November 27, 2014: The worlds most normal thanksgiving in the least normal way

1 Italian
4 Fins
6 Americans
1 Bahamas
2 Mexican
1 Aussie


So basically add together that mixture of people and the knowledge that all of them lack on how to throw a thanksgiving and the result will wield you the best thanksgiving one has seen

It stated on Wednesday the 26. The ingredients were fetched and the pie was attempted to be baked. I say attempted because we just started dancing and eating apples. But the dough was made so thats a start.

On the morning of Thanksgiving, I woke early and finished the pie before everyone else woke up. And then the day commenced. We first had an American breakfast of real pancakes. Daniel came over to enjoy them with us. He brought the sugar. How sweet.

Anyways, lets get down to business. The turkey. So basically none of us knew how to cook. All we had was the little book my mother created for us and that was it. Also the internet. 

I had to cook the turkey. We named her Kristian. 

Slowly but surely everyone was arriving and cooking in this little kitchen. We had our Flag hung up. There was sweet potatoes going and green bean casserole cooking. Luis made some mexican food to spice up the dinner. Mash potatoes were mashed. Corn bread was made. Everyone was working and cooking something. The house smelled soo good.

When it was time to eat we all gathered around and noticed we forgot drinks! hahah We all talked about how much props we give to the women who make thanksgiving possible. They deserve all the credit. Thank you to all the women in my life which has made thanksgiving what it is. It was so hard but it was worth it. Running a kitchen like my tootsi did.

After we said thanks, the plates were passed over the table and the laughter grew. I swear I have never laughed as hard in my life before Finland. 

This year I found the meaning of thanksgiving. It isn't the food. But the people around the table. Being thankful that everyone is there and you are not alone. That there is family.

Back in the states the table was surrounded by family. 

In Finland my table was surrounded by family. 

not as good as my mothers

can it get more american than this? nope

he mixed up lamb and beef. He's the best friend I could ask for.

shes a special one

desert and coffee

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

A Finnish Thanksgiving

My Finnish Friends at school surprised me with the idea to throw a thanksgiving. It was decided we would. On Sunday we all met up at Miksu's house and started cooking together. The thing which was so special was it all Finnish food- Reindeer, karjalanpiirakka, and rye bread. I added some mac and cheese and chocolate chip cookies to the mix.

karjalanpiirakka and note my customary  measuring cup

oh look at that yankieness

Riita brought me a cookie

rudoph

my plate

famly

So Misku does not like people but she is one of the best people I have met. And after we ate our selves twice over i found her in her bed. She deserves a hug. 

The thing is. Yeah this wasnt the most normal of Thanksgivings. But is was one of the best. We went around the table talking about what we are thankful for and I could talk for ages of being thankful. But in this moment I am so thankful for the people around that table. They went out of their way to give me some bits of home. Thanksgiving is about being with family and friends. being thankful. and being happy. It was truly the best thanksgiving so far. Even if I ate reindeer (its tasty.)

Surprise! Surprise!

For the past two weeks we have been planning this. This, Operation Wild Card, as we refer to it, is our surprise party for Milly. Milly is my best friend here and she is from Sydney, Australia. She is pretty cool and a while back I decided I wanted to do something for her.

The plan was this.

Get Sam here.
Get her to be surprised.
Cook Mac and Cheese.

All happened really well.


I spend a lot of time at the Kerava Lukio, where milly goes to school, because I have my night school there. This resulted in me befriending all of her friends and they were in will doing this. It would not have happened with out them I am pretty sure.

Part one: Get Sam here. 

I contacted sam at the beginning of this. He made it down here. I met him after school in the city and we went to find costumes. We wanted to dress up like Russians... long story. Anyway! He was here and we then met the Finnish Friend gang at the Kerava Rail Station. We ran into Milly in the city center so sam and I had to run and hide while the Finnish friends were all normal. Milly would have known if sam and I were there.

part one- accomplished

Part Two: get her to be surprised

It was called operation wild card for a reason. Milly is a wild card. She has her ways to find out. And at one point, she was very upset with me for making "plans with her friends with out her" When in all reality we were planning for her. It was really really hilarious. Anyways, when she walked in she had no clue. 

part two- success!

Part Three: Cook Mac and Cheese

Milly never had it. Neither did anyone else. This meant I went to this Finnish kid's kitchen and just started cooking. Thank goodness he was okay with it... I wasn't planning on stopping

part three- tasty!

we won with the costumes.

It was a good  night of cards and laughing and well of course Mac and Cheese. Milly is my closest here and of course she is insane and has now got me saying words like "moll" and "sloshed" and "mate" in my day to day language. Thats okay. I wouldn't have it any other way. She is a huge part of what this year is and well she is now a huge part of me. I can't wait to visit Australia one day. 

Let there be snow!

Se on lunta. Olen kylmä. Pidän lunta sade.

So I was sitting in class and I looked out the window and I actually jumped up. By this point in the year theses kids are no longer shocked by my strangeness... or well maybe they are just better at hiding it. These kids here in Finland are some of the best you will meet. They are true and honest. They are helpful and caring. They are thoughtful and compassionate. Anyway! Long story short! It was hard core snowing.

Its the 5 of November and there is a good inch of snow on the ground.

So Luis just went outside... this was really funny for the fact we were all talking and then we looked up and Luis was gone... we looked out the window and bam. luis.

by may I bet I will be sick of snow. so capture the happiness now

this was the school I taught at

I walked out to go to night school around three and it was even worse than this. It was difficult to walk to the buss stop. 

Minun suoman on huono. Kävelen kouluun jopa lumimyrskyssa. Se on hullu. Suomi on hullu. Pidän suomi.

There is my Finnish for the night.