History Lesson

First off, just felt the need to share this:

Smoked fish is incredible.

What could this large rock be?

During the Continuation war, there were German troops stationed in Oulu,

and they left this engraving on a large stone.

Art? Commemoration? Graffiti?

Where does one draw the line, no pun intended?

A rather striking symbol..

Here's what I gathered:

German 6th SS Mountain Division "Nord"

July (?) 1942

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

A scary thought: SS troops in Oulu??

And, in nearby Alppila, a German officer's club!

Currently the Tuira firestation.

Hard to picture German officers coming here for balls, social gatherings, etc.

I wonder if the notorious Aribert Heim ("Dr. Death")frequented this place..?

He was stationed in Oulu with the 6th SS Mountain Division Nord-

apparently working in the SS hospitals

Situated on the highest point in the area..

..Overlooking the nearby barracks, now a second-hand store.

It's funny, the area has maintained the same theme in it's architecture:

Many long, low buildings- even the ones built in recent years!

NOW it makes sense.. why the door on the Kirpputori weighs a ton!

Northern Lights

With clear skies, and a recent flurry of solar activity, Thursday night promised for some northern lights!

22.50: Meet roughly 30 other exchange students in front of Yliopistokatu 16

23.00: Walk to Pyykösjärvi

23.30: (See below)

I was the only one with a bike out on the lake.. it made for a great mount for my tripod!

The factory lights were pretty..

The full moon cast some nice shadows, as well.

But, no aurora borealis.

Now the exchange students don't think they exist.

I was sent a box of MTU paraphenalia-

to distribute and represent at the Study Abroad Fair

Met up with the Mehtälä's!

Hanging out at none other than Hessburger

The post-post party:

playing Bohnanza!

Runebergin päivä

Found a few piano practice rooms on campus!

The aftermath:

(-23 C + no balaclava) x 2 hours = frozen cheekbones

(It was above -25 so I thought it would be unnecessary)

Tampere weekend video

Found a way around Youtube, and their copyright infringement laws.
thanks, facebook...  This should work without being logged into anything.  If it doesn't, or if the audio gets blocked or something, leave something in the comments section.

Tampere!

Had a ridiculously fun weekend with my buddy Karl Koivisto- fellow Husky CC member/American/Yooper (wannabe!)

Good times- fun to be able to talk without worrying if I was saying the right words.. not that it would matter around Karl!

Sunny weather ALL WEEKEND in Tampere

Tampere's attempt at Winter Carnival

Turns out that I'm not the only one that has great ski trails very close by!

We ran on singletrack through the woods around a lake-

It gets so hard packed that you could, and people do, bike on it.

Post-run snack: Rye bread and cheese

Karl's million dollar view

The World Championships of Kykkä were hosted in Tampere..

..only in Finland do you find an outdoor hot tub and sauna in the middle of campus

Sporting the classic Finnish Departmental Coveralls

Tampereen Tuomiokirkko..

..and some random people getting married..

Visited the Public Sauna/Avanto at Rauhaniemi..

..Right next to where Sam lived!

Some say, start 'em young..

Karl on his 1st of Three munkki's..

Tried talking him out of a third ("I need one for the road!"), but it only encouraged him.

These things are addictive- now I know where Karl's money is going

The view from Pyynikin näkötorni

Cookin' up some stir fry

Here's to friendship, food, and.. ..Finland.

Saying goodbye at none other than McDonalds!

A little shout-out to Sam and Amanda!

Adventure

So what's the first day of February without some adventure, Kilpela-style?

Backcountry skiing at its finest

I found a hill!  About the size of the Trimountain Rock Piles..

Turns out to be a landfill, but a hill, nonetheless.

I couldn't resist the urge to shred down it.. and wipe out..

There is something about rising above the treeline and seeing all the way to the sea.

I was by far the highest person in Oulu this afternoon.

..and all the way to Mordor, er, Russia..

Oulu city skyline

I PROMISE I did not edit this one at all.

Barrels of hazardous waste?

What is this, Baltic mines?

On the way back I made it up to the top again for a view of the city lights