So I have been informed that it has been quite some time since I have last written in my blog and now I realize how much I have done in between that time and how much I want to write down every detail, but I have a pounding headache and a gurgly stomach that is being magnetically attracted to my bed.
So I will make this short and sweet.
I have moved into a new family. There is two floors. My host parents run an ambulance company with our neighbors (who happen to be family as well). So they work quite often, but it is sort of interesting to watch. I have a 17 year old host sister who goes to school in Turku (Enppu), whom I have mentioned before on here- memory check for you old farts! And a 30 year old sister who lives close with her fiance. Christmas was wonderful. And I was shocked to find that this host family has gotten me a new camera!! I was like, "What?! I don't deserve this!!" And they said they found out that my camera was waterlogged after riding my bike in the rain. So kind! Here are some other things I got; Kalevala Jewlery (traditional Finnish Jewelry-very fine), Guess bracelet, Finnish glassware, spectacular earrings, and LOTS of chocolate, which I have already eaten...they had a lot of traditional Finnish Christmas casseroles which I enjoyed, but many said they don't like. On Christmas night, we went to a memorial and put a candle for my host parent's deceased parents. It was quite beautiful, a graveyard with numbers of candles in the snow.
Tuesday, my Aussie friend Jenny decided to visit. Well, a big reason for that (next to me) was because a friend on exchange (Tom) who left this past July was coming back for a visit. So Jenny arrived in January and leaves tomorrow and Tom left in July. So they know each other. Ya feel me? Also another friend, Jon, from New Zealand, who is also leaving in January came to see Tom. So we went out for those 2 nights she was here and it was quite memorable (from what I remember).
Then on New Year's, I went to my friend Lotta's grandmother's place for a little get-together and around 12ish we hopped on a bus to Turku and stood on the bridge and watched fireworks. Then we mozied over to the center and shot our own fireworks (very illegal) but the police had other drunken people to take care of.
I am now back at school and we are cracking down on learning the 12 dances for Vanhat Tanssi (Old Dance). I have now learned the tango and the waltz, although my waltz is absolutely awful. While Finns get taught the waltz in elementary school, we are getting taught the chicken dance...talk about a culture difference? I have yet to find a dress because the dresses they wear for Vanhat Tanssi can be compared to a Quincinera dress...since this is their "special" dance (unlike the proms we have) they dress up SUPER nice- white gloves and all. So we'll see how that plays out! This past weekend I went to my friend Georgia's going away party. We began at her house then went to the city later on. Then the next day I hopped on a train to Salo (after many complications which I don't want to talk about) for my Aussie friend Madlen's going away party. It was quite the eventful weekend to end my three-week Christmas vacation!
Now I am getting e-mails about my return date...but I just got here!!!! The 8th was my 5 month anniversary...
Whew! Okay I think I am good until Easter now ;D
If you have any questions about whatever, I would love to answer them! E-mail me @
cguess6@gmail.com :)
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a small christmas party at lotta's about a week before xmas
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| Georgia's going away party |
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| Us singing karaoke at Madlen's going away party (Me, Georgia, Madlen) |
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| when Tom and Jenny came to visit :) |
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Us in the center on New Year's Eve :)
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