February - 2.14 as Friendship Day
The school celebrated it with multiple activities. Each class had a small performance that showed some aspects of friendships. Each student of the first grade told everyone about one quality of a good friend, and the third graders sang a song. The fifth graders put together an act to tell a story about how important friends are when facing difficulties. The sixth graders made a video that showed how people’s actions could warm or hurt others. I held a table to teach students to fold a heart origami. They taught me how to write “Happy Valentine’s Day” in Finnish.
After seeing this small aspect of the culture, my friends and I wanted to experience more things that are Finnish. We decided to blend into the place and enrich our time in Northern Europe. Then, for the following time, I tried things that I did not think I would, experienced activities that I did not believe existed, and stepped my feet on the edge of the world.