Blogs from Southwest Finland, Finland, Europe - page 9

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 ... read more

Today Dorothee and I woke up early and we BOTH got ready for school...yes school, on Saturday. In Finland each school is sapposed to have 190 days and this year the school board at Naantali Lukio messed up and only scheduled 189 days so we have to come to school on Saturday. I had to dress up in a nice outfit with my Rotary blazer because I was scheduled to give 5 foreign exchange presentations to my peers and the public. I was also scheduled to perform in the school play at the same time, 5 performances. AHH! Leena drove us to school and I went straight to the autotorium where we were setting up for the play. We performed the play 5 times throughout the day, each performance lasting around 30 min. There were three ... read more

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 morning and worked for Mrs. Ulla Ora-Nikolainen. She taught five English classes a day, and we helped out in every way possible! We acted out in plays about princesses and slaying dragons, we got interviewed ... read more

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 toward our bus back to Naantali. I stopped in the market place to buy Marru a gift. I bought Marru (Henri/Henkka's mother, my next host mother) a winter flower plant called Kanerva (I think Heather ... read more

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 35 men. I was in shock. Yes, my Rotary club down here is a mens only association. Eija isn't even technically part of Rotary, she is just married to a Rotarian and she worked for ... read more