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Show Feature SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31, 1994 Kanab student experiences Finland By Barbara Pyles Last July, Jaakko Laurinen was a Lions Club Exchange student in Kanab. lie spent one month with the Dennis Brunner family. This July, Jeremy Brunner was a Lions Club Exchange student in Finland. And he spent one month with the Marku Laurinen family. The Laurinen family lives in a rural area, and Jeremy experienced what life was like on a barley and chicken farm. The area reminded me a lot of where I came from in Wisconsin because of the trees and lakes, says Brunner. The nearest town to the farm was Mellila, a town of about 1,400. Brunner says he didnt experience culture shock. What bothered me most was the midnight sun. The sun goes to the horizon about 11 p.m., but it stays light until 2 a.m. To Brunners amusement, his day began with Marku yelling up the stairs, Jeremy, are you alive? According to Brunner there is no curfew in Finland. Jaakkos parents didnt get upset when he came home at all hours of the night. I thought that was a little bit different from the way my parents would feel if I stayed out all night! And Brunner said the Finnish girls arent that much different from American girls. Some girls asked me why there were so Kanab High School junior Jeremy Brunner spent a month exchange student in Finland. Photo by Barbara Pyles. as a Lions Club The two often visited Jaakkos many teenage pregnancies in America. His answer was al- sister, Eilna, in Turku. While in ways the same: I don't know, I Turku, Brunner toured two of the citys treasures: The Turku didnt do it! It surprised Brunner that most Castle and the Turku Catheof the kids had cars and that dral, and he learned a lot of they cruised around just like the history. The construction of the kids in Kanab. What surprised castle began in 1280, when Karl him most was the older people Gustav was the Governor of Fin- - "Some girls asked me why there were so many teenage pregnancies in America". His answer was always the same: "I don't know, I didn't do it!" who rode around on bikes. I land. The Cathedral is the can't see my grandma riding countrys national shrine and around Kanab on a bike, he the mother church of the Lutheran Church of Finland. said with a twinkle in his eye. Brunner also toured Helsinki, mother, was very nice and a good the capital of Finland, where he cook. The family ate potatoes found a McDonalds and Pizza and some kind of fish at every Hut. The pizza wasnt very good. meal. They drank milk or cran- The daily special was $8.00 comberry juice and ate homemade pared to $3.50 here. And the bread. The family ate tomatoes extra value meal at McDonalds like apples, and Pirkko turned was $6.50 compared to $2.99 in strawberries and raspberries the states, and not very good. into soup. Everyone also ate a Everything is expensive in Finlot of eggs. land, he savs. Levi jeans cost Brunner said Pirkko, Jaakko's Jeremy Brunner's host family in Finland, the Laurinen's, pose for their guest (hr): Eino, Pirkko, Jaakko and Marku. Campbell's Tractor Service For a positive change in law enforcement Vote Lot Clearing & Fire Prevention November 8 Lamont Smith Kane County Sheriff Mowing Grading Fast, Efficient Service (M)99Si And about misconduct in Finland, Brunner had this to say: There isnt much crime and not many gangs. In Turku there is less crime than in St. George, and Turku has 200,000 people. But there is a lot of underage drinking in Finland, he says. They start drinking at 13 or 14. The legal age is 18. Although the kids drank, I didnt see any evidence of drug abuse. The youngest daughter Eino, worked so Jaakko became his mentor. The two boys fre- quently spent days at a relatives summer cabin. We Thank you for your support Lamont Smith-Candida- te Kane County Sheriff Paid lor by the Citizens to Elect Lamont Smith would eat, go in their sauna, then jump into the lake. $80.00. And what is Brunners fondest memories of his trip? Slowly drifting down the Baltic Sea on a tour boat for a visit to Stockholm, Sweden. Finland is a good country, says Brunner. I wouldnt mind living there. Yet, for a young man who loves competing in sports and driving a car, there was a down side. There are no competitive sports in high school. And the Finnish kids cant drive until they are 18 years old. Although Brunner had a great time in Finland, he is very glad to be back home in Kanab. He would like to thank the Lions Club, the Southern Utah News and his parents. I couldnt have Brunner explained that dashing from the steamy sauna into a nearby cold stream or snow- made the trip without their bank is a Finnish custom. help, he said. |
