My mom's spring break in Finland
Moro!
Now I'm going to tell about my coming here!
So lets see... haha. So she got here on a Saturday afternoon. My 2nd host mom, Leila, and I went to pick her up in Helsinki. It was so good to see her! I just ran up to her the second I saw her. We drove back to Riihimäki and had some coffee and then we just sat for a long time and talked in the guest house she stayed in. It was so nice to actually talk to her about some things. Then the next day we walked around Riihimäki and I showed her my school and stuff like that. She made spaghetti that day too :-). And she came to my orchestra rehearsal and saw how good we are! Haha. Then the next day we went to Helsinki and saw some basic things and met up with my friends Tori and Laura. When we got back to Riihimäki that evening we went to my 2nd house for coffee. It was really fun to have my mom meet them and see the house. We went to Turku the next day and had a blast! My friend Allison showed us around and my friend John was there too. We went to the castle there, and to the Lutheran church. Its the oldest church in Finland, and it was so beautiful. We had a ton of fun with my friends lol. And then the next day we went to Helsinki again and had a Finnish dinner. It was SO good! We had really good bread.. of course haha. And reindeer soup for an apetizer, because my mom HAD to eat reindeer while in Finland! And then we had lamb for the main course... and that was amazing. And for desert this berry sorbet and amazing chocolate mousse. We always do a great dinner at a good restaurant wherever we go for vacation, so that was this year's vacation dinner, and it was great! The next day we just spent around the house and relaxed because I didn't have school and it was a holiday. Then the next day we spent ENTIRELY in Helsinki! We were total tourists! In the morning we took this audio tour around the city. You put on headphones and listen to the history of the city while going through it on a bus. It was very good, I learned a lot. And it stopped at the rock church and the Siblius monument, and I really wanted to go there anyway. Then we went to the National Museum, and that was really great. This time I could have time to actually look at everything. And we just walked around the city a lot too. Then later we met Tori and Laura for dinner at this Italian restaurant and then went to the Cathedral to watch the Via Crucis. It was this parade and like, play of the Easter Story. You followed it around the Senate Square surrounding the Cathedral and watched different parts of it. We didn't get to see the whole thing, but it was still a great experience. And then the next day we went over to my first house to meet my family. That was really fun :-). Especially because I hadn't seen them since I'd movied out of their house. And then, my mom went home the next day. It was such a whirlwind, but so much fun :-). It really was so great to see her. I think it would have been really really strange to see her after 11 months.. so 8 was ok. So, here are some pictures :-)
My favorite street in Helsinki :-)
Freezing in Turku!
Mom with the kids in the Castle haha
At our Finnish dinner!
Bringing and American Tradition to Finland.. Coloring Easter Eggs!
The Lutheran Cathedral during the Via Crucis
And tomorrow... I'm going to St. Petersburg!!!! AHHH!!!! I'm sooo excited! We're leaving tomorrow from Helsinki at 9:30 and then we'll be back in Helsinki Sunday evening. I can't wait. I still can't believe I'm going to Russia! And then next Monday and Tuesday are Vappu!! Vappu is the the Finnish holiday for May Day. Everyone who has ever graduated from high school wears these white caps they get, and then everyone throws them in the air at the same time. I guess its really fun lol. So, that will be great :-).
I'm signing off until I'm home from Russia!!! Lots of love!! <3<3
Now I'm going to tell about my coming here!
So lets see... haha. So she got here on a Saturday afternoon. My 2nd host mom, Leila, and I went to pick her up in Helsinki. It was so good to see her! I just ran up to her the second I saw her. We drove back to Riihimäki and had some coffee and then we just sat for a long time and talked in the guest house she stayed in. It was so nice to actually talk to her about some things. Then the next day we walked around Riihimäki and I showed her my school and stuff like that. She made spaghetti that day too :-). And she came to my orchestra rehearsal and saw how good we are! Haha. Then the next day we went to Helsinki and saw some basic things and met up with my friends Tori and Laura. When we got back to Riihimäki that evening we went to my 2nd house for coffee. It was really fun to have my mom meet them and see the house. We went to Turku the next day and had a blast! My friend Allison showed us around and my friend John was there too. We went to the castle there, and to the Lutheran church. Its the oldest church in Finland, and it was so beautiful. We had a ton of fun with my friends lol. And then the next day we went to Helsinki again and had a Finnish dinner. It was SO good! We had really good bread.. of course haha. And reindeer soup for an apetizer, because my mom HAD to eat reindeer while in Finland! And then we had lamb for the main course... and that was amazing. And for desert this berry sorbet and amazing chocolate mousse. We always do a great dinner at a good restaurant wherever we go for vacation, so that was this year's vacation dinner, and it was great! The next day we just spent around the house and relaxed because I didn't have school and it was a holiday. Then the next day we spent ENTIRELY in Helsinki! We were total tourists! In the morning we took this audio tour around the city. You put on headphones and listen to the history of the city while going through it on a bus. It was very good, I learned a lot. And it stopped at the rock church and the Siblius monument, and I really wanted to go there anyway. Then we went to the National Museum, and that was really great. This time I could have time to actually look at everything. And we just walked around the city a lot too. Then later we met Tori and Laura for dinner at this Italian restaurant and then went to the Cathedral to watch the Via Crucis. It was this parade and like, play of the Easter Story. You followed it around the Senate Square surrounding the Cathedral and watched different parts of it. We didn't get to see the whole thing, but it was still a great experience. And then the next day we went over to my first house to meet my family. That was really fun :-). Especially because I hadn't seen them since I'd movied out of their house. And then, my mom went home the next day. It was such a whirlwind, but so much fun :-). It really was so great to see her. I think it would have been really really strange to see her after 11 months.. so 8 was ok. So, here are some pictures :-)
My favorite street in Helsinki :-)
Freezing in Turku!
Mom with the kids in the Castle haha
At our Finnish dinner!
Bringing and American Tradition to Finland.. Coloring Easter Eggs!
The Lutheran Cathedral during the Via Crucis
And tomorrow... I'm going to St. Petersburg!!!! AHHH!!!! I'm sooo excited! We're leaving tomorrow from Helsinki at 9:30 and then we'll be back in Helsinki Sunday evening. I can't wait. I still can't believe I'm going to Russia! And then next Monday and Tuesday are Vappu!! Vappu is the the Finnish holiday for May Day. Everyone who has ever graduated from high school wears these white caps they get, and then everyone throws them in the air at the same time. I guess its really fun lol. So, that will be great :-).
I'm signing off until I'm home from Russia!!! Lots of love!! <3<3