English please.

Dear Miss Robin ”Hood” Sturrock,

Because of the well known Finnish hospitality, I’m going to do this in English. It’s a Finnish style, that when needed, we do it as you want. I truly understand that you might face some difficulties in our language. Don’t worry, there are some other people too, who have some problems with the mostly used language in world. But have to admit, that you are doing really well in your language studies. Like the “minä rakastan sinua” and “olen kännissä” are coming alrady really fluent. Also “haista vittu” and “haluan panna” are already part of your Finnish side. Thanks to Henni that you’re becoming one of us.

And for the Finnish readers, it’s really funny when a Canadian Robin speaks Finnish. I really didn’t understand how difficult our language is. Like the double consonants (“kikkeli”) are really hard to pronounce for the almost Finnish people. Also the letters Ä & Ö produce some problems here. But if you just practice and practice, you’ll make it. You can just imagine those moments at night time when our Canadian team (Robin und Lauren) use their Finnish in bars and clubs. Or when they call you and the first words are “olen kännissä”, you know that it’s going to be an awesome evening. Imagine, that Lauren learned our numbers in 20 minutes. For me it took two weeks, when I was six years old. But yeah, it’s easy language. I know.

Robin, you are keeping a blog too, so I steal some stuff of yours (makes more length to my text)

--“As I sat there I thought about my time here and for the first time, in a really long time, I can truly say I am happy; Genuinely happy.”—

That’s pretty well said. It’s true that we’ve been here for ages, but those ages are gone so fast! Like I’ve been today exact three months here, and it feels like three weeks. You don’t even realize that you’ve got like new, errr, friends. Like friends, with whom you’ve memories and you share the stories. You’ve got like a history and that’s what makes me the difference between friend and good-day-buddy. Now while writing this, I’m thinking of the Gay-Prague trip with the cold and castle. Thank you for that, Robin and Lauren. And Henni, Marien and Tony. History, stories, the difference.

If you remember something, it means that you hated or loved it. In my case I remember the really good dinner conversation with the language barrier in Gay-Prague. Because I’m lazy and over weighted, I’m going to steal again from you, Robin.

--“Anyways, we got to talking about homeless people in Canada, and Lauren and I said because of the cold many of the hobo's live under the bridge. When I said this he (Jussi) looked at me very oddly and I wasn't sure if I said something politicaly incorrect or what.. as it turns out he thought I said "homo" and that we make the "homos" live under the bridges in Canada!!”--

That’s like a moment, which I’m going to remember for rest of my life. Not for that I’ve something against Canada and their social welfare politics, but more like the atmosphere and the people. I’m going to tell that story many many times to my Finnish friends, to my future wife and kids. It’s a story, that never dies.

Have to admit that The Dad had nice time in Vienna, spring 2009. With the awesome people and the legendary stories. Thank you all already.

PS. If you are an exchange student and reading this, please replace the name “Robin” to your own name. And then also change the other names and places, and you’ll have a story to tell back home.