in brief

Despite ample free time, I am only motivated to distill my experiences towards the end of the week. While things have been happening, I don't have much to say. Last Saturday, I attended a Chinese calligraphy workshop at the museum. The weather was stunning. From my fellow attendees, I also learned the Finnish names of each animal in the Chinese zodiac [those I did not already know]. I was reminded how poor my calligraphic skills are, but it was a relaxing afternoon. We all shared biscuits and tea between lessons on the origins of various character forms.

Saturday

Chinese calligraphy workshop

At five o'clock, I caught a lift into town where the local team JPK took on S-Kiekko. The ice rink was cold, but the action was good. JPK found their legs in the third and surged to a 5-3 victory. It being Saturday, all the shops were closed by six. Once the match was over, I had just missed the chance to go shopping, and trudged home through almost blistering cold for close to an hour. The nights here are beautiful and still, and my route is a pleasant tour through quiet neighborhoods and past views of distant lights. Even in sub-zero, as long as you keep moving, eventually the numbness goes away.

JPK takes on S-Kiekko

Victory for JPK!

Monday's Finnish class was great; we learned various winter sports and how to form questions. Each week, I feel that I begin to comprehend a new concept just as the lesson ends, which is a strong motivator for independent study.

As the snow as been dripping from my roof, ice has been collecting into some pretty radical formations over the balcony just outside my bedroom window. The light breezes here have twisted them into a row of glittering, crisscrossed teeth. They catch the light at sunrise and sunset, and it is impossible to capture the effect on camera.

Icicles blown in different directions

I was finally able to see the aurora the other night, and snapped a memento over eight seconds. Over the past few nights I have kept vigilant, but despite high solar activity, I haven't see another show yet.

Peak of activity, Feb 16 around 22:00

Today I officially have fewer than two weeks left here. I have planned a few days in Helsinki and Oslo before returning home. Until then, I will carry on working on my emerging theme. The piece pictured below are two of a possible three or four; I still have almost a complete roll of paper left, so the next few days will be busy.