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1-5 November 2001
5 November 2001
Monday 2100
Sunrise/sunset 0819/1545
High/low 2°C/-3°C (36°F/27°F)
Oulunsalo, Finland
Oulu Fulbright get-together
Sandra Stine arrived on Thursday evening by bus.
On Friday, John and Sandra checked out the shops down by the waterfront
and did a little shopping in Oulu while I was teaching. They picked me
up at school around 1530. After Sandra saw an old friend from her Fulbright
Exchange in 1994, we went home and I made a quiche for dinner and Sandra
made the salad. John went to pick up Marie-Camille Havard at the train around
2000. Then, while we served her some dinner, John was back to the
train station to pick up Lori and Dave Heintz just after 2100.
When we were all finally together, it was nonstop talking. Each of us
sharing about all the things we had done since we had last been together.
Boy, do we enjoy each others company. We discussed that, tomorrow,
Saturday was the celebration of All Souls Day in Finland, which meant
all the shops, stores and museums would be closed. So we adjusted our
plans accordingly.
On Saturday, we went to my school, so everyone could see the school
and my classroom. Then we walked through Ainola Park, down to the
waterfront to see where our marketplace is and to see the famous
squat Toripolliisi statue, a humorous representation of the local police
and then over the footbridge to Pikisaari Island. We had lunch at the
Franzmanni restaurant in the
Radisson Hotel, since it was one of the few places open. Then
we headed downtown to show them the pedestrian section of town
called the Rotuarri,
where the stone ball water fountain is located, but the ball has been
removed for winter. On our walk through town we went by Tuomiakirkko, the
Oulu Cathedral. We stopped to see the oldest portrait in Finland dating
to 1611. But a service was in progress for All Souls Day, so we just peeked
through the glass doors and continued toward town. Along the way I happened
to notice people in a museum that was open, so we popped in. An artist
was featured that made things from recycled items. There were great ideas
for hanging old family photos and making interesting jewelry. Around 1530,
we headed home to decide what we wanted to do for dinner. We decided to
try a restaurant that I had seen in the Lonely Planet
book. We headed to Haukipudas
, which is 20 Km north of Oulu. As we were heading out of Oulu,
Sandra said that she had heard that on All Souls Day families
light candles and they place them at the tombstones of family
members. So we decided to check out the Oulu Cemetery. Yes
indeed, families were placing candles near the headstones. The
cemetery looked beautiful, all aglow with candles. Now we were
ready to head to Sarkyneen, which in a restaurant that is in a
150-year old cowshed. It has been transformed into a cozy country-style
restaurant that serves gourmet Finnish food, so says Lonely Planet
book. It was a good meal, but I wouldn’t call it gourmet,
although the atmosphere was fun.
On Sunday, we had fun looking at pictures John had taken of our
past get-togethers. Then we took Sandra to the bus. The gang
decided they would like to see the
Tietomaa Science Centre. It is in an old factory building
and is considered Scandinavia’s oldest and largest science
museum. We saw a fabulous Discovery Film on the elephants of
Africa. You should have seen the gang become one big group of
children trying out all the hands on exhibits. Around 1600 we
left to take Marie-Camille to the train, but not before going
to the top of the tower. What beautiful views of the
Oulujuki (Oulu River) and surrounding areas were seen from our
tower at the science centre. After seeing Marie-Camille to the
train, Lori, Dave, John and I headed home for dinner. After dinner
we showed them our pictures of
Ireland, since Lori and Dave were going there for next weekend.
I was off to school the next morning and John took the Heintz's
into Oulu to do some shopping before catching the noon train to
Kuopio. What a wonderful group of people! We can’t wait until
our gathering in Tampere for our Thanksgiving celebration.
Mary Ann |
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