The Finland Adventures: Part Two

6.9

We started the week off with a walking tour through the neighborhoods of Hakaniemi, Kallio, and Kalasatama. In Kalasatama, we got to see a youth center in person. These are free third-spaces funded by the government for youth to hang out and meet people. It was the epitome of cozy and lovely. The walls were covered in artwork, ranging from paintings to fiber art wall hangings. There was a Kirjanvaihto (what we would call a little free library). We ended the tour back in Hakaniemi, and briefly went into the Hakaniemen Kappahalli (a Kappahalli is an indoor marketplace). The downstairs had lots of food options, and the upstairs was packed with vendors selling artwork, handmade jewelry, souvenirs, anything you can think of. 

6.10

In the morning, I went to the Fazer café right by the Töölö Towers and took a short walk around the area. Then I spent some time in the little park by the Towers, appreciating the soft silence of Helsinki in the morning. In the afternoon, we visited the Lapinlahden Lähde Mental Health Association. They are housed in the historic Lapinlahti, Finland's first psychiatric hospital. They have made it into a beautiful cultural space built on accessibility and community. We received a tour through the historic building and grounds, and heard the incredible story of Lapinlahden Lähde’s history. This became a favorite place for a lot of us to frequent.

In the evening, we went to dinner at a Syrian restaurant called Karaz. We got to hear from members of the organization Good Hair Day, a collective centered on uplifting and celebrating AfroFinns.

6.11

We continued our walking tours with Dr. Custodio through Vuosaari and the Uutela forest. Uutela was breathtaking. The damp and chilly day had us missing the saunas back at Töölö, but we warmed up in a café after our hike. On the way back, we spotted a baby deer in the woods. 

Before dinner, we met a guest who works for a Finnish youth program. We learned about youth work in Finland, including the ‘free hobby for everyone’ project and open youth houses like the one we saw on Monday.

6.12

Helsinki Day!!! This entailed a city-wide festival of free events celebrating the founding of Helsinki. A group of us started at the Museum of Natural History, then headed to Lapinlahden Lähde, where they had vendors and live music. We sat by the sea and listened to the bands perform.

6.13

I took the morning to rest and recharge. In the afternoon, we went to the Swedish School of Social Sciences to learn about the Swedish-speaking population in Finland. Then we got to hear from members of Ninho, an organization working to develop a more multicultural and plurilingual children’s culture in Finland. Both talks were fascinating and inspiring. Later that night, a group of us went out to the bar and had a lovely time. 

6.14

I continued my scavenger hunt for yarn stores. First up was Sunday Knitting Club, where I met some Finnish knitters and one American knitter! Next, I went to Lamb & Co, which ended up being my favorite yarn shop. I got the most beautiful silk-blend yarn, hand-dyed in Finland. When I got home, I cooked for myself and my roommate. I’ve been remiss so far in forgetting to mention that we all watched Love Island together throughout the month, and this was definitely a Love Island night. 

6.15

Another free Sunday! The Töölö Towers were about a ten minute walk from Hiekkaranta Beach (with an ice cream truck on the way), so a group of us decided to spend most of the day there. We went home for dinner, then headed right back to the beach for Annika and Ruby’s birthday celebration.