Finnish summer cottage

The meals that my hosts and I enjoyed throughout the weekend were a blend of American and Finnish culinary culture. I tried Finnish viili for the first time.  Wikipedia describes viili as “a type of yoghurt (a mesophilic fermented milk) that originated in the Nordic countries. It has a ropy, gelatinous consistency and a sour taste resulting from lactic acid.” It doesn’t sound so tempting from that description. Upon opening the package, the viili didn’t look so tasty either due to its Elmer’s glue-like consistency. But, with a little bit of sugar and lots of fresh Finnish strawberries and blueberries, viili was a nice breakfast meal. 

I brought fresh ears of corn from Helsinki’s market square to cook on the grill as my hosts had never tried grilled corn on the cob. With a little bit of butter and salt, the corn was a big hit! We also grilled hamburgers and they provided all of the typical American toppings – ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and individually-packaged slices of cheddar cheese. I even persuaded my hosts to forego the boiled new potatoes that Finns can’t seem to get enough of during the summer months. It just didn’t feel right to grill hamburgers and corn on the cob to eat alongside boiled potatoes. So, after a bit of convincing, boiled potatoes were replaced by potato salad – a much more appropriate side dish, in my humble opinion. However, we did have lots of boiled potatoes the next day with lamb steaks. 

Desserts included home-made blueberry pie (with Finnish blueberries, of course), famous Brunberg kisses from Porvoo, pancakes made on the grill, and lots of ice cream as the Finns’ annual consumption of ice cream is the highest in Europe. I made America’s favorite classic yellow cake from a box with chocolate frosting and rice krispies treats, which were initially met with apprehension as I mixed butter, marshmallows and cereal, but then were consumed with exclaims of delight.

Pancakes

In addition to all of the eating, I took advantage of the summer mentality of relaxation. I spent a lot of time swimming in the Gulf of Finland and experienced my first Finnish sauna, which was much, much hotter than I anticipated. I even enjoyed “roughing it” the Finnish-summer-cottage-way with no indoor plumbing aside from a kitchen sink, using an outhouse, and showering with a hose and bucket.

Despite the abundance of mosquitoes, bees, and flies, it was a tasty and memorable weekend. I can’t thank my generous hosts enough for the opportunity to experience the Finnish countryside.   

Loviisa sunset

Some of the highlights of my experiences include visits to schools throughout the country and the chance to talk with students and teachers, hearing the Kantele played so beautifully in Ilomantsi, walking in nature during all the seasons and whatever the weather, coming to a deeper understanding of what the Kalevala means, and eating delicious Finnish specialities. I can say that visiting Inari in February took my breath away in the most positive sense – I loved it! Most of all, I think of the many friends I have made during the past three years and our wonderful times together. I will miss you more than you can imagine.

As I have told some people, my husband and son loved being here as much as I did. They, too, think of the wonderful friends they have made and very fond/fun memories. You can count on us to be very strong Finland boosters – promoting your beautiful country and very fine people to all we meet. Plus, I will look for every opportunity to return!

Celebrating the 4th of July is an all-day event where people get together with their family, friends and neighbors.  My fondest memories are of celebrations with my family and millions of other Americans in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall.  But, whether you’re celebrating in a small town in Middle America or in the nation’s capital, the day usually starts with a parade, complete with student marching bands, military troops, dancers, costumes and floats.  People are enthusiastically patriotic, often dressed from head to toe in red, white and blue and waving small American flags.  Along with parades, there may be carnivals or fairs.

You can’t have a party without food, and the 4th of July is no exception.  Traditional American-style barbeques or picnics are the norm, with hotdogs and hamburgers and all of the toppings served as the main course.  Then, there are numerous varieties of potato, pasta, and fruit salads.  Side dishes could also include baked beans, corn on the cob, and multiple servings of potato chips and dip.   Since it’s usually hot and humid on the 4th (especially in the nation’s capital), there are lots of cold drinks to cool you down: sodas, lemonade, iced tea, or perhaps an ice cold can of American beer for the adults.  Desserts are always my favorite part of any meal, and on the 4th, ice cream, popsicles, cakes, and big slices of fresh watermelon are abundant.  For some, the 4th of July isn’t complete without the all-American apple pie. 

Between the parades, eating and waiting for the fireworks show, there are lots of fun activities.  Whether it’s playing catch, throwing a football or Frisbee, a backyard game of volleyball, or a card game, there’s a sense of community and camaraderie that abounds. 

After the sun goes down, the moment that everyone has been waiting for finally arrives: fireworks!  You hear the distinct pop of the firecracker, and then the sky is filled with beautiful red, orange, green, blue, and white bursts of color.  The fireworks show is often accompanied by the national anthem and many other patriotic songs.  At the end of a long day of celebration, you finally head home: tired, full, perhaps a bit sunburnt from spending the day outside, looking up at the smoke-filled sky from the night’s fireworks and feeling proud to be an American.

Fourth of July celebrations in Finland were kicked off early this year with an Embassy party on June 23.  Though there were no fireworks, guests enjoyed crayfish from Louisiana and special demonstrations from the renowned Chef John Folse and Company to commemorate the 234th anniversary of the independence of the United States. 

Bon Appetit! Crayfish from Louisiana

Movie director Renny Harlin with Ambassadog Deckard

Kaivopuisto's Lady Liberty

Chef Folse with guests and Louisiana crayfish

ARC Grant 2009 winner Tuomas Koskenniemi

ARC Grant 2009 winner Tuomas Koskenniemi from the University of Helsinki was one of the featured guests at a reception hosted by the American Resource Center on Friday, May 21.  The reception also marked the conclusion of the 13th annual Maple Leaf and Eagle Conference on North American Studies. This 4-day rigorous convention of distinguished experts and students in American Studies was hosted at the University of Helsinki.

The American Resource Center grant was established in 2006 to celebrate the library’s 60th anniversary. Tuomas Koskenniemi became the 7th Finnish student to receive the grant.  The competition is for students of Finnish nationality who are enrolled at a Finnish university and who are working on a master’s thesis on a topic related to the United States. Mr. Koskenniemi won the grant  with his master’s thesis titled “We Are All Georgians, Aren’t We? The Neoconservative Reaction to the Russia-Georgia War.”

Congratulations once again, Mr. Koskenniemi.

The U.S. Environment Agency is kicking off the anniversary on April 24th with a two-day event in Washington which showcases EPA’s many achievements in protecting America’s environmental heritage. One of the event’s major features is the National Sustainable Design Expo, which will present the best new green technologies and alternative energy designs from more than 40 college teams.

The U.S. Air Force is also no stranger to environmental stewardship. For Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, the U.S. Air Force has recommitted to protecting more than eight million acres of land and water areas including over 234 acres of wetland, 570,000 acres of forest land, 200 miles of preserved  coastline and 70 endangered and threatened species. In addition, the U.S. Air Force continues to lead research efforts on alternative and renewable energy sources.

Yet Washington is only one of many actors on this important stage. Grassroots, citizen-initiated action is vital in achieving a cleaner, greener world. In his April 13th address, President Obama urged Americans to take local action and make a difference in their communities – and from coast-to-coast they are doing just that.

In Massachusetts, Salem State College has organized April 12-22 an environmental series entitled “Growing a Greener Economy for a Healthier Planet”. The series features lectures on wind power and food sustainability, environmentally-conscious art work, and multiple environment-networking opportunities for students and the local community.

On April 17th at North Hampton State Beach in New Hampshire, local divers took to the ocean depths to remove debris from the sea floor, while non-divers cleaned-up the surrounding beach areas. Maryland-based vendor and growers gathered for lectures on how to increase sustainability within their organizations, while volunteers from a Georgia middle school helped with trail beautification in nearby forests.

What better way to remind people how important their environment is, than to get them actively using it! On April 17th and 18th, Cloudland Canyon State Park invited visitors to an Outdoor Adventure Weekend of caving, climbing, rappelling and fishing at rock-bottom prices ($3-$5 an event).

And the celebrations continue. On April 22nd, the community of Carbondale, Illinois is hosting an “Off the Grid” Solar Music Festival. Residents of Boise, Idaho will be planting trees along the city’s main streets on April 24th.  In Portland, Oregon, Audubon Society volunteers will gather on April 24th to rebuild a bridge over a local waterway.

Here at US Embassy Helsinki, we are also making a difference. We have just added two Chevrolet flexi-fuel vehicles to the Embassy fleet. We have also installed more motion-sensor lights in Embassy corridors.

In June 2010, Ambassador and Mrs. Oreck will host a bee colony in their backyard to promote the importance of local beekeeping. Expert beekeeper Corwin Bell is visiting Finland this month to connect with the local Finnish beekeeping community, and share information on new, advanced bee hive equipment that is effective and easy to use for first-time beekeepers.

Ambassador and Mrs. Oreck also have plans to create an Embassy vegetable garden at their residence this summer, to support the use of organically-grown, sustainable produce. 

Perhaps our most ambitious green project is the rehabilitation the 109-year old Chancery Annex. Ambassador Oreck is working hard to incorporate green elements into the renovation plans. Use of advanced insulation and state-of-the-art lighting are just a few of the elements that will improve the building’s energy-efficiency and reduce the Embassy’s carbon footprint.

So whether from north-to-south, coast-to-coast, or even beyond in our overseas Embassies, Americans are actively working to make the world a little greener for many more Earth Days to come.

**  More information on local U.S Earth Day celebrations can be obtain from the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/earthday/events.htm.

I headed over to the YleX radio studios earlier today for a live interview with Heikki Soini and Bikka Puoskari.  I thought we were going to try to figure out why Hip Hop music is popular in Finland or maybe discuss Lady Gaga’s latest releases.  But no, they wanted to talk about the environment and at one point about bodybuilding. (Note to readers, despite Heikki’s assertion that we could both bench press about the same weight, I am not so sure.)  If you want to hear the interview -  yes, it was RADIO not TV – you can click on the following link: http://areena.yle.fi/audio/575685

By the way, Heikki is really ticklish, as you can see from the photo below. 

The interview was a lot of fun, but I turned the tables on them a bit as I brought a mini video recorder with me.  Look for the video in about a week when we have the Youtube channel up and running for my journal.

I listened intently for almost two hours as Petteri explained all of the amazing work that was being undertaken at FMI. (O.K., I have to admit that I interrupted every few minutes to pepper him with questions.) He covered everything from the short term weather modeling that they use to generate the predictions so important to businesses and individuals, all the way up to the large scale and long term climate analysis critical to understanding, addressing and adapting to climate change. 

This kind of meeting with someone armed with so much knowledge and such clarity in translating technical information into layman’s terms brings out the science geek side of my personality.  I had days of questions, but only a few hours to spend with Petteri.  I warned him that “I’ll be back!” (to quote a now famous Governor), although next time I want to meet up at the Sodankylä-Pallas weather research stations (around 67 degrees latitude).

By the way, just because this is serious science doesn’t mean you can have fun.  Here is a photo of Petteri and me in his office.

 
So off we went with the Spanish Ambassador, H.E. Ricardo Zalacain and his wife, Monica Espinos, Heidi Day (of the U.S. Embassy) and Octavian Balea (a photographer friend).  The tour was lovely and fascinating – a real look into the private world of some important citizens whose lives covered a significant portion of the 20th century.

Historic preservation has been a long time personal passion.  And for the last decade both my wife and I have been very active in energy efficient and sustainable building practices.  (Although I will leave a detailed discussion for a future journal entry, these principals are fully compatible with beautiful design.)  At any rate, we invited the museum director, Severi Blomstedt, and his friend and longtime Helsinki resident, the British born architect and author, Jonathan Moorhouse for lunch at the Embassy. What was scheduled for an hour drifted into over two hours as we discussed a century of Finnish architecture.  Wonderful conversation and the start of what will be great friendships!

With Severi Blomstedt and Jonathan Moorhouse

For those who are not familiar with the tradition, the United States Marines (founded during the American Revolution in 1775) celebrate their “birthday” each year to commemorate their fellow Marines who have fallen in combat. It is also an event that helps to keep their esprit-de-corps as strong as their skill sets. Now while that sounds rather formal, the event itself is really a wonderful celebration with great food, good friends and terrific dancing.  This year’s event followed firmly in those traditions. Basically, I ate too much, danced too little and stayed too late.  I attach the photo below just too show that everyone had a whole lot of fun!