Story by Heather Sigl Trost ‘96
My husband and I had the good fortune to attend the Lawrence trip to Finland at the end of March. It truly was an experience of “Light! More light!” in the Lawrence tradition. We shared candlelit dinners of authentic Finnish cuisine. We stayed up late to catch the chartreuse glow of the northern lights. We warmed ourselves around a campfire in a Sami lávvu as we sipped hot berry juice. It was an illuminating journey.
Our trip started in Helsinki. In the city, it was springtime, with daffodils and grape hyacinths in bloom. Our guide, Maria, explained the history of the city and the realities of everyday life. We viewed the shining pipes of the Sibelius Monument. We experienced Temppeliaukio Church, a marvel hewn from rock. The Central Library Oodi had us envious, wishing our local library had as much to offer. Senate Square provided us with great views of the urban architecture.
A view from beneath the Sibelius Monument
From Helsinki, we flew north of the Arctic Circle to stay at the Kakslauttanen Resort in Saariselkä. Here, the hills were covered with evergreens and snow. We had the opportunity to interact with reindeer. We fed them handfuls of the aptly named reindeer moss, and they took us for a sleigh ride through the snowy night.
Bill Trost feeds a reindeer.
Lawrence’s Professor Megan Pickett accompanied us on our adventure. Her guidance enhanced our experience of the auroras, helping us to understand the processes behind their formation. She explained how events on the sun lead to space weather that affects Earth. We learned that the colors we see in the sky depend on the types of elements excited by particles from the solar wind and on their altitude in our atmosphere.
A tour bus ferried us to various sites where we were most likely to spot the aurora. We shared Minttu and Finnish chocolates as we waited for a break in the clouds. In the end, the best spot for us to see the northern lights was from our cozy bed in a glass igloo.
All along the way, our dedicated guide, Nancy, shepherded us safely and comfortably from place to place. She made sure that we understood the historical and cultural significance of each site. She regaled us with local folk tales, like the story of “Mighty Mikko.” She stressed the role that saunas play, not only for health and relaxation but also for building and maintaining relationships. And, most of all, Nancy impressed upon us the importance of sisu, or determination, to the people of Finland.
The interior of Temppeliaukio Church.
One of the final group activities on our trip required a bit of courage. It was a dog sledding excursion. Our spirited team of huskies needed no encouragement as they pulled our sled at a great speed and with great enthusiasm. They were not as inclined to stop, at least not until their job was done. Then they were ready for petting and rolling in the snow.
Even with all the amazing Finnish adventures, the best part of the trip was our tour group. We were a team drawn from different parts of the country and the world, but each traveler was very friendly and filled with curiosity. Each meal together led to fascinating discussions. The kindness of our group gave me the safety to try new things. As a first-time attendee of a Lawrence trip, I would recommend it.
