Preacher in Pitt

This is something that most propably would not happen in University of Jyväskylä or any other part of Finland. Preacher came to Campus and started to preach against Alcohol use, homosexuality and light sexual affairs. But that's not even the biggest thing what surprised me, what I found particularry interesting was the reaction of American students. They gathered around the preacher and started to demonstrate against him, one person even started a petition to get the man out of Campus. I disagreed with the man, but I would still not sign a petition that would be against freedom of speech, and I was thinking that so many Americans think they are so pro-free speech, but so did so many sign the petition. It seems like Americans are easily insulted and hurted, if one silly preacher can get that kind of huge reaction.

The preacher was even provided with police officers because the demonstrators got so aggressive and started to throwing "rocks" in Christian metaphorically speaking. The preacher was judging, but the audience were no better. Insults were thrown from side to side and I found it kind of embarrassing that students were so eager to yell mindless insults.

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.

Pitt state vs. MO southern football game

I was at my first ever American football game on last saturday. The teams try to get points by getting to the opponents goal zone. If team goes 10 yards on their turn at 4 try they get 4 more tries to go 10 more yards.

I didn't find the game very fast paced or exiting. Maybe it isn't so surprising that this is very popular sport in here (and as far as I know, only here in USA) knowing that the Amerian people like also Baseball which is recognised as the worlds most boring game. The game lasted hours, but the time used on playing was far less than the time used on pausing. Here is roughly how the game went: 1. players go on to positions ready to play. 2. Game starts by passing the ball to teammate. Team then tries to carry ball over 10 yards. 3. Opponent tackles the player holding the ball and the game pauses. Steps 2-3 lasted about 5 seconds. Game continues from step 1.

Eventhou I might find the game not so entertaining, I'm still happy that Pitt won. Pitt State won the game by making three touchdowns (carries to goalzone) and three other points (kicks through U-goal after T-down) vs. MO doing only 2 touchdowns and 2 other points.

Notification: PSU football games are free for students, but you must remember to get your tickets from the PSU ticket office early enough before they run out.

First exam

I have had many little tests, quizzes, while studying here so far. Quizzes aren't difficult, just read the previous lecture's material once and you have good chance to get A. But first bigger exam I had on friday from Law in Social Work practice. I didn't remember I had exam on that day, so i hadn't read the material any more than just while on lectures.

The exam was multiple choice, with 4-5 options for each questions. I did got more than 60% correct without reading but just remembering stuff from lectures. And if I wouldn't have passed that, everyone got a second chance on that test, since you could take the test questions with you and answer them in home. So I looked some of the answers from book, but it was so time consuming searching the answer from there so I gave up the effort to try to get 100% correct, so I got only 87% eventhou I could do it home with textbook.

At Chinese Party

At the second weekend there was a Chinese student party. I was kind of a positively surprised that Chinese speaking people are very nice and friendly towards me. I even got many new MSN Messenger addresses from people I just met. That propably wouldn't happen in Finland. Chinese speaking people were very social, happy and didn't have much difficulties making new contacts to new people. There were also chips, lemonade and some bakery products (Chinese Wonton and Mocha Cake) for all, and after eating there were a Chinese style imitation game which was like broken phone game with body imitations instead of speaking. I think that might have been the most socially succesful party I have been, ever. At the picture there I am with my new friends Irene, Sandy and Claire.

If that kind of party would have been held by Finnish there would have been groups of old friends talking in their own segregated groups, without connect to new persons, until everyone would have been drunken from excessive use of Alcohol, after that there would have been talking, but it would probably been conversation not worth talking. In Chinese party, no one drank alcohol, but everyone had fun and many meet new people and got new friends, that's the kind of party I like!

Notification from Pittsburg: Chinese/Taiwanese people don't drink, unless they are partying with Western people (who would stand Western style parties sober?).