Hi,

Time to me to write some lines on the blog, too. We have now stayed here almost two weeks and are soon going to leave for District Conference in Niagara. Every one of us have been hosted by two families and and we stayed in a cottage close to Point Pelee Natural Park since now. Everyone, host families and those who have taken care of us during the visits in attractions and vocational organisations, as well have been very very hospitable and nice. They have done everything needed or even more for our accommodation. Many Thanks to them!

Thanks to Team Members, as well. They have done well, no problems, no missings, nothing negative - great Team!

My personal vocational day in USA was usefull, I visited two consultancy companies dealing with satisfaction surveyes. Both visits gave me ideas to develope my own company. The day in Canada differed from that one in USA; I had a very interesting possibilty to follow with Teemu training in the police and military training center in Windsor. We made pistol and rifle shootings were in both Teemu as an professional did pretty well, neather bad me as an amateur.

The rest of the days have we visited tourist attractions here in South Ontario and received a general outview on Canada and people in there. Surprisingly Canada seems to be a pretty strong wine producer as well as there have been a real war about two hundred years ago, not a total one but several major battles any way.

Some words about Rotary: fund raising for donation making and voluntary work are in totally higher importance compared to ours in Finland. Several, even millions of dollar financing wide projects have been implemented or are under way. Our small domestic and/or local projects seems to be unremarkable compared to them. The purpose of Rotary to contribute humanity is realising in an understandable way through these immense projects.

The first weekly meetings we have attended, have been a new experience for me; not very formal, much noise, singing, positive mood raising. Attractive! Our presentations, four times since now have been a challenge for us: the material has been good but the presenting in foreign language - the purpose of the GSE-programme, to deepning the professional skills is fullfilling.

Good team, good programme, excellant host, beautifull country - what could we hope more!

Jorma

Virve, Gordon & Mary Lou Drake and the wonderful breakfast with pancakes and homemade maple syrup
Pointe Pelee
At the downtown Windsor is a Rotary peace memorial

Hello there,

Yesterday in vocational day my host Gordan Drake took me to his work, to the University of Windsor. We walked around the campus and visited physics labs. Then we went for coffee with a wonderful man from Hungary, professor Mordechay Schlesinger. We were compering our mother tongues and found out lots of similarities.

After that we met professor Angela Sodan from School of Computer Sciences. She told about her research, job scheduling for clusters and grids. She is doing amazing work there and I got some ideas for my master's theses.

Then we quickly met the head of Computer department Akshai Agarwal and had nice little chat with him.

After visiting the university Gordon drove me to St. Clair College. Jamie Wilson, chair in School of Business & Information Technology. He gave me a tour in College and we visited many different departments and met many wonderful people. We had a lunch with Ruth Susannah, Professor in School of Business. Ruth is doing same kind of work as I do back in Finland so we shared many ideas. Of their curriculums I got ideas how to improve ours.

At the dinner in our host family, we had a visiting professor from Cuba Victor Fajer. See, how international this programme is!

Virve

Me and Mike at the outdoor shooting range.

Police department's shooting qualification, my result 63\64.

Preparing a dinner

Me and my C7 with 203 in FATS.

Hi there,

I had my first vocational day today. Me and Jorma visited Major F.A. Tilston VC, Armour and Police Training center. It's a combined training center for Military and Windsor Police department with great facilities. It includes classrooms, equipment storages, drill hall, medical services, both indoor and outdoor shooting range and a large indoor shooting range for semi-munition shooting training with live targets. There's also a one acre space for outdoor training.

The morning was hosted by Mike Akpata, a 40 years old local policeman and a teacher of the training center. During the morning we got familiar with police department and police training system, we did some indoor shoooting with 4046 Smith and Wesson, patrolled Detroit river with police boat and followed the training of Police department's tactical squad.

The afternoon was hosted by Chief warrant officer Kirk Drew and liuetenent colonel Hardy Wheeler. We got aquainted to Canada Army's organization, training system and training center's equipments and vehicles. After that we did a shooting exercise with FATS (pneumatic system for indoor basic and advanced shooting training). For a dinner we had a Army's food ration. I cooked Chicken a' la King. Portion was prepared with 40 ml water, which was warmed up with chemical reaction in a special bag. Quite a quick way to make a dinner, took only under 10 minutes to get it done.

At the end of the day we followed Army Reserve's basic training. About 25 young men did drills concerning company hide, raid and obstacle crossing. The training itself was quite similar to the training we give to our conscripts.

I had a really interesting day. I can't wait to visit Us National Guard next week.

Teemu

Hello!

I had a great vocational day today, with all the lovely people showing the work they do. In the morning I went to Canadian Mental Care Assosiations one clinic whic belongs to City Centre Health Care of Windsor and had a tour in there. Shannon was very nice to give some of her time to show me around and tell about they do in there.

After that I got to enjoy the company of 4 to 5 year olds at the Summit Centre for Preschool Children with Autism. I was taken care of Laurie Leeming, the senior therapist in there, and rest of the wonderful staff and got to observe the work they do in there. You can see them in the picture above. We also had lunch with Mary Lou Drake, my host, at the the Queen Elisabeth Cafe (with her picture on the wall) and afterwards went on to the Building Blocks for Better Babies, (supervised by my host Mary Lou Drake) Canada Prenatal program for pregnant and just delivered mothers with low income. There I got to attend their nutrition and physical exercise classes, and ofcourse to hold all these lovely children under 6 months! They all are so lovely!

That was my this weeks vocational activity, now we have some Rotary meetings to attend and on thursday we head to Niagara.

Love you all at home. Lots of kisses.

Mari the Mom

Heips!

Olipas mielenkiintoinen ja antoisa ammatillinen paiva. Aamusta olin lyhyella kierroksella Kanadan mielenterveysjarjeston yhdessa toimipaikassa, jossa Shannon esitteli minulle organisaatiota ja ymparistoa. Sen jalkeen sain osallistua esikouluikaisten autististen lasten kontoutukseen organisaatiossa, josta kuva on. Siella seurasin opetusta ja leikin lasten kanssa, joiden ika on 4-6 vuotta. Ihania, kuten lapset aina. Useimmilla on ongelmia kouluunlahdon kanssa, monet eivat puhu tai ovat vasta alkaneet puhua joitakin sanoja.

Lounastimme kuningatar Elisabeth II:n cafessa, jossa seinalta katsoi itse kuningatar Mary Lou Draken, emantani kanssa. Paasin myos hanen mukaansa hanen omaan organisaatioonsa, jossa tarjotaan vahatuloisille raskaana oleville ja juuri synnyttaneille naisille ohjausta ja tukea terveelliseen ravintoon, liikuntaan ja lapsen hoitoon liittyviin asioihin liittyen. Parasta oli, etta nama upeat naiset antoivat minun hoitaa lapsiaan. Ne kun ovat joka maassa 6 kuukauden ikaisena syotavan ihania!

Taman viikon ammatillinen ohjelma oli siina. Huomenna osallistumme joihinkin rotarykokouksiin ja torstaina lahdemme kohti Niagaraa.

Rakastan omiani kotona. Suukot ja halit!

T: Mari-Aippa

Hei!

Perjantaina kiertelimme Windsoria ja kaupungin eri osia. Walkerville syntyi tislaamon ymparille, silla perinteiseen patruunatyyliin tyontekijoille rakennettiin asunnot, kunkin yhteiskunnallisen aseman mukaisesti. Ei liene vaikea arvata, mista Ford City sai nimensa. Henry Ford levitti autoteollisuuden myos Kanadan puolelle. Mutta autoteollisuuden alamaki nakyy myos taalla. Ford Cityssa on paljon tyhjia taloja ja vilkkaasta menneisyydesta muistuttavat vain suuret seinamaalaukset. Ensimmaiset eurooppalaiset tulivat Windsoriin 1700-luvun alussa ja asettuivat Sandwichiin. Eras mielenkiintoinen vierailukohde oli rotareiden aikaansaama Children Safety Village, jossa opetetaan lapsia valttamaan vaaratilanteita niin kotona kuin liikenteessa. Talon toiminta-ajatus oli mahtava ja sain monia ideoita, joita tuoda myos kotikaupunkiin. Perjantaina kiertelimme paljon autolla paikkoja, silla aina kun yritimme tehda pienen kavelyn, alkoi sataa
.

Friday was our city tour day. We visited in Albert Kahn's Willistead Manor (I am an architect, I remember designer, not a owner) and we saw Walkerville, Ford City and Sandwich. We also tried to see parks and sculptures on the riverside, but each time it started to rain. We all liked to see Children Safety Village. I got a lot of ideas to bring back to my home town. The Finland needs that kind of places too!

Lauantaina aloitimme kahvilla Tim Hortonin kahvipaikassa, niita loytyy vahan joka kulmalta. Kahvittelun jalkeen suuntasimme kuljetus- ja automuseoon. Museolla olisi ollut myos mielenkiintoinen ulkomuseoalue, mutta jalleen satoi. Loppuohjelma olikin sitten sisaohjelmaa. Vierailimme puutarhamyymalassa nimeltaan Colasanti's. Toiminta oli alkanut kurkkujen ja tomaattien viljelysta 1940-luvulla ja nyt se oli valtava viihdelaitos. Kasvihuoneiden keskella oli minigolfrata, elainpuisto (mm. kilpikonnia, alligaattori, minipossuja, papukaijoja...) huvipuisto, pelisali, juhlasaleja, kaikkea mahdollista puutarhaan ja sisustamiseen, ja kylla - myos kukkia. Alue, jossa liikuimme, muistutti Pohjanmaata, ja kaikkialla oli kasvihuoneita. Vierailimme yhdessa niista, pitkat tomaatti- ja paprikarivistot olivat uskomaton naky. Ja tuoreet kirsikkatomaatit uskomattoman hyvia. Melkein kuin oman aidin kasvattamat.... Vierailimme myos Pelee Island Wineryssa. Saimme pienen turistikierroksen, jonka jalkeen olikin kiva maistella erilaisia viinilaatuja. Ja poimia muutama pullo mukaan, silla illalla oli ohjelmassa kaivattu lepohetki nuoren rotarin mokilla lahella Point Peleen luonnonpuistoa. Istuimme iltaa, soimme hampurilaisia ja nautimme kuumasta kylvysta ulkona isossa poreammeessa.

Sunnuntaina retkeilimme koko paivan auringonpaistessa luonnonpuistossa katsellen lintuja, kevatkukkia ja luonnon monimuotoisuutta. Pienelle alueelle mahtui niin soita, kuin kuivia katajistoja. Point Pelee on Kanadan etelaisin karki, samalla leveysasteella Rooman kanssa. Kun karjen nokassa seisoo ja katselee aaltojen hakkaavan rantakiviin, ei voi uskoa, etta olemme jarven rannalla. Vesi on turkoosia ja horisontissa nakyy vain taivaanranta. Oli ihanaa kayda lapi kuluneen viikon kokemukset keskenamme ja rentoutua. Ja siina sivussa taisi kylla palaa naama ja niska itse kullakin. Joten kun blogiin ilmestyy uusia kuvia, niin tiedatte mista nama kaikki punanenat tulevat. Ja ai niin, kanadalaiset ihastuivat Molkkyyn, jonka toimme mukanamme. Sunnuntai-illan barbecuen jalkeen pelia ollaan tilaamassa useaan kotiin.

Saturday we visited in Canadian Transportation Museum. Sadly weather wasn't good so we couldn't see historical village at all. But the museum was very nice. Essex is green house area(Heinz!!!) and we saw two very different kind of places. One was Colasanti's and other was more traditional green house with tomatoes and peppers. Colasanti's is not a only green house, it is a wonderland with animals, plants, indoor playground and mini golf. We also visited in Pelee Island Winery. We didn't know there is wineries in the Kanada. We loved Ice Wine!

We took some wine bottles with us and we went to spend overnight in summer cottage with Ken near park Point Pelee. We had very unwind time there. Just sounds of lake, lots of laughing, card games and good food. Sunday was really SUNday. We spent almost 5 hours all around Point Pelee. All those birds, flowers, and different types of nature. We also saw cactus, which grows here. And we got a lots of sun too, I have very red neck and face now. But we have a very nice weekend and at the Sunday evening a excellent barbecue with Molkky!

Katja

Mari, Bev, Gerry, Teemu, Jorma & Katja at the children's safety village, which Rotarians have founded
Wind...sor
Canadian mountinair
Queen Elisabeth II park

Home street in Grosse Point
Lunch at Z's
DAC Rotary meeting
GM building
Mari is changing country

Guardian building in Detroit
Mari and her host family: Sheri, Johnny and John Conway
The Windsor wood carving museum
Katja with Beverly, Gaylord, Betsy and Ben

Hello!

We are over to Canada now. You were right, things are a bit different over here. At least they are using km instead of Miles, that`s our first notice.

Just as we arrived, we got to take part at the big Multicultural Herb Grey Harmony Award Gala here in Windsor, where we met the Rotary District Governor Jennifer Jones and Financial Minister of the Ontario Province, Sanra Pupatello, and of course many other interesting people too. The programme was for the fundrising, but the funniest part of everything is this unbelievable story: They sold some silk scarfs for charity ot the gala (lovely looking too) and Katja bought one just for to wear with dresses and warmth. Which she didn`t know was, that there was a lottery included in the bargain, so she also got a lottery ticket and won a diamond ring. Truly a land of opportunity, I would say!

Today we will be taken on tour in Windsor, having lunch at the Serbian Centre and dinner at Johnny Shotzwere we can also play pool and meet the Rotarians of the area.

Wishings
Mari and the others

Moro kaikille!

Olemme nyt siirtyneet Kanadan puolelle Hudson joen ali (tunnelin kautta). Ero, jonka taalla heti huomasimme on metrijarjestelman kaytto mailien sijaan.

Heti tultuamme paasimme osallistumaan suureen Monikulttuuriseen Harmonia Gaalaan (noin 500 osallistujaa) Windsorissa, jossa ryhmammekin esiteltiin taputuksineen. Keskustelimme erilaisten ihmisten kanssa mm. rotaripiirin kuvernoorin, Jennifer Jonesin seka Ontarion provinssin talousministerin, Sandra Pupatellon ja muiden ihanien ihmisten kanssa. Gaala oli tyypillinen varojen keraystapahtuma. Hauskin tarina tulee kuitenkin tassa: juhlassa myytiin silkkihuiveja hyvantekevaisyyteen kerattavilla rahoilla ja Katja osti yhden koska ne olivat kauniita ja hanella olisi sille kayttoa. Huivin mukana tuli myos pieni oranssi arvontalippu ja kuinka ollakaan, Katja voitti myos timanttisormuksen. Uskomatonta, eiko!! Todellinen mahdollisuuksien maa, eiko.

Tanaan paasemme Windsorin kierrokselle, lounastamme Serbiklubilla ja illastamme Johnny Shotzissa, jossa voi myos pelata biljaria ja tapaamme alueen rotareita.

Mari ja muut

Hi folks!

Our days here in Detroit area have been filled with excitement and new knowledge of USA and the companies and specialities of this area. We have been able to see some of your oldest industries in car manufacturing and also some of your newest industries of high tecnologies and research (also in the world) in gen technology, which both we have been totally impressed of.

And what a wonderful vocational days we all have had! Rotarians of Crosse Pointe have really put an efford on what we would like to see. It was so interesting to see the working procedures of ones profession being done a little different, yet so familiar.

You wouldn`t beleive how similar people and professions are almost on the other sides of the world, really. And, still there`s always some procedures and hints to take home with us to develope each profession back at home.

We are overwhelmed on your hospitality.
Thank you Crosse Pointe Rotarians!

Mari and the rest of the crew.

As Virve wrote, we had Ford-day yesterday. We visited in Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate. The house was a beautiful English style home with stylish furniture. Architect was Albert Kahn. Garden was well desingned look like nature but with swimming pool and rose garden. And every girl would like a playhouse like there! (even adults like us)



After that we visited in the first Ford factory. It was a amazing place. Lots of old cars with full of history. And the building itself. It looks almost like 90 yeas ago. Of course a lots of renovations work should be done but even now it is easy to fantazise employees working with cars. And the history of Detroit and car industy. It is not to same read about it when You have change to feel and touch it. Even I, who usually knows only the color of car, was very stoked about legeng of Ford.



We also visited in Motown. The story begins with Berry Gordy Jr. and a small house in Detroit that he christened, Hitsville USA . This museum exhibit is a telling representation of the growth of Motown from a small startup business begun in 1959 to what became by the mid-70s the largest independent record company in the world. Is such names like the Temptatios, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Jackson Five familiar? That's the place...

Katja

Hello there

Like you see it's almost summer here (but not so warm, HURR!!). We have had a great time and we have saw everything ... and I mean that. Yesterday I was driving ;) and we went to Ford's house, saw some very old Fords and we went to Motown. 

Well now I have hurry up, because another great day is coming!

Virve

Hi homefolks!

We all have safely arrived and yesterday evening we transferred to Windsor from Detroit. Us sporty mums and dads started morning with jogging and walking in a sunny park by the Detroit River. The scenery was breathtaking in the sunrise.

After that we attended at the World Peace Summit. That had Robert F. Kennedy Junior as a keynote speaker. He made an inspiring speach in how peace and environment are connected and how environment and democracy work together. He was strongly defending the freedom of getting the right information through media. We all shared his thoughts and were inspired in attending the summit. Lucky we had time and opportunity to do that.

Now we are heading to Grosse Point and staying five days spread in different families. We are looking forward to meet our hosts. Tomorrow evening we`ll be getting together with a BBQ.

Love and kisses for all there at home!

Moms and Dads!

Hi!

My first vocational day is over and at the evening we have our first presentation. Teemu was with me during this day and maybe he understand what happens in an architect's head a little better...

I saw a beatiful Cranbrook area designed by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen. Sadly museum wasn't open but I saw it outside. I also saw whrere Esa Saarinen's General Motors Technical Center situates, but it's not allowed to get inside. But I visited very nice small architecture office and I saw a lots of beautiful houses. We visited also in Lawrence Tech's Architectural deparment. I would like to stay there just play with clue, balsa and knife. Maybe I studied too fast to make my dibloma..

The area we stay, is Gross Point. There is a beautiful spring, mangolia and other trees are full of flowers. Houses and gardens are very nice. Have You seen all those Finnish TV-channel JIM's DIY-programs? You will get a idea how it looks like here. You will get a picture how friendly and wellcoming hosts are. I wrote to my essee that I like to read books and a relax by reading romantic books like Kinsella. And so there was her newest book waiting for me.

Katja

Hi everyone!
After an excruciating week it`s finally beginning to be time to head for new adventures. Tomorrow it`s time to go. We already cried a little with my daughter Elli, so it`s done. This week got especially hard for I´ve just finished my Bachelor`s Diploma in Social Management today. Maybe it`s a good time to celebrate a little.

I`m looking forward for my vacational days programme and at the same time I´m already greatful for all the work our host families have done for us! I`m also waiting to meet all you great people over there!

I`m axcious to get going. We´ll start at 4.48 AM in Iisalmi and will be travelling for 1½ days. Even though the moods are a little sentimental right now, we´ll all be rich with our precious memories after a month. And then it`ll be time to be back to be a mother and a nurse.
Thank you for the Rotary Foundation for this great opportunity!

Yours
Mari

We finally got our tickets today. I was getting little nervous not having them just five days before planned flight to Detroit. Now, while studying the prints of the tickets I´m really starting to get exited . We are flying to United States next saturday, can you believe that!!! There´s still so much to do and especially so much to pack. How can I ever fit everything into my suitcase ?

Tomorrow is the last day at work for me until 15.6. I really appreciate that my superiors offered me the opportunity to apply for GSE program and were flexible with my vacation arrangements. I´m also grateful to my family for the possibility to take part in this program.

Hmm, writing this text took over an hour for me . I hope it´s getting easier in the future :o)

I´ll be back,

Teemu

Tervetuloa uudelle blogisivullemme!

Aivan ensiksi suuret kiitokset ryhmämme ja itseni puolesta Juha Auviselle (RK Iisalmi) hienosta työstä, jonka hän on tehtyt viime viikkojen aikana muokatessaan nämä sivut käyttökelpoiseen muotoon.

Kiitämme myös Rotary-organisaation edustajia sekä kaikkia niitä yksityishenkilöitä ja sponsoreita, jotka ovat tehneet tämän matkan mahdolliseksi ja edistäneet sen onnistumista.

Viikon kuluttua olemme jo kohdealueellamme D6400:lla Windsorin kaupungissa Kanadassa. Fiilikset ovat tuolloin varmaankin odottavat, mitä kaikkea tulemme kokemaan, tämän hetken matkakuumeen ja kiireisten viime hetken valmistelujen sijasta.

Tapaamisemme piirissämme vierailevan D6400 GSE-tiimin kanssa auttoi hyvin paljon valmistautumisessa; tutustuimme ihmisiin, kuulimme kokemuksista pitkästä matkasta ja saimme hyviä käytännön vinkkejä joka päiväistä olemista varten.

Tämän blogin kautta aiomme kertoa ystävillemme kotona ja kohdealueella matkan kulusta ja jää nähtäväksi, millaisen rytmin saamme, miten ahkeraan tulemme täydentämään tekstiä. Toivottavasti päivittäin edes vähän. Toivottavasti tästä kehittyy matkakertomus, jota voimme sitten muistella mielihyvällä vielä vuosikymmentenkin kuluttua.

Emme jätä tähän mahdollisuutta avoimeen kommentointiin mahdollisten häiriköiden takia. Toivomme palautetta, toivomuksia ja muuta yhteydenottoa sähköpostin tai puhelimen kautta. Ottakaa vain rohkeasti yhteyttä!

Jatkossa aiomme kirjoitamme tekstit myös englannin kielellä

Vielä kerran, tervetuloa

Wellcome to our Team`s new Blog Site!

First of all, the Greatest Thanks for Juha Auvinen (RC Iisalmi, Finland) on behalf of our Team and me for his great work in constructing these Blog Site!

We also give our Thanks for the representives of Rotary organisation and for all those private persons and sponsors, who have worked for the success of our project!

There are only few days left to our departure, we`ll be on our target district in Windsor, in Canada, next Saturday. What are our feelings going to be then instead of those at the moment, maybe expecting for the experiences coming?

The meeting with the GSE Team from D6400 in Hamina last weekend was very usefull for us. The ideas we got there, have helped us in our preparations; we got acquainted with the people from in D6400, we were told experiences and practical tip-offs for everyday stay during an overlong trip. Thank You, D6400 GSE Team.

On this Blog we are going to tell our friends at home and D6400 about our trip, experiences, and maybe feelings, too. Hopefully every day. Unfortunately we can not allow open feedback possibility because trouble makers of all kind could find the Blog and create disturbance in there. But you can easily contact us by e-mail and phone, too.

Please, do not hesitate to contact us; all feedback and comments are wellcome.

Once again, wellcome to follow our trip.

Jorma Kajanus, Team Leader