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| Lake Päijänne |
The city of Jyväskylä, pronounced
you-vas-ki-la (J in Finnish is like the consonantal Y in English),
is located in the lake district of Central Finland. Half the battle of visiting
new cities in Finland is learning their pronunciations. Arranging transportation
is easier. A 2.5-hour bus ride transported me to Jyväskylä where I stayed for
three days. There I attended a symposium at the university’s department of
education. I was invited to the symposium by a professor at the University of Helsinki,
Esa Penttinen. Esa was a more than gracious host.
Jyväskylä reminded me of a typical college town. There
seemed to plenty of amenities and activity, but on a lower scale than that in
Helsinki. Jyväskylä is situated on Lake Päijänne, one of the city’s main
attractions. The lake is about 85 miles in length making it the second largest
lake in Finland (
Source—Britannica).
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In addition to having Runebergs and coffe,
I was given a pair of socks knitted by Esa's neighbor. |
I learned to really live like a Finn when staying with Esa.
At night, we had a bedtime snack consisting of buttermilk (my new favorite), bread with cheese, and yogurt. Breakfast included coffee, a spoonful of fish
oil for cholesterol, a pastry, and oatmeal with handpicked
berries from the local forest. In Finland, some pastries are for a
limited time only. I had the last bite of my favorite Finnish dessert in Jyväskylä.
Runeberg is a crumb cakes topped with raspberry jam and honors Finland’s national
poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804–1877) (Source—This is Finland). The cake even
has its own day, February 5
th (Runeberg’s birthday) which is when
the dessert stops being sold. Esa purchased a container of Runebergs before the
5
th because he knew how much I like them.
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Esa was given this hat by the university when he earned his PhD.
All doctoral candidates receive a hat when they finish the program. |
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| Department of Teacher Education |
Esa and I walked down icy streets and through snowy parks to
the university. The
University of Jyväskylä has its origins in the first
Finnish-speaking Teacher Training College, and its
education department is
still one of the best in the nation. Jyväskylä
is known as the “Athens of Finland” because of its education programs. The state of the art education building is impressive. It
represents the innovation that educators are striving for in Finland. I have witnessed
this innovation everywhere—in the national curriculum, in research studies, and
especially in classrooms. The seminar resembled a beehive. There were several
workshops happening simultaneously in rooms with glass walls. The furniture rearranged
to accommodate participants. And presentations were more of a discussion than a
lecture. You can learn many things from everyone in the room! After a long day spent at the university, it was time to unwind.
What better way than the sauna? Esa’s apartment building has a common sauna that
each family has access to once a week. You do not want to miss your scheduled
sauna time because the chances of an opening are slim. Finns love the sauna!
My last day in Jyväskylä was most enjoyable. For starters, I
rode in a car for the first time in seven weeks! You do not realize how little
space is in an automobile after only using trams, busses, and trains. I hope I can
remember how to drive when I return to the United States. Esa drove me to his summerhouse
on Lake Päijänne. With the lake being right next to the city, I thought it
would be a short drive to his cottage. We drove for 40 minutes! That gives you an
idea of the size of Lake Päijänne. I could permanently reside in Esa’s lake house. It is an open room with
everything one needs: a kitchen, heat, books, records, and a beautiful view.
Esa kept saying how much nicer it is in the summer. That is when the area is
buzzing with life as people enjoy the crystal clear water and long warm days. I
imagine it is splendid, but I also like winter. I do not see this much snow in
Kentucky, let alone a frozen lake I can walk on. The blankets of white snow
placed over bushes, rooftops, and lakes symbolizes the purity of nature and how
we should keep Mother Earth healthy.
The peacefulness of the house beside the lake is a stark
contrast to life in Helsinki. It was sad to leave but the Onnibus is always on
time. I not only learned about current research studies from the teacher trainee
symposium, I experienced a charming city on a lake just like a Finn would. Esa
invited Kara and me to his lake house in the summer! He wants to prove how much
better it is then. I guess we will have to come back and see for ourselves.
