The last day in the group

On friday morning we went to school in Orimattila like everyday. We had two german lessons and lunch.

When the school was over, we met each other and went to the bus-station where we drove with the bus toLahti.

First we looked there for some souvenirs and then we went to theSanta Fe– restaurant and had a really good meal together.

After the meal we drove with the guest-parents to the Sibelius hall, which is located next to the Vesijärvi-Lake inLahtito hear a Sting concert. The music was played by theLahtiorchestra and the songs were performed by the amazing singer Hannu Lepola.

It was a great day and we had a lot of fun.

Andreas Gagel

A nice trip to Lahti!

Our school day started as usual at 8 am. After the lunch, our finnish students went with us to the bus station in Orimattila. We waited  for the bus to Lahti. After a 30 minutes trip we arrived there and walked through the city to the Sibelius Hall. It was an very great impression to look outside the great halls’ windows to a big frozen  lake. We listened to the rehearsal of the orchester, whose concert we going to visit tomorrow. After that we went to Rax, where we ate lot of things for an cheap price. To make the day perfect we went shopping. After that and with loaded bags, we drove back to Orimattila and relaxed the rest of the day in each family.

Lena Bremer

A day at Finland’s capital

Today (Wednesday), we got some interesting and great experiences.

But at first, like every day, we had to go to school. Luckily, this time only for a few hours, because then we went to Helsinki, to watch some sights, like the Sibelius Monument.

After that, there was enough time for shopping. At least, the day ended very nice, with a concert at the Helsinki Music Centre, that is, by the way, a fascinating and good-looking building.

Marcel Schuetz

Getting to know Orimattila

On Tuesday we went to school at 8 am. After two lessons in the computer room, where we have done our music project, we visited a recording studio next to our school. In the afternoon we had our first German lesson in Finland. After school we did a ”sight-seeing tour” with the finnish students in Orimattila and later we went sleighing. Apart from the coldness, it was a great experience for us.

Tina Krause

Finland and its traditions

In the morning we all joined the classes our exchange partners are in. Having some free time, we took a walk around the school. Although it was not too cold outside (-8 degrees at 8 A.M.), the quantity of snow impressed us. In the evening the whole Comenius group went to Salusjärvi to have a traditional finnish Sauna (including a jump into an ice hole). We ended the day at the home of one participant, where we ate traditional food (Karjalanpiirakat). Later on some of the finnish students played songs on their instruments. All in all, this day gave us some nice experiences about Finland and its traditions.

Lisa Kraus

Our arrival and first evening in Finland

At half past eight, we – the German students met at our school in Burgkunstadt. Immediately we put our suitcases in the bus and then the trip started. We drove to Munich airport, from where our flight took off. At the airport we checked in, got our boarding passes and spent our rest time near a free coffee machine. Then we finally were allowed to go into the plane. The flight took approximately two hours and was very impressing because you could see the setting sun in the sky.

After arriving at Helsinki-Vantaa-Airport at about 18:15 in finnish time, we got taken by a bus to Orimatilla. The finnish German teacher gave us a warm welcome in the bus. We drove one hour to the Erkko-lukio-School where our Finnish exchange partners already waited for us. We got into the cars of our partners and went to their homes.

Now I only can speak about my experiences in the evening. Tina and I, after arriving at our host family´s home, gave the presents to them and they were very glad about it. We ate something with them and talked a very long time. Later on we went to bed after this very long and exciting day. We already learned something about the finnish specialities: they like Salmiaki, it´s a bonbon which tastes very salty and a little bit like the German ”Lakritze”. But most of the Germans don´t like it that much.

Julia Weiss

A long way back home

Perjantaina lähdimme lumipyryn keskellä kotimatkalle Burgkunstadtin juna-asemalta. Jäähyväiset olivat haikeita opiskelijoiden ja isäntäperheiden hyvästellessä toisiaan. Saavuimme lentoasemalle kutakuinkin ajoissa, siitä huolimatta, että sää hidasti junaliikennettä. Heti saavuttuamme lentokentälle huomasimme, että kenttä oli kaaoksen vallassa. Ehdimme juuri ja juuri omalle portille, jossa selvisi, että lento on myöhässä. Lentokentällä olimme kuin tosi tv -ohjelmassa ja huomasimme, että kahdentoista tunnin odotuksen jälkeen päädyimme hotelliin. Lauantaiaamuna jonotus jatkui ja neljän tunnin jälkeen saimme varattua lennot sunnuntaiaamuksi. Eli vielä yksi yö hotellissa ja sitten kotiin!