Moi Kaikille!!!
Tomorrow I leave on my Eurotour.! I'm quite excited but everything is going so fast. I won't be on my computer so much so forgive me if I'm not answering messages. School finished yesterday officially. These past days have been some of the best in my exchange. I'm having lots of fun and God keeps bringing good people my way. I hope all is well at home! Miss you all but we will be together soon!!
Love!!
Sophie

Hei Bloggers! This Post is long over due. I meant to write again on the 8th of May the day I came back from my trip to Russia with my host family. I wanted to write it before because I had so much on my mind and then I wanted you guys to experience all the things that I had. Well to begin, my host family suggested me to come to Viipuri for a day trip with them since I wasn't going on the rotary Russian tour. Hamina my city is very near to the Russian border so it's very easy to travel there. (Well I guess other then going through security it was easy.) My host Grandmother was our tour bus guide which was nice. :).
So in the morning of the 8th we set off to Viipuri, Russia. Viipuri was actually an old Finnish city but after the war the Russians won the territory an to be quite frank the Finns are still very bitter about it, but if you knew a Finn you would understand why. It's in their nature to be proud. I think it's something they learn at a very young age. Anyways, right when we crossed the border, I knew I was in a different country, Russians and Finns are the exact opposite. Everything is built differently the ditches were filled with trash and the houses and villages were very poor. It made me very sad to see this.
When we arrived to Viipuri I could see a change in the people. Unlike Finns Russians are very talkative and not at all reserved. I don't think they get scared of anything. haha. The markets were filled with full animal bodies and all sorts of different things. I know you might all think that this wasn't nice to see but I loved it. It was cool seeing something so different then what I'm use to.
During the tour we rode around the city and we listened to a little bit of the the town's history. After we had a little bit of time to shop in a WalMart type store. It was cool to see how much the food is different and what different cultures prefer. For example there was a rabbit with his feet still there and fur. After we went to the market, my favorite place. :). We got a whole bunch of stuff for really cheap. :). The salesman were funny as usual. We also had time to eat in one of the local restaurants and we had nothing different just pizza "Russian style". Then it was time to go home and I was very tired and I slept most of the way back. It was a very well worth trip and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to go there.

Now it's already time for Eurotour. I leave on the 6th of June, so only 11 more days! I'm really excited but it's sad because I'm going to miss spending summer with my friends in Hamina. I know it sounds weird but it's just I don't know when will be the next I will ever see them again. I wrote my last test yesterday and now school is over for me. Right now I'm spending as much time as I can with everyone before I leave. My heart is seriously ripping out of my chest. I didn't know that leaving would be this hard. :(. Well I hope all is well and I'll keep you updated.
Miss you!
xoxox

Hello Bloggers!!!
So I hope all is well back home. My exchange is already reaching it's final stretch. I only have about 2 more months to profit as much as my heart will let me. Since living in my new host family things have been going so well. I really like them and I actually really feel like I'm a part of them. Many things have happened since I last spoke to you guys. I hope I can remember everything...
First I had a rotary conference in Iisalmi with all the other exchange students from my district. It was so nice to see everyone again because for some us the last time we saw each other was in the month of November. My district in Finland isnt very active but it is also because the area is quite big and it is difficult to get everyone together. During the weekend we got to hang out with each other and of course we had to listen to a few boring speaches...nothing new. :)

The exchange students from my district.
Last Thursday I went to Sirkus Finlandia, which was very neat. I had already been to a Circus but a long time ago when I was really little. There were a lot of clowns and gymnists from all over EUrope. It was very nice.

Janina and I with a clown from the circus.
On Friday it was Vappu. Vappu is a day where the Finns celebrate the beginning of spring. There are a lot of people in the streets and balloons and ribons etc. At the begining of the evening I went to a local BBQ for my neighborhood and then I went to town to hang out with some friends. I had so much fun!

Me, Vilma and Emmi...My friends. :)
On Monday I visited the Fazer Chocolate Factory! It was so nice, we got to eat all the chocolate we wanted. It was a little overwhelming though, I must admit. At the end they gave us a bag full of treats from Fazer. By the way Fazer is the Finnish chocolate that is way better than any chocolate you can buy in Canada! :P. I will bring some back home for all to try! :).
Well I miss you all but we will be together soon!
God Bless!!!
xoxo

PyhÄ
Hello Readers,
I Have risen from the dead! I'm back just in time for spring. The lack of blogs were really so I didn't kill you of boredom. Now, I have a few things to tell you... First, I have a turtle living in my room! but that's not the most important. Let's begin with the start...
On the 27th of March I left for Lapland with my second host family for a ski trip. First we stopped at a rotary district camp to talk to the next year outbounds. It's so weird to think that just last year that was me all fearfull and excited to go on my exchange. :D. After we stopped at a hotel for the night because the trip up to Lapland is quite long. When we went to the restaurant there was a finnish style polka fest with all these old people dancing and having a good time. I felt like I was in a movie in the 60's (don't ask why).
At around 10 we left again and we arrived to a beautiful cabin outside the town of Luosto. My host parents decided to stay in a cabin because we were going to be there all week. On Sunday we didn't do anything special we just enjoyed the cabin and went to sauna. Starting on Monday we went to Luosto, and we changed hills everyday. After we went to Pyhä (my favourite place), Levi, Pyhä and then the last hill was Suomu. Every hill was no further then 100km, except for Levi was 200km. At first I was a little hesitant about the trip because I thought the hills would be so boring but I was proven wrong. The slopes were shorter but less dangerous and just as fun. :P.After every long day skiing we would relax by going to sauna of course and then enjoying a great home cooked meal. It was lot of fun and I'm very grateful that my host family brought me.
We left on Saturday the third of April and arrived in Isalmi to celebrate Easter with my host dad's father. After having eaten until I almost puked we left for Hamina. When we arrived in Hamina all the snow had almost melted and the weather was nice.

The Turtle.
Yesterday I changed into my third and last family before I leave for Canada. I was a little bit reluctant to leave but so far so good. With my Dad's advice I decided to 'stick with the plan ;).' The reason I didn't want to move is because my new host family lives out in the country side about 6km from town, I thought that I would never be able to go to town and see my friends but once I made the trip to town with my bike I realised I complained way to much as usual. It only took me 15 to 20 minutes which isn't bad at all and plus its very good excercise. My new Host family is very nice, there are 3 children, 1 girl and 2 boys. They have 2 dogs, a turtle (in my room), fish, cats and rabbits. So far I really like being back in the country I feel at home in a way.
Until next time take care and God Bless you all!!!
From your friendly neighbor SPIDERMAN!

My last new bedroom.

My new house. I edited it a little. :D

Hello,
ok so my life is so boring haha. I don't have much to say because everything is becoming so normal now. :D. I guess it's a good thing, right?. Since Februrary I've just been hanging around the house, going to soccer practice and visiting friends. I always have to much time to think and my mind goes crazy thinking about what I should do. I've started making a small scrapbook of my year here in Finland to help pass some time. I've been putting all the important parts of my exchange in it and after I plan to make all my friends sign it. It's crazy that I've been in Finland for 7 months and a half already :S. I know I should be really busy but since i'm the only exchange student in Hamina this year it can be quite hard sometimes. At the end of each school period my friends all go into lock down mode studying and i'm always left the only one that isn't busy. Other then not being too busy school is great I love my friends there and my classes are going well. I wish I was in gym this period but I decided to take a small break which isn't a good idea. :(. Time is going by quite fast now, soon I will be in my last host family and spring will come at last. :). I will be very busy in the summer time, I can't wait! Well just thought I'd fill you in a little on my life!. I hope you still enjoy my unadventurous adventure! :PPP!
God Bless!
Soph

Hey,
I'm so sorry about the the lack of blog entries for the month of February. The funny thing is that I did so many things this month. Instead of my usual boring blog I actually have something to say. This month has gone by so fast. It's already the last day of the month. I can't beleive that half my exchange has already flew by. In a way i'm really excited to come home and see everyone but I don't want to leave all my friends and I don't want to turn 19 :S. haha.
Anwyays, at the begining of the month it was koeviiko (examweek) so I went to Turku and visited a few of the other exchange students to help pass time. I had a week off and I couldn't hang out with my friends because they were all studying hard to pass there exams :(. I had lots of fun in Turku, the city is a little bit like Saskatoon. The week after my new period at school started. So far everything is fine but my schedual is a little bit boring and I wish I had more classes. I can pick more but at the same time there isn't any point in sitting in class that you can't participate in.
The third week in February was very busy. At school everyone was very excited. On Friday we had the Wanhojen Tanssi (old Dance) its to celebrate the 2nd years being the oldest in school. The Third years had the Penkarit to celebrate leaving the school. The whole school was decorated in this years theme 'the jungle.' All the third years wore costumes and threw candies at everyone. When I said threw I meant chucked candies at everyone. It was like Halloween. :D. I participated in the Old dance. I was very nervous because we were having trouble remembering all the dances but in the end it all went well.
After the dance weekend we had our February break. During the February break I went to Estonia for 2 days with my host Family. We travelled by ship across the Baltic sea. We went to the capital city Tallin. We stayed mostly in the orginal part of the city where all the buildings are very old. I loved the city, it was so beautiful. I felt like I was really back in the old days. The second day we were there was Estonia day so there were lots of parades.
The rest of the break I just stayed at home and visited some friends. I also watched a lot of the Olympics. It is so exciting to watch Canada win so many medals. The anticipation for the usa vs. can mens hockey match is killing me. I really hope we can win. :D Well thats all for now! I love you all and may God bless you!
Sophie

Hello Everyone!

So I'm glad to inform you all that I am surviving the Finnish winter! I guess that should be obvious because living in Saskatchewan I've seen some pretty horrible winters. Its funny because for most exchange students winter is a whole new experience. I have had a few people ask me if it snows in Canada. I just laughed! I really like the Finnish winter because the weather is much more milder and there isn't as much wind. The trees are permanently covered in snow which makes everything so beautiful. 

In my last blog I had informed you guys that I had switched host families. I have finally settled in. Its weird to think I've only been them 4 weeks. Now I only live 1 km from the school which is nice because I hate biking long distance in -20. Now I appreciate my big yellow bus back home. One thing I really miss is being able to drive :(. Its strange to always have to ask, but its also a good thing to learn to walk and bike more. I bike everywhere now and its a habit I hope to bring with me when I come back.

I know I'm not coming back yet but I don't want to leave Finland. I love it here and I have so many great friends that I can count on. I already know its going to be difficult leaving. :(. I'm already at the half way point of my exchange which is hard to beleive. I remember at this time last year I was freaking out about not going back home for the holidays. :D 

School is going well as usual. Koeviiko (Test week) is coming up on Friday and all the 3rd graders in my school are leaving. Its sad because I won't get to see a lot of them after because they will be busy with other things. I don't know what I'm going to do during test week because I think I only have one exam. My Finnish is finally getting somewhere. I can understand a lot now and I can say a few things but as usual speaking is the difficult part. 

Last week I was in the middle school almost every day making presentations in French and in English about Canada and a little about my life and my exchange. I was really surprised by the response. All the kids seemed to be very interested and asked a lot of questions. It was nice because I wasn't nervous at all. The only thing I wish I would have done differently is having a something to give them. If I have any advice to an exchange student is to pick wisely what you bring to give away. I obviously didn't think about it enough :S.

This weekend I went to Lappeenranta to visit a French exchange student Manon. I had lots of fun just hanging out.

Soccer is going well too. We aren't the best team but we are doing better then we were in outdoor. I wish I could be in a more competitive team but Hamina only has enough players for one team. I guess people aren't all that much into sports here. Also for sport I have been going to Uuperi a lot with my host dad. It is a down hill ski place. Its about the same size as Wapiti but steeper. I really enjoy this because it gives me something to do on the weekends.

Well that's all the news I have for this time! If your reading my blog please let me know and feel free to ask questions. :P

Love you all! Mimi je t'aime et j'mexcuse pour l'autre jour  <3

Soph. xxx  

My new room and bed.

My new house.