Being in a unique country comes with
unique experiences and I am glad I was able to participate in a few before the
cold weather begins to settle on my rosy cheeks. I spent one day at my host
family’s grandparents’ home and we went berry picking, it’s amazing how fun
this relaxing activity can be once you add a bit of enthusiasm into the mix. I
learned that in Finland the people are able to pick any wild berries or
mushrooms that they find in the forest, which makes berry and mushroom picking
very popular activities for people living in the countryside, and also one of
my newest hobbies. I also went sailing with my second host family, the weather
was beautiful and I am glad to have spent my first sailing experience with such
a welcoming and friendly family :). Also you cannot get salmonella from chicken
eggs in Finland, so you could say my favorite food has been updated. COOKIE
DOUGH.
I took a tour of Old Liminka, although I
do not speak Finnish, with the help of my generous host-mother, Niina, I was
able to gain some knowledge about Finnish history, specifically in the countryside
where I am living. A common trend among antique buildings in Northern Finland
is that that many buildings in were made from wood, and many of these wooden
buildings were sadly burned. I visited a museum of art from a famous painter,
who lived in Liminka, and created art that is loved by people all over Europe.
I also visited one of the oldest churches in Liminka and was given the opportunity
to play their organ; they let me play for a solid 30 minutes despite my
inadequate musical talents, which was when a young piano player stole the show
(my second host family’s youngest daughter Mintu). This organ was beautiful and
white; it was also large enough for me to walk inside! As of August 30th,
2014 taking a tour of the inside of an organ has been checked off of my
unrealistic bucket list.
I spent three days at an art camp/course
in Manamansalon. The camp was very relaxed, focused on self-expression and our
surrounding environment. I remember being very young and always loving art, I
loved being proud of what I had created, and I loved the inspiration that I
received from the littlest things in ordinary life. As I grew older, essays,
grades, memorizing, studying and university applications became the extent of
my creativity. I had forgotten how much I loved to create and appreciate art. The
most important thing I gained from this oasis away from paradise was that being
an artist doesn’t mean that you are a perfect drawer, writer or musician, it
just means that you are able to express yourself. Reminding me of a completely
relevant quote “She never looked nice, she looked like art, and art isn’t
supposed to look nice, it’s supposed to make you feel.” Over this past month I
have been able to create as much art as my heart desires, I have a newly
developed love for photography, and my drawing skills are slowly returning with
the help of new friends’ talents and their encouraging attitudes.
Now that school is becoming a routine
for me, I am adding activities to get back into my busy lifestyle, which as I have
discovered, is a huge part of my personality. Before I left on exchange, I
believed that I would spend the year relaxing and eating bon bons, as Papa
Scotty would say in this context, but after three weeks of “bon bon eating” and
“relaxing”, I was completely ready to jump back into hectic schedules and excel
spreadsheets consisting of weekly plans. I have started going to the gym during
my free periods at school, which should control the exchange weight and also
keep me preoccupied while other students study away. I have started Finnish
classes, which will make everyday life here in Oulu much easier and give me the
basis of a skill I want to continually improve throughout my exchange. Lastly,
I have registered for Ballet and Pointe classes at a beautiful studio in Oulu,
thanks to a friendly ballerina in my Physical Education class.
Finally, along with my idea that I feel
like I’m on a Harry Potter movie set, a fellow classmate made a statement that
followed the same plot. “You know, your name kind of looks like it belongs in a
Harry Potter movie.” “Oh?” “Yes like Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron
Weasley, and Mackie Douglas, it’s like you were meant to be in their group of
wizards!” I think someone is trying to send me a message regarding Harry, not
sure what it is, but I am positive that I would be a huge asset to the
Anti-Voldemort Movement.
Happy monthiversary to best boyfriend I
will ever need.
Still in love with Finland,
Mackie
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