Moving Host Families

My last day at the Jalonen's was spent once again at Vesa's school with his class of fifth graders. Their english is actually really impressive! 

My beautiful artwork ;)

Then on Friday, I finished packing up and got ready to move to the Arvo's. 

They live about the same distance from my school, but on the street behind it. So basically I moved across the street :D 

Here are some pictures of their house, but they don't really do it justice

Front door

Kitchen

Living room

Aki & Kirsi's room

Anna-Kaisa's (my sister) room

My room :D

My bathroom

Shower

Sauna

Pool

So that's the house :) it's super modern and very beautiful.

I really love this family already. They do not speak much English so I have really had to rely on my finnish skills (and google translate always helps). But they are the nicest people and I feel so at home. Yesterday Anna-Kaisa had to leave at 6 in the morning to go to school in Turku and it was her birthday, yet she left me the sweetest note ever. Little things like that really mean a lot!

Also Saturday I was in Turku for my district christmas party. I didn't take pictures so much at the party, but I did of the beautiful city :D

Turku Cathedral

Christmas market

One of my brazilian friends says "It's just like the chocolate river from Willy Wonka!"

The comparison of 12 year old Gorte to 17 year old Gorte 

This weekend I'm going to Northern Finland with about 140 other exchange students!

That's all!

100 days in Finland

Today is my 100th day in Finland. Here is an update of the past two weeks.

Halloween is not celebrated in Finland (in case you didn't know). Finnish people will usually go visit the cemetery and that's about it as far as celebration. But in my school they played a scary movie which was pretty cool! Then I spent the evening at a hockey game (so finnish...). 

Purple halloween sky

But the next night my host family made a cake which is their "Halloween tradition" and we ate it in the dark.

Minulla söpö sisko <3

Monday was my 3 month anniversary in Finland. The time really flies! So I went to Pori and met a friend and then something weird happened (this is the third time it's happened so maybe it's not weird anymore). We are walking and we see two other exchange students on a bike right in front of us. Well it's not that big of a city (80,000 people) but still odd we always spot them.. So we all went to subway (because it's the cheapest) and 'celebrated' our anniversary. Then we went to the new mall that just opened. I was super excited about this because it's like an average sized mall. An American sized mall!! Not super tiny like they usually are in Finland!!

I think it was about 4pm when I took these photos. And look how dark it is.. :|

The second period is almost over and next week is test week. I'm not sure exactly what tests I'm taking but I think just English this time or maybe none at all? We will see. 

In my health class we did some projects in groups and my group made me present it in finnish..this was terrifying even though it was only four sentences. But everyone clapped so I guess it was alright..

 

My health class

Then the most exciting thing to happen...

Snow!!

Our little fire :D

Then this last picture is from Sunday at my host grand parents house where they have the best food.

Side-note: Something everyone should try is blue cheese on a gingerbread cookie. I was disgusted at this but of course once I tried it...pretty delicious.

 

That's all! :)