Today was the last day of school before CHRISTMAS BREAK!!! WOO HOO! Christmas break this year in Finland is the same as Rio Rancho High in NM! How crazy is that? Alright, so Henkka and I finished school early today at 2pm, walked home and met up with Heini (My host sister who just returned from Paris!). Heini took us to pick up Eveliina (Heini's friend who went on exchange to Mexico a couple years ago!). We went to Turku to SHOP!!! We shopped around for a couple hours, then came home and relaxed. I changed into my Pj's, but I [View Full Entry]

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So tonight was the Rotary Joulu Bailut! Eija picked me up at 5:50 and we went to the Old Church. There we had an evening mass for both Rotary clubs in Naantali. My principal, Leena Laakso and her boy friend Seppo Pukonen (my math teacher) sat next to us. Leena is Sylvia's (Canadian) Rotary counslor. We sang Christmas songs and listened a trumpet and piano performance. There was a short prayer, then my Rotary club members left and we all walked to the Kalatrappi Restaurant. They had set up a HUGE HUGE HUGE presentation of Finnish Christmas foods...which includes: Silli, silli, [View Full Entry]

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Tonight was our Christmas Orchestra Performance!!! It was at the Raisio Library! I performed in a clarinet sextet and then with the entire group! We played some great songs! A few Christmas ones too!!! When we played our last Christmas song we had to wear our "santa hats"!!! My finnish family came to watch! Marru, Henkka and Leena!!! <3 them! [View Full Entry]

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Henkka and I made Pipparkakkutalo (Gingerbread houses) today! Yippie! [View Full Entry]

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Maiju is 17! WOO HOO! So its Friday, another WOO HOO!!! a Friday to a VERY long week!!! So at around 7 I walked down to where all the cars were parked, and met Lotta and her father. Mr. Lotta's Father drove us through the tunnel, across the bridge, haha over the mountian to Maiju's house! Saija, Maiju, Kiia, and Sofia were already there! Maiju and Kiia cooked dinner, and Lotta and I hung out around them txting VEERA in Roswell, NM! Veera was in Soccoro for a Rotary weekend, so her Finnish cell phone worked (it doesnt have service in [View Full Entry]

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So I finally got some sleep last night! WOO HOO! I woke up today at 10, and showered and dressed up a bit, then Marru drove me to the Raisio Kaupunkitalo (city hall) where my orchestra performed for the veterans! We played the national anthem twice, then Laika Palaa, a beautiful finnish song! When we were finished Eija picked me up and we stopped by her house for some Glogi (amazing hot christmas drink), and to talk about Rotary business. She hurried me home by 2:15, and I changed into my red dress that I brought from home (Emma decided I [View Full Entry]

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So I woke up today at 7 after 1 hour of sleep, dressed, and walked to school. Of course if it was any normal school day I would have slept the entire day and skipped school, but today was the school musical, and I am in it, so I had to go. I got to school by 9 and met up with Maiju and the rest of the cast in the gym. The gym was decorated for Independance day (tomorrow). Everyone was dressed very nicely since in Finland independance day is also honored the day before, in schools, since there is [View Full Entry]

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Friends. Snow. Huskey Dogs. Snow. Reindeer. Snow. Long bus rides. Snow. Snow. Snow. SNOW! So I spent this last week in Lapland with 130 other Rotary Exchange students! The charter bus picked me and a bunch of other Turku Area exchange kids up at 7:10 Friday, November 31. I met up with Rick (from Illinois) first then Dorothee (from Germany) and Eddy (Mexico) then we met Eric (Germany), Max (America), and Jess (Australia). We headed north, and picked up many more kids on the way. Ellen and Sarah got on in Pori and Nonqaba (South Africa). Ellen and I sat together [View Full Entry]

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It's starting, Christmas is in the air. I was shopping with Emma and Leena in Turku on Friday, and the walking strip was brightly lit with thousands of christmas lights, and the windows in Stockmanns were full of Christmas scenes. The air was crisp and cold, but felt fantastic to breath. Later in the night, as we were leaving sleet started to fall. The small cold pieces of ice hit our faces and stung. By the time we got to the car we were soaking wet but happy. Christmas music was playing in all the shops that day, English and finnish. [View Full Entry]

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So I will be adding new photos as I find more crazy cool FINNISH things we need in America! Enjoy! [View Full Entry]

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