Advertisement
Published: October 21st 2007
Edit Blog Post
The autumn is here. Colorful leaves cover the ground. The foggy mornings show no visibility. It's always raining and windy, yet its beautiful. I am happy -most of the time- but of course I smile even when I'm not...some other exchange students here have called me "unbreakable", and they say I am the perfect person for this adventure, perfect because I am always happy. I dont think they know me. The air outside is crisp and cold, but very refreshing none the less. I broke out my puffy winter coat early this morning and I walked out into the world looking like a little purple marshmellow. I wore two pairs of pants and warm wool socks; warmth is my first priority. I went walking today. I visited places I have never seen before. I explored. I felt like a small child learning endless new information. I kept my eyes opened, looking. I walked to the harbor and the formiliar smell of fish made me hold my breath. I passed the beach, remembering the days I had spent there, laying in the sand listening to Sting with Maiju, Aikka and Lotta. I walked passed the high dock where I used to bravely
jump and fall into the water three meters below. I walked all the way to Naantali Lukio. The school where my Rotary counsler dropped me off my frist day. The school where I stood in front of the whole student body and waved my hand saying "Hello, My name is Stephanie, I am 16 years old and I am from New Mexico, USA". The school where so many students welcomed me, helped me to find my way, and became my friends. The school where I can always find someone in the Media Room willing to help me with my finnish homework. The school where I look foward to attending everyday so I can meet new people, learn new phrases in finnish, or finally work up the courage to talk to that cute finnish boy that always smiles at me in the hall. The school where I can laugh and say "joo joo" even when I have no idea whats going on. I walked on, to the park, the park where I said goodbye to Dakota my third day in Naantali, as she embarked on her foreign exchange to USA. I passed Kaivohuone where I got into my first night club
with Henkka, and danced the night away. I passed the tree that Aikka, Henkka, Ellen, and I had stood under to protect us from the pouring rain at 2 in the morning. I walked to the cemetary below the famous stone church and I opened the gate. I have never been in a cemetary alone before. I have always felt uneasy around them, but this one was different. This one felt like a secret garden, a place where one could find happiness even when someone has passed away. I was captured by the beautiful headstones and the flowers and decorations left by loved ones. I wandered around aimlessly, stopping here and there to read all the finnish names. I came to Mr. Ailio's headstone, where Marru had planted soft white flowers sorrounded by river rocks. There was a lantern there and two small little cast iron birds perched above the headstone. I was dazed all I could do was stand and look. So many thoughts came rushing into my mind. I felt like an outsider in this world of grief and loss. I realized that I have never known either. What it must feel like to lose someone, I can't
leaves
near the front gate even imagine. I read the writing carved in stone over and over again. The wind started blowing through the leaves above me. I shivered and straightened myself and silently walked away. I left the grave yard with its beautiful stillness and walked toward the harbor again. The harbor, where I boarded Erkki's boat and laughed with my host dad my frist day in Naantali. The boat where Erkki took me on a tour of our harbor, where Murre came to sit next to me and Leena took our picture together, my first day in Naantali. I remembered being so anxious to meet my host parents that morning; I remembered Ellen and Max squeezing my arms telling me to stop shaking. I remembered walking through the front doors of the hall, panic sticken, with Ellen and Nick by my side. I remember seeing 200 faces looking at me, all thinking the same thing, "is she the one"? I remember thinking about Ellis Island and child adoption. I remember seeing Erkki and Leena far away near the front of the room, holding a sign above the crowd with "Stephaine, USA" written on it. I remember looking down on them and laughing as
they realized how tall I was. I remember looking into my host mothers crying eyes and getting hugs and smiling. I remember that day. I walked past Merisali where Emma took me out for strawberry lemon ice cream. I walked passed the shops near the harbor, the shops where I bought my first post cards to send home. Their doors were closed, the lights were out, but the windows glowed with advertisements. The closed shops added to the quiet brilliance of the evening. No people could be seen, no stray dogs, no cars, only the small ducks huddling together near the boat ramp. I heard music playing from far away and thought of the big ships that used to pass in the summertime on their way to Turku, people were always partying and dancing on board. It's not summer in Finland anymore. The mornings are hazy and wet. Dew spotted leaves cover the wet ground. Tourists have dissappeared. People wearing their warm down vests and colorful scarfs can be seen walking through the town. The city market, once teeming with merchants yields one lonely potatoe stand, a sweet old lady selling the last of her summer stock. Autumn is here
in Finland.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.2s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 9; qc: 58; dbt: 0.148s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Charlie Leonard
non-member comment
Book
This sounds like a book, a very interesting about an american girl in Finland