31 hours from hotel in Winnipeg to own sauna in Finland!

What a trip!

First of all I want to thank all my fellow rotarians and their families and friends around Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Rotary District 5550 made our dream real!

The warmest thanks I want to forward to my dear Dream Team: Henna, Petra, Karin and Ville. I think all RD 5550 rotarians agree with me that this team is full of humour and talent.

My trip from hotel Canad Inn to my own sauna took ower 31 hours.

Hotel + 40 min:

At the Winnipeg airport with our dear hosts.

Thanks Nancy & David + Eva & Charlie.

Hotel + 8 hours:

Ville is checking his e-mails in Chicago (home sickness?)

Hotel + 9 hours

Henna & Ville were lucky in Wheel of Fortune at the airport - they got their seatings updated with more legroom!

Hotel + 26 hours

London Heathrow - in the bus from terminal to another...

Hotel + 27 hours

Spending some time in Stockholm.

Hotel + 29

Waiting for the luggage at the Vaasa airport...still 85 km to go for me

(You can see my son Kalle and wife Heli on the other side of the widow).

Hotel + 32 hours

At our patio after hot sauna. I am happy.

Home Sweet Home

On Wednesday evening, a tired (exhausted) but happy (nice to be home) group of travellers reached Vaasa airport and dove into all the hugs of spouses and boyfriends. Our flights were not problem-free, for example, the first one from Winnipeg never left, so for a while we feared having to postpone our arrival in Finland, but thanks to friendly ground stewards at the airport, we were rescheduled and on our way.

I personally also had a small mishap on the way tp Chicago since a combination of a sleepy traveller in front on me and a hot cup of coffe on my table ended up buring my legs and soaking my jeans with hot coffee already on the first leg of the trip- not fun- but luckily Henna had experience of this ;) and could advise me that it would all dry and leave no stains, which is actually did and didn't.

After some 30+ hours of travelling from the hotel to home (at least I lost track of counting and the time zones), it was so nice to sleep in my own bed and be back home. I think most of us have suffered some jetlag these last days (therefore the blog hasn't really been updated for a while, sorry). I, for example, had a few short (3h) nights, but now I'm back on track and working and in another four days, I go on summer holidays.

It's time to declare our Canadian adventure finished, it's true that all good comes to an end, although it's always a bit sad. At this point I want to thank all who have hosted us, remembering our time in Canada, all the nice people we met, will always come first to our minds.

Another thing that I will always remeber is the ressemblance between the two countires. Although the distance between us is huge, there seem to be much more in common than apart. For instance, the landscapes, the forests, the animals, the peolpe, the cultures and even the humour just struck me as positively familiar.

I also want to thank my great Finnish GSE team-mates; Petra, Henna, Ville and Ilkka. Travelling together was great fun and you will be my firends for a long time. Since my visa card expired during the journey, I hope I didn't use our friendship too much ;) in having to rely on your loans- thank you once again Petra and Henna, and special thanks to the two of you for all our laughs and insides!

THANK YOU everyone and see you soon somewhere again!
Hugs,
Karin

Winnipeg and District Conference

After our stay in Prince Albert, we drove down (12h) to Winnipeg where the Rotary District Conference was to be held. The drive down went surprisingley well thanks to our humoristic drivers from Prince Albert. We were also very thankful for all the breaks we were able to have. All those of you who did some driving with our team during our GSE probably noticed we need lots of small breaks :) We also therefore call ourselves the "restroom group"...

In Winnipeg, we the girls, again stayed in the lovely hostfamily of Eva and Charlie. They had a sence of humour that was just perfect and they were so helpful and great hosts during the last days of our stay in Canada. We laughed a lot and even had the opportunity to go shopping together. Thank you for that!

The district conference was a perfect ending to our GSE trip, because we met many of the nice people we had got to know earlier in the different towns. We also had the pleasure to meet with the Canadian outbond team again, and they are just great. We enjoyed their presentation on their GSE in Finland a lot. Hopefully, the crowd didn't feel they got too much on Finland, since we also gave our presentation on our country there.

During the district conference the evening programme was really wellplanned and entertaining. On Friday we went with an old train to a barn for a western-style BBQ where all the five Finns were seen line-dancing and enjoying it :) On Saturday, the day ended with the District Governor's Gala Dinner and we were able to enjoy the evening with all our new friends. Thank you district 5550 for hosting us so well!

Prince Albert

We arrived yesterday for a pretty short visit to Prince Albert, that is because our stay here lasts only around 1,5 days. Yesterday we got to meet our host families, which once again are lovely. I'm staying by Brian and Barb, who have made me feel welcome.

Today we started our day by going to Waskasiu national park, where we walked a nice route in the nature. It was interesting to notice that even though the nature in Finland is very similar to Canada, there are also differences in flaura and fauna, for example here are some trees that we don't have. We also got the see some elks, which were enjoying their time in golf course! :) In the afternoon, we drove back to town and did some shopping in a shop selling First Nation handcraft as well as in one that sells Western style clothing. Now we have some matching outfits also to the distrcit conference ;) Moreover, we got the see the impressive work of the hosting Rotary Club. Tomorrow we hed back to Winnipeg, which will end our tour in Canada.

Prince Albert

I am enjoying Prince Albert to the fullest. I stay with Christina and Keith and it is so nice to meet Christina again and compare our GSE experiences. Yesterday I got to go with them to their cabin at Emma Lake (really a small country, because it was just across the road from where Petra and Henna went with their Saskatoon hosts- what a coincidence). We BBQed, walked around and relaxed in the hot tub, a great evening.

Today we have been up to Waskesiu National Park, driving around and walking a nice trail with a guide. The weather was a bit windy and wet, but we had a great time and as normally some werd things happen around us crazy Finns, so among other things Henna got hot coffee all over her, Ville used the ladies' room, Ilkka went shopping from cowboy jeanss and boots (we talked him out of it though), Petra slept like a baby in her hoody and Karin almost had an allergy attack- just a normal day :)

Tonight I have learnt a new canadian delight- BLT sandwich- and relaxed with the girls (Christina and her sister). Tomorrow we rise early and head down to Winnipeg. We are not exactly looking forward to that 12-hour-drive, but I'm sure it will be fun and it's nice we all travel in a big van together.

Such a great time in Saskatoon

We also went quading with my host Don, who was an excellent quide and leader for our tour. We drove almost 150km with Yamaha Rhinos, I need to get one when I come back to Finland!

Tomorrow we are heading to Prince Albert, so I want to thank people in Saskatoon for a great program and nice time we have had here!

Perfect day

Me and Henna had a wonderful day today. We started our day with quad-driving with the gals. It was fun ! And me and Henna drove too ! :) We visited one lake where was a huge beaver nest. After this muddy driving we relaxed a little bit and went walking by the lake.
After our walk we drunk some cosmos with our hostmum and took a nap. This is because the cosmos made us a bit sleepy. After sleeping we had some BBQ-hot dogs.

Our host mum Cheryl and dog Pilsner have been wonderful and we bet our weekend has been better than anyone has anywhere ever seen. (Aivan..hehehh)

In the evening we relaxed in the hot tube. What a day. Perfect one!
Ps. If somebody is wondering, we do have same stars in Finland.. :)

Henna is having surprisingly fun in hot tube !

By the lake with Pilsner. ;)

Look where we were driving with these quads !!

Ps. Kim, voit ruveta kattelemaan mönkijöiden hintoja, oli sen verran kivaa ! ;) t. H

Ps. Juha, Petra tahtois hot tuben... ;) Love U, P

Flying in Saskatoon!

Now I really did it! I flew with Super Cub tail wheel aircraft the first time in my life. It is really different than to fly a fighter with an afterburner (I think the fighter is easier!).

We took off by my host family's own grass airfield just 100 yards from the house. Frank showed me the town.




Frank is a really experienced pilot - more than 2000 flying hours with this aircraft and even more with others!



It started to rain a little so we came back home. After a while I jumped in the front seat and took off the first time in my life with a tail wheel aircraft! What a nice aircraft. Frank has kept it in a really good shape. It flew so smoothly and the engine sounded like good music.


Do You think I like flying?

I landed in a little larger field just around the corner. I didn't know to pull the stick back right after landing (You don't do that with a nose wheel planes) so it was not a perfect landing! But nobody died and it was fun.

This superman even pulled his aircraft back into the hangas by himself.

What a great day - thanks Frank!

Emma lake

After two days wonderful visit in Melfort we are in a new place again.. This time I found me from Emma lake, near Prince Albert. We are staying in wonderful cabin right next to Emma lake with Henna. Our host Cheryl is taking a good care of us. And the sun is shining ! At last.. :) Tomorrow is time to relax and canoe with kayaks ! On Monday we will visit in University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

Melfort was a nice town and it is also a hometown of the very best teamleader Gailmarie. Yesterday we played with horseshoes and I scored 5 points to Team Finland. Neat 'eh ! :)

We visit also at Polkafest and danced a little bit.

The time has gone so fast ! In this point of our journey is time to thank my wonderful hostfamilies. You all have a special place in my heart. So, Barbara & John, Erica & HP (my wonderful Swiss family !), Kerrilee & Stephane, Allen & Francis, Mike & LeAnn and Cheryl & Keith. Many thanks for your kindness to having me stay your homes and lives.

Pusuja hanille, pian nähdään..

Melfort in our hearts

Yesterday was a day full of different visits and activities in the City of Northern Lights. We started the morning at city hall, then saw the icehockey rink and the swimming pool. Those were nice facilities for a city that size (I wish Jakobstad would have a similar pool).
Next we drove out to St Brieux to visit the agirculture industies Bourgault. We had luncg at the golf club and then continued to the local high school and Cumberland College (nice to be in a school environment again) and then saw the Parkland nursing home. We had a nice break at Dairy Queen before going to the airport where we got to go up in a small aircraft, which I had never done before. It was very exciting to sit next to the pilot and follow how we made our journey over the flat land.
In the evening we toured the museum, had a nice BBQ outdoors there and played horseshoes Canada against Finland. We did alright, because it was a tie. Before finishing the day we went to see the Polkafest and some took a long desired Finnish sauna before going to bed.
It was a great day and we hope to see many of our friends from Melfort at the district conference.
Today we are moving on to Saskatoon and the sun is finally shining.

Regina to Melfort

I want to thank my wonderful host families so far. Again I had the most wonderful time in Regina with Phyllis and Don and their family. I got to spend a whole day at Univeristy of Regina with Dr Cooper which was nice and I felt at home in an ESL classroom with students from overseas . In Regina, I also enjoyed the flexibility and the many nice meals and exercising with my hosts. Thank you again!
Yesterday we went to the Sound Studio and Royal Canadian Mounted Police and we saw a parade with the cadets. We have lots of nice pictures from there and from the interesting heritage museum. (Pictures will be published later). We also had our Regina presentation yesterday and the evening was really nice and a former Idols finalist sang Oh Canada which was cool.
Today we moved over from Regina to Melfort up north. While driving the 2,5 hours you could notice how the trees got less and less green. We do hope for some warm weather here before we leave Canada.
In Melfort we had lunch at the Salvation Army and had a tour there of their recycling and second hand shop and then we visited Plus Industries Ltd. where mentally challenged people produce different products and do different tasks for their activation and social life. The place and our hosts were wonderful. We visited their shop downtown and cunldn't resist buying a few things for ourselves (although our suitcases are already much too heavy to survive weighing at the airport).
This evening we went to Melfort's Rotary Club meeting and gave our presentation. It was nice to meet all the Melfortians (?) and they seem really nice and genuinely interested (as all Canadians), so our expectations for our next couple of days are high. Tomorrow we will fly again, this time in small aircrafts and I so look forward to that!
We all send our regards to all dear ones at home that we are still alive :) although our mobile phones don't seem to work up here for some reason or another... not because of Nokia, but becasue of our Finnish operators' Canadian partners. A Finn without his mobile is like a Canadian without his big truck.

Regina, Regina

We have had a great time again, now with our host families in Regina. I started my stay with my host family with a very relaxing way: they took me to a spa! Moreover, I have had the chance to get acquinted with pet stores, pet grooming services and animal shelter as my vocational interest as well as with farming and countryside here. Together with our group, we have been to Legislation building, Natural history museum, Wascana center, and today in Royal Canadian Mounted Police parade and center. Indeed, we have learned a lot of Regina's (and Canada's) history and present day... and had a great time! Once again, I have been happy to have a marvellous host family. Pat and Doug are all full of laugh, so me being "the giggling one", I fit very well here! In Neepawa I was hosted by Doreen and Ernie, who made me feel so home. As they had been farmers, we found many connections to my parents and farming in general in Finland. In Gimli, I was priviledged to live with Colleen and John, who have had an exciting life! I'm just waiting to know what occupation they start next!

Some memories..

Now we are having our mid break in Regina. Here are some photos from our journey so far.

Greetings home. :)

Murals...murals...murals!

We saw amazing murals all over our trip.

Here are some examples from Kenora: