The Finns love their saunas.... NAKED!!!

What an adventure my first weekend in Helsinki has been. Yesterday I finally registered for classes, although it is really weird. I only have three classes this “term” which is until April, and then a whole new set of classes are available. I have a class on Monday, and then Wednesday, and then on Thursday. All of them are for two hours! We will see how that goes. But one of my classes goes from 4-6! How crazy is that. I also opened a bank account yesterday. I still have a lot more I need to do to get completely settled. Something I really noticed at the international party that I forgot to mention is how every dances differently! It was so cool just to watch every. Americans really just shake their but, but man, those other internationals had some moves! I tried to follow, but my body just did not move like that.
Today was a very busy day. At 10:30 Abbie and Christa came over for breakfast in my room (scrambled eggs…. classic) and then we went shopping for me to get a cell phone and Abbie to get a SIM card, which is much easier I must say. All the other Europeans just have to switch their SIM card. Now I have this Finnish phone (Samsung brand though) that got for only 28 euros! Not bad. I had to buy a SIM card too, but it wasn’t too much. I feel so much better now that I have a phone over. It was getting so hard to find everyone all the time.
After our electronic purchases, we went to the gym. I only paid 57 euros for a gym membership for 6 months! What a deal! We get really good deals with our school card. The gym had so many work out thingys that I have never seen before! Then… this is the best part… we went to the Sauna. The Finns are known for taking saunas, which they call sownas. They all go in naked, but we all had towels. It was so hot!!!! There were these coals that you poured water on that bring in more steam. At first it was just the three of us. But then two naked Finns came in and poured so much water in it! What they do is workout, then run through the shower (naked in front of everyone!) and then go in the sauna. After they are done they kind of take a quick shower again in the huge public shower. They even have blow-dryers in the changing room. I have never seen so many naked people, I knew I was in Europe. Considering how modest I am, I think I did well. I kept my towel on in the sauna, but I had to take it off to shower!!! Ahhhh!!!!! My European friends were just laughing at me. Ok, sorry if this is too much information, but it was a big deal. I mean for real, the Finns just walked everywhere naked!! Ok, well all over the ladies changing room.
I am still sick and I have lost my voice, so I sound like a man. Since many of you seem concerned for me, I will try to get more rest tonight. I am going to an English speaking church tomorrow, but it starts at 2! That means I can sleep in much later.
It is neat now when I walk into my room because it feels more like home. Everyday really just gets better and better, and I am getting closer with the two girls I have been hanging out with, Abbie and Christa.
I start classes on Monday! I am kind of anxious to see what my routine will be once they start since I don’t have them everyday. I guess I will just find out.
Last thing, update on the snow. It has gotten so much warmer here! I looked up weather in Cordova, and Helsinki was only a couple degrees cooler. That means the snow has all melted, but then it will refreeze into ice! Everyone is slipping on the street, kind of scary. I fell, but it was not bad and luckily no one else saw. But the snow is just shoveled into these huge piles on the sidewalk, some taller than me! The rest of the snow has turned black from dirt… gross!!!