Finnish guy's American Christmas part 1/1

2 months preparations and waiting, and it lasted 1 day. What is it? Answer is Christmas! ((:

Christmas eve and its morning started by waking up and heading to relatives! We gave them their gifts and ate little junk stuff (cookies, cake, etc OFC; it was Christmas time guys! But that sentence doesn't work anymore when I say it every time I put chocklad and candy to my mouth right now...). Then we went home. After several frustated moments with Skype, 'cause it wasn't working, I got connection to my parents in Finland. Because of internet was working as well as McDonald's without burgers, I just said quickly "Hyvää Joulua!" to my parents, but that was enough for me. It made my day, even though I was little sad before that thinking all the tradition things in Finland with my family there.

I have to say that even though everybody says that Christmas it's the hardest time of people's exchange years, it wasn't too hard. But I can say it made me sad for few hours when the skype wasn't working and I thought that I wasn't able to wish Merry Christmas to them. It was hard to think that they are all so far away. But then I realize that I have manymanymany coming Christmas eves in future with my family, and here in Iowa I have also family which I love! (: So all was good !

After doing skype like 7 seconds with my Finnish parents, we just chilled, played guitar with my brother as always and waited excited the moment of joy when the presents are opened. Finally that moment came. I have to say that opening presents was done exactly in same way that in Finland (it's also kinda hard to open presents in different way that with hands, but go ahead and try with ur teeth..). Everybody opened one present in their turn, even though my brother and I had more turns in this "game". That game was full of laugh, smiles and happiness. ((: I already told what I got to my family in my last blog and they were really happy or really good actors! :--D My parents gave DVD to my host dad, Iittala's Aalto-candle cup and CD + Finnish Chocklad to my bro. Kyle LOVES Finnish Fazer chocklad. He says that is the best one in this world and he's right. Even though I don't agree he's sentences of salmiakki: "That is NOT candy! Oh fuck, that's disgusting and bad. Candy is sweet and that is salty like hell." and "I'm gonna eat my own shit before that stuff". So he loves that. At least I can eat all the salmiakki candies.




I got TOO MANY PRESENTS! I didn't expect so many... Anyways, heres the list of them:

- Warm sweatshirt
- Converse shoes designed by writer of this blog
- Candy x 809808
- Chocklad x 67869 + FINNISH chocklad from my parents
- Gift cards
- Photoalbum and photos of my year here so far
- Next year's calender with photos of this family
- Hats
- T-shirts
- Junk snacks (welcome my Christmas pounds)
- Watch
- Shorts
- Ukulei
- Harmonica (huuliharppu?)
- Socks


And from my Finnish parents cheap ones: Hawaii-trip and studio recorder. Those will also be my birthday presents also, which is after one month btw! ( :

After presents. We ate Christmas dinner. Here's the photos. It was really good as always. If u don't know where the best cook in this world lives, check my address. ;-) And I mean my mom, not me!

So, after my first American Christmas I can say that it wasn't so much different that I thought they would be.

Same stuff:

+ Opening the presents
+ Christmas tree
+ Listening Christmas carols
+ Santa Claus
+ Presents under the tree

Different stuff:

- Everything starts way much earlier (Christmas tree, carols in stores and radio; like a little over month before)
- They don't think Santa is from Finland
- Chritmas is Christmas day; in Finland we wish Merry Christmas in Christmas Eve (I failed and send everybody "Merry Christmas" one day too early...)
- Food is much different, ham and turkey are the only ones which are same

I'm really happy after my Christmas in America. I will be in my mind the rest of my life! (( : Right now I'm in Michigan, and will write about this trip in my next blog, when we got home (on Wednesday)

'til then

Santa Claus