Where You Come From

Someone once told me that you learn to respect and love the place you come from once you leave it. And well, I never actually believed that until now. I never thought I would really MISS Portland. To me it was just some place stuck in the middle of rain, and it wasn't until I left this place when I realized that it didn't dampen the city...it fueled it. Once I left Portland, Oregon, I really learned to love where I come from.

When I came to Finland, I had a really big culture shock. But I believe most of the intense shock came to me because of the culture of the city I come from; and I never thought about it that way before.

Other American Exchange Students would ask me, "Are you a hipster, or just from Portland?" And I was completely surprised, because I NEVER in a million years thought I would be mistaken as a hipster, and I certainly didn't believe I looked or acted like one at all!

I never realized how truly unique my city was until my Finnish friends would ask me, "Is that true?!" "Is this a REAL picture?!" And other American Exchange Students would make fun of me for the music I listened to and that I shopped at second hand stores!

 

It made me learn how to REALLY love and appreciate my city.

 

 

 

 

I was so used to thrift shopping and shopping at second hand stores. Not because I couldn't afford going to other stores, but because that was the "norm" where I lived. Everyone dressed differently, and wanted to wear things that other people didn't have. It was always what my friends and I would do together. It was fun to go thrift shopping and buying funky and unique clothes from second hand stores. It was just what everyone did, and we liked it that way.

 

When I came to Finland, I was absolutely embarrassed on my first day of school because I stood out SO much! NO ONE was wearing ANYTHING like I was, and I felt all over the place! (You cant even buy the style of pants I had in ANY of the stores!) I got so many odd looks and stares, and after my first week of school- I went to buy all new pants! (I don't wear any of the pants, and some T-Shirts I brought from home anymore, because I got too many odd looks and double takes!)

 

 

I was so used to people doing their own things all the time. It was totally normal to see people drumming away on the streets and preforming- just out of the blue for the JOY of it. (The money aspect was totally optional.). It just made people happy. I even had friends from school that would go to the city during the Saturday market just to play their instruments and find joy in the people stopping to listen.

 

It was totally normal to see kids running down the street in crazy costumes, and you wouldn't even look twice because you knew it was just something to expect. There never really was a normal day in Portland; and people seemed to like it that way. Everyone just went with the flow of things, and it was expected. You could just be yourself, and you could express yourself through anything you like. (Street art, preforming music...the ideas are endless.)

 

 

 

 

 

The Saturday Market was always THE place to be, if you didn't have any plans. Cheap but authentic Food Carts, Handmade goods, Artists, Street Performers and Musicians on the street...there was always something to see, and it wasn't materialistic or fast paced. It was just for the pure opportunity to show your artwork or the things you created from your own business or hobby and share it with others.

 

There were food carts from all sorts of other countries, and it was always my favorite to look around each cart. You could find musicians on every street, and often they were just locals who wanted to share the music they wrote with those who walked by.

 

Voodoo doughnuts always had a line out the door, and you could spot the pink bricks from a couple blocks away. Book stores you can get lost in for hours, and hours; and one of them even takes up an entire city block! There are 9 color coded rooms that suit every single interest when it comes to the Powel´s Book Store, and every time I go- we all spend almost the entire day just getting lost in everything it has to offer.

 

 

 

 

 

In Portland people just sort of ride the waves in their own way, and it is perfectly acceptable. People are all unique and do their own things, and its seen as totally and completely normal; and I never noticed it before until I left the Portland Area and saw things in a completely different way.

 

And when I first arrived to Finland, it actually scared me! No one particularly stood out from the rest, and people kind of followed one another and they liked it that way. It wasn't everyone doing their own thing with their own style anymore, and instead it was more like swimming with the school of fish, together. It was very different for me and I couldn't put my finger on WHY it was such a shock and so different and foreign to me, until I realized I had suffered such a big shock because of my own city´s culture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the first few months of my Exchange, I was actually afraid to branch off and follow my own stream in the water, away from the other "school of fish". I had never felt so awkward about doing my own thing and being myself, and I had started acting like the other kids and following exactly what they were doing, all the time, because I wasn't really sure what to do. I never felt so weird about doing things the way I used to do them, because of the double takes I would receive from doing them my own quirky way, and branching out too far from the rest! Apart from simply being different because you are the foreign exchange student, because you naturally stand out anyways. :)

 

 I realized that part of an Exchange isn't totally and wholeheartly adopting a new way to do everything. Its taking things, and giving things back. Although I need to respect and adopt all sorts of different aspects from the Finnish culture, I ALSO need to show my OWN culture. And how was I supposed to do that if I didn't be brave and show my different and quirky culture from the area I came from?!

 

Once I really decided to show my OWN culture I have learned from living by Portland, I actually started making MORE friends! People were MORE interested in talking with me, and they were interested in learning about where I came from and why I did things the way that I did them.

 

Its really interesting just how vast and different the cultures in the USA can be, and people would come up to me and ask me WHERE in the USA I was from, because they had never met an American that acted quite like me. And its actually a really cool feeling to know that youre a little different than the rest. :)

 

I miss the aspect of art from Portland. Art taking the form in singing, dancing, painting, and art on the street. Emerging local bands, and performers on the street. I remember actually playing guitar with my friends in the school hallway, and we would sing songs we wrote together and I would have friends who would actually go to Portland sometimes to share their music on the street. It wasn't that you had to be good, because it was just way to express yourself through your own way.

 

There was a water front and record shops; and clothing stores in the city; and of course parks to ride your bike through. Theres also a Chinatown and a Japanese garden in the city center.

 

 

 

 

 

I never really became TOO homesick this year, however I have gained a new appreciation for the place I come from, and I for sure do not think of Portland in the same way as I did prior to my exchange. I even wonder if I will experience reverse culture shock when I return home! :)

 

Before my exchange, I never thought Portland was unique, and I thought it was just a little known town that rained a lot. It didn't really mean anything to me, really! It was just sort of there. But I really DO love my city now, and even though I do not technically live IN Portland- I still consider it my city. The culture of Portland has rubbed off on me, and its what I have grown up around; what I consider normal. And I love every weird and quirky piece of it!

 

It makes me so much more excited to be able to pick up my guitar and get to writing music again, and it makes me excited to be able to go to the food carts again and see how the city has changed and stayed the same over the year. It makes me excited to see everyone swimming in their own sea again, and going down their own road- and I feel mighty special to be in Finland on exchange where the culture is so different and opposite from my own!

 

It makes me really open my eyes to both cultures, and somehow find a beautiful middle ground between each culture. The social and artistic culture I grew up with from Portland, and the more quiet and socially-conservative culture in Finland. :) It has made me a totally different person, and yet still the same in a way; which of course is the beauty of exchange! :D

 

It makes me excited to share just WHERE I come from with others, because the culture really IS so much different than Finland and the culture of my friends. It makes me wish that my friends would come visit me so that I can show them with their own eyes, and take them around my city and introduce them to all of the things that make my city so different and quirky from the rest. But hey, you never know...maybe someday. ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

True Meaning of Exchange

This is going to be about something thats been on my mind for awhile. To tell you honestly, im not sure how this is going to come out; but I just really want to get this off my chest. And I feel like this is something other Exchange Students, and even future Exchangers should hear.

I started this blog over a year ago, and A LOT has changed through out this ENTIRE experience. Ive blogged about almost everything thus far; however I feel like in this post I need to give a little, "heart to heart", Exchanger to Exchanger. ;)

I want to tell you all a story: 

7 months ago, a girl hopped on an airplane and flew to a place completly foreign and strange. She had never heard the language spoken before, and had only met a grand total of TWO people from the country she was going to. When she arrived, she took only a weeks worth of language classes with other Exchange Students before meeting her host family, and started school a day and a half after meeting them. Yepp. That girl was me. 

 

 

I came here on a total whim of faith. 

When I first started school, I was terrified to DEATH. Everyone was speaking a language I had only heard for the first time in my life a week earlier, and I had only been studying it for a few DAYS.  I didnt know a single person, and it was only my SECOND day in the city. I didn't understand a WORD the teacher was saying, and everyone looked at me like I was from another planet. I didn't understand where I needed to be a when, and I didn't understand how the school lunches worked. I was complete and total stranger to everything and everyone around me. It was the scariest day of my life! 

I was wondering WHY I was here. I thought I had made the worst mistake...and I never wanted to go back to that school again! I was asking myself WHY I did this to myself. WHY I left everything I had ever known to go to a place I had never heard the language, a country I had only met TWO people from in my entire life...I was frustrated, and I felt like I was pushed SO far out of my comfort zone, being thrown into everything way too quickly; and there wasn't ANY place I could escape and feel comfortable or understood.

 

BUT: I learned SO much about myself than I ever thought I could. 

I learned that I feel most comfortable when I am uncomfortable; 

and I learned that Finland was THE best thing that ever happened to me! 

After that first week of school, I started to find my feet on the ground again. I didnt feel like a turtle without its shell anymore. I started learning the ropes, slowly but surly. I started to understand what was going on around me, and it didnt feel so scary anymore.

 

 

I started learning Finnish culture. Which was so foreign and opposite of my own. It was hard at first, and I didnt understand why people did the things they did. I didnt know how to act or what to say most of the time. I didnt know how to make friends and meet people without scaring them away. I had to step back and just watch. I had to relearn how to present basic greetings and how to start conversations with people. And eventually I learned how to see things through their eyes and understand things in a way I had never seen before. And it was like I was a totally different person. 

 I kept trying to study the language, and trying to learn it with everything I had. I didnt know where to start, and it was hard. I sat in class everyday making basic verb flashcards and tried to teach myself verbs and simple words. It was frustrating, and I felt like a small child again. I didnt even know the verb, "to walk"! Everything was really challenging, and it was hard because I wanted to communicate with my classmates SO badly, but didnt know how to even put together a simple sentence!

 

It took a long time to start picking up the language, and slowly and slowly I could start understanding what people around me were saying. Through this time in my exchange, I experienced my first EVER hockey game and even tried snowboarding for the first time! My Exchange really started taking off, and I was slowly meeting people and learning how to befriend the Finns.

 

It was still really challenging, and it took me a long time to make friends. I thought I was doing things wrong, and I didn't understand why I wasn't making friends- and I slowly learned throughout the whole experience that it was JUST how Finns were, and that it was how the culture in Finland was. It was really an eye-opening experience for me to realize that I really WASNT doing anything wrong, and that I just needed to keep doing what I was doing and go out and keep talking with people.

 I had my share of challenges, and down the road, I realized that as my language skills were getting better, that I didn't have friends to speak in Finnish with! I had realized that the time I was spending studying and trying to speak, was crucial time I was spending where I could have been with people and with my classmates. I knew that speaking with people was the best way to learn a language, however- with Finnish, it just wasn't realistic that I would learn enough to make good friends by ONLY speaking Finnish.

Finnish isn't exactly related to any other language, and it is opposite to English in every single way. As much as I tried to convince myself, the reality was that Foreigners can live in Finland for years and years and still struggle with Finnish. I was trying to shove the language into my head and learn it, but the reality was that I could not learn Finnish in a year.

It was difficult for me to realize, because while I was so set on learning the language...I HAD to realize that although language is a big part of exchange...I needed to take another look back to the ORIGINAL reason WHY someone becomes an exchange student.

You become an Exchange Student to open up your world. To learn a new culture. To learn how people live differently around the world, and eventually realize how beautiful and small the world really is; and that you can hold it in your hands. You become an Exchange Student to realize that everything you knew before hand was wrong, and that things aren't always the way they seem. You become an Exchange Student to befriend people from all over the world, and to learn how to appreciate things more than you did before, and with new eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

And I learned that I was NOT going to achieve this unless I put my guard down, (and in this case, put my notecards down) Finnish was, and STILL is a big part of my exchange...but in order to really live my Exchange to the fullest potential of what it could be, I needed to be okay with the amount of Finnish I had already learned. I needed to tell myself that I was NOT a failure.

I felt like I was hanging onto a tree branch, and I needed to let go. I felt defeated, when in fact I had done the exact opposite. I had learned to really live, and to accept.

 

 

 

 

I had learned that just because you do not learn a language fluently, it does not make you a failure as an Exchange Student; and that as long as you keep TRYING, and THRIVING- you are succeeding. I do believe language is a very important part of an Exchange, but in my case- having the mindset of being fluent in the world´s second language in ONE YEAR, was getting in the way of my original reasons for exchange and the original reasons why someone goes on exchange.

I needed to come to terms that I was NOT a failure, and that it didn't define me as an Exchange Student, and it didn't define whether or not I was just plain stupid or whether or not I was a hard worker. It didn't make me any less successful as the next exchange student, and that it was OKAY.

 Part of Exchange is giving yourself to others, and receiving knowledge back in return. Its giving your culture to someone else, and you taking theirs back with you. Its learning how to understand things you do differently, and realize that you do a lot of the same things- but in different ways. (And sometimes you even learn the way they do things are more efficient!) :)

Wrapped up in one package, Exchange is beautiful. Its rapid, and always moving. Its brutal. Hurtful. Uncomfortable. Overwhelming. Unexpected. Eye opening. Crazy. And most importantly, amazing.

Its thinking you know EXACTLY who you are and what you what to do with your life, to having NO idea who you are and why you are doing what you are doing...and in the end, you turn out being someone new. Its finding yourself, when you didn't even know you needed to be found.

Its learning how to be sure of yourself, and trusting in yourself. Its learning you can do things you never thought were possible, and learning that you can do anything you set your mind to. Its living thousands of miles away from everyone you know, and everything you have ever known...and learning you CAN do it; even though the self doubt, and doubt from everyone else.

Its uncomfortable, and at times you feel like you don't belong anywhere. Its frustrating and confusing. It feels like you are the 3rd, 4th- sometimes 6th wheel to everyone. Its feeling like you don't know what to do or what to say, ALL the time! Its feeling like you want to hide behind the security of a paper bag or inside of a cardboard box.

Its home. Its learning home isn't a place, but that its a feeling inside of you. Its gaining a grand total of 3 amazing mothers, 3 amazing fathers, 5 sisters, and 3 brothers. Its gaining new families, one of which is a family whose members are from all around each corner of the globe; who I can call at anytime. Its lifelong friendships and a couch to sleep on in countries I don't have enough fingers to count!

 

 

 

An Exchange isn't JUST a single year in your life...its an entire lifetime in a year; and no one can ever relate to it unless they have been through it. You gain new best friends, new families, new school, new adventures...and a new life. And this is MY beloved Finnish life. Its something I treasure more than anything I could ever imagine.

 

And ALL of this, wrapped up into one, big box- is the true meaning of Exchange. Exchange is something that I will always hold close to my heart. Its something that connects me to so many people around the world, and links my heart to (currently) 4 generations of Rotary Youth Exchange Students.

 

 

 

This year has taught me that no matter where you come from, your dreams and ambitions are valid, and that you are a product of your experiences. It has taught me that we are all connected, despite cultural differences. It has taught me to go for my own dreams and ambitions and that I can catch them and hold them in my hands, no matter how out of reach they may seem.

 

This year I have accomplished more than I ever thought I could! I learned how to snowboard, while being taught in another LANGUAGE. I learned how to celebrate different holidays. I learned how to cross boarders and discover different lands I never knew existed, and I learned how to love people from so many different backgrounds and places in different corners in the world.

 

And most importantly- I have learned that if I can get through all of these crazy things- that I can get through anything. If I can learn how to snowboard while being taught in FINNISH, and if I can give a presentation in another language, and celebrate Christmas miles and miles away from my family...I can do anything! After this year, I have zero self doubt in myself; and I feel ready to take on the world and the path ahead of me.

 

 

For a long time, I felt as though this year was a time-bomb. That it was a dream land, where I would eventually wake up at the end, and find myself in the same familiar house and bed. I felt like time was ticking down, and that at the end I would "die.". My Finnish life would disappear completely. And in a way, it IS true that my life will never be this way again. I will never be with the same people again, and I will never live like this again.

But I learned that this ISNT the case; and although I may be sad about eventually leaving Finland and my Finnish life, this isn't the end. Its only the beginning. I get to take all of these values and memories with me forever, and I get to apply them to my life, and watch where they lead me.

 

 

 

This year has made me ready to take on the next steps in my life, and see what adventures lay ahead of me. I learned that an Exchange never truly ends for those who pursue more. I learned that if I take what I learn from this year, and run after my future- that I can achieve whatever I pursue. I may still have a lot more to learn about life, and I may not be ready to leave Finland...but I am ready to accept that I will eventually have to leave this Wonderland of mine.

 

 

 

I guess the main point of this post is to really write about what not only what exchange in general means to me, but what MY personal Exchange means to me. Its not JUST what Finland or what Rotary has done for my exchange, but its what my Exchange has done for my life and how I have changed throughout this year. Its not something I can write about in a sentence or two, and its hard to sum up everything I think about Exchange in general, and my personal Exchange in Finland.

 

I wanted to write this post for any Exchangers who were struggling with the same issues as I have struggled with, and for future exchangers who are curious, and even people who are just wondering how my personal Exchange has inspired and changed me throughout this year. :)

 

 

Theres a quote that I love and its, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by...And that has made all the difference." I have learned to really fall in love with this quote, because I feel as though that by taking the road less traveled by, it really HAS made all of the difference in my life. Not just by choosing to be a Rotary Exchange Student, and not just by choosing to come to Finland...but everything that has been given to me and all of the little things in between. And I couldn't have asked for anything better in a million years. :)

 

 

 

 

“Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Little Creeepy Things

By living in Finland, and being able to learn about Finnish culture and the little differences between the two cultures (USA and Finland.), I have actually learned that there are some things that I just CAN NOT change about myself! They are just ingraved in me from my own culture in the USA, and they are just little things that come naturally and without thinking about.

Ive been thinking about these things a lot, and a few of them actually tend to make me laugh! Ive gotten into a few very awkward moments by doing these things, and sometimes it makes other people laugh too!

So, as you guessed it- this is going to be a post about some things about my culture from home that is unchanging about myself, other things that I have seen about Finnish culture and the Finnish ways of doing things, AND little habits that I have picked up. :)

Lets just get RIGHT into it, shall we? ;)

1.) My American Smile

 

Oh boy...WHERE do I start?! 

The typical American smile is smiling with your whole face. Not just with your teeth showing, but smiling so you see it in your eyes. (I dont really know how to explain it.). I ALWAYS made my last host family laugh because whenever we would take a picture, they would always comment on my smile and how "American" my smile was. :) 

I remember taking a picture with my whole class, and when I recieved the copy of the picture, I couldnt help but laugh because I was the only one with this HUGE cheesy smile on my face!

The typical Finnish smile is generally just looking at the camera with a straight face, or awkwardly cracking a small smirk, which can be taken as a smile. (And hopefully that description doesnt offend anyone!) 

Its very, very different for me! My host family couldnt help but laugh at me when they told me to try to make a picture with a, "Finnish smile". I couldnt! I physically couldnt keep a straight enough face! (I ended up looking angry or like I was taking a mug shot! I just CANT keep a straight face without looking angry!) 

I am not at all in any way trying to portray the, "Finnish smile" in a bad light. I just think that its interesting how different things can be, even when just taking a picture. :)
 

 

 

2.) Smiling and Waving at random people

 

In Finland, it is very awkward to go up and talk to a person you have never met nor seen before. Its just seen as a, "no-no". Its not done very often, and usually it makes someone pretty uncomfortable and it feels a bit creepy sometimes. 

Coming from the USA, I have a VERY VERY bad habit of waving at random people and smiling at everyone I walk by. I come from a small community, and in Oregon, I live on a big hill out in the middle of nowhere. When we drive home, we ALWAYS wave at people on the hill. When we drive past another car on the hill, we always wave at the driver. I guess its just WHAT we do.

When I came to Finland, it felt so WEIRD for me. It was suddenly CREEPY to wave at people, and I didnt know HOW to just walk passed someone without smiling or waving. 

Unfortunately, I cant seem to stop smiling at people while I walk by them. Its just something ingrained into me, and I cant seem to stop. And to tell you the truth, I dont actually want to stop! :)

 

It almost feels as though this is everyone´s reaction when I wave at people I don't know...or at least this is how I feel on the inside!

3.) Being loud.

 

I KNOW what you are thinking...and I hate to follow the stereotype...but YES. I AM loud. 

Its very interesting because before coming to Finland, I actually didnt notice how loud I REALLY was. Everything in Finland is just so quiet, and so silent.

I didnt really notice how loud I had the potential of being until I was walking down the street with another American Exchange Student, and we were turning heads everywhere we went! It wasnt that we were TRYING to talk loud, or that we were trying to get attention...it just sort of happend! 

Of course we are not meaning to attract so much attention...I guess since our culture is just that way, that we dont really realize how loud we are talking sometimes. 

 

 



This is what our faces generally look like when we realize how loud we are being...

 

4.) Talking with my Hands 

 

I always talk with my hands! Everywhere I go. No matter if I am sitting at a desk, or standing up. Even if I am whispering or trying to explain a math problem...I talk with my hands! 

I guess it just helps me explain what im saying better, and it helps me get my point across. (Im not even sure if this is something I did before I became an Exchange Student, or if I picked it up when I wasnt able to communicate!) 

I talk with my hands both when speaking Finnish AND English, and to tell you the truth, I cant really tell you why!

People tend to laugh when I am having a conversation with someone, because I talk with my hands SO much! (And they tend to laugh even HARDER when I am having a conversation with another American exchange student, because he does the same thing!)

 

Im guessing that this is what I must look like...

 

 



5.) We like saying names.

 

Im not exactly sure WHY, but when I have conversations with other Americans, I have realized that we like saying peoples NAMES a lot.

 "How are you, (insert name)", "Oh Hi, (insert name)" Annnnd you get the idea. 

 Im not sure WHY we do it, but we sure do...

I have gotten a comment or two about it, and to tell you the truth, I dont even realize when I do it!

 

A couple of my friends have given me this same exact facial expression when I use their names way too many times during a conversation...

6.) Eating with Both Hands

 

To tell you the truth, eating with both hands isnt something I am actually used to! The social "norm" in the USA is eating with one hand, and having the other hand on your lap, or just in general below the table. 

We dont actually eat with a knife in one hand, and a fork in the other! We just kind of pick up the knife if we need it, and then set it on the side of our plate again until you need it again. 

It was a little weird for me to learn how to eat with BOTH of my hands, and in a way it felt like I was multitasking for awhile! It wasnt that it was hard or anything like that; it was just different. And I had to learn how to do it. (As sad as that sounds!)

 

I felt like this every time I had to awkwardly eat until I finally figured out how to do it without looking silly!

7.) Not saying what you mean

This is sort of a big one. I have found that Finns say exactly what they mean; and in the USA we basically keep our opinions to ourselves and dont really explain how we REALLY feel unless you are either family or REALLY good friends with someone. (Depending on the situation and the culture of where you live in the USA.)
 

We dont want to hurt peoples feelings, and we feel bad being brutally honest about things unless we know the person really well or we are related to them. In Finland, people only say things if something needs to be said or needs to be talked about. So naturally, they say what they mean. 

I have learned that in American English, "How are you?" isnt actually a question. Its a greeting. You never REALLY tell the person how you are; and instead everyone answers with, "Im fine, how are you?". 

I cant really honestly think of a situation where someone tells how they are REALLY feeling when asked, "How are you?" If you honestly want to know how the person is, you would rephrase the question. 

In Finnish however, the person honestly wants to know how you are. 

I guess its just a culture difference! 

 

This is a little exaggerated, but I thought it was funny: When someone insists you try something, and you don't like it- but you don't want to hurt the persons feelings!

 

 

 

8.) Apologizing a lot.

 

 

This one might be the BIGGEST for me, and the only I ABSOLUTLY cant change! I dont know WHY I apologize so much, but I do! I always say, "Oh, im so sorry!" or, "Im sorry!"

 

And people always comment on it and say, "Why are you sorry?!" and I have to reply with, "...I don't know, actually!" and then they say, "Thats weird..."

 

And its true! It actually makes people uncomfortable! Im not sure WHY I apologize so much, I just do; and it seems to be an American thing because the other American Exchange Students always apologize to each other all the time as well. None of us know WHY, its just something we do...we dont even realize just how MUCH we really say it!

 



 

I can imagine that we accidentally sound like this when we apologize so much...

 

 

 

9.) I like to talk...a lot.

 

In Finland, small talk doesnt really exist...and to tell you the truth, sometimes that's really hard for me! I never realized just HOW talkative I REALLY was until I came to Finland!

 

I have even been told by one of my Finnish friends that if I was a Super-Villain, my power would be talking someone to death haha! ;)

 

And im glad that Finns are so honest, because none of my friends are ever afraid to tell me to stop talking when they want some peace and quiet haha. ;)

 

I never noticed before how much I actually talk, and sometimes I feel quite bad about just how MUCH and how OFTEN I actually talk...

 

 

 



 

I don't know what I would do without my friend´s brutal honesty haha. ;)

 

 

10.) Casual Talking

 

In the USA, its really natural and normal to talk to random people. At the grocery store, at the gas station...its just something we do! We are super casual, and we like company. We like talking to people and being social.

 

So naturally, of course I learned pretty quick that this was NOT casual OR normal in Finland haha! :D

 

I had to kind of learn how to reproach people without scaring them away or coming off in a bad light. Its not something bad at all, and I think its a really good lesson that I learned about the culture in Finland!



Im betting that this is probably what a lot of people thought when I first arrived in Finland...

 

 

 

 

 

And that pretty much wraps up 10 cultural difference from the USA and Finland! Some of these things I had to relearn, and others I simply can not change about myself. I think its great how different the culture is between the USA and Finland; and even though some differences are bigger than others, I seriously love it- and Finland.

 

Ive learned so much about myself this year and I even realized things that I didn't even know were a part of my culture and myself! It has taught me to understand Finnish culture, and to notice the small and big differences between my country and the country that I am currently living in...and I wouldn't have it any other way! :D

 

 

New Chapters!

So, as you all know- from my last post, I have changed host families! :D And all is well regarding that, and things are seriously great!

I decided to really update a bit about my life instead of doing a specific post this time, because im sure that it might be a bit more interesting this time rather than just doing "Subject-Specific" posts.

SCHOOL!  

 

At school I am taking a grand-spanking total of 5 courses. (Which to be honest, is the bare-minimum you can take at my school!) In the beginning of the courses, I WAS taking Biology at the International Campus of Lyseo, because I thought it would be easier to make friends in IB. (Which to be honest, it REALLY is- and currently almost all of my friends go to the International School.) However, it just didn't feel right to take a course there...my biology class was in English, and after working so hard to study Finnish all this time- I somehow just felt as if I was letting myself down a little bit; even though that wasn't the case at all!

Im not exactly sure why I felt so icky going to that class...but if im honest with myself, I guess the big part of it is that my Exchange is slowly coming to an end, and by taking a class in English- it almost felt as though my exchange was ending even sooner than I intended!

I switched the course to another art class, and so now I am taking all of my courses at the regular Finnish campus of my lukio instead. And although it is much harder that way, I feel much more comfortable that way and happy! (Funny that how being UNCOMFORTABLE is now COMFORTALBE for me.) ;) I guess I am all around much happier when I speak Finnish, no matter HOW bad it is; and it makes me happy! Im not ashamed! ;)

Along with that art course, I am also taking History, English, Geography, and another Art class. I decided to take classes where I could socialize a bit more, because then I could speak Finnish at the same time and work on my speaking skills-. which is what I really need!

My Finnish is always slowly but surely improving though, and fortunately- I can now hold pretty easy conversations fluently and I understand almost everything that people say at full speed! Hilariously though, I still cant really understand very much when it comes to more educational discussions...so for example, when a Teacher assigns group discussions or projects, the person sitting next to me and I exchange an expression exactly like this:



The reason why its so hilarious is because I can understand EXACTLY what the teacher is saying, until she is talking about the subject we are supposed to present a project on or hold a discussion about...but im not capable to discuss what we are talking about at all! So my partner and I just awkwardly look at each other, while they try to figure out what to do with me!


I am also taking an Art History class...but unfortunately, we are supposed to memorize different famous art pieces and during the final we are supposed to give the names of them. But we discuss them all in Finnish, so I can never remember the names. (Especially because the names are not on our copies of the art work we are supposed to memorize!) But I am sure I will figure something out!

In my History class, I understand enough to follow the idea of whats going on, and if I tried really really hard, I could get out the most important information from the course...but because the whole lesson is always a lecture, its so hard to get through the whole class! It just feels although it drags on and on! (although it IS interesting...Finnish isn't my first language, and im no where near fluent! Its hard to get a lot out of the class without giving myself a headache!)

Anyway, I guess that is more than enough about my school update!

SPORTS

 

As everyone knows, we recently had the Winter Olympics! They were SO much fun to watch with my host family, and surprisingly its really super popular to watch them in Finland! Everyone was following it on TV and posting about it on facebook, and it surprised me a lot because in the USA we watch it of course, but we don't talk about it very much or follow it as closely as my host family or friends did in Finland.

 

When the hockey games started coming along- I would run home from my bus stop to watch the games on time, and of course when the bigger games came around, I got SUPER excited about it! (Like USA VS. FINLAND and FINLAND VS. SWEDEN.)

 

 



 

I was seriously SO into the Finnish games that I probably looked something like this...

 

 

It was crazy how all of my friends got so into everything once the hockey games started coming! The games were on the TV in stockmann (a small department store complex), and when Finland played Sweden. my teacher put it up on the big screen and we all got to watch the game! I was a little bit sad about the outcome...but im glad that Finland won the Bronze! :D

 

 

Everything else in-between...

 

Socially, now that wanhat is over, im trying to figure out exactly WHAT to do with all of my Free Time! Im excited that I get to attend more Rotary meetings now, and its nice to be able to get to know the Rotarians a bit more and attend the Rotary meetings about school. And fortunately, there is also an Interact club in Oulu now! (Which is a program for youth that is sponsored by Rotary and they create projects to help out the city and people, and its pretty cool.) Its the very first Interact Club in Finland- so its a pretty big deal!

 

I think its mighty snazzy that its in my host city! Especially because I am in need of hobbies; and it will be awesome to get involved more with my host city and rotary. ;)

 

One of the hardest parts about being an exchange student is keeping busy! You cant wait for people to invite you to things or for hobbies to come your way. You just gotta grab ´em as they come, and invite people to do things with you. Its hard sometimes, especially when so many things cost money; but there are plenty of fun things to do if you just go find them. :)

 

So far so good, my exchange is as great as ever! My ONLY current struggle is just finding things to do after school. ;)

 

OH- and I almost forgot! I have an announcement to make!

 

*drum rollllllll*

 

 

I- Jennifer, have OFFICIALLY signed up for the National Finnish Fluency Exam! (intermediate level of course haha)

 

But still! YAY! I am officially testing my Finnish skills April 5th!

 

I am no where near ready to take this exam...but im hoping that with lots of studying and preparing that I will be able to take the exam and do okay at it. But I guess what happens, happens. ;)

 

 

How was that for an update!? :)

 

 

 



 

 

Update (Suomeks)

nonii, tänään oli...no, se oli...tylsä haha. Tylsä koska mulla oli historia. Voin ymmärrän paljon, mutta se on nii tylsä... :/

Mulla oli vain yks tuntia koulussa, nii, se oli helppo päivää tänään haha. Myös mä menit kirjastoon, koska mun täytyy löydää jotain noin mun suomen kieli koe. Haluasin ottaa suomen kieli koe, mutta en tiedä, jos tiedän tarpeeks suomea haha. Ehkä voin ottaa sen jos puhun vain suomeks, koko ajan haha. ;)

Se on vähä outo, koska nyt, ymmärrän kuin mä katso suomalainen elokuvat, tai televisiota. Ja ennen, en voinut. En ymmärtä miks, voin nyt haha. Voin kirjoittaa parempi, kuin voin puhua...mutta toivon, että, voin puhua myös pian. ;)

Luulen, että, jos voin ymmärrän paljon nyt, ehkä voin puhua, myös haha. Mutta se on vaikea puhua, koska en voi sanoa oikea. Mutta, mun ystävät, auttavat mua, ja se on tosi kiva! :D

No nii, myös- asun uusi perheni kanssa, ja he ovat tosi kiva! Mulla on host äiti, host isä, ja kaks host-siskot. (Mutta, vain yks asuu kotona.). Mun host sisko, oli vaihtari USA:saa, viime vuonna. Hän puhuu englantia,

 mutta puhumme suomeks. (koska haluasin oppia suomea haha.)

Mun täytyy puhua enemmän suomea, koska en ajattele, että, puhun tarpeeks. ;) Ja ehkä olisi helpompi, jos puhun enemmän... ;)

Mun uus host-perheeni, katsovat paljon suomalainen elokuvat. Ja se on hyvää, koska sitten, voin katso elokuva suomeks. ;) Mun host-sisko, sanoo, että- voin katso sen suomea tekstitys kanssa, tai ei mitään haha. Ja se on hyvä, koska sitten, mun täytyy katso ja lukea VAIN suomeks. ;)

Emmä tiedä mitas muut sanoa...mutta mä vain halusin kirjoitaa suomeks. ;)

Mutta no, kaiken kaikkiaan, elämäni on kaunis. ;)

Night and Day Difference

No, anteeks en ole kirjoittanut, pitkään aikaan. Se on vähä nolostuttava, kertoa miks en ole kirjoittanut....mutta, mun täytyy kertoa miks haha. ;) Mä oli vähä surullinen, pitkään aikaan, koska mulla ei ollut ystävät tai jotain tehdä. Nii, mä oli yksin, kanssa ei mitään tehdä mun aikaani.

Se on nolostuttava myöntää, mutta se on totta...emmä tiedä miks, mutta joo haha. Ehkä se on koska se oli pimeä, pitkään ajan haha. Emmä tiedä! MUTTA...nyt se on jännittävä sanoa, että, mä oon tosi onnellinen. ;)


So, unfortuantly- I did NOT translate that before posting...so hopefully my Finnish didnt fail me haha. ;)

Back to the beginning; I guess I should translate and kind of talk more about what has been going on. I mean, its been awhile! :D

Unfortunatly, what I say stands true. Part of the reason why I hadent been posting for a long time was because I was just kind of having a hard time. It wasnt that I was homesick, or any of that stuff...it was just that things were the same everyday. (And I dont mean in an ordinary, "im used to this", boring sort of way...)

I mean that I didnt have anyone to sit with at lunch very often, my language skills were still on the rocks, I had TOO much free time on my hands that I spent alone, and it was dark and cold all the time.

At a glance, I just really wasnt having the HAPPIEST time on my exchange. It was super dark outside, it was COLD...and I think the darkness sort had a lot to do with it, as embarassing as it is for me to admit!

To ANY exchange students who come to Finland, I absolutly recommend vitamin D suppliments, as cheesy as that sounds! I didnt think I would need them at all, (sorry, mom.) and I sort of regret it. I thought it was cheesy to take them, and even though I had them on my bedside table- I never really picked them up. I thought that the darkness wouldnt get to me, and wouldnt bother me at all...but really, it sort of did, without me even realizing it!

I guess that as an Exchange Student, you just have TOO much going on at one time- and a little boost of happiness never hurts anyone. ;) (And yes...Vitamin D makes you happier haha...and I had to find that out the hard way.) :)

Once I actually STARTED taking the suppliments that I brought with me, I started noticing a HUGE, HUGE difference. And I was pretty embarassed about it too, because it was SUCH a little thing! Unfortunatly, when I started taking them, it was starting to get light again- and so I felt like I had lost a lot of the time on my exchange...and there was no way to get it back again! So that was pretty sad...

But fortunatly, I think its just a "Finland Exchange Student" thing, because I KNOW I wasnt the only one. When all of the Exchange Students in Oulu hung out together, we all seemed pretty blue and depressed...and I think NONE of us wanted to admit it! 

Its not that we wanted to feel that way, or that we just let it happen...I cant really explain it. There IS no way to explain it...but you could for sure see the difference in all of us Exchange Students. I think it was just that the weather was so extream and dark, and we just werent used to it being so dark and cold and silent all the time...

Once it started getting lighter, things REALLY started to look up. And this is actually something that is SUPER embrassing to post about! But I feel as though since this is a blog about my exchange in Finland, that I need to include all the little details and such that go along with what an Exchange in Finland is like.

I am not trying to say that any exchanger that comes to Finland will be a little depressed during the darker months in Finland, but this is just the experience that I personally had, and that I saw other Exchangers in my host city have. I think its normal, and there are for sure ways to distract yourself from the darkness and create other ways to boost your happiness. :)

Currently, things have SERIOUSLY looked up- and I am literally having the time of my life! I guess the darkest part of the Finnish winter was just a little bump in the road for everyone. ;)

It sort of actually reminds me of the song, "Here Comes The Sun" by the Beatles, as cheesy as that sounds. :)

I kind of look at it as an interesting experience though, to tell you the truth. When I picked Finland, I wanted a challenge. A different sort of challenge that I would battle by going to a country with a more reserved culture and a difficult language. I guess that this little bump in the road was just part of that challenge, and im actually really glad that I expienced it, even though I wasnt expecting it! I guess I SHOULD have seen it coming when I found out how little sunlight there was in the winter in Northern Finland...but it REALLY didnt cross my mind that it would effect me at all. I thought it wouldnt effect me what so ever, and I didnt even REALIZE it did until after some time! But man, am I glad that that little bump in the road is past; because its sure good to feel amazing again! :D


“You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”



“Maybe the paths that you each shall tread are already laid before your feet though you do not see them”

 

Puhutko suomea?

With this post- I have actually gotten A LOT of questions from curious Finns and friends, and so I decided to write a blog post about it. As always, I am NOT going to sugar coat it. I feel like I need to give honest answers. I mean otherwise, this blog wouldnt be realistic and it wouldnt portray Exchange in the right way. (And as a warning: This blog post is NOT meant to be negative in ANY way!) Mostly, I will only be embarrassing MYSELF! :D

And this post is going to be a whole MIX of just random stuff...

As you all know, I have been on my Exchange in Finland for 5 months now! :D

Which is CRAZY thinking that its already HALF WAY OVER....however, what comes with that is also my language skills. Which I KNOW I post about A LOT, but its one of the biggest parts of my exchange, and its something that is very important to me. Which brings me to jump right into what im going to tell you next:


I honestly think that finding opportunities to PRACTICE and LEARN Finnish is MUCH, MUCH harder than the actual Language!

Although my host family speaks to me in only Finnish, it is VERY difficult to find people who are willing to speak to me in Finnish. They always ask me questions or say things like, "Finnish will NEVER be useful for you.", "No Exchange Student has ever learned Finnish!", "Youll never speak it again after this year, so its okay if you never learn it."

(I feel as though before I go on any more with this post, that I need to clear some things up- people are NOT trying to be rude by not speaking to me in Finnish. Until very recently, not many foreigners have gone to Finland. So naturally, Finns are not used to hearing their language spoken incorrectly or with a heavy accent; and therefore some people actually CANT understand me when I speak Finnish sometimes! And some people try to be really nice and speak to me in English, becuase most Finns can speak English fluently, and they think I cant speak any Finnish.)


SO many people ask me how im learning Finnish, and other people are asking me how to get people to speak Finnish to them, and so I decided to make a post that reveals all my silly little secrets when it comes to learning Finnish and how I feel about it.

Sometimes, I actually have a strong dislike for having my native language be English. SO many people want to practice their English; however I dont WANT to speak English anymore! And even when I speak to them in Finnish, THEY REPLY back to me in English as soon as they hear my accent! (Its a struggle just to ORDER something in Finnish without the person switching into English.) 

But... I WANT to learn Finnish. Ive put A LOT of work into studying Finnish, and I have spent SO many hours memorizing hundreds of verbs. (LITERALLY. I have memorized over 300 verbs.) And I just wish that the language would FINALLY just come to me!

 I have to remember to not be offended or taken back at people not wanting to speak Finnish with me...I eventually realized that it must be MUCH more interesting for them to practice English, and that its much easier and faster to maintain a conversation in ENGLISH- because it is a language they all already know almost fluently. I needed to realize that it is NOT fun or interesting AT ALL if my language skills are not good enough to do so in Finnish...

After realizing this, I came to terms with it- and decided that I had to come up with SOME way to be able to speak Finnish, and to do what I came here to do and LEARN Finnish.

And this is what some Finns are curious about, and they ask me about how I do it. I have ALSO been asked by a lot of Exchange Students about how they can get people to speak to them in Finnish. Which I honestly STILL struggle with! (However I am not sure if my secrets will work anymore after I tell all of them on this blog post haha!) 

(I decided to do a two-in one sort of thing with this. So each number will give answers to both questions.)

1. Just ASK 

 

I myself have not had much luck with this one, but it is the EASIEST way to approach it. People DO NOT mean to be rude or insult your language skills- but they just typically find it the most logical choice when trying to maintain a conversation. But be BRAVE and ASK them (IN YOUR HOST LANGUAGE).

Youd be surprised at how many people would take up the offer! (HOWEVER, when I have tried it- it has only lasted a short while before the person says, "I dont want to be rude, but I am going to speak English to you." 

Which of course, kind of disapoints me- but other exchange students may have more success than I did when it comes to just simpily asking people to speak to you in their language. 

There are a few cases when after I have asked, the person just thought my accent was amusing and didnt really try to understand me- so they automatically switched back into English after hearing me speak Finnish!

On the Brightside though, when I am around people and they speak Finnish together- its also nice for me to just kind of sit and listen, because then I can actually learn from their conversation. (I know that sounds creepy...but it helps me learn new things!)

And this is kind of how I feel when I finally understand what something means, after hearing it!

2. Inroduce it on a personal level

 

 

  This has actually been the MOST effective way for me to ask people to speak to me in Finnish, because my SPOKEN Finnish REALLY isnt as good as my understanding level of Finnish! Its hard to get people to speak to me in Finnish just by ASKING. Asking is generally NOT enough. (In my experience.) 

When asking doesnt work or do enough- I generally then introduce my REASONING behind it. Not in a rude way, not in a negative way...just simply saying WHY I want to learn Finnish, or my GOALS, or something like that. (As cheesy as that sounds). 

I have found that when I actually tell them a bit about WHY I want to learn Finnish- people open up A LOT! They are super supportive of helping me learn and after that they actually WANT to speak Finnish with me.

I tell them that I am planning to take an exam at the university next Spring to test my fluency in Finnish- and that I have a goal to become as fluent as I can in Finnish. I tell them how much I study the language everyday, and how much I want to practice my Finnish.

 It also helps a lot when I tell them how I want to come back to Finland for university after I graduate High School in the USA- and after I admit all of this, they are usually REALLY surprised, and they become INTERESTED in helping me.

I actually know a good deal of Finnish, and people are very surprised when I can actually UNDERSTAND them or contribute to the conversation.

Their reactions are usually very hilarious for me when they hear me speak Finnish with my host family, or when I comment on something that they are talking about in Finnish. They are ALWAYS surprised!

3. Trying to keep the conversation alive

 

 

After I have tried the previous two things; my BIGGEST struggle is to keep the conversation alive, and to keep the conversation IN FINNISH. People loose interest in my langauge skills pretty fast, and speaking it is the ONLY way that my language skills will really take off at this point; so its REALLY important for me to speak Finnish! 

(Finns like silence; and small talk doesnt really exist...so my opportunities to speak Finnish are actually pretty low a lot of the time; so its REALLY REALLY important to me to keep conversations alive!)

To be completely honest...this is REALLY REALLY difficult, and it usually goes one of two ways:

1. At first people give me funny looks because of my "attemps" to speak Finnish, and then they start to smile because of my low langauge skills. A lot of times, they think its a bit of a joke and they say, "Okay...now we can speak English haha. Good try." 

2. They will look impacient at my struggle to speak to them in Finnish, and wont want to talk to me anymore. 

So THIS is where my EMBARASSING secret comes in...

Being honest, NO ONE wants to talk to someone with really low langauge skills! Its not interesting, its awkward, it takes a lot of pacience, and its just NOT fun for anyone...SO, I had to come up with ways to distract people from my low language skills. 

I actually try to make the conversation more dramatic, to take away from my awkward pauses when I try to think of what word to say next, and how to phrase my next sentence! So, for example- while im thinking, I will sometimes just have this super dramatic pause before I go on with what im saying! :)

(BUT THANKFULLY- in Finland, silence is a part of converation...So I can sit there for a little bit and actually THINK of what to say before I say it!) VERY VERY HELPFUL!!!! :D

I also add more facial expressions and hand motions in my conversations to help make things interesting. (WHICH, I naturally do anyways when I talk to people- so this one just comes to me without having to think about it haha.) This also helps with  discribing things when you cant find any other words for things. So, its a win-win!

If I have a big smile on my face, and if im SUPER enthusiastic about this converation- all of the attention is taken away from my poor speaking and grammar skills; and instead they are all looking at how happy the conversation is making me. (This secret also just comes naturally to me!) 

And usually, the person I am talking to starts smiling and laughing along with me. :) 

Its sometimes super embarassing because of course they think my language skills are VERY amusing. (I mean, its true!) But you CAN NOT take your converations too seriously. (Especially for me, because my language skills are not very good yet.) So, being able to laugh at yourself and your own mistakes is REALLY important! :D



When I DO successfully only have a 100% FINNISH conversation with someone, THIS is how I feel. :D

 

 

 

NOT GIVING IN

 

 

As I said in the beginning of this post, I NEED to be honest...

I find it SUPER important to actually learn your host country´s language as an Exchange Student. (And I know how silly I must sound when I barely speak my own host country´s langauge!) 

BUT- I am really trying to stand my ground when it comes to speaking only Finnish. Its actually really difficult sometimes because I dont want to offend the other person. Sometimes its like a battle- you BOTH want to improve your language skills, you are BOTH modivated to learn...it almost feels as though someone has to be the winner! :P

THIS is when I have to REALLY look at it, and realize that I am NOT going to go through my exchange year with speaking ONLY Finnish; as much as I would LOVE to. 

Which is why with a very small handful of my friends, we decide to compromise sometimes. We speak for awhile in English, and THEN we speak Finnish for the rest of the time. OR sometimes they speak English, and I speak Finnish. I have to find a way to let BOTH people win sometimes!

However, it is actually REALLY difficult to find people to speak with! And that is the HARDEST part!  And of course this is something that is very embarrassing for ANYONE to admit, especially me being an Exchange Student.

Friendship JUST takes TIME in Finland.

And that I think is the HARDEST part for me to accept! It is very hard for me because in Finland, its very uncomfortable and not at all part of the culture to walk up to people and just start talking. Which of course being an exchange student, you NEED to do it, and go out of the cultural norms and just be brave!

And this also contributes to my language learning, because it is not part of the culture to have small talk; and so it ist is very hard to find ways to practice my Finnish! (The way I have the majority of my practice is by watching Disney Movies and reading the subtitles outloud in Finnish, or talking to myself, talking to my host dog, or just flat out sitting down and studying!)

 

So naturally, I STILL feel like this sometimes!

Its super embarassing for me to admit it, but its true. I LOVE Finland, and EVERYTHING about Finland...but finding friends is something that I am still really struggling with! 

Thankfully though, my Finnish skills are now raising through the roof- and so hopefully this will help me A LOT! I got myself back into the habit of sitting down and studying Finnish every single day, and I have actually gotten a lot of compliments about it in these past two weeks! :D

Im hoping that by the next time classes change, I can finally start REALLY being able to communicate with people! Even though I cant actually say a lot of GRAMMATICALLY correct things in Finnish, I can still be understood, and hopefully with some REAL practice, ill be able to learn even faster! 

I really AM having an amazing exchange, and I feel as though as this last half begins- ill really settle in and make Finland my second home. This first half of my exchange has honestly been pretty rough! Theres been LOTS of ups and downs, especially with gaining a basic foundation of the language and trying to make friends! But I know that now that I DO have a good foundation of the language, that so many doors will be open for me now with finally making friendships and really making a place for me here. :)

 “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”