Update

I have switched host families. I now live in Haikala (literally meaning Sharkfish), 9-10 km from Lepsämä, 3-4km from school. Right now, I get to school by a combo of bus and walking, depending on what I feel like doing, though honestly I prefer walking to the bus. 

My walk home from school- this is Finland at 5PM. 

My new neighborhood. Rather suburban, not what I'm used to, but so far no annoying neighbors as a stereotype would suggest.  

Jokerit v. TPS

Finnish hockey is amazing. While the level of play is certainly lower than the NHL, the atmosphere is amazing. Truly a sport for fans, as they get as rowdy as soccer/football fans in Southern Europe. No riots yet that I know of though. But still, I'm addicted. 

There were some strange aspects I wasn't expecting: cheerleaders and ice girls. Nevertheless, most of the fans seemed to completely ignore both. 

I've got to go to another game, maybe even buy a Jokerit jersey. The atmosphere certainly beats the NHL, where all anyone cares about is their bottom line. 

Minä! Me! Jokerit! 

Finland Now

The place where I play soccer. 

This is a legitimate thing

Hot-dog in a bag. Yup. 

Nilsiä

Also, my host family and I went to visit Nisliä, in Eastern Finland. It snowed there, and heavily. 

These photos were taken during a seven hour hike we took- look what it did to my host sister:

We also visited Kuopio, but for only a few hours on the way home. 

Our last stop on the way home was Syysmä, where I was able to take a frozen canoe ride:

Tallinn

Over my break, I went to Tallinn with my host family. Lots if pictures, it was awesome.

My awesome host family and I went to Kiek in die Kook (bastardization of the name, apologies), a tower that is a remnant of the bastion system the Swedish attempted to erect before the Russians invaded. 

Me in the KGB museum. 

Everyone wishes they were Finnish

Autumn in Finland

Welcome to Finland

And again, Helsinki

Yes, yes. Helsinki again. It never becomes redundant however- I love Helsinki. It's an amazing city. 

The reasoning I was there: district 1420 YE trip. Was late because the bus was supposed to be in Helsinki at the time the meeting began, but you can guess whether or not the bus was on schedule. 

Otherwise a great day! The church was really cool, carved/blasted out if solid rock. Never seen anything really like it, though I have to say, for a population of 5.5 million, the Finns have a disproportionate amount of churches.

Next up was the National museum, which is pock marked with bullet holes from the Finnish Civil War. Our group had a guided tour, and in English, which both aspects were things that I appreciated. It was cool to learn more about Finnish history- it helps to understand the people. Unfortunately, that was not a sentiment echoed by most of the other exchange students, as they found their iPads/phones/each other more engrossing than a thirty minute tour.

Next up was "Merimaailma" at Linnanmäki. Saw a lot if sharks- and thanks to my four year old self, knew every shark in the tank, and everything the tour guide said. Thankfully, I've developed enough mentally so that I wasn't answering any of the tour guide's questions- the showing off ended about sophomore year. I would hope. 

Linnanmäki is an outdoor amusement park in the middle of Helsinki. My ride home would be a bus dictated by what time I wanted to leave, and I had a few friends sticking around a bit, so I stayed in Linnanmäki until five. I was coerced into going on rides by my friend Lynn. It only reinforced how much I hate going upside down. Or backwards. Luckily, both were combined on only one coaster- I survived. I also trusted the presumably much more stringent EU safety laws (if such exist). 

The fun house was trippy as all get out. Couldn't stand still in the part- the walls moved, so you always became disoriented and fell over. Picture which gives better understanding of such:

Yeah, I was lucky to get home alive. 

But actually, I did luck out, and was offered a ride home by Lynn's host parents. Apparently, Lepsämä is on the way to Hyvinkä. Which was great for me- especially since they were really nice people, and very personable- easy to get along with for sure.