This weekend was more social than usual. When I got back to my apartment on Friday afternoon, the sun was shining and I was eager to get outside. When I walked in the door, my cell phone started ringing. It was a friend of Kati’s who I had met before Kati had left for NYC. We made plans to meet later in the evening at a bar in the city center. Her boyfriend (was here in Finland visiting) is American and she speaks English fluently. We had a fabulous time…but sadly, that night had an ill affect on me all the rest of the weekend and into Monday. I feel so old! Saturday morning and afternoon was spent recuperating from the previous evening and gearing up for going out again that evening. I was going dancing!! As I wrote in my last post, I was going to a Finnish style dancehall with some folks from Suvimaki. The place we went to dance was typical of a traditional Finnish dancehall in that it was out in the country among plenty of birch and fir trees and situated next to a beautiful lake. There was even a dock for people with boats who wanted to come and dance in the evening. It had been raining off and on all day, but by the time we arrived at the hall, it had cleared up considerably. It turned out to be a beautiful night.

The live band was playing many traditional Finnish songs which sounded very Russian in tempo and style. As is the problem with many dancing establishments in the United States, there were too many women and not enough men to have as partners! What made it more difficult was the tradition that only men could ask women to dance. Women asking men to dance was generally frowned upon, unless directed by the band to do so. However, despite these obstacles, I was able to dance a few! I danced a humpa (Finnish polka) which was really fun, though I wasn’t very good at it. I also danced a tango, which I have never danced with any seriousness before. Most of the evening was spent watching the other couples dance. Most of the folks at this dancehall looked like they could have been professional ballroom dancers. It was really fun to watch. Around midnight, we all piled into a cab and headed back to Jyväskylä. I was finally asleep at about 2am.

Sunday dawned and it turned out to be a gorgeous day. I spent it reading (I finished rereading The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe and started The Mother Tongue, an unfunny but very interesting history of the English language by the usually hysterical Bill Bryson) and walking through the harju (meaning hill park in English) across the street from my apartment. At the top of the harju is an observation tower from which (on a clear day) you can see all of Jyväskylä and its surrounding lakes and countryside. The view was worth every step to the top, and there were may.

I can honestly (and a little reluctantly as well) say that my father was right. Digital is the way to go! I am completely addicted to my digital camera and have gotten used to taking all the pictures I want instead of just some. I have taken almost 1,000 pictures since arriving in Finland. You all have seen some of these and given me positive feedback. This has really encouraged me to continue developing my photography skills-something which I didn’t think I had the time or money to do. I hope to keep using this blog once I get back to the States to share with people my experiences living and working in the city. Certainly my pictures would play a big roll in this.

What do you all think? Would you keep tuning in when I am just writing about my dull, drab life in NYC? (Of course I am only kidding. My life isn’t dull…just drab!)

Hope you all are doing very well. Before long I will be back on American soil :(/:) But first, there is my last week in Jyväskylä and then 2 weeks traveling with some dude named Rick;) Love you and miss you all!

Until next time!


P.S. A word (or two) on Saunailta (or Sauna Night). Last night after work, a group of about 10 members and staff went to enjoy Finnish sauna, roast sausages, and play games in a cabin by a lake. It was Ladies First and we ladies really enjoyed ourselves. We sat in sauna and talked for about 25 minutes before leaving to “rinse off.” Since the cabin was right next to one of Jyväskylä’s major lakes, there were several women who planned to take a dip in the lake in lieu of the shower. Well, I just had to join them. We all giggled down the path, anticipating the shock of the freezing water. And the lake did not disappoint. While the Finns I was with commented almost mildly (relative to me anyways) about the chilly water, I started screaming as soon as one foot was in the water. “Oh God! Oh God! Damn it! Its cold!” Something to that affect anyways. The others later joked that I sounded like a bird caught in the clutches of a predator. Soon, my old swim team mentality kicked in and I fully submerged myself and immediately started treading water. I was numb all over and then I started feeling pins and nettles all over my body. When we finally got out of the water (we weren’t in for longer than 3 minutes), every inch of my skin was beginning to tingle. I could feel the blood rushing through my veins. It felt truly exhilarating! Sweating my guts out and then submerging my self in frigid waters meant nothing to me after this feeling. I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

The rest of the evening was spent playing games and roasting sausages over a fire. It was a very Finnish evening. It was incredibly fun!

Ok, I am done now…again:)