APPRECIATING NEW PERSPECTIVES

Coming to a Close

2010-11-11T13:45:00.005-06:00

November 11, 2010
3:00pm

The following is the final entries that I waited 16 months to publish. I have held onto this journal for so long, telling myself that I ought to just finish my final blog and commence the end to my journey. Part of me did not want it to end. I have thoroughly enjoyed the reflection and creativity in writing this blog, and even though I was not updating it any longer, I still felt like it was current in my mind. It was such an exhilarating experience, that I did not want to move on from it. In a way I felt like, how could I possibly top this experience? I realize that life is a compilation of many experiences. Some seem more extravagant than others, but all equally important. I look forward to many more wonderful and joyful experiences in my life.

The final entries of my summer:

July 26, 2009
7:00am

I am about 15 minutes away from stepping onto the grounds of my last country to finish off my around-the-world summer adventure. I'll admit that I'm beginning to get used to these plane rides. I used to think that a three-hour flight from Kansas City to California was a long time...now a 10-12 hour flight is no big deal. In just a few days I'll be stepping back on a plane to go all the way back home! Before that though, I have three full days to tour Sydney as much as possible. I'm staying with a couchsurfer host for the third time this summer, only this time I will be alone.

I'm not going to lie, I have been awake since 8am Friday morning and I would love to lay down and sleep right now, but there's just no time for that. Wake up Allison, Australia is waiting! I'll sleep in 3 days when I get home! Sleep deprivation is nothing that a good cup of coffee can't fix. Or pure adrenaline for that matter.

I just looked out my window and I can see land! Here I am! IN Australia! I've been informed by my best friend, Meagan, that I need to find a hunky Aussie to bring home. I figure that three days should give me plenty of time to woo someone with my American charm. Maybe even with enough leftover time to find a koala as well. (haha!) It's time to land and I'm ready for my newest adventure!

July 27, 2009

"Love simply loves the other, without wanting them to change for our own benefit - just as Christ loves us."

July 28, 2009

2:15pm

Wow. There are not enough words to describe how beautiful this view is that's all around me right now. Today is my third day in Australia and I decided to get out of the city during my last day, so I took a ferry cruise to Manly Wharf. The ferry ride itself was absolutely gorgeous. It rounded about the East side of the Opera House and traveled thirty minutes to Manly. Once I arrived I took a trail climb to the top of a cliff, which is where I am right now, sitting on the edge with my legs dangling off the side and listening to the sound of the waves hitting the rocks many feet below. The ocean is so beautiful, with so many shades of blue as far as my eyes can see. If I was picking the colors out of a crayon box, I would classify the deepest part of the ocean as cerulian (which was always my favorite shade of blue to color the sky in a coloring book page). As the water nears the rocks it becomes a darker turquoise and blue-green, with dark patches of seaweed beneath the water surface. I know my words could never do justice to the genuine beauty of this ocean.

As I was walking along the trail near the top of the cliff, I was thinking about how this is the last day of my study abroad/travel adventure. This time tomorrow I will be on an airplane back to the States. I know I've written so many times about how lucky I feel to have had this experience - and at this point I don't care if it sounds cliche again...I truly am just so grateful for how everything worked out. Most of all I am grateful for everyone who has helped and supported me so that I could make this happen.

This has been so much more than I ever expected. I can't believe I'm on the Australian coast right now, on the opposite side of the world. Tomorrow I will be taking my final airplane ride this summer. For 23 hours I will be on route to my final destination: my home in Kansas. While I feel so blessed to have had this amazing journey, I am thrilled to pieces to be heading home. When I think back to all the experiences I have had this summer, I still feel like I am dreaming. Did I really do this? Did I really travel around the world? Yes. And I've got the pictures to prove it!

I had no idea how much I would learn about myself this summer. I wanted to be in a position in which I was the outsider, the minority, to see how it feels to really be on my own. I see so many International students in the USA who leave their homes for years at time to embark on a new life in the States. I realize now just how exhilarating, yet difficult that can be. It's not easy adjusting to a lifestyle that is completely different from what you have always known. You make the best of it, and maybe in doing so, you realize you are a lot stronger than you thought.

All that being said, I guess it's true that there really "is no place like home".

"Kimchi!"

2009-09-04T01:48:00.008-05:00

July 25, 2009...

8:18pm...

Today was quite a way to depart from this country. Originally my intention was to take the subway with my roommate around 2pm...giving myself 6 hours to sit at the airport...hanging out and reading magazines in Korean. (Only a few more hours until I will actually be able to read the books around me again!) Still, my plans for my final day changed tremendously. A few days ago I was approached by the International Corporation at Hanyang University, and they were looking for one male and female to model for a local design business. I assumed that I would be taking photos for the university...ones in which I would be wearing Hanyang gear and holding textbooks, looking like a typical foreign exchange student.

I was wrong! It turns out that the model agents are from a local design business near Seoul, who wanted models to advertise their design company. The owner of the company is friends with some of the instructors at Hanyang University, so I agreed to participate. Why not?!

So today, myself and Derek (a guy in the summer school program from Ohio) spent about five hours in a studio for our very first real photo shoot. Neither of us knew what we were getting ourselves into, and clearly we have never done anything like this before! We spent hours trying on their clothes...which were typically too tight or too short. Come on now...I'm 5'8", Derek is 6'2"...and we're in Korea. Each time he sat down, his pants came up close to his knees...and I had to suck in my belly and pull at the arms and legs to make things fit as well...but that was half the fun! We had a variety of roles to play, from teachers, to businessmen, to golfers and athletes. Derek even had to play Santa Claus, which I didn't quite understand...it was a bit ridiculous actually....but all to entertaining for me to watch!

I'll admit that while at first I felt a bit silly smiling and posing for the camera...eventually I started to enjoy it. I felt pretty special that they thought enough of us to want our faces as a part of their promotion. Back home I just blend in with the crowd, and I realize a bit more now that I do stand out here...and maybe it's not such a bad thing. No matter what happens with the photos, I will never forget the experience I had today. I never envisioned I would ever have a professional photo shoot and today gave me the opportunity to embrace multiple roles and explore a new part of myself. And to share this experience with Derek made it so much more memorable. There were times when I would feel really uncomfortable standing in front of the camera, and I would look at his smiling face and feel instanly relieved. I don't think too many people would have been as open minded as he was today. He's a person who can truly find the good in any situation and just make the best of each moment, and I appreciate that quality in people.

As for now...my plane is making its way out of Asia and onto Australia! I'm going to sit here and stare out the window for the next 10 1/2 hours...and I'm going to be happy doing it!

Oh, and "kimchi" is the word you say in Korea when you take a photo. Who needs "cheese"?

Satisfaction

2009-07-23T07:12:00.003-05:00

July 23rd, 2009...

When I left for my trip this summer I made certain assumptions as to how I would feel coming back home. I presumed that while I would miss home, I wouldn't be eagerly awaiting my return. I knew that I would grow in many ways from my experience abroad. Every new day presents itself with the opportunity to grow and learn more about the world and yourself no matter where you're at in life. When we get into the habit of a routine we just have to make a greater effort sometimes to stretch our minds...as opposed to my travels this summer, which more clearly presents opportunities in which I may step out of my comfort zone whether I like it or not. So in this circumstance I have been forced to be uncomfortable; forced to challenge myself; forced to recognize another lifestyle besides what I have always known. There have been may occasions this summer in which I wished that I could be back in my normal routine. Sometimes I just wanted to go about my day without having to think about adapting to a new language or culture. Sometimes I just wanted to "be", but deep down I know that is not why I took this trip. I didn't spend nine months saving money and push back graduation a full year to just "be" and not challenge myself.

I know that it's important to step outside of our comfort zones and embrace something new. In this case I feel like I made the choice to step outside of my comfort zone when I stepped on the plane the first time. Once I got off that plane 2 1/2 months ago, I felt more like I was kicked out of that comfort zone. It was no longer a choice. Every direction I stepped in lead me to something entirely new and there was no turning back. Therefore, what's the point in even trying to step back? Have you ever tried walking up an escalator in the opposite direction it's going? It's like you are exerting yourself 100 times more to go against the flow, only to end up in the same place you started. I think that about that with life. There have been numerous times when I feel as though I have tried to go against what I know I am really mean to do and the direction I should follow; but when I stop and just accept my choices and decisions I am much more satisfied...and much less exhausted!

That is how I feel now...satisfied. Everything that has happened this summer and every opportunity I have taken to learn and grow has been worth the sacrifices I made to be here. This journey has far exceeded my expectations and I am so grateful to have had these opportunities. Tomorrow I will graduate from Hanyang University Summer School and say goodbye to a country that has welcomed me with open arms and a friendly smile. To my surprise, I feel that not only do I accept the fact that this journey is nearing its end, but I am excited to return back to my home and to the people I love. (After I visit Sydney of course!) :)

Samsung Anyone?

2009-07-23T06:41:00.004-05:00

July 22nd, 2009...

Today was our last field trip in Seoul as part of the summer program. We made a visit to Insadong, a very charming, pedestrianized street in Seoul that is notorious for its traditional Korean arts, crafts, antiques and many various tea and coffee shops. While it has remained traditional, it has become infamous for its modernized spiral building, called the Ssamziegil Center. Winding around this building one can find a multitude of expensive shops and various types of foods to taste, including my favorite...the ice cream-filled waffle. That's right folks, ice cream encompassed entirely by a large, sugary-crusted waffle.

After buying souvenirs we visited the Samsung Gallery. To be honest I wasn't very excited to visit the gallery, because I have never had much interest in electronics. I feel like my parents sometimes when I try to navigate my way around the newest technology (no offense to them of course!) :) South Korea is very proud of Samsung though, so I was a good sport and walked through the gallery, trying to fake an interest in the billions of computers and televisions that filled three floors. I was envisioning my brothers, Pat and Brian walking through and staring at each individual tv, and trying to decipher the very best one (even though they all look exactly the same to me!).

We continued to walk through all the tv's and feeling somewhat bored...when our tour guide led us to something truly amazing....a complete kitchen set, chock full of Samsung-like gadgets! I have never seen anything like it! It even had a wine cooler built into the wall, that played a very elegant sound when it was opened. It even had a special kimchi cooler, so that the kimchi didn't have to be buried underground. So if anyone feels generous, has hundreds of thousands of dollars at their disposal, and wants to buy me a gift...then I would greatly appreciate this completely electronic kitchen. I would never be greedy though...you can omit the kimchi cooler. I'll just continue to store my stash underground in case anyone gets a craving for spicy, sour pickled cabbage.

Making Connections

2009-07-23T06:16:00.003-05:00

July 21st, 2009...

One of the most fascinating and appealing attributes of a person is to discover what they are passionate about. Whether or not I share in that same passion is irrelevant, because it is their sheer excitement that fascinates me and captures my attention. We can make connections with others simply by taking an interest in the parts of life in which they find meaningful. I think that the greatest connection you can make with another person is when you come to find that you share the same passion. I love that moment in a conversation when two people realize they have something in common, especially with those little qualities we all have that seem rare and unique only to us. To come to find that another person enjoys the same thing, has the same quirky trait, or has shared in the same experience is what makes interactions so appealing!

One of the best parts of this whole trip has been discovering those connections with people all over the world, whom have had such unique upbringings compared to my own. This is the part of my adventure I will not forget; this is the part that I believe will resonate within me. I think it's people who really make life meaningful. There are plenty of aesthetically beautiful places in our world and I am so thankful to have been able to explore more of them this summer, but those places will eventually lose their grandeur and appeal over time. We can walk the same streets over and over again or see the same sites day in and day out, and the history of it will always stay the same. That is in fact why it is called history. On the other hand, people will always be compelling, because they have a constant capacity for growth. No matter how long we have known a person or how much we have shared, there's always more beneath the surface. There's always more to explore. We are not stagnant; we are full of energy, emotions, and life and everyday we have the opportunity to learn and continue to grow into the best versions of ourselves.

A Day With Clay

2009-07-18T06:56:00.004-05:00

July 18th, 2009...

Todays plans had to be altered a little bit due to the extremely rainy weather. We were going to be attending the Boryeoung Mud Festival (which literally involves playing in the mud all day). Unfortunately it has been incredibly rainy and there have apparently been some reported cases of contracting skin disease in the mud. With that being said...they didn't want to take the changes of us getting lost in the mud or developing any diseases (overly cautious if you ask me!), so we had a change of plans. After breakfast (which involved sitting on the floor again!) we left the wonderful town of Jeonju and headed to Incheon, which is famous for its traditional pottery. It amazed me to watch this man make a beautiful pot in about five minutes, which appeared to take absolutely no effort or technique at all. He made it look so easy...therefore, how hard can it be right? haha...wrong!

Due to our lack of pottery professionalism, (apparently a 1/2 semester of pottery class in high school wasn't enough of a qualification), they gave us a block of clay and let us make our own creations. The results may have been a little less than professional I suppose....but really, isn't art is all about interpretation and abstract thinking anyway? To make a perfectly symmetrical and pristinely designed piece of pottery would only be removing the very essence of that critical concept.

Here's my flawed creation.....I wanted to give it an Irish appeal, so I attempted to make a shamrock handle on the lid, and a cross with an imprint of my Claddagh ring on the inside. Maybe it isn't million-dollar pottery YET, but I bet it could make a buck or two on E-bay in a few years... who knows where that could take me in the future!

All Sorts of Tradition

2009-07-18T06:05:00.004-05:00

July 17th, 2009...

Korean Traditional field trip #2 may not have been filled with cameras and headline stories like the last one, but it was still an amazing cultural experience. Jeonju is located about 2 1/2 hours south of Seoul and is famous for being a traditional city, having been named a "royal city" during the Joseon Dynasty. We spent the day touring the city, observing their original wine distillery and paper-making processes.

Watching the men and women in the paper factory changed the way I look at paper. I've never thought much about where paper comes from or the process involved in turning a perfectly good tree into something I write letters on. The process to get to that final product is so long and tedious, and involves doing the exact same thing over and over all day. It was so hot and humid in the factory but yet it didn't seem to affect the workers; they just continued to do the same thing over and over...continuing on with the seemingly never-ending paper-making process. Never again will I waste a perfectly good piece of paper for something frivolous like a paper airplane! Okay, so that's not true....but I definitely respect the effort that goes into the paper aircraft assembly.

Later that day we were treated to dinner at a traditional restaurant, complete with straw mats instead of chairs. I walked in and my face lit up when I saw that we were taking off our shoes and sitting on the floor for dinner (it's the little things that bring happiness!). Now I'll admit that some of that excitement eluded me when I sat down to find a plate of fish still smiling at me. Thankfully there were plenty of other traditional foods to sample, in which we used a giant piece of lettuce to cover up the faces of our fresh-water friends. I typically like to taste everything, but I prefer not to eat bones if I can help it...so I left the little fishies under the lettuce to rest.

After dinner we walked to our accommodations for the night, which consisted of a traditional Korean house setting. Descriptively, it resembled a courtyard with a square building around it, which housed roughly 3-4 people per room. The rooms were simply that...one hardwood room with a bathroom and shower. To sleep you place a heavy blanket on the floor an use a lighter blanket to cover up. This was a much better experience than a motel/hotel/resort, or any other typical overnight location, because we were able to live in the downtown area of a city established in the 1300's in the same manner as people did hundreds of years ago...of course with the exception of the electricity we have come to know and love.

In the News!

2009-07-18T05:21:00.010-05:00

July 16th, 2009...

We made the headlines!!! Okay, so yesterday we were scheduled to visit the GyeongBok Palace in northern Seoul. This palace was first constructed in the late 1300's during the Joseon Dynasty, but was heavily destroyed by the Japanese government in the early 20th century. It was later reconstructed and restored to its original form and is now available for tours to observe the traditional life and times of South Korea. I love history and I was excited just to visit a palace for the first time. And had the day ended with simply a walk around the palace and a short tour, I would have been perfectly satisfied...because I was happy just to be there.

Little did I know what we would actually be getting ourselves into... we quickly discovered that we were not just going to be taking a casual walk around the palace; instead, we would be re-enacting the Walk of the Royal Family through the palace! Each of us played a role and we were dressed accordingly with our part. I played the role of a court maiden, which involved me getting my hair pulled tightly into a long braid, which was then covered by an even longer black braid pinned to the back of my head. I can't say that it was too attractive, but at least I know not to opt for a hair color change any time soon! Anywho, we all were dressed in the royal hanbok (traditional clothing), which consisted of three layers and pointed shoes. Once we were ready, we began the Royal Walk through the palace while the other tourists followed and took pictures.

As we walked through the palace I felt so honored to be there and participate in that experience. I still can't believe I made it here to Seoul, and am able to share in this opportunity to fully immerse myself in so many aspects of this richly diverse culture. To be engaged in such an honorable tradition made me feel so special and I know how lucky I am to be a part of this program!

So back to the headlines...today we came to find that our pictures had been posted all over the news and websites in Seoul...three pages worth on one site alone. I can't exactly read the articles that accompany the photos...but I trust they are positive!

ABC...1,2,3...

2009-07-13T06:05:00.003-05:00

July 13th, 2009...

One benefit I've received from studying both Finnish and Korean language is that I've been able to feel what it is like to be a child learning the alphabet for the first time. This feeling is true especially while learning Korean, since the characters are completely new to me. When I first began looking intensively at the Korean language, all I could ensue was that all those funky looking symbols meant something to somebody...but that somebody was certainly not me. I imagine that as a child I once felt the same way. My family has told me stories of how I used to listen to a story over and over, and then recite that story from memory while flipping the pages pretending as though I were actually reading. I can imagine the excitement I must have felt thinking as though I could actually read what "big people" could read.

Here I am, 20-something years after I first started "reading", and I am right back to that same beginning. I feel the same excitement when I can read more than a line or two in a story. The only difference now is that I feel myself holding in my excitement so as not to appear overly giddy and childlike. However, I've never been too good at holding back my excitement...so I am starting to just embrace it and feel happy about the accomplishments my class and I are making.

While I know we are making accomplishments, we are still often very confused because this language is so hard to grasp. I sit in class and I see my teacher try to explain things to us, and oftentimes I can see the frustration on her face because we just aren't picking it up. I completely understand her frustration because in her mind she is explaining something that is very easy and basic, and yet we are looking at her like a deer in headlights. I've been on that end many times while tutoring or teaching in a classroom, so I understand and can easily empathize with her point of view.

I feel as though this experience has given me the opportunity to empathize a little better with children in my future classroom. I knew that this experience would give me a chance to learn what it was like to be in the minority, with the hope that I could empathize with children in schools that also feel like they are in the minority. To my surprise, this experience has taught me so much more than that. At some point in time, all the students I work with will feel left out, behind or confused in the classroom...and I hope that I will be able to draw from this experience and have a greater amount of patience and understanding.

A Happy Heart

2009-07-12T07:52:00.005-05:00

July 12, 2009...

It was raining hard outside today, but my heart was shining on the inside! Okay, so I know that's cheesy...but y'all know me well enough by now to expect such corniness. I have had plans to attend mass at the Myeong-dong Cathedral for two weeks now, so I was bound and determined to keep that promise. This Cathedral was built in the late 1800's and was the first brick-laid Gothic style building in Korea. Inside the church are beautiful granite pillars, stained glass windows, and a gorgeous altar. And while the physical attributes of this cathedral were exquisite, the best part was sharing something in common among individuals with whom I couldn't actually share verbal communication.

There was an opportunity to attend an English mass, but neither I nor my friend, Julia, cared to attend that service. We have attended countless masses in English and will continue to do so when we return home; we wanted to experience the mass we know and love in Korean with the local community. While we weren't able to understand the words, we followed along by memory as best as possible. The part about today that made me the most excited was being able to actually sing in Korean by following along in the hymnals. Both Julia and I have been taking Beginner Korean Language and the songs were slow enough that we could follow along and sing with everyone. Granted I don't have any idea about the words I was singing, but that isn't the main purpose.

The main purpose is that when I arrived in Seoul nearly three weeks ago, I never would have expected to participate in the mass and actually be able to read Korean and sing along. When I first arrived here I was completely clueless...about everything. I could hardly find my way to my bedroom, let alone read or understand any of the language. Three weeks ago the Korean alphabet was just a bunch of symbols that seemed nicely put together; and now I am finding the meaning and purpose of those symbols...and I feel very delighted by that. It's the little things that bring me happiness and make me feel like a part of the community, and today was a perfect example.

B-Boy and Korean Pop Music

2009-07-11T06:24:00.007-05:00

July 11th, 2009...

Last night we went to a B-Boy performance. As described in the brochure, B-boy is a "newborn special performance of modern - ballet, B-boying, Lockin', Pop-pin', Jazz-dance with costume using electricity and wire equipment". It's mainly a group of males who breakdance and do all kinds of crazy pop and lock moves to some intense music, ranging from hip hop to Celine Dion. Yes, Celine Dion....and LeAnn Rimes. The best part of the performance was watching the teenage girls around the stage screaming and giggling whenever any of the guys came close to them. It reminded me of the days when my school-girl friends and I would get all googly-eyed over the latest boy bands. Oh the days of All-4-One and N*Sync... I'll admit that I even came back to my dorm and listened to "It's Tearing Up My Heart" and "I Swear". I smiled as I listened and reminisced...and I am not ashamed of it! At least I didn't open up my old Spice Girls album... at least not today!

Papparazzi Alert!

2009-07-11T06:01:00.003-05:00

July 10th, 2009...

One thing I have come to realize even more here is the importance of both our verbal and nonverbal actions. Clearly I can't speak much of the language and therefore I have to communicate friendliness with my facial expressions. I've always believed in the power of a smile, and in South Korea I feel an even greater obligation and desire to smile at everyone I meet. Back home I blend in with my surroundings and I only represent myself. It's not the same here. I don't blend in and therefore people notice me differently than they do with the other locals. And because they notice me, they pay greater attention to my actions. Not only do I represent myself through my actions, but I represent my country. My interactions with others often directly influence their perceptions of the country in which I come from.

People in South Korea (especially the young crowd), highly look up to people from the USA and base their perceptions on what they see in movies. I am especially courteous around children, because they are easily fascinated when they see any of us from the States. I walked past a school bus full of young girls a couple of days ago and they were all yelling "hi" in English. When I smiled, waved, and said "hi" in return, they all screamed and giggled as though I were a celebrity. Today, four little girls approached me in the supermarket, asked me what my favorite color was, and had the adult with them take a picture of all of us together. I'm just a typical girl from Kansas and it was incredibly flattering to be noticed like that! It also just made me realize even further that I have a responsibility to portray myself and the USA in a kind and loving manner.

The excitement to see an American is not limited to small children either. This morning I went for a run along a nice path in which many older individuals were planting flowers. Nearly everyone I passed stopped and pointed at me. Literally, everyone, and there were a lot of people. I wasn't offended by any means, but after about 10 minutes I turned around and headed back. It was just a little more than I felt comfortable with. My roommate explained to me that the elderly population has the least amount of experience being around foreigners and are therefore more startled at times than the younger generation.

Okay, last story I promise....two days ago I went for a run around the campus and I decided to do hill repeats up this really steep incline. There was a middle-aged woman who came walking up the stairs adjacent to the hill. Just as I was getting ready to begin my 3rd repeat, she stopped and pointed her camera in my direction. I waited because I assumed she was taking a picture of something around me and I didn't want to get in the way of her photo. But she just sort of stood there, so I started to run again and then she snapped a photo. I wondered in my head if she was taking a picture of me, but I naturally assumed that she didn't. Once I reached the top of the hill I turned back around and jogged down, when she took another photo! This pattern continued through my 8th repeat, before she reached the top of the stairs and walked away.

I think I'm beginning to realize that while I think I'm representing myself as a kind and friendly person by smiling at everyone as I walk/run past them....in all actuality, they probably just think I'm a nut! I suppose I'll never know... :)

Chopsticks and Pizza???

2009-07-11T05:33:00.004-05:00

July 7th, 2009...

Today was my roommate's birthday! Last night I blew up a bunch of balloons and hid them in my closet, and when she fell asleep I scattered them on her bed and the floor beside it. In the morning she woke up with a shriek, and then I sang "Happy Birthday" to her (in English and Finnish of course) and gave her a basket of candy to start the day right. It wasn't much, but I know it made her feel special! What a fantastic beginning to the day!

That evening we were invited to attend a banquet for all exchange students that are preparing to leave Seoul to study abroad. The entire presentation was in Korean so we couldn't really understand what was going on, and the huge buffet right beside us was a bit distracting. After all, what college student doesn't get excited about free food? I'll tell you who....this girl right here. I haven't had the best of luck with the food here in Korea so I felt a bit indifferent about the enormous buffet, until my eyes caught a glimpse of something truly wonderful that I haven't seen in a long time....amidst all the fish, pork, and spicy whatnot that most other people were drooling over, was a tray of juicy watermelon! My eyes opened wider and I began to see more....oranges, pineapple...it seemed too good to be true! I know I probably got a bit too excited about this, but I really miss eating fruit! The travel rule when it comes to fruit is that if you can't peel it, don't eat it...so I have avoided it altogether. Not tonight! My tummy was happy!

As wonderful of a day as it had already been...it still wasn't over! A group of us went to Heongeong, another province of Seoul, to take my roommate out on the town to celebrate. We went to a restaurant and tried the traditional Korean pizza and egg soup, which is apparently quite popular to eat with beer. It certainly is a long way away from being the greasy, cheesy pizza we all know and love. It was pretty much a round plate covered in sprouts, onions, and some other green vegetables, which you eat with chopsticks and dip in soy sauce. Now I may not be making that on Chiefs football Sundays when I get back home, but all in all it wasn't too shabby. Afterwards we headed to Club Cocoon, a popular dance club that basically plays rap and hip-hop set to a techno beat. I've never been to a club, so I find it funny that the first one I go to is in South Korea and it played rap and hip-hop. I've never been a fan of either rap nor techno, but I believe in going with the flow and having a great time anyways...and that's just what our large group did. And since the Subway closes down at midnight and doesn't open up until 5:30am, we just stayed out all night and just observed the culture, which was still very much awake and alive to my surprise! We took the Subway back to Hanyang at 7:00am and finally ended our 24-hour day...

Travel Tip #1

2009-07-06T21:06:00.002-05:00

July 7th...

Travel Tip #1:

When traveling to another country it is vital that one acquires a converter for all of his/her electronic equipment, due to the variations in voltage power.

You may be thinking to yourself that you were already aware of that fact. My response to those of you who were previously aware, is that I blame you for keeping that useful secret from me. What am I blaming you for exactly? Well, let me tell you.

So, about four days after I arrived in Jyvaskyla, Finland, the summer school organized a dinner for all of us. I knew that some of the girls were going to change into nicer clothes for the event, so in keeping with that I thought I would also doll up a bit. I put on some makeup, changed my clothes, and was going to attempt to maybe add a little curl to my hair. I plugged in my curling iron, waited a few minutes, and attempted to style my hair. Naturally, the first section of hair I intended to curl under would be the small section of bangs that I like to swoop over my forehead. So I gathered my bangs, wound them through my curling iron, and.....POOF!!....no more bangs. I removed my curling iron to find my hair fried off inside of it.

At this point I try to cover up the results of my lack of knowledge on various voltage power outlets, by pulling my hair back completely or doing my own variation of the "comb-over". Either way, it gives me a little chuckle each time I think about it. Lesson learned!

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes...

2009-07-05T08:17:00.003-05:00

July 5th...

Today was part two of our weekend trip and we spent it at a traditional Korean folk village in Yong-in City. This village consisted of more than 260 houses from the digfferent regions and the living culture of the later Joseon Dynasty. We walked through numerous gardens and crop fields, as well as various workshops and commoners' houses. In addition to that we watched a traditional music and dance performance, an acrobatics and tightrope show, and a traditional wedding. I absolutely loved being able to witness traditional South Korean history. This was what I had envisioned I would learn about in coming to Korea, even though the city is very modernized now. My roommate is from Seoul, and she talked with me about her experiences visiting her grandparents in their traditional home when she was a child. She remembered it being very uncomfortable compared to what she was used to, and today's experience reminded her of that time in her life. And while her memory of living in the traditional homes were unpleasant, she appreciated acknowledging the roots of her culture.

There was also a giant mound of stones tied together by thick ropes, which was considered to be a place for prayers and wishes to come true. Tradition stands that if you write your wish on a piece of clothlike paper and tie it to the stones that it will come true. I happen to like making wishes...(I've made the exact same wish on every star, every 11:11, every lucky penny since I was a little girl)...so we'll see if this one makes it come true...

The only part about the trip that I can't honestly say I was excited about...was breakfast. The menu was fish soup, rice, kimchi, squid, radish, and seaweed. While I do appreciate the level of health consciousness in this country, I certainly would have loved a big stack of pancakes and syrup! :) Heck...just an apple would have been okay...is that too much to ask!? :)

Not My Typical 4th of July!

2009-07-05T07:55:00.003-05:00

July 4th...

Well first of all let me begin by wishing a belated "Happy 4th of July" to all of you back home in the lovely United States of America! This day marks the best day of the entire summer. Granted, so much of the meaning of our celebrations are far less rooted in our country's history than they probably should be. If I were back home, my day would have began with the Firecracker 5K, followed by judging a "Cutest Baby Contest" and "Dog Show", then eating funnel cake and walking around the arts and crafts booths at Lincoln Park near Kiddieland. This year I believe the fireworks show was cancelled for the first time due to the economic situation, but in years past I always watched the wonderful show put on by Pittsburg Parks and Recreation. For about two weeks prior to the 4th, my neighborhood typically sounds like a war zone with extraneous amounts of fireworks being shot off both day and night in the streets around my home. Regardless of how silly or frivolous some of the events have become, it is all encompassed within a celebration that is so highly-valued in our nation's history. This year, being out of the States for the first time on Independence Day, I recognize it's value even more.

Needless to say that this year I didn't run any races, bake any apple pies, or watch any fireworks...but I kept the memory of this say in 1776 close to my heart. Hanyang University planned a trip for the summer school students to Everland Amusement Park, home of the T-Express (the steepest wooden roller coaster in the world). It reminded me of pictures I have seem of Disneyland! I felt just like a little kid with a great big smile on my face, and I loved every bit of it! We took a bus on a "safari" and saw all kinds of wild animals, and I was able to learn most of the names of those animals in Korean. That evening we stayed at YangJi Resort in the mountains and were treated to a barbeque. Don't confuse this barbeque with what we know of back home, which typically consists of burgers, hot dogs, and all kinds of fried things. Instead, there was pork and rice to make lettuce wraps, served with the traditional kimchi, which is served at every meal. To top it all off, we said cheers with Soju...a typical drink similar to Vodka. There are eight of us here whom represent the USA, and we toasted to the celebration of our independence as well as our ability to study freely here in South Korea. It's amazing at how far our nation has come and I feel so blessed and proud to be a part of it. I would have shot off some fireworks to truly commemorate the moment, but I imagine that I would have been deported. At least it would have made for a heck of a front page story in the friendly Morning Sun :)

Rap is My New Workout

2009-07-03T05:25:00.006-05:00

July 3rd...

I thought the Finnish language was difficult to learn... but it compares nothing to Korean! At least the Finnish alphabet has Roman Numerals, which resembled some familiarity. Korean language is completely beyond anything that I have ever known. At the beginning of the week I was feeling pretty good about it. I had mastered all 14 consonants and 10 vowels. How hard could it be, right? Well, now there are dipthongs and consonant blends and structural rules that I like to say "don't play fair" because there is no rule to it. I find myself just writing, and rewriting, and rewriting again...just to feel as though I'm back at the beginning. Yesterday after class I decided to do my homework outside a little shop on campus. There was an elderly lady working the shop whom I typically smile and nod at. She came out to my table, said something to me in Korean, took all my homework, and then read through each part with me! First of all, I was just excited that she could actually pronounce the words I'd written (I can at least copy correctly!), but second of all...how nice it was for her to help this completely unaware foreigner. I decided to stop by again today, and she came out again just like yesterday. I think she likes me :) And I think I'll make our visits a habit...

Last night I met up with some of the other summer school participants and went to a local restaurant for chicken and beer (soju). I thought to myself...chicken! Yay! Food that isn't spicy that I can eat! ...Wrong! The ratio of chicken to water I consumed was about 1:10. Clearly, everything here is spicy. Except for my bananas, thank goodness there's no sort of red pepperish like seasoning anywhere near them! Oh, and they served the chicken with a big pair of scissors to cut it. Not a knife and fork. Scissors! The picture to the right is of one of the girls cutting the chicken.

Afterwards we went to a karaoke club with Mingu, a native of Seoul. It was amazing! It wasn't like the karaoke bars I'm used to going to. It consisted of multiple small rooms for groups to reserve and have all to themselves. There were probably ten of us there and we had a blast. It was definitely a multicultural experience, listening to songs in Chinese, Korean, and English. I will proudly admit that I sang my heart out to Queen, Aerosmith, N*Sync, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, and...Eminem. One of the guys came across "Lose Yourself" in the books, and jokingly dared me to perform it. Well, I'm always up for a challenge and I just so happen to listen to that song everytime I run (it's fast-paced!), so I accepted that challenge...and I'm not gonna lie, I did pretty darn well! I barely missed a word. I had the whole crowd going too...it was the highlight of my day for sure! I have definitely developed a newfound respect for rap...as it is completely exhausting! When do they breathe?! I was panting afterwards, but I got a standing ovation! I'm thinking of taking my new act to the streets here in South Korea...maybe make a little extra spending money. Who knows where I could go from there...this could be big. :)

Special Moments

2009-06-29T21:53:00.003-05:00

June 30th...

Last night brought me something very unique and unexpected. Let me begin by telling you the main purpose of my coming to Korea. My aspirations for participating in this summer school program involve gaining an understanding of what it feels like to be in the minority; the feeling of walking down the street and not fitting in with my surroundings. I have had small accounts of that feeling when I lived in Louisiana and worked at a school that was predominantly African-American and Hispanic. I remember the kids questioning why I talked the way I did; they thought I sounded funny. That experience however, was merely looking different on the outside. I still spoke the language; I still felt comfortable and self-assured. At this point, I want to live in a society that is completely different than anything I have ever known, and discover how well I will adapt.

I am certainly acquiring that feeling. I have briefly described the accounts of the first couple of days that I was here, in which I had nobody to speak to and no way to find out how to live here. Since then I have met some of the students here, all of whom speak english at least at the beginner level. I'm slowly figuring out how things work and how to go about a routine. I have gone from a person who usually knows how to figure things out on her own, to one that sits back and observes others first before acting. I want to make sure that I follow cultural standards in the way they interact with one another both verbally and inverbally, so that I may be a polite guest while I am here. In Jyvaskyla I completely immersed myself within the group of the international students I went to class with, and didn't really take a lot of time to just "be" in Finland, and observe what it would be like to just live there. In South Korea, I am taking a different approach. I want to simply "be" and discover how others regard me as well as how well I am able to adjust to a culture that is so diverse.

Ola Joseph, an author and speaker from Nigeria, once said, "Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another's uniqueness". Last night after dinner I sat down at a bench in an area in which many people pass. I brought a book and just read for awhile. During that time I had a Korean guy, a couple years younger than I, approach me and talk with me about why I am here. He began to tell me that he is getting ready to graduate with a degree in Electrical Engineering because that is what his parents wanted for him, so that he could make a lot of money in his career. He confessed that what he has come to love is teaching, because he finds so much fulfillment in that, because He feels like he would be better able to serve God in doing something he loved. That lead to a great discussion about God and what it means for us to follow His will in our daily lives. It was just an amazing conversation, because I did not expect to have one such as that in Korea...not randomly. Then, maybe 30 minutes later, two middle-aged women approached me and gave me a complement, simply because they thought I seemed nice. I invited them to sit down next to me. Upon doing so, they saw the cross that I wear around my neck. (I recently purchased a small Celtic cross in Ireland) They asked if I was Christian and I proudly said, yes. After that their faces lit up with excitement, and we had somewhat of a similar conversation as I had with the other guy. They stayed maybe 15 minutes, as their english was somewhat limited, and told me how happy they were to meet me. I felt just the same.

I don't know how to explain these random encounters, except to know that God brought me so much comfort and hope because of them. Our world is very large, but through Him we are really brought together as one.

What About Recess?!

2009-06-29T21:39:00.003-05:00

June 29th...

I started my first day of class today at Hanyang University! I signed up for Korean Language class in hopes that I could acquire a few skills to get around Seoul a little better during the month that I am here. There were about 15 people in the class, and then the teacher brought us all out individually for a test in Korean to determine the level we already attained. I was the first one to take my exam. It pretty much consisted of this: I walked into the room and smiled at her, she said something in Korean...I smiled at her again...she said something else in Korean...I smiled at her once more...then she wrote down "Beginner 1", and sent me on my way! I'm pretty much starting from the bottom up and am really excited to start learning a new language.

Well, that excitement started to fizzle a little bit after 4 hours of trying to memorize the vowels...their sounds and variations, how to write them and understand them...wow, it was mentally exhausting! I felt like a little kid again, trying to learn the alphabet. I tried to keep myself in the mindset that I did this when I was young, learning my letters for the first time...and I was only 4 or 5 years old. Clearly, as a 24-year old, I must have an extended capacity to understand this! Well...it's just not that simple! Part of me does enjoy being in that position again, like a little kindergartener...except that we don't get milk breaks or recess. I'm going to learn how to ask for that in Korean.

Random Memories

2009-06-27T07:10:00.003-05:00

June 27th...

It's about 8:45pm in South Korea (6:45am-Saturday-back home)...and I just went for a little walk around Hanyang University. School hasn't yet begun, so I'm still just sort of hanging out by myself until everyone arrives and I meet people that I can talk to. It's been pretty quiet so far, clearly due to the language barrier, but I am enjoying it. It gives me a lot of time to just reflect. In doing so, I remembered a couple things that I thought I could throw in my blog...

I've been wearing the same Claddagh ring since I was 17-years old. It was slightly too big for my finger (as in, it would fly off if I waved my hand too hard), and it had a blue stone in the heart of the ring. It cost about $11, but it was the only jewelry I wore on my hands. For those who may not know, the claddagh ring has been a part of Irish tradition since the 17th century. The ring itself is made up of a heart clasped in two hands with a crown on top. The meaning of the three parts of the ring are that the heart means love, the hands mean friendship, and the crown means loyalty; it symbolizes overall faith, trust, fidelity, and commitment. To sum it up, I loved my ring and I am rarely ever without it. Then, two days prior to leaving Jyvaskyla, I leave my ring on the sink in the library. I returned to the library maybe five minutes later, but it was closed. The next day, it was gone. I felt so distraught. Silly as it may be I know, but I was very attached. Then it hit me...I was to be going to Ireland two days from then...I can get an authentic ring there! I still missed my ring, but it was a good time to lose it. So I dragged Tracey into every jewelry shop in Dublin (literally), looking at the same rings over and over. They had some absolutely beautiful rings, but I'm a simple gal...and when I found my plain, silver ring, I was completely satisfied. It was a happy day to have my ring back on my finger where it belongs!

Secondly, I left out something very important about Finland: strawberries. Truly, these are the most delicious strawberries I have ever eaten. They just melt in your mouth. For the first time, I could say that I wouldn't even want chocolate on my strawberries...and for a girl who loves chocolate on anything, that's really saying something about their natural flavor. I mean, wow, they were really fabulous!

Testing the Waters...

2009-06-26T04:21:00.004-05:00

June 26th...(for real this time) Another funny story? Well, I learned how to say "thank you" in Korean. To me, that is one of the most important words to learn in a new language because it shows you are polite. I was so excited to use it today too! There's a man who works at the front desk of my dorm building, who always opens the door for me as I go in and out. So this time, as he smiled and opened the door, I politely nodded my head and said "thank you" in Korean. His response was: "I don't speak English". I felt like such a fool! Apparently I need to work on my pronunciation!

I finally got cash today! Apparently there is only one ATM machine on campus that will accept global credit cards, and it took me 2 hours to find it....but I finally have KRW! I really enjoy saying that I have 30,000 in my wallet...although it only converts to about $30. Still...it sounds a bit nicer right?!

I walked all over today and explored my territory, get this....without getting lost! As in...not at all, not once! Man, yall would be so proud of me! Anyone who knows me at all would believe this to be incredible! One thing I just assumed is that this experience would be like Finland, with people meeeting me and taking me where I need to go for the first time so I could get my bearings straight. I assumed wrong again! So what I decided to do as I'm getting around, is taking pictures of the street signs or popular buildings I pass...just in case I need to use them for reference when I return back home, or in case I need some help from others. I know where my limitations are, and I just have to do my best with what I know and embrace the fact that it's all up to me.

What Day Is It??

2009-06-26T04:10:00.002-05:00

June 25... (I think, maybe it's the 26th) My days are all mixed up!

You know how I was talking about how I have to adjust more than I ever imagined? The thing is...I like that. I'm excited by it; intrigued even, because I'm going to have to really exert myself in order to really be immersed in this new culture. That is what I came here to do. I know that I could stay here a month and only go to class, then retreat to my dorm and stay in my comfort zone. But that is not me. I'm going to put my best efforts into getting out there and feeling what it's like to be in the minority. In Finland I felt that somewhat, but I had a close group of International students to be with. Right now, I am here along with only my own resources to get me by. I am just walking along and becoming familiar with the campus, and just experiencing the moment. I am truly in a new place and part of a new culture. Even just walking along campus feels so much different.

Another thing, apparently there's a new influenza floating around...Influenza A? It's something that foreigners are bringing to the country. Maybe my brother, Pat knows something about this. Well, because of that, I have to check my temperature twice daily and report to the doctor every morning for seven days. Since they won't know for sure if I don't have Influenza A, I have to wear a face mask while I'm in class with other Korean students. So next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday...I'll have to wear a mask for seven hours each day. It kind of makes me feel like the little sick kid who nobody is allowed to play with! It's just all part of the new experience, so I will obey my instruction and wear the mask as I am told.

Cheap Bananas!

2009-06-26T03:54:00.005-05:00

June 24th...

Well, my first day started off a bit rocky to say the least. I was about two hours away from arrival in Seoul when I started feeling sick to my stomach. So, I'm in a plane 37,000 feet in the air, I haven't slept in 2 nights, and I think I'm going to vomit. A few moments later I was doing just that in the nasty airplane toilets. Believe me folks, it was one of my finest moments. So badly I just wished I could curl up in a bed and go to sleep! But...Seoul was coming, like it or not, and they are just beginning their day. Perk up, Allison!

I arrived at my dorm, and I live on the 7th floor again, with an amazing view of the mountains! The tutor who picked me up from the airport walked with me to a nearby grocery store and I was very pleased to buy 5 bananas for only 1500KRW! That's just over $1, and about 3 times less than Finland! Woohoo! I love bananas! Maybe this really will work out...

I thought I was in culture shock while I was in Finland, trying to read labels and street signs, etc. HA! Culture shock?! THAT was culture shock?! That is absolutely nothing compared to being here! If there isn't a picture of something underneath a sign or label, then I am clueless. Reading street signs, building names, or....anything, is completely beyond my abilities at this point...as a girl with no experience in the Korean language. Finland, while different than what I am used to, is still European and therefore something I could find somewhat familiar. The people pretty much all looked the same as I did, and I had a pretty good chance that most of them could speak even a little english. Well, I certainly don't have that anymore, not on the surface anyways. I guess I just assumed that many people here would at least know some english, or just enough so that I could get around. I assumed wrong! I wandered around for an hour and a half yesterday just trying to get to the library. I walked around with a small black and white map, asking others for help by pointing to the picture. They were so very friendly, although we couldn't understand each other well. Two of them even asked to take a picture with me. I don't know if that's a good thing or not...but I smile, laugh, and nod and go on my way! The whole saying..."just smile and nod" really does go a long way here!

Darned Seagulls

2009-06-26T03:39:00.006-05:00

June 23rd...
1:45pm...

I am currently in my plane and on my way to Frankfurt, Germany. I have about a 2 1/2 hour ride there, before an 11 hour flight to Seoul. Leaving Helsinki today was hard. It's not necessarily hard to leave Finland, but rather the people and the memories I am leaving with it. I spent the last 3 days in Helsinki, the capital city of Finland, and I greatly enjoyed it. This was probably due to the fact that there were lots of tourists and therefore lots of joyful, friendly faces! I am so glad I was able to experience Finland, because it allowed me to adjust to a culture with which I was not previously familiar. The way of life is just much different than I am accustomed to, and it wouldn't be something that necessarily I would enjoy adapting to for a great length of time. I found that the Finnish people I interacted with were very hospitable and polite, and I'm very appreciative of all the help I received during my stay!

Picture 1: Dad - I promised you I'd try a real German beer while I was there...so here you go! I confess that I gave it away after about 3 sips, but I did try it!

Picture 2: Here's Germany for you!

Want a funny story? Well, I thought it was funny anyway...Tracey doesn't agree. You can decide. So, Helsinki is right on the Bay of Finland and has a beautiful harbour. Our first morning there, we went to a local kioski and grabbed a pulla (an amazing Finnish pastry) and a kahvi (coffee). It was such a beautiful day so we decided to sit on the steps right near the bay and enjoy our breakfast. Just then, a seagull came right beside us and began to squawk. Tracey was really uncomfortable with that, but I just laughed it off. After all, I don't live by the water back home and I always love to see seagulls when I'm near the coast! Then out of nowhere, a whole flock of seagulls came flying up in our faces and literally stole the pulla out of Tracey's hand! I had never seen anything like it! Darn birds....they a nasty, vicious little creatures. Poor Tracey, apparently she had some logic in being afraid of those birds. But, it does make for a good story :)

Really, our whole week and a half together made for a good story. I never would have imagined it would be so much fun. I'm pretty sure that living with our Couchsurfer host in Ireland morphed us into even quirkier individuals than we already were, so I offer a forewarning when I come back to Kansas if I'm slightly more random and ridiculous than usual!

Now I'm about halfway to Seoul, South Korea; a land that is far different than what I've experienced. Everything I thought about regarding wanting a true minority experience is about to dawn on me. Even just waiting at my gate today in the airport - I felt like I stood out. I can't wait to see what happens in about seven hours when I get off the plane. Y'all will be proud of me - I actually made arrangements to have a tutor at the university pick me up and take me to Hanyang University, as opposed to me wandering around a city of 10 million people with no idea where to go. (I know my family is nodding their heads in approval right now). Your logic wears off on me once in awhile I suppose. There's no turning back now. Here I come, South Korea!

Cheers 'ol Buddy!

2009-06-26T03:16:00.004-05:00

June 22nd...

11:50am...

I am currently on a ferry in Helsinki and on my way to Suomanlinna - a sea fortress on an island that was build after WWII. It's about 18 C and perfectly sunny and peaceful. Today is my last day with Tracey, and the finale to our week and a half long traveling adventure. It's really kind of funny how things worked out. Tracey and I are two very different people, but yet, we work. We like to describe ourselves by our two destinations, in the fact that I am Ireland and she is Finland. I love to talk to everyone (sometimes too much) and make friends with random strangers, while she prefers to have her bubble and be content. In the beginning, I don't think either of us knew how exactly our trip together would go; however, the moment that we entered Derek's funhouse house in Ireland, I knew that this was going to be an exciting adventure! We spent 10 days just doing whatever we wanted to do, exploring completely unknown territory just as we desired. Just like it's always been my dream to see Ireland, it's been one of her dreams to see Finland. Bless her heart, I dragged her to every single monument, church, sculpture, and landmark of any sort ALL over Dublin...and she just smiled and followed along. Actually, she would find it on the map and guide me...because we all know how poorly I am with directions. Then during Helsinki, I was able to do the same for her, and it was a blast! So to my Canadian friend (who seriously needs to learn to pronounce her words correctly! :), I can't wait to see you again one day! (If our luck runs right...we have until June 18, 2010). Cheers! (And stay out of the tabloids!) :)

A Good Crack!

2009-06-21T17:19:00.003-05:00

June 19th...

Today is our last day in Ireland. I cannot believe how fast it has gone and how much we have been able to do and see. Today we took the DART rail along the northern part of the coast and visited the Malahide Castle and the Howth Peninsula. Yesterday we mostly enjoyed all the beautiful green scenery of the country, which I was completely amazed with. But of course Ireland has so much beauty still left to offer! We took a hike right along the cliffs of the peninsula. The cliffs were still many beautiful shades of green, except this time it was in contrast with the blue color of the water. I could not ask for more...except to have my family with me. There have been so many times I have really wished that you all could experience just what I am experiencing. I know how much you would love it. If I could transport you all here beside me then I would do it in a heartbeat! Maybe the leprechauns can.... :) This is a trip that we have all talked about as far back as I can remember, and it just blows my mind that this dream has come true. There are so many moments when I thought about how much my dad would especially love to be here, because of the history. Walking through Killmanhaim Gaol, standing at the GPO or The Gresham, and doing research in the National Library are things I know he would love. I think about how much everyone would love the gorgeous countryside, the beautiful wild flowers, or even simply the cobblestone streets, the Georgian homes, or some traditional Irish music in a local pub. Everyone here is just s proud of their heritage and they all have a different story to tell. Each one of them, when they realized that I had Irish ancestry, said to me, "Welcome home". That's exactly what I have felt this entire trip. Home. God bless it. It's been a good "crack"! (Translation...good time)

Ireland Is So GREEN!!

2009-06-21T17:03:00.006-05:00

June 18th...

Today was perfect! We went on the Wild Wicklow Tour, which took us from Dublin through Wicklow County where we visited so many beautiful places! We made our first stop at Dun Laoghire harbour and walked along the sandy beaches. I collected a few seashells to bring home to my mom, but it's highly likely that they will be confiscated when I arrive to Australia. Apparently they are very particular about bio hazardous material entering their country...but that's definitely not going to stop me from trying!
(Photo from Dun Laoghire Harbour)

Then we drove out to the countryside, which was even better than I expected! Wow - it was so green! It was absolutely breathtaking!! I have never seen anything like it! The pictures I show you won't even do it justice, but it can give a glimpse into the extraordinary nature I was a part of for a few moments. The bus stopped high up on the hills and the air was so crisp...and windy! I chose probably THE worst outfit to wear today, which was a very flowy skirt. I had a heck of a time keeping it from flying over my head, and surprisingly enough, with Tracey's help I was successful at doing so the entire day! Then as we stepped back onto the bus, the driver gave us all a shot of Jameson's Irish Whiskey - the best whiskey in all of Ireland. Personally I detest the taste of any and all whiskey, but as disgusting as it was, I can understand its charm...although I never intend on drinking it again. Sorry again Ireland...we're 0-2 on the alcohol.

After we were "liquored up", we moved on to Killiney and explored more beautiful countryside. The grass was just so short and so soft. I just laid down and thanked God for the beautiful nature and the fact that I am able to experience it. Lastly, we made our final stop to Glendalough, which was what I was really excited to see. It is famous for its 6th century monastery and old Celtic cross tombstones. Standing on that ground was so peaceful. I felt like I was just in a dream...you know that feeling when you see something for the first time...something that you though you would only see in pictures? And how amazing and invigorating it is to actually see it with your very own eyes? That's how I have felt every moment of this trip. I feel as though at any moment I am going to wake up and this will all have been a dream. But it isn't. Believe me, I've pinched my arm a few times and the result is the same...I really am here, and I'm so grateful.

A City of Unique Charm

2009-06-21T16:44:00.005-05:00

June 16th...

7:30pm... Well I am sitting in the Temple Bar area outside of Haagan-Daaz, treating myself to two scoops of ice cream after what I just ate. One thing we were told to try here is the Traditional Irish Breakfast, complete with sausage, bacon, beans, tomato, fried egg, and black and white pudding. We came to find that the bacon is nearly raw and the black and white pudding is....animal blood. Yes. Animal blood. It was one of the most disgusting things I have ever tasted. I ate blood. End of story.

Today was a lovely day though! We walked along the River Liffey, which is actually the most polluted river in all of Ireland. We took the boardwalk down to Dublin 8, nearly all the way outside of the city. We stopped at the National Museum at Collins Barracks and then took a stroll through Phoenix Park. As we went looking for our next destination, we found ourselves in what would be considered Dublin's slums. Eventually we found the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Nearly an hour later we went to Killmainham Gaol, which was established in the 1700's. It was also the place where many of the men involved in the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. We took a tour, which led us through all the wings of the gaol. It was breathtaking in its own way and maybe one of my favorite places we've visited thus far. It was nearly epic, standing in the courtyard of the gaol, knowing how many men once lived exactly where I stood just 100 years ago. When people arrived there, they received a blanket and a candle for warmth, and they lived 15 per cell. There was a Catholic chapel built by a 17-year old boy who was arrested for stealing a food cart, and eventually died there. It was such a solemn experience. The history is what makes this city so unique. There isn't anything about this city that modern architects or designers would consider beautiful. Walking along the city streets, the buildings are all cracked, the railings all have chipped and discolored paint, but to me it is absolutely charming. I admire and appreciate it because it shows that people have lived there. They have fought there. Standing on the steps of the General Post Office, the same steps Pearse read the Irish Proclamation - the first building to be seized in the Easter Rising. It still has bullet holes in the building. It hasn't been covered up. It's antiquated, and it shows. It gives the city a story and a sense of pride and character, which is what makes it truly beautiful.

A True Irish Experience

2009-06-21T16:34:00.003-05:00

June 15th...

We went on a tour today! It was wonderful to actually learn the history of all the main buildings, sculptures, and events that led to the Ireland that is today. I now feel less like a typical tourist and more like part of the city. We walked into a bar in the Temple Bar district and sat with a bunch of middle-aged men and women from New Castle, England. They just invited us to pull up a chair, try some Guinness, and watch the local Irish band. It was just the type of experience I wanted. I couldn't believe I was in downtown Dublin at a local bar, listening to a band play "Oh Danny Boy" live. The one complaint I do have...is one that will probably get me banned from Ireland forever...which is the Guinness. I have one word for this beer, and that is: icky. It was absolutely disgusting! Moving on... Tracey and I developed a new mission for our lives...which is to be Ice Cream Connoisseurs. We've sampled many delicious flavors and brands over the past month, and thought we should make a hobby of it. I imagine that we'll probably use the money we save by living in Derek's playhouse, and spend it on ice cream. That's how I like to spend my money personally. So today, we tried "gelato" at a local ice cream parlor. I got two scoops of course, which were chocolate and nutella, and I was very excited to review this delicassy. We decided that it was definitely too pricey and the scoops were far too small... and thus we are continuing on our mission to find the best the world can offer!

Lots of Laughs!!

2009-06-21T16:02:00.005-05:00

June 13th...

Words cannot explain. Okay, so I'm in Dublin. That's the first bit of excitement. Well, in making plans for this trip I registered on couchsurfing.org so that we could find a place to stay for free. I figured that it would be too good to be true, but it would be the only way I could afford to come to Ireland. I ended up getting just a few positive responses, and I chose for us to stay with a man named Derek, who lived in a small cottage near the City Centre. He'd emailed me directions to his house, so Tracey and I took an AirCoach there after we got off our plane. Walking up to his door, we were both a bit nervous, now knowing what we were getting ourselves into. We knocked on the door....and no answer. We both just looked at each other, having no idea what to do. We didn't have a phone and we didn't want to walk with our heavy luggage to find one. So Tracey sat with our luggage at a nearby bus stop and I went searching for a phone to use. I was feeling really discouraged. Reality started to set in and I thought I'd been so foolish for thinking that this would actually work. Then I heard, "Are you from Kansas?". I looked up and there he was on his bike. I felt so relieved!!

Derek, Tracey, and I walked up to his nice little home, and words cannot describe what we saw. I'm going to do my best to provide an accurate description, but I guarantee you still won't be able to grasp it all. It was like a completely disheveled playhouse, with masks, crazy hats, and other random things on the shelves and walls. He had pictures of himself and other random images hanging randomly, the couch took up the entire living room, and everything was just completely random. His bathroom had "Ken" Barbie dolls, walnut oil, and a suit of armor. Yes, you read that correctly! I could keep going for hours writing about what we first saw and that would barely scratch the surface! Most people would probably think to themselves..."What have I gotten myself into? I cannot stay here for a whole week!" On the contrary, Tracey and I instantly felt completely comfortable. While his house may be a bit eccentric, Derek has such a genuine kindness that is very comforting. That night we had a dance party, complete with dress up, dolls, and a disco ball. I haven't laughed so hard and so long for a long time!

Our First Day in Dublin!

2009-06-21T15:51:00.004-05:00

June 14th...

2:00pm...
How did this happen? How am I here, in Ireland? Wow! I just feel so very lucky! So on Sunday, Tracey and I walked to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland. It's a very traditional Anglican church, which reminded me very much of the Catholic church. It was built in the 17th century. I am fascinated by history and tradition, so simply being there left me a bit awestruck. There was a choir full of males ranging from age 8 to mid-20's. The young boys sang just so beautifully! We are going to walk around the city for a couple more hours and then attend mass at St. Mary's church near Derek's house. One thing I am really appreciating is the universality of the Catholic church. No matter where I go I seem to find a church in which I come together with other believers, just the same as I always have back home. This is great!
(St Mary's Church) (St. Patrick's Cathedral)
5:00pm...
Here I am, kneeling in front of the altar at St. Mary's Church, and I feel like I am home. I believe that we are here to find and fulfill God's will for us in our lives, and that way may be unique for each individual. With God in our hearts, we are always at peace. The celebration of the mass is something I greatly missed. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I walked through the doors of the church and smelled the faint fragrance of incense. I feel like me. I feel like this is where I belong. Everything I have known my whole life is coming back to me and it brings tears to my eyes. I know we all struggle at times wondering how we should fulfill God's will. I feel so blessed to know so many people with various Christian denominations that are living their lives to serve God. My family and closest friends have served as beautiful role models of living Christian lives. I hope that in some way I have been a role model for them as well, as I strive to live my life in a manner pleasing to God. His love is so much stronger than I could ever really imagine. I know that I have struggled in determining the exact path I should follow, or denomination to claim, but I have never lost my faith in what is most important to all of us - which is serving God.

11:30pm...
We came home after a very satisfying first day, ready to go to sleep....but that is not what we did. We opened the door to our temporary home to find Derek standing in red pants, red shoes, a red hula shirt, and a huge white fuzzy hat that resembled an old Tina Turner wig. He found a movie for us to watch that was a foreign animated film...two hours long! Oh dear...what a way to end the day!

Feels Like Home

2009-06-21T15:04:00.003-05:00

June 20th...

11:45am...

I was without internet during my time in Ireland, but I kept a regular journal so that everyone could share the experience with me. What I am about to write is a summary of my personal, overall experience and growth process on the day I left Ireland. Following this summary, I am writing about my thoughts and feelings for each day...

When I considered writing in my blog about my trip to Ireland, I was going to approach it in the same manner I always do, detailing the ins and outs of each day's adventure one by one. I happen to like detail, so I will likely cover that as well. However, what I feel as though I experienced on this journey is far greater than any single event. This week has been one of the most intense, yet refreshing and exhilarating experiences I've ever had. It goes far beyond visiting old historical sites and castles, even beyond walking barefoot throughout the countryside. The most captivating aspect of this trip was a kind of rediscovery about myself - where I came from, my culture, and how I was raised - the roots of my unique identity. I am not just talking about the fact that I am Irish. I have fair skin, red hair, and green eyes, which makes it easy to remember. Beyond that, I rediscovered how much I love my roots as an Irish Catholic. I remembered how I once identified myself. There was a Catholic Church near the place where I stayed in Dublin, called St. Mary's. The day after we arrived, Tracey and I attended mass. When I walked into that church, the first one I had visited in a long time, I had but one thought - It felt like coming home. All throughout mass I felt such peace with myself. It felt like everything was coming together like a puzzle designed just for me; as though my whole summer was centered around my being here, at this moment, in this church. I thought about how I wanted to receive communion, but knew that I had so much on my heart I wanted to share beforehand...so I just sat through mass and enjoyed the moment.

Afterwards I thought I would ask the priest if there was any time he would be available to talk with me this week, and to my surprise, he said he would talk with me about it right then. So we sat together and I told him all about how I have thought and felt over the past several months. I told him about how I left the Church because I wanted to pursue a closer, personal relationship with God that I felt I couldn't do in the Catholic Church. To my surprise again, he told me that he was glad for me that I did, because it indicated how strong my desire is to know God and serve His will. I don't necessarily think that a person's denomination is the indicator of how strong their love is for God, and it is certainly not in my capacity to judge anyone but myself. I know that I have become a much stronger Christian in the past few months, and I am so thankful to have such amazing role models in my life.

I believe that all of those moments led me here, on this day, the feast of Corpus Christi. Upon hearing my confession, the priest went to the altar and brought me communion. My eyes filled with tears in awe of how truly amazing God's love really is. I feel so blessed to know that no matter where life leads me, He will always be with me. He will always be my strength and my purpose. I feel at home in the Catholic Church. It is where my heart is. It's like having an old friend; the one in which it seems as though no matter how much time may pass without seeing each other, when you finally do see each other again, it's as though no time has passed at all.

Sometimes it takes losing something to realize how much it means to you. In a similar way, I think about how this relates to my decision to become a teacher. I had always known since I was seven years old that I wanted to be a teacher. That became part of my identity and I never considered contemplating anything else. Then, two years into college - out of the blue, I realize that I have so many other options before me. I became convinced that I didn't want to be a teacher, and I researched everything else out there to find what I really wanted to do, and I chose accounting. I was all fired up about it too, and I know I could have done a good job. But was my heart in it? I remember a defining moment when my brother, Brian asked me one day, "Allie, are you okay with not identifying yourself with teaching?" That hit me. I wasn't. After one day of attending accounting classes, I walked over to the Department of Education and told them I wanted to come back. Ever since then I know that I am meant to work in a school. It took leaving to realize that and gain that strength.

That's where I feel I am now. I left the Catholic Church in pursuit of knowing God and following His will for me. It took leaving to realize just how much I am a part of the Church, and how much the Church is a part of me. It's how I have come to know God my whole life. I think that is his main purpose for all of us - to know Him and serve Him; to believe and have faith. I have spent my whole life raised on that ambition and I am so grateful for that. We all have our own unique identities in Him and we have to follow our own hearts to seek His will for us...and this is me following my heart.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2009-06-21T14:46:00.006-05:00

June 13th...

2:45pm...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!! I wanted to let you know I am thinking about you, thousands of feet in the air and on the way to where our ancestors originated from. I'll be sure to drink a pint of "the black stuff" for you!

This is surreal. I am currently flying in a big, green plane with a shamrock on the side, and it is taking me to a place that I have dreamed of seeing since I was a little girl. It's a place that I never thought I'd actually get to see with my own eyes. In two hours, I will be in Dublin, Ireland. This can't really be happening. I would ask the man sitting next to me to pinch my arm so that I wake up, but I don't anticipate that going too well. So to save myself from another strange look (you think I'd be used to them after being in Finland a month), I'll just continue dreaming.

When I made my plans for the summer, this trip was not included even in my wildest dreams. I have about 11 days between my study abroad in Jyvaskyla and Seoul, and I would have been perfectly content staying in Finland during that time. A few weeks ago I had heard some of my friends here talking about how cheap it would be to fly to London from Finland using a discount airline that flies only to and from selective locations. I thought I'd give it a looksie and discovered that it was in fact as cheap as they described. I began to deliberate this idea and talk with others about it. In doing so, I convinced a girl from Canada named Tracey that we should really take advantage of this opportunity together. After all, to fly to the UK from North America is way beyond my financial means. Over a week of going over and over the costs (the Jack Lemmon side of me was coming out again), we decided that we were going to do it! England here we come! We sat down at computers right next to each other, chose our flight, and just as we were getting ready to press "confirm", I told her I wanted to check one thing first. I looked at another site and found that we could fly to Dublin for the same price. I kind of looked at her from the corner of my eye and made this suggestion, hoping she'd feel the same way. She just looked at me with wide eyes and we said, "Let's do it. We're going to Ireland!".

Ever since that moment I have talked endlessly to these people here about how excited I am. My family ancestry is very important to me; an interest that was inspired by my dad. So much research has been done to learn about the Keegan's that originally landed at Ellis Island many years ago, and the fact that I am only moments away from the land they originated from is overwhelming. Ireland is where my roots began and the Irish traditions are what I was raised upon, which is why this trip and this moment holds so much meaning. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world right now and I'm truly grateful for all the people back home who have supported me and continue to support me while I take part in this journey. Even though I don't have you here to share this with, knowing you are all back home and you care is what heightens all of these moments.

3:20pm...

I am completely exhausted, but I can't sleep! I stayed awake with my summer school friends until 3am, and then took a "taksi" at 5am. I am running on pure adrenaline and excitement! Can't this plane go any faster?! I think I'm going to make a request to the pilot...

1:46 (Dublin time)

A thought just occurred to me...I'm going to experience darkness tonight! Woohoo!

Parting Thoughts for Jyvaskyla

2009-06-21T14:34:00.003-05:00

June 13th...

11:00am... It's hard to believe that the first part of my study abroad adventure has come to a close. This morning I packed my bags and said my goodbyes to the city of Jyvaskyla and all the people in it. I began to feel the effects of closure last weekend when many of the international students returned to their homes. Coming into this experience, I really had no idea what to expect. I had no idea what it would be like to adapt to a new culture. I anticipated challenges with the language and with the Finnish way of life, which seemed very different from my own. I expected that when I would be leaving Finland, I would mostly be reflecting on what I learned about Finland, such as the customs, traditions, and parts of the language. Now that I am actually at the time for reflection, I find that what occupies my mind the most is the people I was able to share this experience with. It makes me think of the song lyrics by Dave Matthews Band in "The Best of What's Around", which state: "It turns out not where, but who you're with that really matter". More than ever I realize the importance of that statement. My time here in Jyvaskyla would not have been nearly as captivating if I wouldn't have formed such great relationships with the group of people that were here with me. In the same respect, I know I wouldn't be having such a great time if I didn't have my family back home to support me. I think that a little heartache in saying goodbyes is a good sign that you did something right. In just a short period of time I was able to form real connections with people who have lived their lives so differently from me. While we may be from many various countries around the world, we were all ultimately looking for the same thing: a means of comfortability and people that make you feel at home. Four weeks later I am confident to say that the majority of us found that comfortability within each other. I found people that I could share my feelings with, try new things with, and laugh with hysterically. I feel so lucky to have been a part of such a compelling group of people.

Another thing I'm beginning to realize even more is just how we never know when or how God will use people to work in our lives. I could very well see any of these people at another time in my life, maybe even months or years from now. So rather than saying goodbye, I will say "Nahdaan!", meaning "See ya!". And to any of my new summer school friends, if you ever visit the States, I have a couch and some homemade cookies to share with you!

Oink! Oink!

2009-06-10T09:15:00.003-05:00

June 10th...

12:30pm...

We walked into Lozzi, our favorite lunchtime cafeteria...and the only item on the menu today read: Pork Party. We all look skeptically at one another and wonder what that may entail. Shall we try it? Of course! We stand in line, grab our plates, and then our eyes immediately glanced to our left. Laying on a very wide table, was a giant pig. A giant, smoked pig. Staring at us. There was a man on the other side of this robust oinker, just carving into it and filling everyone's plates with chunks of pork. Now don't get me wrong, I've eaten pork-like foods before, but I never actually see the the animal itself, so I don't really associate my food with former wildlife. Although it was surprisingly quite tasty, I think I may revert to vegetarianism for awhile...

5:30pm...

Scratch that thought. Tonight we complete our final goal here in Finland. We're eating reindeer! Just as long as Rudolph isn't lying on the table in front of me, I'll be happy...!

Paljon Onnea Vaan!

2009-06-10T08:34:00.005-05:00

June 9th...

1:30am...

I can't sleep. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the night sky being as bright as the day either. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do when I see the dark again. I may need to grab a set of night vision goggles or a heavy-duty flashlight for the hours between 9:00pm and 5:00am...you know, the time of day that most people naturally adjust to the darkness. Maybe I can't sleep because I am still so rejuvenated from an amazing night with the remaining twelve international students here in Jyväskylä. I've been placing a lot of blame on the perpetual daylight here...so for this time, I'll credit my insomnia to natural endorphins.

Today marked the final experience of the Finnish sauna, and I must say, we went out with a bang. We walked to Lake Kiviniemi, a very secluded area in the forest. It was equipped with a small cabin that smelled like Christmas trees and firewood, an old-fashioned grill, and another cabin that held both a regular sauna and a smoke sauna. The environment we were surrounded by was so incredibly peaceful. We spent about an hour just walking through the trees and gazing at the water...and I shared my ever-popular near-death experience with the alligator in Louisiana. Between that story and my display of wood-chopping, I am now viewed as a cross between Lumber Jane and the Crocodile Hunter: Jane Erwin. Yes, that has a nice ring to it. My mom and dad were clearly underestimating their daughter's rugged abilities when they named me Allison. =)

Now that we have that figured out, let's move on to the sauna. We began with having the girls in the regular sauna, and the boys in the smoke sauna. The girls and I decided that the regular sauna wasn't hot enough, so we squished in with the fellas at the other one...all 12 of us together. The difference between the two saunas, is that the regular sauna uses simply firewood and stays at a consistent temperature; while the smoke sauna is heated by coals, and one can throw water on those coals to receive an instant gust of heat. Just to clarify, when I say heat, I mean it instantly feels as though you are baking in an oven. You can even taste the heat. For this girl, I am used to running outdoors when it's 105-degrees outside, so this feeling was incredible! Once you get to the point in which you can't even breathe any longer, you run out onto the dock and jump in the lake, which sits at about 45-50 degrees. The moment you come out of the water, you experience such an invigoration that I can hardly describe! Wow...I'm still feeling the effects!

The intensity of that experience left us very hungry, which means it's time for....take a guess....Makkara! It's a fact that the Finns consume 25 million kilo of makkara (sausage) each year, and I am not surprised! We also celebrated the birthday of Kayi, a girl from Hong Kong. We sat around the table and sang the typical "Happy Birthday" song to her...followed by the same renditions in Finnish, Spanish, German, Dutch, Vietnemese, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Russian. It was such a special moment. I have become so used to being around these wonderful people every day, that I forget just how amazing it is that we have all come from our separate parts of the world. We all bring something completely new to each other, and being able to grow closely with these people has been the best part of my experience in Jyväskylä.

I know that I have the opportunity to learn something from every person I come in contact with; even if I am acquainted with them for only brief moments. If I really seek to understand and know people different than myself, then I can become one step closer to understanding more of the natural wonder of humanity. I am so thankful to be here and I am going to soak up the last few days I have with the friends I've made.

Paljon onnea vaan translates to...Happy Birthday. It's sung to the same tune you all know... give it a try!

Confidence

2009-06-07T13:33:00.003-05:00

June 7th...

9:35pm... Today was my last Sunday to spend in Jyvaskyla, and I am so amazed at how fast the time has gone. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was standing at the Helsinki airport, waiting for my luggage to come around the conveyor belt...and feeling so absent and alone when it never did. I remember sitting at the Jyvaskyla Travel Centre and waiting on my Finnish friend to pick me up, having absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. There was definitely a part of me that doubted my abilities to successfully adjust to such a new culture. I knew that I would get by, but I wanted so much more from this experience than to "get by". I want more from life than to just "get by".

It definitely feels like I'm nearing the end, because many of the people that I met in the beginning left yesterday, and there are only a couple handfuls of us left. So today I met with a few of the girls and we ate pizza and icecream, and walked around the very quiet city together. We went to the harbour and sat on a boat and just talked about our experience so far. We didn't just talk about what we have done and seen, but rather we talked about how we have changed in just the few short weeks we have been in Finland. We reminisced about our first day here and how exciting it was to go to the supermarket and not have the ability to read anything on the package labels...or how we'd laugh walking down the street without being able to read the street signs...and everyone around us was speaking Finnish. We talked about how much we didn't know or understand about the Finnish culture, but yet how enthusiastic we were to experience it.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we also talked about the frustrations we felt when that enthusiasm died down. It's no longer exciting when you need to buy something and just can't find what you're looking for on your own...and there's a 50/50 chance that someone may or may not be able to help you. It's no longer just a funny story to tell when you walk down the street and say hi to the people you are passing, and not receive any recognition or response in return. The past few days we all felt a greater sense of loneliness than we had felt since we've been here. The weather was cold and consistently rainy the last few days, and it's as though you have to make yourself get out of bed. Yesterday I decided that I didn't care how miserable it felt outside; I was going to walk around the city. So I walked back and forth down the streets, with my arms crossed to keep warm and my head down somewhat to avoid the rain completely soaking my face. Even though I know that I look the same as everyone here, I felt as though I was such an outcast. I truly felt on my own. Then it hit me...I am on my own.

That realization created in me a new mindset in this process. There will be times throughout the rest of my journey abroad when I do feel alone; but yet, I do not feel lonely. I feel confident. I am comfortable in my own skin and I feel so lucky to have this experience. I know that if this experience was easy the whole time, then that means I am not truly giving enough of myself. If I didn't struggle with belongingness or uncomfortability, then that means I didn't put myself out there as I much as I could have. I am getting ready to embark on my last week and my last class here in Jyvaskyla, and I will strive to continue immersing myself in this culture no matter how uncomfortable I may feel at times. On my best days, I will continue to say "hei" to the people that I pass in walking, for the chance that maybe one of those people will appreciate that recognition. Shoot, maybe one day someone will even say "hei" to me; but if they don't, I'm okay with that. After all, I am just a guest in a culture that is far different from my own.

Thankfulness

2009-06-06T13:18:00.004-05:00

June 6th...

9:20pm...

It's been exactly 65 years since 160,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy and cracked Nazi Germany's hold on Western Europe. I've always had an interest in knowing the history and cultural development of our nation, and today I feel even more proud to be a citizen of the United States of America. I have a unique feeling of pride and responsibility on the anniversary of D-Day this year. Today was honestly the first day that I truly realized I am not living in the USA. I looked out my kitchen window and saw five of Finland's flags. I've been living in Jyvaskyla for over three weeks now, and today was the first time I saw a flag. This was a unique experience, because back home we have flags posted everywhere. We're all about proclaiming the stars and stripes. Looking out my window and seeing a white flag with blue stripes forced me to pause for a brief moment to grasp exactly where I am. Even though I may be physically separated from my home, I feel an even greater sense of belongingness to the USA than I have had previously. It makes me feel so proud that I am affiliated with people who served our country back in WWII. It is their valor, fidelity, and selflessness that has provided significant contributions to the freedom with which I am granted. Living in Finland and meeting people from all over the world has caused me to take a step back and look at my nationality from a new perspective. It's easy to take for granted what you have known to be true your whole life. In the 24 years that I've been a part of this world, I have only known one nation of freedom. And while there are always going to be facets of our country that are changing and developing in ways that I like and dislike, I will never cease in being loyal. It will always be a place I honor and defend. I'm glad to be living abroad this summer, because it challenges me to better my own knowledge and understanding of the nation I call home.

More Hernekeittoa, Please!

2009-06-04T08:41:00.000-05:00

June 4th...

4:30pm...

Today I sampled another Finnish tradition, which is that of eating Hernekeittoa on Thursdays. The tradition of eating ham and pea soup and pancakes on Thursdays is said to originate in the pre-Reformation era, as preparation for fasting on Friday. During World War II, the Finnish army was fed with hernekeitto. Finnish Defence Forces still retain the tradition, serving its conscripts pea soup, with pancakes for dessert, for lunch or dinner every Thursday. I was a bit skeptical by it's appearance...it was green and a bit lumpy, but today was cold and definitely a soup-eating type of day. Unlike my previously mentioned experiences about trying new candies here in Jyväskylä, this was actually quite wonderful. It was very interesting being combined with pancakes. The pancakes here are made on a giant sheet in the oven, and then cut into squares. They are a bit more eggy and less fluffy, and served with blueberry jam. I'm beginning to like Finnish foods now...and am still keeping my eye out for reindeer...

"Well I Was a Boogie Singer..."

2009-06-04T08:11:00.000-05:00

June 3rd...

10pm...

(Edyta-with a beautiful voice-in the center...Daphne and I as backup dancers)

There is one nice thing about cold, rainy days here in Jyväskylä, and that is that I don't have to worry about the nightly basketball players keeping me awake! Yesterday was pretty cold and rainy, but I was so excited because I assumed that the gray clouds would cause the night to be a little darker. For that reason, I was so excited at the thought of laying in bed at 11pm in the dark, and just drifting off to sleep naturally. This pleasant thought was slowly crushed as the hours drifted by and the sky just stayed the same....cloudy, yes, but dark...not in the least. So as usual I put on my eye mask, close my eyes, and try to mentally tell myself that although it appears to be 7pm it is actually 1am. Go to bed Allison....one sheep...two sheep...three sheep.... Whoever came up with the "counting sheep" concept ought not to be so notorized, because it does absolutely nothing in my opinion except for drive your mind crazy. Sheep? Why, Sheep? Why not cows? Tomorrow, that's what I'll do.

Last night was quite the night! The social program organized a Finnish Baking night at Opinkivi, where we would get to bake traditional Finnish blueberry pie, pancakes, and some other kind of appetizer that I certainly cannot spell. We also got to taste Karjalanpiirakat, which is similar to Karelian pie, and is especially common here for breakfasts during holidays. I ended up doing quite a bit of the baking, as most of the others lost interest in the preparation pretty early! This was not a problem for me whatsoever, because you all know how much I LOVE to bake! I hadn't been able to do that in such a long time either, so it felt wonderful to prepare food that people loved! Granted, it wasn't my recipe...but being able to put it together felt wonderful. The guys in my group decided that they also wanted to take part in the baking process, and so we left them to bake one of the pies. I was pretty impressed when I looked at the final product before it went in the oven, until I saw the 1/2 dL of sugar they happened to forget to include. I slyly pointed this fact out to them, and what was their solution? Pour the sugar on top of the pie. Same thing right? =) Maybe similar to Jason's attempt at making No-Bake cookies..."Well, I knew it took 3 Cups of something...so I put in 3 Cups of sugar..." (For a recipe that calls for 3 Cups of OATMEAL and 1 Cup of sugar!) ...It was still delicious however, and very sweet =)

After the baking extravaganza, the group and I headed to a karaoke bar called Free Time. It had been awhile since I'd been to a karaoke bar, and I'd forgotten just how much fun it is! There is certainly some talent among the international crowd here! That being said, I am not one of them. At a karaoke bar I resemble the role Cameron Diaz played in "My Best Friend's Wedding". She may talk sweet and therefore people assume she has a sweet singing voice as well...but in all actuality, she's quite tone deaf. Knowing that, I still gave it my all while singing "Play That Funky Music"...

Go to SLEEP!!

2009-06-01T16:36:00.000-05:00

June 2nd...

1:35am...

My only complaint about the night sky never really getting dark...is that people never really have a reason to go inside. I am fine with this concept, except for the five gentlemen right outside my window right now playing basketball and yelling as though it were 1:35pm. The sun will indeed shine again tomorrow fellas and you can continue your game! Apparently they didn't get the memo.

(The view from my room at 1:35am...

and the reason I am still awake!)

Simply Smile

2009-06-01T15:53:00.000-05:00

June 1st...

11:55pm...

I was just getting ready to write an email to one of my professors at PSU, reflecting upon a conversation we had prior to my departure. We were discussing our perceptions of Finnish culture, and how my way of life my be misperceived while I am here. For instance, maybe the fact that I smile a lot at everyone will come across as though I'm a bit loony or a "floozy" in her words, because in Finland people don't just smile randomly at others. In my world, you smile at everyone, no exceptions. After all, "a smile is the universal language of kindness" (Aesop).

It has proven true that the Finns really do keep to themselves. Small talk is certainly not part of their daily agenda; especially small talk with overly-eager redheaded American girls that talk too much. In some ways it's actually kind of nice. For instance, I fit in really well at the supermarket. Walking through the checkout line I simply say, "hei", "kylla" (yes), and "kiitos" (thank you), and leave the store. That is all they expect, and therefore it wouldn't be recognized that I'm not actually Finnish. Now back home, going through the checkout involves a good amount of conversation with the cashiers. I typically ask how their day is going, or make comments about the weather, or anything else that may come to my mind to provide a bit of cheer. (I worked at McDonald's for 3 years and I understand how it can be working in customer service...I always appreciated an overly-kind customer!) I can't imagine just walking through the line at Walmart and simply saying "Hi" and "Thank you" with a simple, polite smile on my face. I shop there quite frequently and by now I'm pretty sure the cashiers would think something was wrong if I just walked through their line and simply greeted them.

This is not to say the Finnish way is "bad" or "wrong". I don't believe that at all. It is simply a different culture. One Finnish girl here said it is common for Finns to be stereotyped as robots; just going through the motions of the day without really acknowledging anyone else. At first, I'll admit, I somewhat agreed with that stereotype. I thought it was a bit egocentric to just be in your own world. I came to realize however, that in the same manner, Finns often perceive Americans to be superficial because we talk too much. In their minds it is better to only say what is necessary, but yet mean what you say. The fact of the matter is, we all have stereotypes and misconceptions about people and cultures we don't know. The only way to break down those stereotypes is to really try and see life from another point of view. The challenge is that the point of view you are trying to grasp may completely differ from your own. Sometimes I wonder how possible it really is when we are all so unique and have such strong values of our own. Maybe sometimes it doesn't work. Maybe sometimes we will fail. At the end of the journey however, I think the most important thing is that we step out of our comfort zones and try.

Soaking Up the Sun!

2009-05-31T13:34:00.001-05:00

May 31st...

9:30pm...

(After I won a game of Molkky)

(A group of us posing with the game)

I can't believe it's already been over two weeks since I left the great United States of America. In so many ways I still feel as though I'm a simple car ride away from home, not a 12-hour plane ride. I think part of that reason is because many people here speak English if they realize that you do. That shocked me a little, as I expected it to be much harder to adjust to the Finnish way of life. Thankfully I arrived here during the best part of their year, the summertime. They go through such a harsh winter, and therefore they soak up every moment of the sunshine they get for these few months. And since the sun barely seems to set for just a few hours each day, I feel as though I have so many hours to just get out and enjoy the nature. Take today for example...I woke up this morning and walked for an hour to get to church (I got lost...), then myself and a few others got lunch and took it to Lake Viitaniemi, and just relaxed and played Molkky all afternoon. The day today was just beautiful! Hot even! (Not compared to Pittsburg, but still it was enough for a good sunburn!) I wish I would have remembered sunscreen... and aloe vera...

(Lake Viitaniemi)

I'm learning so much about the culture and the nature of the people, just through everyday interactions. After taking my Finnish Language class I am beginning to pick up a few words and phrases here and there too! I got so excited the other day when I heard a man tell his child, "yksi", meaning the number "one", when the little boy went to get a candy bar at the supermarket. Also, two days ago I gave a man directions in Finnish! Granted, I have no idea if I gave him the right directions or not...I never did see him again...but I'm going to think optimistically about my skills in saying "two blocks take left, and right, one block straight ahead". :)

I know that this is just the beginning of my challenge in having to adapt. Finland, while it does have a separate language and way of life, is still European and therefore something I can find ways with which to identify. South Korea will be another story, and I think I'll have to stretch myself a lot further to adapt there. It will be a completely new sight and situation; a challenge that I will welcome in a few weeks. Until then, I still have plenty of Jyvaskyla to soak up! I'm taking a new class tomorrow: Health Behavior Among School-Aged Children, and I'm really looking forward to it. Cheers to a brand new day! Or better yet, Kiipis! ("cheers" in Finnish)

Is There a Pot of Gold?

2009-05-28T14:48:00.000-05:00

May 27th...

9:30pm...

The view from my kitchen...need I say more?

Finnish "Candy"?

2009-05-27T07:14:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, May 27...

3:15pm...

I have something very important on my mind, and it is a very serious matter. I have a problem with something here in Finland. The candy. To me it seems very simple...if you prolaim something to be candy...it should be sweet. Sweet...this can include SO many various options of flavoring...fruity, chocolatey, sugary...I am not one to be picky and I typically like everything I try. Well, things have changed! Typical Finnish candy is something such as Turkish Pebar or Selmiakki...both of which have the taste combination of black licorice, salt, and spice. There is nothing sweet about this so called "candy" and my taste buds are craving sugar!

Just the other day I was offered a lollipop called BonBon. Finally, something sugary! I was sitting in class, happily enjoying my wonderful treat. I have the habit of crunching my candy, and so I bit into this lollipop. I immediately regretted that decision. Inside this "candy", was something salty, spicy, and utterly icky.

I am a trooper though, and I am going to keep my hopes high in finding a candy here worth bragging about. And for everyone back home, I have bags full of Turkish Pebar and Selmiakki for you to enjoy =)

Italian Delicacy in Finland

2009-05-24T13:24:00.000-05:00

May 24th...

9:30pm...

I'm discovering that the weather here fluctuates even more than Kansas. Prior to leaving for church at 11:15 this morning, it was beautiful...very warm even...so I run up to my 7th floor room and put my jacket away so I wouldn't have to carry it around town. Oh silly me! Midway through the church service at around 12:30, it poured rain! At around 1:00, it was beautiful and sunny...by 1:15, it poured rain again! There's no place like home...there's no place like home... :) Thankfully Natalia, a very sweet Polish girl, lent me her extra jacket to keep this poorly-prepared Kansas girl warm.

I went to church at Katolinen Kirkko, a small but quaint Catholic church near the downtown of Jyvaskyla, with two girls: Natalia, whom I just mentioned, and Monica from Mexico. There are four well-known churches in Jyvaskyla of four separate denominations, and Natalia happened to find the only one that has a service in English. It was a very comfortable feeling to sing along to the same hymns that I am familiar with, yet with people from many different countries. The priest was Finnish, the musicians were from Sweden and USA, and the lectors were from Africa and Germany. After the mass we were invited for kahvi (coffee) and desserts (who can say no to that?). They were celebrating a farewell for one of the regular participants from Italy, and we were all able to try an authentic Italian dessert - Panacotta. Oh dear...it was delicious! It certainly put all of my desserts to shame! I am thinking that I should vacate to Italy now to improve my baking skills...any takers? :)

A Real Finnish Experience

2009-05-24T12:03:00.000-05:00

May 23rd...

11:30pm...

Wow. That is the best word I can think to say after a day like today.

I am just so thankful that I have the opportunity to be in Jyvaskyla. I have been here for one week now and I am still in shock that everything really came together, so that I could have this experience. There seems to be so many times in which I plot these extraordinary ideas and opportunities, but they don't pan out; something always gets in the way. I have begun to realize however, that the main obstacle getting in my way - is me. For whatever reason, I typically come to the conclusion that the ideas I dream up are out of reach. Instead, I stay in my comfort zone and walk along my merry way with continued doubt in my mind. Well, this time was different, and that's proven true because I am here sharing an amazing journey with people like me from all over the world.

With that being said, I'll get on with why I am describing my day with a "Wow". I signed up to go on a canoe trip around Lake Paijanne along with 10 others in the summer school program. We began around 10:00am and we were supposed to reach our destination by around noon at the latest. It turns out that I was one of only two people who had any canoeing experience whatsoever, which therefore basically resulted in a 3 1/2 hour excursion to the lodge where we would spend our day. The weather wasn't ideal in the beginning due to the very strong frontal winds. There were times when people became frustrated because it was hard to paddle, and then inside I felt a bit frustrated because we constantly had to stop and wait. However, all at once, my perspective changed. I paused for a moment, looked around me, and remembered exactly where I was. I was canoeing in Finland's second largest lake, surrounded by forestry, with a beautiful panoramic view of the city. It was breathtaking. Nothing else mattered.

We made it our lodge and were instructed to saw and chop wood for a fire and for the sauna. Bela, the tour guide, showed us to a huge pile of logs, gave us a saw and an axe, and let us be on our own. Most of the guys had experience using a saw, but I was the only one with wood-chopping experience. Now here's where you'd be really proud of me! I grabbed a log and the axe and hoped that I remembered the right technique so I wouldn't make a total fool of myself. I got a grip on the axe, stood in the proper stance, aimed for my target, and....CHOP...the log split right in two! YAY!! I felt like Lumber Jane!! All the guys were completely impressed and to be honest, I was too...although of course I acted as though I had been chopping wood my entire life...no big deal right? (My brothers will be nodding their head in approval right now...while hoping their baby sister couldn't actually out-skill them on such a "manly" task!) :)

Another great thing about working so hard at preparing for your own food and entertainment, is that you really enjoy and appreciate it! Once we ate lunch it was time for the best part of all...the sauna. Now, everyone reading this blog has most likely experienced a sauna of some kind. Maybe you visited one after a workout in the gym or in a swimming pool. Well, I guarantee you that it doesn't even come close to what I experienced today. The whole idea behind the sauna was started in Finland, probably due to the fact that they have such long, dark, harsh winters and needed a place to get warm. The typical Finnish sauna is in a little wooden building right on the lake. The typical behavior is to sit on a towel in the 100-degree sauna for about 15 minutes at a time, and then cool your body off in the lake for a few minutes, before returning to the sauna once again. This action is repeated 2 or 3 more times. There were 7 of us girls, and in the beginning we felt a bit awkward sitting in the small space, and we had trouble breathing because it was just so hot. After 15 minutes we walked out onto the dock that was attached to the cabin, and climbed into the 10-degree lake (Celcius!). The feeling of being just so uncomfortably hot, and then so cold that you can't breathe for a moment....is SUCH an invigorating feeling! I mean really, I can hardly find words to describe just how amazing it was! It was such a great bonding experience for us all as well! The best part is that this experience of the sauna is one of Finland's proudest customs, and today, 11 individuals from 10 different countries were able to share that experience together for the first time.

Most women say that after leaving the sauna they feel 10 years younger...so I guess that makes me 14 again. And for future reference, I know that when I get to the age where I feel as though I need face/body creams and products to make myself feel younger....that it's time to book a flight to Finland!

The Power of Music

2009-05-21T15:18:00.000-05:00

May 21st...

4:00pm...
For class, my group that I mentioned before: Ewald, Beer, and myself, are instructed to do a project entitled "Empowering Photograph". This is a project created by Miina Savolainen, a social worker who spent time with female foster children. She wanted to take a positive approach with these girls, rather than focusing on their problems. She created this project so that these girls could individually decide how they wanted to be depicted in life; how do they want to be seen by others? To do so, the person in front of the camera is the one directing the image, rather than the person behind the camera. In this manner, the person being photographed may view themselves on the outside the way they want to view themselves on the inside.

Our goal was to find a similarity among the three of us and use photographs to communicate that similarity to others. We bounced many ideas off one another, and through self-disclosure, realized that a general passion and means of escape for all of us is music; only the manner in which we rely on music is different. For Beer, he prefers to create music with his guitar...for Ewald, he would love music to be in the background whether he is working or relaxing, and for me...my musical escape is while I'm running in the trails. When I am running in the woods...all I see is nature, and I can choose any melody to listen to that may direct my thoughts.

"Music brings people together.

It allows us to experience the same emotions.

People everywhere are the same in heart and spirit.
No matter what language we speak; what color we are; the form of our politics;

the expression of our love and our faith, music proves:

We are the same."

-John Denver

"Ring My Bell..."

2009-05-21T14:22:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, May 20th...

3:00am...

What a night! A local Finnish girl in our class, Miriam, invited us to experience authentic night life in Jyvaskyla since Thursday we are out of school for Ascension Day. She claimed that bars and night clubs around town are pretty much the same everywhere, and she wanted to take us to a place that she loved. The funny thing is that during class today, our teacher commented on how often people will shut down ideas and experiences they are not initially comfortable with. She made this connection when Miriam chose not to read an article for a class assignment because it involved a bunch of numbers and figures, which turned her away from the entire article; an article that could have been great. In the same respect, many of my friends and I reacted in the same way when we entered Ilokivi tonight.

Upon entering the "bar", I hear music that I would describe as eery and strange. There was a disco ball hanging randomly from the ceiling and abstract images being projected onto the wall in which people danced in front of. I basically walked in, took a picture to capture the moment, and walked out with the others. As we walked to a new destination we talked and laughed about what we had just seen and assumed that surely that wasn't where we were supposed to meet. Well roughly an hour later, we discovered that we were wrong. We were indeed in the right place the first time.

To keep from offending Miriam, we decided to walk in and put our things down as though maybe we would stay. After looking strangely at the individuals dancing, we realized that you know what - we are in Finland for the first time and our classmate asked us to come here, so let's dance! We spent the next few hours dancing to Finnish rock and disco music, and had an amazing time together. Personally I wouldn't have traded our night at Ilokivi for any other bar in the city. Don't get me wrong, I may not rush to go back again, but I'm glad that we all pushed past our initial judgments and reservations and tried something new. Just as we learned today in class, when we keep ourselves inside a box that we are comfortable in and reject the unfamiliar, we may be missing out on some wonderful experiences. (or at least a night of interesting memories!)

Uniqueness in Culture

2009-05-20T10:40:00.001-05:00

May 20th...

My inital expectation of traveling to Finland was that I would be forced to adapt to Finnish culture. I am beginning to realize now that what I am adapting to is the International Group that I am surrounded by. The social program that has been established for us to get to know one another, is also designed so that we can experience authentic Finnish traditions. Yet, we are all basing our experiences on one another. With that in mind, my priorities here in Finland are being a bit altered, yet in a good way. With that in mind, my opportunities for personal growth are magnifying as well. The course I am currently taking has been fundamental to this change process, as it serves as a catalyst for the social networks that have developed. The group's ethnic dynamic is comprised of individuals from Poland, Mexico, Russia, Finland, Canada, Austria, Estonia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and USA. We all come from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds and bring unique experiences with us, yet we have so much in common. I am also beginning to recognize an even greater importance of the relationships in our lives. The way I felt in Finland a few days ago is completely different than I feel now, due to the relationships I have formed. I can only imagine how not only these relationships here, but the relationships I have at home can develop because of this experience!

Sausages!

2009-05-20T10:26:00.000-05:00

May 20th...

There is certainly a part of me that is beginning to adapt in Jyvaskyla, and that would be the part of my brain that is finally allowing me to sleep at night! The sun still shines at 2:30am, but it doesn't control me anymore! Oh no...I recognize it's arrival, and dismiss it until I choose to wake up!

Last night I attended a bonfire and I learned that it is not appropriate to place the food, sausage, into one solitary category. Oh no - big mistake, especially in the company of both Finns and Germans. Apparently, Finnish sausage is "a bit lighter" and German sausage "tastes more like meat". Considering the fact that my diet consists mostly of "rabbit food", yogurt, and cookie dough, my palette fails to differentiate among the sausages. What I can tell you as an amateur sausage eater, is that both of them are fundamentally wrong. The reason being is that they are served without buns. Honestly folks, hot dogs in a paper towel? You must be joking! :) Although I must say that to my "rabbit-food-eating" surprise, they were quite delicious.

We also played a game called Molkky, which is similar to bowling, except you play outside with wooden pegs, in teams of three. I will begin by saying that while my team did lose, I think we had the most fun. Maybe this is in part to the fact that none of us had many skills in the peg-throwing department. I personally just have poor aim; and Ramon, my Russian partner, threw the peg like he was throwing a spear trying to capture a wild animal. It may not have been the most successful approach, but certainly the most entertaining!

A Growing Environment

2009-05-20T10:17:00.000-05:00

May 19th...

Today in class we met in small groups for a class assignment. Our assignment was to consider our own personal networks of people and how they represent us in our lives. My group consists of myself; Beer, from Thailand; and Ewald, from Austria. I was so amazed and impressed at how we were able to connect with one another in such a short period of time; yet we all have much different cultural backgrounds. Ultimatley, we all develop connections in many ways and on many levels. We choose friendships based on what we have in common. The easiest commonalities to recognize are that which we often see automatically, such as race, ethnicity, or gender; however, it seems as though our greatest connections are based upon what lies beneath the surface; things that may never have been discovered if you didn't take the time to develop. These two people may not have appeared to be individuals that I would have connected with, yet given the time and openmindedness of us all, we learned much about each other and found similarities among personal aspects of life. Now after just 45 minutes of discussion, I have a completely different level of connectedness in the classroom.

Another thing I am noticing is how the classroom environment is growing closer proximically. On the first day people were hesitant in sitting next to each other, and just 1 1/2 days into the program, we have all begun to come closer to one another, side by side, and towards the front of the classroom. I am also realizing even more just how fundamental the role is of a teacher. The characteristics and teaching style of the leader often determines the dynamics of the classroom. We are all very fortunate to have such a compelling teacher.

New words today:
Hyva (good) Mahtavaa (great) Nahdaan (see ya)

A Little Time, Please...

2009-05-20T10:10:00.000-05:00

May 19th...

I'm beginning to slightly feel some effects of being foreign in a new country...and maybe as though sometimes I get in the way. For instance, I was in line to get a cup of coffee this morning - a very routine procedure for most people - and it seemed to take me so long to go through the process. I didn't know which coin was what when I attempted to pay, I held up the line, and the man next to me had his money out, clearly ready for me to move on so he could pay and continue in his routine for the day. It made me think about those times when I am at home going through my daily routine, and how whenever someone or something disturbs my routine, I notice him/her/it. Sometimes I even get frustrated, although I try not to show it. Today I put myself back in the position of being at home and remembering a typical situation in which someone in front of me moved at a much slower pace than most others. Today, I got the experience of being on the other side. I was the one interrupting someone else's routine. Yet there was nothing I could do to speed up the process. Eventually, I will learn the routine and adapt to their way of life, just as those who live in my hometown will do. We all adapt to new cultures if we are willing...but in the meantime, patience and tolerance is greatly appreciated :)

Sleep? Nah...

2009-05-18T14:58:00.000-05:00

(View from my kitchen,
at 3AM)--->

Monday, May 18th...

11:00pm (and it's still light of course)

Well, you know how I mentioned yesterday that I was worried I wouldn't wake for class? No problem there...want to know why? Because I awoke at 1:15am! I went to bed at midnight...and started my day a little over an hour later! This jet lag thing is a long adjustment! So needless to say, I was a good pupil and arrived very much on time!

I also met many more international students today in class, which was AMAZING! I'm enrolled in Social Networks and Interpersonal Relations in a Multicultural World. My instructor, Lotta, is fascinating and focuses the class on growing as a community. This class is like an extension of my Diversity in Counseling course from Dr. Bachner at PSU, and we really reflect upon why we have adaptation issues and why we have particular interpretations of ourselves and others. How do we determine what is right and wrong? There is so much discussion and I love it!

I ate real food today! I loved being at the cafeteria and feeling like a foreigner, trying to figure out the menu. I ended up with some sort of vegetarian chili and rye bread, which was quite fabulous. I hear that a popular food is reindeer? I'm going to keep my eye out for that. I'll inform you as to how it goes! In some ways I am really beginning to feel out of my comfort zone, and I am enjoying it. Today I went for a 7-mile run around the lake with my friend, and of course I said "hei" to everyone I passed. Not one response. It made me chuckle. Maybe tomorrow? :)

Polissi, Polissi!

2009-05-18T14:47:00.000-05:00

Sunday, May 17

9:10pm...
Tonight I got a glimpse of authentic Finnish culture. The most popular sport second to ice hockey, is what all Finns call "the real football, where you move the ball with your feet", otherwise known as soccer. Jyvaskyla was playing their rival, Helsinki. (Similar to a Colgan vs. Frontenac showdown). About 10 minutes into the game, a fight broke out and the "polissi" had to come in and break it up. I ever so casually snapped a photo of course. I also met some of Johannes' friends and we walked around the downtown together and sat by the Town Church - which I discovered that most Finns only frequent about twice per year, on...you guessed it...Christmas and Easter. I may pop in on Sunday and give it a go!

What I love most about this city so far is the nature. Jyvaskyla is 90% forests and is home to many many beautiful lakes. 190,000 lakes altogether in Finland. The route we traveled towards the "football" field was encompassed by two beautiful trails, hidden under a canopy of trees. (Jason - it reminded me of the Boy Hits Car story I wrote to you). Even though it was 9:30pm, the sun was shining through the trees. It was beautiful. Oh yeah, and everyone here either walks or bikes everywhere! I love that!

I went grocery shopping today - and had a blast! I think I bought some kind of cereal, yogurt from a giant milk carton, and the ever-popular rye bread. Sanna, my tutor, also recommended a kind of chocolate that is traditional to Finland...and twisted my arm into buying some of that as well. It's not bad, not quite decadent, but surely satisfies this chocolate lover's cravings. While I was in Germany I came across some of their "fine chocolatiers" and decided that I would pick some up from the airport during my layover to Seoul. Mom and Kelly : no worries, I will bring some for you too!

11:30pm...
Snafoo #2! Already! Well, I'm writing near my bedroom window, mostly in the dark, because a fuse burned out and I have no electricity! Fabulous! And because I decided to spend my whole day walking around and going to the game, I didn't even unpack, shower, or make my bedding. This may be an interesting adventure in the dark. Although, I really only have to wait 3 hours, because the gosh darned sun will be shining at 2:30AM. I just hope I am able to wake for class tomorrow without an alarm clock...we shall see!

Ambien

2009-05-18T14:39:00.000-05:00

Sunday, May 17

14:39... or 2:39pm ( I just discovered that people here also speak like we do regarding time...they only write it with the 24-hour symbols...whew! I can change my watch back!)

On Saturday night, Johannes (my Finnish friend from PSU) took me on a short tour around Jyvaskyla - a town of about 150,000 people. He allowed me to stay at his apartment while he slept at a friend's house, so that I could get a good night's rest. We chatted awhile, but I'll admit that all I could anticipate was sleep! Once he left I decided to take the doctor's advice and take an Ambien so that I could sleep and decrease the amount of jet lag. Having never taken that before, I took half a tablet. About 10 minutes later I thought I'd write Jason an email...which was a bad decision! I think I may have been coherent during the first part of the letter, but I honestly have no idea what I wrote or how I managed to fall asleep that night! Strong medication! What I do remember is waking up very cheerily, thinking that I must have gotten a good night's rest because the sun was shining and the birds were chirping. I was sorely mistaken...it was 3AM. I went to sleep at 11:30...this is not what I envisioned! This city doesn't go dark for more than a few hours! This may be an adjustment!

The Importance of Kindness

2009-05-16T14:33:00.001-05:00

So, that same girl I mentioned that befriended me...came back and found me at the Travel Center, bringing me clothes to wear the next few days! What a kind thing to do! I was perfectly appreciative that she gave me her information and offered to get together with me, yet she went above and beyond to reach out to someone she doesn't even know. Then she stayed with me for over an hour until Johannes came to meet me. Wow. I am amazed. And...they found my luggage!! It was left in Frankfurt and will be here in a few days!

Well, its about 10 30 pm Saturday, and Ive been awake since early Friday morning, and even though its still light outside, I'm going to try and sleep and start a fresh new day tomorrow!

OH yeah, and a major plus, I was able to read through all of Acts and halfway through Romans so far. Godspeed ahead! Goodnight!

<--(German Newspaper)

DAY TWO... Reality sets in!

2009-05-16T14:23:00.001-05:00

<--(Sunrise over Brussels)

Saturday, May 16th

22 10 (USA time) and 4 10 (GERMANY time)... What day is it?! I know that it'll be roughly 5 45 when I land in Frankfurt, but in my head its only about 10 30 pm. An hour ago the stewardesses walked by with coffee and breakfast (yogurt by the way, apparently they knew my preferences!), proclaiming "good morning". Its only 9pm, lady, what is going on?! This may be a long day!

5 30...I'm getting ready to land and experience a whole new country! I'm excited to feel what its like to have everyone around me speaking a non-English language. By the way, coffee is a lifesaver and just may become my best friend today. <--(Sunrise over Brussels)

19 01...What have I gotten myself into? So...I get off my plane in Helsinki, anxiously awaiting the arrival of my luggage at Baggage Claim. Discreetly, I am crossing my fingers (on both hands of course, for extra good luck), hoping and praying that I catch a glimpse of my little red bag. Time goes by and people are slowly beginning to clear away as they grab their luggage and exclaim "Moi, Moi!" (translation...bye bye!). The crowd slowly clears out, the conveyor belt comes to a stop, and then there was one. Yes, that is me. The only redheaded Kansan on that flight, and probably the only 24-year old solo female traveler - with no bag to claim. So I walk over to the help desk and thankfully was greeted by a very friendly lady who assured me they would find my luggage, and sent me away with a complementary female overnight bag, complete with an XL white t shirt, shampoo, and single use laundry detergent. Then I proceed to find the bus station and the worker behind the desk had very little patience for this outsider. I tried to keep from being discouraged, and found my bus. This could have been a dreary situation, when a girl about my age approached me and asked me if I needed help when we got off the bus. She is from Germany but is living in Jyväskylä. She gave me her phone number and email so that we may meet for coffee during my stay. Her kindness gave me so much comfort! So now, I am sitting at the Travel Center, waiting on my friend to pick me up, hoping that we made the right arrangements. Life without a cell phone in a completely unfamiliar location is certainly not easy! How did people travel by themselves without it before? With all that said, tomorrow is a brand new day and I am looking forward to the adventure. I know that I thrive off of challenges, and I may be able to say that this is the beginning of the greatest challenge yet! OH, one other thing I would like to add, this country is expensive! I paid 1 £ to use the bathroom today! Honestly!

DAY ONE...Walter Matthau vs. Jack Lemmon..

2009-05-16T14:06:00.002-05:00

Friday, May 15th
10 48am...I'm sitting in the terminal and the plane has been delayed another hour, so I of course must take out my travel itinerary and stare at it for 10 minutes to make sure I have enough time to get from one place to another. In some ways I'm like Walter Matthau from Odd Couple II, who flies by the seat of his pants so to speak, and doesn't worry about the fine details (a characteristic about myself that drives my brother Brian nuts!). In other ways, I'm like Jack Lemmon, checking my watch and reading over my itinerary with a crazy obsessive compulsiveness. Right now, staring out the window and looking for the plane, I am Jack.

11 28...the gosh darned plane has arrived. I can go back to being Walter. Whew!
(sunset over the Atlantic)
12 05...this is surreal. Ive never experienced flying in the clouds like this! Its a bit stormy and the clouds are so abundant. Just the other night, Jason and I were talking about how humbled we feel watching a powerful lightning storm, realizing just how little we are in life. Well this is certainly another reminder of that. This is amazing!

14 08...I am seated on my Boeing 777 and I am blown away! Its HUGE!! I feel like such a nerd because I couldn't stop smiling at all the people as I walked to my seat. Judging by the looks on their faces, they didn't share my level of enthusiasm. I have a feeling this is the beginning of the wondering looks I'm going to receive throughout the course of my travel. I cant wait!