Week # 8 - Another Melodious Monday!

This week proves to be quite active for me. We started a new Jakso (class period). I don't have as many lessons this period as in the past, but next Jakso will be much busier. Next Period, I will teach the Mathematics Economics course. I really appreciate Mic Tomasovich - an MHS colleague, who set me up with information to start this course. I have been reading other articles and doing additional reading/research to make it as amazing as I can. Again - another stretch course for me since I have not taught a Microeconomics course. I hope to have lively discussions and have comparisons of the U.S. & Finnish economic systems and basic tax structures.

I have practice with Kalifornia Group Thursday night and the concert in Raahe on Friday night at 8 pm. I hope there is standing room only - I'm really excited about it and have expectations to have a great time. On top of all of this, I plan to rent a car for 4 days (Wednesday to Sunday) - primarily to make the Oulu meeting and back to Pyhäjoki for practice, but also to experience driving again and see a little of Oulu and perhaps Kempele ( a suburb of Oulu .?.). The weather has been quite "snowy" to put it lightly, but nothing like what has been happening in Ohio.

The concert at Raahesali was a huge success! There were 250+ people in attendance and a very good "feeling" (Spirit) in the room. I have been told on several instances that what went on in there was indeed very special in Raahe specifically and Finland overall - connection with the audience, people standing up and dancing by their seats, clapping; a feeling of comfort by the audience. Some pictures are at site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/villefi/sets/72157594554157604/show/
We are hoping to get a Concert in Helsinki as part of Fulbright activities. It's in the works so we will see what happens.

Week # 7 - Another Munderlous Monday!!

Another week is upon us. The days are getting longer with light and today it was a scorching -4 degrees C. Felt almost like summertime on my way to work. The sun was shinning, birds singing melodiously. It was quite beautiful. We are in our last week for this 4th Jakso (period). We are giving the end of period tests. Thursday will be the 3rd graders final class program/presentation. On Friday, the 2nd graders will be the "big men" on campus and will have their class program. After that, the Seniors (3rd graders) will be officially done until the June 2nd graduation ceremony. Seems a long time since August 14, 2006...

Kalifornia Group concert for the 23rd has been moved to a larger hall in Raahe. The original location was a 120 seat hall and was sold out. So they had to move it to larger hall that seats 420 people - WOW!! I am still amazed at the move of God. I am in awe has to all of the events that have transpired in my life over the last 7 months; and I believe that "the half has not yet been told". The Lord has promised us that ..."no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what the Lord has in store for those that love Him..." I say AMEN!!
There were 2 more articles about the Group and concerts.

This past weekend I did some more work on another singing project that has been in the making since about the end of November. I am very excited about it. More later on that. There was also an advertisement/announcement in the Kaleva Newspaper about a birthday concert where I will be on of the performers. Viktor Klimenko will be the "headliner". He was/is a famous Finnish singer. I found out that he was a contestant in the annual EuroVision music contest back in 1965. The Kaleva is a larger newspaper that covers much of the northern part of Finland - widespread publication. I had no idea it was there. Someone brought it to my attention this weekend. Again I say, "Just like God".

Thursday (15 Feb) was our 3rd Graders Program at Lukio. I think they did a nice job. They made a video, had a "Teacher Questions" type game, had music videos and a nice show that they did themselves. They seem to have worked very well together. It was a very well done program with no malicious activity going on. They then left the building and drove off on the back of a large tractor with a trailer. All of the students from the schools were out to see them off and wish them well. They then road through town where people were lining the streets - similar to what we do in the U.S. as our Homecoming Parades. It was a wonderful thing to see. So technically. it was the Seniors last day of classes. They still have the National Tests coming up in March, then they are done until the June 2nd Graduation (White Cap) Ceremony. I bought me a White Cap also - I feel as though I am graduating as well. I have experienced and learned a great deal thus far. Emotionally, I am beginning to experience some movement. I can explain them, but there is probably not enough space to make them coherent and easily understood. I find myself lately trying to emblazon every sight, sound, smell, taste and touch into my memory for I know I will pass this way on these days just this once. Even if/when I return, it won't be this same moment in time. As we all know, our memories fail us, but my heart is changed - there has been a place created, a file folder called "PYHÄJOKI" that is being flooded with memories: faces, places, sights, sounds, smells, tastes...experiences that I hope I never forget.

Once the 3rd Graders had "left the building", the 2nd Graders (Juniors) became the 'big men on campus'. They celebrated that with a program on Friday the 16th. It's called VANHAT. They have a dance program that they do for the school during the day and the community in the evening. The ladies looked beautiful in their long dresses and the gentlemen looked handsome and very distinguished. To me it was a show of team building.

On Saturday, I had the distinct pleasure of singing at the birthday concert. Viktor Klimenko invited me to come up with him and sing his last two songs with him. It was Amazing Grace and Blessed Assurance -BOTH IN FINNISH!!! It was nothing but the Lord that graced me to be able to sing the high tenor harmony parts with him. It was a great experience and a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday.

Terve Monday!!

"Kalifornia Group" Concert a Huge Success!!

Sold out the 150 seat hall with about another 50 or more being turned away. We have another concert in Raahe on the 23rd of Feb.

This is the link to the article in the paper Jan 31st:
http://yrttis.pyhajoki.fi/~charlie/Raahelainen-31012007.htm

Cooking - Jutta (Admin), put together a 'cookbook' for me with some favorite & traditional Finnish recipes. She translated them and left some pages for me to find other recipes that I like. I will try to translate them and let her check them for accuracy. I especially want the recipe for their blueberry pie - uhmm-uhmm good! I also baked a sweet potatoe pie last week. Turned out pretty good. Now I will do another to share. I gave Jutta some chopped pork "North Carolina" style BBQ to try. Also made broccoli salad. They all turned out pretty good. They have a product here called "Anna Manna". It's just like our "Grits" in the U.S., but the grain itself seems to be a little finer. It has the same consistency. The preparation and eating is a little different. In the states, we mostly boil salted water, put in the grits, cook, then add lots of butter when we serve and maybe even cheese. That's how my family likes it. They even have grits made out of yellow corn meal. My sister loves the yellow grits. The Finns cook the Manna in milk and when it's served, they top it with a strawberry sauce made of strawberries, liquid, and a little sugar. I have had them both ways. It was just neat to find a product like that here. It has been wonderful discovering the varieties of food and seeing how many of them are really familiar or similar to those in my family. Another surprise was the rutabagas (lantu). It's a traditional Christmas dish for the Finns.

Weather - still cold, like -30 degrees C. Ohio is having a cold spell this week - school closed today because of the wimd chill of -27 degrees F (about -35 C)