My name is Taaveti Markku Raaken. I am 11 years old. I live in Ivalo, Finland, with my mother, my father, and my little sister, Kjersten, who is six (and a real pain in my rear!). I also have a dog named Ingrid.
I am in the sixth grade at primary school; next year, I start secondary school. I am a little nervous about that; I have enjoyed my school very much; don't look forward to going to a new school, possibly away from my friends!
I am a very active, happy boy. I love to swim, pick berries, play with my friends, go fishing at the creek by our house, skateboard, and watch the stars in the summer; in the winter, I love to snow ski, sled down the big hill in our backyard, go Christmas caroling for the shut-ins of our neighborhood, and watch the auroras dancing in our skies. I also love to go to church on Sundays.
My best friend is Helmut Tergardden. He's in my grade, and is in several of my classes. I've known Helmut since he moved here from Oulu two years ago; we became fast friends; now it seems we're together just about all of the time. Like me, he has a little sister who's Kjersten's age, but she's handicapped. She's in a wheelchair. She goes to a school for handicapped kids.
My next door neighbor is Sari Constantinos. She and her husband, Nikolas, have three children: Birtta, four; Erick, two; and baby Ilsa Magdalina, who is maybe a year old. They're very nice neighbors; I just feel sorry for Sari because she has to use crutches or a wheelchair to get around. She has something called multiple sclerosis, and other problems. I've known the Constantinos family ever since they moved here over five years ago, but back then, when they moved here, it was just Nikolas and his wife.
Well, that's my story for now. I can't think of anything else to write about, so I will go. I will write in here again soon; writing about yourself is harder than I thought! Take care, and may the good Lord bless you always! Until later, this is Taaveti saying Nakemiin!
~Sincerely, your new friend in Finland, Taaveti M. Raaken.
Outside! outside! discover the laborious ants, the bees and squirrels, the rain drops playing on a pond making circles, the thousand creatures, monsters and shapes in the clouds...it a whole world out there, just waiting for you to go out and take it!
I enjoyed Taaveti's bioigraphical story, and his empathy with less fortunate children who are disabled in some manner. I also love that picture. It is so beautiful. It would be perfect on the front of a book. Did you take the picture yourself?
I am a very active, happy boy. I love to swim, pick berries, play with my friends, go fishing at the creek by our house, skateboard, and watch the stars in the summer; in the winter, I love to snow ski, sled down the big hill in our backyard, go Christmas caroling for the shut-ins of our neighborhood, and watch the auroras dancing in our skies.
You, my young friend, know how to live - so many youngsters today just stay indoors, playing their video games and watching T.V. - and missing all those truly fabulous things in life.
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