Week 5. Summer School.

Tuesday: Last Day of School. I made it!
Their stories about The Helsinki Science Centre.

Henrys rap.
Abdel breaking the hulahoop.

Meeting D. At the beach.

Selfies.

Henrys birthday present.


Wednesday
First day of summer school.
Popsicle vs, ice cream.

Thursday
Painting Sticks. Adia. Ericas brush strokes.
Renee and Vilgot. The video I missed out on.
Evening tears.

Friday.

Saturday.
Getting locked out.

Sunday. My birthday!
Road trip to Turku!
Church!

Week 4: Ending up Stranded in Tallinn Estonia

Monday- Thursday

Straw Towers.

Thursday- field trip with "babies" 3 year olds.
Waving at everybody. Only one sociopath.
City train. Aaliyah, choco choco lat lat.
Mr. Golden Sun. and YOU. and YOU.

Thursday, Met my friend, call him D.
The connections. Its a small world.

Friday - Got together, lake.

"I like Chivalry. I am a feminist and I dont think appreciatung chivalry contradicts that. I dont think being kind to women is somehow against feminism."

Saturday- Staff Trip, Woke up in plenty of time.
Realized on the bus forgot my passport.
The decision to travel anyways.
The boat to Estonia.
Geraldines temper tantrums.
The few hours there.... not impressed.
Getting back to the boat. The licquor store.

Late.
Cant get on the boat.
Cant buy a ticket.
Tried to get on the boat. Angry woman, possibly Estonian or Russian.

After. At the boat.
Sitting outside the boat.
Tallink Hotel.
Finding Fat Margarets Hostel.
The evening. Rest. Grocery Store. The British man without a name. Bit of walking.  Rest.

Sunday.
Fat Margarets Tower.
Fell in love with the tree.
Wandering through Old Town. Amazing. Spectacular.
Soklaadi Pavlova.
The cobbled streets. The doors. The roofs. Everything is unique.

Switched room at the hostels.
Met Aissela. Conversation about men. Travelling alone. The movie Hostels. Kidnapping stories.
Finding the Canadian Embassy. The Giant Estonian.
The Game of Thrones conversation I ran away from.
The man I took a picture of but didnt take a picture of me.
The statues.
Getting cat called in Europe.

Thinking about taking the boat with the self check in.

Monday.
The Canadian Embassy bright and early.
Jaana.
Must have passport to travel.
Shipping it to Estonia.
Having somone travel.
Back and forth between The Cafe and The Embassy. Wifi and phone.
Having lunch at the cafe.
The Japanese crew. The Japanese Embassy, Almost said ni hao.
Crying in Tallinn.
Sianara.

Back the embassy. What Tallink told Jaana.
Conversation with D.
Buying the ticket with the help of the cafe.

Back to the hostel. To the boat.
Check in doesnt work!!!

On the boat. Burger King.
On the deck.
"Imagine all the people..."

The security guard, flirting?
The fist pump guy... flirting?

Taking the train.

Breakdown in Tampere waiting for the 1 bus.

Arriving home.

Week 3

Post In Progress


Activities

Animal Hand Prints
-Watercolour tattoos

Virtues Rocks
-Henry
-Erica
-Adam
-Sasu
Show and Tell

Playdough

Spring Concert & Graduation
Outfits
Hairspray Story

Conversation with Peppi
Finnish lesson with Renee
Pronouncing Linnea
Danny "Everything!"

Saturday morning -jack rabbit

Saturday night-Nasinnuella

Sunday afternoon. -Strange afternoon with A.
Meeting up. The grass.

Week 2: In My Home I've Never Been

Sunday May 15, 2016



The one who painted Finland, loved the colour green
I am so amazed by all the colours, in my home I've never been...

PICTURES


I found out I actually live in a place called Pirkkala. Pirkkala is a suburb of Tampere. It is 2 short bus rides into town where I am working. I have my bus pass for the month and am confident in my bus route now. Both Pirkkala and Tampere are beautiful. My home has a beautiful little forest in the back yard and there is a view of the lake from the one side of the house. I might have seen a wolf in the back yard, or maybe just a neighbours dog. It went too fast to be sure. I definitely saw a huge jack rabbit in the back yard. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera ready.

I am hoping to see one again when I have my camera ready, and hopefully have my camera ready for the squirrels! They're so cute! They have such tall ear hair it's adorable!
My biggest nature goal is to see a moose while I'm here. Let's all say a prayer I get to see a moose! And that I have my camera ready at the time!

Apparently my neighbour is the most famous body builder in Finland! I haven't yet seen a neighbour that looks like a body builder, but maybe one day I'll meet him.

Shawn, the owner, my school's director, came home from Germany Wednesday night. She had been on a business trip to visit several German schools. She had started a school in Beijing as well, but... that didn't work out very well to say the least. As much as I love China, I love her for who she is, and I am certainly aware of her flaws, which are vast and mighty. China doesn't get along with everyone, she's very particular in who she befriends, and she can be very vindictive as well. I try to talk to her about it, but she doesn't listen to me. She's stubborn and spiteful despite her beauty and glory.

If you'd like to see the home I call The Palace, this music video was filmed here.
Finnish Singer Iisa Music Video
It was filmed and edited by Shawn's son Frank. Watching this video I realize he is very talented.
Both of her sons look like fashion models. Frank has beautiful long curly hair, that when I met him, he piled on top of his head in an outstanding bun. George with long straight hair. I swear they should both be in magazines.

Shawn is of the Bahai faith which I think is so cool. http://www.bahai.org/
I am really interested to learn more about it. What she told me about the Bahai faith, I was thinking, "Oh that's what I believe... maybe my spirituality does have a name!"

The school uses The Anisa Model which recognizes and honours the spirit of the child. They also use The Virtues Project to teach children and instill within them things like respect, gratitude, generosity, and many more. They use virtues instead of values because values are culturally specific, while virtues are universal. I really like it! I am so impressed by the behaviour guidance strategies at the school. The teachers are so kind and gentle but very very strict. They have very high expectations of the children and their behaviour, and the most amazing part is that the children are able to meet their expectations. I have honestly never met such courteous and respectful children.
The children I worked with in China were very kind and very respectful ALWAYS. They were the loveliest of children as well, but their behaviour seemed to be influenced at least somewhat by fear. The children here seem to be respectful sincerely out of respect. Also my kids in China were wild, they didn't have the privilege of clean air that these kids do, so they weren't able to go outside all that much, leaving them wild indoors.
The children here are always given respect and treated kindly in every situation. The teachers never seem to raise their voice but are always in command of the classroom.
The children are so well behaved, they always say please and thank you and ask permission for everything. It is stunning! The focus of the school is really centred around the child and their social emotional wellbeing and development.

I am in preschool classroom which is 6 year olds. In Finland they start school at 7 years old and entering the first grade. So 6 year olds are considered preschool. The kindergarten classroom at the school is 4 and 5 year olds. So in Finland preschool or pre-primary education comes after kindergarten which is optional.

Monday morning I met my children. Some of their amazing names include Vilgot, Peppi, Sasu, Malalei, Deekshitha... and there is an Elma and a Ruth, both of my grandmothers names. I've never before met someone other than my Grandma named Elma. I've met a few Ruth's. But it's so cool they have my grandmother's names. They are from many different countries in Europe, a few are from Finnish and from Finland, some are half Finnish, and some of the other countries include Hungary, Russia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Italy, I'm sure I'm missing a great deal.
I absolutely love their answer when I ask, "Where are you from?"
Almost consistently I am told, in their impeccable accent, "Well, I am from my Mummy's tummy. I am born in Finland but I am half from.... and half from..."
One boy on the playground told me "Well, I am from my Mummy's tummy. I am in Spain when I come to my Mummy's tummy. But I am in Finland when I come out."

My favorite piece of these children and their culture is the attention to their names. They will take the time to teach me how to pronounce their names, and I am expected to learn. They are not going to give me a short name or a nick name to accommodate a mispronunciation. They will teach and anything less than what is correct is unacceptable for them.

Monday during circle time, Lily introduces me to the class and they all have lots of questions. My favourite colour, my favourite food, what do I like to do outside? Lily tells them "Lots of people have Miss Shawna what she likes to do outside, why don't you ask her what she likes to do inside? You know Miss Shawna has many talents..." Awe schucks! Thanks Lily!
So when they ask me what do I like to do inside, and I know Lily wants me to tell them I am an Artist, I tell them, "I love to paint and draw pictures. And actually, I have a very special present for the class." And I give them my book Henrietta. They were so into it, it was completely awesome.
They were struggling to stay seated while I read it because they were so psyched by the story. When we came to the outerspace page I hear a loud group gasp. They rocked my world man. Rocked my world.
"Did you draw this page too?"
"Did you draw this page too?"
"Oh Miss Shawna! I think you are very talented artist."
"Can you draw for me a dolphin?"
"I think I know how you make this book. I think you take the paper, you draw on the paper, and then you put plastic on top, and then you put it together."
I explained the book making process. "Well actually, I painted the pictures on big canvasses. And then I took pictures of the paintings with my camera. And then I had someone called a graphic designer put the pictures into the computer with the words of the story. He made a digital file which I sent to a printer, the printer made the books."
I absolutely adore them! I remember asking my niece Krista, "Do you think its wrong that I like children more when they like my book?" She says "Yes, I do." Lol! I can't help it! I love when children love my book and these children do. They love Henrietta.
One of the boys told me "The girl in your book is called Henrietta and my name is Henry!" He was pretty proud that his name was similar to Henrietta's.

FYI, this week I was also able to donate another print and audio copy of Henrietta to the Tampere Metso Library! 2 libraries now in Europe, and 7 in Ghana.

The children were all very excited to have me draw dolphins so they could colour it. I don't usually like to do that kind of art activity because I think it isn't very creative, but I had hard time disappointing them, and they really wanted me to draw dolphins. But to my amazement, they were so incredibly creative in their colouring! OH MY! Some of them drew patterns, and different colours, and used assemblage, one of them had a light up heart from Viking Lines that they used for the moon.

PICTURES

 I was in absolute amazement! They were so clever and creative and artistic, I couldn't wait to draw more dolphins for them! One of the girls came and asked for a dolphin, she had already drew a dolphin though... "But you have already drawn a dolphin here, it is lovely."
"But I think you can draw a better dolphin, I don't like it."
"Well actually this is a very good dolphin! I think it is excellent!" She walked away beaming!
Oh I love my life sometimes.

Something I notice here is the friendships and connections between the girls and the boys. The boys don't ever seem to pick on the girls or try to exclude them from sports... it's so nice! They play together so kindly. Maybe this attitude from childhood lends to the grown men who understand consent? LOVE.

The class is getting ready for The Spring Concert and their Graduation next week. They are doing an African Theme and singing "Waka Waka This Time For Africa" and "The Circle Of Life". They are all dressed up in different African animal costumes and the storyline of their play is that they are working together to fight a giant beast! The concert is on Friday and I am so excited!
I worked on the porcupine costumes and next week will finish up the butterflies and the lions.
I had the kids help me out with the porcupines, letting them paint the costume which they loved.
I had them paint straws, I was going to use the straws as quills. Elma was especially irritated that I was letting them paint their hands! They need to use the brush to paint the straws, not paint their hands and use their hands!
Next week I plan to do an activity making hand print animal paintings. It fits in with their interests and their curriculum. I wonder what Elma will think!

The class starts their morning with a yoga routine, and some left brain-right brain integration activities. Holding their ear lobes in opposite hands, and bending up and down for 3 minutes.
After yoga they sit on the carpet and sing what I call The Child's Anthem. It such a nice song! I can't seem to find it anywhere online though.

It goes something like "Take the time to be still. Take the time to know love. Take the time to remember who you really are. You really are a gift to the world, a child of spirit." There are more lyrics but I can't remember them all.

Even when the children are misbehaving, they're still so well behaved that I don't even know!
It sure is a change from my days in the school board where I had to take self defense classes to work in an elementary school. WHAT? Yeah man. Those kids in my school were wildly disrespectful.
So to see children welcome discipline so that they push their chair back in properly after getting up, is a wild wow moment.
They are expected to sit and walk peacefully in the school at all times. And they do! They spend 3+ hours outside every day, and when they are inside, they can actually succeed at sitting and walking peacefully! OHBYJEEZIZ WHOWOULDATHUNK??????  They have about 1.5 hours in the morning and 1.5 hours in the afternoon, often more.

I told the teachers and my director here, how in Canada in the public school system, they have about 15 minutes outside twice a day, and recess is often denied as a form of punishment. They also have gym class where they might get to go outside. I remember the one boy in grade one from my third year placement in the TDSB, had spent every day of the school year inside. Every day. Clearly the teachers strategy of denying his 15 minutes of recess isn't working to help him focus, if you've have to keep him inside every day of the year. Is that not considered abuse? Because I really think it should be!"

Shawn was telling me, "The thing about the Finnish school system that works is that they really focus on right brain development. Which if properly developed lends to later left brain development, and left-right brain integration. There is a strong focus on music and art, all the children learn an instrument, they learn to sew and are expected to go out into the forest, and then they do Math on Tuesdays."

Friday night I went to Sastamala to see their school concert. I went with Shawn and Lily, it was about an hours drive through the countryside. I fell asleep on the way there, because throughout the whole week whenever I would sit still for more than a few minutes I would drift off. I am hoping that my jetlag is done now. I need it to be done.

Speaking of sleep, that reminds me, I had the strangest sleep my first night in The Palace. I wasn't quite sleeping but drifting off into some sort of supernatural hypnogogic state. It was filled by bright flashes of light and images of old Finnish people I've never seen before. There was a man and a woman, and they looked like old photographs of my great grandparents. I would study their faces in my mind and search my memory for people on the boat. I often have images of things I've seen flash as I fall asleep, but I swear I've never seen these people before! It felt very surreal and all the images were very bright. The same man, and the same woman in every flash. I wish I knew who they were or where my mind came up with them!

Oh, yes, but the concert in Sastamala. It was so adorable. Almost every child was blonde, all these little Connor's and Chelsea's running around speaking Finnish. So cute. They did their performances, the one little girl stood at the front saying something to the audience, she seemed quite irritated! Lily was laughing and told me she is saying "Why are you all laughing?" She wasn't interested in singing, but stood at the front and criticized the audience in awe of her cuteness.
There the three school preschoolers who were graduating and they were beautiful. Oh they were so proud. Two boys and a girl, and while it was the only day I've ever spent with them, it seemed to be the greatest day of their life. The girl especially was so joyful recieving her preschool diploma. The boys as well beamed with pride. I couldn't help but love them and feel so proud of them. It was just amazing to see their smiles.
Lily and Shawn told me they are the nicest kids. I think one was named Daivo, and apparently he told Lily that he has never been angry in his life. His mother says its true. He doesn't ever get angry, he's calm and happy. Sometimes maybe sad but so far never angry. I wish I knew these three better, I think we would really get along!

The sun stays out until 11pm-ish so I usually go for a walk at night. Last night I had an amazing walk! I walked so far and didn't get lost! I tell you, I lived this life before. There was a moment when I thought I might be lost, and considered turning around and going back the way I came. Im glad I didn't though, I ended up on the right road, and back home much quicker than if I gone back the way I came. Good thing I have an excellent visual memory, it makes finding my way around much easier!
Travelling gives me proof of my visual memory since I have to use it so frequently.

I am so so so happy for this experience, the awesomeness of it all is long overdue.
I love the culture of the school, and the place. I love the difference between Pirkkala and Tampere, and how quick it is to get from one to another. Tis a grand life.

Week 1: In The Land Of Birds And Blondes

Sunday May 8, 2016 

It's been over a week since I left Toronto. 

To put things in perspective, of how much I needed this trip and how much I needed it be amazing, which so far it has!...

The day before my flight, I sat in the Victims Witness office at College Park Courts, with a Crown Attorney, a Detective, and the Victim Witness Counsellor, discussing the potential criminal consequences for a very disturbed man. It's been a stressful time.

Trying to keep up and maintain decent grades in school, while starting a business, and dealing with the courts and police has been difficult to say the least. For the last two years, good sleep is privilege I haven't had, taunted with nightmares of not one, not two, but three men who don't value consent the way that the European men I've met do. (They're so cool!)

Toronto, Canada. To Amsterdam, Netherlands (airport). To Stockholm, Sweden. To Turku, Finland. Home to Tampere Finland. 

I am extremely impressed by absolutely everything! From nature, to architecture, to fashion, and of course the lovely men and the way they approach me. 

I am a little a disappointed in the freedom at the borders. I want stamps in my passport dammit! 

I checked my passport, and I only have one stamp from Amsterdam. 3 countries and only one stamp. That's not cool.

Flights. 

The flight from Toronto was decent. Really uncomfortable seats though. I was a little concerned at the time that I was on the wrong plane as I kept thinking we might be going to India. 95% of the people on the plane were Indian. Everything on the plane was translated into English and either Hindi or Urdu. They checked my ticket like 4 times before I got on the plane so I must be on the right one. My guess is that there was a connecting flight to India in Amsterdam. 

I think the flight was about 7 hours, but not sure. I watched Trumbo with my boys Bryan Cranston and Louis C.K. which was quite good. Fell asleep for most of the rest of the flight. Woke up and watched Good Fellas and then arrived in Amsterdam, where they gave my passport a stamp, like they should when a foreigner enters the country. 

The flight from Amsterdam was a nightmare. I've never experienced feeling like that on a plane before. Thankfully only a two hour flight. It was incredibly painful. My ears were aching, my sinuses were aching, my brain was pulsing. My body was aching. I was so dizzy from the pain, that I am not sure if I fell asleep or actually passed out. I woke up at one point, my while body was tingling in numb pain. I said to the woman next to me in a panic "I have to get up, my legs are asleep." She asked me "what?" I said again with even more urgency, "I have to get up right now.! My legs are asleep!" 

It wasn't just my legs, it was my arms, my hands, my fingers, everything had gone numb. I got up and it hurt so much to walk around but I walked around until I couldn't feel the numbness anymore. When I sat back down, every part of my head was aching again, pulsing, ringing and popping. I passed out, again not sure if it was sleep or unconsciousness. 

Stockholm, Sweden. 

The first thing that struck me about the Stockholm was the vibe. It was so relaxed, quiet. There was noise, the noise of the traffic, the people, etc. but it was a quiet peaceful noise. Time seems to move slower. 

I wasn't prepared for the currency. I thought they use Euros, but nope. They use Kronas, SEK, also known as Crowns. 

Divide it by 8 converts to Euros, divide by 6, it goes to Canadian. The numbers in the cost of things in SEK is incredibly high. Everything is Stockholm is very very expensive. I tried to force myself NOT to convert it, just to look for the smallest number I could find and go with it. 

I had to take a bus from the airport to the city, which was 119 SEK. I said to someone "this is like the worlds most expensive bus ticket." But it only converts to about $20 CAD so it actually wasn't too bad. That number scared the shit of me when I saw my receipt. 119,00 SEK What the hell did I do, buy 100 tickets from the terminal? The other thing in Europe, instead of using a period after the dollars and before cents, like $119.00 they use a comma. Every time I see a price with a comma followed by two zeros, I have a mild panic attack. Then I remember, oh yeah. 

I was listening to three young men on the bus, with their blonde hair and blue eyes, and a language that I now know is Swedish. It sounded like they were speaking in bells, it was so lovely.

My favourite game in China was What Kind Of Asian Are You? Which I became quite skilled at. My new favourite game is What Kind Of Scandinavian Are You? I'm still learning the rules. 

From the train station I went hunting for my hostel. The buildings in Stockholm are incredible! It was like being in a Renaissance painting, my own personal fairy tale. The city is a work of art from what must be hundreds of years ago. The days I spent wandering aimlessly Stockholm was the best Art History class I've ever taken.

Almost as soon as I got to the hostel I feel asleep which was a major bummer.  I picked the flight I did because it arrived in Stockholm at 1pm which gave me a whole extra day of wandering. But no. I slept. I laid in bed debating whether to sleep or to wander. I wanted to wander but it was out of my control. I slept. I woke up about 8 or 9. Got dressed, in a really nice dress, and wandered for food. I went to a bar called The Flying Dog and had Plankstek Biff, and two Hoegaarden beers. Steak and mashed potatoes and my favourite beer. It was really really expensive but I decided to treat myself and not eat out the rest of the time. Which worked out well, because all these dudes at the hostel were so happy to cook for me! I never asked any of them to do so, or even hinted at or suggested it. They would just make me food and bring it to me. The man from Baghdad, Iraq was so sweet. He would knock on my bedroom door and then hand me a snack. A banana, a chocolate bar,  a plate of strawberries... 

Paul from Gambia made really delicious pasta.

Different men would make me breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, it was incredible. 

I was really popular in Stockholm! 

There were two men from Nigeria, Seun and John. When Seun told me he was Nigerian, I asked him what his Nigerian name was. "You can't say it." 

"Give me a go. What's your name?" 

"Ishola".

"Ishola? I know that name! I have a friend with that name but he just goes by Shola. Are you Yoruba?"

"HOW YOU KNOW THIS?" 

"I used to have a Nigerian family, so I know a little bit about Nigeria, and the names and things like that." 

I explained my ex-boyfriend was Nigerian hence "used to have a Nigerian family". I still consider them my family, but talk with them much less than I used to. 

He was a very nice man, but he was a little bit bossy and kept calling me his baby. Then when the next Nigerian came John, he was calling me his baby too. And they would argue with each other who's baby I was. 

"I am not your baby, or your baby. Stop calling me baby. You can pronounce my name so no baby."

Then I tell them, "I am my MAMA's baby. And my Daddy's baby. Nobody else's." 

Seun was the ex of Asisat Oshoala, a famous football player from Nigeria. I thought he was joking when he told me "she is my girlfriend." But he proved it with his smart phone, there are so many pictures of the two of them together as a couple. I was very surprised. He said he was in Stockholm to find a job as a footballer. 

John & Chloe, The Scottish Folk. 

There were the two Scotts in the hostel who were wild and hilarious. John and Chloe. I swear, no matter where I go or who I meet, the most difficult accent to comprehend is Scottish. They were really loud, crass and very rough around the edges, but really cool. Their rough tough exterior is what made them cool. When I asked them where they were from, and said Scotland, I said with a bit a anxiety, "Oh. You might not like me then."

"Why do you say that?"

I hesitate but admit, "My last name is Campbell." 

"Well, ohbejeeziz, that was 3-400 years ago! I mean, yeah, dey were a bunch of fuckin scumbags its true! But like everybody was fuckin scumbags back den. Dey were just the biggest fuckin ones. I mean like, if we were like back 400 years ago, den I probably wouldn't like ya. I probably fuckin run and hide from ya actually. The ting about the Campbells is, dey were fuckin dirtbags, dey were fuckin arseholes, but at least dey were bad enough to stand up to da fuckin Vikings. Dey were da only fuckin ones who stood up to dem. Because dat's how fuckin tough dey were. Dey didn't give a fuck about anyting, deyd just fight fuckin anybody, including the fuckin Vikings." 

I told him my friend Krysta told me when she went on a tour of Scotland, that her tour guide made everybody boo the Campbells. "Well dat guys a fuckin idiot. Wheneva ya meet people like dat, who are still fuckin hatin on da fuckin Campbells, ya gotta just shake your head and tell em der a fuckin arsehole, cause dats exactly what dey fuckin are."

LOL. John and Chloe were a riot I tell ya. 

Oh yes, the day I arrived in Sweden, May 1st, was the King of Sweden's 70th birthday. 

My first day of wandering I came across a parade and a protest. I think they were separate events, but in the same space. 

At the first I thought the protest was connected to the parade but now I don't think so. 

I realized it was a protest and not an event for Labour Day. May 2 I'm told was labour day. I saw some signs in English. "Refugees welcome" "Stop killing Oromo in Ethiopia". It was the nicest protest. There was a woman there who was making a speech and my guess is she was politician. There seemed to be two sides protesting against each other, and she was in support of the one side. It was the sweetest most civil protest I've ever seen. If that's what political conflict looks like in Sweden...  it's pretty darn good. I saw some kind of nonsense of on the tv about a protest in Seattle. The video footage looked horrendous. 

There was Carlos, a Columbian from Spain staying in my room.

He was very handsome. He wasn't a fan of the hostel, he's used to more elegant accommodation but he said it was all he could find that was available. I told him I didn't like staying in really nice hotels, because they're too expensive, you don't have access to a kitchen, which means you have to eat out every time you want to eat, and I don't travel because I want to stay in the hotel. Ya know? Why do I need a fancy hotel? I want to see the city. I just a need a bed, a shower, and internet, I'm good to go. 

Then there was Tiago, from Brazil. He was also very handsome. I had to work really hard not to flirt with him when I found out he was only 18! He didn't look or seem 18! He did seem too young for me, but too young as in 25, not 18. Lol. Oh Shawna..... 

Monday I wandered to Midieval Stockholm/Old Town which is sooooooo beautiful. I later found out that this was where people used to be beheaded! The architecture was so lovely. Old Town was right by the waterfront where the cruise ships are and where the photography museum is Fotogaphiska. So I checked that out and that was really cool. I checked out the boats and they told me I had to book the ticket to Helsinki online. 

Abderrahim

Wandering back to the hostel for dinner from my day I met Abderrahim. I had gone into a store to find a glue stick, (for scrapbooking) and he saw me in the store I remember. He said hi in the store and I said hi but kept walking. Then when I was standing waiting to cross the street he was there. He said hi again and invited me to eat with him.

"Have you had dinner?"

"No, was looking for a glue stick and then was going back to eat dinner."

"Would you like to eat dinner with me?"

"Where would we get dinner? I think Stockholm is really expensive to eat out." 

"Oh, no, we could just go to the stairs. I have a sandwich, but I can't eat it all. I can share with you if you like."
"Oh. Okay. Are you sure?"

"Yes. Yes. Please. Come. We eat."

It was a really yummy sandwich. It was like a sub, but with lamb and mash potatoes. 

Abbe, or Abderrahim was from Morocco was had lived in Stockholm for 10 years. 

One invite led to another and we made our way all over Stockholm! It was so fun!

We went to Kungsstradgarden, a place with cherry blossom trees or something like this. And then he took me into the subway station, which was actually really outstanding! There was so much art in the subway. He said that the other subways weren't like that but this was a special subway. 

Then we went to Skeppsholmen, by the river front, and hung out there. It was starting to get cold so we went into a hostel there to keep warm. This was where I found out in Sweden they spell Canada with a K. I have to say I really like Kanada. There was a man in there named Steinat from Norway who offered to show me around Norway! I didn't have a good feeling about him though, but I took his number just in case. 

Then Abderrahim took me to The Grand Hotel, which was a super swanky hotel. Like top notch, out of this world fancy. 

Even the toilet paper in the washrooms was fancy. I've never in my life experienced toilet paper like that. It was so heavy and thick and soft. I was very impressed. I was starting to get sleepy so we made our way back. 

Then the part I was dreading came up. The invite to his apartment. I was wondering when. 

I had been kind of nervous at first, because in Toronto my experience is that if a man does something even slightly nice for you, he was expects the favour to be returned in twenty times the amount of his favour... if you know what I mean. 

He showed me all over Stockholm, took so many pictures for me, (my camera battery had died), and fed me the whole time! He said if I wanted we could go to the hostel and get my things, and then I can come to his apartment and I can sleep in his bed, and he will sleep on the couch if I am more comfortable. (But he would sleep in the bed with me if I was comfortable). And then he will make me breakfast and we can go for a walk in the afternoon.

I was like "Ummmm..... I am really really tired now. I should really just go to the hostel and sleep." 

He nodded and he said "Okay." That was it. No name calling. No anger. No resentment. He just accepted my answer of no as if he truly believed the decision was mine and mine alone to make! 

Then he invited for me lunch the next day. He said there was a tower in Stockholm he would like me to see. 

This a true story. I know the ending is far fetched, but I swear its true. 

Tuesday it took me 3 hours to book my boat. The internet at the hostel was crappy. I was having a difficult time getting the payment on my card to go through. 

I had wanted to book the boat to Helsinki, what I was told several times was "the party boat" but it was so expensive!

I asked Mikko,  a handsome Finnish man from Helsinki in the hostel, "is this a typical price for the boat?"

"That looks very expensive. Probably because you are booking the day before."

So I looked at other options to get to Finland because there was no way I was spending that money on the boat. 

There a flight to Helisnki and a boat to Turku both of which were very reasonable. 

The internet was impossible though. I messaged Abderrahim and told him I couldn't make it for lunch because I needed to book the boat and the task was taking much longer than I expccted. 

Ishola told me I should go to Espresso House down the street and use their internet. I did. 

Guess who I see? Abderrahim! How cool is it to be somewhere you've never been and run into someone you know? SO COOL. 

I ended up having to call Visa and apparently one of the issues I was having because I hadn't set something up called Verified by Visa. Once I got that set up I was good to go. Got my boat to Turku booked.YAY. 

I sat on the coffee shop patio with Abbe and Ishola, until Abbe had to go to work. And then we parted ways. 

I went to back to hostel to get ready for more wandering. 

I decided I would try to find The National Library of Sweden. Kungl Biblioteket. I brought a print and audio book copy of Henrietta with me in hopes I could leave it there. I asked the woman at the desk, "Hello, I am a publisher from Canada. I have this children's book, am I able to donate this book for your collection?"

"Oh yes!!!" 

I filled out a form and now Henrietta and Finnius have a home in Sweden.  

There was an event at the library, a debate about the freedom of press. I decided to check it out. It sounded cool. 

The lady at the door told me "It's in Swedish though...?" 

"Oh that's okay! I'm in Sweden, why not listen to a debate in Swedish?"

It was cool at first. There was a major babe in the debate. He was the epitome of all things cool. Tall, black, long blue dreadlocks, a colourful leather jacket, colourful pants, sneakers. He was like awesome 1980's rapper style I was hoping to stay until the end and then chat him up and see cause he was mighty fine I tell ya. 

But I didn't. It was long, and 20-25 minutes of listening to a Swedish debate was enough for me. Even with the hope of a date with one of the speakers. 

I left and decided to explore the park behind the library. It was huge and beautiful. I wished I had brought my hulahoop with me but it was at the hostel. There are so many babes in Europe to see, oh look there's another one in the grass. 

I saw him from a distance, and it was a WOW moment. 

As I walk past, he speaks to me. He speaks Swedish to me. 

I walked towards to him and said "Pardon?" 

He realizes I don't understand, he points to me, he points to his food.

I point his to food and then I point to me. 

Im thinking in my head, are you kidding me? I get food again? L.O.L. 

He was honestly soooooooooo good looking, completely yummy in every way.  

We sat in the grass and ate his food. Mash potatoes, meat balls and broccoli, and pepsi. 

If you've seen facebook, you've heard the name, Jebe. I'm completely infatuated with him. 

He didn't speak any English, and me no Swedish, but we communicated. 

He was from Libya, had lived in Sweden 4-5 years now. He works at Ikea. He was going to the gym later. 

He was going to run, do push-ups, chin-ups, and hang upside down and do curl-ups. 

I asked him about the curl-ups, I point to my feet and point to the sky, and motion sit up and say "Can you do..."

He nodds yes, he is going to do that as well as the gym. The handsome man lifts his shirt to show me his amazing sculpted abs... they are beautiful. I ask him if I can touch? He is happy to let me touch his abs! They were lovely. Then he communicates asking permission to hold my hand... OH YES PLEASE!!!! 

So he held my hand and it was so romantic; sitting in a very green space with a very beautiful man, in Sweden, between a language barrier, and within a mutual attraction...  I was so proud of and pleased with myself. 

Holding my hand, looking in my eyes... I was really looking forward to making out with him. I think he was just about to kiss me, when I hear someone talking to us. It's his friend I didn't know was going to show up. 

Medu. Medu spoke some English, he was also from Libya. 

After him Anwar, also from Libya, showed up. He spoke English very well. They were all handsome man, but Jebe was the finest of them all. Medu played some amazing music, some Swedish rap. Jebe told me her name was Makka. I loved it. I'm not sure if Im spelling it right but I plan to find more of her music. I really regretted leaving my hoop at the hostel then. I hung out in the part with them for maybe an hour and a half, listening to Swedish rap, enjoying the green space, clean air and handsome respectful men, drooling on the inside, and possible the outside as well, for Jebe. 

But no smooching Jebe for me. Isn't that the saddest story you've ever heard? It's certainly the saddest story I have to tell. 

When I go back to Stockholm, Im going back to that park, because Anwar says they go every day after work and before the gym. I also know where he works. I hope then to have a Jebe story I can't tell...  LOL. 

Wednesday morning I headed to down to the boat bright and early. Got there at what I believed was on time. 

The boat was still there when I arrived, but I wasn't allowed on. Check in had closed. 

I had to take the evening boat. I was pretty irritated because the boat was still there, and the evening boat was more expensive, but still okay. I wasn't too dissapointed to have another day in Stockholm. 

I believed something wonderful would happen that day to make up for me missing the boat. 

I didn't know what to do that day. I sat by the water for a bit trying to figure something out. 

I wandered back through Old Town, and found a coffee shop to go online, get some food. 

I remembered Abderrahim telling me about some tower he wanted me to see. 

I ask the lady at the coffee shop,"Do you know some tower I should see?"

She said I probably meant Kaknästornet. It didn't sound the like the same tower Abbe said but I thought okay, I'll go there. I figure out how to get there, I have to take a bus. Its a bit far. 

I finally get there, it is soooooo beautiful. I didn't even end up going up the tower, (which Im sure isn't the tower Abbe meant). It was by the water, it was a huge park. The park was Djursgaarden.  I wandered around and around. 

Across the river I see these amazing huge birds sitting at the top of the tree. 

I find my way to them around the river. It was a spectacular view. Id never seen birds like that. 

In my head I hear that "Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree..."  They weren't kookaburras, I can't remember what they were called. But they were huge, and they was likely 25 at least sitting at the top of this gigantic tree and even in proportion to the tree they looked really really big. 

I sat there for quite awhile worrying about my skin getting burnt, didn't put sunscreen on. There were all sorts of birds. 

There was one pack of birds that were quite rude and hostile to this one little bird. They weren't cool. 

They would run towards the little guy yelling and threatening him, he would fly up behind my head. 

It was scary. They were very very rude. It kept going on and on. I didn't know what to do, I was as scared of the angry birds as the little guy was, but I didn't want to see him get pecked to death! I went into ECE mode, and I put my hand up to the rude birds and told them "STOP. I don't like it!" And I would tell the little bird behind my head, "You're safe. You're safe". 

The little bird continued to take the space behind my head as refuge every time he was threatened. Which was a lot. 

At one point the rude birds were yelling at me! Both of them stood there at my feet looking straight at me and telling me what I think were very angry curse words. I was interfering with their bullying and they weren't impressed. 

Annika and Matthew 

A couple showed up. I heard the man talking, I knew he was either Canadian or American but I couldn't tell. 

I finally decide to ask him. California. Matthew was from California, Annika was from Sweden. They lived in Stockholm. They've travelled the world. They'd been married for over twenty years, had three daughters, one of whom is likely moving to Toronto. 

We chatted for quite awhile and then took the bus back to the city. I found out it was Matthews birthday celebration and they invited me to have some beers with them in the park. They were so nice. They said when I come back to Stockholm I could stay with them and they could show me around. I told them when their daughter came to Toronto I could do the same and show her around. Then they wanted to take me to the Grand Hotel. I didn't mention I had been there briefly, because they were so excited to show me something Id never seen. Well it ended up I did get to see something I hadn't seen. 

Vinterträdgården. Its this huge beautiful room where the King of Sweden holds conferences. It looks like Shakespeare. One of the staff heard me asking them about the word Vinterstradgaarden. "Come. I will open the unlock the door and you can see." 

Matthew was so excited. "We sneak in here all the time and no one has even invited us in here before. This is like once in a lifetime stuff." 

They were both amazing people and I was very happy to meet them. She gave me a run down of Sweden and Finland. 

Warned me, "Don't even try to learn Finnish! You will not learn Finnish in only 5 weeks. Most everyone speaks English anyways, so there is no need. It is the most difficult language in the entire world."

They took me to the boat and they made sure I knew I was welcome to stay in their home when I come back to Stockholm. They are so so so so cool. And they and the birds are why I was meant to miss the morning boat. 

The Boat. 

So the boat. It was weird. It reminded me of Niagara Falls culture. Tacky. It played cruise ship music. Tacky. 

I didn't get a cabin because it was too expensive. I have a pillow and a blanket and can curl up anywhere. 

I watched the sunset in the evening, which was beautiful. Was planning on making friends but people weren't very friendly. I saw a small group of Chinese people on the boat. Chatted with one of them for a bit. My Chinese wasn't good enough. They could understand me but I couldn't understand them.  

The rest of the guests on the boat seemed to be Finnish. They had that cold hard unfriendly presence Annika had warned me about. It was upsetting. They made feel like I was going to hate Finland. Aside from the Chinese people, everyone on the boat looked exceptionally similar. Darker blonde hair and wide round cheeks. I even wonder if they were all from the same huge family they looked so similar. They would just stare at me. Stare, stare and then look away without smiling. And then sneak some more staring. 

After failing many times at starting conversations with different people, I decided I'd have some quality me time.  Worst rejections ever. Have I mentioned the staring? Facial expressions of a stone.  I went to the restaurant at the bar and watched the football game and checked my email. And then I noticed yet another completely stunning man. The bartender. 

I stood up to go the bathroom and he was staring at me, except in a different way. An interested kind of way. I was thinking "I think he's checking me out! This is so cool." 

I came back to the restaurant to hang out and check my email and devise a plan for flirting. I knew I had to to buy a beer. 

I wasn't planning on it, but it seemed the only opportunity to speak to him since he was working. Once I was done with my email I went to buy a beer and to begin the flirting endeavours! He was so tall. He was really fit and one of his very perfectly sculpted arms had a sleeve of colourful tattoos. His dark hair and beard were perfectly groomed and his blue eyes were piercing. I was in awe. We were enjoying our conversation and I was so impressed by myself because he too was yet another stunning European man that was flirting with me! SO. DANG. COOL.

But these dudes wrecked my flow. They wanted a drink, and of course as the bartender he had to serve them. The place got busy and so did the stunning man.  The flirting was finished. Boohoo. 

I spent the night on the boat on facebook, editing photos, and finding out about the fires in Fort MacMurray. 

O. M. G. Holy crapoly, that is too much to fathom. An entire city burning to the ground? I don't even know what to say. 

I see a lot of things on facebook about charities set up for the families. Donate $5, etc. Which is great, but at the same time, shouldn't the financial responsibility be on the Canadian government? Every time I see charities in Canada, I think, what? A lot of people think Canada is so amazing because we have all these charities, but I think, if it was such a great country we shouldn't need charities. The government should be bearing the financial responsibility for these people rather than setting up these organizations that put the responsibility on the community. But thats just my opinion and many people disagree which is fine. Its great though that people are willing to help each other out. 

And my ex-boyfriend Allassane who was living in Fort McMurray moved to Edmonton so he and his family are safe. Which is wonderful. 

Just when I was about to curl up on the couch for sleep I noticed the sun was out. Gotta check that out. 

It was completely freezing cold and windy but so beautiful. The sunrise made all the colours appear in the sky, there were all these little islands in the distance in the water. I ran around the top of the boat for about 2.5 hours taking pictures. Had to run to keep warm, it was COOOOOLD. There was only one man who came up to the boat to the see the sunrise. He was as cold as the air and wind. I said hi and yet again, another rejection. Silent stare. I was not happy with the people. 

I sat the breakfast table trying not to cry. I was shaking. I was convinced Finland was going to suck. I remembered Annika telling me when I told her I was going to Finland "Finland? Don't worry, you'll be fine. Finnish people are very nice but they need a beer."

Turku. 

I arrive in Turku. I get off the boat, and feel like Im in the middle of nowhere. Im like "Oh, I've been here before. Just in another place." It was completely different from Stockholm. The buildings were very different. I notice though the street signs are in Finnish and Swedish. I find out that Finland has both as their national languages. Hunting for my hostel, I come across a very huge and beautiful stone building. It looks like a Castle. I love it. 

I feel a bit lost and ask a passing jogger about the hostel. It is directly behind me. Not as lost as I thought. I think I freaked her out because as I was asking her my ring finger cramped up, went into my whole hand and travelled up my arm. Incredibly painful and must have been weird for her to see, giving a stranger directions and her arm distorts and she cries out in pain. This is my life. Chronic cramping everywhere I go. 

The hostel was amazing. It was on a ship. Laiva Borea Hostel. I was very happy with my room. Turku is actually quite a hip and happening place. Lots of diversity. Lots of interracial couples and children. Lots of young parents. The sea side and the birds who never sleep. Lots of dogs everywhere. The Aura River (OW-ooh-ra) is lined with ships on both sides. Many of which are restaurants. A lot of the young people are so punk rock, like 1990's Queen West, but in Turku Finland. Tattoos, spacers, shaved heads, long hair, mohawks, they are so so bad-ass.

My first evening in the hostel, I met a lovely old Russian man who cheers'd to my beauty! CHEERS TO THAT!  LOL.

We talked for awhile in which he was sure to tell me several times, "I am not a criminal." 

??? I kind of think he may have been, he was a "businessman" who wouldn't tell me he last name or let me take his picture. He was very very nice though and his cheers to my beauty before I left for bed made my night. 

He taught me some things about the Finnish language, like how to pronounce the double letters, "Dupla A. Dupla K." 

Taught me how to say thank you. Kiitos. And your welcome is also Kiitos. At one point I left to go the bathroom, and I ended up holding the door for a Finnish woman, and she said Kiitos. I was so happy to know what it meant and even happier to know how to respond. Thanks to the lovely old Russian man who cheers'd to my beauty.  

Its not every day I get such lovely attention, so I must make a note and appreciate it!

The hostel had bicycles for rent which also made my day. My two days in Turku, I visited The Turku Art Museum and Turku Castle. I rode a bike all around the town, on both sides of the river, watched the sunset and listened to birds who sometimes seemed that they were screaming. I loved Turku. I loved Stockholm. They are polar opposite, but the things they have in common are a relaxed pace, and extreme awesomeness and profound beauty. 

Wandering around a little Finnish boy bumps into me. He looks up at me, and is shocked. He said slowly "sorry."

He stares at me and points at me and calls "MAMA!" 

I can't figure out why people stare at me so much when there is so much diversity here. 

It might be the freckles? I've been getting a lot of sun so they are extra dark. 

Another little girl looked at me and broke out into laughter! 

I've seen everybody, Ethiopian people, Chinese people, mixed people, there's everybody, but I haven't seen anyone with freckles yet. Except in the mirror. I thought maybe I am just being self conscious and people aren't staring as much as I think they are. But they are. They definitely are. They know to speak English to me as well at first sight. 

My first day in Turku I met a lovely retired couple Yolanda from Mexico, and her Finnish husband Arre. While we were talking, Arre was telling me if I ride my bike this way then I go over a bridge and can see Iceland. 

????????????????

For a moment I was wildly excited! Then I thought, no, this can't be. I've never been here before but I'm pretty sure Iceland is quite further away than over a bridge on a bicycle.

"Iceland? I can go to Iceland?"

"Yes. Yes. This way."

"Iceland?"

"Yes. Iceland."

"ICE. Land? ICE land?" 

"Yes! Iceland!"

"OH! Island! There is a island this way! I got it I got it." 

I knew it couldn't have met Iceland. Would have been so cool though.

They invited me to their home for coffee. But then when we get across the street, they say goodbye. 

They give me their address, and buzzer number, and show me their window with the boats in it. I guess I misunderstood and they meant another day. 

"You buzz 32, we say through the telephone, 'WHO. ARE. YOU? And then we can open the door." 

Or maybe I miscommunicated when Yolanda asked me "What do you like? Coffee? Tea? Juissi?"

I shook my head and said "I don't mind. Whatever you have is very kind."

Maybe when I shook my head they understood that I didn't want to come? I really don't know. 

Turku, the land where birds never sleep, and the sun only catnaps. 

The sunsets quite late, around 11pm. And on the boat the sun was out at 3:30 in the morning. 

I watched the sunset by the beach every night. Listened to the birds who often seemed like they were screaming. 

They would fly and sing all day long. I wondered if they took shifts, because I when I say all day, I mean all day. Early in the morning, the afternoon, the evening, late into the night and even in the middle of the night. During my conversation with the Russian man, Artur, we watched the birds fish. It was like 1am. Kinda cool to watch birds fish. They are mighty hunters. 

One evening watching the sunset I missed what would have been an epic photograph. A large bird dipped into the water, caught a fish, and was flying wide wings spread straight at me with a fish in its mouth! I wanted a picture so bad, but I knew if I tried to get my camera I would miss it. So I watched in awe instead of taking a photo. 

Sorry Susan. I thought of you though. 

Tiago was good to recommend Onnibus. So cheap. Booked a bus ticket from Turku to Tampere for only 12 Euros! 

I think Onnibus is how Im getting everywhere. I found my way to the bus stop which was across town. Got a bit confused but lucky so many people in Finland speak English and happy to give me directions. The first family I asked gave me directions, but they were wrong. But at least the wrong directions sent me in the way of people who gave me the right directions. I get to the bus two hours early. Jeez. What can I do for two hours. There was nothing really around. 

So I think okay stretch time. So I stretch. I stretch and I hulahoop and later I actually fall asleep. Yes I fell asleep at the side of the road in Finland. Curled up with my luggage and my neck pillow. 

It was funny, at the hostel, I had to check out at 11am. But didn't need to leave for my bus for another few hours. I had planned on going to the museums that were beside the hostel but I was too tired. So I went to the common room to take a nap. One of the staff saw me sleeping in the common room, and woke me up, "You cannot sleep here."

"Oh. Im sorry. Its just I checked out and my bus doesnt leave for many hours."

"You are welcome to stay here, but it is not very nice if you sleep."

"Oh, I can't be awake right now. Its not possible."

"Yes, you are tired, but you cannot sleep here."

"Im sorry, but there is no way I can stay awake. Its not even a choice. I dont mean to be rude, but I cannot be awake."

Seriously lady, I am the only one in this hostel right now, and I no longer have a bed, and my body is the boss of me. It needs to sleep. There is no other option available at this moment but SLEEP. 

Tampere. 

Now I am in Tampere. It is yet again, very awesome, and again very different from Turku and Stockholm. 

Lily, the head teacher, her husband and her sleeping son Noah pick me up from the bus stop. 

They drive me to my new home, on the outskirts of Tampere, in what I consider a palace in the forest. Its beautiful. 

I've tried to walk around the house counting the bedrooms and bathrooms but I always track. There's so many! It's a maze of rooms. It overlooks the lake and has a backyard that looks like a forest. It is a forest but just a small one. 

I have the "maids bedroom", which is fine by me. Its the smallest room and I have my own bathroom, but the toilet isn't working. So for now Im using one of the other washrooms. But it's great. I have a good closet, a comfortable bed and have unpacked and settled in a bit. When I was looking at the other rooms, I had a moment of disappointment, but the room I have belongs to no one, has no one elses stuff in it, so I can make it mine. 

Shawn, the woman who's home this is, the director of the school, is in Germany, so I've had the place to myself up until now. She has three grown children, all of which have a claim on a room in the house even though they don't live here. 

Her son George just came as he will spend the night and take me to school in the morning. 

He's really cool. 18 years old and has just moved out on his own. They are an American family of German descent, and have lived in Finland for his whole life. He's very fashionable, funny, and laid back. Very tall, very thin, long light brown hair, and wears little round sun glasses and toque that sits above his ears. He was telling about his voice growing up as an American in Finland. "It was really bad. Like really really... not good at all. Horrible." 

The voice goes through an adjustment period living in a foreign country with a foreign language, the two accents need time to adjust to each other, and I guess his just didn't want to meet. 

I spent Sunday with the the head teacher Lily, her husband Daumu, and her two sons Milo and Noah. 

I like her husbands sense of humour. He is very very funny. There is a grocery store in Tampere called the K store, it's like a Walmart. The bigger version of it is called the KK store. And the biggest version is called the KKK store...

Lily is telling me, "My first time in Finland, Daumu says "you want to go to the KKK store?" 

"I say OH MY what is that? He tells me 'you can buy really cheap sheets there". 

At that point he cracks up at his joke from twenty years ago. So funny. 

Today they took me out for lunch, to the forest and to the beach. He doesn't want to walk from the forest to the beach. Lily tells me dissapointed, "I guess we are driving to the beach." 

Daumu says to me trying to seem serious, "The environmental way! We save energy!" 

LOL. So funny. 

Early morning tomorrow and a long day. I'll meet my kids, the rest of the teachers, and so on. 

Wish me luck with my second week! In my home I've never been. Tampere Finland. 

-Shawna