When I returned from Tallinn, I was met at the ferry terminal with the second name sign I’ve ever had (the first one was made by my advisors when they met us at the Joensuu airport to welcome us to Finland). I was met by Kaija and Jukka, friends of Read more…
Without a minute to spare, Tiffany, Mayra and I jetted from our Fulbright orientation to the ferry terminal down on the waterfront in Helsinki. When they said we’d need to arrive at least 45 minutes before our departure time, they weren’t kidding! We needed at least half that time to Read more…
As I removed my boots, jacket, gloves, and hat, put on my headphones and some tunes, I collapsed into the train seat, determined not to move for the next 4.5 hours. I was exhausted, but in the best way possible. I remember talking to a friend and saying that Read more…
Being the active person I am, I have spent some time these first 2 weeks in Joensuu exploring my options as far as sports and various activities to participate in. Being an avid hiker and kick boxer, I had a feeling those opportunities would be few and far between here Read more…
From the moment we arrived here in Joensuu, we have hit the ground running. Between orientation at the university (which began the day after our arrival), meeting the people we will be working with, and getting to know what clothing to wear/what to bring each day when you don’t have Read more…
After a week of being here in Joensuu, it was finally time to do what I have traveled 5,500 miles to do: see what life is like in a Finnish school. Koulu is the Finnish word for school, so you will see it in the names of schools around Finland. Read more…
When I first began reading about Finland, the people, and the culture, I read that Finns can be reserved and introverted, especially in the wintertime when everyone hibernates during the long, dark hours. I remember Maija, one of our Fulbright Distinguished Teachers from Finland that studied in the US this Read more…
24 hours. 9 months. 9 hours. 6 months. 5.5 hours. 5 minutes. 24 hours en route from San Diego, California to Joensuu, Finland. 9 months from the time I received my Fulbright award letter to departure. 9 hours time difference between Joensuu and my students back in Denver, CO. 6 months to explore Read more…
