Moi (hello),

So it has been a while since my last post and I have done many new things. Its great being an exchange student because you get to all sorts of amazing things. So first of all, I would like to inform you that I have made my first meal for my host family. I wanted to make something easy so I made some taco salad. :) Although making a taco salad is an easy task making it for new friends is the hardest thing. I was so afraid they wouldn't like it or that the various different ingredients would make it not as good as usually. What made it worst was that some of my friends had stayed over to try some. Everything turned out well though and everyone enjoyed it. My little host sister keeps asking when is the next time I will make taco salad.

On Tuesday I decided to make a square and that turned out very well they finished it within two days. :). On Thursday I went sailing for my first time. It was so awsome. It is something you must try one day. It can be scary at some parts because it feels like the boat is going to tip, but thats what makes it so exciting. haha. It was also a race and we finnished fourth, we were in third but at the end there was no wind so we weren't really moving and another boat passed us right before the finish line. It's kinda frustrating because it all depends on the wind, if there is no wind you can't move. haha.

Now my favorite part, on Saturday I went to the UEFA Women's Euro cup. Finland vs. Ukraine. Wow! It was so amazing the game is so much more exciting in real life, and I really enjoy soccer fans they are so loud :). Although, it was Finland's first defeat they did so good they just got a little unlucky at on part which cost them the game. Other than that it was amazing.

Anyways I hope everything is good in Canada, and enjoy your cheddar cheese because I really miss it :(.

Sophgettingfinnished.

xox

Terve (Hi),

Wow Saturday will mark my third week in Finland. I can't beleive how fast time is going already. Well I have done many things since I last talk to you. On Wednesday I went to watch pesäpallo (finnish baseball), its kinda like baseball but way different. haha. It is very difficult to explain, and I still don't really understand how to play. Although, it is a very entertaining sport, there is a lot of talking and it's really fast.

Yesterday, I went on a boat ride with my counseller around the islands of the sea. We then walked around one of the public islands. It was very beautiful! Sailing season is now almost over, but when summer comes again I will get to go sailing. I am very excited, and I wish Papa could come with me! :(

School is still going very well and I am learning a lot of Finnish. I think it will be some time before I can understand because the language is quite different from french or english. I really like the language though, because it is very logical. 

Everyday I ride my bike to Lukio; it is about three kilometers. On my way to school there are a lot of uphills so instead of gaining weight I am gaining muscles! haha. Today I had to do the cooper test, we ran for twelve minutes and I ran the top amount of meters for my age group. We also had sprints and I had the best time in all of the girls. Well I think I have said enough...

God Bless,

SOphiE

P.S Feel free to send me e-mails or facebook messages. Tell me what is going on with you! :)

Hey everyone,

Today I had my second soccer game. Yesterday we played out of town and won, I scored two goals but my game today wasn't so good...we lost. Today, I also went to the Lutheran church, it was very different but it was nice to see something new. Tomorrow, I will go to school and have my second class of finnish at the Lukio (highschool). So far I am really enjoying myself, school is going very well and the people from Hamina are very easy to get along with. One difference I have seen is that Finns are a lot more quiet, they don't mind sitting together without sayin a word. 

This weekend, Pete and Kaisa my host parents went to a wedding in Helsinki so Kaisa's mom came to stay with me, Anna and Eki. She is very kind and she is also a very good cook. It was nice because she was always baking good sweets :). I always had to tell myself not to eat too much ha. 

One thing you have to try when you come to Finland is their ice cream. In Canada, I hate ice cream but since I'm here I always crave it. Well thats all I have to say today...I hope all is well at home.

Love you all!

Sophie

My yard again...

My awsome soccer jersey!

Hello everyone,

I hope all is well at home! 

Today I had my first real day of school... and it was actually very fun. My principal picked all my classes for me, he said that I must take easy courses to start with. For my first of five semesters I have french, english (more than one level), finnish and physical education. It is a very nice break from last year. Today I am also supposed to start soccer but I am not sure if we will still have practice because there is a huge rainstorm outside. 

So far, I am very happy with my host family, everyone is very kind. At language camp we had a few presentations about Finland and its people and I was really starting to get homesick. The teachers said that people are very shy and you always have to have a reason to interupt someone, but so far I have made a lot of friends. :)

P.S They found my luggage it was in Amsterdam.

God Bless,

Sophie

My front yard.

On the porch beside my room.

My bedroom.

Hello Everyone!

I am now done my language camp in Karkku. I left today with my counseller Pavoo and I am very glad to say that he is very nice! On the way to Hamina we had lunch with his wife's sister and her two boys. After that we went on to Hamina. Here I met my first host family, the Salminens. So far I like them very much. They have a beautiful home on the edge of the baltic sea, so I can go canoing or boating whenever I want.  Their home is very beautiful! 

On Tuesday I will already start school, I am very nervous but I will try my best to make friends!

Today I experienced my first Finnish sauna and it was very nice!

I hope all is well at home and take care! 

P.S I will put photos very soon.

Hello everyone,

I have arrived safely, although I am very tired and sick. It is very difficult to try and learn a language without a voice. Some people think that it is how I normally sound. 

So far I am having fun, but the bus driver that brought me to camp lost my luggage. It has made my stress level go up a lot if you know what  mean. I have only been in Finland for two days now, its strange to think because the scenery is very similar to Canada. Yesterday morning, I woke up wondering where in the world I was. Well I just ask everyone to keep me in their prayers.

Love you all!

Sophie