Last Sunday I was with Juha and Susanna again after spending Thursday evening and night with Juha's sister, Suvi and her family. They were all very warm and fun to hang out with. Friday evening and night was spent with Juha's parents. After a brisk walk through the town where they live, Lohja, and a filling dinner they sent me to sauna. After they were done with sauna, we sat down to our "after sauna" meal of sausages and beer. We talked about family, and what it was like for each of growing up. Penti told me about how strong and courageous his mother had been to raise him and his brother alone after his father died in the Finnish war. Marja and I both shared some sadder memories of our own childhoods. She told me it was because of these experiences that she chose to become a family therapist. Healing others has helped her heal.
Saturday was a long and eventful day of family visits. Penti brought me back to Helsinki where I joined in the weekend activities with Juha, Susanna, Emil and Viveka. First, Britt, a relative of mine related through my grandmother's father's side of the family came to visit. We had coffee and snacks and she showed us all of the photos, and family tree information she had. She was really great to meet, and I'm excited to continue to figure out our family tree together.
Later that afternoon I was introduced to Finnish rap by Juha's cousin and her fiance. We all agreed its horrible and ridiculous, but very much enjoyed watching it on YouTube. After they left Juha's co-worker, Emmy from Holland, and her boyfriend, Myles from the U.S., arrived for dinner. We drank, ate and talked our way to 2:30 in the morning. Fondue with plenty of beer, wine, spiked glogi.
The next morning we all tiredly got up and drove to Juha's parents' summer cottage where the whole family always gathers each year before Christmas for the traditional meal of porridge. Now, this porridge, which is made of rice, milk, cinnamon and sugar is something I definitely remember from my childhood Christmases at the Finnish Hall in Berkeley. Always a favorite of mine, so I enjoyed it. Thirteen people total in this small cottage, sharing this traditional winter meal, six kids (3 under 10 years), and more spiked glogi. It was really great. Suvi was even sweet enough to get me a nice little Christmas gift. I sported the very over-sized snow suit that Juha insisted I wear, as it was snowing steadily. So, I stood with our little crowd feeling like a yeti as we huddled together around a candle that was placed in the snow as a remembrance of Juha and Suvi's brother who had sadly passed away 10 years ago at Christmas.
The party livened up again as we headed indoors to shed our layers and drink hot coffee. As the kids started to get crazy from eating too much sugar and the sky became dark, we all said our goodbyes and I promised that next time I come to Finland I will come in the summertime.
We drove home and spent a quiet relaxed night at home. Monday I went into Helsinki and spent the afternoon wandering through the busy department stores and then had a coffee and a pulla bun at a famous old cafe on the esplanade downtown. On my way back to Juha's house I got to see Joulupukki himself with one of his reindeer standing infront of the supermarket to the amazement of a crowd of toddlers. This was a real live reindeer by the way. I tried to get a couple of inconspicuous pictures as I passed by, since no one seemed to be taking photos.
And after another nice night spent at Juha and Susanna's I flew back to London town.
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