Our first day in Finland has been exceptional! The Finland Fulbright Foundation has seen to every detail and made us all feel so honored and welcome! We are 17 educators from all regions of the US and every person adds so much to our cohort of Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms.

Today we visited the Foundation’s headquarters in Helsinki and attended briefings and strategic discussions to provide the framework and background of the Finnish education system (among the best in the world). We met with a few of the educators whose schools we will visit tomorrow and clarified our focus and guiding questions. We then got to experience a traditional sauna and plunge into a slushy forest lake. So invigorating! What a gracious and kind people Finnish people are. I am so grateful to be a part of learning about how their cultural and societal elements contribute to their education system.

Today was our first day in Finnish classrooms. We were sent to six different schools where we met with their principals, toured the school sites, taught lessons and had lunch! All schools are funded equally, so the school Jermaine and I visited was no different from where the others went. There were many similarities between schools in the US but also some significant differences, the most obvious being the care and investment to the physical classrooms, furniture and teaching materials.

In the comprehensive school (grades 1-9) I visited, in addition to their regular classrooms (all with amazing tables and chairs) there were two kitchen classrooms, a chemistry lab, a full wood shop, craft (sewing) room, art studios, and music rooms. The cafeteria serves EVERY one (no home lunches, so no junk food or trash) a meal from scratch and they are given 45 minutes to eat and visit. There is 15 minutes between each class (so students visit or play ping pong between classes) and only attend classes 4-5 hours a day. There is a high level of trust and cooperation between students, teachers and administration. Such a warm and welcoming experience. I am so grateful for the young 7th year students who showed us around and engaged us in wonderful conversation.

We were treated to a day at the Haltia Nature Center adjacent to the Nuuksio National Park. Our guide Kirsi taught us about Finland’s 41 National Parks and Finland’s wide expanse of nature reserves, while standing in front of an 18 meter virtual wall showing an animated landscape panorama of everything she was discussing!

After lunch, we were treated to one of the types of nature programs that Finnish students receive while visiting the center and walked one of the park trails of incredible woodland. Finally, thanks to Inari, our fabulous Fulbright Foundation host, we shared tikka pulla which is a traditional Finnish dough cooked over a campfire (instead of marshmallow), in a teepee! So fun!

During our free evening, a group of us went to the Helsinki Museum of Modern Art. I find it fascinating to experience how artists from all over the world express themselves in so many ways through the arts.

As the fastest growing city in Europe, Helsinki has a rich history that we were introduced through its impressive architecture, art sculptures and waterfront on the Baltic Sea.

The group went out separate ways for home visits with Fulbright alumni. Conrad, Ryan and I went and met Missy Meierhofer, an American bat biologist who came here on a Fulbright scholarship, to work with the university and the natural history museum right before the pandemic and hasn’t left. We got such invaluable information about Finnish culture and what life is like for an American to live here.

For the evening a few of us treated ourselves to Löyly, a modern seaside sauna with glass walls facing the sea. Under the full moon and in between cooking ourselves in burning hot saunas, we jumped in the Baltic Sea to cool down. A perfect ending to a fabulous day!

We traveled six hours northeast to the town of Joensuu, a city and municipality in North Karelia, located on the northern shore of Lake Pyhäselkä at the mouth of the Pielinen River. We are here for the next four days to visit schools, attend lectures at the university and participate in the Internationalization Day of Finnish Schools conference.

After arriving, we were treated to a Home Economics class (required for all Finnish students) where we made a DELICIOUS traditional Finnish meal. I loved seeing how one would organize a lesson for each group to prepare various parts of the meal. With the right tools and recipes, it was seemingly very simple. Perhaps when I return, I could cook a Finnish dinner for someone?

Another school visit today…much of what we saw at the Uimarharjun Koulu school in rural Uimaharju Village may not seem groundbreaking to many of you who don’t visit California public schools but again, my mind has been blown! The dining hall was incredible quiet during the 7/8 grade lunch and was left spotless afterward. I heard each student sincerely say Kitoss (thank you) to the cooks and dish washers (all compost is sorted and dishes put in separate dishwasher racks for cleaning by students and staff when they’re finished). The electronics/wood/metal shop class of 7th GRADERS included table saws, sanders, lathes, sauntering irons, and all tools (see photos) for them to work on any project of their choice. Vocational schools are an option for students after secondary schools and there are no “dead ends” meaning if they choose to go back to university, they can-all at NO COST (imagine what it would mean to have no student debt).

Boots, shoes, and coats were left neatly on racks in the hallways, outside the doors of each classroom (socks only inside). Many types of musical instruments were provided for all grade levels of music classes and art rooms contained industrial sized racks and material cupboards full of art supplies for each grade level. I just can’t say enough how much it means to a teacher to have the materials you need to teach.

We gave presentations about our lives and schools in the US and although these village children’s English was less polished than in the big city of Helsinki, they were polite and respectful.

I am also posting here an interview that Bernie Sanders did with the ambassador of Finland to the US, so you can get a better idea of some of the finer details of their system.

Our few days in Joensuu, in Eastern Finland, has been filled with incredibly engaging conversations and opportunities to network with more of the most amazing educators in Finland.

After another fascinating rural school visit, where we visited some lower primary school classes where they were sewing and having music classes. We shared our part of the world through slideshow presentations to the Kanervalan Koulu School.

We then attended a panel discussion of professors from the University of Eastern Finland. In order to become a teacher, one must study for five years and receive a master’s degree. They get to choose their areas of speciality to focus on and culminate with a master’s thesis, so all teachers are familiar with research methods.

We got a guided tour of the Karelian regional museum to learn of the region’s long history of strength, resilience and resistance to the Russian Imperialists (we are less than 100 km from Russia) since Finland was a part of Sweden.

We were treated to a very fine dinner (perhaps one of the best meals many of us have ever had!!!) in the Joensuu City Hall with the professors. I learned SO much more about Finland’s culture, educational research and what helps facilitate this incredible level of trust throughout their systems of society.

I can not over exaggerate the superb access and insight we are receiving from the Finland Fulbright Foundation. I am honored and humbled to be a part of the first group of Fulbright Global Classroom Leaders here in Finland, I know it will not be the last!

At the Internationalization Days Conference at the University of Eastern Finland, our group attended various sessions, including a briefing on ‘U.S. Foreign Policy & International Educarion Priorites in Finland’ by the U.S Embassy, ‘Sustainable Internationalization at Schools’, and an ‘Overview of the Ukrainian Education System’. So many fascinating topics and questions surrounding education.

We were then given an opportunity to facilitated an interactive session about ‘Applying Transversal Competencies to Facilitate Virtual Classroom to Classroom Collaboration with U.S. Teachers’. I found it fascinating to be able to connect so quickly with these various attendees in such a meaningful way.

Finally, on the night before our last session, the closing keynote speaker fell ill and our facilitators were asked if three of us would present on the topic of ‘An Introduction to U.S. Education System:Building a Sense or Community in the U.S. Schools’. So I was asked to represent the k-8 system, my colleague Micheal Posey (Alabama) represented 6-8, and Ryan Lewis (Kentucky) 9-10. We spoke in the main concert hall to 150+ participants (!) and had a great discussion afterward. While we didn’t have long to prepare, we have had so many great discussions and reflective sessions, that we were able to share our findings and express gratitude for their educational leadership and guidance. What an honor to be part of such a well designed conference and the preparing for the presentation added so much to what we have learned!

Oodi Central Library was designed for democracy and equality; having collected dream libraries from Helsinki residents, the designer included so many phenomenal aspects of this incredible public space. ‘Hanging out at Oodi without a reason is welcomed and even recommended’. Common spaces can be transformed for various purposes and there is an urban workshop with opportunities to create something new or modify old objects; with 3D printers, sewing machines, virtual and board game rooms, music studios, a children’s indoor playground and kitchens… and of course books and places for people to read. What a dreamy space to spend time!

Our group used a meeting room for an innovative type of fishbowl discussion about what we have learned so far… we then got a chance to explore the common spaces (and have a really good coffee) while meeting in small groups around the library. This community-created space is yet another example of Finnish ingenuity and appreciation for collaboration and trust in the creative process.

We had our evening free from a planned activity, so Sarah (NYC) and I went to a traditional locals’ sauna house. Huge big sauna houses, naked as when we were born (most family and traditional saunas are no swimsuits but hotel & visitor saunas people tend to stay dressed), old time lockers, groups of friends visiting, snacking, and even sharing a beer in their towels outside in the neighborhood. Such an amazing slice of Finnish culture. We also had a treatment with the “scrubber”, who is an older, very traditional looking Finnish woman. She had us lie on a plastic covered bench, while she thoroughly scrubbed each section of our bodies-twice over. I can’t fully explain how wonderful this felt, so incredibly nurturing and soothing, especially the hot water rinse! Three hours later, we left there feeling alive and fulfilled.

As it was Father’s Day in Finland, we had the day off to explore. We visited the second oldest city in Finland, Porvoo (est. 1347 by Sweden), as well as a UNESCO world heritage site, a fortress island called Suomelinna. Here I found some of the best nature experiences I have had on our trip. So fun to spend free time with these great educators and learn more about this country and it’s place in European history.

A dreamy night out in Helsinki. Such a great place to explore, especially as the holidays approach. We also visited an upper secondary school that houses a vocational school, as well.

We were honored to a discussion with a panel of Finnish high school students, who impressed us with their knowledge of not only the benefits of their society but also of US policies.

Finnish people have so many opportunities to study what they want, the path they choose to take and whether they want experience while they are doing it. Such a testament to why their service industry is so thorough (they are trained to be shop keepers, substitutes, bookkeepers, construction workers, etc and so the society functions respectfully and efficiently. So inspiring to see the power of education in all its many forms.

After our final presentations, reflections and kind words spoken, we received our certificates of completion from the Finland Fulbright Foundation! We are all deeply grateful for the well thought through experiences we were provided. Having the opportunity to explore such a well-functioning education system through the lens of such a wide span of different educators and their students, gave us a well-rounded view of what the Finnish society values and how they are working for the future.

After our final ceremony, we were treated to a splendid farewell dinner where Tarjia (our fearless leader) told something she will remember about each participant, so special. We all leave with the knowledge of the potential the ripple effects our group can have to make a difference in our communities. We hope to make an educational impact in big and small ways, on promoting peace (Fulbright’s initial intention), global learning and sustainability.

Student Exchange Travel Experiences

Since a young girl, I have had the benefit of not only traveling to various countries around the world but to also study or work with schools in the places I have visited. My strong belief in spending time getting to know communities and their places of learning, has introduced me to lifelong friends. I get to know their families, share their food, as well as get to study how they learn and grow. (PHOTOS TO COME SOON)

2019-2020 (winter)- Chaperoned a group of students from Northcoast Preparatory Academy visit Gudjarat, India for a school exchange and stay with host families.

2017-2018 (winter)-Students from India travel and study in Humboldt County. My daughter Amelia and I go and visit Gudjarat and Rhajasthan with our host son

January-August 1995-Student Exchange in an environmental education school in Monte Verde, Costa Rica

May-August 1986-Student Exchange in Cuernavaca, Mexico