Hello again
everybody!
The weekend
has passed, tomorrow back to school, and during these two days I haven’t
stopped visiting new things and having new experiences.
First thing...
As you arrive to Finland, you are going to see a lot of images of reindeer in
all kind of objects, not in vain; they are typical of the North region of
Finland, it means, Lapland. But... perhaps in the South part of the country, rather
more famous than the reindeer are the
Moomins, which flooded gift shops, decoration and shopping malls. You can
see them in figures, cutlery, tablecloths, dresses... do any of you know these
characters?
When I
arrived I didn’t know why, but now I’m going to tell you. It happens to be a cartoon
series based on the stories and cartoons of the Finnish authors Tove and Lars
Jansson. I.e. they have
been created in Finland.
They are a
family of white Scandinavian trolls, round in appearance, with large snouts and
which resemble hippos. The unconcerned family lives at his home in the Moomin
Valley.
Its chapters
cover complex topics such as: friendship, coexistence with nature, fix problems
through speaking and thinking... Here all children grow up seeing them. Will that be part of the success of its
educational system?
What if you
say to the teachers to put you some chapter of this famous cartoon?
They are
part of Finnish culture, and we're learning things about it, so, here you have
some links that can help you.
Sven saw these
cartoons also when he was small... he loves them! And he is not upset with the fact that they are as famous as him in Finland.
They don't know Santa Claus...
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| Sven with the Moomins |
Well, and we
continue talking about traditions, because during all the week-end, as I told
you, in Finland held the Wappu, Mayday Festival. I got back to Helsinki to see
some sights that I didn't have time to see... And there was much happening in
the street!
On
Saturday, all college students walk the streets to celebrate it and dress with
coveralls which according to the career that they are studying, are of one
color or another... In addition, everyone carries his
white cap, as I showed you at Friday’s entry.
Do you remember his name? YO-LAKKI
The
stickers that they wear are different actions which have been made and that
have been awarded; They sew them to the coverall. It’s better as much as they
have!
At the end
of the day, all focus on the Senate square, where is the white cathedral that I
taught at my arrival, one of Helsinki's most representative monuments.
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| Sven and I on the Senate square, enjoying the party. |
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|
It goes for
you, students of Tierno Galván...
I couldn’t resist trying one myself.
|
And after
much fuss, a forced stops to relax and meditate, where? Of course, in “the Kamppi chapel” (chapel of silence),
a modern building which is situated in the Centre of Helsinki, to be silent in
the midst of the daily bustle and the noise of the city.
I can
assure that you cannot hear anything... Many Finns,
throughout the day, make a stop here, relax and continue with their work... do
you like? It wouldn't be too bad to have a chapel of silence
in the playground...
And do not
believe that the WAPPU celebration has
finished there... during Sunday, families, go out to squares and parks of
different cities to take a picnic; in addition, today we have had an amazing
sunny day...
This week I
met two girls from Salamanca. They are very nice
and they are also spending time in Finland. We have prepared a picnic and we
went to the Park to enjoy sunbathe.
 |
|
Lorena and Sara eating our
Sandwiches.
|
Anyway, it has
been my first weekend, calmer as usual, so I also tried resting, reading and
walking... But today it’s enough; I don't want to bore you...
Morning I come back to Karisto School.
