Finland: Karis & Ekenäs

All I can say is: serious change of pace. The most spectacularly beautiful change of pace, may I add. If you want the most gorgeous scenery ever, come to where I am right now! Where else does one get to see a rainbow at 5 in the morning? I am staying with my good friend Marika (from Western) and her family at their summerhome in Ekenäs, Finland. We frequent one of the neighboring towns, Karis, which is where Ika grew up. They are both very small towns. The area I am in is actually not really "Finnish Finland". Everyone here speaks Swedish, although a different dialect from those who speak Swedish in Swedin. It's very interesting, I'm able to pick up on the difference at this point.

Alright, so I've done a few things since arriving here. I've gone out on the town one time (which resulted in the picture of Sebbe, Me, and Frida...don't look too close), which was last Saturday. Then on Sunday I went with Ika, her sister Frida, her boyfriend Sebbe, and her mother Mona, to an outdoor, community production of The Full Monty. It was a cute play, although it was in Swedish. Ika would translate some of the jokes for me and I would laugh late :). I have spent a couple of full days lounging because the summerhouse is very secluded, and I don't have a car. But I can definitely handle having to keep busy relaxing and reading in rural Finland. I also went to Fiskars, Finland (15 min drive) with Mona. Fiskars is where everything Fiskars comes from (you know the scissors, etc). That was really really fun. I learned all about the history of town in the tiny museum and we also went to a gallery of modern art. Fiskars was actually an industrial town that has been converted into the local artists scene. Very cool. I've jumped from sauna to ocean several times in a thunderstorm (some of the most incredible lightening I've ever seen). I painted the tool shed yesterday and today! And today was Mona's birthday so I got to meet Ika's (and Frida's) extended family. They're fun folks.

I've had some very rich conversations about culture actually (with Ika's older brother). It's like a raw interaction of two cultures. It's awesome and intimidating at the same time to be a person who is representing an entire country really.

I must say, I will appreciate running water much much more when I get back home. There is none in this house! I've learned to wash dishes and bathe the hard way (uuh, every three days or so...you get used to it, seriously). I had the coolest experience this afternoon. I was in the ocean, out in front of the house (there is a small beach) taking a "bath", when it started to downpour. It was like a real shower. There is nothing like standing in the ocean and watching the rain sparkle around you.

Tomorrow we are going on Sebbe's boat the Åland, which is a small independent island near Sweden. It should be an absolute blast. I'll get more pictures of ME on this small trip instead of just landscape. Trust me though, bathing every third day is not a pretty sight!