GSE-journey was one of my dreams and I´m so grateful and happy for this experience. It was amazing and wonderful and so much more than I expected. Warm hugs and thank yàll for making my dream come true. Take care!

"Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake." -Thorean

Back home... It is time to start living "normal" life again. Our month in North Carolina was unbelievable, almost like a dream. None of us could expect that we would experience so much and meet so many great people.

Our new friends, once again, I just want to say THANK YOU so much. We will never forget your kindness. And as Stan Cutts said, never say goodbye, say see y'all later!

Welcome to Finland! At least I can assure you that I'll be back in United States, sooner or later!

Perfect ending of the journey

Thank yáll in Lenoir for arranging the most neat last night for us! We enjoyed excellent Mexican food, good atmosphere, beautiful live music and moonshine (the moon was brighter and bigger than usually...). That was really perfect ending for our amazing trip. We are happy happy!

On our way to Finland... Or then not! Our flight from Charlotte was cancelled. Now we stay here for the night and hope that everything will work out tomorrow. Luckily Bill Parker arranged hotel rooms for us very quickly, thanks Bill!

Today was almost perfect! In the morning we had individual vocational visits and after that presentation in Lenoir Rotary Club.

Then we went bowling...

...and playing minigolf!

After that our great hosts organized us a visit to the fire station - something we had hoped for! And what a tour we had there: we went around the station and got lifted up to 100 feet hight with a fire truck's ladder. Neat!

Fire truck took us to down town, where we had a great dinner with Rotarians. After that me, Ilmo and Sari went to a motor cycle ride. It was an amazing feeling to sit on Harley Davidson, enjoying the ride, full moon and warm Southern evening....

Erikka was very happy after the Harley ride!

Photos - Morganton & Valdese

Historical Valdese people... Or are they?

Dollar smile American Style! Look at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWoJCY58xXs

Sari on a jet ski ride with Ronnie. Lake James is beautiful!

Cigar Club in Hickory. Johanna and Niina making their own pizza...

...This is Ilmo's way. Everything should be big in America, shouldn't it? 

Proof to Dr. Ismo! Here we are: Sari, Ismo Kääriäinen and Erikka in Cigar Club!

Yesterday we had so much fun! After our presentation in Morganton Rotary Club we jumped to a boat and spent the day at Lake James swimming, driving jet ski and playing tennis. In the evening we went to cigar club  in Hickory. Actually none of us smoked any cigars but we had lots of fun eating pizza and chatting with people. We met there a guy from Finland. Ismo Kääriäinen has lived in Hickory over 20 years now. It was so nice to talk with him. Greetings if you read the blog as you promised, Ismo!

Today the sun was shining again from the bright blue sky. It was time to pack our stuff again. Now we are in Lenoir. First we went to town hall and met the mayor Joseph L. Gibbons and Bill Griffin, the chairman of Caldwell county.

We spent the warm day by a beautiful riverside and also did a small hike there. We never found the waterfall that we were looking for but we saw something else: a rattle snake. Luckily it wanted to get away from us as much we wanted to get away from it! Otherwise the trip was great, beautiful sceneries and good company!

Today we had a museum day. Our team visited Waldensian Heritage Museum, Trail of Faith, Waldensian winery and railroad museum at the Old Rock School. It has been interesting to note that many American stories have the roots in the Europe. For example that story of the Italian village where the Waldenians lived until they moved to North Carolina.

The sun has been shining and I think today was the warmest day of our trip. Other team members sunbathe whenever it is possible, but I have to seek shady places: five minutes in the sunshine and I am red like a boiled crayfish.

In the afternoon we were exceptionally creative and decided (surprise surprise) to go to a mall for shopping.

In the evening we had a nice dinner with our hosts and other Rotarians and after the dinner we listened a guitar player: Schubert and other beautiful melodies (I think Ilmo knows better).