Getting Ready!

October 7, 2007

Believe it or not, this is the first time I have ever posted anything to any blog, so bear with me!

I've been spending the last several days preparing for our trip to Finland. We leave the family home with my parents when we depart for Finland on Friday. To prepare, we've both obtained new passports, bought euros, and made lots of lists. At work, I have been preparing three presentations to give to various organizations while there, and I have been preparing for my main task while in Helsinki. The main task: being an external examiner for a doctoral student.

In Finland, we'll spend Saturday-Tuesday in Helsinki. I give two presentations: one at the University of Helsinki in the Forest Economics Department, and the other at the Finnish Forest Research Institute. On Tuesday afternoon, we next take a train to Joensuu, a five-hour ride to the northeast. The forecast for Joensuu calls for snow mixed with rain next Sunday. In Joensuu, we'll be guests of the European Forest Institute. We may tour nearby Koli National Park, visit the Institute and the city. Thursday morning, I give a presentation. On Thursday afternoon, we train back to Helsinki. Friday is the doctoral defense and my role as the External Examiner. Friday is the party. Saturday is relaxation. Sunday, October 21, we return home.

While we're there, we'll be checking email. I hope to be updating this blog and posting pictures if possible. We'll also be checking email, and you have our addresses for that.