When we started this journey, it was September. The weather here in Oulu was still pretty warm and there were still berries in the forests. I had just moved to Oulu and was still learning to navigate this new environment and figuring out how things are done here in Finland. I had so much to learn when I came here at the end of the summer!
Now it is December, and there is snow on the ground. The sidewalks are slippery, and I have traded my light jacket and sneekers for a winter coat and boots. The sun is up for only a few hours each day, and the weather is often dark and cold. I have now lived in Oulu for several months, so I now know where my classes are at the university, and I have had the oppertunity to meet new friends. The Finns are all getting ready for Christmas, and I am so excited to experience more of the Finnish winter.
Over the last few months, through these blog postings as well as the dicussions I have had with you, we have talked about a lot of different things. We have talked about what it is like to get around in Finland; what the food is like; and what the different Finnish communities and traditions are like. We have had the chance to meet my friends Saara, and Irina. We have also visited Finnish cities like Helsinki, as well other locations such as the Åland Islands, Turku, and Rovaniemi.
