We drive to eastern Finland to attend an opera in a castle.
About Me
- Lea Donovan Watson
- Gloucester, MA, United States
- Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist, Speech-Language Pathologist, International consultant for LSLS training and children with hearing loss, husband-wife AVCC team, mother of three amazing individuals.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Rock Church in Helsinki
A short walk from our hotel takes us to a church carved out of a rock. Great acoustics and being inside a rock mesmerize us as we listen to someone playing classical piano. Thankful for this enchantment, we wonder what other unique venues this city offers.
Visit; sacred-destinations.com/finland/helsinki-rock-church-temppeliaukioA visit with the Ambassador of Finland
I feel privileged to meet with Her Excellency, Dr. Maija Lahteenmaki, Ambassador of Finland.
Dr. Maija Lahteenmaki is a Winsor graduate. She tells us about her senior year as an AFS student - class of 1963.
She and I realize we had the same English teacher; Ms. Nancy Leverick. The director of Winsor when I was there, Ms Virginia Wing, was her senior home room teacher. Dr. Maija, my friend, and I really enjoy sharing fun memories of our "different but same" times at Winsor.
Her Excellency is a career diplomat with more than three decades of experience with postings including Canada, Sweden, Egypt, Chile, USA and Spain. Ambassador Lahteenmaki was appointed Ambassador to Australia in January 2010, with non-resident accreditation to New Zealand and Fiji.
It is interesting to learn about Australia from her point of view. I think she is surprised when I tell her Jim and I lived in Adelaide, SA in 2006-2007.
Finland is Australia’s second largest market for nickel, importing around 29% of Australia’s nickel for stainless steel manufacturing.
Finland has few natural energy resources. As a result, the Finnish Parliament has approved the construction of three new nuclear reactors (Finland currently has four reactors) to meet increasing energy demand. Nuclear power is the cheapest option for Finland. In 2007, all four reactors provided 28.4% of Finland’s electricity and they are among the world’s most productive. Finnish people are among the most nuclear power-friendly nations in the European Union.
Maija spends part of her time in the Domincan Republic as her husband is from there. She is interested in helping the poorest of the poor in that country. Her interests are both global and local as she helps people all around the world.
Dr. Maija Lahteenmaki is a Winsor graduate. She tells us about her senior year as an AFS student - class of 1963.
She and I realize we had the same English teacher; Ms. Nancy Leverick. The director of Winsor when I was there, Ms Virginia Wing, was her senior home room teacher. Dr. Maija, my friend, and I really enjoy sharing fun memories of our "different but same" times at Winsor.
Her Excellency is a career diplomat with more than three decades of experience with postings including Canada, Sweden, Egypt, Chile, USA and Spain. Ambassador Lahteenmaki was appointed Ambassador to Australia in January 2010, with non-resident accreditation to New Zealand and Fiji.
It is interesting to learn about Australia from her point of view. I think she is surprised when I tell her Jim and I lived in Adelaide, SA in 2006-2007.
Finland is Australia’s second largest market for nickel, importing around 29% of Australia’s nickel for stainless steel manufacturing.
Finland has few natural energy resources. As a result, the Finnish Parliament has approved the construction of three new nuclear reactors (Finland currently has four reactors) to meet increasing energy demand. Nuclear power is the cheapest option for Finland. In 2007, all four reactors provided 28.4% of Finland’s electricity and they are among the world’s most productive. Finnish people are among the most nuclear power-friendly nations in the European Union.
Maija spends part of her time in the Domincan Republic as her husband is from there. She is interested in helping the poorest of the poor in that country. Her interests are both global and local as she helps people all around the world.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Yikes - A Snake in the Turku Library
First, I want to tell you there is much discussion about
snakes in Finland. Supposedly the islands of Uto and Noto have tons of snakes. We need to buy boots before we visit the islands. So off to the K store we
go.
"These boots are made for walking" and that's just what I do...on UTO and NOTO.
Heart rocks are fun with red boots! Can you see the blue butterfly near my big toe ? Look closely. We are having fun photographing this butterfly and he lands right near the big toe of my left foot, so I wait until he is ready to fly away. We get some nice pictures of butterflies.
Walking in long grass and blue berrying we are happy to have the boots. I find myself actually hoping to see a snake ( not really ! ) But, all we find, correction, all Jim finds is a snake skin on Uto.
When we ask my friend’s “twenty-something" children what they recommend we visit in Turku, they unanimously agree that the
library is the place to see.
Right across the river from the art museum is the
Bibliotecca. Interesting, comfortable, and stimulating as well as relaxing are
words to describe this well designed building. Spacious with comfortable yellow
chairs, many people seem to enjoy this space as we visit on Friday
afternoon.
The children’s section is on the first floor with large
colorful animal them designed appliqued curtains.
Shadow boxes in the floor depict certain books. A stage theatre is set up with handy props. Girls sit in a window seat designed clothes for dolls referring to a book.
Shadow boxes in the floor depict certain books. A stage theatre is set up with handy props. Girls sit in a window seat designed clothes for dolls referring to a book.
Wandering through book stacks we come to another sunken area
with a round yellow seat. Along the back of the couch is a hand knit colorful
snake with the end open and set with knitting needles inviting anyone – like me
– to knit a few rows!
and, yes, there is even a snake in the Turku library!
Finnish Gum
Gum chewing is good for your brain. Many modern neurologists say chewing gum helps activate certain areas of the brain for attention and retention.
I chew gum to keep my
saliva fresh for lots of talking! Ha ha – and, it helps me pay attention while
reading. I also think it relieves tension when I drive.
Traveling around I usually sample the variety of gum offered.
Here in Finland I find the BEST gum ever. Today my friend tells me it not only tastes good, but it good for your teeth!
Jenkki Xylitol gum is
labeled: “functional chewing gum”! Xylitol is the sugar derived from the birch
trees. Finnish scientists in Turku developed this delicious gum that is
actually good for your teeth! It keeps them clean.
This NPR story confirms these claims. You may have to copy and paste into the browser:
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106347234
Has anyone found this in the USA? How much should I try to
bring back in my luggage?
Try to VISIT: www.xylitol.net
And : www.jenkki.fi
( you may want to find the translate to English button )
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