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Forssa, 2008 November

Sat, 06/06/2009 - 23:24 — Herwig

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First Forssa meeting 2008.11.26 – 2008.11.29

 

Arriving on the airport in Helsinki, I felt like landing in a winter postcard, overlooking al this beautiful white wideness. Outside the airport, reality came back: cold, dark grey afternoon, slippery roads.
Fortunately, Eliisa organised a safe trip to Forsa by car. During the trip, we talked about the wideness, the forest, how it used to be and about “change”.
First stop: a bride shining roadhouse, refill for cars and human stomachs.
Second stop: a nice hotel in Forssa … nobody there, but we had received the key. Install, make you feel at home … Appointment at 6 pm for a first “tour” in Forssa.
Walking from the hotel to the educational centre of Forssa Opisto was really like walking in a postcard; snow, white, a river, old buildings, yellow lights, … Almost nobody out there … Where is everyone?
 

 

First visit to the Forssa Opisto buildings.  

 

In the educational centre, we did a tour in arts and craft classes. Amazing how many people are ‘learning’ there, in their own chosen way …
And the we met the English language group. I gave the students a short introduction on Belgium.
And than the questions came … interesting, how you try to explain such complicate political and historical issues in a few minutes.
This was the right time to ask for the support pf these students for our EU-project; Eliisa got a list of names of possible ‘translators’ for the next meeting in February 2009.
They were really curious what this all is about … and what’s going to happen then.
Last stop for the day: a restaurant … time to feed the hungry, less the thirsty and talk things over. Enough stuff to think about, back in the hotel room.
( N.B.: very interesting window system. Definitely no Ikea. Typical Finnish? )
 

 

Meeting with the elderly people who join the project.

 

In the morning, there wasn’t any noise at all, as the snow silenced everything.
The nice little “Khafee” on the corner, served tasteful coffee and brilliant sweet cookies. I like the live in a postcard…
 
At 10 am we are expected at “TYYKIHOVI – Eteláinen Puistokatu” . I wonder how I ‘m going to pronounce this if I have to ask the way …
But, no worries. The ‘snowmap’ Eliisa dwew llast evening, brings me via a beautiful contemporary building ( the swimming pool ) to this ‘Tyykihovi’-place.
People with a lot of live experiences, take place in the meeting room. After a short introduction, everyone tells a resume of her / his live.
Waauw! This is just an introduction … the real “Live story –meeting” in February must be very interesting.
After a box of Belgium Fairtrade chocolates, the questions about Belgium didn’t stop: how big is Belgium, what about the political situation, language troubles, Bruxelles and how was it during WWII … ?
Saying good bye, was saying see you in February … They gave me some interesting books on Finnish / Suomi traditions and suggestions of what we really have to read to understand …
 

 

The Library and the museum.

 

In the Library we met a very interesting librarian, Pertii Munck. An art loving man with hundred ideas, open to new input, but with a strong commitment to the Finnish / Suomi traditions …
The quick visit to the museum, was like entering some pages of the cartoon book I received at noon… Again a very warm welcome.
Beautiful restored building, with a collection of heritage things with stories to tell. This can be a place to make an exhibition on our project … Old and new coming together for the future.
 

 

The world of Niilo Penttilä.

 

In the afternoon, we met in the house of Niilo Penttilä, who also take part in the ‘Live-story group”.
We can all learn a lot from this man, who is slightly obsessed by the culture of the Indians of North America.
He travelled the world as a sailor, eyes and ears open.
His house a kind of museum of his live, with books, fantastic dairies and a lot of drawings and paintings that he made himself.
Quietly we look and discus in an open and friendly atmosphere and in all modesty Niilo tells part of his stories and vision of live and nature.
 
   

The writing group.

In the evening we’re welcome in the writing group of Forssa Opisto. The participants wrote about typical Suomi feeling … what does it mean to be Finnish? ( and how to explain a Belgian ? )
Interesting ladies, self conscious and open minded … with a pride Suomi feeling that I like to discover more. Maybe we can do something together with some artists in Belgium …
 

 

Official meetings.

 

An international meeting isn’t complete without visiting some official buildings and more important, the people who try to make the place more lively.
The Staff meeting in Forssa Opisto was inspiring, but of course a lack of time broke some starting dialogues.
These teachers give the best of themselves, and the learners appreciate that. In February we will meet again, with a bigger group.
 

  

Riikimaki.

In the evening, we were expected in Riikimaki, another Finnish city – totally different from Forssa.
I don’t have the postcard feeling anymore, although the streets trough the forests and some small place, where wonderful.
A group of art students have their last meeting today, with a discussion about the art experiment of some of the students and the preparation of their presentation show tomorrow.
A very dynamic group, with different characters.
Thanks for the warm welcome and the enthusiastic reactions. The “Live story group”, assisted by the translators of the English group will surely make a strong experience in February.
Meanwhile, we have enough material to think, discuss and rethink in the Belgium Art 27 project group.