This past week was "Test Week" at school, which means the 6 week period is over and all students are taking their exams. It started on Thursday. Each day there were a couple different tests, so somedays the students had off, if they weren't taking the test for that day. I had the entire week off because this period I wasn't taking any tests. The other two exchange students, Jana and Sylvia, also had the week off, so our "counslor" at school, Laila, arranged for us to work at Taimo Elementary school, teaching English to youngsers! We arrived on Thursday [View Full Entry]

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I got off the train with Eddie today in Turku and he walked me to the bus stop. I got on but 42 and rode 5 minutes to the city center, where I met Ellen and Max. Ellen's host parents in Kaankaapaa were having a lot of family over so they sugested she stay with some friends this weekend. It was late notice and I was already expected in Loimaa, but i told her she could stay over Saturday night. Max had her over in Paimio Friday night, so it worked out great, meeting them in Turku! Ellen and I headed [View Full Entry]

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I caught the Train to Loimaa today at 12:47. Emma drove me to the train station, we bought some chicken wraps for lunch, then I boarded the train. It was a nice, short 45 minute ride to Loimaa. I got off the train and met Danni and Eddie (eddie had come from Turku the day before). Danni had his bike but he walked with us to the "town center" (which barely exists...its a VERY small town, only 7000 people). We walked through a beautiful little park and headed toward Danni's house. It was around a 3km walk so it took us [View Full Entry]

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Well this journal entry is a little late but i didnt want to write about my first Rotary meeting until the pictures were sent to me! So a few Wednesday's ago Eija (my counsler) and her husband picked me up and drove me down to the harbor to a restaurant called WHAT? I was sporting a nice gray skirt and my lovely, pin covered, navy blue Rotary blazer. I had my laptop case over my arm and a stack of business cards in my pocket; i was ready to go. I walked into the restaurant and was greeted by at least [View Full Entry]

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Yes. The Finns party hard. I went to a rave tonight. It was what I call a "kid rave". It was a special night at this club called Kilta; they were allowing sixteen year olds in, and they were not selling alcohol! It was just like the normal club, minus the usual drunk suspects. They had smoke machines and stobe lights, disco balls and dance podiums. It was a lot of fun. I took the bus to Turku at 9pm and met Eddie and his 15 year old host brother Alex. We walked together down "people street" to the club. They [View Full Entry]

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What a day. I woke up today at 6am. Early in know! I quickly showered, ate breakfast and stuffed all my Helsinki guides and maps into my bag. Leena, dressed in her business attire, and I left the house at 7:20 and drove to Turku in pursuit of the train station! We arrived at the train station around 7:45 and bought tickets for the 8:00 train. We boarded the huge red train and went up stairs (yes!!! It had two stories) to find our seats. A woman came to stamp our tickets then sold us some “train food”…aka muffin and pineapple [View Full Entry]

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So this morning I was planning on having the usual lazy Sunday that is so normal in Finland, when Emma picked up the Helsingin Sanomat (newspaper) and said “It’s Turku Paivä!”. I asked her right away what she was talking about and she said it was Turku Day which means every shop in Turku is opened even though its Sunday, there are bands playing and the market is packed with different booths! (kind of like the growers market x 20!) Of course I was interested instantly and asked her for all the specifics! I was definitely going, no matter what. I [View Full Entry]

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There was another home hockey game today! It was great! Aikka and Anssi told me a couple days ago jokingly that they didn’t want me to come and see them lose because the team they were going to play is really good! Of course I said I was coming anyway so on Saturday morning I got up at 11 and started to get ready! I first spent a little time cleaning then showered and got some warm clothes on to face the rain! Maiju and Aikka txted me and told me about a music festival at Tulli (youngsters place, right near [View Full Entry]

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This morning at school I gave a few presentations to an English class in the Junior High. On my way to meet some friends in the media room I almost slipped on this big red carpet someone had layed down the middle of the hall. I pulled myself together then looked around. Almost everyone I saw was wearing a costume. There was royalty and pirates everywhere. Everyone was wearing crowns! The first person I recognized was Niko so I asked him what was going on; he told me it was TJ 100 Day. (of course I had no idea what that [View Full Entry]

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Today was busy, confusing and fun! It is testing week at school so everyone is supposed to arrive at 10:15 today and tomorrow. I woke up at 8am to get ready and they at 10am I realized I had two free periods at 10:15….dang. I could have slept another two hours! That’s ok though because I found time to write this!!! I went in at 11:45 and went straight to lunch with Saija, Maiju, Lotta, Aapo, and Hannah. I had one period of Math after that, then I came home again to get ready for my Rotex meeting in Turku! (Rotex [View Full Entry]

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