Friday 18th February

This "tandem skiing" isn't always easy!

Tandem skiing.
Getting ready to tandem ski.
This keeps you warm!
The teachers did it too. Even Mr Purves, but as I took the photos, there are none of me..yet. Jyrki took pictures too, so perhaps next week...
It was so cold, that even the hair became icy!
Assembly.
Floorball.
Lunch at Kuvansi.
Jari the Headteacher gives a present to one of our pupils.
The Old Dance show in Joroinen
We visited the cookery class in the Junior High School.
Ice skating, back at Kuvansi.
Sledging.

Playing together in the evening.



Today has been such an amazing and busy day that I am sorry to report that I have not had any time to gather comments from each of the children. I hope you can forgive me therefore, if I just give a rundown of what we have done, and then include some photos to tell the story of the day!

We started early with breakfast, then left on the bus (in temperatures of -35C) for Kuvansi school at 8.40am. As it was so cold, the original plan to have outside activities all morning was changed. We did some tandem skiing- which was hugely enjoyable- then we went indoors and were treated to a wonderful assembly. At the end of the assembly, we were presented with a lovely large card, signed by the Finnish children. Then, we played floorball (like our indoor hockey). After floorball, we had salmon for lunch, then we left on the bus to travel to the nearby town of Joroinen, where we were visiting the annual "Old Dance Show". This was a fantastic display of dancing, put on by the oldest secondary school pupils, in special costumes.

After this, we walked to the junior secondary school, where we gave a presentation about Scotland, by powerpoint. Then we were shown around the school, and we visited the technical classes and a cookery class.

Then we returned to Kuvansi school, where we spent an hour and a half outside, skiing and ice skating. We then returned home, had dinner, and then were joined by all the penfriends and also parents at our accommodation. Everyone played games and had fun together.

Thursday 17th February

We started the day off by visiting Parkunmäki Primary School, on the way to Savonlinna.

We were treated to Auld Lang Syne in Finnish, by the school band!
The children showed us how they sing and dance!
The girls taught English colours to their Finnish peers at Parkunmäki school.
Delivering the Powerpoint presentations.

Lovely salmon for lunch!




Snow football...Finland v Scotland
After playing snow football...check out the frozen eyelashes!

Before we left Parkunmäki koulu primary school at lunch time.



At Savonlinna. What a scene!
In Olavinlinna Castle.
Can you see the steam rising by the "boiling" water? !!


How deep is this snow?
Our accommodation, by night.

Some thoughts from a very busy and wonderful day today here.

Katrina: We went to a tiny school this morning and we had salmon there for lunch. We went to Oskari seal centre to learn about the Saimaaa ringed seal. In Savonlinna, we went to the supermarket to buy things. On the way home in the bus, we went a bit mad, singing songs!

Catriona: In the supermarket in Savonlinna, we bought some Finnish stuff. I bought these “functional chewy pastilles” which are really nice.

Amy: We went to Olavinlinna Castle and we got to see lots of things there. It was -35C when we left here this morning, and -27C this afternoon. It was really fun! We went to a restaurant for dinner and had really nice pork. I'm loving it here!

Iola: I thought the sledging at the school we visited this morning was brilliant. We visited a huge castle this afternoon- it was cold there, but good. I liiked the pork we had for dinner at the restaurant.

Frazer: We did lots of fun things today. We played snow football at the school we visited this morning. The score was Finland 1, Scotland 1. The castle we visited had great views. After that we shopped for some things, and I have eaten most of what I bought. I bought some Lego people and a car. Later, we went to a restaurant in Rantasalmi and I had lots and lots of mashed people. I have really enjoyed this week so far.

Ryan: I have enjoyed playing in the snow. I had great fun skiing yesterday, and the football today was good. The score was 1-1. Tonight we are going to try the sauna.

Irwin: Playing football was really good- I scored the goal for Scotland! I also enjoyed ice-skating yesterday. It's very cold! Tomorrowe I will be skiing at the link school.

Michael: I enjoyed going to the museum. I enjoyed playing football with the Finnish children today. At half time, Finland was leading 1-0. But we scored in the second half. The castle today was very good. I bought a historic envelope opener at the castle. So far, I am having a great time!!

Kyle: I have enjoyed the music museum and the castle. The ice skating at Kuvansi school was very good. Tomorrow, I am looking forward to going skiing. The weather is really cold- it's freezing!

Ewan B: I liked the ice skating and the museum was funny. I am quite excited about going to try the sauna. Finland is really great. It's cold. The snow football this morning was cool. This afternoon we visited Olavinlinna Castle and it was weird going out this morning when it was -35C!

Dean: I really enjoyed the snow football because it seemed to have no rules. The final score was 1-1 and Irwin scored the goal for Scotland. Afterwards, I had frosting of my eyelashes- Mr Purves took a photo of it! I am really enjoying Finland!

Mrs Hilsley: We are having an absolutely fantastic time here! The children are real stars, and they are an absolute credit to you and the school. The children have thrown themselves into everything we have done, and we are being very well treated by all the Finnish people here.

And some final thoughts, after the sauna!

Quote from Lewis: That was AWESOME! It's the best thing I have ever done in my life!!!

He is referring to the fact that when the boys all went to the sauna, they raced out and rolled in the snow afterwards!! It was certainly an experience of a lifetime!

Wednesday 16th February

On the plane from Edinburgh to Tampere, Finland



The beautiful setting of Kuvansi's primary school, Eastern Finland.

Cross country skiing at the school earlier today.
The weather has been brilliant- sunny and cold!
On the ice rink!
Ice skating in the fantastic sun!
Marjo, the ice skating instructor.
Penpals help each other out at the skiing tracks.
Cross country skiing in the sun at Kuvansi!
Reciting some Burns for the Finnish children, and teachers!
Jyrki- a real Finnish "Scotsman!"

Tonight, in the hut where we had sausages and snacks after playing with our penpals outside.






Inside the hut, with the roaring fire, which ensured we kept warm.

Quotes from Wednesday 16^th February 2011

A summary of the day:

Breakfast was at 9am- after our long journey yesterday.

We then got the bus to Kuvansin koulu- our school, about 10km away, where we met our penpals and saw around the school, which is very different to our own.

We watched as our penpals introduced Finland to us via various Powerpoints. Then, we took our own turn to present our own Powerpoints to the Finnish class.

After lunch, we split into two groups and our penpals helped us outside as we headed off to either ice-skate or cross-country ski.

After cross country skiing, we had snacks and drinks, then came back to Varkaus, where we visited the mechanical music museum.

Then, back at our accommodation, we had dinner then played with our penpals, who came with their parents.

Lewis: I liked the skiing- the place we are staying is really nice and it's bigger than I thought it would be. The food has been really nice too!

Ethan: The woodwork room in the school is really cool. It was fun playing with our penpals.

Harry: The museum was really fun. The skiing was harder than I thought it would be but I enjoyed it! The snow is really deep, much deeper than I imagined.

Ewan J: I liked the skiing, even though I fell over in the really deep snow. The accommodation is massive.

Kathryn: Meeting my penpal was nice. It was fun skiing, but hard work. The school is really different.

Ruby: I really enjoyed the ice skating and I am having a really good time.

Megan: I learned how to ice skate today. We need a sewing room in our school, like in Kuvansi!!

More from the rest of the class perhaps tomorrow!

Note from Mr Purves:

Unfortunately, the internet is not working properly at our accommodation, so I have had to come to Mr Ikonen's house to upload this work. Please understand that we are trying to do all we can to let you see what we are doing, but it is possible that we won't manage to upload material each day, as originally planned.

Everyone has had a brilliant first full day here today- and it has been really great to see the penpals working so hard with each other when we were skiing or skating earlier today. As I write this, it's -28C outside, so it's very cold, but it many have been surprised and have said that it doesn't feel as cold as they thought it would feel!

We're off!!

Outside the school, as we prepare to leave for Finland!