POWER! Who has it? Who uses it?
15.2.2016 we were invited to Helsinki City Hall (Helsingin kaupungintalo). Our lecturer was professor Laura Kolbe. Professor Kolbe is an expert in Finnish and Nordic history. She is a very good speaker.
Professor Kolbe told us many details of Helsinki and the history of Helsinki, Finland and other Nordic Countries. And also about the power in Helsinki and in Finland. In the history the ultimate power figure was the Swedish king or the Russian tsar – nowadays the power is shared between trade unions, banks, big corporations, government, insurance companies… and even the Head of the State, the President has some of the power.
We continued with an other guide from Senate square to Finnish Bank (Suomen Pankki) and the House of the Estates. We heard about the holes in the stand of the Snellman’s statue and about the history of Finnish banking.
The House of the Estates
We walked all the way to Hakaniemi where the offices of all the major trade unions are located.
We arrived at Helsinki Congress Paasitorni. The reason we were here was the fact that Paasitorni is owned by Helsinki Community Hall (connected with the labor movement of beginning of 1900’s).
I never realized how beautiful the granite building is until we got there. The CEO of the Congress Center was passionate and very knowledgeable about the history of the building and all the little things that took place in there during challenging times in Finnish history. Some of the little things turned out to be big things when the time was right. We were told some insider info about the first female President in Finland, Tarja Halonen. Nothing scandalous, but still interesting :D
Lounge of the Paasitorni
Painting of the first female President in Finland, Tarja Halonen. The dress is a reconstruction of The Hostess of Eura. The dress was found in a grave of a very powerful lady dated back to the late Viking era. Alongside the dress and remains of the lady there were also valuable jewels pictured in this painting. Tarja halonen is also a red headed by choice :D
All the granite used in the building was mined from the location where the Granite Castle was build. The granite was stored until they could use it in the outer wall.
We were told about the history of the paintings on the walls and about the decorations too.
All around the aisles there were different tools pictured and they were the tools used in the building process. The CEO said he had not seen the same tool twice in the paintings, but somebody had told him there actually was a pair somewhere.
The CEO let us us also visit the actual tower of the Paasitorni. That’s not something you get to do every day.
The Tower
Helsinki by night
Finally. we got more extra: visit to the Ball Room. Our time was up about 30 min ago and still the CEO was willing to show us the beautiful room.
The Ball Room
This was really interesting day. :)
Urban & Nature and urban nature
29.2.2016 We had an excellent opportunity to visit Kallahti, one of the most beautiful locations in Helsinki. Urban & Nature is actually the course we are attending and the things we saw were – urban nature.
We met in Vuosaari metro station with our experienced guide Veikko Neuvonen. Vuosaari is located about 15 km from Helsinki City centre and with the metro the ride takes about 30 mins. Veikko Neuvonen was a host in a popular nature themed radio show in Yle for over 30 years. He is truly an expert of nature and especially of Finnish nature.
We started walking from the metro station towards Kulttuurikeskus Sofia. First stop was in Mustankivenpuisto (Blackstonepark). We heard about the history of the park and the history of the area dating back to the ice age (glacial period).
We continued to the beach were we heard interesting things about this area during the WW2.
We continued towards the peninsula of Kallahti. The peninsula is quite narrow with the road on top the ridge. The beach was still icy and we could see people enjoying the snow and winter on ice.
Beach and ice
The see is not far on each sides of the road.
We arrived to Kultturikeskus Sofia and Veikko Neuvonen told us many things about Finnish natural history, animals and plants which can be seen or experienced in Finnish nature. We really have an unique nature in Finland. :)
After the lecture we walked back to the city life and metro station. This was an interesting day.
Acting in the Theater Museum
16.2.2016 We met our teachers in Kaapelitehdas in Theater Museum. Kaapelitehdas used to be a cable factory, but it’s now transformed to a cultural center. Kaapelitehdas is a home for some museums (The Finnish Museum of Photography), galleries, dance theaters, etc.
First we got a short introduction to the Museum. Then we discussed about performance anxiety and about things related to talking in public. We had some exercise on how to face people and how some small things in your behavior can make or brake the interaction.
Some masks from India
We practiced how to use the microphone and our voice. We talked about clothing and how it affects our appearance.
Our working space.
At the end we had to make a 5 minutes play of what we learned today.
The Stage :)
Clothes in the museum
A miniature stage set.
I think this was quite a nice day :)
Visiting the National Museum
8.2.2016 We were very fortunate to get professor Matti Klinge to lecture us in The National Museum of Finland. Professor Klinge is a history researcher and still contributes to social debate.
Professor Klinge in the middle and our teachers Ulla-Maija Rouhiainen and Anu Nylund.
It was so interesting to hear about the stories behind the things and objects. And as we got in outside the normal operating hours, we could discuss things without bothering the other guests.
In the lobby of the museum there are beautiful frescos by Akseli-Gallen-Kallela (1928).
A perpetual motion machine. Made by Mikko Minkkinen (1858-1930). I’m sure this is a huge surprise to everybody, but the thing doesn’t work :) However, the machine was in Hankasalmi agricultural exhibition in 1935 and people said it was working for 15 minutes quietly hissing…
This is a handbag. It really is. It’s made of seashell and it’s less than 10 cm long. I wonder what women could use it for? :)
Throne of the Emperor. Made in 1787 in Russia and transported to Finland in 1809. Nowadays Finland is a democracy and we have a President, so no need for this throne anymore.
The national animal in Finland is bear. This lonely bear sits in front of the National Museum. It’s not dangerous at all :)
National Museum from the outside. It looks like a church, but it was designed to be a museum. The building was completed in year 1910.
Well this was an interesting day! I’ve learned a lot :)
How does one become a guide?
In the About me -section you’ll find a short story of me explaining what I’ve done before. But now – I wanted to be able to professionally guide people who visit Helsinki and Finland. So I contacted Helmi Travel & Business College in Helsinki and sent my application. I was accepted to the interview. The interview went well and I was accepted to be a student in Helmi. There were 63 applicants and 28 of them got in.
September 7th was the first day at studying or actually orientating. The next day starting continued.
This is my leg on the table. I broke my ankle few days before the school started. Doctor’s order: because the leg has been operated, it must be elevated when ever possible.
Through out the autumn we had lessons about guiding and things related to tourism.
November 3rd. Lesson about sustainable things and how not to use excuses for not being a responsible guide.
November 18 th: About Finnish Sauna. Saunas comes in all shapes and forms. Even a bus can be a sauna. :)
25th of November: Visiting Musiikkitalo (the Music Center) in Helsinki.
3rd of December. Visiting The Helsinki Railwaystation
3rd of December. Ice rink in Helsinki city center.
3rd of December. Helsinki Airport.
17th of December. Design Museum in Helsinki.
17th of December. Design museum.Princess Leia wore designer Björn Weckströms necklace in the movie Star Wars (1977).
17th of December. Design museum. Fiskars scissors .
That was the autumn of the school. And we were off to our summer vacation.
But what about the question in the title? How does one become a guide? Well, I think it happens by learning, studying, reading, visiting places and just being curious about things :)
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