Hei!  Miita kuuluu?  Kiitos hyvaa!

It's me, Taaveti Raaken, of Ivalo, Finland, writing!  I hope this finds you well.  In any event, it is nice to meet you.  (In my language, that would be "Hauska tavata".  That means, "Nice to meet you" in Finnish, which is primarily what I speak most of the time.)

I am 11 years old.  I live in a nice house with my mother, Tarja, my father, Matti, and sister Kjersten (she's six), as well as my dog, "Ingrid". I have very nice neighbors, especially Nikolas and Sari Constantinos, who live next door to me.  They have three small children, a boy, Erick, and two girls, Birtta Aurora and Ilsa Magdalena (Ilsa is a baby).

My best friend is Helmut Tergardden; we are in several classes at primary school (it's our last year there; next fall, we start secondary school).  We play a lot together when at school, and also when we're home.  We've been the best of pals since we were in kindergarten.

Helmut is a wonderful friend. He's always finding ways to make me laugh (he can be somewhat of a smart aleck) and make me forget of my troubles I have with my little sister, who is a brat.  (He has a little sister the same age as Kjersten; she's in a wheelchair and goes to a school for kids who are handicapped.  He takes very good care of her; he loves her so much.)

I wish I could say the same about Kjersten!!  She drives me crazy!!

Tomorrow I might go to a movie or to the park with my family.  Mother said that Helmut could come with us, and he can bring Parneta with us, too.  (That's his sister who's disabled.)  Maybe with them being with us, maybe Kjersten can behave herself or stay out of my hair!  I hope so!

We will make a day of it, especially since the weather here is so beautiful.  We want to get out before snow starts flying; that should start in a few weeks; by December, all of Finland is covered in a sea of white, and it turns bitter cold.  And then we don't see the sun again for at least four months; it's totally dark out, with only the aurora borealis lighting our path.

Oh, and let us not forget the lights of Christmastime.  Christmas is very big here in my country; we traditionally open our gifts on December 24, then relax on Christmas Day (and go to church; we're Lutheran), then go to parties from December 26 until December 31. 

Then on December 31 we take sauna baths, so we'll be clean for the coming new year.  (Saunas are a very important part of life for Finns; just about every Finn has one.  We do; it's nice!  We use it just about every day; we all go there together to relax.)

Well, Mother is calling me (guess she wants me to get up; it's already morning here), so I will go for now.  Until later, this is Taaveti saying Nakemiin! 

~Love, your new Finnish friend, Taaveti.  :)

*to be continued.*