Cough Drop Flavored Gum

When one does not know the language in the country he or she is in, mistakes will be made.  The grocery store continues to be somewhat of a guessing game for me.  I usually have my iphone out translating on every trip.  I have identified many staples that I routinely buy, but I am still taking chances and trying new things.  Today, I was feeling a bit spontaneous so I just bought a pack of gum without trying to translate.  Yep, I just looked at the picture, and boldly took the risk...only to be caught totally off guard by the sudden burning sensation in my nasal passages!  Who knew there was such a flavor for gum!?!

Now that I take a closer look, I can clearly see mentoli which I now understand is "menthol" and NOT mint.

Happy Independence Day Finland

Last night we had the honor of attending a Finland Independence Day Banquet.  We were the guests of a very remarkable family here in Imatra.  They graciously invited us to celebrate this solemn and joyous occasion with them.  It was a formal affair in the hotel I call the "castle hotel".  It was fun getting dressed up and seeing how people from another country celebrate their independence.  It was very different than the backyard barbecues and fireworks that Americans are accustomed to.  The self reliant Finns are very proud of their independence and rightly so.  It is no small feat to stand up against their hulk of a neighbor.  I was able to get a better understanding of just how exceptional this feat was after watching the  movie "Fire and Ice".  It is a movie that details the Winter War between Finland and Russia.  This year marks Finland's 94th year of independence from Russia.  Each year of independence, another link is added to this chain.  A distinguished member of the community has the honor of hammering the link together.

While sitting at the dinner table, I couldn't help but recall the first time I was in that very room.  It was the same room where we had dinner our very first time in Imatra.  We were in Imatra for a whirlwind trip to  decide whether we could move to Finland.  Now, sitting amongst our new  Finnish friends, I could not have predicted a better outcome.

It is with sincerity that I wish Finland a Happy Independence Day.  I am grateful to have been a part of the celebration and for the opportunity to celebrate in the company of such great people.

Here another link is hammered together.

The "Castle Hotel" has a special place in our history :)

 A picture of "downtown" and the "Italian" restaurant we eat at all the time (Rosso)

Here is McDonald's.  My apartment is in the building behind McDonalds.  I can see it from my balcony.

Thanksgiving with a Wild Finnish Turkey & a Russian Pumpkin

Would you believe it???  Pumpkin, of any sort, is next to impossible to find in my area of Finland.  Preparing Thanksgiving dinner has a new level of complication for me this year.  Cooking is complicated already for me, but lacking some of my basic Thanksgiving staples such as a Butterball turkey, packaged stuffing mix and cream corn makes things a bit more challenging.  Despite tomorrow being just another day in Finland and the culinary challenges I face, I am determined to celebrate Thanksgiving.  So, in the spirit of thankfulness, with a little creativity, the assistance of my culinary gifted friend and a gift of a rare Russian pumpkin, I just may be able to pull it off.  I have cubed a loaf of bread for the stuffing, I have just finished roasting and pureeing the pumpkin, sweet potato yeast rolls are waiting to rise, and my wild Finnish turkey is thawing patiently in the fridge.  I will keep you posted on how it all turns out.

No "Boo" for You!

Happy Halloween to my friends in the US.  The kids are already in bed asleep sans Trick-or-Treating.  I have missed Halloween; the scarecrows I would put in my yard, the mums, and the Jack-o-lanterns.  I am a little sad that we aren't Trick-or-Treating, we have always had a lot of fun on Halloween.  The kids really haven't said much about it though.  We haven't been totally deprived of Halloween here.  Some of the stores do offer a handful of the standard Halloween garb.  Lane was able to find yet another Grim Reaper costume.  Last week at school they had a big Halloween Conwat (Finnish term for a celebration).  Some of the kids dressed up and there was games, food and dancing.  The kids had fun.  Also, I think this Wednesday there is another "Halloween Party".  It is All Saints Day which is a holiday here.  We may get a chance to dress up and feast on candy and the like again.

This past week has been good.  We are trying to settle into a routine.  It is different again for us now that grandpa has returned home after being here for a month.  Mike and I had an enjoyable night out with friends for a wine tasting and dinner.  The company, the wine and the food was all great.  I have also joined a running club here.  I am looking forward to getting to know fellow runners and reaching new goals.

We are heading off on another adventure.  On Thursday, we will be embarking on a trip to Sweden.  We are really excited about it.  I think the kids will enjoy this trip more than the others.  They are looking forward to the cruise because they heard there is a swimming pool on the boat (world travel from a kid's perspective). I am looking forward to a real Swedish massage.  I am also excited to be treading along Lisbeth Salander's old haunts ;).  So now, instead of uploading pictures from Munich, I am planning our trip to Sweden.  My scrapbooking project seems insurmountable right now.  I am going to have to be more organized if I am going to keep up with it.

Godnatt!

Home Sweet Home

Hello to my blog followers!
I think returning "home" from any vacation is a drag but it is particularly hard when you are returning exhausted from  your vacation.  I must admit, it feels kind of strange to refer to Finland as "home".  This is the first time I have referred to Finland as such.  I realized from the time we landed back in Finland, and was greeted by signs that were posted in English as well.  In Munich, most signs and postings are in German, so it takes a little extra thought and time to decode information.  Munich is an amazing city with so much culture per square inch- it's overwhelming.  It is a happening place with smartly dressed people who seem to be making things happen.  I have been debating about how best to blog about our time in Bavaria.  Honestly, we saw and did so much, that I am still processing it.  There is so much history in Munich.  Standing amidst that level of history is... heavy.  I am still in the process of going through and organizing pictures; trying to remember what very important piece of history is in each picture. I plan to post pictures and details in my blog but I need time to get my pictures and facts straight.

Political Ambush

Being in Finland has been quite the political buffer.  I cringe to say this, but I don't really know what is going on in US politics, and it has been... refreshing.  Every now and again, I will catch a bit of US politics when surfing channels- we have an international CNN that is in English, but, most of the time I am oblivious.  Yesterday, I got a different kind of reminder.  I met some friends at a local cafe to catch up after our vacations.  We were only there 5 minutes when there was a commotion.  Apparently, one of the front runners for Finland's presidency, had planned a campaign speech for that exact same time and place.  I thought it was a novel experience... for about 5 minutes.  After about 30 minutes into the speech (that was all in Finnish), I was reminded of all the wonderful speeches I must be missing in the US.  I probably got as much out of this Finnish politician's speech as I do from a US a politician's... I didn't understand a thing!  I must do better if I am going to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

Also, today I participated in my first aerobics class in years, in Finnish I might add.  I wish I could blame my poor performance on the language barrier.  Unfortunately, my coordination is to blame.  It was fun though.  I am beginning to relish being outside my "comfort zone".  I'm afraid comfortable may feel a bit mundane now.

Finnish Traditions

Our weekdays are becoming more routine, which I look to be a good thing.  We do look for fun and excitement on the weekends though.  On Friday night, Mike and I were able to meet up with friends at a local pub.  It was a multi-cultural affair with Finland, England, Scotland, Canada and the US all being represented.  We enjoyed sharing our experiences and hearing from others about their experiences into the wee hours of the night.  The Finns know how to have a good time and sincerely enjoy good conversation.  The convivial atmosphere increased as the night went on; it only commenced when the doorman kindly asked us to leave at closing time. This makes two late weekends in a row for us.


On Saturday, Alayna's class had a sausage roast over a campfire.  This is a very Finnish affair as Finns are known for their love of the outdoors.  The kids had a great time playing and I was able to get to know some of the other parents better.  Alayna's teacher also made traditional Finnish pancakes over the campfire. They were very good!  She even sent some batter home with us.  I made the crepe style pancakes for breakfast this morning and they got rave reviews!  I must get that recipe.


We leave for Munich this week.  It is sure to be an interesting trip.  I am leaving with the kids and Bob on Tuesday.  Mike will not be able to get there until Thursday, so I will be the solo tour guide the first couple days.  Just escorting two kids and a senior citizen in a foreign country will be a trip in itself.  We will be very busy but I will try to post while I'm there.

Auf wiedersehen!

Welcome to Lovely Estonia!

Early Saturday morning, we were off to Helsinki to catch a ferry to the medieval town of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.  After a quick 2 hour ride, we seemed to have traveled hundreds of years back in time.  In fact, what was one of the first things we saw?  It was none other than Shrek.  

We spent the day strolling around town and taking in the sights.  Tallinn is a beautiful city that is perfect to tour by foot.  Most of the sight seeing is located in the "Old Town".  Surrounding Old Town, is the original medieval wall that is still mostly in tact.  Tallinn is a "town of two towns".  Inside the city wall, there is also another wall, that separated the feuding upper town from the lower town in medieval times.  

Estonia has seen more than its fair share of feuds.  Its prime location between Russia and Europe, has made it an alluring target for invasion by rulers (Danes, Swedes and more recently, Germans & Soviet Russia).  Estonia was occupied by the communistic government of Soviet Russia until 1991.  How the Estonians persevered during those dark years, is nothing short of amazing.  If you are interested in history, I highly recommend "The Singing Revolution".  It is a documentary (that can be downloaded from iTunes) that details the Estonian's long, hard struggle for independence.  It is pretty sobering to realize that people, not too different from myself, know what it is like to make themselves a human shield in the name of independence.

Today, Estonia emits a lively and energetic vibe.  It is eager for prosperity and the tourist dollar.  There are tons of shops and restaurants sprawling with workers dressed in traditional medieval garb.  The food is quite good too!  We enjoyed our first steak, since we have been abroad, and were tickled to see the meat was Angus beef imported from the US.  Tallinn also has plenty of nightclubs (and is still bustling at 3 a.m. I might add).  Thanks to Grandpa Bob, Mike and I were able to visit a few.  We couldn't stop laughing at the irony of being in Estonia, at an Irish pub, with a bunch of Finns, singing Karaoke to the likes of Bon Jovi and Jon Mellencamp.

Tallinn is a lovely city with a lot of culture.  One day was not enough for us to take in all that Tallinn has to offer.  We can't wait for our next visit.

Here is a great view of Tallinn's medieval architecture.  Some of these structures date back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

The tall tower in the background is the radio/TV tower that gave Estonians their only glimpse of the Western world during Soviet Occupation.  In the 1980's, most Estonians had no idea what a pineapple or banana looked like. (Scandinavia 12th ed, Rick Steves).  This is also the tower the Estonians guarded with their life during the harrowing days, in 1991, when they won their independence from the USSR.

Here is a picture of the wall.  This particular section is know as "Sweater Wall".  Tallinn is famous for its woolen goods as well as amber, linen, ceramics and iron decor.

A Hiking We Will Go!

Grandpa Bob is visiting us from Iowa so we have been sharing and exploring Finland with him.  For a fun weekend activity, we decided take advantage of the sunny day and go hiking.  Some American friends, who are familiar with the area, took us hiking up a mountain that is the highest point in South Karelia  (Karelia is the region of Finland we are in).  The lookout from the top of the mountain was beautiful.  As you can see, the leaves are already turning here.  Along the way, we saw landmarks from the early 1700's, such as the early border between Sweden and Russia which is now, of course, Finland.  We also stopped at a unique art exhibit situated in a garden along the road.  We had fun walking among the strange and eerie mud sculptures.  Some of them were a bit creepy with their all to realistic set of teeth. 

We are doing our best to explore Finland and find all it has to offer.  We take delight in discovering sites off the beaten path.

      Here we are on top of the mountain near the 1722 border between Russia and Sweden

                                                                        Nice Teeth!

1,376 Minutes

Perhaps it is because we have not fully settled here in Finland, but free time is something the kids and I have a lot more of.  As I have mentioned before, the school days are much shorter here, so the kids are home with me a lot more often than in the US.  I am trying to fill this free time with more productive activities than watching TV and playing video games.  Although Finnish schools have been rated top in the world, I plan on starting a homeschool program with my kids as well.  It just makes me nervous not knowing what the kids in the US are doing in school.  So I am currently looking into US homeschool options to supplement their Finnish school.

The other night, Lane called me into his room to tuck him in.  While I was lying with him I asked, "When you are 15 can I still tuck you in?"  He replied, "No, I will be too old."  I said, "How about when you are 10?"  He agreed that 10 and even when he is 11 it would still be ok.  However, when I got to 12, he told me he would be too old.  I said, "But I'll be sad when I can't tuck you in anymore."  To which he replied, "Well, then you better enjoy it while you can." I love that kid!  The next night when I went in to tuck him in, he informed me that I only had 1,376 tucking in minutes left.  Yikes!  I don't know where he came up with that figure but I better treasure every minute!!!

One thing for sure, we have a lot more together time in Finland.  We have become closer as a family and look forward to new adventures whether they are at the swimming hall or in another foreign country.  Next stop...Estonia.

The Irony of it All

The events of the past week have caused me to reflect upon the ironies of life.  This weekend, we had a nine hour cultural training course with one of the most interesting and animated people I have met.  She is a Finnish woman, in public relations, who has traveled the world.  Much of the discussion pertained to differences in culture and culture shock.  I must share a point from her presentation that I find amusing:
1.  When a stranger on the street smiles, a Finn assumes that he is:
-drunk
-insane
-or an American
Every time I look at this, I can't help but smile.  Finns are characterized as being quiet, shy and reserved.  However, Mirka was in true contrast with that characterization.  We had one of the longest conversations we have ever had, with one of the friendliest and liveliest persons, we have ever met.

On Sunday, Mike left for the US and will be gone for a week.  We all miss him terribly when he is gone, but it was especially hard to see him go on his birthday, a day we would typically celebrate together.  Also, Sundays tend to be especially long here.  First,  most things are closed or have very limited hours.  Second, the kids games are not on weekends.  Third, we live in a tiny apartment with little or nonexistent work/ yard work to be done.  We try to find something fun and interesting to do.  I thought that going to the local swimming hall would be a good way to occupy our time.

Part of experiencing a new culture is, inevitably, making a few mistakes along the way.  This can be frustrating and anxiety provoking.  It can make you laugh, or it may make you cry.  The following experience, did both...

So we paid for our pool/sauna admission and I notice a sign, in Finnish, that has a pair of swim trunks with a cross through it.  This sign bewildered me.  Could it mean men can't wear the typical "board shorts" to swim at the pool???  Surely not???  Yep!  That's what it meant alright.  Rather than go home and forfeit the day, I opted to play the dumb American card.  Poor Lane.  He came up to me and said, "Everyone is staring at me cuz I'm the only one with shorts on."  I told him not to worry about it and we would get him some "appropriate shorts" later.  I am cracking up to the point of tears as I write this.  I can't help but think back to the Ben Stiller moment in Meet the Parent's.  As I glanced around at all the spandex clad men and boys, and then Lane in his board shorts, I couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of the situation.  Then Alayna and I were off to the sauna to get naked with some "shy" Finnish women.  More on that some other time.

Part of our cultural training included noshing on this Finnish culinary creation.  It is called vety.  It is a meat pie with ground beef, smoked ham, boiled eggs and garlic mayo.  It was actually pretty tasty.

This past week, I finally did my presentation on America.  I thought it was a fitting week to pay tribute to all the things that make America great.  I began the presentation by asking the kids what they knew about America.  Not surprisingly, most of what they knew pertained to sports.  It seems that America has quite the reputation of honoring sports stars like heroes.

I shared with them my photo book from the past year.  They enjoyed seeing pictures from our family vacations to the beach, Disney World, and Universal Studios as well as day to day things like school, sports and activities.  We discussed the similarities and differences between the two countries.  I shared with them that I felt Finland was an easy place to transition to for an American, especially, since most Finns know English.  In fact, many Finns know 3-5 languages. I guess, since Finnish is such a difficult language, learning another language is simple.

Although, I thought it would be easy for an American to live in Finland, they did not feel it would be easy for them to live in America.  They did not like the idea of going to school from 8-3 every day or having 4 or more tests a week.  They also didn't realize that most American kids aren't able to ride their bikes to school or around town as they please.  I can tell you that my kids are enjoying the short school days and not having many tests.  They are beginning to enjoy riding their bikes around by themselves, especially, since they have their own cell phone.  Most school-age Finnish kids have a cell phone since they are allowed to go places on their own.

This week, the kids and I began Finnish classes.  We are trying to memorize the sound of the letters, days of the week and months of the year.  We will have lessons one time a week.  The kids seem excited to learn Finnish.  Mike has also started Russian classes.  He's got his work cut out for him.

We took advantage of another good weekend and went to a town about 1 1/2 hours away.  Salvonlinna is a town in Finland with a Medieval castle.  The town hosts a world famous opera festival in July.  It is pretty quiet now in the off season.  The castle, although mostly empty, is nicely restored and maintained. We enjoyed are self-guided tour since the only tour in the off season is in Finnish.

This past week, I finally did my presentation on America.  I thought it was a fitting week to pay tribute to all the things that make America great.  I began the presentation by asking the kids what they knew about America.  Not surprisingly, most of what they knew pertained to sports.  It seems that America has quite the reputation of honoring sports stars like heroes.

I shared with them my photo book from the past year.  They enjoyed seeing pictures from our family vacations to the beach, Disney World, and Universal Studios as well as day to day things like school, sports and activities.  We discussed the similarities and differences between the two countries.  I shared with them that I felt Finland was an easy place to transition to for an American, especially, since most Finns know English.  In fact, many Finns know 3-5 languages. I guess, since Finnish is such a difficult language, learning another language is simple.

Although, I thought it would be easy for an American to live in Finland, they did not feel it would be easy for them to live in America.  They did not like the idea of going to school from 8-3 every day or having 4 or more tests a week.  They also didn't realize that most American kids aren't able to ride their bikes to school or around town as they please.  I can tell you that my kids are enjoying the short school days and not having many tests.  They are beginning to enjoy riding their bikes around by themselves, especially, since they have their own cell phone.  Most school-age Finnish kids have a cell phone since they are allowed to go places on their own.

This week, the kids and I began Finnish classes.  We are trying to memorize the sound of the letters, days of the week and months of the year.  We will have lessons one time a week.  The kids seem excited to learn Finnish.  Mike has also started Russian classes.  He's got his work cut out for him.

We took advantage of another good weekend and went to a town about 1 1/2 hours away.  Salvonlinna is a town in Finland with a Medieval castle.  The town hosts a world famous opera festival in July.  It is pretty quiet now in the off season.  The castle, although mostly empty, is nicely restored and maintained. We enjoyed are self-guided tour since the only tour in the off season is in Finnish.

Hola from Helsinki!

We had a great weekend in Helsinki.  What was the first thing we sought out upon arriving in Finland's capital city you may ask???  It was nothing other than a Mexican restaurant.  I have come to realize, that one of the things I miss most living here in Finland, is Mexico.  Imagine for a moment, a place with no decent chips, salsa, tacos, burritos or margaritas.  If this thought is harrowing for you, then maybe you can identify with me.  When we were given a tip of a Tex-Mex place in Helsinki, my hopes started to rise.  My excitement grew as I saw the beautiful sign glowing against the Helsinki city backdrop.  The Tex-Mex theme was carried over in the interior as well.  I spotted the outline of my beloved Lone Star State, faux cacti and sequin adorned sombreros.  The tiniest bowl of store-bought tortilla chips and salsa awaited us at our table.  Our friendly waitress, wearing something akin to a Texas Road House shirt, took our drink order.  I could hardly wait for my frozen concoction to arrive.  I savored every sip of my table-salt rimmed frozen margarita.  I also ate a least half of my chicken (with a hint of BBQ flavor) burrito.  Over all, it was more edible than our last Mexican experience in Finland.  The highlight was definitely the festive Finnish waiter in the sombrero.

Helsinki is a beautiful and modern city on the Baltic ocean.  There are also a lot of historic places to visit, which we did not fit in this trip.  We spent most of our time shopping.  Helsinki feels like a very safe and calm place.  It doesn't seem to have the hectic atmosphere that most large cities have.  You can pretty much cover the whole city on foot.  Sometime,  I would love to go back (sans the kiddos).  We passed a lot of pubs and nightclubs that looked like fun.  One place boasted of a sub zero ice bar where they loan you a fur coat to bundle up in.  I am definitely gonna have to check that place out.

Fun in the sun...before it's gone

We have been advised that there are a limited number of warm sunny days left so we are doing our best to take full advantage.  We had a great weekend in a neighboring town. We met friends and enjoyed a day of sightseeing and activities. The kids had a blast doing a ropes course.  Enjoy the pics!

We were surprised and impressed by a huge sand sculpture near the city center.

 

Monkey See, Monkey Do

It is said that the Finnish and Russian language are among the hardest to learn. From what I have seen, I agree. We are picking up a few words here and there, but we find that we can usually just say "English" and they are able to speak English pretty well with us. However, we still find ourselves in situations where we look for contextual cues to survive.

There are lots of activities listed in the newspaper, the problem is, it is in Finnish. We have been trying to immerse ourselves in the community here and I have made a few Finnish friends who have recommended activities for us. Today, I took Alayna to a gymnastic class. We showed up not knowing anyone. The teacher gave all commands in Finnish and Alayna did her best to just follow what the others were doing. I too have devised a strategy. I find a mom who looks the nicest and then make my move. I introduce myself and explain how I just moved here from America. I then ask her to translate for me. I find that strategy to work most of the time and they seem to enjoy the interaction as well.

Tonight, the kids and I met a group of my husband's co-workers at the restaurant where we have already become regulars. It was nice to be among Americans, some we knew, others we just met. For a moment, I almost forgot we were in Finland.

Finnish Hospitality

Today the kids participated in what I would describe as a track and field club.  The kids perform various exercises and warm-ups that are typical of track and field.  In Finland, schools do not have team sports.  Team sports are all performed through city or private organizations.  The kids enjoyed these exercises and plan to join.  They will go two times a week for 60-90 minutes. Tomorrow we are trying gymnastics which is also through the city.  It costs about $50 for 6 months.  Activities through the city are one of the few bargains in Finland.

After class we were invited to our Finnish friends' home for bread cheese.  Bread cheese is a traditional Finnish dish.  It is hard to describe as I have nothing to compare it to.  It is large and flat, like a pizza crust would be.  Uncooked, it has a rubbery texture and "squeaks" when you chew it.  Basically, it has a texture between fresh mozzarella and cheese curds.  It has a mild cheese flavor similar to mozzarella.  Cream is generously poured over it and then it is baked until it is golden a bubbly.  It is traditionally served with cloudberry jam and fresh berries.  The end result is simply delicious.  The kids and I gave it five stars.  I mean it's cheese cooked in cream, what's not to love about that?  The only thing that was more delightful, was the company.  They were so warm and welcoming.  We truly enjoyed their Finnish hospitality and were made to feel right at home. 

Lesson of the day:  For all you Angry Bird enthusiasts- it was invented right here in Finland.  So you can thank the Finns for all the time you have wasted catapulting birds.

Bread Cheese-Yum!

The Mushroom Effect

This has been one of the most enjoyable Mondays I have had in a long time.  Today, the kids rode their bikes home from school with me driving a bit behind them on the road that paralells the bike path.  It is a real easy ride and they only have to cross a main road once.  Alayna played with a friend after school who mainly speaks Finnish.  It was fun seeing how the girls were able to play so well without speaking the same language.  We had fun pointing to things and giving the English name while she would then translate to Finnish.  The translation ap on my iPhone also facilitated our game and communication.  Tomorrow, we are going with our new friend to try out a "Track & Field" club for kids that she belongs to.

I met my teacher friend today and assisted in her 6th grade math class.  Upon my arrival, she shared with me some of her prized chanterelle mushrooms.  Chanterelles are a delicacy that only grow certain times of the year.  Mushroom hunters fiercely guard the secret location where they find this treasured fungus.  These golden beauties were delicious and unlike any mushroom I have ever tasted before.  

After the class, I met up with my American friend and toured the local gym.  It is small and basic, but I think it has everything I need.  I hope to make the gym part of my regular routine soon.  We caught up with my new friend's coffee group at a local cafe after touring the gym.  It was a unique group consisting of two local Finn women, my Brazilian friend, and two American women.  We enjoyed coffee and chatting for well over an hour.  We exchanged contact info and plan to make our get togethers a regular event.  We have even discussed having a bible study group and wine tasting night-not at the same time of course. 

I have only been in Finland a short time, but I feel my circle of friends has "mushroomed" with some truly unique and delightful people-and that is a real treasure!

Chanterelle mushrooms

Ready, Set, Go!!!

We were off and running this weekend-literally.  Friday, we were invited to a friends house for coffee and snacks.  This family is here with IP but they are originally from Brazil.  The kids made fast friends with their two young girls. 

This weekend was Imatra Days so there were a lot of activities going on in town.  Saturday morning I ran in a 5 mile fun run around the lake.  I can check running a race in a foreign country off the list.  I even made the local newspaper.  That evening, while the kids were at their new friends' house, Mike and I escaped to a local Irish pub for a drink.  We ran into another American couple, who are also there with IP, and enjoyed a couple of drinks while getting to know one another.  The pub resembled an authentic Irish pub- I could definitely get to love that place.  Later, we  met up with our friends and kids for dinner.  The weather was beautiful so we were able to eat outside and listen to a local cover band belt out local and American rock tunes.  Many of the restaurants in Finland have a kids play area where the kids can go play while the parents eat.  We adults were able to visit peacefully while the kids played.  What a brilliant concept!

The kids both now have new bikes and are eager to ride them to school by themselves.  We are going to do a practice round tomorrow.  I will jog the mile journey with them as they ride their bikes.

Lesson of the day:  Corporal punishment of children is illegal in Finland and punishable by law. So spare the rod!

Extra! Extra!  Read all about it! (Or just look at the pic-lol)

Alayna posing for a picture in our "backyard"

The kids can't wait to ride their new bikes to school.

Groceries 101

I began today by attending my kids English class with them.  It was fun to observe and I even was able to participate in an "ice breaker" game with them.  Their teacher is Finnish but lived for a long time in Canada and has been very welcoming to me.  She asked if I would be willing to do a short presentation on where I live in America and what it is like-where do I even begin??? 

I spent about 2 and a half hours in grocery stores today.  On one of the trips, the kids English teacher even accompanied me to help me find/identify things.  It was fun exploring the aisles to find things I could recognize and discovering new items.  I have come to realize that our families staples of dill pickles, ranch dressing, sour cream and onion dip, and dryer sheets are non-existent here.  However, I hit the jackpot with some chicken breasts in a mystery sauce and a new type of bread.  My kids have been surprisingly enthusiastic about the food here.

Today, a Finnish friend gave me a tip.  She told me that if I want winter clothes, I better start buying them now before it gets cold because when they're gone, they're gone.  Crazy to be thinking about winter clothes when most of the people I know are dealing with 100 degree weather.  I am beginning to fear this Finnish winter-I have been warned...

Tip of the day:  Actually, today I am asking for tips on how to do my presentation about America for 5th graders.  This assignment has me more nervous than a middle aged woman learning to drive a stick shift in a foreign country!!!

Smooth Sailing

We were able to keep the ship sailing in calm seas without our captain. Mike reports a good first day of work with a lot of work ahead of him.  Every day, Mike crosses the border into Russia for work.  It is less than a 10 mile drive but he must pass through customs both ways. 

Today I stayed at school and volunteered my time in a 5th grade classroom. Interesting to observe a Finnish classroom. I am very intrigued by their system as they rank near number one in the world while the US hangs down in the 30s. I can't wait to find out their secrets.

In other news, I now have wheels and have driven in a foreign country so I can cross that off my list. I am still a little nervous about driving as there is a lot of cycle and pedestrian traffic to watch for and learning to monitor speed in kph as well. By the way, gas is roughly $12 /gallon here. Many Finns do not have cars and walk or ride their bike even in the ice and snow. Just a little to think about the next time you complain about the price of gas.

I continue to be amazed by how environmentally conservative the Finns are.  Finns may wear the same outfit for 2 or more days in a row. Most Finns do not have dryers. A Finn considers one load of laundry a 24 hour process as they air dry clothes on racks or over doors. No wonder they wear the same outfit again and again.

My kids continue to amaze me with their adaptability. Some of their books and classes are mostly in Finnish and they just try to participate as well as they can without complaint. At lunch it is strongly encouraged that you try everything that is offered and wasting food is frowned upon. Lane ate spinach soup today and said it wasn't bad. Again, for my strict non vegetable eater, this is HUGE!

Lesson for the day:  Be environmentally conscious; wear your clothes more than once, maybe even 2-3 times, as long as they don't stink.

First Day of School

We have had a very busy past couple of days taking care of the usual business when one moves and the not so usual busines one encounters when moving to another country.  We have required the help of a translator in some cases such as getting our Finland residence card at the police headquarters.  These things are tedious and time consuming.  Speaking of tedious and time consuming...the grocery store!  Nothing looks the same and all labels are in Finnish.  I don't even know where to begin as it is a bit overwhelming! Another new thing for me, manual transmission cars.  Mike attempted to give me a lesson in a parking lot much to the amusent of some Finnish folks.  I am sure I will revisit these topics later in my blog. As entertaining and humerous as these stories may be, they pale in comparison to the big news of the day.

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Today was the first day of school for both the kids.  School is very different so far.  I do not think that teachers come back to prepare until the day before the kids do.  Also, there is no "Meet the Teacher" night.  That being said...I don't think I have ever been so proud of my kids as I was today.  Just stating that, brings tears to my eyes.  Mike and I were both fortunate to take the kids to school today.  We waited with all the other children (gr.1-5) and some parents, on the playground, while the principal announced what class was to line up-this was all in Finnish.  We were left to deduce what grade was being called.  Once we figured this out, we sent the kids in their respective line, and waved goodbye.  I can honestly say, that I am sure we all had a knot in the pit of our stomach at that moment.  There we were, trusting our kids to true strangers, as we had never seen these teachers or kids before.  My kids bravely joined their line, doing their best not to cry, though I could see they were fighting it.

One big difference in the school here is the schedule.  Some days the kids start at 8:00, other days, not until 10:00.  There is a day where Alayna starts at 10:00 and is done by 12:45.  There are also days where Lane and Alayna don't have the same schedule.  It is going to be a challenge to figure out how to balace that. (Did I mention that since I can't drive a stick, I don't have a car-this further complicates things for now).  Today, the kids were done at 12:00.  We were so relieved to see smiling faces when we returned.  The kids were so excited to tell us about their day.  They were most excited to report that teachers don't come outsidewith them at recess and they can walk around the school/campus on their own.  They were also raving about the school lunch.  Today they had noodles and "the best sauce ever".  Those of you who have an extremely picky eater, as I do, can appreciate the sense of relief this gave me.  I should mention that it is not customary (or socially appropriate) to bring your own lunch to school so this was huge for us.  They were also thrilled that they serve themselves lunch.  There are no lunch ladies to slop the food on  a tray for them.

Every day there are literally hundreds of lessons.  I am still processing them as fast as I can.  Tomorrow is yet another big day.  It is Mike's first day of work and our first day to manage without our captain.  We'll see if I can keep the ship afloat.

Lesson of the day:  Many foreign countries primarily drive manual cars. (Why oh why did I not learn to drive a stick when I was 16!?!)

It has become a tradition to make this cake for a treat on their first day of school.  Let me just mention that in Finland there is little or no packaged cake or frosting.  A special thanks to Aunt Maria for packing us a suitcase full of goodies that included frosting and a brownie mix (along with 69 pounds of other food items).

A Little about Imatra

Today, was a lazy Sunday.  Most retail stores are not open on Sundays.  This evening, we took in one of Finland's most popular sights, the Imatran Rapids.  Everyday at 6:00 pm, during the summer, water is released from the dam and the rapids rush through the gorge.  Tourists line the rocky gorge and the bridge overlooking the rapids, all the while, music plays and people zip line across the roaring falls.  After about 20 minutes, the dam is closed, the show is over, people scatter, and the town returns to its otherwise quiet self.  We returned to the Italian restaurant, from the previous night, and enjoyed a pepperoni pizza and people watched.  That is, we ate pizza while people watched us.

If you are interested in finding out more about Imatra, follow this link:   http://www.imatra.fi/
(You can change the language to English by clicking on the British flag in the upper right hand corner.)

Holy Guacamole! There's a pickle in my burrito!!!

We have been spending the last two days getting further acquainted with the area and furnishing our apartment.  It has been fun furnishing our apartment.  We basically came with clothes, so we need everything.  Yesterday, Mike stopped at the local electronics store while the kids and I waited in the car.  While we were sitting there, I noticed smoke coming from the hood.  At first, I thought it was exhaust, but when it started billowing, I thought,  "This can't be good."  As luck would have it, we were only a mile from the Volvo shop and were able to make it there and get a loaner while the fan is being fixed on the other one.  Whew!  Another tragedy averted, because that could have been bad!

Today, we drove to the Apple Store in the next town, to see about getting my iPhone unlocked for use in Finland.  It so happens that my version of the iPhone cannot be unlocked so next week we will have to see about getting one that is compatible with the European phone system.  We asked the salesperson to recommend a place for lunch.  He recommended a place called Ole that served Spanish cuisine.  For a moment, I had visions of a big bowl of chips, salsa, and a margarita.  I was slightly disappointed when I did not see that on the menu but I held out hope for the burrito...only to have it dashed as well.  Which brings me to my lessons for the day:  1)  You can put anything inside a tortilla shell and call it a burrito. 2)  The best Hispanic food is in Texas!!!

Yes, there are pickles and processed cheese slices on my burrito!!!

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From Russia With Love

It was a nice night so we decided to walk around the town and see what Saturday night was like in Finland.  After visiting a few tourist sights, we decided to find a place where we could sit and enjoy a beer.  On nice nights, such as this, restaurants and pubs have an outdoor seating area.  While Mike ordered our drinks at the stand, I found a quiet table.  It wasn't 10 seconds, when an ogre of a man sat down at the table with me and said something to me in Finnish I presume.  I was taken a bit off guard by his large presence, beefy hands, and questionable hygiene.  I said back to him, "Sorry, English."  At which he concluded with enthusiasm, (in broken English), "Oh! You and I, we are the same!"  I don't know if I was more horrified that he was hitting on me or that, somehow, he came to the conclusion that we were the same!!!  He then proceeded to tell me how he saw me and wanted to sit with me because I look like a nice woman.  I told him that my husband and kids would be sitting there at which he quickly apologized and repeatedly told Mike what a lucky man he was.  Lucky indeed! 

Mike and I later laughed about the experience.  We have been warned about the prevalence of Russian prostitutes.  I asked Mike, "You don't think he thought I was a prostitute?"  Mike gave me a quick glance and replied, "In that outfit?" 

We Have Arrived!

Day 1:  August 9, 2011
We arrived in Helsinki after 19 hours of travel. We had 4 huge bags in tow all weighing in at over 70 pounds!  We each also had a heavy carry on bag and one (or two) personal items to carry. I hope to never travel this heavy again. Much to our chagrin, one of the bags did not arrive when we did.  After a brief panic, we were assured that it would arrive later that evening as it was still in Amsterdam. Whew! Tragedy one averted.  After a much needed nap, we had dinner at the hotel.  The day ended with a couple of lessons learned.  1) Alayna learned that the "shower" next to the commode is not really a shower.  I had to correct her when she emerged from the bathroom at the airport with her shirt soaked.  2)You really shouldn't pack a jar of mayonnaise in your luggage.

Day 2:  August 10, 2011
Today we headed for Imatra, the place we will call home for the next two years.  It was a three hour train ride from Helsinki and was not without its adventures.  Getting all those suitcases on and off the train was an adventure in itself.  Immediately after checking in at the hotel, we were off to the bank to open an account and then to tour our apartment choices (2).  The bank was uneventful.  The apartment, was interesting and small.  Our closets are similar to what you would have at a hotel.  The main bathroom will also serve as the laundry room.  I am trying to look at it as another way to multi-task.  I can wash my hair and start a load of laundry at the same time.  Once I figure how to add pictures to this blog, I will definitely have to post some.
Day 2 Lessons:  1) Weigh your produce and put a sticker on it before you check out. 2) Bring your own bags to the grocery store as there are none there.

Day 3:  August 11, 2011
Today was a relaxed day and we were able to do some exploring of the town.  We were able to locate the city recreation center which offers such activities as swimming, dancing, gymnastics and weightlifting to name a few.  We also located the bowling alley and their small movie theater. 

We decided to go with the smaller but newer apartment.  This smaller apartment is located in a more scenic area as opposed to the much bigger and smellier one that is closer to city traffic and  is on the third floor with no elevator.
Day 3 Lessons:  1) There is no right on red in Finland.  2)  Size doesn't really matter as much as the scenery and the smell.