Lovely Finland!

Today was very pleasant. The temperature remained under -5 degrees Celsius. In Crime and Criminal Policy, we spoke mostly about private prisons, which look good on paper and in the short term, but are inefficient and costly in the long term.

I was super tired, so I went home as soon as possible to have a nap. In the evening, I went to the apartment sauna. It was dry and a bit too cool for my liking, so I walked out of the room to fill a pot with water. When I returned, I poured the water on the rock stove. Shhhhhhhhhh, was the sound of the liquid touching the rocks and turning into steam. The sauna grew hotter. I could feel a drop of sweat fall from my temple. I felt my arms and my legs beginning to moisten. My head felt relaxed and I moved from a sitting position to laying down. After ten minutes, I went outside for a cold shower. I returned for a second round.

Tampere is beautiful as ever. Sometimes I wonder if my heightened love for it comes because the end is in sight. Whatever the reason, I'm sad to think about leaving, especially when America feels so far away and foreign now.

The cliche term would be bittersweet. I'm equally as excited and eager to return to my home country, to see my friends and family, to explore more of the states, to figure out what my next step will be.

Maybe it's too early to be writing all this mushy stuff... Anyway, some pictures:



(Federiko rides his bike to school in -20 degree weather. In Oregon, classes would be cancelled in this weather.)



(Lovely colors of the evening, seen from Aitoleipa)







(Pictures taken near the university)