18th April, Tuesday

To the great Russian Federation

"Oh no! I have only 30 minutes to get myself ready and to school or I won't get to Russia!" Wake up. Hahaa. It was only a nasty nightmare. My parents had already gone to work when I woke up. This was the day I travelled to the great Russian Federation. After the fine breakfast I hugged my little sister and asked her what she wanted for souvenir from Russia. "Nothing special." she said. I started to walk to our school. I had one suitcase and my schoolbag with me. It was about 8.50 when I was in the schoolyard. I met few friends of mine. Our little charter bus was there too, so I said: "Ok, this is my VIP-bus, you guys go with the Muur-bus." It was the first visit to Russia when a local bus was used. The teachers Maarit and Marjo, who would travel with me to Russia, appeared to school yard. After the last goodbyes from the house economy teacher and Vilja's mother the road trip started.

Man, I love road trips. Anyway... there were five students and two teachers. The students' names were Riina Helppi, Vilja Lustig, Maria Seppänen, Ville "Tsigi" Tyrväinen and me, Pauli Orava. As you already know, the teachers were Maarit Sydänmetsä and Marjo Sorsa. The trip began and I had a whale of time: I ate all kinds of snacks, and listened to my MP3-player. (I had to listen to the song "Live for the moment" few times. We went through the Customs very fine and I didn't even notice that it took one hour! We got our " return tickets" back to Finland. Without them we wouldn't be allowed to return to Finland on Friday. Then we changed our euros to rubles and continued our trip. As we entered to the soil of Russia the road turned a little bit bumpy. I and Riina were drinking lemonade from big bottles. There was a risk we would pour our drinks but we managed with the drinking quite well. All the students were enjoying the bumps of the road and laughing at Maarit because she didn't get much mileage of jumping on her bench. Marjo wasn't keen on the bumps, either. I said: "If we had the song Born to be Wild playing on in the background everything would be fine." We kept having fun. We were joking about the year of birth of mine and Ville's (the last boys from the 80's, going to a Russian museum as relics), the other stuff from the 80's, and how I could carry cigarettes through the border because I was 17 years old. (Sorsa was against me... but wait till you read the Friday part!) I also played card games like Black Jack without money and Number Three with Ville, had one thumb wrestling match with Ville and one with Maria. (I lost both of them.) Vilja and Maria gave a special nickname to Ville: "garbage bag man".

We had to show our passports at the 100 km stop point. All of us gave the return tickets to Maarit. I listened to blues. It felt like driving in America. I don't know why but it did. When we were near Murmashi, a town we were heading towards, we met a couple of Russian teachers by an old power station. We jumped to their bus and our charter bus left us and turned back to Finland. With the Russians we went to the school number three of Murmashi. The co-principal of the school revised the program of the week and we met the Russian students we had hosted in Finland last January. They took us to their homes. Maxim, my host, had a very nice home. I gave my gifts to him and he warmed me some food. (He had already eaten a half an hour ago.) A little bit later Ville and his host Katja came to Maxim's house. We listened to Maxim's club music and chatted. At 6 o'clock we went to school number three where there was an arrival party. We ate goodies, listened to music and saw the school. Maarit and Marjo went to the teachers' room to associate with the Russian teachers. Two hours later Maxim and Katja showed us the cemetary of heroes of Murmashi. After that we went home and fell asleep at 23.30.

19th April, Wednesday

30 bags of suharikis

It was hard to wake up at 7.30 (Finnish time 6.30). The breakfast was very tasty. We walked to the school number three and we were given 230 rubles to each of us by the co-principle (Maxim's grandmother). We were at a Russian lesson although we didn't understand the language very much. We also visited an English lesson where the Russians were talking about Australia. The Russians showed us more of their school (we didn't tell about last night) and after that we had a snack. The next thing was getting introduced to the school number one. We were told that the schools didn't like each other much. We were at a maths lesson. The Russians had a special day. The most talented students taught maths to other pupils. We got nice drawings and little card board boxes as gifts. After the lessons we had lunch which was meat, mashed potatoes and peas with juice. I was the only one who had an empty plate in the end. When we were leaving the lunch hall of the school I and Ville saw a sign about maintaining the famous AK-47 assault rifle on a wall. Maxim and the other hosts took us to a local super market where I bought 30 little bags of "suharikis"(I thought it would be the last change to buy them... I love them...) The "suharikis" are small dry pieces of bread. There is an innumerable amount of flavour choices like cheese, bacon etc.

The next thing in our program was getting to know a handicraft house where young people can make for example toys, gliders and beautiful linens. When the visit was over the host students took us home to rest for a while. We had some rice, chicken and sallad. Then it was time to have some PE. We played volleyball in the school number 3. It was a game the Finnish (with some Russian reinforcements) vs the Russians. The first period went to our eastern neighbours. Then we played with an toy volleyball and won the second period. The toy ball was also used in the third period but the last period was played with a real ball. The final score was 4-1. "The Russian team beat us but it's OK. We had a good time. That's the most important thing." I said to Ville who agreed. After getting sweaty we were introduced to the Senatorium which is a sanatorium. There were many different machines to increase the health of people. I remember one cute cat which lived there. Some pupils including me, Vilja and Maria were fussing and stroking it. One nurse gave us some foam herb drinks we had to eat with spoons. It tasted like tea and it felt like impossible to swallow. Some of us like Ville had more.

We went downstairs to a nice café which looked like an old disco with spinning lights. The famous disco song "Dancing Queen" was playing on in the background. It was very near I would have gone to the dance floor and showed some dance moves. We had some tea and sandwiches at the café. We saw a pool room in Senatorium. Maxim and Katja asked me and Ville about our interest towards playing pool. We told them we liked it so we went to Maxim's home so I could take my money with me. One friend of Maxim's, Vadik, joined us and we headed to a lovely café called "Hutorok". I had one of the greatest evening snacks in my life there. I ordered Russian pancakes, "blinis" with cherry sauce, a coke and chocolate ice cream with cherry sauce. I paid only 4,5 €!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ville ordered the same dishes as I. Vadim and Maxim ate fried potatoes and mushrooms. Later that evening Vilja came to the café. She drank a coke. After eating we went to the café's pool room for an hour. It cost about 5 €. The table was the greatest I've ever played on. There was another table in the room which was the biggest pool table I've ever seen. It was a real Russian pool table and four times bigger than the smaller we played on. Also the bags were smaller and the balls bigger. When it was about 22.30 we left the café and escorted Vilja to her host home. As we got to the door, Maarit and Marjo were waiting for us. I had left my mobile phone home because it didn't work properly. The teachers had sent me a text message and asked me to say Vilja to return her host home. They had been worried about us because of Vilja's cat allergy. She had had a little allergy attack. She told she had gotten it from the cat in Senatorium. Marjo also said to us that our host families would perhaps go to bed earlier. I apologized and said it would not happen again and I would have my mobile with me. I was a little bit upset to myself but Maxim said not to worry. It wasn't a big deal. I was still a little upset but then I agreed with Maxim. We went to bed at 00.00 o'clock. Tomorrow... Money would burn in a inferno called Murmansk...

20th April, Thursday

The money inferno Murmansk

I woke up early this morning. I was waiting for the shopping trip to Murmansk like crazy. Murmansk is a big city for me who comes from a little Lappish village Ivalo. Murmansk is as big as Helsinki. I had hidden most of my money, 3000 rubles into my painkiller can. I had a shower and as I returned Maxim had not still woken. We had breakfast. We had to stay for a while with Maxim's little brother because Maxim's father was walking the dog. We were in a little hurry but we managed to walk to school number three in time. As I saw Katja, I hugged her because of her birthday. When all the Finnish visitors and the Russian hosts had gathered up in the school yard we started walking towards the bus stop. Next to the bus stop there was a little food store. We went in to the shop and bought some coke and suharikis. I paid Katja's coke as a birthday present for her. Maria didn't want to taste suharikis. I sent her mother a text message "tell her to taste." The bus arrived to the bus stop and we hardly managed to get seats for ourselves. Some Russians didn't get one for themselves.

As we arrived to Murmansk, Katja, Maxim, Ville and I went first to a shoe shop because Maxim needed new shoes. After the shoe shop we walked from a shop to another, but we didn't find anything interesting. Then we went near Hotel Arctica by bus. Good memories came in to my mind. I learned to walk in Hotel Arctica! We went to a shopping center Valna. I bought a souvenir for one friend of mine. The souvenir was a nice wolf linen. I and Ville also got cool Yuri Gagarin posters for free from one shop. There is a picture of Yuri and text "YURA, SPASIBA! KOSMOS NASH!" in English, "Yuri, thank you! The space is ours!" in the poster. I would have bought cool shoes which looked a little like Leningrad Cowboys shoes, but they were too big and there were only one size available. After visiting Valna we went in to Arctica. The lift took us to the top and the next moment we were watching the center of Murmansk through the sightseeing window of the hotel. I was a little bit worried. The time was running out and I hadn't found a special army shop. We wanted to buy Russian officer hats.

It was 13.00 so we met the others in a pizzeria. We had very good pizzas in that pizzeria a there were good news coming: Maxim and Katja knew a shop nearby which sold army stuff. On the way to the army shop we took a cool photo of me, Vilja, Ville and Maria posing with Lenin. I and Maria were in paradise for about 30 minutes as we stepped in to the army shop. We bought army stuff including the hats we had so much waited for. I spent 1369 rubles! After the army shop we went to a bus stop via a skateboard shop where there was nothing worth of buying. We went back to Murmashi. Maarit started laughing when we said her we had the army hats. We saw a girl from Tuloma in the bus. She was a host in our last year's visit. She had it very nice. Back in Murmashi we went to the same super market I had bought suharikis. I bought souvenirs for my friends. I and Maxim walked home and rested for a while and packed our sport clothes for the evening. There was also a surprise for me: Maxim's mother gave me a big bag full of presents for my family. After resting for five minutes we walked to the school number one. There was aerobics we joined in. First we did well but then it turned out to be too hard (I'm not a ballerina) and so we Finnish returned to the benches to watch the rest. Riina told me we would have more shopping time in the afternoon. We hadn't had to register to the books of the town hall. The head of the town hall hadn't had time to meet us. After aerobics we had a snack and the Russian students showed us their environment project. Again we got some food. I and Ville got the answer for the AK-47 sign too. There is a gun store in the school! The band of the school performed to us. Before the band Marjo and Maarit came to us. During the aerobics and representing the environment project they had been on their way of guiding the driver of our charter bus to us. The band was quite good. At 8 o'clock the show was over and Marjo said to me I had only one hour for staying up. I asked how much she had and the answer was two hours. I said we were going to party late; it was the last night here! I, Vilja and Ville and Maria went again to the super market and bought souvenirs for ourselves and for our friends. After shopping in the super market we headed to our favorite place Hutorok. We ordered the same food as the previous evening (I drank one coke more than the previous night). Maria didn't order anything even though we others tried to force her. We all chatted and played pool very much. We got to know a guy called Kirill, who was an ace with a pool stick. The only game I lost in pool was against Kirill. We gave him a nick name "Kirka", like the famous Finnish male singer whose real name is also Kiril. I counted my money and noticed I needed little money more to pay my restaurant bill. Luckily Ville had still about 1000 rubles, so he borrowed me some when it was time to pay our food and pool playing. As we left the Hutorok I shouted "JA LJUBLJU TIBJA RASSIJU!" in English: "I love you Russia!" in the street. We said good byes and nights to Kirill and to the others. I and Maxim walked home. At home Maxim showed me photos and cool computer stuff, we listened to club music and played computer games we couldn't play in the two previous evenings because of lack of time. The time was about 2.30 when we fell asleep.

21st April, Friday

Sweet Home Ivalo; Hold on, I'm comin'

After a hard waking up ceremony at Maxim's house I was given four blini rolls filled with raisins with smetana sauce. I wasn't hungry after eating them. It was turning towards nine. It was time to say bye bye to their dog, to mother and to little brother. Maxim and his dad helped me to pack my luggage to their car. We drove to the school number three Maxim's grandmother with us. In the schoolyard the Russians and the Finnish hugged and said goodbyes to each other. As a surprise, I received a Soviet navy hat! Those kinds of navy hats are not made anymore. There was also a fine string with it. The bus left the school yard and we waved our hands. Maxim, his father and Katja drove in front of us and guided us through a seldom used road. It was a road we normally would have needed a right to drive on it, but because of our friends we didn't. The joking started and the next moment humourous insults were flying in the air. Maria and I tried to put our hats on and Maria managed to put her Soviet mark in it. We stopped in Upper Tuloma to spend our last coins in a food store. I was out of money as well as Riina and Vilja. I was happy about myself. I and Ville sat in the bus and guarded it. I visited the store and Ville was alone in the car. As the driver and Riina returned, Ville visited the store. We met a Finnish writer there.

The road trip continued. We talked about what we were going to do after this journey. Everybody was dreaming of getting a hot shower and sleeping; except me. I was going to go to confirmation camp at 6 o'clock pm. It certainly wasn't funny! We also told each other about our souvenirs. The humourous insults continued flying in the air and the road changed bumpy again. I felt satisfied when I was thinking about my friends I hadn't seen for four days. I was listening to R&B songs, especially "Hold on, I'm comin," and "Sweet Home Chigago". The bus passed the 100 km stop point. We stopped at the old frontline to take a photo of me, Vilja and Maria with our army hats on of course. As we got closer to the Customs I thought I had the last chance to buy cigarettes. Sorsa was against me but she was surprised when she heard I was already seventeen. Finally I could get some. Ville asked me how much money I needed to buy cigarettes but I refused because I don't smoke. The only thing I had aimed at by this buying cigarettes - case was teasing Marjo with Ville. We got through the Customs. The driver told us he could give a ride to each of us home. We kept joking. Maria stepped out of the bus in Akujärvi, where her mother was waiting. (Akujärvi is a little village seven kilometers to the east Ivalo. Maria lives in Keväjärvi which is nearby Akujärvi.) It was wonderful to see the home village. We drove towards Vilja's and Ville's houses which are located near to each other. At a pit stop Marjo was left to her home. The driver Ahti Sipilä drove the rest of us to Rajavartiosto. Vilja and Ville stepped out of the bus and went home. Now the only passengers were me and Maarit. We talked about optional Russian lessons which would begin next year at junior high school. I almost forgot to say stop to Ahti near my home. Luckily Maarit spotted my house and the bus stopped. I walked home my new navy hat on and heavy luggage in my hands. (It felt like pumping iron.) The bus continued driving towards Sydänmetsä's house. Mother was at home, speaking with my aunt on the telephone. I showed my cases and souvenirs and hugged her. I ate a little bit, had a hot shower and rested for an hour before going to the confirmation camp.