FINLAND: LAND OF LAKES AND SNOW

KIRSI CHEAS

University of HelsinkiWater

WHAT ANIMAL IS THIS?

ANSWER: REINDEERIN FINNISH: ”PORO”

ANIMAL OF OUR SNOW

WHAT ANIMAL IS THIS?

ANSWER: SEALIN FINNISH: ”NORPPA”

ANIMAL OF OUR LAKES

OTHER EXPRESSIONS IN FINNISH

• HEI! = HELLO! MOI! = HI!• MITÄ KUULUU? = HOW ARE YOU?• MINUN NIMENI ON…. = MY NAME IS….• SUOMI = FINLAND• VESI = WATER• JÄÄ = ICE• JÄRVI = LAKE• LUMI = SNOW• RÄNTÄ = ”WET SNOW” • MINÄ RAKASTAN SINUA = I LOVE YOU

What color is my country?

FINLAND: “The lady” of Northern Europe

About 5.5 million people live in Finland

Finland is about the size of the U.S. State Montana

Capital: Helsinki Independent country since

1917 Member of the European

Union since 1995

Finnish National Culture

Blue and white in our flag symbolize all the water and snow we have in Finland!

Over 180, 000 lakes

Lapland, Northern Finland: Winter Wonderland

Finnish National Culture

WINTER TRADITIONSSPORTS: Ice Skating and Skiing!

The Finnish Capital City: Helsinki

Picture taken from my home balcony

My University

My Life in Helsinki

My daughter Natalia, four years old

My Family in Helsinki

WATER (fluid and frozen)

This photo is from early spring, when ice is beginning to melt . In winter, our lakes and sea are completely frozen, in summer, they are ”fluid”

What do you think ”Fluid” means?

WHAT IS THIS?

”KAIRA” (BORER)…

…IS USED TO MAKE A HOLE IN THE ICE… FOR WHAT PURPOSES?

PURPOSE #1

ENABLE FISHING THROUGH THE ICE

Salmon From the Frozen Lake/Sea…As soon as caught, the fish is prepared and

eaten outside:

”KAIRA” PURPOSE #2?For what other reason, besides fishing,

would we make a hole in the frozen lake?

...A HOLE IS MADE FOR SWIMMING IN THE ICE-COLD WATER!(It’s a very healthy habit, actually.)

WARMING UPAFTER SWIMMING IN ICE-COLD WATER!

WHAT IS THIS?

FINNISH SAUNA

Naantali (where I grew up) ANCIENT TOWN BY THE ARCHIPELAGO

Naantali: Yearly Tradition: ”SLEEPY HEAD’S DAY”

A Chosen Local Person Gets Thrown into the Sea at 6am in their Pyjamas! Everybody is Watching!

Threats to Our Culture: Pollution…

… and warm winters with no snow. This year, Helsinki received less snow than New York! January 2014:

CHALLENGE: CONSERVING OUR

TRADITIONS, WATERS AND SNOW

ACTION:1) Prevent pollution; and 2) Prevent the formation of gases which accelerate global warming

Solutions: Use Public Transportinstead of buying and driving your own car

Walk, bike or ski whenever you can. Good for you, good for the nature

Global impact – if you do this in NYC you help us too!

Activity Let’s make ”snow balls” with thread! These are also used as decorations in our winter clothes

(and they are better for snow fights because they don’t hurt like real snow does

Activity: How to Make It?

Let’s Play a Game!

Who can make a Finnish Lantern?! Winners get a prize

Questions?KIITOS!