They Grow Up So Fast

It seems the longer I stay in Finland, the faster time goes.  Sunrises come earlier.  Sunsets come later.  And the time in between races by.  How it is already the end of February, I am not sure.  Indeed, even my orange trees are showing signs of the passing time.  Now just shy of 5cm tall, what used to be mainly roots has grown a trunk and some leaves.  Oh, they grow up so fast.

However, this post is not intended to bemoan the passing of time, but rather to serve as a sort of introduction to the next few posts.  Seeing that I have not added to the blog in a while, I thought I should fill you in on some of February's highlights.  It was a busy month filled with new adventures.  By the end of the week, I hope to post a random assortment of stories and photos from the past few weeks. 

Joensuu, the Second Narnia

As the days grow longer, the snow drifts grow taller.  While biking to school, I am pleased to find that the sun peeks over the horizon a little past 8am and does not dive below again until 4pm.  Solid eight hour days.  Eight hour days with snow cover that rises to waist level and snow drifts that surpassed my height weeks ago.  Such is life in Joensuu—a sort of Narnia-like winter delight.  These wintery overtones have proven to be a great stimulus package for hobby development.  In what follows, I'll introduce you to a few of my new favorites.

First up, we have ice skating.  With free skate rentals at the Student Union and several community ice rinks a stones-throw away from my flat, I have enjoyed wobbling around on semi-sharp blades.  At first, I was about as graceful as a cow on skates; but with each passing attempt, I find that my legs are growing increasingly accustomed to the physics of ice.  I have to admit, I also like watching the Zamboni cruise around the rinks.  It's kind of like the winter version of a lawn mower (a summer sport I am quite fond of).

For Christmas, my lovin' bro thought maybe I needed a bit more light to illuminate the dark Finnish nights.  One of his gifts was a light-up frisbee that glows different colors—fire engine red, sour apple green, frosty white, plum purple, corn husk yellow and icy blue.  Needless to say, my friends and I have had great fun passing this saucer back and forth.  However, it's not just the colors that make this game so interesting, but the terrain on which we play also adds to the excitement.  Remember how I described the waist-deep snow we have?  Well, for this reason, running and throwing in the snow can be a bit of a challenge.  Instead, we have taken to the ice rinks where we slide and slip in gallant attempts to catch the lighted disk.  Thanks James!  It's a huge hit!

After acquiring a few bumps and bruises from my previous two hobbies, I find that it is nice to sit down with a cup of tea and ball of yarn.  While knitting technically is not a new hobby for me, it has been a while since I picked up the needles.  Currently, I have made a mitten and a half.  Their color is orange in honor of the orange trees growing on my desk.  In addition to the practical side of knitting, I've also found it to be a fun excuse to get together with friends at the university's new knitting club.

So, there you have it.  Gliding across ice, through air and into stiches.  Skating.  Frisbee.  And knitting.  My Narnian hobbies.

Vitamin D-lightful

As the sun rose Sunday morning, cloudless blue skies and beautiful snow laden landscapes emerged.  Such weather is a rarity around this neck of the woods, so in the afternoon, I headed outside to get my fill of vitamin D.  Below are a few photos.


There is a maze of trails running along the river
bank near my flat.  While I have explored them at night
with a friend, this was the first time I saw everything
lit up.  The light reveals a different world.



The sun brought out nature's true colors.
Rich blues and oranges danced among the forest
as the sun moved across the horizon.

Sometimes, I think nature likes to poke fun at
human creations.  I suspect that this is supposed
to be a door preventing access to the river...it does
not seem to be working so well in this weather.

While Minnesotans snuggle up in their cozy huts,
the Finns prefer to fish in the elements.  Here you can
see two small trap doors through the ice, and some
twigs to aid in finding the holes after heavy snowfalls.

I've always thought it would be nice to live
in a small red house.  I think this one would do
nicely.  The marshmallow snow-cover on the
roof makes it all the more quaint.

The sun seared through the tall pine forest,
creating an even taller forest of shadows.

While I did pass by a few cross-country skiers, I was
surprised to find that I basically had the trails to myself.
All in all, it was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon.  The
blue skies and intense sun provided a nice respite
from the grey I have grown accustomed to.

A Study in Smörgåsbord

It has now been two weeks since the start of the semester, and to be honest, things are starting up rather slowly.  Similar to last semester, my courses can start and end as they please, meet for any number of lectures, in any room, at any time, and on any day.  This semester, it just happens that most of my courses will meet during the months of February and March.  Despite the curious schedule, I am still pumped about my upcoming courses. Here is a rundown of what I have to look forward to:

• Introduction to Finnish School Life: This course allows me to observe Finnish schools in action.  I started the course last semester, spending most of my time in primary school math and science classes.  This spring, I plan to move up to the secondary school and observe more chemistry.
• Introduction to Special Education: One of the most impressive features of Finnish education is their exceptionally small achievement gap.  Indeed, the difference in performance between low- and high-achieving students is the smallest in the world.  I am hoping this course provides some insight into how they do it.
• Information and Communication Technology in Teacher's Work: As the title suggests, I will learn how the Finns integrate technology into the classroom.  Based on the endless supply of SmartBoards, document cameras, and laboratory equipment I have seen so far, I am excited to learn more about the theories behind their use.
• Finnish Art: This course promises to teach us how to use various media and techniques for visual art.  As science (particularly chemistry) is a very visual subject, I am hoping that I can incorporate some of what I learn into future lessons I teach.
• Finnish 3 and 4: Minä olen opiskellut suomea viisi kuukautta.  I have studied Finnish for five months...and love every second of it.  As we dig deeper into the intricacies of Finnish grammar, I am not only developing an appreciation for this language, but also of language in general.  It is mind-blowing to think about all that goes into communication—and to think, many of us can do it so effortlessly!
• Chinese 2: There is a twofold purpose for my taking this class.  First, I am interested in the language, and think it might be useful to know.  But second, this is one of my few courses that has mostly Finnish students in it.  I am taking Chinese to learn more about Finnish culture—logical, right?

So, as you can see, I have quite the smörgåsbord of studies this semester.  Or, perhaps I should use the Finnish translation of smörgåsbord—seisova pöytä.  Either way, it should be a delicious sampler of educational theory and classroom observation, generously seasoned with grammar rules and new vocabulary.

It Takes a Brawny Man

Having said goodbye to my family, I boarded a train heading north to Glasgow.  While I had previously imagined kilts and bagpipes to be overdone stereotypes of the Scots, to my surprise, both were present when I exited the train station.  Bagpipes were heard on the sidewalks and men dressed in kilts boarded the bus behind me.

The following day was spent exploring Glasgow.  You should understand that it was New Year's Day.  Consequently, I had to be a little creative in finding things which were open.  My first stop was the University of Glasgow.  As the fourth oldest university in the English speaking world, the architecture was gorgeous and the moss plentiful.  With the exception of two security guards, the campus was mine to explore.  The second stop on my Glasgow tour was the Botanic Gardens.  This place was more populated as many young families found it to be an ideal place to allow their children to run around. 

University of Glasgow

Day two of my Scottish adventures took me to Edinburgh.  There, I explored Edinburgh Castle and the adjacent Royal Mile.  With the castle situated on a hill, it provided nice lookouts of the surrounding city and mountains.

I got an early start the next day, joining a three-day tour to Scotland's Highlands.  We had a nice blend of the world in our group: two from Thailand, two from Spain, one from Australia and one from England.  Our guide, Chris, explained we should treat him as a distant Scottish cousin.  After learning to say "Ay!" for "Yes!," our group was on our way.

The first stop was Stirling Castle.  Along with other important historic events, the nine month old, Mary, Queen of Scots, was crowned here in 1543.  Our adventure then took us up a winding road leading to a small graveyard in which Rob Roy lays.  For those who are not familiar with the story, Rob Roy was something of a Robin Hood for Scotland.

While on the road, we had several opportunities to see the Highland cow.  Tough as nails, but gentle as a mother's touch, the Highland cow has no layer of fat.  Therefore, they grow an extra layer of hair to keep warm in the winter.  They also maintain a nice fringe on their head to keep the wind and rain out of their eyes.

The Highland cow is the oldest
pedigree breed in the world!

The following day, we explored the Isle of Skye.  With dramatic lighting and striking landscapes, this place is now on my top five list of most beautiful places on Earth.


The caramel brown grasses and cranberry red shrubs
were a rich color scheme for this elegant landscape. 


In addition to its raw beauty, ruins from ancient times also contribute to the island's uniqueness.  Small villages can be identified from the stony remains in the fields.  On one of the coastlines, we even got to see a 9th century Vikings stronghold.

A 9th century Vikings stronghold. 
Down below, you could imagine where the
longboats would have pulled up on shore.


For lunch, we visited Portree, the island's largest town.  Apparently, almost 40% of the people in this town are able to speak Scottish Gaelic (hence, road signs are in both English and Gaelic)!

Check out those exotically colored buildings. 
They remind me of ice cream flavors.

Throughout the day, our group spotted 21 birds of prey (with one of them being a White Tailed Sea Eagle—the fourth largest bird of prey in the world).  Leaving the island, we were treated with one more surprise—the most unique sunset I have ever seen.

Unearthly reds peeked out among dark purple clouds.

The third day was more relaxed as we headed back to Edinburgh.  Our first stop was on the banks of Loch Ness.  I know you won't believe it, but I saw the monster.  Yup, pretty remarkable.  Moving right along...

Some people take monster hunting pretty seriously.

After Loch Ness, we went south to Culloden Moor.  The entire tour was spectacular, but this was one of the sites where I was especially appreciative of having such a good guide.  He took us out onto the field and told us about the battle that took place on this land.  It was the site of the Highlanders last stand against the British.  The site of a quick, but bloody fight.

Culloden Moor.

Upon arriving back in Edinburgh, we all said our goodbyes and parted ways.  Three spectacular days in Scotland.  Three days to develop a deep appreciation for the land of my great grandmother.  "It takes a brawny man to live in these lands."

Outside WH Smith

December 23.  Rendezvous Day.  Weeks prior to this occasion, Dad had sent my brother and me meticulous descriptions with personalized maps that detailed how the family was supposed to find each other.  Heathrow airport.  Terminal 4.  Arrivals.  Wait outside WH Smith.

Arriving at the airport several hours early, I watched as my family's flights crawled to the top of the arrivals board.  Despite mild delays, the moment did come when my family walked through those doors.  They made it.  They were here.  They were no longer images on my computer screen.  (Skype is great, but it's nothing like the real deal.)  After hugs and smiles, we made our way to the car rental and our adventure began.  I must warn you that we did not sit still for long, so what follows is a brief synopsis of each day's events.

Following the instructions of the omniscient GPS voice, we left London on the left side of road heading northwest towards the small town of Tenbury Wells.  Several hours later, we pulled into the driveway of a large brick house that sat in the middle of an open, snow-covered field.  This was to be our home for the next week.

Our home for Christmas 2010.

People were slow to rise the first morning as time adjustments were made.  However, with the sun peeking over the horizon, we were pleased to find that our house sat in the middle of a working sheep farm.  The fluffy bundles of wool came to greet us in the morning as the farmer passed by on his way to feed the animals.

Our first day took us north to Wale's Snowdonia National Park.  Driving through snow draped landscapes and sunlit mountains was a unique way of spending Christmas Eve together.  As the sun set with pink and orange hues, small towns closed up shop while we made our way home on this silent night.


Family photo in Snowdonia.

The following morning was Christmas!  Our first-ever Christmas SPAM sizzled on the stove as I collected snow for our orange juice (yup, a dollop of snow in each cup of oj...you'll have to try it sometime).  We enjoyed a delicious pancake breakfast and then shared our newspaper-wrapped gifts.  In the afternoon, we explored Ludlow Castle while getting insider tips from the locals about lovely walks.

We woke up to some chilly temperatures on the 26th.  After bundling up, we headed out to Warwick Castle.  There, we found Oliver Cromwell's death mask, Henry VIII's wives and a falconry show.  Feeling learned, we subsequently made our way to Oxford in the afternoon.  While most things were still closed, we took in the festive atmosphere while wandering the streets.

Emily received a candy cane from one of the
court entertainers at Warwick Castle!

The following day's adventure took us south towards Stonehenge.  Impressed by its magnitude, we took our time photographing this stone creation.  The afternoon was then spent in Bath.  I had no idea that the Romans made it as far north as England, so it was neat seeing the plumbing masterpiece that remained from their inhabitance.   

It's difficult posing like a rock.

On the fifth day, we navigated tubes and buses while checking out London.  Our first destination was the Natural History Museum.  The entire museum is overwhelmingly impressive, but two things come to mind first as being personal highlights.  First, is the iguanadon hand (see photo below).  After the dinosaur course I took in college, it was neat to see this specimen in real life.  Second, was the NaturePlus card.  In one section of the museum, you can get free cards to take around with you.  When you find something interesting, you scan your card's barcode.  Then, back at home, you type the barcode into a website and it gives you more information about the display.  Cool, huh?  We then made our way to the British Museum.  Filled with artifacts collected from all over the globe, it would take days (or perhaps months) to thoroughly look through all this museum has to offer.

The iguanadon hand...watch out James!

Our final day as a whole family was spent in the small town of Hay-on-Wye.  With nearly every other shop being a bookstore, it was fun to explore the streets of this Welsh community.


Mom and James enjoy the
cozy atmosphere of one bookshop.

While we are on the topic of books, I should mention one very special aspect of this holiday.  As I hinted at in a previous post, our family had the opportunity to film some reenactments of Dicken's A Christmas Carol.  The video is still in the works, but the photo below will give you a taste of the fun we had.

James played Scrooge and I was
cast as the Ghost of Christmas Past.

On the final day, the fam dropped James off at the airport.  Dad, Mom, Emily and I took to the tube to round out our British adventures at Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.  Needless to say, it was amazing to be with family once again.  We all left England with Christmas memories that won't soon be forgotten.     

Snow with a Chance of Cancellations

After a lovely day of exploring Helsinki, it was time for me to head off to Iceland.  Arriving at the airport, I quickly realized that things may not go according to plan.  London was experiencing the snowstorm of its life (about an inch and a half of snow), so all flights into and out of Heathrow were cancelled.  My flight to Reykjavik had a layover in Heathrow, so as you may suspect, it too was cancelled.  The lines around the airport grew steadily longer and wider as I scrambled to talk with the airline's personnel about changing my flights.  After a tiring day of waiting in line, calling my parents, and waiting in more lines, it was most logical to admit defeat and accept the full refund.  I hopped back on the 615 bus and went back to Anna's place.

As my family was still planning to meet me in London on Christmas Eve's Eve, new plans were made for me to fly into Heathrow.  I arrived in London on December 21, and spent my birthday (December 22) wandering around Windsor Castle.  Then, the real fun began on December 23.  Rendezvous day.

I enjoyed people watching at Windsor Castle.