"Being an exchange-student" (my first speech in Speech class)

People with weight of 500 pounds living in McDonald’s, eating pizza for every meal, knowing just things about their very best country and nothing about other countries. These are some of the stereotypes that Finnish people have of United States Of America. The best way to learn that all of those are not true at all, is being an exchange student.

Getting rid of stereotypes was not the only reason which made me want to me an exchange-student. I wanted to learn speaking English like as original language, which is never possible because of my lovely Finnish accent. You can see lots of things about American culture from TV and movies. But the only way to learn what is American culture like, is to live one year with Americans. There's no way to get known American people and their culture by coming to have a three-week holiday with swimming pools and restaurants which are not called McDonald's. For more who would not want to gain more self-confident, build-up a strong self-esteem, become independent and grow up as a person. Those were my goals for this year. I was ready for changing my personality. Somebody could think that the biggest reason was being separated of my parents. I can say that it's nice to live kind of on my own without complaining and different opinions of some stuff, but I have realized during this five months that how much I love my family. Being without friends hasn't been so hard because I have got some new friends from here.

Nothing goes ever as you planned. That's a fact. I didn't know that this year would be this great as it has been. The start, first weeks that I spent here, was the hardest part just because of English. I was dead tired every evening and fell asleep in one second. For example, think about going to Spain and translating everything, whole the time, in your head. It took me about two months to start thinking in English and it was really weird at first I can tell. Joining our school's football and basketball teams have kept me active and busy. Even though I have hanging around on sidelines and benches more than on the field. But that has been alright. There's no such a thing called Finnish basketball-football superstar of all time. have I cried every night myself to sleep and called to my parents every day in skype? No. I have been calling once a month to them and cried zero times. Reasons or that are my lovely and the best host family ever, being active and of course, because of I'm a tough guy. I have been doing so many things that it would take many days to tell you everything, but I have to mention Muse and Green Day concerts for example.

During my experience I have realize how different cultures USA and Finland have. Everything in stores and food places is bigger and cheaper for sure. People. You are more open, friendly and talkative to strangers than Finnish people. I think those are the biggest differences in our cultures.

I have changed, a lot, I think. Right now, I'm living like an American. I have become more self-confident and I have that braveness to talk to anyone about anything. That's the way you do it. At the same time I have got known of many people, I have learn what kind of people I am myself. This change took time, but I'm really happy everything is like this right now. Time flies too fast. I don't want to go home after 5 months, but I guess I have to if I don't want to deal with American cops.

So, now I know that in USA, there are people in good shape, they visit McDonald's occasionally, don't eat junk food whole the time and everybody knows that Finland was selected as a best country of the world. Anyways, I love USA, Iowa and you and being an exchange-student has been totally the greatest choice in my life so far.

grade: B+ (because it was too long)

The New Semester

I bet there's no effect, if I say "I'm sorry this took so long", 'cause I have been doing that since I got here. To understand this thing u just have to become exchange-students.

After the blog before this, there hasn't been anything to tell, just normal life you know; basketball and school control my life right now. But there's always something. Something = the exchange-student Mid Year Orientation/overnight "party" in a house of our area rep, and a new Semester at school.

I'm gonna start with more exciting one. Suprising but true it's not the school one. In Mid Orientation we talk about things like "How to deal with possible problems/sadness?", "How are we feeling?", "What should we do during the time that we have left?" My answer is "I don't have any negative things in my life right now because I'm happy and gonna continue that way in future also!"

After the orientation part came the fun part. We went to our area rep's house. I hanged out with all the other exchange students from China, Japan, Estonia, Korean and of course from Germany, like 60% of all exchange-students are from Germany for sure. Maybe that's because they wanna go to a country that has higher drinking age. Who knows... (: I had a really great night, talking about our years so far and other stuff. I bet I made some new friends there. But there is always that saying "A*shole knows everybody, but nobody knows a*shole." But u can't even use "a*shole" and "exchange-student" in a same sentence. When we had hanged out few hours, then it was time to have SUPPER, eating (what else would u do in USA??) Lasagne... Suddenly the room was full of Garfield-cats from different countries. Hanging out continued after everybody changed back to human again (from Garfields). It was a really really evening. (--: One of the funniest part was speaking Estonia and Finnish with Erle (a girl from Estonia) and everybodu though it was the same language. :---D I slept in living-room with 7 girls.. that sounds like a fantastic dream, but I can tell that I was sleeping next to a door, and it was so freezing that my spit would have freezed in one second. But it went good 'cause I slept and didn't complain about the cold. :--) (I didn't even think about to ask some girl to... read me a story of course!) In a following morning we had an American breakfast; serials, junky bread, fruits and brownies. Then next address was home sweet home. :)) Here's the photo of us all in orientation.


Semester. It changed. It meant for me that only 2 of my courses changed. Sociology to Government and Grafting to Speech. I really like these changes. I love speech so far. And my next blog will be my first speech, topic: "Being an exchange-student" I know u can't wait.

This is my new schedule:
1. Study Hall 2. Government 3. Physics 4. Choir 5. Pre Calc (math) 6. US History 7. Speech 8. English 11

As the semester changed we got another exchange-student to our school! (I'm not the only foreinger in the building anymore) She's name is Annelie and she's really nice. I asked her to go to Winter Formal with me. Winter Formal is one of our lovely school dances (like Finnish disco kinda). I had a great time there though.

I have started to do weightlifting 4 times per week. The only bad thing about that is that I have to get my ass up 5-6 AM almost every morning. But I think I will survive, and if I don't; please bring blue flowers to my grave.

'til next time

Sami

ps. I got the going back home date... 16.06.2011.. much earlier than I thought! :(

Michigan and beginning of 2011 in this same packet

There are days when u forget that u have ur own blog to write. I had those days before making this! (What a great excuse..) Anyways now it's again time to enjoy ladies and centleman!

I'll start with Michigan. So, we left there on Christmas day. Our plan was to leave early, but because my brother likes to have long showers, there was no way. Our drive to Michigan took about 7 hours. I kinda enhoy the long drives. And we have a new VAN! It has all kind of magic buttons, and I wouldn't be suprised if it would have some kinda explosion button too. As we arrived to my host mom's sister's house, I started smiling. We gave each other some extra Christmas presents and then we just chilled.




On our first day after we arrived we went to a big city in Michigan, can't remember that name though.. And there was that pig which is in top of this chapter. In that city we went to Princess Diana-museum kinda thing. There were her real dresses, crowns and jewellery things, all kinda original letters and video of her funeral ALMOST made me and others cry. It was really sweet experience. I don't have photos of that thing, 'cause it was forbidden. And I didn't want to stand alone in cold weather after taking some pics. After that we went shopping to the Mal. I didn't planned to buy anything but I came back from there 200 bugs more poor. The moment of joy was definitely standing like 1 hour in the line of the clothing store. :--))

Second day was downhill skiing/snowboarding with my lovely brother! Here are some pics. They tell more than thousands words u know that guys! I can say it was real fun (watching my bro falling 8908980980 times) and I ate my first burger in one bar in USA ! It was strawberry-burger and delicious! ((;


Third day was reeeeeeeeeeeeally speacial! I met Mikko, my friend from my home town who is also an exchange student in Michigan. We talk about everything and mostly whole the time in English! It was easier in our opinion in that situation. We went skating with few other exchange students in Mikko's school. It was real fun and I didn't fall at all and was ashamed of Mikko's 594076094576047 falls.
After skating we went to..... S-A-U-N-A !!! ((: :: :))) )) ) ) ): :)) PERKELE. It was awesome! Even though there's nothing better than Finnish sauna. It was not so warm and stuff but it made my took a big part of my lack of sauna away. (: It was my friend's parent's friend sauna. And he was a huge Suomi-fan ! It was so awesome. :) Here's some pictures. The sauna-one is from Hunks-calender 2011.
It was an amazing day and so sweet as u can imagine!




Then it was time to come back home and wake up again 8 AM next morning to our basketball practice. It made me realize that there's reality also in this life.



The New Year's Eve. No rockets. Just hanging out in my bro's friend house. :-) It was a different experience but I liked it! Countdown (10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1, HAPPY NEW YEAR) was great ! (: Just like from movies and TV shows. Too bad I didn't have any cute girl next to me in that moment though... :-DD U know I mean that wishing her "Happy New Year 2011".

The New Year started with basketball and school, and that it has been 'til this day and one time skiing with my friends. It's kinda stressfull at times to have no free time in weekdays and I'm really looking forward to Hawaii-trip which starts in a month! ((((:

'til next time

Sami

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

Santa Claus is coming to Iowa

Less than a week that I'm opening my Christmas presents. Oh man.. Can't wait opening big presents of fresh air. (:

I haven't written for a while, but there hasn't happened anything special really. Nobody wants to read "I woke up, brushed my teeth"-kinda blogs. My life has been basketball and school pretty much since my last blog. Practices are nice and we have one, two or three games per week. I am given a little playing time right now. Just 2 mins or so. But I'm okay with that. Even though it sucks at times to just watch others playing and stuff. But I think by the time I don't suck this much anynmore, I will be given more playing time (2,5 mins) ! :) So it's not a problem. I'll let u know how much Sami "Michael" Haaranoja-Jordan sucks in my next blog. I can run and get the ball to the basket like... sometimes.. :--D It's just kinda different to put that to the basket in a hurry, and a lot easier when u can move ur feet, hands and ass to the best positions u like most. ((: But I'll improve, I bet. At least my ass position will!



So, Christmas is coming. And SOON. Time flies faster than Santa for God's sake. I have bought presents to my host family members. The next one is TOP SECRET stuff. So if ur name is Georgeanne (my mom), Kyle (my lovely gay face brother) or Alan (my host dad) DON'T translate the next Finnish thing. Otherwise there would be no suprise in ur face ! :(

No nii, nyt on aika kertoo ne top-salailuusjutut. Voisin ny vaik haukkuu mun isäntäperheen pystyyn, jos haluisin. Mutten ikipäivänä tekis sitä, koska rakastan mun isäntäperhettä ja se on TÄYDELLINEN. <3 Sanakirjas sanan "täydellinen" kohdalla komeilee mun isäntäperheen kuva btw.
Isäntäperheen äitille ostin korvakorut, kolkutviis doltskuu, jostain naisten paratiisikoruliikkeestä. Joskus tuntuu et naiset on ku variksii tai harakoita ku on kaiken kiiltävän perää... läppä. :D Oltii siä koruliikkees ja sen verra vihjaili hostäiti noiden korviksien suuntaa, et käskin sen häippästä seuraavaa kauppaan ja ostin ne sen suuremmin miettimättä. Ainaski tykkää!
Veljelle ostin kitara-olkahihnan, nelkyt doltskuu. Se oli vihjannu äitelle, et haluis sellasen, ja sami-tonttu hoiti homman kotii!
Host-isälle ostin rumpukapulat, joku kakskyt doltskuu, ku se tykkää paukutella kannuja (rummut). Joten kaikki lahjat perheelle on ostettu. Paitsi... Aion ostaa huomen viä jotain yhteisesti niille kaikille.
Syy tulee seuraavas: Ei jumanklavite... Oltii yhes vaatekaupas ja sanoin et yks huppari (100 dollarii) on siisti. Si äite kysy: "Olisko toi sellanen et haluisit joululahjaks?" Si mumisin et se on aika kallis ja sillee. Si mut käskettii poistuu kaupasta. Kyl hävettää, ihan sikakallis... Ja si suunnittelin converset netis, 60 dollarii, äiti ehotti joululahjaks. Ja seki on vissii tulos. Ei saakutti. Aikasmoinen rahamäärä mut minkäs teet. Mitää muuta en oo pyytäny enkä tuu pyytää. Muutaku maailman rauhaa ja saunaa. :)

So that was the secret stuff. Here is few photos of me and our Christmas tree. Yea, I know for FInnish guys it looks fancy. But this is America guys, and I like it! :))




'til next time

Santa Claus

Perkeleen sisuinen blogimerkintä

Mistä on suomalainen tehty? Perkeleen sisusta, joka sulatettiin saunassa. Nyt kaikki on ihan: "Iik! Sehän kirjottaa suomeksi?" Näinpä päätin tehä, hullutella oikein kunnolla. :--) Syy tähän spetsiaaliin suomenkieliseen blogitukseen on rakkaan Isänmaamme itsenäisyyspäivä!

Suomalaanen sydän on mul kyl viel pysyny paikallaa. (En mä sitä irrottaa oo ees yrittäny..) Mut kyllä on tavat aikaslailla amerikkalaistunu. Aina välillä tulee se tuttu perstuntuma: "Näin tää tehtäis Suomes, mut tehää se jenkkityylillä." Ja tää on mulle tosi jees. Suomalaista persereikäilyä pystyy harrastaa tän vuoden jälkee.

Tää aika oikeesti lentää nopeemmin ku Nykäsen Matti 978986 oluen jälkeen. Kohta on jo joulu, si loppuu vähäks aikaa koulu, jenkit tuskin tietää missä hemmetissä on Oulu. En käsitä sitten yhtään, että miks kaikki erittäin tärkeet valmentajien ohjenuorat sanoo: "2 ekaa kuukautta on tuskaa, viimesien kuukausien aikana ei haluis ajan loppuvan." Ensinnäki mun 2 ekaa kuukautta oli loistavat, ilman minkäännäköstä koti-ikävää. Totta kai sitä oltii suomalainen hoomoilanen isossa Ameriikassa. Mutta mä oon sitä Suomeski, enemmä tai vähemmän pihalla tästä maailmanmenosta. Ja ekoista kuukausista lähtien, tunne et "En mä takas haluu, sitä paitti siä on ollu kylmempi pitempää ku tääl.." - on vaan vahvistunu ku kello on tikittäny Esa Tikkasen tavoin. Joten voitte lakata kastelemasta nenäliinojanne kyyneliin mun vuokseni, koska mä voin TODELLA hjyvin. :--)

Koripallo. Diggaan pelata sitä ihan sikana. En oo niin surkee heti aluks ku amerikkalaises ja reenit on paljo motivoivampia. Ei tartte seisoo puolet harjotuksien ajasta ku tatti kakassa, ja kattella muitten pelaamista. Nyt pääsen osallistuu itte koko ajan harjottelemisee. Nyt vaan ootan sitä päivää että saan pallon koriin asti. Lajista puheenollen, tässä pari kuvaa.




Olin hullu oikeen kunnolla ja ostin 16 raitasen äänityslaitteen! Ny on niinku kotistudio tääl. Ihan sairaan hyvälaatusta kamaa saa äänitettyy sil laitteell. :---)) Ja totta kai ku mä laulan ja soitan kitaraa niin laatu on ykkösluokkaa. Ehkä jonain kauniina aurinkoisena päivänä saatte kuulla jonku äänittee. Jos teiän risukasaa sellanen paistaa.

Viimeseks tulee mieleni synkkiin syövereihin ajatus joulusta. Se lähenee, totta tosiaan. Tää jenkki-joulu on, miten sen sanois, erilainen. Joulumusaa on ollu kaupois marraskuun alusta lähtien, eilen tuotii kuusi sisää ja koristeltii se. Että sellast. Mut ei haittaa, on kiva kokee erilaista. :) Mutten voi väittää ettenkö tuu kaipaa kaikkia oman perheen ja suomalaisen joulun perinteitä. Kaikkia ruokia, joulukirkkoo, -saunaa. Mutta niitä ehtii si harrastaleen elämäni muut joulut siellä suon kuokan ja jussin muokkaamassa Suomessa.

Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää ja muistakaa että mäki oon vielä suomalainen (koska osasin kirjottaa blogin Suomeks)

Seuraavaan jauhamiseen asti.
Terska.

Sami

Thanks for giving

What does make American people to eat like horses? What does bring all relatives around? Answer is Sami. Just kidding. Thanksgiving ofc! I understood that the reason why we are doing the eating and hanging out with relatives is: they (we) wanna thank for people who came here many years ago and made this country that u can live there with smile on ur face. Maybe better explanation than the dictionary does. (:

I had only one full day at school last week 'cause of Thanksgiving. On Tuesday we went to Mal to have some lunch. I'm Subway-addict, so I filled my stomach with bread. On Wednesday my French brother came here! He has a name also, Leo. He was in this same family two years ago. The first thing I noticed was his French English accent. And I loved it! It sounded so cool (sorry Americans). He was here from Wednesday to Sunday. We played our guitars together. Or is it better to say: he played and I was staring at him with my mouth open. He is really good. Maybe because he's from French, don't now. We Finnish people are only good in playing our mouths. Leo is really nice man. And the funniest thing is that he's two months younger than me! I have and will always keep he as 21 years old 'cause he looks and acts like one. But me... When I first came some guys asked me: "Are u 15?" WHAT THE...? I just laughed in that moment but I could have said: "Do u wanna see my...?" Passport of course, u guys have dirty minds.... :--((

Friday=Thanksgiving. We slept long and like 2pm we started to eat, continue eating, enjoyed eating, eating. I didn't get any breakfast 'cause I wanted to be starving when the meal starts. I ate a lot. More than usual. I was full as Stockmann when there's "Hullut päivät" or Walmart when there's "Black Friday". All kinda food were served. In that table photo in the end of this blog u will see those. Turkey was number one ofc but I ate everything, not like Kyle who ate like two things... what an asshole. :-D End of that day we just tried to get over that meal and there was 59083098 people's line to toilet. Not really. I lied 1 people too much. :/

Rest of the weekend went by chilling with my brothers, Leo and Kyle. I enjoyed that so much. :--) But I didn't enjoyed waking up like 6AM on Saturday; Basketball Scrimmage game. I played some and it was so cool that I can't any words. Maybe I should look for under my bed... Time flew as always and there we were again, at the airport saying goodbyes to Leo.

Here are some photos of Thanksgiving Day.

Kyle and me with our biggest smiles.

Men ready to have some good food.

food.jpg

Christmas picture. American dad, mom, bro, me and Leo

Family picture.

Right now I'm so tired, as u can see about my humor in this blog (u can hardly call it humor). Now it's best to me to go to bed. And even better to u! Don't have to listen my stupid jokes 'til next blog!

Love much, laugh often, enjoy ur life people.

Sami