Lapua- April 29th

Photo 1- Christina and Catherine with Pertti and Riita-Liisa at their house
Photo 2- The team at the Metso factory
Photo 3- Outside Metso (Note Canada and Finland flags)
Photo 4- Old ammunition factory converted into library (metal stamper)

Lapua

Well today we are in Lapua for one day and it definately was a busy one.

We started with touring Metso...a company that builds giant boilers. Some were as large as 70 metres!

Then we went to the old ammunition factory that is now turned into a museum, art exhibition, arts theatre, and cafe. The Finns are very practical. They take old buildings that are not being used for their original purpose and change them into something completely different. We tend to tear these buildings down and build new ones.

We then did a quick tour of the town hall, a cooperative bank, and church. At the town hall we learned about Lapua. Gailmarie also took the seat of the mayor!

At the bank, Marty secured himself a loan for the 250 million EUR yaht that he ordered from Baltic Yahts a week and a half ago.

At the church we had the opportunity to hear the church organ...the biggest organ in Finland! It has 6667 pipes! Enjoy!

Man cannot live on bread alone - he also needs hockey

Matti and I are sitting here watching Canada mop up Slovakia at the World Hockey Championships. The score is 7-2. Last night we watched Finland beat Denmark 5-1. Both Finland and Canada are undefeated so everyone in this country is happy. Matti and Leena, my hosts in Kauhava had three boys and this is definitely a hockey family. Matti was at the World Hockey Championships in Halifax a couple of years ago. When the game started this evening Matti surprised me by pulling at a team Canada Jersey. I reciprocated by putting on a Finnish shirt that I was given by my previous host Jukka and Kikka Kentala. Good times for all. Make sure you're all cheering for Finland when they play their big game against the Czechs tomorrow night.

Over and out.

Marty

Finn-Power - well worth the trip.

Just another great day in Finland. I suppose that's nothing new for those of you who are so closely scrutinizing our frequent postings. Today was Finn-Power day. The Finn-Power facility in Kauhava produces complex world class manufacturing equipment such as turret punch presses and flying optics lasers. Finn-Power was started in an old school building forty years ago. The owner recently sold the business to an Italian conglomerate and used some of the proceeds to build an amusement park near where Finn-Power started which is literally out in the sticks. The amusement park has the largest wooden roller coaster in Europe. My host, Matti, has worked at Finn-Power for the last eight years and he toured me through the facility with Vesa, the manufacturing manager, and Marko who is working on standardizing plant procedures in preperation for ISO9000 registration. They not only showed me through the plant but they took time to explain the attitudes and company philosophy that make Finn-Power such an innovative and great place to work. Everyone in the operation works by the company catch phrase "flexibly yours". Whatever customizations the customer wants, these folks will do. It also applies to work on the shop floor. The men (they are all men) are thouroughly cross trained and thus are able to have a lot of flexibility in their work schedule if they need to take personal time off of work. The company actually encourages Matti's involvement with the local fire department. Not bad for a big company. Most of the folks in management have spent time out on the shop floor so they understand where the men at the shop floor are at. One of the company slogans that was new to me was "Pride without Arrogance". The want to be the best in the world at what they do but they never want to quit learning.

Kauhava-April 27th and 28th

Picture 1- Finnish dessert- Cloud berry jam and some kind of cheese

Picture 2- Supper- Reindeer, mashed potatoes and Linden berries

Picture 3- At the cottage

Picture 4- Ruona battle location 1809 (Finns versus Russians)

Picture 5- Catherine in a glider

Today we visited the school of entrprenuership in the morning and went our seperate ways in the afternoon. Christina and Gailmarie went to the local high school. Laurel went to the military base. Catherine went to Lapua explosives and learned a little bit about the mining industry in Finland. Marty went to Finnpower (for which he was extremely excited).

Kauhava

On Monday we arrived in Kauhava. Catherine and I were greeted by our hosts Pertti and Riitta Liisa. Perttii immediately took us to the airfield to see his glider. His glider is 30 years old and it has a wingspan of roughly 45 meters. Obviously the first thing that Catherine and I wanted to do was sit inside of the glider. Pertti immediately suited us up with a parachute (safety first!) and he even buckled us in and "closed the lid."

Later in the evening we toured the Ruona Battle Site and then we all went to Pertti and Riitta Liisa's summer cottage. It was a beautiful cottage. We enjoyed a great meal with great company. After dessert and coffee it was naturally time for an ice swim and sauna. The sauna was a building down closer to the lake next to Pertti and Riitta Liisa's original cottage. Once again the initial shock of the cold water was nasty but it sure felt good to be in the sauna after especially with a Finnish beer!

Once everyone was "sauned out" we gave a very informal presentation to the group. Many of the GSE team members were shocked to find out that the "man in khakki" in Gailmarie's wedding picture wasn't Lorne! I guess you learn something everyday here in Finland...even things about your own GSE team! The evening ended with the presentation of Rotary banners and of course visiting.

Today we had a vocational day. Before heading off to each of our planned activities, we had lunch at the school where it happened to be porridge day! Then we received rotary banners for our clubs. Laurel took off for the Air Force Base, Catherine left to learn about explosives, and Marty took off for Finn Power.

Gailmarie and I went to a middle school and highschool with Pertti and the principal Jaako. We had a great tour of the school. We even visited a few classes and talked with a group of students in an English class. On behalf of Fonstad Tattoo Enterprises (FTE) I presented Canadian tattoos to one of the teachers to give to her students. Just another step closer to tattooing as many Finnish people as possible during the GSE exchange!

Below is a picture of the parking lot at the school. It is interesting to note that 15 years olds are allowed to drive scooters, smart cars, and TRACTORS to school...without a license!

Canada and Finland are much alike but we keep saying there are the little things that are different...like the elevators and the ledges at every doorway. Today Catherine and I found out that the Finnish calendar is unique. In each month the weeks are labelled as week 1, week 2, week 3, and so on to week 53. The Finns find numbered weeks as a practicial way of describing when things will happen. Also each day in the Finnish calendar is dedicated to Finnish names. Sometimes people have cake at their work place for their name day. Upon careful inspection I found that all the members of our team have a Finnish name day.

Christina: July 24th

Catherine: November 25th

Laurel: January 18th

Marty: November 10th

Gailmarie: July 7th

This is just another thing that I love about Finland...an extra birthday!

Well it is now time again to sign off for the evening. Tomorrow we leave Kauhava and move to Lapua for 1 day. It will again be sad to leave our wonderful hosts. We will go on many tours and take part in many activities while on the GSE but it will be the people that we will remember forever.

The Polar Swimming Sauna Song

This was our last evening of our free weekend. We went for a great supper at the Bistro Ernst.
Then after a sauna, the Fonstad Tattoo parlour opened for Canadian and Saskatchewan tattoos.
We then sat down to visit over cider and wine and all of a sudden a song was born. Here is what we came up with. Enjoy!


To the Tune of "I will Survive"





First I was afraid. I was petrified.


Thinking I could never live without my towel by my side.


I spent so many nights thinking how this could go wrong


But I grew strong. I learned how to carry on


And so I went.


I tiptoed in.


And before I knew it freezing water covered all my skin.


I should have changed my stupid mind


I should have kept warm with a tea


If I had known for just one second how cold I'd really be


But they said "Go,


Walk through that door.


Then turn around now'cause you have to jump in the cold once more."


Weren't you the one who tried to trick me with a lie


You said I'd like this, you said I wouldn't lay down and die.


Oh yeah, not I


I will survive


As long as I know how to run I know I'll stay alive


I've got to get to the sauna quick. I've got to feel the heat.


I must get the blood flowing to my feet.


I'll survive. I will survive


I've been to sauna and I am still alive.


I am Canadian but I can be a Finn.


Not only in hockey can we really win.


I will survive!


P.S. To all our faithful followers: Marty the Manitoban (aka Moomin) will be singing this at conference. He will be accompanied by his back up singers, The Saskatchewan Four. Signed cds will be available for a minimal fee. See our Manager, Myrna at the back of the room.

What to do with our free time?

Apparently in Finland there is law that forbids stores and businesses, other than coffee shops and eateries, from opening on Sundays before the month of May. Even the Finns think this law is "silly." We still had lots to do to fill the time. Marty and I thoroughly enjoyed the dog show. There were all types of dog breeds, even ones we never heard of. I loved the bigger breeds, especially the Irish Wolf Hound. From nose to butt they were no shorter that 5'5" long and their tails dragged on the ground. I pictured Gailmarie riding one of them as though it were horse. A Terrier and a Beichon Frise were being groomed too close together for their liking. The Terrier bit and clamped down on the Beichon's face. The owners were trying to pry them apart and for a minute I thought Marty was going to faint. Everyone, including Marty, came away unscathed, though I'm sure the emotional scars will take longer to heal. Keeping with the need to mention the food, we had ice cream and I opted for the black licorice sauce and it was fabulous...mmm, reminded me of Tiger Tiger.

Christina returned from her 10km walk with the "Walking Society" and was logged into the official archives. In the words of Harry, "Let us just say...it's not a fast walk, it's a brisk walk." It was followed with a pastry and coffee. The theory being that one cancels the other out.

Late morning, Catherine took advantage of the pool and sauna. The facility is closed between noon-5pm, which seems odd to us Canadians. She's finally feeling a little bit better. The garlic and the power naps have obviously worked.

Christina did so much walking she earned herself a nap, while the rest of us took a walk along the water. A positive sign that the weather is slowly warming up is the ice on the water is rapidly melting. Hard to believe that just 6 days ago people were ice fishing on what is now open water.

This evening we plan on enjoying each others' company at the Ernste Bistro, the "BEST" bistro in Vaasa.

I lost my post! Oh no, how can I recreate that wonderful monologue which was not about food this time!! It's a relaxing Sunday...I walked and sat for coffee at an outdoor cafe and wrote postcards, which will hopefully get home before I do. Christina joined her host for a 10k walk with his "Walking Society". they have a society for everything here. Marty and Laurel are off to a dog show. Catherine's having a swim and sauna (not the ice bath kind!) and now I'm going to meet the "little sister" of my daughter, Danielle's when she was living in Viitasaari in 2001. Cool! We have had a great weekend together, walking, talking, going to pubs, our team is just becoming a close-knit group of friends. We are blessed with amazing hosts for this GSE and tomorrow we will be ready to hit the crazy-busy schedule again!

"These Are a Few of My Favorite (Finnish) Things" Adapted from the Sound of Music...I mean The Sounds of Shopping

Today we had a free day to explore Vaasa and many of us spent a portion of the day shopping for a few of our favourite Finnish things. You may be asking yourself, "What exactly are the Finnish things that one would shop for?" Well here they are:

1. Marimekko Marimekko is a Finnish company that sells bold and brightly coloured and patterned clothing, bags, fabrics, and some home decor. The company began in 1951 by Armi Ratia. Marimekko's most easily recognized design is a poppy pattern called Unikko. Marimekko also sells glassware that looks like a medieval goblet. When I asked why the glassware is so popular with the Finns she wasn't sure but she knew that many have these glass pieces. Also she said that when a new colour comes out, many Finns go out and purchase it.

2. Kalevala Kalevala is Finnish jewellery named after a traditional collection of works that were sung by Finnish heroes. It was believed that the best heroes could sing their enemies away. Kalevala jewellery is known for using traditional patterns and is therefore named after the traditional song. My favourite part of Kalevala is that each jewellery piece comes with a small history booklet that explains the history of the piece.

3. Alvar Aalto Glassware Alvar Aalto is a famous Finnish architect. He created a unique shape which he named "An Eskimo Woman's Leather Trousers." I think it looks like the silhouette of a Volkswagen Beatle. "I think it looks like a puzzle piece," said Gailmarie. Or perhaps it was the apple cider talking. This unique shape is available in a variety of dishes, vases, and candy holders. If you enter a Finnish home you are likely to find an Alvar Aalto design.

4. Karl Fazer Chocolate Mmmm...chocolate....need I say more?

5. Moomin Paraphanalia Moomin is a famous Finnish children's character who was created by a Swedish speaking lady Finn in the 1950's. The Moomins are a family of trolls who go through difficult times especially with various characters. I think they look more like hippopotamuses rather than trolls but then again I have been thinking that Moomin is blue instead of white! Or perhaps the apple cider is talking again!

6. Pentik Pentik is a Finnish company that sells glassware and home decor for kitchens and bathrooms. Very nice things!

7. Samiakki Samiakki is salty liquorice. There are many kinds but so far they all taste the same to me. I am still learning to like it.

8. Xylitol Candies This is like a gum but it contains an ingredient called xylitol that protects your teeth. Xylitol is made from the sap from a birch tree and it counteracts the acidity of sugar in your mouth. People eat it after meals. Why is this fabulous product not in Canada? It is not available in Canada as it has not passed regulations yet. In the words of one of our Finnish friends, eating too much xylitol makes your "stomach loose."

9. Loftit Tourist Office Goods Vaasa has a great tourist office with an excellent gift shop. There were many Finnish items including felt shoes, ceramics, and knick knacks.

The stores were open at 10:00 am and they closed at 3:00 or 4:00 pm. Therefore there was no time to waste! Surprisingly Marty was quite the shopper! We weren't sure how he would do but even last night Marty wasn't sure if he would be able to sleep because he was starting to become very excited for the next day of shopping. Even at breakfast he refused to eat bacon because he was so eager to "hit the stores." In the end he did very well. We had to drag him out of the stores and I believe he teared up when he found out that the shops will all be closed tomorrow (Sunday). Just kidding Marty...but you did do well. I was very proud of you!

That pretty much sums up our day. After supper in our hotel we experienced an Icelandic music concert. We are just sitting around typing emails, writing in our blogs, and visiting while enjoying cider and of course chocolate. Tomorrow’s plans are still up in the air. There are a few options floating around...walking, sauna, dog show... We will see what tomorrow brings.

Before signing off for the evening, I just want to say that we all really enjoyed our host families in Vaasa. We have been calling them "our people." My "people" were just great. I will miss the great conversation and all the delicious homemade treats.

Keep tuned to the blog.

Vasa- Friday April 24th

In the morning, Christina, Gailmarie and Laurel vistited the WLE radio and television station. Catherine visited the ministry of environment and a Geotechnical engineering firm. Marty visited Tarkmet factory with Dr. Yarmoti Elander. In the afternoon, Christina and Gailmarie visited the Teacher's college and Marty, Catherine and Laurel went to Vacon. Vacon is a company that makes frequency converters for AC motors, that was created after ABB in Vasa went under, by 13 engineers. It is now a 300 million dollar a year company- and we were lucky enough to have one of the founders show us around for the afternoon!

Vasa Pictures

Picture 1- Vacon (Marty and Timmu)
Picture 2- Vasa Univeristy of Applied Sciences
Picture 3- Nordic walking
Picture 4- Ice Fishing
Picture 5- At the Vasa archives

Vasa- Thursday April 23rd

In the morning, Gailmarie, Catherine, Laurel and Christina went to the Polytechnic and the University here in Vasa and learned about their programs. Marty went to Wartsila- they make huge engines that drive ships (20 cylinder engines with camshafts that weigh 2000 lbs).
In the afternoon went to the local Swedish newspaper "Vasabladet".
In the evening, Marty and Laurel went to the orchestra (Icelandic composer and Finnish musicians- very "modern" music). Catherine slept cause she has a cold, and Gailmarie went to a meotorite crater that looked like flat Saskatchewan farmland.

Sounds like you are experiencing a whole new diet. Lots of fish and it all sounds so yummie.
I read your blog every night and enjoy my travelogue with you.
We are preparing for the Finnish Team and everything is going very well. We are excited to meet them. Love to you all Myrna King

The view from Marty's world.

Picture 1 - Home sweet manufacturing home. Picture 2 - As you can see, I really am quite fast(so speedy as a matter of fact that the picture is blurry). Picture 3 - Ahhh, a Winnipeg Jets hockey card collection. Randy Carlyle, Dave Ellett, Tie Domi, Good Times. Picture 4 - Gailmarie with her new friend Robert. Picture 5 "Fred" an amazing automation inventor.

One week and one day, Wednesday, April 22/09

Well, I'm so excited about the food here that I just have to comment. I know some of you will not be surprised! At lunch we had the most delicious perch with a mushroom sauce and this evening we had chicken with goat cheese and a warm curry sauce. Oh my gosh, the food (fish) is spectacular. I will remember it and of course, we were gifted a lovely cookbook so that's good. Looking forward to some Rotary entertaining when I return.

Today was another very full agenda, starting with a visit to Industry & Employment and some amazing facts about Finland and the EU subsidizing farmers and entrepreneurs of every size. Very enviable. Finland is quite like Canada in so many aspects but there are major differences in that all education, including university, is free; tomato farmers are seriously subsidized, up to 50%; and this region gets 12 million dollars from the EU to support research and innovation in industry (600 million for the whole of Finland). Crazy, eh?

After that morning session, we enjoyed the very lovely, previously mentioned, lunch.

And then we met Maria, who works for 2 shopping malls and the chamber of commerce and who was a terrific guide through many shops, handicraft places, Marimekko, kaulahava jewellery search, etc. Marty was happy to tag along and we went to the post office so he could get Moomin stamps. Laurel power-shopped, Christina shopped, and Marty & I sauntered along. I'm not the best shopper but that's okay, I enjoyed the running commentary on retail and marketing.

This evening we went to a museum for an exhibit on the "land uplift" that is occurring in Finland (while in the Netherlands it is going down). They are losing their sea at a quite fast rate, historially speaking, something like the area equivalent to 150 football fields a year, and expect that by 2300, the Bay of Bothnia will have filled in and Finland and Sweden will be one land mass. Marty asked how they would decide the borders....I think it will be very cooperative and the world will have a Finswedenland! ;)

So now we are each at home, resting up for the next day's adventure. Sweet dreams, Sov gott.

You may be asking what we’ve done the last couple of days, other than sail boarding, bungee jumping, and burning the city of Vaasa to the ground for the second time? There goes my overactive imagination again! But as you can see, we are doing amazing things.

Yesterday morning we travelled down the coast from Jakobstad to Vaasa with Juha and Maj-Britt. We stopped to look at some swans and other unnamed white birds with wings. It’s been a real cold spring so the ice has not yet left the harbours and ponds. It’s supposed to warm up to 15 degrees in a couple of days. That’ll be real nice as most days have been cool and windy.
In the afternoon, we went to visit The Archives in Vaasa. 8km of old papers and books lined up in a row. Down in the bowels of The Archives we visited a near retired lady who restores these old books using Japanese paper and other things that I’m sure are quite amazing. You’ve heard of the patience of Job. I’m guessing Job had nothing on this lady.

This morning we went took a tour of Vaasa. We saw Old Vaasa which actually did burn down in 1852. The fire was started near the middle of town and after a strong wind pushed the fire to one end of the town, the wind changed and the fire proceeded to demolish the rest of the town. One of the only things remaining was the hospital which is now a detention centre for mentally incompetent criminals. The fire left 3000 people homeless. Some kitchen girls were blamed for the fire, but a couple of deathbed confessions many years later revealed that the fire was actually started by a tired, or drunk, or both, farmhand who fell asleep while smoking a pipe. Vaasa was rebuilt a few kilometres away using Russian money. The rebuilt city was named after a former czar and was called Nikolistad which the Finns said was pronounced Vaasa.
Harri toured us through an elementary school built in 1907. He gave us a rundown on the Finnish education system. One of the many points of interest was the way he described the Finns universal trust of their public school system. There are very few private schools in Finland.

Well, I’ll head off to sleep after a tough game of ball hockey. It was great to experience Hockey Night in Finland. The Finns definitely showed their ball hockey supremacy versus their Canadian guest. I’m just not fast enough. That said, I really was going pretty fast when I tripped on a competitors stick and all 240 pounds of me went flying over the barriers on the edge of the playing field. That was a fair sized splat. By the way Myrna, how many broken fingers does my insurance cover. Just kidding. I should be fine in a few months. Typing this blog with beat up fingers is killing me.

Over and out.

Marty

A Finnish Education

I have definately been getting a Finnish education in Vaasa.

Yesterday I arrived at the home of my host family. My host taught me how to pronounce Finnish words. Almost all the vowels have different pronunciations than our vowels, but each vowel only has one sound. This is nice compared to the many sounds that vowels can have in English. So I can now pronounce Finnish words. All I need to work on now is knowing what the words actually mean!

Today we were also educated about the Finnish school system. Some interesting points are:

¤ Teachers must have a masters degree.

¤ The school provides lunch for all the students.

¤ Postsecondary education is free for students from Finland and also for students from abroad. Students still must pay for books and living costs but tuition is free. The area of Vaasa has many foreign students in their Universities and technical schools.

¤ Parents are encouraged to stay home to care for their children up to the age of 3 years. The state and sometimes the city provide a subsidy to help offset the cost of not working. Parental leave is with pay for the first 12 weeks and then a lower amount up until 10 months. After than a parent can extend their leave without pay until the child is 3 years old without losing their job. The Finns believe that the parents are the best caregivers in the early years.

¤ If a parent chooses not to stay home with their child, the city provides daycares that take children as young as 10 months old. The cost of the daycare for the parents varies according to the income of the family to a maximum of $350 CAN. Nice!

¤ Students can attend preschool at age 6. This is not mandatory.

¤ At age 7 students enter Grade 1.

¤ By the end of Grade 9, students much choose to go to highschool (AKA a gymnasium) or attend a trade school.

¤ Students take home economics and industrial arts beginning in Grade 1! Then in Grade 6, students choose to take only one.

¤ Different grades attend different numbers of hours of school per week: Grade 1 and 2 = 20 hours, Grade 3 and 4 = 24 hours, Grade 5 and 6 = 27 hours, and Grade 7 to 9 = 30 hours.

¤ In Grades 1 to 6, teachers are generalists with few specializations. In grades 7 to 9 teachers are specialists.

¤ In terms of class size, they try to keep Grades 1 and 2 to be no larger than 20 students. Upward to Grade 9, they try to keep classes at a maximum of 24 students.

¤ In Vaasa, if you attend a Finnish school, at third grade you will begin English, and then between 4th and 6th grade you will have the option to begin Swedish. You must begin Swedish in Grade 7. If you attend a Swedish school, at third grade you will begin Finnish, and then bewteen 4th and 6th grade you will have the option to begin English. You must begin English in Grade 7.

These are just a few of the things that we learned today. As a teacher, it was an interesting afternoon and since the presenter was my host, our discussions have continued. I have been fortunate to have hosts in both Pietarsaari and Vaasa who work in the field of education.

I have also learned that Finnish food is excellent! We have been treated so well! The fish is very good as well as the reindeer and beef meatballs. I am also enjoying the many types of berries. Tonight my hostess made blueberry pie. It was almost like a cheesecake. I asked how to make it and apparently I will need to write a letter to the dairy companies in Canada when I return. We are being cheated out of one of the necessary ingredients. It is called kermavilli and my hosts describe it as similiar to sourcream but not sourcream. If anyone can figure out what it is let me know so I can stop drafting my letter!

Lastly, since arriving in Vaasa, I have been educated in the area of vintage cars. My host has a 1969 Volvo which we ride into the market area of Vaasa everyday. I have pictures sitting in the front seat but unfortunately my camera pictures will not load onto the computer so I will have to add these pictures later on.

Keep watching the blog!

Hei from Vaasa! We are still enjoying cold but sunny weather and today we went on a 2 hour bus tour of the city which was very interesting, and we had a visit to a primary school where we listened to a fabulous childrens' choir, then Laurel went to a police station (they didn't keep her) :) Oh, and we made a presentation to a Rotary Club! Another quite busy day in the life of....So we are all getting such good food, I'm worried about the weight allowance going home, not for the luggage, for me! The Finns are super hosts, making changes all the time for us and we are just enjoying each other, I think. Hope you readers are getting the flavor of Finland - it's warm and salty :) Yesterday we actually received a gift of a cookbook so that's nice. We went to Marimekko too, very Finnish but a little expensive. I seem to be collecting pens along the way but I'm not a kleptopeniac! We have been giving out lots of souvenirs and they really appreciate them. It's very nice to be exchanging Rotary banners and information also. So much is the same, of course, but it's good to see that the Rotary ideals are everywhere. So I think some others of the team will post photos but I just wanted to say hello to all of you and thanks for coming along on this incredible journey with us.

This is a wonderful blog site and I am so enjoying reading it.
Have a great time.

As promised - Green Rider Headwear

Finnish Things

The "polar dip" was definately interesting. The first dip was really cold but the next 4 dips did not feel that bad.Your skin felt like it was tingling in the sauna after being so cold. Later on I felt very relaxed so I think the Finns definately have something going on. It is definately better than rolling in hard snow before going in the hot tub. That hurts. It was also great that Tiina from my host family enjoyed this experience for the first time. I hope you go many more times...and you too Hakan! Sisu!

Tonight I also enjoyed the Finnish dessert mämmi. It is made from rye and malt. It is nasty by itself but if you eat it with cream and sugar it is pretty good. We also enjoyed many licorice tasting candies.

Tonight is a sad night because we are leaving tomorrow and the people of Pietarsaari have been great. We will definately miss our host families. It is hard to believe that a week has already gone by!