American Embassy

On Friday I had the honor of attending a Finland-US exchange alumni gathering at the US Embassy in Helsinki. Usually, as you could guess, the American alumni are rarely in Finland so since I wasn't officially invited my friend Veera helped get me on the list. (Kiitos Veera!)

The program I took part in was the Finland US Senate Youth Exchange scholarship from the Finnish government for a dozen American students to live in Finland for about two months each summer. My class was the thirtieth to go to Finland, so it was a big year for the exchange organization, Youth For Understanding. On the other hand, the scholarship for Finnish students to go to the United States for two months in the summer was only started three years ago, so only three classes of students have gone.

Luckily last year at the end of our stay, we got to meet the first two classes of Finnish students who had gone to the US at the American Embassy. My stay here in Finland this summer was timed perfectly for me to attend this year's reunion. I got to see most of my friends that I met last year and then I also got to meet the 2013 class of Finnish students who had just returned to Finland a few weeks ago. It was nice to see everybody again and it was really an honor to be able to meet Ambassador Bruce Oreck of the US again. I haven't met many government officials before, but Mr. Oreck is one of the most kind and sincere people I have ever met. He just loves people and he always makes us feel very welcome there, whether Finnish or American.

At the meeting, there were a few presentations and discussions of future plans but I think my favorite part was when Ambassador Oreck brought the whole group out on the to top floor balcony with the best view of Helsinki harbor to ask the Finnish students questions about how their stay was in America and how it had changed them. Of course I was the only American student there, but it is always interesting to hear others' impressions of my home country.

After the meeting, a large part of the group went to the center of Helsinki for a picnic in Kaisaniemi Park, right next to the railway station. I hung around with everybody until 9:00 when I had to catch my train back to Tampere. All in all, it was a very memorable day filled with friends and happiness that I won't forget.

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures to share of the Embassy meeting, as cameras weren't allowed within the building.