Sauna and Sisu

Tonight I experienced sauna for the first time. And by sauna I don't mean the steam room at the local gym. This was the true sauna that is an integral thread in the tapestry of Finnish culture. According to the official travel website for Finland, there are enough saunas in Finland to accommodate all 5.4 million Finns simultaneously, and they are used by people of all ages. My fellow campers definitely embrace the sauna culture and encouraged me to join them. So, into the dark woods, I went with them in my swimsuit. Salolampi has a woodfire sauna that is along the shore of the lake. We sat on benches with only the light of the fire inside. While some of the visitors did not feel it was hot and steamy enough, I found myself sweating in no time and thinking that I should have brought a bottle of water along. Just as I started to consider the fate of Hansel and Gretel, though, people started to move to the door and head to the lake. Yes, the lake. In the dark of night, we waded into the cooling waters of the lake. After the initial shock of the water, the wonder of the night took over. The sky here is the darkest I have ever seen, except for the stars - thousands of them! I have never seen so many stars! I couldn't stop looking up. While the sauna lifestyle is certainly an experience that one acquires over time, there is definitely a sense of peace, relaxation, and camaraderie within.

This is the lake in the daylight.

Sisu is a defining characteristic of the Finnish people. It is often defined as perseverance in the face of adversity, tenacity, or grit. Sound familiar...growth mindset? Our speaker tonight was the president of Finlandia University in the upper peninsula of Michigan. In his talk about higher education and his school, he shared that new students at Finlandia attend a sisu seminar to understand and learn to discover this spirit within themselves. He shared how grit is a leading indicator for success in college students. He started by asking us all what was most important about college. People shared answers like stretching their mind, developing independence, and preparing for adulthood. Then he asked what parents think is most important about college and the response was getting a job. His school seeks to balance both of these outcomes by focusing on education as well as helping students to form their identity, recognize where they come from, and develop their own story.  

This was the board at the end of our class today. There is so much to learn!

I am building sisu as I continue in my classes. It is humbling to feel pride at being able to successfully read a board book with the numbers up to ten (with help!).