Comenius week 2014 Finland

It really was an unforgettable week with all the guests. We had real nice time together. We visited Tampere, Nurmijärvi, Punkalaidun and Hämeenlinna, for example. We had free time too so we were shopping, looking for sights and got to know each other. I think the absolute best part was the day in Lepaanranta. Some went to sauna and swimming also. We sang, played different games and had lots of fun. 

Mari & Emilia

Dear Friends,

What a great week we had here in Finland! Thank you to everyone for your efforts! Seven Brothers really came to life!

It was lovely to see the youngsters communicate in English, become friends, shed tears when it was time to part. Let's all remember to keep in touch - not only through this project but also individually - so that these contacts remain a part of our lives!

The Comenius teachers have also become good friends. Visits are not formal, we really have a lot of fun together. Maybe this will lead to new projects later on!

Here's our group in fromt of Aleksis Kivi's birthplace in Palojoki, Nurmijärvi.

Norway, here we come - see you in February!

Best regards,
Hanna

Hello My Dear Readers!

It's autumn in Finland. But a fairly warm one so far. Mornings and evenings are misty and chilly, but it's around 18 degrees during daytime. Let's hope it'll stay like this when our Comenius guests arrive in … 16 days!

Finn

Summer's over in Finland! Or is it? We hope to have lots of warm sunny days although school started last week already. Cool! We are SO looking forward to the coming Comenius visit to Iittala!

So, now it's Seven Brothers in the spotlight! Who were they? Why were they so special? Who was the man who wrote the story and why was - and still is - the novel so important for the Finnish people?

The seven brothers were lazy, aggressive and uncivilized people who'd rather live in the forest, hunting their food, than go to school and learn how to read and write. But they also learned their lesson and finally became good citizens.

During the Comenius visit in Finland we will retell the story and learn something about the Finnish nature, history and brotherhood that made us what we are. In Winter War with Russia, the motto of the Finnish soldier was: "You don't abandon your brother", meaning all Finns were brothers and one did whatever possible so that nobody - or no (dead) body - was left behind for the enemy.

Welcome to Finland in September!

Fantastic Iceland!

Hello everyone,

I've been to Iceland. And I loved it.

Although it was cold, windy and rainy. But we did see the sun, too! It was amazing to see the high mountains through the bus windows. There were everywhere! As a Finn, I'm mostly used to the ziczac horizon of fir trees, but now the view was framed with snow-top mountains!

We went to lots of places and filmed our slightly different version of the tragic Laksdela saga. WHat a laugh we had watching it together in Laekjarskola auditorium! Faaan-tastic!

We crossed the Mid Atlantic Ridge, saw amazing waterfalls, were almost blown away by the winds from the Atlantic, swam in the amazing caressing warmth of the Blue Lagoon, imagined what life was like in a vikings' longhouse, saw some great exhibitions of the Viking times and a lot more!

I ate whale, lamb, cod, plaice, duck. Not to mention the pizza made by the students at school!

But above all else, I met a bunch of fantastic people and had a great time!

Hanna

Hello everyone,

I've been busy. Ok, I've been lazy, that's why I haven't written.

It's almost time for another Comenius meeting - this time in Iceland. A group of four students and three teachers are leaving on Sunday the 23rd, and will be staying the whole week.

We've been studying the Icelandic novel called Laexdela Saga. It's a story from the early days of Iceland, about the vikings who sailed there from Norway. There are many characters in the saga, but two of the most important ones are Kjartan and Bolli, foster brothers, who go everywhere together, but end up killing each other. Very violent history. Revenge is the key theme.

There will be some activities about vikings for our younger students on the week before our trip.

Have a nice springtime!

Finn