Hello everyone,

Most of you have no idea how I've been doing since I left the USA. I know this issupposed to be a MONTHLY report, but in two weeks I've had enough to write a whole book.

I met the American group which was going to Finland on the Airport of Newart. When we arrived to the Airport of Helsinki surprise surprise...  Since nothing can be perfect, my week needed something to mess it up. Well what happend was that I did not get my luggages until two days later. We went to a camp, where there were all exchange students from all around the world going to Finland. It was awesome because I met several people, and we also had finnish classes during the day. The place was gorgeous: pine trees all around, lakes and a tipical finnish Sauna (in finland after you go to the Sauna you run towards the lake and jump on it. It feels so good!). 

During the day we would have the classes, and lectures about finland. We would also go visit some imporant places on that area. We visited the city of Tampere, and most of the students decided that day that they would do whatever they couldn't have done for the past years. People came to the camp with piercings, blue and pink hair, and stuff like that. Well I'm still the same, but I've been thinking about cutting my hair shorter. Any suggestion?

We went to many churches, and I found out that I'm the only person who can't sing in Finland. The last day each group of the countries presented something about it. We, the americans sang the anthem of the USA. But I also sang the Brazilian Anthem with them because, you know, right? I'm Brazilian too. All the parents went to pick up their host daughters and sons, but the group which was comming to my city went home by bus because it was too far for our parents to pick us up. This last day on the camp was very sad because before we went to Finland we had to leave all of our frends behind, and then, when we made new friends, we had to spread around Finland, and sometimes the people you got along better stayed so far from you... Again, you see yourself alone having to make new friends, going to a place you have no idea he kind of people you will find.

I arrived and my family was waiting for me. I had only seen a picture of my host mom before. I saw her, and three other people withher. Jouni, my dad, Aili, my sister, and Veikko, my little brother (12).They were very sweet and came to talk to me, and each of them gave me a hug, which is not very usual with finnish people. I've got several berries at the garden which can be eaten from the tree. I've gotten my own room, and a SAUNA! I live something like 10 Km from the city center, and I just need to take a bus to get there
There aren't that many lakes in Oulu, but I've gotten the sea, which may not be very useful during winter time. The temperature is around 12 degrees celsius right now, but it will get up to 16 this weekend.

On tuesday I went to the school, this is actually my 3rd day of class.  Finnish people are not very friendly at first, but they are really nice when you get to know them. Some of them started talking to me, and they help me a lot.

I think I'll start taking volleyball classes, and riding horses. I will also go to this finnish course for foreigners, because the classes I take here are IB classes, and they are taught in english, so I have little practice. I am taking Economics, Math, Physics, English and Arts, but my schedule changes in a month or so.

My family is planning some trips to lapland so I could meet my grandparents.

Whenever I have something new I will let you know. I wish you all good luck on this Hurricane season, and hopefully nothing very bad will really happen.

Hei Hei, 

Mariana