maanantai:
Today I slept in cause... SYYSLOMA!!! (fall break) yeah!!! A whole week with no school. NICE! Then Eija, Johanna, and I got ready to hit the town. Yeah for Hämeenkyrö. We spent the morning at the kirpputori (flea market), then got a bite to eat and coffee at a cafe. Then went grocery shopping. I couldn't believe it. Finland is already in Christmas mode!!! And I always thought America was bad, but that's nothing! It probably has something to do with Finland dosen't celebrate Halloween that much, or Thanksgiving (at all, I mean why would they?) So America has two holidays to slow Christmas fever... But here, It's Christmas starting... NOW!
tiistai:
All my pens I brought from America are dying! I'm down to one last american pen that works. It's a small thing but it's gonna be a sad day when that pen kicks the bucket! Day two of syysloma! I made/attempted to make the orange gingered carrots like my parents make. I think it tasted similar, and both Eija and Anssi like it!
keskiviikko:
I spent the morning on Youtube watching the Little Mermaid (in finnish) and for the rest of the week I had ''Part of Your World'' stuck in my head, the funny thing was, parts of the song that was stuck in my head was in english, parts were in finnish... So what can ya do? For lunch Eija took me to a local cafe/resturant where they don't serve any meat. It was really good food, and they had this awesome, fresh/warm carrot bread... ohhh sooo good. Anssi showed up for lunch too!
torstai:
Kirpputori again today, I just can't get enought of that place! And later Eija's parents picked me up to bring me to a candle party (like avon party but with candles) at their other grand daughter's house. And on the way there they pointed out where my 3rd host family lived, so that was cool! The party was a lot of fun, and they had brownies there!!! I hadn't had brownies in FOREVER!!!
perjantai:
Today I got really good at jumpping into random cars. It was all planned but It was a funny 'hot potatoe-like' feeling! We were all going to my friend Jona's dad's house in Ikaalinen (about a half-hour away) to watch scary movies. Sanni's mom picked me up, then dropped Sanni and I off at the school where Piia's parents promptly picked us up again and brought us to Ikaalinen. We rented the movies; The Crazies, and Paranormal Activity. Then stopped at a grocery store for snacks, then to Jona's dad's house. Another thing about Finland is you're usually no more than a couple kilometers away from a grocery store (unless you're in the middle of nowhere, I'm not sure how many grocery stores they have out there) It was 6:00 and 0°C!!! ahhh The movies were sooo good!!! Then we jumpped in more cars to get back home, but after watching those movies we double checked that they were the right cars to be getting into!
lauantai:
If felt like a sunday, not a saturday today. It felt like I should be going to school tomorow (probably because I've been out of school for so long!) Eija and I went to the market in Kyröskoski, then K Market, and Tokmanni. Then we did a little cleaning. Sauna at night, and then we watched some german soap opera... German sounds so funny when they are made, we couldn't help but laugh!
sunnuntai:
Today after lunch we bundled up and headed to Kesä Mökki. We had to close it for the season. It was so foggy on the lake, you couldn't tell where the fog endded and the water began... uuuhhh creepy! Eija and I raked some leaves, the boys got the water pump out of the lake, piled up the cairs, and emptyed the 'toilet'... yum. When we got home they changed the car tires into the winter tires (with spikes in them) And Eija and I planted some plants she bought at the market yesterday, then drank glögi. Then I realized that school starts tomorow... which isn't all that bad I guess.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Viikko Kymmenen
maanantai:
Today I went to school armed with Skittles. Everyone liked them (duh they're Skittles, pretty much impossible to not like) Lunch was really good today, some type of fish meat ball, and mashed potatoes, anyway... after lunch we had a free period where we played cards and ate skittles. I taught them the card game; B.S. that was a lot of fun! After school I got all ready for my Ylöjärvi/French horn adventure. I got to the bus stop with plenty of time to spare. I saw a bus coming, so I wave at it... I just kept going... hmmm not the best start to the adventure. I waited and hoped that there was another bus coming soon. After 15 minutes I saw one, this time waved at it plenty of time in advanced cause I wasnt sure if the last bus didn't stop cause I didnt give it enought time to slow down. This bus stopped. I got on, it was also crowded, I'd never been on a bus during commuting time, so it was kinda a shock when It was kinda hard to find a seat. I then wasnt exactly sure where I wanted to get off, so for the next 25 minutes I kept my eyes pealed on the road ahead. I pressed the button at the right time cause I got off at the place I had decided to get off (the night before I google maped my whole trip) and I guess that googling was effective cause with no trouble I was able to find Ismo's house (I was going to have a lesson with him for the first time) He was awesome, and an awesome horn player! After the lesson I thought I had 10 minutes to get back to the bus stop before the bus would pass. So I walked very fast, and at one point jogged. I got the the bus stop and waited, then the bus came, I waved at it... it just kept going... What?!?!?!? That time I totally gave the bus enought time to slow down and stop for me. It was a 45minute wait till the next stop, which I spent hoping that that bus would stop for me, and yelling at the last bus for not stopping for me, laughing at how funny it felt to be standing on the side of the highway (tell ya the truth I felt kinda like an overdressed hooka ; ). Then next bus did stop for me. I found out later that there are Express buses, that only stop at certain bus stops, and regular buses that stop at any bus stop, so the buses that didnt stop for me... well it wasnt anything personal. I then had to figure out when to push the button for my stop... I pushed it too soon and endded up walking a bit more then a kilometer to get to my bike. I didn't mide that because I knew exactly where I was, and it gave me the change to figure out where I should push the button next time, now I know! (exciting day)
tiistai:
Snow fell for the first time today! We were in psychology (psykologia) and all the sudden everyone noticed that it was snowing. It was funny how even the teacher got really distracted. So exciting! Snow means winter is on it's way (most people love winter here). Went home, the power kept going on and off, must be because of the wind. Then I went to the Rotary meeting, there was a very talkitive man who was giving a speach about his trip to India (Intia) with the Stop Polio Now movement. It was very intresting, going into a little over 50 minutes of it and the power went out : ( he was forced to end... Oh well... Then I went home.
keskiviikko:
In biology (biologia) we did a cross word puzzle about photosynthesis (fotosynteesi) and I actually got one of them right (out of the two that I answered) : P I'm on my way! Puhalica band tonight, I really like some of those songs were playing (she gives me some great solos)!
torstai:
It was sorta rainning in the morning, but I used the water-proofish snow pants Eija gave to me when riding to school. Good thing I did cause I would have had really wet pants if I hadn't! It stopped raining (luckily) for my hyppytunti (free period) cause I had to go Kyröskoskilla to get my books from the book store. I made stops at Tokmanni and K Supermarket on the way back. I had fifth period class today, Tanssi Kurssi! (dance course) Pretty much no one showed up for the class because Syysloma would start as soon as school ended that day, so some people just ditched. It was just Piia, Jona, Henriikka, Sanni, a 3rd grader, the teacher and I. We spent the whole class trying to remember how the Oprah 24th season dance went (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvt3chGuU8I&feature=related) It's pretty much awesome! We also found fun hats and played with those, mine was like a russian furry hat, I wanted to keep it really badly but alas! We stayed past the time that the fifth period endded. It was snowing when we got out!!! Lots of snow, that was sticking way longer than the snow on tuesday. Sanni missed her bus, so after running around trying to catch snowflakes (it wasnt that hard cause some snowflakes where the width of golfballs!!! so they floated down really slowly) Then Sanni hoped on the back of my bike and we went to my house, laughing the entire way there, we passed a bunch of people that were waiting for a bus, I'm pretty sure they think we're crazy now. Then we almost ran over an old man on one of those rollaattori things (key word: almost) Then we hung out until her mom picked her up. Then Eija and I went to Tokmanni! It was a good day!
perjantai:
No school today!!! YEAH!!! Eija also had a day off of work, so around 10ish we headed of to the Ikaalisten Kylpylä (Ikaalinen Spa) It's a hotel/swim-park/bowling ally/lots of other stuff. We went swimming! It was a great place with a water slide, hot life guard, and lots of other things. They had hot tubes but theirs arn't even close to as hot as the ones in America! They also had a outdoor swimming pool with heated water, so we swam out there as it snowed, that was fun! There also was a höyrysauna (a steam sauna) that was REALLY nice, I liked that a lot!!! Then we picked up Eija's mom and went to this place known for really good food. It was a classy all you can eat buffet! With lots of traditional Finnish food. I tried a little of everything. I was surprised when I actually enjoyed the cold fish that were in different kinds of sauses, they didn't like somehting I would be able to keep down, but they were really good. We all ate a ton, then went back to Eija's mom's house for coffee/tea time. On the way home we stopped at this German store: LIDL, it was like a grocery store with only German and Finnish items. It was really funny to see that the german sizes were way bigger than the finnish sizes and usually cheaper, neither Eija or I could figure out why. I bought peanut butter, and when we got home PB&J's were made!
lauantai:
Eija was already at work when I got up today, Anssi was up getting a grocery list together, he asked if I wanted anything, I asked for the rice crispy cereal, but he didn't know what that was so I said I'd go with him. We first returned bottles (here each bottle is worth 15-20cents so they all get returned) Dad always said that if the return amount was higher, people would recycle, and it's true! He started making lunch, then he and Antti went somewhere so he asked me to watch the potatoes. I don't (didn't) know how to cook potatoes but didn't want him to know that so before he left I staggard my questions, asking little by little about cooking potatoes, pretty soon I knew how to cook potatoes, and he knew I hadn't known, mission 1/2 way success! Later Anssi went to Pori ("west coast town") to go to a hockey game, he had a great time! Eija and I watched the movie Se7en tonight with Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, ahhh such a good movie!!!
sunnuntai:
Raked some leaves today. There are so many leaves! When Eija got back from work we went to Tampere to visit with Johanna. She made us Glögi, a traditional christmas drink. It tasted like that Poupperi smells (not how it tastes cause I know from experience that that tastes nasty) but Glögi is awesome and I've got till Christmas to drink as much as I want of it! Johanna came home with us. We went on a walk around the block, all bundeled up with refectors hooked on our jackets, it was like a 4k walk and by the end of it I wished I hadn't bundeled up so much! Then we watched P.S. Rakastan Sinuait (P.S. I Love You) oh man such a good movie! Then It was bed time!
Today I went to school armed with Skittles. Everyone liked them (duh they're Skittles, pretty much impossible to not like) Lunch was really good today, some type of fish meat ball, and mashed potatoes, anyway... after lunch we had a free period where we played cards and ate skittles. I taught them the card game; B.S. that was a lot of fun! After school I got all ready for my Ylöjärvi/French horn adventure. I got to the bus stop with plenty of time to spare. I saw a bus coming, so I wave at it... I just kept going... hmmm not the best start to the adventure. I waited and hoped that there was another bus coming soon. After 15 minutes I saw one, this time waved at it plenty of time in advanced cause I wasnt sure if the last bus didn't stop cause I didnt give it enought time to slow down. This bus stopped. I got on, it was also crowded, I'd never been on a bus during commuting time, so it was kinda a shock when It was kinda hard to find a seat. I then wasnt exactly sure where I wanted to get off, so for the next 25 minutes I kept my eyes pealed on the road ahead. I pressed the button at the right time cause I got off at the place I had decided to get off (the night before I google maped my whole trip) and I guess that googling was effective cause with no trouble I was able to find Ismo's house (I was going to have a lesson with him for the first time) He was awesome, and an awesome horn player! After the lesson I thought I had 10 minutes to get back to the bus stop before the bus would pass. So I walked very fast, and at one point jogged. I got the the bus stop and waited, then the bus came, I waved at it... it just kept going... What?!?!?!? That time I totally gave the bus enought time to slow down and stop for me. It was a 45minute wait till the next stop, which I spent hoping that that bus would stop for me, and yelling at the last bus for not stopping for me, laughing at how funny it felt to be standing on the side of the highway (tell ya the truth I felt kinda like an overdressed hooka ; ). Then next bus did stop for me. I found out later that there are Express buses, that only stop at certain bus stops, and regular buses that stop at any bus stop, so the buses that didnt stop for me... well it wasnt anything personal. I then had to figure out when to push the button for my stop... I pushed it too soon and endded up walking a bit more then a kilometer to get to my bike. I didn't mide that because I knew exactly where I was, and it gave me the change to figure out where I should push the button next time, now I know! (exciting day)
tiistai:
Snow fell for the first time today! We were in psychology (psykologia) and all the sudden everyone noticed that it was snowing. It was funny how even the teacher got really distracted. So exciting! Snow means winter is on it's way (most people love winter here). Went home, the power kept going on and off, must be because of the wind. Then I went to the Rotary meeting, there was a very talkitive man who was giving a speach about his trip to India (Intia) with the Stop Polio Now movement. It was very intresting, going into a little over 50 minutes of it and the power went out : ( he was forced to end... Oh well... Then I went home.
keskiviikko:
In biology (biologia) we did a cross word puzzle about photosynthesis (fotosynteesi) and I actually got one of them right (out of the two that I answered) : P I'm on my way! Puhalica band tonight, I really like some of those songs were playing (she gives me some great solos)!
torstai:
It was sorta rainning in the morning, but I used the water-proofish snow pants Eija gave to me when riding to school. Good thing I did cause I would have had really wet pants if I hadn't! It stopped raining (luckily) for my hyppytunti (free period) cause I had to go Kyröskoskilla to get my books from the book store. I made stops at Tokmanni and K Supermarket on the way back. I had fifth period class today, Tanssi Kurssi! (dance course) Pretty much no one showed up for the class because Syysloma would start as soon as school ended that day, so some people just ditched. It was just Piia, Jona, Henriikka, Sanni, a 3rd grader, the teacher and I. We spent the whole class trying to remember how the Oprah 24th season dance went (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvt3chGuU8I&feature=related) It's pretty much awesome! We also found fun hats and played with those, mine was like a russian furry hat, I wanted to keep it really badly but alas! We stayed past the time that the fifth period endded. It was snowing when we got out!!! Lots of snow, that was sticking way longer than the snow on tuesday. Sanni missed her bus, so after running around trying to catch snowflakes (it wasnt that hard cause some snowflakes where the width of golfballs!!! so they floated down really slowly) Then Sanni hoped on the back of my bike and we went to my house, laughing the entire way there, we passed a bunch of people that were waiting for a bus, I'm pretty sure they think we're crazy now. Then we almost ran over an old man on one of those rollaattori things (key word: almost) Then we hung out until her mom picked her up. Then Eija and I went to Tokmanni! It was a good day!
perjantai:
No school today!!! YEAH!!! Eija also had a day off of work, so around 10ish we headed of to the Ikaalisten Kylpylä (Ikaalinen Spa) It's a hotel/swim-park/bowling ally/lots of other stuff. We went swimming! It was a great place with a water slide, hot life guard, and lots of other things. They had hot tubes but theirs arn't even close to as hot as the ones in America! They also had a outdoor swimming pool with heated water, so we swam out there as it snowed, that was fun! There also was a höyrysauna (a steam sauna) that was REALLY nice, I liked that a lot!!! Then we picked up Eija's mom and went to this place known for really good food. It was a classy all you can eat buffet! With lots of traditional Finnish food. I tried a little of everything. I was surprised when I actually enjoyed the cold fish that were in different kinds of sauses, they didn't like somehting I would be able to keep down, but they were really good. We all ate a ton, then went back to Eija's mom's house for coffee/tea time. On the way home we stopped at this German store: LIDL, it was like a grocery store with only German and Finnish items. It was really funny to see that the german sizes were way bigger than the finnish sizes and usually cheaper, neither Eija or I could figure out why. I bought peanut butter, and when we got home PB&J's were made!
lauantai:
Eija was already at work when I got up today, Anssi was up getting a grocery list together, he asked if I wanted anything, I asked for the rice crispy cereal, but he didn't know what that was so I said I'd go with him. We first returned bottles (here each bottle is worth 15-20cents so they all get returned) Dad always said that if the return amount was higher, people would recycle, and it's true! He started making lunch, then he and Antti went somewhere so he asked me to watch the potatoes. I don't (didn't) know how to cook potatoes but didn't want him to know that so before he left I staggard my questions, asking little by little about cooking potatoes, pretty soon I knew how to cook potatoes, and he knew I hadn't known, mission 1/2 way success! Later Anssi went to Pori ("west coast town") to go to a hockey game, he had a great time! Eija and I watched the movie Se7en tonight with Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, ahhh such a good movie!!!
sunnuntai:
Raked some leaves today. There are so many leaves! When Eija got back from work we went to Tampere to visit with Johanna. She made us Glögi, a traditional christmas drink. It tasted like that Poupperi smells (not how it tastes cause I know from experience that that tastes nasty) but Glögi is awesome and I've got till Christmas to drink as much as I want of it! Johanna came home with us. We went on a walk around the block, all bundeled up with refectors hooked on our jackets, it was like a 4k walk and by the end of it I wished I hadn't bundeled up so much! Then we watched P.S. Rakastan Sinuait (P.S. I Love You) oh man such a good movie! Then It was bed time!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Viikko Yhdeksän
maanantai:
Headed off to school on Yrjö this morning, listening to my ipod, as always... after passing the libaray I heard someone talking, and looked over and this old man, riding his bike paralle to mine was chatting away to me, I didn't catch all he was saying, something about rain and the sky and mopoautos (the baby cars that you can drive when you turn 15) I didn't want him to figure out that I'm not Finnish, but I also couldn't think of anything good to say on the spot so I just nodded my head saying "niin, joo.... niin!!!.... joo..." It worked pretty well, and then he rode on straight, and I turnned "Moro" I said, and he waved... wonder if I'll ever see that old man again... Later that day Eija and I went to the libary, then we took a new way home, which answered my question of where that other road went to, cause we ended up driving that whole road but from the other direction so I didn't know it was my mystery road until the end of it when I realized where we were. It actually is a really cool road, with a couple farms, a lake, and a 700 year old, famous tree!!! I can't believe I'm living within a kilometer of a 700 year old famous tree!!! AWESOME!
tiistai:
I got to sleep in today cause I didn't have a class first period. That was nice! But surprisingly, even though I only had 3 classes, the day felt really long to me! It may have been because I was expecting the day to go by quickly, so I over-anticipated it... hmmm Later I went to the Kipputori (the flea market wonderland) I found a nice scarf, shirt, wife-beater, and hair bow, and spent a grand total of 4€ nice!
keskiviikko:
Puhalica (band) today, It's getting darker and darker earlier and earlier! riding back I realized that there are street lamps everywhere, and for good reason too! Sauna tonight! It's nice after a day in the cold to get heated up at night, it makes you kinda tired too, so you sleep really well!
torstai:
Today was 2 months since I left New York, wow! I had a study hall after lunch so I rode my bike to the book store to order my books, the older woman who owns the book store dosen't speach English, but I guess I know enough basics to get what I need across, and it helpped that before I went, I wroted down what I needed so she read the book titles that I needed instead of me having to remember and sound them all out. I think she said that they would be in next wednesday, but I'm not a totally sure... hmmm. Today was a long day to, we had dance course 5th class so we got out at 4:05. Eija and I got home at the same time. She then showed me around a near-by town, Ikaalinen, she said it is one of the oldest towns in Finland. Wow! And she showed me where the ice roads go.... I was like wait, people drive on the ice of the frosen lakes in Finland?!?!? I guess they do. Wow! I'll have to check that out when it's frosen enough! (Which might not be too far off cause Eija also said she heard on the news that snow may be coming next week!) Then we went to a sauna night. A group that Anssi is in rented a sauna lodge for the night. It was great! First you get all warm in the sauna, then you go out to the lake and swim in the extremely cold water (12 degrees C) the air was 8 C but the water felt way colder!!! Then you go back and forth from sauna to lake as many times as you want. I went swimming 3 times. It was actually really enjoyable! Then we went to the smoke sauna, It was my first time in a smoke sauna, the air tasted different (kinda smoky but not in the bad way) I think that the smoke sauna is the more traditional sauna, and there arn't may around anymore because they are harder to start up and work. So I was lucky to get in one! Then we ate makkara (sausages) and candy.
perjantai:
Today, the 2 month anniversary of being Suomissa, I cried : P I got to sleep in cause I only had two classes, and they were both after lunch. I ment to go in for lunch, but my plans changed when all my clothes were still not dry from washing them. So my jeans were a little wet when I rushed into school, hoping I wasn't late for class, I wasn't I had about 15 minutes. haha. Then it was a lazy day after that.
lauantai:
After waking up, Anssi went off on his motorcycle, and Eija and I went to the (tori) similar to a farmers' market. We bought musta makkara (black sausage) and some amazing, really big, really good, jelly doughnuts, I think they might have been in the shape of a cats head, but I don't know if that was intentional, or just I see cats everywhere... Well anyway they were good! Then we went to Tokmanni and tried on all the hats, it was so much fun, some of those hats are crazy! Then we cleaned up around the house, and just chilled for the rest of the day. When Anssi came home he was carring a big box with a picture of a trout on it, hmmm I thought, that looks like a cherry box from the store.... AHHHH MY PACKAGE!!! It was like Christmas morning! I got Skittles, Oreos, Marshmellows, Candy corn, Silly bands, Skittles, Long johns, and Kristy Barn Tee-Shirts!!! Ima be representing KB in the FI!
sunnuntai:
After lunch Eija and I organized the attic, she showed me her dolls from when she was little. They were in really good condition, unlike my Paige Doll, who is practically bald, and has magic marker stained on her face. (how I got magic marker to stain, I don't know...) There also was an adorable baby carage that Juhani and Antti used. Then I took a bike ride. I invented biking photography, (it's where you take pictures... wait for it.... WHILE you ride your bike) I know, I'm a genious : P I got some pretty interesting pictures, I think I'll become a pro bikegratographer (and look, I just made up a word to go along with it) Later that day, Eija, Anssi, and I went to the Rotary's concert at the Hämeenkyrö church that was raising money for the End Polio Now cause. It was a great program, a singer, pianist, violinist, and guitarist. All the songs were beautiful, and one of them was Amazing Grace, but in finnish. Which made me wonder, what language was that song origanaly wrote for?
Headed off to school on Yrjö this morning, listening to my ipod, as always... after passing the libaray I heard someone talking, and looked over and this old man, riding his bike paralle to mine was chatting away to me, I didn't catch all he was saying, something about rain and the sky and mopoautos (the baby cars that you can drive when you turn 15) I didn't want him to figure out that I'm not Finnish, but I also couldn't think of anything good to say on the spot so I just nodded my head saying "niin, joo.... niin!!!.... joo..." It worked pretty well, and then he rode on straight, and I turnned "Moro" I said, and he waved... wonder if I'll ever see that old man again... Later that day Eija and I went to the libary, then we took a new way home, which answered my question of where that other road went to, cause we ended up driving that whole road but from the other direction so I didn't know it was my mystery road until the end of it when I realized where we were. It actually is a really cool road, with a couple farms, a lake, and a 700 year old, famous tree!!! I can't believe I'm living within a kilometer of a 700 year old famous tree!!! AWESOME!
tiistai:
I got to sleep in today cause I didn't have a class first period. That was nice! But surprisingly, even though I only had 3 classes, the day felt really long to me! It may have been because I was expecting the day to go by quickly, so I over-anticipated it... hmmm Later I went to the Kipputori (the flea market wonderland) I found a nice scarf, shirt, wife-beater, and hair bow, and spent a grand total of 4€ nice!
keskiviikko:
Puhalica (band) today, It's getting darker and darker earlier and earlier! riding back I realized that there are street lamps everywhere, and for good reason too! Sauna tonight! It's nice after a day in the cold to get heated up at night, it makes you kinda tired too, so you sleep really well!
torstai:
Today was 2 months since I left New York, wow! I had a study hall after lunch so I rode my bike to the book store to order my books, the older woman who owns the book store dosen't speach English, but I guess I know enough basics to get what I need across, and it helpped that before I went, I wroted down what I needed so she read the book titles that I needed instead of me having to remember and sound them all out. I think she said that they would be in next wednesday, but I'm not a totally sure... hmmm. Today was a long day to, we had dance course 5th class so we got out at 4:05. Eija and I got home at the same time. She then showed me around a near-by town, Ikaalinen, she said it is one of the oldest towns in Finland. Wow! And she showed me where the ice roads go.... I was like wait, people drive on the ice of the frosen lakes in Finland?!?!? I guess they do. Wow! I'll have to check that out when it's frosen enough! (Which might not be too far off cause Eija also said she heard on the news that snow may be coming next week!) Then we went to a sauna night. A group that Anssi is in rented a sauna lodge for the night. It was great! First you get all warm in the sauna, then you go out to the lake and swim in the extremely cold water (12 degrees C) the air was 8 C but the water felt way colder!!! Then you go back and forth from sauna to lake as many times as you want. I went swimming 3 times. It was actually really enjoyable! Then we went to the smoke sauna, It was my first time in a smoke sauna, the air tasted different (kinda smoky but not in the bad way) I think that the smoke sauna is the more traditional sauna, and there arn't may around anymore because they are harder to start up and work. So I was lucky to get in one! Then we ate makkara (sausages) and candy.
perjantai:
Today, the 2 month anniversary of being Suomissa, I cried : P I got to sleep in cause I only had two classes, and they were both after lunch. I ment to go in for lunch, but my plans changed when all my clothes were still not dry from washing them. So my jeans were a little wet when I rushed into school, hoping I wasn't late for class, I wasn't I had about 15 minutes. haha. Then it was a lazy day after that.
lauantai:
After waking up, Anssi went off on his motorcycle, and Eija and I went to the (tori) similar to a farmers' market. We bought musta makkara (black sausage) and some amazing, really big, really good, jelly doughnuts, I think they might have been in the shape of a cats head, but I don't know if that was intentional, or just I see cats everywhere... Well anyway they were good! Then we went to Tokmanni and tried on all the hats, it was so much fun, some of those hats are crazy! Then we cleaned up around the house, and just chilled for the rest of the day. When Anssi came home he was carring a big box with a picture of a trout on it, hmmm I thought, that looks like a cherry box from the store.... AHHHH MY PACKAGE!!! It was like Christmas morning! I got Skittles, Oreos, Marshmellows, Candy corn, Silly bands, Skittles, Long johns, and Kristy Barn Tee-Shirts!!! Ima be representing KB in the FI!
sunnuntai:
After lunch Eija and I organized the attic, she showed me her dolls from when she was little. They were in really good condition, unlike my Paige Doll, who is practically bald, and has magic marker stained on her face. (how I got magic marker to stain, I don't know...) There also was an adorable baby carage that Juhani and Antti used. Then I took a bike ride. I invented biking photography, (it's where you take pictures... wait for it.... WHILE you ride your bike) I know, I'm a genious : P I got some pretty interesting pictures, I think I'll become a pro bikegratographer (and look, I just made up a word to go along with it) Later that day, Eija, Anssi, and I went to the Rotary's concert at the Hämeenkyrö church that was raising money for the End Polio Now cause. It was a great program, a singer, pianist, violinist, and guitarist. All the songs were beautiful, and one of them was Amazing Grace, but in finnish. Which made me wonder, what language was that song origanaly wrote for?
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Viikko Kahdeksan
maanantai:
Half way through my bowl of porage this morning it dawned on me that my dream last night was almost half in finnish! Sweetness! Cause I hear that when you start dreaming in another language it means that you are becoming fluent. So that's a good sign! Had my music test today, hyvin meni, (it went well.) I could have gone home but instead I hung out with Sanni, we ate lunch, then went to the Munkkilja (a bakery across the street from the school) I got a munkki with banana frosting, she got one with strawberry frosting. Then we went back to school and discovered the student lounge. It's a great place with couches, wheely chairs, a computer, a microwave, TV, playstation, radio, and a kitchen sink, literally. Then Sanni's bus came and I rode home on my bike, which Piia and I named: Yrjö (a really, really, finnish name.)
tiistai:
I didn't have a test today, so I didn't have to go to school. I was thinking about going in for lunch, but was too lazy. Good thing I didn't because Eija came home with Hesburger just for me. I have never been to a Hesburger but now I can say I've had it. It was really good too! I then headed off to the Rotary meeting, I had my presentation to give. That also went really well. They asked me if we get snow EVERY year. It's kind of funny because I think it's hard for them to belive that places south of Finland can get any snow at all. But we get snow days, (they don't here, I've asked many people, they get probably 2 to 3 times as much snow as us, and they still go to school! yeah can't wait!!!) I also met a girl, Asta, at the meeting who spent last year in Germany. She had to give her presentation too. Germany seems like a cool place.
keskiviikko:
Again I didn't have to go to school. Eija made lunch then went to work, and I went on a walk to figure out if these two roads near my house connect. So I started walking down one of them... and walking.... and walking. In the forest between the two roads is a huge cell phone tower so I was able to use that as a reference to where I was. The road that I took got very close to where it should meet up with the other road, then it split into three roads... ugh One was headed in the complete wrong direction for meeting up with the other road, one headed into the woods, and the last was headed in the right direction but soon dissolved into a bunch of brush... So I gave up, walked to the tower and then home to get ready for band. I'll have to walk the other road and see where that gose next time I'm free!
torstai:
Once again, no school for me! Eija took me out for lunch, a little old place just down the road. Hot dog soup found me again! (Makkara keito if you want to get technical) After lunch she showed me around the place. It used to be a farm that belonged to seven sisters a very long time ago. When they all pasted away, a group of older men took it on themselves to fix up all the buildings (they were in really bad shape) and make it into what it is today. One building to get lunch in, one that you can rent a hall to have a party in, one that you can rent to have a dance in, one that you can rent for wedding party (with a honeymoon suite above) and also a smoke sauna that you can rent. It was a really cool place! Lots of charm! Later that day I spent 2 and a half hours hitting up all of the grocery stores in town. Just for fun, and now that I think about it, there are a ton of grocery stores for such a small town, K Market, Valintatalo, 2 Siwa, Tokmanni, K Supermarket (Super Päivä), and S Market. And S Market is still my favorite with Super Päivä a close second (they always have bread samples out so...)
perjantai:
School. I had an English test so I had to go... I think I failed it : P wouldn't that be funny! Then Sanni came over, we watched I, Robot with Will Smith (love him!) watched Youtube vidieos, "Shoes, lets get some shoes" never made it to Finland, sad. Then we made waffles (the most amazing waffles ever!) they were so good, and I had bought this Maito-Suklaalevite sauce stuff, that went really well with waffles, it tastes like those hershey kisses 'hugs' (the ones with white and milk chocolate swirled) but at a peanut butter consistency. Anyway, really good on waffles! Antti and Juhani both came home!
lauantai:
I realized that I now have a better understanding of how cats or dogs can tell when they're owners are going to leave for a while. Things started changing, I didn't know where we were gonna go, that was if it was a "we" thing. But sure enought within five minutes we were out the door and headed to Kesä mökki (summer cabin) we raked leaves and cleaned up, getting ready to shut it down for the winter, moving fire wood, lots and lots of fire wood : P. Then the sauna, Eija and I dared to swim in the lake, It was super cold, and I forgot I had my 3€, talking watch from Tampere on, so now that's dead... oh well. Then it was the boys' turn, none of them dared to go in the lake. I don't think it was that bad, and I hear that in the winter they cut a swimming hole out of the ice and people go swimming and saunaing then too, I've got to try that!
sunnuntai:
We spent the day in Tampere! First we went to this 'Home Expo' with lots of infromation and products to get if you are building a house, or adding on to you house, or decorating your house. Like the free-stuff building at the State Fair! It was really cool and you could enter to win different things, like money, products, gift cards... cross my fingers that I win! Then we went to Manhattan, yup we flew all the way there and back in a day. Nahh it was a dinner place. I got a taco, Finnish tacos have a asain flare to them, (they are served with rice that tasted asian to me... haha idk) but it was good! Then we walked through the fish market, Anssi bought these little breaded fish (the size of larger minnows) from a food vender. Yup head, skeleton, and all! They actually were pretty good, you grab em by the tail, one bit and all that's left is the tail (which you don't eat) But I don't think they would sell very well in America, nahh...
Half way through my bowl of porage this morning it dawned on me that my dream last night was almost half in finnish! Sweetness! Cause I hear that when you start dreaming in another language it means that you are becoming fluent. So that's a good sign! Had my music test today, hyvin meni, (it went well.) I could have gone home but instead I hung out with Sanni, we ate lunch, then went to the Munkkilja (a bakery across the street from the school) I got a munkki with banana frosting, she got one with strawberry frosting. Then we went back to school and discovered the student lounge. It's a great place with couches, wheely chairs, a computer, a microwave, TV, playstation, radio, and a kitchen sink, literally. Then Sanni's bus came and I rode home on my bike, which Piia and I named: Yrjö (a really, really, finnish name.)
tiistai:
I didn't have a test today, so I didn't have to go to school. I was thinking about going in for lunch, but was too lazy. Good thing I didn't because Eija came home with Hesburger just for me. I have never been to a Hesburger but now I can say I've had it. It was really good too! I then headed off to the Rotary meeting, I had my presentation to give. That also went really well. They asked me if we get snow EVERY year. It's kind of funny because I think it's hard for them to belive that places south of Finland can get any snow at all. But we get snow days, (they don't here, I've asked many people, they get probably 2 to 3 times as much snow as us, and they still go to school! yeah can't wait!!!) I also met a girl, Asta, at the meeting who spent last year in Germany. She had to give her presentation too. Germany seems like a cool place.
keskiviikko:
Again I didn't have to go to school. Eija made lunch then went to work, and I went on a walk to figure out if these two roads near my house connect. So I started walking down one of them... and walking.... and walking. In the forest between the two roads is a huge cell phone tower so I was able to use that as a reference to where I was. The road that I took got very close to where it should meet up with the other road, then it split into three roads... ugh One was headed in the complete wrong direction for meeting up with the other road, one headed into the woods, and the last was headed in the right direction but soon dissolved into a bunch of brush... So I gave up, walked to the tower and then home to get ready for band. I'll have to walk the other road and see where that gose next time I'm free!
torstai:
Once again, no school for me! Eija took me out for lunch, a little old place just down the road. Hot dog soup found me again! (Makkara keito if you want to get technical) After lunch she showed me around the place. It used to be a farm that belonged to seven sisters a very long time ago. When they all pasted away, a group of older men took it on themselves to fix up all the buildings (they were in really bad shape) and make it into what it is today. One building to get lunch in, one that you can rent a hall to have a party in, one that you can rent to have a dance in, one that you can rent for wedding party (with a honeymoon suite above) and also a smoke sauna that you can rent. It was a really cool place! Lots of charm! Later that day I spent 2 and a half hours hitting up all of the grocery stores in town. Just for fun, and now that I think about it, there are a ton of grocery stores for such a small town, K Market, Valintatalo, 2 Siwa, Tokmanni, K Supermarket (Super Päivä), and S Market. And S Market is still my favorite with Super Päivä a close second (they always have bread samples out so...)
perjantai:
School. I had an English test so I had to go... I think I failed it : P wouldn't that be funny! Then Sanni came over, we watched I, Robot with Will Smith (love him!) watched Youtube vidieos, "Shoes, lets get some shoes" never made it to Finland, sad. Then we made waffles (the most amazing waffles ever!) they were so good, and I had bought this Maito-Suklaalevite sauce stuff, that went really well with waffles, it tastes like those hershey kisses 'hugs' (the ones with white and milk chocolate swirled) but at a peanut butter consistency. Anyway, really good on waffles! Antti and Juhani both came home!
lauantai:
I realized that I now have a better understanding of how cats or dogs can tell when they're owners are going to leave for a while. Things started changing, I didn't know where we were gonna go, that was if it was a "we" thing. But sure enought within five minutes we were out the door and headed to Kesä mökki (summer cabin) we raked leaves and cleaned up, getting ready to shut it down for the winter, moving fire wood, lots and lots of fire wood : P. Then the sauna, Eija and I dared to swim in the lake, It was super cold, and I forgot I had my 3€, talking watch from Tampere on, so now that's dead... oh well. Then it was the boys' turn, none of them dared to go in the lake. I don't think it was that bad, and I hear that in the winter they cut a swimming hole out of the ice and people go swimming and saunaing then too, I've got to try that!
sunnuntai:
We spent the day in Tampere! First we went to this 'Home Expo' with lots of infromation and products to get if you are building a house, or adding on to you house, or decorating your house. Like the free-stuff building at the State Fair! It was really cool and you could enter to win different things, like money, products, gift cards... cross my fingers that I win! Then we went to Manhattan, yup we flew all the way there and back in a day. Nahh it was a dinner place. I got a taco, Finnish tacos have a asain flare to them, (they are served with rice that tasted asian to me... haha idk) but it was good! Then we walked through the fish market, Anssi bought these little breaded fish (the size of larger minnows) from a food vender. Yup head, skeleton, and all! They actually were pretty good, you grab em by the tail, one bit and all that's left is the tail (which you don't eat) But I don't think they would sell very well in America, nahh...
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