Philadelphia weekend

Its been really cold lately! Last week we had only two days of school, because on Monday it was Martin Luther King's day and then Tuesday and Wednesday were snow days. Hopefully there is not going to be more day offs, otherwise there's going to be school on my 18th birthday! No thank you. 

These are what we made during the snow days! Pear cinnamon cream cheese bread and strawberry-banana muffins. And then the really beautiful cookie that Molly made :D (shoutout to snapchat!) 

On Friday after school and short dance rehearsals my friend Sabrina and I went to her mom's house in Ridley, South Philadelphia! We stayed the whole weekend and were doing a bunch of different stuff, meeting her friends, going around at the mall and having a great time. I met a lot of new people, what I enjoy doing a lot!

On Sunday when her family came to pick me up, we went to visit their relatives in Philadelphia and I finally got to go the city! We did a little walk around the harbor and then visited a couple of shops just with the girls. I took some photos with my iPad, didn't had my camera with me. 

This was at the place that we bought our philly cheesesteaks, I found it funny :D

And on Friday I had my first midterm exam in Spanish. This Monday and Tuesday I also had benchmark exams in civics and government, so it's been busy with the school lately. But now I'm looking forward to the Super Bowl weekend!

10 things

1. At school, there are always some men chilling in the hallways and greeting people. I think they just want to keep order and make sure that everybody is okay.

2. There are American flags everywhere. And people keep them up all day long. It seems like they don't have rules how they can keep flags up like we do.

3. I don't know why people think that because I'm from Finland I must speak German. No, I don't!

4. Once I was talking with someone, and she thought that it's always winter in Finland.

5. I've never tried macaroni and cheese. I think I should before my year is over.

6.  I miss saunas. There's one sauna at the Lititz recCenter, but you have to be 18 years old to get in there. (why?!?! I was less than 18 days old when I went to sauna for the first time)

7. I didn't had a cultural shock. And I haven't had those homesickness times either. I just feel that I'm so happy that I can be here and live normal life.

8. I just can't get over how cheap everything is here, for example clothes because there is no taxes on clothes. When I go back home, everything will feel so expensive.

9. Where ever you go, you always drive there. And it's totally fine to drive more than 2 miles just to get a cup of coffee.

10. At a beginning, it was really difficult for me to remember to call teacher like Mr. or Mrs. with their last names. I've used to call my teachers by their nicknames haha.

Farm show

Finally I have time to write something here! Last week was pretty weird for me, on Monday I had pinkeye so I had to go to see a doctor and struggle with all the insurance things. Then on Tuesday the schools were cancelled because it was too cold outside :D It was kind of funny. Then the rest of the week was normal with school, we also had our first musical meeting on Thursday!

On Saturday our local AFS volunteer came to pick me up to the Farm Show in Harrisburg! I shared a ride with Faysal, Martha and Simal, and later on Rachele, Ruben and German joined us at the show. I really don't know how to explain this farm show thing, I think they have it every year and people bring their best animals to compete who has the best one. There was a lot of different kind of animals, maybe it was a good way for the kids who lives in the city to get to know all of the farm things. There was also an big exhibition area, where a bunch of people were selling their stuff (this was the part that I enjoyed the most, since I love shopping). 

And what would be an American happening without a lot of food? The milkshakes were the must thing to try, and yes, they were good. 

Haha this gave me a little laugh, there was a company selling these super healthy saunas and saying that you can burn more than 400 calories in 30 minutes :D The size of the sauna was like a small closet or wardrobe, and it wasn't even as hot as I've used saunas to be!

We also went in to like a butterfly tent, where they had so many different kind of butterflies! I got great pictures from there, it was forth of going :)

Martha, German, Ruben and Rachele!

In the evening we went to see the rodeo show! It was sold out and the atmosphere was really good. That was my first time at the rodeo, and even though it was really nice it still doesn't win hockey :D At the beginning of the show they of course sang the national anthem, but then they also had a little prayer. To be honest it was a little strange for us, because everybody always says that America is the country of the freedom, and they have the freedom of the religion and then there is a prayer at the public show. I just think that there is a little conflict between these two things, how about the people who doesn't have religious believes? Just saying, of course this is a culture difference and I respect it. 

Haha it was so funny to watch these guys, there were so many of them just standing at the arena and doing nothing, when maybe four of them were actually doing something :D

One good experience and memory more to add in to my journal!

Lately I've been...

I realized that I didn't tell everything what I did during the holidays! 26th was my lovely host sisters Mandi's and Ali's birthday, so we went to a breakfast in Shady Maples. Because Ali is now in Germany, we Facetimed her. We also went to see the new Hobbit movie, which lasted for 2 hours and 40 minutes!! The longest movie I've ever seen. And it didn't even had a ending, there is still going to be another movie. On Friday Mandi and Molly left to Wisconsin and the house got really quiet. Natalie and Marissa came over on Saturday and we had a movie night, watching movies from Netflix. 

On Sunday we had a sleepover with Rachele and Nora. We had such a good time together! 

Julia, Sabrina and Nikki!

Then it was time for the New Years Eve! Sabrina had invited me to her NYE party which bunch of other people. Again we had so great time, chilling out and watching the ball drop in NYC. Next morning we also watched the NYD parade in Philadelphia.

After I came from Sabrina's house on the New Years Day, I watched the Winter Classic came. It's so nice that you can watch all possible kind of ice hockey games for free on tv. Later in the evening Nanny and Pap came over and we had the traditional pork and sauerkraut dinner. 

Thursday was back to school day, everybody was so tired and not in mood for school. I also realized that there is only 180 days until I have to leave this country and go back to Finland! Time is flying... There's still so many different things I want to do and experience, I should to make a bucket list or something.

It started snowing really heavy after I came from school on Thursday and I was already preparing for snow day. And then we had a snow day on Friday. Long weekend, nice! I watched Netflix for like 3 hours, exercised and did a lot of little stuff. Around 7pm my friends came to pick me up and we went to the first Friday in Lancaster downtown. 

Saturday was full of nice stuff! Host mom and I went went to shopping in Target and we went crazy with Christmas ornaments because they were on sale 90% off. After that it was time for me to watch Canada-Finland under 20 years old World Championship ice hockey game! Finland won and they got to the final game. In the evening I hung out Nora, we went to downtown and for a dinner in Tomato Pie. 

Today I sanctified the entire day for ice hockey! The final was Finland against Sweden what is always really exciting, because those games for us is like the USA against Canada. The games have their own special atmosphere and they are serious. And Finland won!! Final numbers were 3-2 and now Finland is the champion in u20 hockey! So sweet! There were three players from my local team! I was wearing my Finland t-shirt and FaceTiming with my family during the game. Voitolla yöhön!