Finnish Baseball!!

We all know baseball as the American pastime, but I bet you didn't know there was a Finnish version. You might be thinking its just baseball played in snow or something, but its actually pretty cool. Yesterday I got to watch my first ever Finnish Baseball game. Finnish baseball is pretty similar to American baseball except for two things; the shape of the field and how the ball is thrown. Most the rules are the same, but the game moves a lot faster (which I LOVE. American baseball is pretty boring to watch in my opinion.)

The blue line is how you run. Its pretty different as you can see.

Instead of pitching from the center of the field, the ball is thrown straight up at the home base and then hit.

Like this.

 It was really cool to see how cultures build off each other to create new things!

A photo from the game I went to!

Last weekend I also went skiing again with some friends! I was a lot better this time, and it helped that the hills were pretty small. We went skiing in the evening which was really cool because it was dark! It made the view from the top look so beautiful!!

Me, Polina, and Paulina

The most exciting thing to happen this past week was the arrival of the NEWBIES! I haven't met any other the new students from the Southern Hemisphere, but I can't wait to!! They have their whole exchange ahead of them!!

Look how cute they are!!

I'll leave you with this beautiful photo I took on my way to the bus stop! Hopefully soon I'll write a longer more, interesting post!

Snow <3

A New Family!

My cousins have had a several exchange students, its part of the reason I decided to become one. I remember once when my cousins, the exchange student, and I went to get a manicure. The manicurist asked if my cousin and the exchange student were related. My cousin said they were sisters. The manicurist was of course extremely confused. After all, they looked nothing alike. I couldn't understand why my cousin described the exchange student as her sister. How hard would it have been to just say she was an exchange student? I understand now though. She was just describing the relationship as accurately as possible. At some point during the past 5+ months, the Puumalainens stopped being my host-family and started being my family. So Thank You, Puumalainens. You have made the first half of my exchange wonderful! <3

I will miss...

my room,

the view,

 and Lätty

And most importantly my family (I couldn't find a picture of us :(. )


With the Rotary Exchange Program, most students change families at least once. Rotary believes it is important to experience multiple types of families. It is also much easier on the host families when they can just host for a few months. However, this does not make moving any easier. I have been in my new family for about a week now. Don't worry, I really like it, but it's definitely different. I feel like my exchange has started over. New bus stops, new schedule, new room, its a lot of readjusting to do.

This week hasn't been the easiest, I'll admit that. On top of moving, my "Oldies" are headed home, I have hit the half way point in my exchange, and my annoying travel company decided now was the time to schedule my trip home. This week has really been a reminder that nothing lasts for ever, even if I wish it would.

I'm just glad the days are a bit brighter with snow on the ground!

A New Year!!

2015 has arrived! The last 5 months have flown by, and I can't believe its already January. For New Years, I invited two other exchange students. The three of us and my host sister went downtown and watched fireworks!!

Exchange Students before the fireworks

Sisters before the Fireworks 

Fireworks!

Fireworks!

Fireworks!

 Finns don't do too much for New Years, but there is one really cool tradition. People melt tin horseshoes, and then throw the melted tin into cool water. The tin cools into weird shapes, then the tin is held up into the light and the person tries to find their future in the shadow.

Before the Melting

My Cooled Tin Future

 After New Years, my family took me to a Ski resort about 4 hours north of Lappeenranta. It was called Tahko and was near the city of Kuopio. It was a really fun few days. I have never skiied much; I fell down a lot. It was really fun despite the bruises I now have.

All my ski gear (Don't worry mom, I wore a helmet)

Outside our little condo

From the top of the mountain

The View was beautiful!!

The ski resort had reindeer <3 Of course I had to pet them and feed them!!

They were so cute!

And excited to eat the Lichen we had!

They were really friendly!

I want one as a pet! This one was named Remu :D

My packages finally arrived! I am only waiting on one more! They were all a little late, but I am glad the got here in the end. Thanks to everyone back home who sent things!

I was really excited about my packages!