left day. They dressed up as Rock of Love (on VH1, yet another American channel) characters. Basically they dressed like punk rock people. Then during the 15 minute breaks they had "Shows" in the auditorium where girls competed and danced for "Brett" the main character in the show. It was a very American thing. At Lakes, we always dressed up on different days, which I miss! But it looked like they all had a lot of fun. The school was decorated, as well. Then after school, Maiju and I went to Ates- a kebab and pizzeria place. I had a pizza with tuna, green peppers, and pepperoni...delicious!! Today I woke up at 8 to go to Helsinki at 9. It is so funny because I will go to sleep talking to some people on Facebook, wake up, and they are still on Facebook except I slept within the time that they were awake so strange. Anyways, we went to Helsinki for my dad's rowing competition. The boats were pretty good sized and there were about 14 men in each boat. They went down a river, rowed around an island, and came back within about 45 minutes or less. While my dad rowed we walked around. I saw a Pizza Hut! And the President's house, well, one of them. There was also an art museum where Van Gogh's paintings were being exhibited. There are HUGEE ferries there that transport people to Sweden as well. When we go to Stockholm, we will take one of those. Anyways, it was quite windy, but unlike Lake Michigan, the Baltic stays warm for a while and warms up the city, rather than cools it down. It was very fun, though! We ate at a Mexican restaraunt yayyy! I had a quesadilla. Pretty similar to America's. Tomorrow I am definetely going to relax and sleep in, if Urho (the dog) lets me! Hyää yötä! (Good night)

Football games!

One of the football fields. Two were gravel, 4 were turf and 1 was grass.

Today I went to a school in Ruissalo to play 3 football games. We biked to school and rode a bus there (30 minute drive) at aout 830 this morning and got back aout 230.  I had a couple of shots on goal, but I am really starting to feel sore now, after not having played for so long, it really caught up to me....but the games were so much fun. 25 minutes each with no replacements during the game. I miss playing so much. After stopping my sophomore year in high school, I wish I could have done theatre and soccer, but our schools make it basically impossible since EVERY practice is after school. The first game was 0-0. The second game the other team had a no show. And the third game...we lost..and I lost count by how many. It also started to rain pretty hard so we took shelter under some big fur trees. Luckily none of my things got too wet! Where did I find football equipment, you ask? Well I borrowed my host brother's shoes and socks, and a friend on the team lent me shinguards and pants and shorts! How sweet, right? After my football games, I went to my host grandparents apartment in Lieto for a dinner they have every Wednesday night. Meatballs, mashed potatoes, and a sort of apple cream pie! Delicious!! I have a head cold right now and get bad sinus headaches at night. But hopefully it will pass. I have found it very difficult to communicate with people back at home due to the time change and with all of my friends at college, classes seem to be more important than talking to me! :( Hmph! But it is okay because it is good for me. I can't say that I have hit a climax of true homesickness yet, but more so missing people. I.E. parents, boyfriend, dog...especially dog...she is always happy when I come home! :) I will be going to Helsinki (the capital) on Saturday for my host dad's rowing competition and my mom and I will walk around Helsinki to view some historical things and hopefully some shopping! Gotta get some sleep! Being an exchange student is tiring.

Jeje! My friend Jasmin and I waiting...before it started pouring (notice the dry ground)