My Kummi Family

Some of my best times in Oulu were spent with my kummi family, the Vanskas. (Again, you'll have to pretend that the vowels are correct because of my American keyboard.) "Kummi" in Finnish is something like a godparent. I spent a lot of time eating wonderful meals, going to concerts, and talking with the Vanskas. They helped me find the international church congregation, and they gave me their guitar to play while I was in Oulu, which saved me many times from being terribly homesick.

Because they are kind and agreeable people, the Vanskas allowed me to take their picture. They are too beautiful a family not be be immortalized on film, I think. :) Left to right: Antti (15), Sara (10), Pekka (isa), Vuokko (aiti), and Outi (13).

I got in on this one, while Pekka escaped behind the camera.

Antti and Sara relax with the computer and the TV. Antti helps his grandparents in the summer by translating for all of the English-speaking guests that come to their summer housing. Sara tries to help me learn Finnish by reciting the longest Finnish word she knows (which can barely be said all in one breath).

I took this picture of Outi in the evening after her choir concert, which I enjoyed tremendously. Among my favorite selections were "Sunny," "Wayfaring Stranger," and "Love Changes Everything." The others were lovely as well, but I think I lost something in the translation (since I picked up a word here and there like "yes" or "day").

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