My name is Annalee Sekulic. I am spending my junior year of high school in Helsinki, Finland as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student. This is to document the journey of a lifetime.
If you are a rare avid reader of this then you know how due to exams I have off school (not being able to understand Finnish and all so very well leads to this) And if you know me personally, I can't just do nothing. This wonderful equation leads to me ending up teaching English and telling about the USA at a local elementary school.
I taught last week and then today (which is Monday.) By the end of today, the students gave me high fives and hugs. That was super duper awesome.
Now I wasn't able to take photos of the children (lapset, for those few who are crazy enough to want to learn Finnish) due to the privacy policy. Don't fret though! I took photos of what the school itself looks like. It has art and is very open. The lapset here learn to be independent from an early age, by first grade they walk to school alone.
I talked to tons of classes about what the united states is about and who I am. I answered questions and was forced to use my terrible Finnish. The children were eager to help me learn though. They would laugh and then carry on. It was a good environment for me to learn as well. I now notice an improvement since the kids worked with me.
So some stuff about the school:
each class is 45 min long with a 15-30 min break between each one. This is when the children go run and play outdoors. These kids were out there playing when it was raining or super cold. They teach the children to be tough and to dress smart. I was freezing. I learned my lesson.
Classes start at a different time each day and is different for each "class" of children
lunch is given by the government
The children learn manners here as well- how to hold your knife and fork, washing your hands, being quiet, standing in lines. It is unbelievable how well mannered these kids are and they are still able to be children.
Tea in the teachers lounge... since I am a teacher.
The students were able to ask my any questions about the states or of me, these are my favorite:
Do you have a boy friend? (the student then proceeds to look at the male teacher which came in the room to watch the presentation, he did the eye brow wave)
Do you have children?
Is that really your name?
Do you like dog?
What is your favorite *insert any noun* ?
Some of the most random things came out of there mouths also
When I showed the American flag a kid yelled out "Afghanistan" That made me think.
This one kid was just saying words to me like "Lamp" and "so"
Another one whenever he saw me ever, he would yell and or whisper USA.
My host sister was in one of my classes and she told the class that I like maps.
All the children were taught to wash their hands before entering the lunch room
The hall ways were colorful and the children are not aloud to wear shoes indoors due to the mess that would be created come winter. The result is a bunch of little nuggets sliding around on socks. It was precious.
the lunch room from above
four level school = lots of stairs
view of a 15 min break. On my first day a bunch of little kids took me out to teach me how to play soccer. They chanted USA when I made a goal. They are so much better at the game then I am
There was a lot of room for group learning.
The coats all hung outside with the shoes.
Getting ready to let my class come in! ah! I worked with another teacher of course....
I was called ah-na-lay by the children.
Those shoes have red white and blue patterns on them...
It was such a rewarding experience to teach them about who I am and they taught me so much, and not even just Finnish. They taught me that girls can play soccer just like the boys and that its okay to mess up. By the end of my time there the children all said hell when I passed and they waved when I left.
In each class we played the USA Anthem and they all stood and sang with me. When I was turning it off I heard singing coming from behind me. The students started to sing their national anthem for me. They sang for me and the smiles on their faces still warm my heart. After they stopped singing there was a silence and the children just looked at me and in that moment, I swear, no words could have conveyed the amount of understanding we had for each other.
I am so lucky for the teacher who let me come in and teach. I am so lucky for the children who taught me.
Today was just so relaxed. I hung with Milly and then cleaned. I blogged and went for a walk with Sade. Played board games.
I also have some thoughts which I feel need to be expressed. These thoughts may change come the end of the year, actually they probably will. This is good for personal reflection though.
So please before you begin to read, get a cup of tea or coffee or whatever your heart desires and just take a break. Taking a break is good and is needed to fully feel everything, I think.
Break though one:
People take care of you in different ways.
I got sick this week, right, and I was expecting to get medicine from my family which would just take care of it right away. That didn't really happen. It threw me for a loop though and I didn't realize it. It wasn't until half way though that I noticed I was being terribly ignorant. Yes, I took care of myself I now know that I can. But since I was being ignorant I didn't realize that my host family did have medicine for me and that they didn't wake me up when I feel asleep on the couch. They gave me space to nap and relax. They gave me the tools to get better. There were there if I asked for it.
this leads to
Break Through two:
You have to ask for help.
In the USA, people are just very helpful. They will help you without you having to ask, but they only help to a certain point and then you are expected to have your stuff in gear enough to carry on your own. Its not bad it is just what it is.
In Finland just just won't come up and help you. If you look confused, they will let you look confused because the thought is that is intrusive if you help. Maybe the person does not want help. I see it now. I get it. Why would you want to be rude and make a person feel awkward and self conscious? But if you just ask. If you just say, "Hey I am lost" or "hey I am having a bad day". The fins will help you get to your feet and then help you along your way. They won't just leave you hanging, trying to get your act in gear when you don't have it. They will take care of you for the long run. Finnish people are the so much more genuinely helpful than those in the states.
This was a hard lesson to learn and I am still learning it almost two months in. I am happy I didn't learn it right away though because I learned how to pick my self up and carry on with out any help at times. But now if I know I can't handle it or I have truly reached my limits, I can just ask for help.
It is scary to ask for help but sometimes you need to recognize your own courage. It is there.
Break Trough three:
Be careful with your words and take others words for what they are
When they ask, "how you are doing?". They actually want to make sure you are handling life okay and that you are doing well. In America, we use it as more as a greeting- something to say. Here, they won't always say it. If they do not have anything to say to you, they won't say hello. And when they do say something!! They mean it! It is rude to just talk to someone and be wasteful with your words- you are being rude by taking there time. It is so great!!
If you say "oh I'm just tired." one said to me "get some more sleep then" And not rudely at all, but my counselor explained it as they want to help you not be tired.
Compliments too are rare. My self confidence had to be recreated on what I think of myself not "oh she liked it! its good!" It is now, "man I like this."
Now when I say something I have had the trouble of saying "oh I love you! you're such a good friend!" which resulted in being asked out! Now do laugh but what you say has to have meaning and you must think it through. Make sure your words count when you say them. And most importantly, do not lie.
Now I have wrote a lot here and this post has been written then I go for a walk and I go and come back. It is now 8 at night hahah. But it is all just all still true. A friend and I joked about how this year gave a whole new definition to the word Life.
th video below was taken when I was half asleep so please forgive the bad camera angle and me just not caring hahahah
Not really. I just found a Betty Crocker baking mix on the bottom shelf of a shoping market below the train station. It was in the customary system! It was so awesome because it had a sticker on there which said it all in Finnish and in the horrible metric system. It helped me learn a lot though.shopping
Milly bought stuff to make Macrons and we spent the evening baking and just having a girls night. It ended up with us watching pitch perfect! How Perfect!
I sure do like this little one- I let her lick out the bowl.
my äiti is the best. the kitchen was destroyed and she helped me make the frosting because it was all metric.
how exchange students cope with problems
I turned around and found the Australian writing in my USA cake... well played
With out milly in my life it would be boring, confusing, and very much a mess. She is always there. Every tuesday coffee. Every thursday venting. Every day there.
It was so lovely because it tasted like home. It is so silly that finding a box of baking mix which would have meant nothing two months ago now made my day. I understood it but the feelings which came with it was something I wasn't ready for. Nostalgia.
This week was the exam week for the my high school. It also continues till next week till Wednesday. I have a US History exam on Wednesday, but that is really it. I guess you could count going in something like me going Friday morning to play football school? I was with my sports class...
I spent the days still at school but at an Elementary School teaching English!
Monday- Normal Classes and Rotary. I forgot that it was Finland's "no car" day. This resulted in me walking through the streets of an suburb in a dress, tights, and heels. It was fine until it began to have wind and the wait for it, it rained. Perfect! Loving those experience!
come home to find a plate which says "Anna's Food" so no one won't eat it. little things.
I forgot the stove is Celsius.
Tuesday- Elementary School! This will be a whole post by its self after next week, I still have a few more days there. but the children taught me how to play football. So just imagine 15ish little fins surrounding me and laughing when I try to kick the ball. We only spoke basic Finnish, no English. Except for this one kid which chanted USA when ever he saw me. He also only said "Britain sucks. I love the USA." Smart lapsi.
I had Finnish night class but the teacher sent me home early because I had a fever.
Wednesday- I was sick. I was really sick. But I found out I can take care of myself in a way. I made myself tea and rested. I took a warm shower and had socks on. I got better
I then went to my counselors house for dinner. I was still really ill but I got a bunch of winter clothes. Thank the lord I won't freeze!! They are all really cute. We had coffee and talked about Finnish and Russian Governments. Rotarians are the best. They are all so welcoming.
Thursday- Elementary School and 3 hour night classes
Friday- Sports Class and then I went and hung out with Kat and some friends in the center (Center is a word which means the center of Helsinki.)
I was sent this by a fellow exchanger
THE SPORTS CLOSET HAS ICE SKATES IN IT. STILL FREAKING OUT OVER THIS. I CAN TAKE ICE SKATING.
this is what the changing hall looks like
seeing an actual stop sign is so rare here. like people don't stop there cars. it is always these suggestions signs they have. Cars only stop for people and faster cars
You now have a slight overlook on my life. I would have posted more this week but feeling terrible didn't help the drive to talk about life.
On Saturday, district 1420 Rotary planned for us exchange students a day of "seeing" Helsinki.
I had to be at the station at 9,30 which is when everyone left to go see the Rock Church! And of course with my luck and lack of knowledge of the train schedule come Saturdays, I was six minuets late. Being in Finland means being on time. I wasn't but praise the lord for good friends which were like "Aye, where Anna at? We need her." Now I am not positive that is exactly how it went... but they waited and we walked over there together.
This church is actually inside a rock. Hence the original name "Rock Church"
All I could think about was how cool it would be if two geologists were married here.
this tour guide had the hardest job of keeping 30 exchange students focused. even more so having to keep the Brazilians focused. We all love the Brazilians.
forgetting the camera is on the wrong side... forever a trouble
the Hispanics and Jeremy. He just is always there hahah
hm. I am inside a rock.
Helsinki has the best of Europe in a sense. It has the history and the class. It holds within the culture and the buildings It is gifted with the small cafes and the great shopping. But it shies away from the touristism that other countries may have.
After we were given a guided tour of the National Museum. It was lovely to visit there again because I was able to see an actual tour instead of me just wandering around.
Then there was food. free fancy food. It is almost as a beloved phrase to exchange students as "all you can eat buffet". Mama Rosa's was very fancy and when they were going around for drinks I obviously asked for a coffee (coffee from a fancy place, ha, of course!) I later found out coffee was not included but mine was on the house. So that was pretty awesome! I recommend this place to eat and get coffee. They brought out a little kettle of coffee for me.
My table consisted of Kat, the Frenchies, Belgium, Germany, and the Estonians. The french love bread so much. I gave mine to them hahaha it was perfect. Above is sharlinee, she is from Brussels and is truly a light hearted person.
my beautiful Jannakia, who I found out lives four train stops away!! yeah!
Then we walked across Helsinki to the aquarium. I convinced one of the workers to let me feed the fish. I am pretty sure that wasn't aloud to happen but I did! And it was awesome. I did pull the exchange student card but that is okay. It was a job well done.
We also found out it is somewhat hard to explain what a Twizzler is and that it is a very American thing. All the exchange students have this plan for when our Lapland Tour comes were are going to exchange lollies.
Bahamas is freaking out. She is truly amazing. I met her in Atlanta on the flight over. We have been there for each other from truly the very beginning. She doesn't believe me when I say she is the best. but if I could explain that in another way which would make sense I would. Her humor is the most genuine. and Just her as being herself. She is the best. Truly.
Above we see and Juan and Nemo. Both very lovely.
I missed shark week in the states but I have a shark now!
We saw the feeding of the sharks!
Let me introduce you quickly to Kat. She comes from California and is the poster child for Alternative. She has become on of my closest friends here. We have this sense of humor which seems terribly mean to each other but it shows affection. She lives in Helsinki also. I am so happy she does. I don't know what I am going to do without her when we have to go back to the states.
In Chicago, my sister mary, Aj, and I went to the aquarium. Now I truly understand that everything in America is big! This is one of the few aquariums in Finland and it was awfully small. But that isn't a bad thing because it was still the perfect size. The Jellies were my favorite because the brought back the memory of my sister getting really excited back in Chicago.
My friend Haley, from Seattle, gave us a ´"tour" of this exhibit because she knew of the same fish from back in the states from her aquarium. Isn't it wonderful how we bring what we know all the way with us? I wouldn't have it any other way
I FED THE WILDE FISH FROM SOME PLACE IN THE WORLD.
I went up to the man and said in terrible Finnish "Hi I am annalee. I am an exchange student from America. Can I feed that?" and I got to feed it. Bam.
The day was officially done then so we all went and hung out. Kat and I went and saw the botanical gardens and then got lost on the trams. But eventually we met up with everyone again and got pizza from Barbados's. It is really cheap there and it is kinda the unofficial exchange student hang out. So there are kids from all different programs which hang out there.
Seeing these guys all together is wonderful. We all understand in a sense what we are all going through. We have the same struggles. We vent and laugh about the same things.
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