Saturday 19th February

Is this the right way to go?

Walking to the lake at Sami and Annika's homes.
The sun through the trees.
A welcome at Annika's house.
The view to the lake. It's a truly beautiful place!
The ice hole!

The block of ice from the ice hole.... 67cm thick!
Now, we try to drill another hole!

Happy girls, on the way to Sami's home.

Getting ready for the snowmobile.

George ja Mikko :-)
An experience of a lifetime!
Mr Purves, about to set out on his own!

The final full day of activities proved to be another outstanding one!

We started by having a lie in, until around 9am, when we had breakfast. Jyrki arrived soon afterwards at Seurakuntakoti, our accommodation, and we got ready to spend the day outside with the penpals and parents at the lake where Sami and Annika live. To get there, we went again on the coach, around 3km past Kuvansi. It wasn't so cold today- in fact it seemed almost balmy at 10am as it was only around -20C!

Once we arrived at the lake and were welcomed by Anne (Sami's mum) we walked down onto the frozen lake and were shown a hole that had been drilled by Mika (Annika's dad). Mika explained how this winter has been very cold and how the ice is much thicker than normal. We measured the ice that had been brought out from the drilled hole and found that it was 67cm thick! Truly amazing! Then we had a go at drilling our own holes, which was great fun.

After this we walked from one lake to another, and through some forest. We arrived at Sami's house, and the scene that greeted us was amazing. There was a roaring fire, next to the lake, with reindeer soup being cooked by Kari, Sami's dad. He is from Lapland- and it was as if we were all in Lapland. The scenery was truly outstanding. As we sledged down through the trees to the lake, Mika showed the class three different snowmobiles, and explained that the children could all be taken for rides on them, in groups of four, sitting in a trailer being towed by the snowmobiles. We then all had a series of brilliant rides on the snowmobiles, across the lake and through the forest. Although I don't have individual quotes from the children, I can say that each and everyone of them thought that this was one of the true highlights of this wonderful week. Many came off the snowmobile saying how much they had enjoyed their rides. I was then allowed to drive two of them myself, which was a highlight for me too! :-)

We ate, drank, ate more and drank more, and each and every one of the children was catered for individually. It was amazing! (Just like everything else this week, to be honest!)

At around 2.30pm, we left for the spa hotel in Varkaus, after saying goodbye to the penpals, and we spent the afternoon swimming and enjoying the flume rides and the jacuzzis.

At 6pm, after getting ready, we were then treated to a really fantastic meal at a restaurant in Varkaus, where Jari the headteacher from Kuvansi, along with Jyrki and Marjo the teachers, joined us. Everyone learned to sing Auld Lang Syne in Finnish and enjoyed the meal and the great atmosphere. Jari gave out gifts to each of the children, and we then finished off with a quiz, set by Jari and Jyrki. A really wonderful end to a most amazing week. I have never experienced such hospitality, and I know that the children have all been overwhelmed by the experience.

Tomorrow morning, we leave for home. It has been a great experience for everyone. And, an experience that I am sure they will recall for the rest of their lives. I want to thank each and every one of the hosts for their wonderful friendliness during the whole week. Hopefully we will be able to repay this in Scotland soon!!

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!