Finally I’m
here at Michigan to continue Hei Suomi! –program that Eeva and Sanna-Mari
started last year successfully.
I arrived
last Monday after some flight delays and cancellations which are quite a normal
this time of year because of blizzards which have surrounded Upper Peninsula and
neighboring areas last weeks. As Eeva and Sanna-Mari had last year, also my travel
from Rovaniemi to Hancock took almost three full days. Along with the time
difference the travel took naturally its toll and few first days went in some
kind of mist. However, I’m beginning to feel at home here more day after day,
thanks to hospitable local people here and of course to my new friends here at
the Finlandia Hall dorm!
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| Winter view from my room's window at the Finlandia Hall |
About plans
for Hei Suomi! for ongoing spring. The main theme will be E-magazine project which
will be produced in co-ordination between South Range Elementary School 3rd
graders and 6th graders of Aleksanteri Kenan Koulu in Sodankylä,
Finland. If that co-operation will come true as expected, it would be a unique
and immemorial way to learn about different culture for pupils – and by
interactive way even!
Early April
the other Finn here this spring, a teacher student Matleena Heikkilä from
University of Lapland, will arrive to Hancock. Alongside her we are going to
spend the whole month at SRES to teach local 3rd graders about our culture
and language and supervise them with collaborative E-magazine project.
These three
weeks before the field period at South Range will begin, I’m going to explore
the old Finnish culture here at Upper Peninsula and prepare for teaching too. I’m
looking forward to spring and forthcoming adventure including it too!
