Back to Alajärvi

Today was my last day at Emilia's house. She was in work most of the day at a candy shop in town, so I worked on updating my blog and getting caught up on emails and the like. It was pretty chill. That evening, Emilia drove me back to Alajärvi, to the Peltomäkis, my third host family, who I stayed with for a few days. It was nice to see everyone again and get all caught up.

The week with them went by pretty quickly. I hope this is in the correct order, but I don't remember exactly when what happened, so bear with me. This week I got to bike around town with my host brother Antton. We stopped by his grandparents house and then showed me the newly renovated health center, because otherwise there is nothing new in Alajärvi. We also went to Vimpeli to watch my host brother Eemil's pesäpallo game, which Alajärvi won. Antton, my host brother, and I had lunch and ice cream and coffee with Reija's dad and Reija's sister and her daughter Lilia came by to visit. Lilia, who is now currently four has grown a lot in the time I've been away, so it was nice to see her again, although she didn't remember me. We stopped by Reija's parents house and had some coffee and treats. Also, one day, Teppo's mom came over and made lunch for Antton and me which was really nice.

On Thursday, I got a chance to bike around Alajärvi. I biked by my old lukio, near the Alajärvi church, along the lake, to the downtown "mall," through places I used to live and I stopped by Halpa-Halli at the end to get some Geisha (Finnish chocolate) and Jaffa (Finnish Fanta). It was very nice to sit and look out over the lake after the long bike ride.

On Friday, my host mom, Reija, Lilia, Reija's neice and I took a trip to the Ähtäri Zoo, a large zoo in the middle of nowhere and Keskinen, a  large shopping mall in the middle of nowhere. Before our long car ride began, we first stopped by the Alajärvi health center because Reija had to pick up a cake, or something of the sort because she helped someone out with something. We brought it back home, and Reija had a hard time fitting it in the fridge (it was a very large box), but once she did, we headed out.

First, we stopped by the Ähtäri Zoo where we went to see Lumi and Pyry, two pandas that arrived in Finland in January. We actually had to buy special tickets just to see the pandas. We only ended up seeing Lumi because Pyry was hiding somewhere and probably sleeping, but we had fun watching Lumi eat bamboo. Then we began the 3 kilometer journey around the zoo. We saw lots of different animals including but not limited to: a snow leopard, a bison, bears, deer, and some swans. Halfway through the 3 km long path, we stopped and got some ice cream, because there was a place to do so, and I got to have some Finnish pehmis ice cream, which I haven't had since I was in Finland the first time. We finished the whole loop and ended up at a farm area with horses, cows, sheep and chickens. It was funny when we heard the sheep baaing and Reija told Lilia to ask the sheep what hurt. (Mitä sulla on kipeä?) The sheep would respond with baa, which sounds a lot like pää (head) in Finnish.

After our visit to the zoo, we then made the drive over to Keskinen. It was only about 20-30 km away, so by the time we got there, Lilia hadn't woken up from sleeping. While Reija went shopping for shoes, I stayed with her in the car so that she could sleep. After waking Lilia up, we went and had some lunch before going around Keskinen and getting a few things and stopping by the play place in the mall. They had done some renovations, so it was fun to see what was new and what had changed (one of these changes was a mural of a giant unicorn at one of the entrances in case you were curious). On our way out, we ran into Reija's grandparents and talked to them for a bit.

Finally we began the long journey back. Upon our arrival, I finished up some packing and we all sat around for a while because we were all tired. Before I left to go and stay with my fourth host family for the next few days, I gave my third host dad, Teppo, a Father's Day card because Father's Day is tomorrow in the US (it's in November in Finland). Then we packed up my bags in the car and quickly stopped by the store to do some shopping. As we did, I saw Jaska outside and stopped and talked with him. Jaska was one of my hockey coaches from when I played hockey on JPK. It was nice to catch up and hear about what his kids, Elmeri and Heidi, who I played hockey with, are up to. Teppo finished his shopping and came out to talk for a bit before we headed out. He had bought me two Fazer bars during his shopping run, so I've gotten to enjoy those since then.

We arrived at my fourth host family's house, which is further outside of town and I got to see my host parents and host brother. I got chance to settle in and then go to sauna that evening. My fourth host family has an outdoor sauna which is just great. It was actually the first time that I got to go to sauna since my return to Finland, so it was awesome.

Today is Saturday and so far we've watched some soccer and went out on a shopping run where we got ice cream. On the way home, we took the long way and went around the Alajärvi lake. I went to sauna again and it was fantastic. Just another week before I head over to Sweden. 

Long Time No See

On Friday, Emilia had laser eye surgery in Seinäjoki so that she no longer needs to use glasses. She wants to be a police officer and she doesn't like contacts, so she decided that this was the way to go.

Because of that, we took the hour long drive down to Seinäjoki for her surgery. Emilia and her dad dropped me off at the train station because I was going to meet a friend there. However, we were there an hour early, so I went and walked around downtown Seinäjoki for a little bit before heading back to the train station. With my giant Finnish flag wrapped around me, I patiently waited for a familiar face to appear out of the crowd of people getting off the train from Tampere. And then I saw him. Jeran Paris, an old friend of mine. Jeran is an American who had been on exchange with Rotary in Forssa, Finland while I was on exchange in Finland. He is also visiting Finland this June and so we arranged to meet up. He was nice enough to take the journey from Forssa all the way up to Seinäjoki. It was really nice to see him after two years and catch up.

First, we went out to lunch at the pizza buffet which I had been to once with my Finnish hockey team when we had a hockey game in Seinäjoki and which was one of the places that my Australian friend Lydia, who was on exchange in Seinäjoki when I was in Alajärvi, suggested. Then, we got some free stuff from an electronics store because we spun a wheel. After that, we walked a bit around Seinäjoki. I got us a little lost, but after seeing the Lakeuden Risti we made our way to the Seinäjoki library. There, we sat in one of the cozy reading places in the wall of the library (they are actually in the walls - look it up) and talked. It was nice to know that I was not the only one who absolutely loves the main Seinäjoki library. We eventually had to head back to the train station where I bid Jeran farewell for now as he heads off to another week in Finland before heading off to Spain and Mexico, which I am definitely jealous of.

Just as I said goodbye to Jeran, Emilia called and let me know that she was ready. I walked to the Seinäjoki Silmäasema from the train station and then we all headed back. We stopped by Alajärvi where we got Parmesan cheese, milk and ice cream before we headed back home. That evening, Emilia's brother and I, Matias made some bow tie hot dish, or something like it, and it turned out pretty well for it being my first time making it on my own.

The day after Emilia's surgery (Saturday), we had a pretty chill day since Emilia couldn't really do much. We went to her mom's house and had lunch before we returned home and played cards. That evening we went out for a walk in the woods by Emilia's house (they are literally right next to her house) to get outside. Aside from the mosquitoes it was nice to get out and about. Then, Pauliina, one of my friends that I went to class with when I was on exchange, stopped by for a bit and we made letut, Finnish pancakes. Then Emmi came by for a visit with her dog and I gave her some more last pieces of advice and said goodbye before she heads off to the US in just a couple of days.

And now here I am, writing this blog post. Thinking about the many hellos and goodbyes that have been said between friends within the space of a couple of days. Thinking about how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends and that I have the opportunity to visit them and see them again.

Hanging out with Jeran, someone else who went through the exchange experience in Finland at the same time that I did, was something that I've definitely missed. Don't get me wrong, I love my fellow Rotex and rebounds in Minnesota - they're really awesome - but it was really nice to talk to a fellow American about Finland, Finns and our exchange experience. I'm really lucky to have a group of people back in Minnesota that I can talk to about being an exchange student that really get it and that I am able to give advice to inbounds and outbounds alike about being an exchange student. Honestly, I love it and I think it is great, after all, that's why I dedicate so much of my time to it. However, being the only Rotex that went to Finland can get a little lonely sometimes and so being with Jeran and talking about Finland in a way that only we get was refreshing and made very happy.

It also made me think about how lucky I am. Coming back to Minnesota from Finland provided me with opportunities that not many rebounds from Finland can easily get. Being in Minnesota allowed me to be involved in a very strong Rotex program and give back to the organization that helped me get to where I am today. It allowed me to take Finnish courses and go to Finnish conversation hour to retain my Finnish. It allowed me to get involved with the Finnish American community in Minnesota and find other people like me that have such a passion for Finland. Most rebounds aren't that lucky. Most rebounds don't get the kinds of opportunities that I did. But at the same time, I have to remember that I sought out those opportunities and made the most of them. I put myself out there and took advantage of the opportunities that were out there for me. I just had to find them.

In short, I really enjoyed hanging out with Jeran not only because Jeran's awesome and we had a fun day in Seinäjoki, but also because our time together made me reflect and for that I am grateful. Although it may not seem like it now, this summer will be short and soon enough I will be back in Minnesota. Once I back there, I plan to continue to continue to take advantage of the many wonderful opportunities that I have been lucky enough to receive and worked hard to find.

One Week in Finland

Hei everyone!

It's already been a week since I've arrived in Finland! I'm sure you are all wondering what I have done between graduation and today. Well...

On the Sunday after graduation I went out for a walk around the neighborhood where my first host family lived, which was fun. Along the way, I ran into a Rotarian from the Alajärven Rotary club and his wife and we talked a little bit which was nice. That evening I went over to my friend Kristiina's house who I stayed with until Wednesday.

The next day, we watched the cows get their hooves trimmed (Kristiina's family has cows), which was something I had never seen before. We also took out one of the cows, which I had met two years ago, for a walk. It was a bit chilly outside, but it was still cool.

Tuesday was an exciting day. Why, you ask? My bag finally made it to Alajärvi! Plus, we went to Seinäjoki and did some shopping with another friend of mine, Anne-Marie. It was really fun to go around Seinäjoki and see all of the different places I had been to either with my friend Lydia, who was one exchange in Seinäjoki the same time I was, or with my hockey team when we had games down there. On our way back, we stopped by the Alajärvi ABC and picked up my bag. That evening we then went out and got the supplies to make mokkapalat, and they turned out really well.

On Wednesday Kristiina's mom showed me how to make leipäjuusto. Later that evening, Kristiina dropped me off in Alajärvi with my luggage, leipäjuusto and mokkapalat in tow at Roosa's and Raisa's apartment. Roosa was on exchange in Michigan while I was in Finland and Raisa my host sister is my first family. They drove me to their mökki, summer cottage, where Rotarians from the Alajärvi Rotary Club were having a kalailta, a get together in place of their regular meeting and ate fish. It was fun to see them again after two years. They wanted to know what I was doing and what was new and they said that they enjoyed when they got the letters that I sent them about what I was up to. One of the Rotarians, who would give me rides to hockey practice, said that they still talk about me in the realm of hockey in Alajärvi, which I was very happy to hear. After that, we headed back to Alajärvi where my friend Emilia from Kyyjärvi came and picked me up before we headed back to her place. We went out for bit, she jogged and I rode her bike, to the lake near their house.

Then on Thursday, we stopped by and saw Emilia's horses. We talked with a man who helps run the place and he was very interested in talking with me because I was an American. It was pretty fun. After that, we went into town and bought the supplies needed for bowtie hotdish which we are going to make tomorrow. We stopped by and said hi to Emilia's mom, who is a hairdresser, at work before Emilia showed me a bit around Kyyjärvi. We stopped by Emmi's house, another friend of mine who is going to be an au pair in New York for a whole year starting this summer. I got to give her some advice about the US and American culture and answered questions she had about the US. Hopefull my advice was helpful. :) Then, we went to Emmi's grandparents place because they wanted to meet Emmi's American friend. Although we had just eaten, they gave us some juice boxes and a big box of chocolates. After that, we stopped by a retired Finnish woman's house because she had American relatives and they thought it would be fun if we stopped by. We were fed ice cream and talked about all of the different places that her relatives are from in the US. Later that day, we made American chocolate chips cookies and they turned out very well.

One week in Finland has already gone by. Just about two more to go before it's off to Sweden for me.

For the love of translation

In case you have not seen it, Alajärven Lukio has posted pictures from my friends' graduation on
Saturday. One of those pictures is of me. The Facebook translated version is as follows:

Surprise! The American Emma I held a speech to the students of their classmates. Two years ago, he spent an exchange student in the high school of the lower lake, and went off course with the students who were passed on Saturday. Emma's visit to the lake was a surprise to the party. Emma's speech also dealt with surprises that fit her exchange student bed a lot. As a surprise to the party people, the fact that Emma's Finnish language has become even more advanced in the last few years. At The University of university of University, he is studying the Finnish language and culture.




Now, for those of you that don't speak Finnish, which is most of you, here is a better translation of what the Facebook post says:

Surprise! American Emma Mulhern gave a speech to the graduates, her former classmates. She spent a year abroad as an exchange student at Alajärven Lukio two years ago and took classes with the newly graduated class. Emma's visit to Alajärvi remained a secret until graduation day. Emma's speech also talked about surprises, which she experienced many of during her exchange year. It was a surprise for those attending how Emma's Finnish language abilities had improved even more during the past two years. She is majoring in International Business and minorning in Finnish at the University of Minnesota.

Here We Go Again

Hei everybody! Guess who's back in Finland?

It's crazy to be back. It's been almost two years since I've been here. 

So much has happened in those two years. For one, I graduated from high school and started studying at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. I'm studying business, and although I don't know what I want to major in, I have already declared a Finnish minor that I will have completed by the end of this summer. I am very involved with the Rotex in Minnesota because I love being with all of the exchange students and the Rotex. This last year I also lived with international students in one of the dorms on campus, which was very fun and now I have friends from even more places around the world.

It's honestly crazy to think that it has already been two years since my exchange ended. It's crazy to think that in that time, I haven't left the US. That is, until now. I boarded my plane that took me across the world, and now here I am. I'm back in Finland. 

Now, some of you are probably thinking, why are you posting this? This blog was meant for my exchange year, but that ended a couple of years ago. Well, my reasoning is that this blog is called "Emma's Adventures in Finland" and I'm back in Finland.

Honestly, I just want to share my experiences of what it is like to be back in a country that I love. I've been back in Finland only for a few days now and it has been exciting, fantastic, and exhilarating to be back. It has been an eventful few days.

For one, I took two planes to get me around the world from Minnesota to Finland. They were both delayed, and my bag didn't come to Finland with me. It finally came today meaning it'll still be another few days before I get it. Anyway, once I arrived in Helsinki, I took a few hour long train ride up to Seinäjoki where I was picked up by a former English teacher of mine that had taught me Finnish when I was on exchange. I had arranged to stay with him for a few days because I was going to surprise my friends at their graduation. Then we drove for another hour up to Alajärvi where I ate before I crashed that night.

The next day I wrote my speech for graduation. I hadn't really written much so I had to write most of it then. Since I didn't want anyone to know that was in town, I just stayed inside the whole day and relaxed.

Then the big day came: my friends' graduation. I borrowed a dress and some shoes since I still don't have my bag before we headed out to the event. I then walked around in my old lukio (high school) where the first and second year lukio students were getting their report cards for that year. I saw someone that I knew and she was very surprised and very excited to see me. We talked for a while before I headed to the gym where the graduation ceremony was going to be held. As my friends started trickling in I said hi to them and they were all very surprised to see me. None of them had any idea that I was coming to their graduation ceremony because I told them that I wouldn't be arriving in Finland until tomorrow. It was very excited and everyone was very happy to see me and I them. It was pretty funny when they started to realize that the surprise graduate speech that was on the program was going to be given by me. I got a change to say hi to some former teachers of mine which was fun.

After that, the ceremony started. Soon thereafter I gave my speech. Although we had to get the microphone working, it all went well otherwise. There were some musical performances along with some circus performances and of course, my classmates got their graduation caps and their diplomas and graduated from lukio. It was very fun.

Once the ceremony ended, I got a chance to talk with the current AFS exchange student in Alajärvi from Japan along with someone that was in the same year as me in high school who spent a year abroad in Indiana the year after I was an exchange student in Alajärvi. It was fun to talk with them both and compare our exchange student experiences since not many go on exchange to/from Alajärvi.

That afternoon I stopped by two of my friends' graduation parties in Alajärvi. It was very fun, especially since one of my friends who wasn't at graduation came and he was very surprised to see me as well. I ate lots of good food and had a good time. 

While it has only been a few days, I still have a very eventful summer ahead of me in Finland and in Sweden. I won't be returning to the US until late August, so stay tuned for more posts to come!