Food!

Throughout my visit to Finland, I've been able to try lots of new (and, for the most part, delicious) foods...so here's a a list (in no particular order) of some of the things that I have tasted -

• Ice Cream - Yes, I know that ice cream is neither new nor unusual, but here in Finland we have eaten so much (and so many different kinds) of it that I have to add it to my list. My personal favorites have been a blueberry-and-white chocolate ice cream bar and the ice cream with fresh berries that I ate in Kokkola.
• Berries - The berries here are amazing - by themselves, cooked, on ice cream...there are many different types of strawberries (they are smaller - but much better - than in the U.S.), along with blueberries, raspberries, and cloudberries (and some berries that I didn't know the names of).
• Salmiaki - This flavor is used in candies and ice creams, and is one of the strongest things that I have ever tasted. It's a kind of "salt licorice" and is made with Ammonium Chloride (I think it was first made during one of the wars because sugar and other candy-making supplies were scarce). Surprisingly, many kids love it.
• Black Sausage - When I was first told that we would be having black sausage, I didn't envison something as black as this sausage really is. I won't tell you how it is made (in case you have a weak stomach), but only that I had a difficult time getting past the way it is processed in order to enjoy the flavor (which was actually quite good).
• Ruispalat - This type of bread, which is made with rye and is shaped like an oval or circle, is what I have eaten almost every day for breakfast and with lunch. It tastes great, and is much healthier (and more filling) than any of the bread that can be found in the average grocery store in the U.S. Actually, all of the bread here in Finland has been wonderful - people here buy fresh bread almost every morning and it's never the squishy "wonder-bread" stuff that is so common at home.
• Pulla - This sweet bread, which is usually shaped like a cinnamon roll and served with coffee (or in my case, tea), is so good - especially when freshly baked.
• Nettle Pancakes - I think that these pancakes, which are made with crushed nettles and are therefore green in color, were my favorite new food that I tried here in Finland. Sirpa made them for me twice, and any way that I tried them (plain, with raspberries, with orange syrup, or with the maple syrup that my mom brought) I found them to be delicious.

I can't think of any other foods right now, but hopefully this list gives you a good idea of the different flavors that I have experienced here in Finland.

My mom and brother arrived safely on Saturday evening (although I didn't see them until Monday because I was in Tampere), and we came back to Porvoo today after a short visit to Kokkola. It was great for my mom to see her host parents again after so many years, and we all had a great time sight-seeing in the area and just doing "family" things together at Sirpa and Alpo's home. Hopefully we will be able to come back to Finland soon - this visit has been an amazing experience, and I feel like I gained a whole new group of family members!