Westward Ho!

With two finals left and two days to go, the semester is wrapping up quickly.  Overall, I had a good set of classes—learning about Finnish schools, their philosophy of education and how to teach mathematics.  Additionally, I appreciated having the opportunity to familiarize myself with the wonderful world of the Finnish language.  Minä rakastan Suomi.  I love Finland.

In these last days of the semester, not only am I keeping busy with studies, but I am also finalizing my winter break travel plans.  This weekend, I depart by train to Helsinki where I will meet up with my friend, Anna.  She and I worked together at Breakthrough Saint Paul, and we've both been studying in Finland this semester.  From Helsinki, I will fly to Iceland to explore the fantastic geology of this tiny island while turning 23 (yup, a birthday in Iceland).  Then, on Christmas Eve's Eve, my family and I plan to rendezvous in London.  I am so excited to see them.  While Skype has been a nice way to keep in touch, it will be extremely nice to actually be with them—eat meals together, laugh together, and be the Marshalls together.  While staying in a quaint cottage in the countryside of Tenbury Wells, we plan to take day trips to see castles and other historic attractions.  Rumor has it that there may also be reenactments of Dicken's A Christmas Carol.  Stay tuned.

Thanks to Skype's new group call feature,
my whole family can stay connected from around
the globe.  Mom, Dad and Emily in Minnesota.
James in Washington.  And me in Finland.

From London, goodbyes will ensue as my family heads back to the States and I go up to Scotland.  As my great grandmother came from Scotland, this part of the trip will be something like a pilgrimage to the motherland.  After trying out a kilt and perhaps playing a few notes on bagpipe, I will return "home" to Joensuu just in time for the next semester to begin.

I anticipate that computer access may be limited in the coming weeks, so blog posts will likely be scarce.  Rest assured that updates will surely come in January.  So, for now, Hyvää  Joulua ja Hyvää Uutta Vuotta!  Merry Christmas and may God bless your New Year!

Treats with a Twist

On Friday afternoon, I found myself wandering through the aisles of the local grocery store.  In search of possible breakfast foods, I came across a box of Rice Krispies.  Feeling mildly elated that I had found a familiar food product in this foreign land, I quickly began looking for the next logical thing—marshmallows.  Who can sell Rice Krispies without also having marshmallows?  The two are like peanut butter and jelly.  Like snowmen and carrots.

With the exception of the dog food aisle, I spent the next fifteen minutes systematically scouring the shelves of each aisle.  No marshmallows with the raisins.  No marshmallows with the gummy bears.  No marshmallows with the broccoli.  Feeling defeated, I returned the box of Rice Krispies to the shelf and cycled home. 

However, the story does not end here.  Still thinking I may have missed something (because, again, who can have Rice Krispies and no marshmallows) I sent an urgent query to my Finnish friend: does Finland have marshmallows?  She quickly replied with an affirmative answer, informing me that I should find them in the candy aisle.  In her response, she also sent along a picture of what I should look for.  For this, I am thankful.  Folks, Finnish marshmallows look quite a bit different from American marshmallows.  Colored with pastel pinks, yellows and oranges, these fluffy delights come in all sorts of different twisted shapes.  Of course!  Why have plain white puff balls when you can make multicolored works of art?

So again, I mounted Alpina (my bike) and we went off to the market.  This time, my trip was a success. Rice Krispies and marshmallows bounced around in Alpina's basket as we returned home.  An hour later, a plate of Rice Krispy treats sat on the counter.  Though not a common Finnish (or European) treat, they still provided for an interesting adventure this past Friday afternoon.

Festive Shades of Lime Green

At first glance, you might suspect that I forgot to
check the white balance settings on my camera when
photographing the tree.  Unfortunately, this is not the
case.  These are the true colors.  Yup, lime green.

With Christmas nearing, the need for a tree was starting to grow.  So, last weekend, I went out into the forest and cut down a Christmas tree.  While such efforts typically require a saw and some twine, this year these items were not needed.  My tree stands about 50cm tall and has a trunk the diameter of your pinky finger.  However, despite its small stature, it abounds in its Christmas cheer.  As tradition holds, after cutting it down...or rather, after snapping it off from a much larger tree, I hauled it back to my flat where I enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate while thinking about how best to display it.

With O Little Town of Bethlehem playing quietly in the background and pine scents wafting through the room, I began with the decorations.  The first to go on were the lights.  Recently, the shops had sales on Christmas lights, so I had picked up a strand earlier in the week.  Now you must understand that every strand of lights displayed in the shop were white.  So, upon arriving home, I was surprised to find that my lights glowed lime green when plugged in.  (I must have missed this small detail somewhere on the Finnish packaging.)  Trying to get over the fact that my lights looked like a chemistry experiment gone awry, I proceeded to gently tie them to my tree.

Next came the ornaments.  This year, all ornaments are homemade—origami cranes, two dimensional candy canes, a small nativity scene, a green and red paper chain, and a star made of the finest yellow paper I could find.  In addition to these more traditional items, I also made the second annual Christmas Dinosaur.  This year's design is a t-rex suspended from the tree's limbs with a thin red ribbon.  The dinosaur is made of dull orange paper with brown eyes.  It has two small arms and one large tail.

Last year's Christmas Dinos—a sauropod and t-rex
(along with a few other ornaments my family made)

This year's Christmas Dinosaur—an origami t-rex

After several hours of stringing lights, making ornaments and guzzling hot cocoa, my tree was complete.  With its delicate branches and obnoxious green lights, it sits on the bookshelf to the left of my desk.  It sits there reminding me of the fast approaching holiday.  Reminding me that I will get to see my family in less than two weeks.  

No Longer Russia's

December 6, 1917 marks Finland's independence from Russia.  In observance of this day, all of the shops close down and families gather around the country.  Compared to the festivities surrounding America's Fourth of July, I found the celebrations in Finland to be more subdued.  Rather than lighting up the sky with fireworks, the Finns light up their window sills with two blue and white candles.  And instead of having large parades with crowds of spectators, Joensuu had a smaller parade with the only spectators being those who happened to glance out their window as it passed by.  However, despite the differences in tradition, I still enjoyed the holiday quite a bit.

Maria prepared two Independence
Day candles for our window.

In the morning, Maria (my Finnish flatmate) prepared two candles for our window.  Then, in the afternoon, Tiina (my Finnish friend) and I joined the Joensuu parade.  Our parade was escorted by two police cars as we walked from the university to the cemetery.  Once we arrived at the war memorial, several individuals gave speeches about Finnish history and heroes.

I got to be a part of this parade.  As the
snow came down, two police cars escorted us
from the university to the town's cemetery.

After warming up with a cup of glögi (a common Finnish Christmas drink), Tiina and I went over to her sister's place.  While there, we watched the President's Independence Day Reception.  This reception is an annual event aired on national TV in which the president invites around 2000 guests to the presidential palace.  For the first hour or two, the president and her husband shake the hand of each person who attends.  After, the guests enjoy dinner and dancing.

While at Tiina's sister's home, we watched the President's
Independence Day Reception.  The first hour or two, the
president (left) shakes the hand of each guest who attends.
Photo © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland.

In the Silence of my Helmet

When biking home after school, I typically like to do one of two things: think about the day's events or practice rolling my r's.  When it comes to thinking, I find that the long rides home in the silence of my winter hat and helmet provide excellent times for me to reflect on the experiences I have had in Finland.  And practicing rolling my r's...well, this is my attempt to improve my pronunciation of the Finnish language. 

Anyways, regarding thinking, lately I have noticed that each of my days in Finland has brought a host of new experiences for me to reflect on.  No day has been quite like the other, and each has its own peculiarities.  To give you some insight into these peculiarities, below are highlights from each day this past week.

Monday: Monday was my first day back at classes since returning from Lapland.  The day started off with one of my favorite classes—geometric thinking.  The course is taught by a man who could have retired several years ago, but has chosen not to because of his love for the job.  In the course, he teaches us how to teach.  Connecting theory with practice, he constantly is showing us by example how we can work with students so they understand math rather than temporarily memorize facts.  I have also enjoyed the course because if has allowed me to practice my Finnish in a manageable context.  While the course is taught in English, the workbook is in Finnish.  Therefore, I've been getting quite a bit of practice with translating.

Tuesday: In Finland, December ushers in Christmas celebrations like I have never experienced before.  Indeed even the name December, Joulukuu, is derived from the holiday's name, Joulu.  On Tuesday, as I wandered through the university hallways, Christmas decorations were busting out all over the place.  Christmas trees were set up in hallways throughout all campus buildings.  Christmas lights laced hand railings.  And live poinsettias were found at every cafeteria table.

Wednesday: Wednesday was by far the coldest day I have yet experienced in Finland.  With temperatures dipping below -26C and wind chills pulling temperatures even lower, the bike ride to school left me thinking I might need to wear a few more layers of trousers come January.  However, these temperatures were not the only thing that made Wednesday special.  It was on this day that I had the opportunity to visit a local English immersion school, Kanervala Koulu.  Teachers warned me that it is likely students will ask me if I have been to Hollywood.  While I did not end up getting this question, one boy in a bright blue sweater with even bluer eyes asked, "Have you ever been to Fargo?"

Thursday: On my way home from school on Thursday, I came across a beautiful scene.  A small boy bundled in a dull blue snowsuit sat in a bright red sled holding a large plastic sauropod and a loaf of bread.  As his dad pulled him down the sidewalk, the boy ran his mittens through the snow while the two had a quiet conversation.  It was beautiful.  The two were returning home from a trip to the market.  Both were content.  Both were enjoying each other's company—sharing warmth in the subzero temperatures.  And there was a large plastic sauropod.

Friday: After such an incredible week, I wasn't sure how Friday could top the previous days.  However, when riding my bike home, I again found myself reflecting on the cool experiences I have had in Finland.  Friday started with an Independence Day party at the local school.  December 6 marks Independence Day in Finland.  To celebrate, students from grades 1-9 gathered in the gym for an elaborate performance put on by various students.  Fourth graders played a song.  Seventh graders performed a dance.  Ninth graders recited poetry.  And teachers played accordion.  It was an impressive display of the musical talent of the school.  However, this celebration was not the only cultural experience for the day.  In the evening, one of my professors invited the class over to her home for a pulla-baking Christmas party.  Sporting small red elf hats and kitchen aprons, about 15 of us worked busily in the kitchen creating pulla of all different shapes and sizes.  Afterwards, we gathered in the living room where several students played Christmas tunes on guitar and violin.  It was a lovely end to a lovely week. 

Where the Sky Dances

Early yesterday morning, I returned from the land of frozen toes, red cheeks and frost-laced hair.  I don't think I have ever witnessed a more beautiful winter wonderland than the snowscapes of Lapland.  In what follows, I will give you a brief rundown of the adventures I had.  However, for a more complete set of photographs, you can visit this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeninnz/WayUpNorth.

Day One: We departed from Joensuu late Sunday evening and drove through the night.  By morning, we arrived in Rovaniemi.  While this city is the capitol of Lapland, it was not our final destination.  After a quick stop at the grocery store, we headed north to Santa's Village and the Arctic Circle.  I can't say I fully enjoyed Santa's Village as it appears to be the capitol of tourism, but the cheery atmosphere created by the folks dressed as elves was nice.  Another perk to Santa's Village was the fact that it is located on the Arctic Circle.  I can now say that I have gone north of the Arctic Circle twice in my life (the first time being on the opposite side of the globe in Alaska).  Having sent a postcard from Santa's official post office, we proceeded several hours north to our home for the week, Saariselkä.  In this small village, we stayed in cozy log cabins surrounded by tall pines layered in snow.  Before settling in for the night, Sabine (my German friend) and I ventured out to make a snowman.  With long pine needle eyelashes and an oversized torso, this snowman was like none other.

Postcard from Santa's Village.

Our snowman.

Day Two: The second day began with a cross country skiing trek around the rolling hills of the surrounding forest.  While the sun rose around 8am, the blazing ball of light only managed to crawl slightly above the horizon by noon.  While at first I found this behavior somewhat confusing, I quickly came to appreciate it as the daylight hours always appeared to be either a sunrise or sunset.  After managing to tame my cross country skis, our group stopped for warm pea soup and fresh bread in a small Lappish hut.  Snow shoeing ensued after lunch.  With the large webs secured on our boots, we wandered back to our cabins through a frozen river valley which contained only the footprints of the resident wildlife.  When evening came around 3pm, our cabin waited anxiously to see if the Northern Lights would grace us with their presence.  Sure enough, around 8pm the sky danced.  It was beautiful.

Snow shoeing through a frozen river valley.

The green hues danced above our cabin.

Day Three: On the third day, we got out of town, driving north through Norway to the Arctic Ocean.  Upon crossing the Finnish-Norwegian border, the landscape changed dramatically.  I think the best way to describe such landscapes is barren simplicity.  The trees turned into shrubs which quickly turned into nothing.  The log cabins turned into modest wooden cottages painted in bright, bold colors.  As an interesting side-note, we learned that the first thing Norwegians do when they visit their cottages is put up a Norwegian flag in the front lawn.  This way, the neighbors know they can stop by for a cup of tea.  It also illustrates the incredibly low crime rates of this wealthy nation.  After driving around the Arctic coast, we eventually stopped in the small village of Bygoenes.  Here, I had the opportunity to take a short dip in the Arctic Ocean.  Besides being a tad nippy, the water was also surprisingly salty.  We returned to Saariselkä that evening. 

The small village of Bygoenes.

"Swimming" in the Arctic Ocean.

Day Four: By day four, I had mastered layering up before heading outside.  Two layers of long underwear.  A long sleeved shirt.  A short sleeved shirt.  Two sweaters.  Two layers of socks.  A jacket.  And some snow pants.  Such fashion was necessary in order to stay warm in the -26˚C temperatures.  Such fashion was also necessary for today's adventures.  Since learning about the Iditarod race in seventh grade, I have wanted to go dog sledding.  Well, today was the day that I got to try.  With a team of six huskies, I got to both drive the sled and be a passenger.  It was amazing.  After dog sledding, our group headed over to a nearby reindeer farm.  Did you know that reindeer can run faster than horses?!  This speed is part of the reason that Finns have reindeer races in which they secure themselves behind reindeer on cross country skis (kind of similar to waterskiing).  Not only did we learn about reindeer at the farm, but we also got to hear a bit about the Sami culture which originated (and still thrives) in northern Scandinavia. 

The dogs were excited to meet the people.

Day Five: On the last morning, some girls in our cabin decided to go sledding one last time.  Near to our cabin was a small mountain that provides 360˚ views of the surrounding area.  However, even more impressive is the mountain's one and a half kilometer sledding hill which takes you straight through a fairytale-like wonderland.  Definitely the best sledding hill I have ever been on.  Upon arriving back at the cabin, it was time to pack up and head back to Joensuu.  All in all, it was an incredible week filled with incredible adventures.

Making our way up the sledding hill.

The Whole Town

Last weekend, the young and old of Joensuu bundled up and headed out into the frigid temperatures to enjoy an evening of holiday festivities.  At this annual Christmas gathering, the typically vacant town square came alive.  Christmas lights were lit.  Children sang Christmas tunes.  And Joulupukki (Santa Claus) made an appearance.  The grand finale included a spectacular display of red, white and green fireworks.  As November comes to a close, I found this gathering to be a lovely start to the Christmas season.  The whole town enjoying each other's company.  The whole town sharing in the celebrations.  The whole town.

Dressed in penguin and Santa costumes, the
local children's choir sang many popular Christmas
tunes.  While most songs were in Finnish, I was
still familiar with nearly all of the melodies.

The whole town came out to join in the festivities. 
The Finns sure do know how to dress warm.

Joulupukki and his wife greeted the town.
Yes, that's a giant dancing snowman on the left.

Maria (my Finnish flatmate) and Tiina (my Finnish
friend) enjoy the fireworks.  Please note that this photo
was taken at 6pm.  The sun had set about three hours
prior, so it was plenty dark to see the fireworks. J

Warming Up

As the sun finds its way to the horizon earlier and earlier, the accumulation of snow grows higher and higher.  This past week, we received a hodgepodge of weather, getting everything from rain to snow, sun and clouds, and even a sprinkle of ice pellets.  Needless to say, by the end of the week, Jana and I decided that the blanket of snow that resides outside our window needed to be played in.  The result of our efforts was a stout little snowman with leafy hair and a carrot nose.

You might consider this snowman to be a warm-up for what is to come next week.  Jana and I will be going on a student trip up to Lapland (northern Finland).  While we are there, there should be opportunity to view the Northern Lights, swim in the Arctic Ocean, try out some dog sledding, and perhaps even build a snowman or two.  Pictures and stories are sure to come next weekend.   

Hyvää Isänpäivää ja Pulla

This morning, a simple Google search resulted in two special surprises.  First, upon visiting the Google homepage, I found the logo had undergone a facelift.  Curious about why such a change had occurred, I scrolled my mouse over the logo to reveal the message "hyvää isänpäivää."   Having now attended two and a half months of Finnish lessons, I can happily report to you that I could translate this as "Happy Father's Day" without the aid of my pocket dictionary.  So, surprise number one... it is Father's Day in Finland!  Not only was Google celebrating the fathers of Finland, but all the shops were closed and we enjoyed "isänpäivää kakku" (Father's Day cake) at church this morning.

After enjoying the small surprise that Google provided, I refocused and continued with the purpose of my search: how to make pulla.  Seasoned with cardamom and topped with special Finnish sugar, pulla is a Finnish sweet roll that can be found at nearly every coffee shop in town.  Having enjoyed these pastries at the local shops, it was now time for me to make it on my own.  After several hours of whisking, kneading, waiting, shaping, and waiting some more, the pulla came out of the oven.  Surprise number two... a cold glass of milk with a warm pulla roll makes for a lovely snack on a snowy November afternoon.  Thanks Google.

Third Time's a Charm

As the title suggests, I have finally had success in my rice porridge making endeavors.  Rice porridge is a common Finnish dish, often appearing on the table around Christmas time.  Most commonly served with cinnamon or lingonberry sauce, this hearty dish takes anywhere from 40 to 60 minutes to prepare (regardless of the 12 to 15 minutes that my rice porridge box suggests).

Now, getting back to my rice porridge making adventure...  Having mastered oatmeal porridge when I was in New Zealand, I thought rice porridge should be no trouble.  How hard can it be to mix three ingredients together?  A little rice, a sprinkle of salt and some water.  This is where I went wrong the first time.  Milk, not water.  My first attempt at rice porridge resulted in a soggy mess which resembled the moors so nicely described in Sherlock Holmes' novels.

Ok, so the first attempt was a bit of a setback, but a few weeks later, it was time to remount that horse.  A little rice, a sprinkle of salt and some milk.  Boil on high for 12 to 15 minutes (as the box suggests...but remember all directions are in Finnish).  About 10 minutes into this adventure, my Finnish flatmate wandered into the kitchen to peer into my pot which was boiling away.  What are you making, she gently asked.  Confidently, I informed her that this was the makings of a rice porridge culinary masterpiece.  Hmmm....maybe you need to turn the heat down a little, she gently remarked.  Attempt two at rice porridge resulted in a sticky mess that resembled small children's fingers after encountering PlayDoh. 

The first two attempts were not in vain.  Valuable lessons were learned.  Use milk, not water.  Boil slowly and don't bother setting a timer.  Again, a few weeks passed until it was time for attempt three.  A little rice, a sprinkle of salt, and some milk.  Simmer on the lowest heat setting until a velvety porridge is produced.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and douse with a good helping of milk.  Success.  Hyvää ruokahalua.  (Enjoy your meal.)

Lessons from School

This past week, I had the opportunity to observe a number of classes at the primary school.  Here are a few highlights and reflections from my time with the Finnish youth.

• 'Ah ha' moments are universal.  A third grade class was learning about water during a science lesson.  The teacher asked the students to figure out if the shape of an object affects its ability to float.  Students were given pieces of PlayDoh to test their theories.  The look on one boy's face when he shaped his ball into a boat was priceless.  No translations were necessary.
• Fifteen minute breaks are a good thing.  All primary school lessons run for 45 minutes and are followed by 15 minute breaks.  During these breaks, children must go outside (unless it is pouring rain).  Such breaks are great because they basically eliminate all behavior issues during lessons.  Also, they provide an excellent time for one-on-one teaching if a student does not understand any part of the lesson. 
• As I wandered around one class during work time, I was stunned to see all the little third graders practicing order of operations.  Third grade?!  Only two months into the school year?!  Order of operations?!  I am fairly sure I did not learn this concept until at least fifth grade as part of the accelerated math curriculum.  Later, I asked the teacher when students learn their multiplication tables.  She casually replied, "first grade."  I did not even learn subtraction until second grade!  Yikes.
• In addition to the math and science classes, I also attended a few English classes.  In this particular lesson, students were learning to say what types of pets they have.  "I have a dog."  "I have a cat."  "I have a hamster."  And then the teacher introduced the word "budgie" while showing a picture of a parakeet.  I'm glad I can learn new vocabulary in third grade English.

Crêpes, Castles, and Cow Bells

I returned from my travels around Europe about a week ago.  Driving over 2000 kilometers in five days, Dad and I traveled from Paris through the French countryside into Switzerland down to Italy and back up to Germany just in time for me to catch a plane and Dad to attend his business meeting.  While it may sound like a whirlwind of a trip, the pace felt quite relaxed as we meandered from place to place. 

This past weekend, I spent some time organizing photos from my Russian and European adventures.  Nearly 3000 pictures later, I decided it was best to put an assortment up on my Picasa site rather than squeeze them into a blog entry.  If you are interested, you can go to this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeninnz. 

All in all, it was a great trip.  The Eiffel Tower was impressive.  The castles were incredible.  And the French villages couldn't be more storybook-like.  But, I think one of my favorite parts of the trip was the Swiss cows.  All the cows wear bells.  So, as you drive through the Alps, there is a soundtrack resembling windchimes.  Here's a video so you can get a taste of it:

I have to admit, while I absolutely LOVED my time away, it was also nice to return to Joensuu.  Alpina was waiting for me just where I left her.  The ground was lightly sprinkled with snow.  And the familiarity of the unfamiliar Finnish language almost made me feel at home. 

Visiting the Neighbors



Hello friends.  Sorry about the lack of posts recently.  I spent the last weekend in awe of the extravagant lifestyle of the Russian tsars and other high officials.  Ballrooms with golden pillars.  Rooms "wallpapered" with amber.  Palaces displaying Michelangelo and da Vinci's art.  In the coming weeks, I will post more pictures from my adventures in St. Petersburg; however, now I am packing for another long weekend in western Europe with Dad!  To say I can't wait to see him is a huge understatement.  

In the Land of Salmiakki and Reallylongwords

In addition to eating salmiakki and creating reallylongwords, you can add education to the list of things that the Finns do well.  Recently, NBC Nightly News ran a special that compared American and Finnish schools.  I have included the story below because it does a nice job summarizing the main reason for why I am in Finland.  As an aspiring teacher, I really appreciate having this opportunity to learn from the best.  At some point, I will begin to post more blog entries about the differences I have noticed from my own experiences in Finnish schools.  However, I have not brought my camera to school yet, so these posts will need to wait.  Please stay tuned.
 

That White Fluffy Stuff

This morning, I woke up to the first snow fall!  Yup, October 12 and it is snowing in Joensuu.  While I might not be saying this in a few months, it was invigorating to feel the small flakes hit my cheeks as I rode Alpina (my bicycle) to school.  It snowed for most of the morning, tapering off in the afternoon.  By evening, all the white fluffy stuff had melted and only the cold temperatures serve as a reminder of today's snowfall.

These are some of the few red leaves in Joensuu. 
Yellow is a more popular autumn color around here.

Kalamarkkinoilla. At the Fish Market.

The smell of fried fish and sausages wafts through the air as an accordion player adds flavor to the quiet murmur of the crowd.  Cool winds move down the sidewalk reminding folks that winter is nearing.  Scattered about the river bank, tents offer an assortment of goods.  From cloud berry jam to cinnamon pulla, the flavors are beautiful and the sights delicious.  It is a Sunday afternoon at the fish market.  Marcella (my friend from Hong Kong) and I have come to soak up the experience.  

As we wander down the row of booths, it is clear that we have found the fish market.  Fried fish.  Canned fish.  Fire-roasted fish.  Indeed, it is a fishy occasion.

Large black cookers fry small silver fish

However, not all booths are so keen on fish.  Below you can see one vender in his alpaca sweater selling flowers to a small boy and his father.  Perhaps the flowers are for mum.  Pink or purple? J

Flowers for mum

Contrasted with the drab fall weather, the vibrant red lingonberries are a welcomed sight.  You can either buy them by the kilogram or purchase a whole bucket!

Lovely lingonberries

The next booth was among my favorite.  A small crowd has formed around an older gentleman who stands behind a table selling his chamois cloths.  While all exchanges are in Finnish, you can imagine him explaining the miraculously absorbent capacity of these yellow wonders.  It is a scene taken straight out of the Minnesota State Fair.  Made me smile.

Selling chamois

It was a delightful afternoon.  Marcella and I had our fill of free samples, and enjoyed practicing Finnish with the locals.  Valokuva, kiitos?  Picture, please?

Marcella and I stand in front of a mitten and hat
booth.  I wonder why this booth seems so popular?

A Cultured Kitchen

This past Wednesday after school, Tiina invited me over for dinner at her parent's house.  Located less than five minutes down the road from me, it was so nice to spend the evening in a warm, cozy home.  Below are a few snapshots from the evening.

Upon walking in the door, I was first met by Eemeli,
the family dog.  Though he is ten years old, Eemeli still
has the energy and playfulness of a little puppy.

With dinner cooking in the oven, Tiina and I thought it best to start making dessert.  Tiina prepared Finnish pancakes, while I made American pancakes.  As you can see from the following pictures, the two versions have distinct differences.

Compared to American pancakes,
Finnish pancake batter is quite runny.

American pancakes are prepared individually
on the stove-top, while Finnish pancakes
are baked all at once in the oven.

Sporting a bright yellow apron,
I tried my best to keep the pancakes
in the pan when flipping.

Having finished the pancake preparations, it was time to break out the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Made with homemade strawberry jam, this was Tiina's first PB&J sandwich! Tiina's mum ate half, while Tiina had the rest.  And the verdict?  "Disturbingly delicious."  As a random side note, I just read that a survey taken in 2002 found that an average American eats 1500 PB&J sandwiches before graduating from high school.

Tiina described this sweet and salty
concoction as "disturbingly delicious." J

After the peanut butter and jelly adventure, dinner was up next.  Tiina's mum prepared a delicious assortment of Finnish dishes.  Working our way from left to right in the picture below, you can see potatoes, Karelian pies, a vegetable dish, lingonberries and Karelian stew!  And what to drink, you ask?  A cold glass of piimä...buttermilk!  All in all, it was an amazing blend of flavors and textures. 

A Finnish Feast!

After dinner, the Finnish pancakes came out
of the oven. We topped them with strawberry jam
and whipped cream.  Yum, yum, yum.

The American pancakes were
served with Canadian maple syrup.

After all the evenings excitement, Eemeli
was getting sleepy.  Good night.  Hyvää Yötä.

Where Beauty Abounds

On Tuesday, most university courses were canceled for "Sports Afternoon."  During this time, students can choose to sign up for various sports activities organized around campus.  Because of the beautiful weather, my friends and I took this opportunity to explore a nearby national park.  Just an hour north of Joensuu, Koli National Park is known for its unique geology and cultural history.  "The bedrock that forms the high hills of Koli was first formed more than two billion years ago in the roots of a great ancient mountain range known as the Karelides.  Only the hardest white quartzite rocks have survived subsequent eons of erosion by wind, water and ice."*  I think from the pictures below, you can see why the Finns set this land aside as a national park.  

With spruce and birch, the hills of Koli Park
are spotted with green and gold in the autumn.

Jana shows her enthusiasm for the beautiful weather!

After the jumping photos,
we tried for more "normal" ones. J 

Meet Begüm.  She's my new friend from Turkey.

When hiking through Koli, you periodically
come across old wooden structures such as this one.

Jana and I enjoy a quick break
before heading down to the lake's shoreline.

A tree hug. J

Check out the stellar outhouses they
have in Finland!  The woodwork makes it
smell lovely inside.  How refreshing!

 

Lake Pielinen is in sight!



After wandering through mossy forests interspersed
with brief meadows, we eventually made it down to the
lake.  The sky's blue and tree's yellow reflected off
the lake's calm surface.  Beautiful.  Kaunis.

Having arrived at our destination, the group stopped
for lunch.  A fire was made and sausages were cooked. 
I thought it was curious how no s'mores were made. 
They must be on the same list as peanut butter.

After lunch, we trekked back up the hillside,
having one last look out at the lake before heading home.
Another wonderful day in Finland.

*Quote from a Koli National Park brochure.