Koski English Club

Just like most people, as we entered into the new year a few weeks ago, I hoped that this year would turn out to be better than the last.

Well, although we are still only in week seven, I am happy to say that 2015 has started well and has already included several positive surprises.

One of them has its roots in a conversation which happened last year. Koski is a small (but very pretty) municipality which is 25km away from Somero. I was told that there hadn't been any language courses or clubs there for several years, and I was asked if I would be prepared to start a Koski English group.

We had no idea whether anyone would be interested or whether anyone would come, but we decided to give it a go anyway.

To be honest, my expectations were not very high. Sometimes when you start a new course in Finland, the reality is that you walk into a classroom where no-one is speaking and everyone is sitting in silence. It can take time for people to start saying anything out loud. I half expected this to be the case in Koski, where I knew no-one and was starting from scratch.

As it turned out though, I could not have been more wrong. Fifteen people turned up to the English conversation club and everyone of them was friendly and chatty. I certainly didn't need to worry about any embarrassing silences!

Just a few weeks later these same people already feel like old friends. Koski English Club has been one of the great surprises of the new year and every Tuesday morning I know for sure that we will all end up laughing about something.

This week we talked about the difficulties Finns face in trying to pronounce English words. They asked about the differences between pronouncing God, guard, cod and card. They wanted to know how to say "vehicle" We talked about the uses of the words cupboard and closet - coming out of the closet and having skeletons in the cupboard.

One thing I know about learning languages is that it is much more likely to happen when you feel you are amongst friends - and particularly when you are able to laugh together. That is certainly the case in Koski, where I have found not only new friends but one of the biggest plusses of the year so far.

Where is the sun?

I am fairly sure that most people who have moved to Finland from somewhere else have their reservations about the Finnish winter. At least some of the time. I know I do.

Yes, it's true that we have four distinct seasons over here, and that is a good thing. And on the days when there is a snow-covered landscape and the sun is shining, the scenery looks stunning.  People ski, skate, sledge, build snowmen and rave about how beautiful it all is.

But there is none of that right now. The weather has been hovering around freezing in the south of Finland for the last two weeks.  Something is coming out of the sky almost all of the time, but it can't make up its mind whether it's rain, snow or sleet. Driving conditions are unpredictable, the roads are slippery and walking the dog is a challenge.

It's cold, and the strong winds are making it feel colder. The photos I took yesterday in Helsinki looked bleak - like they have had the colour sucked out of them.

But on the positive side, it's February already. The days are getting longer all the time, Valentine's day is around the corner and spring will definitely arrive at some point or another.

Some may get excited about winter, but for my part I am looking forward to seeing crocuses, daffodils and sunshine. Until then I wish you all a warm and happy February, wherever you may be.