Lapland: The Pregame and The Trip there

Lapand was my first Rotary Youth Exchange Tour. It was to a town called Muonio on the Finnish/Swedish border. It was the trip of a life time

The Arctic

It began the day after Thanksgiving, Liz and Anneke spent the night. Liz and I spend the day cooking more corn bread (we had a lot of leftover ingredients). This resulted in over 6 dozen corn muffins. They were demolished by the end of the first day at Lapland. We spent the day of the departure also watching movies and just packing. 

Packing for the Arctic was a bit more elaborate than I would have expected. 

The bus ride was over 16 hours long. Lucky me my chair was broken, it couldn't lean back. This meant I would spend my time on the aisle floor. This was okay because my flag is a good blanket and every one's coat was a good mattress. I do believe I got the best rest.

Also, I was on the party bus and was in the back. This meant there was little sleep. We danced and talked the whole way there. I think there was only a few hours where there wasn't any Latino music playing. I am not complaining. 

our bus was from the 80's. the floor was cold. it was loud. we were eating corn bread the whole way.

best bus ever

 The photo above was the view I woke up to. There were reindeer out too. I am laughing as I type this because it sounds so unbelievable. But I was there. I saw this. This happened.

 This trip was good for the soul. From the beginning till the end. And even now, as I sit in my room, all packed to switch families, I am still under the Arctic's spell of peace. A whole, complete peace.

Opera

Wednesday was rotary. In the evening the Rotary Sponsored a fundraiser for the Finland's Children's Hospital- A new one wants to be built. So, Rotary Requested as many exchange students to be there! So I went! They also sponsored our family tickets as well. 

I rushed home from a nice school day! Only downfall, there was sun and I was indoors. Luis was also pretty pumped over his new reflective gear. I have to get one pretty soon.

I raced home after wards and got all fancied. Lets be honest here, once in a while getting really fixed up is really nice.

We went to the opera and it was a lovely occasion. All the local exchange students were there. I was rocking my pincoverd, tacky blazer. During intermission I was treated to a cake of my choice... but I got salmon cheese thing from hell. It was an experience. In my defense, it looked like cake!

Juan and I (he is Finnish)

because sometimes we just can't be fancy

my girls

She is my best buddie no matter if the face says differently.

The night was really good. I spoke Finnish with all the Rotarians and they said they are impressed. I really like it here and everyone seems to be enjoying it as well. Well, maybe the Latinos didn't enjoy the opera as much hahah The boys came half way through it was precious. They were signally to me hahaha It is a long story. I have so many stories right now it is insane. 

Anyway. I got home at 11.30. All I remember was waking up the next day, on top of my bed with my opera clothes still on. This includes heels and winter coat. I was awfully tired. I cleaned up and raced to a day of school.

Helsinki Day

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.

You instantly click with each one.

Again, I was told I was quieter. 

That's okay. I am growing.