Time goes so fast (too fast)!

It's been a month since I last wrote. I'm sorry. Time has gone so fast and I can't believe today was our last day at South Range Elementary! I've been keeping a blog where I have told about our days at South Range Elementary with photos. You can read the blog here.

Me and Ekku have settled here, to Upper Peninsula, so well, that I can't even think about leaving here soon. Ekku is already leaving on next Monday, I still have one more week after that. Maybe I'll visit South Range once more before leaving, I'm already missing children; I had tears in my eyes when we had to leave the school today.

The month has been full of happiness, we have had such fun days with children, who have been amazing! They have been - and hopefully will always be - full of eagerness and enthusiasim to learn. Me and Ekku truly hope that children know now more about Finland and our culture, our arts, literature, sports etc. We have enjoyed those lessons and seemed that children loved them too.

At least half of the class had a Finnish last name. This has been interesting to see, as in the whole area of Hancock and Houghton. You can see Finnish last names everywhere. A couple of older people have heard us speaking Finnish in a public space and they have come to talk to us. You never know where are the ears that can understand your speech!

Raili, Elisa and Alisa wearing Finnish t-shirts.

We made it to the news here - two times. We have felt like celebrities, many people have invited us for a dinner and wanted to hear about us, Finland and a Finnish school system. You can find the news here: Mining Gazette and Upper Michigans Source.

Finally here!

Whoa, it has been quite a travel to get here! I was supposed to be here last Wednesday, but I got stuck in Chicago for one day. My original flight was cancelled because something broke down at the Hancock Airport's weather station. The weather system was fixed at that same day, and I had a new opportunity to fly in the evening. Well, the plane took off and I immediately fell asleep. I woke up to hear captain's announcement that we have to fly back to Chicago - the weather system had broken again. I can tell there were a lot of grumby people there in the plane.

Luckily, third time's a charm, and on Thursday afternoon, I finally made it to Hancock. I was really tired during a whole weekend but now I'm getting used to this time. People here have been very helpful and nice, and it has been easy to readjust here.

Me and a teacher student Ekku are going to be the next ones to teach Finnish language and culture for 3rd graders in South Elementary School. Ekku was supposed to arrive this Wednesday, but his flights are cancelled because of Lufthansa's walkout... Hopefully he'll make it here before next Monday when teaching will begin!

Finlandia Hall.

Before Ekku arrives, I'm getting used to places and preparing for the teaching. I've already visited Finnish-American Heritage Center and going to explore the library of Finlandia University. It's so exciting to see Finnish heritage here!