Arrived in USA around 4:30PM Sunday

Arrived at JFK on schedule.  On the plane we had to fill out a form declaring any items we bought in Finland.  We had to wait in line to go through border control where US workers reviewed our form and asked questions about where we were and what we purchased.  The officer stamped the form and sent us on to baggage claim.

Mr. Palella offered to play his kantalele for the officer :).

We picked up our luggage and waited in a customs line where the officer asked more questions about what we were carrying.  He did ask me what I had in a shopping bag, and I had to confess that is was just full of chocolate!  At the airport in Finland, I still had a little currency in euros, so I needed to spend it before coming back to the US.  I bought CHOCOLATE, very yummy!

I guess he thought it way okay, because he let me come back into the country.  I would not enjoy living in the airport.

Our flight from JFK to Rochester was delayed, but for only an hour.  We were in a line of 25 planes waiting for take-off.  Patience is a virtue -- and chocolate makes everything better.

Finally arrived in Rochester around 11:10PM.  Feeling bittersweet, happy to be home, but sad to leave behind such an incredible experience and new friends.

I'll see you soon -- enjoy the rest of your summer.

Coming home . . . .

We spent a lovely day back in the city of Helsinki on Saturday.  There were other participants from our world village music here as well.  We all met for dinner and a walk around the city and park.

There was Ingrid from Norway, Kelly and Martha from the United States and then we ran into to Olga from Russia along the street and Danielle and her husband in the park.  Danielle has just moved to Finland this week from Toronto Canada.

Today we will be flying home.  It will be a very long trip.  We begin by leaving the hotel in Helsinki at 11AM by taxi to the airport.  Our flight leaves Helsinki at 17:15 (5:15PM here in Finland, but 10:15AM Eastern Standard time in New York).  We are scheduled to arrive New York (JFK airport) around 15:50 PM (3:50PM).  So, if you're thinking I made a mistake in the times, because how could it be possible to get home before we leave . . . .  do you remember the time zone difference for Finland?  Add 7 hours going and subtract 7 hours coming home. Can you figure out how long we will be on the plane?

Taxi to train station with Martha, Ingrid, Katherine, Rosie, and yours truly.   In the front of the van rode, Mr. Palella, Kelly and IJ.

At the train station in Valkeala.  Although I don't speak or read Finnish, most of the signs are in Finnish and English.

Train station in Helsinki

Birch trees in Finland grow much taller than in the Northeast part of the US.

Our last evening at the music village we had a wonderful dinner with all of our new friends from around the world.  Well, let me correct myself, this was supper (10:00PM), we had already had dinner at 6:00PM.  We were all commenting on how many meals we were served.  Although, it was actually very thoughtful of them, as they were thinking of the participants adjusting from many time zones.

Mr. Pallella, Kelly Jackson (a very nice music teacher from Atlanta) and I taught the group the American Folk song and dance, "Alabama Gal".

The group from Hong Kong taught us a song and dance from their country.

The Finnish had a couple of groups that told wonderful stories through song and dance.  Some of them I will be bringing back for you to learn.

This is a photo our kantale instructor Outi Sane, she is a wonderful musician.  Outi is with her 13 year old daughter, Ismaila (who also plays the instrument very well).  Mr. Palella and I feel very fortunate to have been able to learn from her!







The two ladies (Rosie and Katherine) from Great Britain performed the song "Soldier, Soldier".  It was very very funny.
This is a song that Mitzie Collins sings for 4th grade pioneer day.

We also learned a dance called the Mazurka -- by our Czechoslovakian instructor.
The mazurka is a beautiful piece of music and the dance is done with couples in a circle.  I have been playing Chopin (Polish composer) mazurka's recently on piano.  So perhaps, I can teach the mazurka this year as I play it for you in class.

We heard from several other groups and enjoyed the cultural music from around the world.

Our time here at World Village in Valkeala Finland has come to an end.  It was been a wonderful international music program.  Here are a couple of photos with some of my new friends from around the world.  We are getting back on the train this morning to Helsinki.  I have so many photos, but it takes too long to upload them all.

New friends from Hong Kong

 New Friends from Australia

Friends from Finland

Hot to Cold -- Berries along the road

More photos for you of the Finnish Sauna . . . . .

The sauna felt extremely hot last night, I must be getting wimpy -- the tips of my ears felt like they were burning and my hair was hot!  I was told I felt warmer this time because I went to sauna later.  I guess that makes sense, the fire had been going for hours.

Here is a photo of where we are staying.  Again, this is a a boarding school for high school students in this area.  It is really lovely.












The outside of the sauna . . .

 It faces the beautiful lake so you can jump in the lake after you are finished.

Inside the sauna.  There are three rooms.  A changing room (no photo) and the room pictured on the left is where you wash off before going into the "hot steam" room.
The colorful buckets are what you dip into the barrels of water and pour on your self.  There is a hot water barrel and a cold water barrel.
I had a little trouble mixing for a comfortable temperature.  Never appreciated how easy it is to adjust the temperature of water coming out of the shower or faucet.


Now you are ready to sit in the "hot steam" room.  The benches are where you sit and there is also a bucket for you to occasionally toss water on the heated rocks to generate more steam.  Just in case you're not hot enough (ha ha).  The washcloth consists of a bunch of branch from the nearby birch tree.

Picking raspberries with Hanna on our walk through the forest.  I started to tell her about picking berries with my daughter and she couldn't believe that we had to pay for berries.  She asked "don't you just go to the woods and pick them?"  I wish we were that fortunate!

Gliding over Finland

Getting encouragement from my new Finnish friend.

Putting on a parachute and learning how to pull the chord. (for emergency only)

Buckle up (not so easy)

I was told not to touch the control stick in the middle (Okay, no problem!)

Finnish countryside

More of the Finnish scenery - note the wing in left corner

Farm

Gliding through the air -- an incredible feeling!

Finnish Style

The young Finnish ladies dress in adorable dresses!