Little Steps in a Big World

Anyone who is interested in following blogs will already know about the site called www.blogilista.fi

You can find Finnish blogs on almost any subject here, and there is a always a short description as to their content. The most popular blogs these days seem to be about fashion and handbags and shoes, none of which are particularly important to me, and on the description of A Town Called Somero I promised that I wouldn't talk about any of those things.

Today though, I had to break that promise. Minttu has her first pair of shoes, and has also taken her first ever steps this week, so as far as I am concerned that is a good enough reason to break the shoe rule.

 Of course we are all proud of Minttu's first steps, but this week also made me stop and think about how lucky we are. Our family spent a summer in Ecuador two years ago and met many people for whom shoes remain a luxury rather than an every day item.

Somehow, despite all the hardship they face, the Ecuadorian people always manage to remain positive and grateful for what they have and complain a lot less than we do in the western world where most of us have so much.

Sunset over Turuntie this evening

So amidst all these thoughts of shoes, and small steps, and those who have less than we do, some new ideas are starting to grow about how we in Somero we could possibly do something practical to help. I had a chat with a friend of mine, Taija, this evening and we are starting to come up with a plan. Shoes from Somero.... something along those lines. Why don't we collect together all the shoes we don't need or want and make sure they get to people who could really use them? I'm sure there is a way to do this if we think creatively enough, and if we manage to succeed, then I will go back on what I said on blogilista and become proud to write on a blog about shoes. Is anyone with me on this?

Oh...and by the way, good news. The Somero English Club has a new home! I'll let you in on it tomorrow, and I look forward to welcoming you there next week. I have a hundred different ideas and plans for this autumn so I hope you will join me in some projects where we could really make a difference.  On our own each of us can only take small steps, but together I am convinced we can do anything. Will you join me?

Eighteen Reasons to Live in Somero

Since choosing to come and live in Somero in 2011, the question I have been asked most frequently is "Why Somero?" This is especially the case when I am working in Helsinki. People often can't understand why I wouldn't want to live nearer the capital and instead live "so far away".

What I would like to answer is this.  2012 has not been an easy year - for many different reasons.  I feel a little bit like I have been through a big storm and am just starting to find some sort of calmness again. But despite all the challenges of this year, the one thing I am certain about is that coming to live in Somero was the best decision I could ever have made. So to those of you, near or far, wondering what is special about this little town - here is my personal list of things I love about Somero.

• The people here are friendly. They have time to stop and talk to you and they remember who you are.
• People from Somero will help wherever they can, whether it is giving advice, helping find a service you need, putting you in touch with someone or starting your car when the battery has run out.
• The town centre is compact and you can find everything in it you need - banks, shops, a chemist, the post office, petrol.  Everything is within walking distance.
• There are several little cafes in the town centre and you will always be greeted by a smile.
• Both the school (Joensuunkoulu) and the sixth form college (Someron Lukio) have gone out of their way to make sure that Cameron and Lucie have been able to fit in, make friends and understand the language and their lessons. The fact that Finnish is not their first language has not proved to be a barrier at all, and this is thanks to the huge efforts of all the staff who have given them so much support.
• Somero is close to nature. You are never far away from fields, tress, forests and lakes. Beautiful.
• Somero is in the middle of a triangle made up of Tampere, Helsinki and Turku. You can get to any of these towns in just over an hour and the traffic is only a problem in the towns themselves, not at this end!
• Somero is clean.
• The church is very active here, and in a good way. Everyone who works for the church is welcoming, and they do a lot of work for the community, regardless of whether people are churchgoers or not.
• This is both a musical and an artistic town. There are frequent cultural events of all different kinds and everyone is made to feel equally welcome.
• There is a very low crime rate here. If a bicycle goes missing then it ends up in the newspaper, and if you accidentally leave your wallet or keys somewhere, the chances are you will get them back.
• Parking is never a problem. It is free and you are guaranteed to find a free place so you don't waste valuable time going round in circles looking for one.
• There are excellent sports facilities in the town. We have an ice hall, both indoor and outdoor tennis courts, volleyball courts, a sports centre, athletics track and a brand new swimming pool. Not bad for a small town.
• We have an excellent library. It is well-stocked, the staff are friendly, the internet is free and the surroundings are really spacious and inspiring.
•  It is not "cliquey" here. If you have an idea or a project then it is welcomed and you feel that people are genuinely supporting you in your venture.
• People here are proud to come from Somero. Of course there are still the odd complaints in the paper about bumpy roads or someone leaving dog poo in the park, but in general people seem satisfied to live here, and don't spend their whole time complaining about the town, unlike many other places where I have lived.
• There is strong sense of community here which has been lost from so many other regions. People still care about each other. Once you feel you belong to Somero you are made to feel as though you are part of something bigger, and that feels nice.
• The local newspaper keeps everyone informed about what is going on, still remembers to celebrate successes (which in the UK we have totally forgotten to do) and does not spend its time trying to put people down.

So, next time you ask yourself why it is worth driving for just over an hour to get home in the evening after working in Helsinki, those are my first 18 reasons. I have lived in loads of different places in many different countries - and I say without reservation that this is the best place I have ever found. If you don't believe me then come and see for yourself!

Somero English Club Starts Again!

At the end of each Finnish summer I spend several weeks living in denial. I carry on wearing sandals when it is raining outside and even when September is just around the corner, in my head I am still somewhere at the beginning of July. I guess I am not alone in wishing that the Finnish summer could be just a little bit longer, and at times this year I have asked myself whether summer 2012 every really arrived here at all!

Still, there are positives to the autumn arriving. The trees become really beautiful as the leaves turn from green to gold, and there is also a sense that there are lots of new things starting.... the school year, hobbies, the possibility to start skating again etc. This weekend in Somero we also have the added bonus that our new swimming pool will be opening on Saturday after a long wait.  The building is really impressive and is already a great asset to the centre of the town. There are pools for both adults and children as well as slides and saunas - I'll bring you pictures as soon as I've been!

In addition to all that, it is time for the Somero English Club to start up again, and this time there will be some new groups added to the old ones. People have suggested starting a teenagers group, a group for retired people and another for children, as well as one for complete beginners - so it will be interesting to see how much interest there is. As I write these words I still have a slight technical problem in that the venue is still not confirmed. This is not because I haven't looked, believe me!  I must have visited around twelve places over the summer trying to find exactly the right spot, but I have encountered one challenge after another, and I'm still not certain where we will end up. So for the moment you will have to trust me that I will have identified a destination in time for our first meeting a week from now.

I may have some more news on this tomorrow. Wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed that I can find us a new home for the winter.  In any event, I am looking forward to seeing both old and new members, andwherever we end up there will be coffee and pulla waiting for you when you arrive.    Keep watching the blog this week for an update on finding a home for the Somero English Club, and think positive!  See you all soon!