From 22nd August to 28th August, I was given a great opportunity to participate in an international rural event exploring the Finnish country side. Prior to the trip, I was unaware of the existence of LAG or Leader programs in Europe. The more I found out about the trip, the more I was excited to get involved. As I am fascinated by foreign cultures, I could not decline a chance to visit a new country.
After many meetings, we finally set off on Sunday 21st August, not fully aware of what to expect. After arriving in Tampare airport, we met up with Marita Hankila who drove us to Pieksämäki, a small town North East of Tampare. We visited “Café 76 Sata” youth centre where we were greeted by Suvi Sikanen. She explained to us that the café was entirely funded by the local council & Leader as there were no youth facilities available previously. Suvi is responsible for organizing local youth events and supporting young people with their needs. After a night stay at a lake side lodge in Mäntyharju, we drove south to Helsinki for our first Amaze Me Leader! Meeting. Before the first meet up, we ascended to Best Western Airport Hotel (Pillotti Helsinki) for a breakfast followed by a meeting with the French Delegates (from the Northern France). We discussed the possible exchanges between France, Finland & Scotland. Following issues were discussed thoroughly; funding, associations and the schedule. We also discussed about Earth Hour, a global event held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. Marita suggested if the exchanges occur between the countries, environmentally friendly events should be prioritized. After the meeting, 2 boys from the French delegate (who are also participating in Amaze Me Leader! event) joined our van, heading to Hilton Hotel at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. At 12pm, we arrived at the conference room of the hotel greeted by many participants and the staff. As the AML registration begun, we were divided into 16 different groups. After the local police officer thoroughly briefed us on the road safety, Antero Lehikoinen, one of the main organizers gave us some poignant words; “Because of what happened in Norway last month, it is crucially important for all young people from different European nations to work together and exchange ideas”. After further comments (with added humour) from 2 other main organizers, Juha-Matti Markkola & Tomi Kervinen, we were ready to go. As the Belgian groups flight was delayed, my group had only one other girl, Paulien van Beesten from the Netherlands. We were given 16 cars from the Hertz car rental and we were off! First stop, Vierumaki Ghosthall, roughly 2 hours north of Helsinki. After struggling to operate the GPS (on the Nokia phones we were provided), we were joined by others for our meeting point. This hall was one of the few buildings that survived the 2nd world war, and is used by the local community ever since. Finnish Leader funded the renovation of the property and it is still partly under construction. After an impromptu dance lesson by Juha, we were off again. Next stop, our accommodation for the evening, Marjoniemeu Poukama lodge house. We were all given our first chance to experience the legendary Finnish sauna, followed by a midnight swim in the lake.
Tuesday the 23rd, another beautiful day. We were told that all 16 groups will be going to entirely different locations, visiting various projects funded by Leader/LAG. After being joined by Benedicte from Belgium, 3 of us drove off to Teatteri Lumpero for “Art Hysteria”. We were given 3 different tasks, painting, dancing and a sculpture making, overlooking the beautiful Saarijarvi (Island Lake). After refueling our vehicles, we made it to Pihtipudas, a small town 358 km north of Helsinki, given us an early indication of how far we will travel after a week of driving. Our final stop of the day was at Hiekan Hippos race course outside of the town. We each made a toy horse which we raced each other by carrying it. I personally thought this activity was very bizarre, however we were all reminded again that Leader also supports local businesses for developing rural economy. We were all left out of breath, but couldn’t stop smiling with laughter.
After the race, we headed to our accommodation at Pihtiputan Lukio (Pihtipudas Junior High School) where we were to sleep in the School gym. After dinner, we got together in the courtyard in front of the school for some group activities (to build our team work). The best teams of the day were given a star for their vehicles. The day ended with a Heavy Metal concert at the town square, with Finnish staff shaking their heads saying “Finland is not all Heavy Metal”. This meaningless but humourous discussion of British stereotype image of Finland gave me an opportunity to get to know the Finnish staff, young students volunteering to make sure that the whole tour goes according to plan.
Wednesday the 24th, another beautiful day! After departing Pihtipudas at around 10am, my group headed to Maasseutu Opettaa Farm in Keitele where we were given an opportunity to drive a tractor and visit the cow shed. As Paulin studies Agriculture in the Netherlands, this was a project we could not miss. We were given a tour of the milking shed where they milk the cows for the Finnish dairy company “Valio” for fresh Maito (milk). We discussed the procedures the Finnish farmers follow on Organic milking, and the realities of modern farming. After eating lunch at Pielavesi, we headed to Sonkajärvi for the world famous “Wife carrying” competition. This national obsession in which male competitors race while each carrying a female teammate. The objective is for the male to carry the female through a special obstacle track in the fastest time.
The usual prize, the wife's weight in beer, was replaced by a T shirt from their limited range of merchandise for good measures. This event was not funded by Leader; however it was an important event to experience something Finnish and to build team spirit. As there were 3 people in our group, with 2 girls, this was not our strongest participation but a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
We then headed to Vieremä for what was to be the most bizarre activity of the trip. Not everyone including myself knew how to react to this pedal cart race as it seemed a little childish, and we were told to wear a baseball cap with a black & yellow sponsorship “Ponsse”. I was not happy with our foreheads marked with a corporate advertisement. However, we were told that the company was supported by the Leader funding, so I realized that this was not entirely a bad thing. This has given me an indication that we will witness all kinds’ of projects in all extremes. We finally arrived at Koljonvirlta camp site, near Iisalmi, 480km north east of Helsinki.
Thursday 25th, possibly the hottest day of the trip. After some group building activities in the camp site, my group headed to Iisalmi city centre. At the town square, we were greeted by Kaisa & Reeta, our Finnish staff. We were given a unique task of asking questions to the locals. This had nothing to do with the LAG or the Leader projects, but possibly to encourage us to get deeper into the Finnish culture. Shortly after, we headed to the café Häggman for an interview for local press. Afterwards, we headed to the local playground for our “Parkour” lesson, provided by 4H, Finnish youth organization. Parkour is a method of movement focused on moving around obstacles with speed and efficiency. Originally developed in France, the main purpose of the discipline is to teach participants how to move through their environment by vaulting, rolling, running, climbing and jumping. 4H, which stands for Head, Hands, Heart and Health, is the biggest youth organization in Finland with more than 79000 members. 4H provides children, youths and young adults with practical skills and courses to support their career paths. Afterwards, we arrive at Kolmikanta camp site in Outkumpu, east of Finland and part of the North Karelia region.
Friday 26th, a very warm day. First stop, Keretintie Golf club. A Leader funded Golf club, situated just outside Outkumpu, is a perfect green for all Golf enthusiasts. It is a complete fabrication that all Scottish people are excellent at Golf. This ridiculous theory was put to test by me and my Scottish colleague Kathryn Maxwell. As predicted, we were the worst Golfers on the green, which baffled the staff at this Golf Club! As of this moment, their club house incorporates with a Petrol Station. It was a great joy to be told that Leader would be funding their new club house, which would improve the services of the site, bringing in large income for the local economy.
After departing the Golf Club, we were followed by the Media team filming our car whilst driving. Very dangerous act, but for the benefit (viewing pleasures) of the executives at European Union.
We headed to Roukolahti in the North Karelia region. Local people at Roukolahti village hall provided us with quick lessons in baking & dancing. The baking lesson provided by a master baker whose name I cannot recall, taught us how to cook traditional Rye bread. Rye bread, an ancient staple diet in Eastern Europe, was developed in Finland as people could not afford wheat. This cost cutting method eventually became traditional bread and a symbol of Finland. Rye bread is high in fibre, and is a healthy (and extremely delicious) alternative. Baking class was followed by a traditional dancing class. Finnish folk music is set to Karelian traditional songs. Dancing was a favorite past time for Karelian people, who has witnessed unprecedented amount war, suffering and invasion.
This ancient tradition is dying rapidly and is overshadowed by an enormous popularity of Heavy Metal music in the country. Therefore, for the elder villagers who volunteered to help, it was a glimmer of hope to teach many young foreigners how to dance, to keep the tradition alive. Again, this village hall is supported by Leader, a vital partnership. Hannele Mikkanen, the Mayor of Liperi, a local Municipality, joined us for the dancing, and told us about the local area. North Karelia region, said to be the most beautiful area in Finland, holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in the country. Roukolahti village recorded a staggering 37.2 °C (99.0 °F) on 29th of July, 2010.
After we checked in at our accommodation at Hietajärvi camp site, we took a bus to a nearby Raatevaara village house for a night of dinner and entertainment. We were treated to a local Mushroom soup which was very delicious. This was followed by another bus trip to a nearby forest for a midnight “Night Boletus” (mushroom picking). As we walked deep into the forest, we found some enormous mushrooms we have never seen before. Some in strange shapes and sizes. As my groups collection weighed in 8.7kg, we came third in the competition. However, I realized I was not going to eat any of it which was a great shame. That was the main purpose in my participation.
Saturday 27th, another very hot day, this baffled the geography of our minds. After abseiling the nearby cliff, we drove off to Parikkala for another Finnish obsession, Milk cart rally. After getting deposited into the lake by my trusted team mates, we were awarded with a T shirt, which I was in dire need of. After a quick lunch, we headed to Särkisalmi to visit the Voluntary Fire service. After a brief fire extinguishing exercises, we were told that these men risk their lives for free as there are no fire service in the area. It is nice to acknowledge that Leader has funded the entire project.
Afterwards, we headed to Kokko farmhouse, Uukuniemi, another farm partly funded by Leader. As we participated in several activities (“how tall is the tree?” and “how many pigs in the field?”), we were told that Russia was 100 metres away. On the edge of the farm, a sign reads in 5 languages; “Stop; Frontier Zone, No entry without special permit”. Russian soldiers patrol the narrow road in their Jeeps twice a day. This 200m of no-man’s land is haunted by silence. The Fin-Russian border with its “generous” price tag of $400 Euro fine, a night in jail & no nonsense policy by the Russian government has become one of the most successful boarders in Europe with very limited illegal immigration. However, the economy of the nearby villages on each side is very different. The gap between the rich and the poor is worth a mention. This is very educational for someone like me, from an island country, in which we rarely deal with such issues with neighboring countries.
After arriving at Uukuniemi Recreational centre, Uukuniemen Virkistyskeskus, we headed to a nearby Papinniemi camp site for dinner and a closing ceremony. All participants, staff and the local co-ordinaters were mentioned and congratulated. Afterwards, we went off to the nearby Elotuli Rock Festival, with the Finnish staff repeatedly reminding us that Finland is “Not all heavy metal”. Wonderful mix of Finnish folk rock bands and Finland’s world famous strict smoking/drinking laws ended what has become one of the greatest week of our lives. While expressing my deep love for the country, Juha-Matti Markkola, AML co-ordinator, he spoke of his trip to Scotland and his love for the Scottish country side. He expressed his interest in AML 2012 to be held in Scotland. If this event was to occur, it would be an enormous gain for the Scottish youngsters. Young people of Scottish countryside need more interaction with foreign people and their culture, and to promote the beauty of Scotland.
The next day was very positive. As Juha-Matti joked (but in a serious manner), we drove around Finland like maniacs, polluting the air with the guzzled fuel of our cars. So we compensated the AML Carbon footprint by planting trees at Simpele in South Karelia region, an area that was devastated by a storm last year, a fitting tribute to the purpose of Leader projects in Finland. After our farewells, we drove back to Helsinki-Vantaa airport to return our cars. After that, each of us returned to our countries, our cities, our towns and villages, but with our collective consciousness left behind in Suomen Tasavalta (Republic of Finland).
It is difficult to sum up my experience in Finland. The most isolated and furthest north many of us will ever travel. A country with its poetic landscapes, dramatically changing through different regions. People with the most isolated language in Europe, spoken with pride. A nation rich in history and technology.
Prior to this trip, my knowledge of LAG or Leader was next to none. It was sheer coincidence that my mother received an email through the local rural office in Dumfries & Galloway (Southwest Scotland), a single email that changed my life. As I travelled the lengths and breaths of Finland, I became more aware of the work LAG and Leader provides for Europe. Since the devastation of WW2, European Union was vital in rebuilding Europe. I feel fortunate to become involved in such organization.
Working with 70 young people from 16 different countries was difficult at times. However, we exchanged lifelong friendships, cultures and ideas for the future of Europe. In these difficult times, it is vital for young Europeans to work together and achieve our mutual goals.
There were several things I must criticize of the whole event. Some of the activities were selected unfairly, as many of us missed out on what each of us wanted to do. Also, as we were told that this was not a competition, stars that the teams were given each day became competitive. As I was in a group with 2 girls, there was no way of winning any physical activities. I was not so much interested in winning, but to participate. However, as Juha-Matti summed it up; “You will always learn from mistakes, and all criticism will be dealt with to improve the future AML.” To organize AML was an enormous task, and I am forever grateful that the people in Finland has given me this valuable experience, in which many tourists or even Finns will never experience.
I was fascinated by Finland in every way. The beautiful land, the most generous people, the delicious food, everything imaginable. Since the trip, I have become obsessed by Saunas (followed by swimming in the lake), Letta (pancakes), “karjalanpiirakka” (Karelia’s pie/porridge pie) and Makkara sausages. It was important to delve into the culture, one of the most amazing things about travelling to a foreign country, which was helped by an unusually warm weather for Nordic country, which baffled the Geography in our minds.
The trip has definitely inspired me to think about my life and the future. AML has given a vital insight into the importance of rural development, and I would like to be involved with more projects in the future. As I am writing this at my next work in Italy, the trees of Finland are still flickering before my eyes.
Monday 5 September 2011
Monday 22 March 2010
Chester Blog - Part 1
Hello everyone!
If you're not aware, my style of writing is very honest and sometimes brutal, so please don't be offended! It's supposed to be autobiographical writing.
It means well, and it is important for me to write the truth to people who are interesting in my so called life.
Also, blogs are supposed to inform people on your recent acitivities. But for me, it's just an assurance that somebody is listening, which is a comforting thought.
I will be doing my writing on here from now on as I do not use nor participate in Facebook anymore. The online phenomenon that has corrupted many beautiful young minds to the point where we rely on technology far too much. Also, I was fed up with another invitation to another application, or forced to acknowledge who had what breakfast, or who had sexual intercourse with who. I should probably finish talking about facebook, but to round it off, I am more interested in meeting people for real and sharing stories.
Also, I have given most people on facebook my postal address:
Jamie Uchima
Somerset House
Somerset Street
New Town, Chester. CH1 3JA.
I will be delighted to receive a letter and I will correspond! We have all forgotten the beauty of writing and posting letters to someone. (We have also forgotten the beauty of mixtapes, on cassette tapes, but i will write about that another time!)
Letters, drawings, poems, songs, doodles, I will appreciate anything creative. If you would like to send a postcard from a foreign country, please draw on it, or do something unique!
Anyway.....
Since I returned from Ghana in February 2009, I got a job as a Cafe Assistant at Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries & Galloway. I spent 4 months there, working solid hours. In July, I managed to escape to Munich in Germany which was a wonderful holiday. I visited my big sister who was working there at the time. Germany was amazing. Everything is a head of UK, clean street, friendly people... Also, I went clubbing at the world famous Kultfabrik at Ostbanhoff, leaving the designated premises at 6am dancing to Hardcore trance music with people in Dreadlocks. When they started serving breakfast with vodka shots, I knew it was time to leave. We managed to visit Saltzburg in Austria, where the Sound of Music was filmed. As much as it was tempting to dance around singing songs that would make Julie Andrews proud, we weren't the only ones with that particular idea, so we swiftly moved on. Of all the european countries that I have visited, Denmark will be my favorite so far.
Anyway, back to work in Scotland. It was one of the strangest places I've ever worked. In middle of nowhere, which forced me to cycle 13 miles most mornings. I was the only guy, surrounded by women. I am not sexist at all, but working with women is hard. We're from different planets I guess. One morning, I was in at 8:30am and I was in the kitchen with my manager. She asked me "Did you watch Britain's Got Talent on ITV last night? Did you see that wonderful boy singing?", I replied "No, Sorry. I don't watch TV" (Certainly not those garbage anyway). Then there was this awkward silence for about 30 minutes. This happened most mornings. Also, estate solicitors who ran the estate were all fucking weird. In their tweed trousers and their shirts tucked in, you can tell they get paid loads from the Duke, who own the castle. But their priorities were not right. They kept complaining at our tea room for not making enough money or using the wrong napkins even when it was raining and no customers there. I got into few shit for not doing things right, which I protested. Anyway... enough of that place, I hope I don't have to go back there ever again.
Around May 2009, I decided to apply for University as I was inspired by all the young people I met in Ghana and their aspirations in life. Some of them will never achieve their dreams, but I felt privileged to be in the UK, and all the services available for us, which we are all guilty of taking it for granted. So I felt I should go to Uni, for Ghana anyway.
So I applied for Popular Music with Photography at University of Chester, and I got invited for an interview straight away. The other universities rejected me straight away. So I went for an interview and got accepted straight away! If you know my whole life story and the days in Primary School were I couldn't care about anything, and my appalling scores at high school, it is a miracle that I am in University! Prior to moving to Chester, I knew nothing of the place and I was a little skeptical. But my parents encouraged me to go there and start a new life. I was getting sick of Scotland, with our culture fading away and politicians making bizarre policies while small Scottish towns dissolving into crimes and unemployment. It was important for me to get out of my comfort zone and see the world, meet new people and share stories with the unknown.
So fast forward to September, after a quick trip to France, I moved to Chester to start my Univerisity. But problem arose during the enrollment. I was not on the list. I quickly felt unwelcoming. Shit. Fuck. Crap. Many words you could imagine ran though my head and I did not know what to do. But luckily, I managed to find someone at the student services who had my records. I came across another problem, major disaster on my behalf. The Student loans company in scotland decided against funding me. Not even a penny. After an hour of panicking my brains out, after a number of phone calls, I found out that I must be in 2nd year to receive a full loan for living costs, bursary and tuition fees paid. After speaking to number of tutors, I was booked in to yet another music audition. After the audition, the music tutors told me that if I was applying for 1st year, I would have got in top class, but for 2nd year I was not good enough. Crap. But maybe this was a blessing in disguise as I did not agree with "THE MAN" making rules in music. There are no rules in music! Skills does not apply. It's all about expressing yourself like no other. I don't want to be a cloned out guitar player anyway. So, I had to choose between Fine Art, Graphic Design or Multimedia to combine with Photography.
I decided on Fine Art as I felt I could produce artistic work based on my poetry and my observations in life.
Got my haircut on October, my long hair which reached my chest, is gone. I felt that the hair reminded me of many things and I just wanted to get rid of it. And being 23, I felt my age, and I wanted to represent myself through the product of Music, Art and my Writings, not on how I look.
Anyway.... fast forward 2010. Chester is a strange town in deed. Uni is bizarre as well. Very Cleaky. But I've managed to meet people that I will definitely keep in touch for the rest of my life. Few of them in particular are the most beautiful and amazing people that I have ever met in my life. Some of them are not even from the UK. There were few hurdles I had to jump across. In January I suffered from major depression and I was close to dropping out. But I managed to stick to it and got by, thanks to people who shared kind words, and hours of watching South Park and Seinfeld. lol.
Coming to Chester made me think about life in greater depths. The meaning of life, and the significance of becoming 23, which makes me older than most students. As you get older, life becomes more peculiar, and what you learned throughout your life becomes more absurd. What you thought was cool, is not cool. And what you thought was not cool, is in fact, cool. Like in chester, there is a new fashion style, wearing pajama bottoms. I've been thinking about fashion, or things young people absorb into, to feel belonged or something beyond my understanding.
My understanding of fashion is the style and the culture that has a significant importance at any given time, most commonly to describe the clothing style which is referred to by the designers as “wearable pieces of art”. Fashion has been used and appreciated for thousands of years throughout history. It was one of the most unique & interesting alterations in clothing created by mankind which has changed the course of history. However, the modern fashion has created deeper meanings and has had a substantial impact on our society. Fashion ultimately defines the position you hold in this society which reflects on your age, sex, sexuality, race, social class, occupation, geography, politics and your interests in a particular subculture / counterculture. As we are all conscious of how we look, fashion has become equally as important as religion itself.
However, my main concern is who decides on what is popular, but ultimately on how we are supposed to look. It comes to my surprise that most of us are oblivious to being fed by the media on what are the ideal body shapes and sizes. It mostly affects women as they are often conscious of their body weight, body shape, hair colour and even the colour of their skin. Which poses the question of women being designed by corporate companies, brainwashed into thinking that overly sexed up reflection of them can easily allure many men. Men are constantly fed images of ideal women through the media, which continues the cycle of women dressing up. It is a sad realization of young people becoming a machine, manufactured to oblige the wealth of the greed, creating a deeper separation between the rich and the poor. I understand that the humans’ attracting others sexually is the fundamental truth in the existence of mankind. However I believe that designing people in a mass scale provokes the natural beauty within us. It is the consumers who ultimately decide on what fashion is popular. However, each one of us are guilty of participating in the corporate game and the globalization, not even checking the label which states the country the particular article of clothing was made in and the circumstances of the makers.
Also, I often get mistaken as a homosexual as I have many close female friends, girls who I find it comfortable to have a pint with. I always tell those boys who criticize my fondness for having female friends to "Go fuck yourself and read books by Harvey Milk, and realize the struggles experienced by people in the gay community". My flatmate once told me all gay people should be shot. I told him you cannot be against homosexuality without a valid biological or scientific point. He told me that God created us to reproduce, and stated that Masturbation is a sin only practiced by Gay people. You can imagine the approar that our house experienced! I don't want to get in there again, it was the most retarded conversation I have ever heard. I also told this man, who is from Nigeria, and is the most hardcore Christian I have ever met, that I love Jesus Christ, but dislike Christianity. He said it does not make sense. For me, it makes perfect sense. I have always been spiritual, I always will.
Anyway, I'm not even going to get into politics in this Blog, it would give me a head ache.
So... fast forward to now. 4pm, 22nd March 2010.
In Ghana blogs, I discussed my views on the developing countries, and on how the developed countries deal with Poverty and climnate change. How appalling it is.
I still have those views, and I often think about the world more. I have been inspired by Don Mccullin, British photographer who is world renowned in his War Photography during the 60's and 70's. Maybe this is what I want to do in the future, report from the unreported world. To expose the reality, the truth, and the suffering, to the rich. Britain is in a bubble. We have everything we need, neglecting the rest of the world. Also, I've started reading writings by William Blake. I feel I develop as a person everyday, become the person I long to be.
Recently, I discovered that I suffer from Lepidopterophobia. I have a great fear of Butterflies and moths. It is a surprise because I used to love insects when I was a child. And I never used to be scared of anything. What does this mean? Everytime I think about butterflies, I am more scared than the Magic Mushroom experience I endured when I was 15 years old.
Combinging with all the rest I've discussed, I often analyze myself.
Maybe I'm too analytical, maybe I'm too serious, maybe I think about things too much, maybe I contradict myself all the time... Maybe I should become like the other boys, play Xbos360, drink at the local pub all the time and watch football, make sexist jokes, make derogatory jokes concerning people with different sexuality. But then, I should become the person I should be. Maybe, thinking is the best gift mankind has received. Thinking about things becomes ideas. Ideas become a product. Product is then embraced by bystanders helping to re-think about the world that we live in.
But then again, thinking too much can cloud your judgements and plague your mind, resulting in too much decoding which you would not get a straight answer to any questions that you're trying to process into your brain. This kind of proves that I'm going around in circles thinking too much, but trying not to think too much. Life is confusing. LOL.
All this ultimately contributes to my never ending Songwriting, poems, and photography/art.
I don't want to be rich or famous, fuck that. But I do want to do something important with my life, something that would inspire many people, and help people who need help the most.
..... Or maybe I write too much! And sorry it got a little dark... as you know, I am a happy person who smile at strangers on the streets of chester, and listen to people, and make people happy.
On that note, thanks for reading my first blog in over a year, I will write soon.
I have a job interview on wednesday as a trainee chef!
If you find time, please send me a letter, that would be nice. :)
Jamie. x :)
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