Lapinlahti

I am here in Finland, in the city of Lapin Lahti. After a long travel day yesterday, including a 5 hour train ride from Helsinki, I got a long sleep in before today. The meet is tomorrow, Sunday, at 120pm. Finland, like every other country I go to, is amazing. The diversity of culture, environment, food, language, and people in Europe is just exciting to me. Finland reminds me of my childhood in the countryside of Northern/Western Michigan. The tall skinny pines, white birch trees, numerous lakes, and cottage-like houses make me feel like I am back in Michigan.

There is one difference however. It didnt get dark last night before I went to bed at midnight and I am pretty sure that it doesnt get dark at all here this time of year. This is easily the farthest north I have ever been and probably as far as I'll ever go. It is located above the 63rd parallel which is equivalent to being in Central Alaska. It is only 300 miles from the Artic Circle. Pretty cool.

We are staying in some sort of dormitories with a dining hall and a building that houses the classrooms, the internet room :), the pool, and the sauna (Fins love the sauna!). Ok, I've been on the computer for a bit too long now. It is hard getting on the computer whenever I want, but here it seems extremely easy. I dont know what to do myself.

So, meet is tomorrow. I will throw far. And I'll post about it soon afterwards (Sunday sometime).