Sauna, Sisu, Sibelius

Greetings from Finland – a country that, as our hosts said in their opening speech, can be identified by the three words in the post title.

It’s that time again – agricultural conference time. This year on the topic “vocational training”. You may recall the post Time Travel that I wrote after returning from last year’s conference in Romania… Or perhaps the Green room?!

View towards our spa hotel

This year we’re in Finland, in Aulanko, just outside Hämeenlinna that we in Sweden call Tavastehus. I arrived last night, and started this morning in the swimming pool, before heading to the nine hour session in the conference room. Now we’re on a one hour break before heading to the medieval Hämeenlinna Castle, founded by Swedish Birger Jarl (who also founded the city of Stockholm!) during the Second Swedish Crusade during the 13th century, where we’re having dinner.

This is a three day conference, but since we’re out in the country it essentially becomes five days what with the travel. In other words, I won’t get back home until Sunday afternoon. My Birthday as it happens. I hate being away from A for this long, and it would’ve been nice to wake up next to him my first B-day in our relationship. What’s worse…this is just a prelude.

Coming next Wednesday I leave for three weeks. Three weeks. Think about it – three weeks. That’s more than your average American gets off work in a year! It’s a looong time to be away from the one you love. Why I’m going away? More on that later.

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