So when you come to Tampere the university assigns you to a Finnish tutor, who is just a student in the same field of study as you. My Finnish tutor, his name is Ollie, just so happen to have a cabin right next to the lake in Ruovesi, which is about 2 hours out of Tampere. It was a 14 person crew, 11 Germans, 2 Finnish tutors, and one lone American. Since there was only two cars we all couldn't fit, so some of us had to take a bus there and back, but of course the bus didnt go straight to his cabin so they had to come chauffeur us from the bus station to the cabin. The cabin was about an hour into the woods and the last one on the dirt road. The cabin was very impressive, apparently his dad built it himself, and the guest room/sauna. It was right next to the lake, just a very beautiful sight. It was calming to sit on the front porch and stare into the lake. Everything seemed so authentic, since it was built by hand. The tutors provided us with a traditional Finnish meal, which consisted of salmon, potatoes, mixed salad, and this pastry which is a vey authentic Finnish food. It had the texture of a crispy biscuit, but in the middle was mashed rice covered with cheese. Very tasty. Also enjoying one of Finland's finest beer Lapin Kulta, which Ollie later reffered to as reindeer piss...Anyways after that bonding session we hit the sauna of course, you start it up with a fire that heats up the coals, very old school. The sauna felt good, and after we enjoyed a dip in the nice and cold lake, just as the Finns do. It was nice standing in the lake, couldn't feel anything from my knees down, no wind, and a cloudless sky so you could stare at the stars. A moment I will never forget obviously. After a couple sauna sessions we washed up and headed out to the fire pit. We cooked some pancakes over the fire and enjoyed it with some jam. After the fire went out we headed inside where we continued the night for a little bit with some king's cup. By that time I didn't need to play, but I participated anyways. Right after the game ended it was pretty late, so everyone headed off to bed. It was a very easy sleep for me right into a rough morning. No breakfast for me, I feel like crap. Around 1 o'clock Ollie taught me a couple others a Finnish game called "molkey." Pretty entertaining game, one similar to horse shoes, but not really. Around 4 we left and said our last goodbye's to the Finnish wilderness. Made it home where I was able to sleep for 10 straight hours.
This trip was definitley incredible. I could of never imagined receiving this experience when I left for Finland. A priceless moment in my life. I mean when is the next time I will be with 11 Germans and 2 Finns at a log cabin in the Finland woodlands? Yeah probably never again, assuming we don't go back.
Moy moy
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