Picture of Finland

In the picture there is non-Finnish person, propably American wearing hat with Finland's flag and name of Finnish Formula driver Räikkönen. This is the first Non-Finn wearing Finnish things I have seen here.

More broadly, I have tried to listen what kind of picture Kansasian people have from Finland. And here is some list I have noted: They make good guns and tractors, brand Valmet (a barkeeper), They have high quality of life and they fish a lot (a geography student), Ville Valo is from Finland (many people), when I ask if they know Nightwish, many knows, but don't know as often that it is from Finland also.

What comes to Finns I think many people kind of like Finns here, or at least nobody haven't said they wouldn't like Finns. What I have heard about myself is that I'm not easily approachable and I'm too quiet and too serious. I didn't like that this is how many people view me here, since I have all time here put effort of being easily approachable, tried to talk to people and tried to meet many new people. But maybe the reservedness of Finnish culture is so deeply rooted in me that I just can't get rid of it even if I wanted. But on the positive side, I feel I have got more courage here in social situations, because people are much more easily approachable and welcoming than in Finland. They are not as closed groups in here as they are in Finland.

Hostadoptionfamily

First orientation days there were possibility to register to get a host/friendship/guest family for international students. I weren't present when the this possibility was offered and didn't fill any forms. But I still went to this hostfamily meeting with one of my Chinese friend Miya and some of her other friends.

Everyone else was registered so I was put on hold and had to wait alone outside of the others on a chair. I was the only orphan. Then the arranging persons said I could go to hang out with some family and I went to sit with Miya and her hostfamily. The Miya's hostfamily didn't seem too excited about me and luckily the arranging person announced that I was without hostfamily and then one woman said I could come to her another gueststudent. The woman was Marianne, who now was my new hostadoptionfamily's mother. In the family there was, addition to Marianne, son Jack, daughter Anna, daughter Rosa and the other gueststudent Janice from Taiwan, whom I already knew. At the picture there is from left to right: Jack, Anna, artist and Doctor Smith from Spanish language, Marianne and Rosa.

When I was lingered for a while with my new hostadoptionfamily I felt I was very lucky to get such an wonderful and lovely family. Everyone of the family was very friendly, nice, kind and intelligent. I could have not even wished for a better hostadoptionfamily! I'm very grateful how the things went and that I got the one I got. I'm the second Finn in their family, they had student named Anne, also from Jyväskylä, before me.

I have already been watching presidential debates, visited art gallery opening, concert and Art Walk with the family and there is plans to go to art museum in Kansas City. I have heard from my friends that some families don't even have had the effort to make first meeting after introducion.

I was very hesitant and bit afraid first at going to the introducion meeting because I hadn't registered, but I'm so very happy I did!

From Helsinki to Pittsburg

I've been in Pittsburg now for a month. But here's how I got here. Beginning is in Finnish.

Lento lähti Helsinki-Vantaan lentokentältä kello 8 ja isäni ja siskoni veivät minut sinne niin aikaisin, että olin siellä hyvissä ajoin ja ehdin odotella lennon lähtöä yli tunnin. Matkatavarat sain kirjattua nopeasti koska jonoa ei ollut ja ne lensivät ensimmäiseen USAn kohteeseen asti ilman vaihtoapua. Lentokentälle saapumisesta siihen, että olin valmis menemään koneeseen kului ehkä vartista puoleen tuntiin. Odotteluajan luin kirjaa.

Ensimmäinen lento meni nopeasti ja ilman mitään ongelmia Tukholmaan alle tunnissa. Mitään kipua korvissa tai vastaavaa ei ollut. Tukholmassa oli hieman ongelmia, koska Helsinki-Vantaalla olin saanut lentokoneeseen pääsykortin vain Tukholmaan, enkä tiennyt mistä siellä Tukholmassa olisin saanut sitten Boarding passit seuraaviin kohteisiin. Menin kuitenkin suoraan sille portille, mistä lento lähti, koska passintarkastaja sanoi, että saatan saada boarding passin sitten lähtöportilta. Lähtöportilla juutuin turvatarkastukseen, jossa tarkistettiin viisumia, matkatavaraa ja muutenkin sen verran huolellisesti, että aikaa meni jonkun verran, ehkä puolisen tuntia. Turvatarkastuksen läpäisyn jälkeen portilla olleet lentoyhtiön työntekijät tulostivat boarding passit Kansas Cityyn asti ja pääsin lentokoneeseen. Vaihtoaikaa oli 1h10minA
Lento Tukholmasta Newarkiin, New Jerseyhyn ei sitten sujunutkaan yhtä kevyesti. Tuolissa oli ahdasta pituussuunnassa ja jalkoja ei saanut suoristettua, lisäksi istuin ikkunapaikalla, että ei saanut käytävällekkään jalkoja. Vierustoverina ei onneksi ollut kuitenkaan mitään tunkeilevaa tai haisevaa henkilöä vaan mukava ruotsalainen pari. Sain ehkä nukuttua joitain minuutteja, mutta en niin paljoa että lentoaika olisi mitenkään tuntunut mukavalta. Lentokoneen saavuttua lähemmäs Newarkia täytettiin maahantulolappu ja tullilappu, joita sitten tarvittiin lentokentällä. Ruokailu lentokoneessa oli muuten tyydyttävää, paitsi siinä suhteessa, että yksi ateria oli kanaa sisältävä gluteiiniton vaihtoehto. Eli joku oli sekoittanut erikoisruokavalioni sen suhteen tai kuvitteli että kana on kasvis, mikä sekin oikeasti on mahdollista.

Newarkissa seurasin porukkaa maahantulotarkastukseen, jossa vaaditiin taas opiskelijaviisumilomaketta, passia ja nyt myös tullauslappua ja maahantulolappua. Jono oli pitkä ja siinä meni aikaa joitain minuutteja. Maahantuloviranomainen leimasi sitten laput ja laittoi passiin kiinni toisen. Kun maahantulo oli kunnossa, piti löytää matkatavarat ja siirtää ne yhdestä laukkukarusellista uuskirjaukseen toiseen paikkaan, jonne mennessä annettiin matkalla myös leimattu tullauslappu tarkastajalle. Kun matkatavarat oli kunnossa, niin otin ilmaisen monorailin kotimaan terminaaliin, jossa sitten odottelin loppuajan Kansas Cityn koneeseen pääsyä. Vaihtoaikaa oli 2h44min.

Kansas Cityn koneessa olin käytäväpaikalla ja vierelleni ikkunapaikalle ei edes tullut ketään. Lento kesti kolmisen tuntia, jonka aikana yritin torkkua, kävin vessassa ja kuuntelin vähän musiikkia. Sain myös ilmaisia pähkinöitä ja vettä. Varoitukset kylmyydestä lentokoneessa olivat liioiteltuja ja takki ja pitkähihainen olivat turhaan mukana.

Kansas Cityn lentokentällä toista vaihtaria, Johannesta, odotellessa iski sitten pieni pelko, että mitäs jos ei tulekaan toimeen USA:ssa, entä jos ei olekaan riittävän seurallinen? Entä jos ihmiset eivät pidäkään minusta ja tahdo olla kanssani tekemisissä? Miksi minä tänne lähdin ja poistuin näin radikaalisti mukavuus-alueeltani? Sammy's Cabin kuljettaja tuli hakemaan meidät Johanneksen koneen saapuessa.

And since I'm in USA I will use English writing to end of this.

Sammy's Cab is a Pittsburgian taxifirm which was recommended by the University and I have to agree with them. The taxidriver was very friendly and even agreed to drop and wait us for a quick lunch at Mr. Goodcent or something like that, without chargeing any extra, eventhou I was prepared for that. The service in Mr. Goodcent was okey, but they didn't understand when I said I wanted a Veggie Sub and I had to repeat myself many times, and they made me a whole sub, eventhou I ordered half. The food at least was good.

In the taxi I heard many intresting details, like that two other Finns, Heidi and Sanna, had arrived three weeks ago. So we wouldn't be the only Finns, it would turn out that I had really underestimated how many Finns there would be in Pitt State this semester. We also learned, that the driver owned the firm with his husband, and that they, like many entreprenouers, had so much work on their business that they could hire more people and still have enough work to do. And they had hired some people to drive cabs in the firm, but as often the entreprenours fear, the new personnel didn't do the job as well as they should have done, and they still have to drive the taxis all by themselves all the time they are awake.

The driver also gave us a free tour in Pittsburg and showed the central and the Campus and the building where we had to go at the next morning, before dropping us at our motel, Econo Lodge. If someone needs a taxi in Pittsburg area, I can totally recommend Sammy's cab. The ride from KC, MO to Pittsburg was 175d and since we had two passengers it was only 87.5 each. If I remember right, the ride in Pittsburg costs 7d and 3d for each additional stops if wanted and the money goes to a business that is needed in Pittsburg and which is run by genuinely friendly and nice people.

At the Econo Lodge we checked in at the hotel room we had booked in advance from Internet. The keys didn't work quite well and had to sweep many times before the lock opened. We didn't get the door open when we tried, so one man who was having somekind of party with his friend at the front of our motel room, helped us to get the door open by showing how the card should be used with that door.

At the room, everything was neat and clean. And it had even a free wireless internet! After long journey, I was now in Pittsburg.

Notifications: 1. Try to get flights with no overnight stays and 1.5-4 hour changes, depending on airport. 2. If you are coming late or so early that PSU cars wont get you, and taking Sammy's Cab, and your flight is delayed try to call or email Sammy's cab that they know your flight is coming late or cab may have left the airport before your flight arrives. 3. Keep your passport, Visa and needed Visa forms readily available at airport. 4. Remember to recheck your luggage to connecting flight at first US airport.

My apartment

I read from the University of Jyväskylä's exchange reports from Pitt State, that own apartment might be smarter move than dwelling in dorms. And it sure is!

In the picture is my and my roommate's (Johannes) apartment. Which consists of 1/4 of the house, the bottom right side. It has 2 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, livingroom and closets. The rent is 225 dollars per person + utilities like electricity, water and internet. In dorms the cost per person would have been something like 500 dollars, but would have included utilities and foods also. So it might still be a little bit cheaper in dorms still. But would you like to rather pay a couple bucks more for own freedom and space or live in 1 room with 1-2 persons and share toilets and showers with 10-40 persons? I certainly like to rather live in this apartement than in a dormroom.

The apartment is 5 min walk from Campus.

Notification from Pittsburg: The roads are bad (see the cement pavement) and the sideways for pedestrians are even worse in many places and widely in the city they are non-existent. With bike you should drive on the driveway with the cars.

Notification about off-campus living: Make sure that the renter is partner with PSU. This is certification that it should be safe to rent for that renter.

Little Balkan's Day

Some people might think that Pittsburg, KS, with its 20 000 inhabitants might be quiet city with nothing to do. Well that's not true! At the second weekend (29-31. Aug) there was a Little Balkans Day festival. The festival is held because many of the immigrants who inhabitated this place back in the old days where from Balkan, and my friend Harri knew to tell me that someone had told him, that more specific locations from Balkans they had emigrated included for example Czech Republic and some other middle European countries. But have I have no first hand knowledge what countries are included in Balkan area here in Pittsburg, and you shouldn't make judgements based on one persons geograiphical knowledge.

The first Balkan Day event which I participated was Quilt Guild Quilt show. I thought from the word "show" and the place (Memorial Auditorioum) that it must be a theather show! And since it was only 3 dollars I bought the ticket and went to see the show. Here's one picture I took from the show. It wasn't theather.

At the Balkan day festival there were also a Boccia tournament. Boccia is Italian word for Petanque. I went there with my Chinese friends Sarita and Carrie, but participated alone to the game there and won first round but lost second. And at the same evening there were also a family movie which I went to see to a local park. There were free movie, drink and popcorn sponsored by US Cellular.