Readjusting

Home sweet home :)

Lovely

So I've been back home for a week now and I thought it would be good for my last blog to talk about life after Finland. 1st off, it's super weird being back. As I've said before, it doesn't even feel like I left. Feels like the whole thing was a dream. A really long dream and now that I'm awake things feel a little foreign at first, but quickly becomes familiar again. Example: Light switches. Instead of pushing a square, I flip a switch again. Example 2: Heaters. Instead of a radiator on the side of the wall, there are vents that blow out hot air. Example 3: Locks. It's so hard to remember to lock doors now since they locked automatically there. I could keep going with these kinds of examples, but that's kind of boring so I'll move on :P

My first couple days back I spent in my hometown seeing family and enjoying some good 'ol Missouri country landscape. I never thought I would be in such aw seeing a mess of brush and barb wire surrounding a hilly field with cows on it! So pretty :) 




After that I came back to my house for a couple of days. Springfield is... Springfield :P Most everyone is back home for the holidays, but one roommie was home that night and we had a Chinese food night with a couple of friends. It made me feel like I was still in Finland and was just hanging out with exchange students, so that made me feel a little better.

Pretty sun set at 6pm
Silly telephone wires in the way...

 Shopping is another strange thing. I don't like having to drive so far to get to the store. And it's always annoyed me how many plastic bags we go through, but now it really ticks me off. The same with cans and bottles not being recycled... It was nice having such a large selection of all the foods that weren't available in Finland though. I never thought having American money back would be so strange. It fits so nicely in my wallet! HAHA! I go back to my job (Walmart cashier) on Saturday... it's gonna be difficult :/

1st shopping trip was to buy stuff to
make pot stickers. I've missed them!

Peanut butter!!!! And it's so cheap!
Also: GRAPE jelly right beside it!
and bread on the other side to make PB&J!

Then of course it was back home for the holidays!

Grandma's on Christmas Eve
I miss the snow, but it's still pretty as always
I love this place

The siblings
So awkward! haha :D

Two great countries <3

So anywayz, now I am back home trying to get moved back in, but Netflix is a terrible invention... Besides that, I have had a very productive week! I've reactivated my phone, become comfortable driving again, got my work schedule, got my missing bag delivered to me from the airport, seen family and some friends, survived the end of the world again, and I received an e-mail saying I was nominated for the Peace Corps! So that's a good sign :)

It's good to be home, but I really, REALLY miss Finland and all of the friends I made there. I can't even believe how much of an amazing experience it was. It was a thousand times better than I ever imagined it would be and really wish I could have been there longer. I learned so much and I know that this was an experience that I'll remember for the rest of my life. I've already been talking about it non-stop and I know that I'm probably really annoying, so sorry about that :P I was only there for four months, so it's not really hard to readjust to life here again, but I'm really missing the Finnish lifestyle. I hope to live there again someday. I really loved it and felt at home there. But more than that, I really miss my friends. Facebook just doesn't cut it. I think we all need to have a reunion. And when I say think, I mean we definitely need to have a reunion!! O_O I can't wait to see everyone again someday :D

Thanks everyone for reading these posts! It has been the most amazing journey. I'm glad I did this to help record my memories. I recommend it to anyone who goes on a trip. And I definitely recommend going to Finland! I love Oulu. It has been a great second home :)

Until next time ;)
<3 Hannah

Roller coaster of emotion

The title describes how I'm feeling perfectly. I arrived back home last night and I still can't believe it. Everything seems so surreal and I feel like I'm in a daze. Nothing has changed, yet everything has. I feel like I was just here and that all my time spent in Finland was a dream...

My going away party on my last night in Oulu.
There were a lot more people who came,
but missed out on the pic :P
I love my Oulu friends <3 <3

My wonderfully amazing kummi family took
me to the airport. So much crying!

After a very long trip, I finally
arrived in Springfield!

My friends are great and met me at the airport
with this sign and brochures of things
to do in Springfield HAHAHA!
Then we came back to The Palace and they
had gotten me all my favorite foods!
I missed these people <3

Reunited with my mom and sister!

Back in Carthage.
No snow, bright sun, "warm" (to me)
temperatures, and my car!

I am somewhat happy to be back. I am glad to see all my friends and family again, but I seriously miss Finland more than anything. I just can't believe I was there and back so fast! I for sure did some sort of time warp... I miss everyone and really wish we didn't live so far apart :( But it was a really great experience and now the next chapter to my life can begin :)

I love you all so very much!
-Hannah

Arriving back home in exactly one week :(

It isn't possible for me to be more serious when I say, "Where has the time gone?!" Wow... just wow... I cannot believe that my stay here in Finland is already almost over. This has been the most wonderful experience of my life! I wish it never had to end...

The last few days have been (and the next week or so will be) filled with tears! Not only because I'm leaving this amazing country, but because I am leaving all the AMAZING people I have met in it! I have been truly blessed to become friends with so many wonderful people from all over the world. 

This is going to happen

Only a few friends have left as of right now, but it was so hard to say goodbye to them :'( More friends are leaving over the next few days and then I will be leaving Oulu on Wednesday. I don't know how I'm going to handle it! I better stock up on tissues because I will definitely need them. Besides my grandpa passing away, this is seriously the saddest time ever! I miss everyone so much already!

Luckily my last exam was yesterday so I can enjoy this last week without worrying about studying, but I still have a ton of stuff I need to do! It's really going to fly by...

Some of the best people I know!
I wish we didn't live so far away..

Back to how wonderful my friends are, we had a Christmas party this last Monday. Instead of gifts, Sara had a great idea that we all should write nice notes to each other, so that's what we did! It was so wonderful. I love these people so much it's ridiculous!

envelopes filled with amazingly
sweet messages from everyone <3

It dawned on me that I never mentioned how the 95th Finnish Independence day was celebrated (Dec. 6th) and seeing how much I love this country, I think that needs to change.

It was -22 degrees celcius (-8 farenheit) that night, but that didn't stop us from riding our bikes in the snow to the city center where they were having a torch light parade walk.

We each got a torch and walked in pairs in
a line through the city center. Leading
us were people carrying the flags.

Our first stop was at the City Hall.
We stood in a semi-circle (as seen above)
and listened to a choir sing Finnish songs
and the National Anthem.

We then continued to walk through the city
and ended at the cemetery where we sang
more songs. Every grave had a candle.
It was to honor all the deceased soldiers
in the war. So beautiful.

It was so beautiful and amazing to be part of it! It would have probably brought a tear to my eye, but it was so cold that my eyes would have frozen, so I held it back. I am so proud of Finland and what it has become after all it's been through. Mina rakastan Suomea! :D

<3 Hannah

Poets of the Fall in Helsinki!

Marko! The singer of Poets of the Fall <3 <3 <3

Hey-o! Let's just jump right in...

Me and two other friends took the night train to Helsinki (the capital) on Friday night, arrived Saturday at 7am, left at 7am on Sunday, and arrived back home in Oulu at 2pm. Even though we only spent the day there on Saturday, I had the most wonderful time! We saw so much! Many, many strange things haha! 

My favorite part was definitely the last thing we did though, which was see Poets of the Fall!!! but I'll get back to that later :P

Helsinki was all Christmasy everywhere! :D

LOTS of Christmas markets with LOTS of awesome things!

This pic does not do justice to how pretty Stockmann was.
The inside was amazing as well! and SO busy!

In Finland, doesn't matter if there's snow.
People still walk their dogs and
pull their children :)

At the Sibelius Monument!
He's a famous Finnish composer :)

If I added a lock, it would say,
"Hannah <3's Finland!"

Marko again. I think I'm in love

Rhythm guitarist, Jaska. More love

Olli, lead guitar
"Captain", keyboard
Jani, bass guitar
Jari, drums
love, love, love, love!

Ok, seriously. If you still haven't listened to Poets of the Fall, do it NOW! They are so amazing! I love literally every song of theirs. This concert was so amazing! They sounded so great and I was center, 2nd row! Also, I touched Marko's hand 3 times! and made eye contact! I thought I was going to die! His voice... mmm! All of them are really great! They put on a fantastic show! So much fun! I can not believe that it only cost 17 euro and they're not more famous!

Here are some of my favorite songs of theirs
for you to listen to (but seriously, they are all 
great so this is only the beginning.)

Carnival of Rust
Lift
Locking Up the Sun
Cradled in Love
War
Sleep
Dreaming Wide Awake
Can You Hear Me
Diamonds for Tears
Illusion and Dream
No End No Beginning
Late Goodbye
Where Do We Draw the Line
Roses
Heal My Wounds
Temple of Thought

Ok, so that was a little more than a few, but now you have no excuse! :D

I don't know if I've said it enough for it to sink in yet or not, but I LOVE FINLAND! I can't believe I have less than 2 weeks... I'm really going to miss it here <3

Until next time,
-Hannah :)

Sami Love

The Sami flag

A few hours ago I returned home from a five day long trip to the lapland with my Sami Culture class. It was a ton of fun! The Sami are the indigenous people who live in the northern areas of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Northwest Russia. Before coming to Finland I had no idea who they were or that they even existed, but now after taking this course and going on this trip, I have a huge admiration for them! They are a pretty spectacular people!

Our route

Norway once more

We had quite a bit of distance to cover, but the bus ride wasn't that bad at all! 

Day 1: Monday was spent driving up the Finnish/Swedish border to Kautokeino (B) in Norway. There was so much snow and it was great!

Juhl's Silvergallery.
Rooms have been added on over many decades.
The building's design comes from the curve
shape snow makes between buildings.

Day 2: We spent the entire Tuesday in Kautokeino and I loved it! First  we went to Juhl's Silvergallery which had a ton of really neat Sami artifacts (both old and new). Then to the Sami University College. It's not very big, but it's really nice and really great that they have a place to study Sami subjects at in the Northern Sami language. Then we went to the National Sami Theatre which I would love to come back and see a play at some day! That night we went out for the most expensive pizza ever (but we didn't have to pay) and then back to the cabin to hang out :D

Members of the Sami Parliament

Day 3: Wednesday we made our way to Karasjok (C) and visited the NRK Sapmi radio station that does both radio and some tv programs in Sami language. Then we went to the Sami Parliament building. Everyone was wearing their Gakti and looked so legit! Then we got in the bus again to leave for Karigasniemi (D). Even though we were only in Norway for two days and Karigasniemi is right on the border, I was still so happy to be back in Finland. There's no place like home :)

Reindeer farm

Sacred Sami site.
So much water flows from
this that it never freezes!

Explaining all there is to know about reindeer

Day 4: Thursday was fantastic! First stop: a reindeer farm. There were only a couple of reindeer because the slaughtering had already happened, but that allowed our teacher to walk us through the corrals and pins. It felt like we were being herded to our deaths as well o.O Then we went on a short hike through a foot of snow to a fountain (river) that never freezes! Then back on the bus and headed to Inari (E) where we visited a reindeer farm! We got to feed reindeer, have tea in a koti while listening to yoiking, and practice roping. I had a blast!

The class, teacher, and assistant!
All very great people :D

Day 5: We made two more stops in Inari before heading back home. The first one was to the Siida Sami Museum and the other was to the Sami Cultural Centre Sajos. Both were very interesting and really informative! And even though it came all too soon, it was time to head back, so that's what we did. It's good to be back in Oulu, but I miss the snow, Sami, reindeer, and of course, people!

It was a very, very fun week! I learned so much about the Sami and really admire them! 

Traditional Sami symbols and meanings

My favorite Sami proverb!
BAHAHA!

Sami family. Aren't they cute???
Ok so maybe the boy looks a little scary... still!

This was a great trip!

Super fun, informative, entertaining, lots of experiences, snow, great people, and it was free! :D

So glad I was able to go! So sad it's already over!

Until next time,
-Hannah

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Fireworks!

Of course they don't celebrate Thanksgiving here (that would be silly) so the actual day of Thanksgiving wasn't that eventful aside from it being my LAST DAY OF CLASSES and skyping my family. I was really missing grandma's mashed potatoes that day!

The day after was pretty fantastic though for two reasons: 1) I didn't have to work/deal with Black Friday!!! 2) It was the Christmas Opening event here in Oulu!

They turned on the lights in the city center

They had a lot of
performances on
the main stage

Christmas decorations in every shop window

This time Santa came to me!
and I got to finally take my pic with him :)

Fireworks over the water :)

Beautiful Christmas trees

The next day (Saturday (yesterday)):
Us Americans got together and had Thanksgiving dinner. It was so great! So much food!

Food!

Shown: 7 Americans, 3 Belgians, 2 Australians,
1 French, & 1 Dane (1 Mexican came later)
It was so great explaining and celebrating this
wonderful holiday with other people!

After dinner, my Kummi family picked me up and we went ice skating! :D

Love these girls!

The rink is outside and it's free!

I haven't skated since last year so I was a little wobbly. Alina and Eerika had to hold my hand to help me stay balanced! haha!

Then we went to Micky D's for some ice cream!

After they dropped me off, I went to a friends house for a Christmas party. 

I love the holidays


Tomorrow I am leaving on my Sami Culture class trip! We will spend the entire time up north in the lapland and will be gone until late Friday night. Can you believe I still haven't packed yet?? HAHA! I better go do that now!