WINTER!!

During the last days and weeks I enjoyed the autumn colours in beautiful sunshine, even though it was already quite cold.

But well equipped with frontlet, scarf and gloves biking is still a pleasure.

However, today we had the first SNOW! In October, unbelievable. Yet, it didn't remain on the ground, but melted immediately. One morning when I went running, some bridges and parts of the grass were already frozen.

Equinox has passed, so the days are shortening. From the beginning to the end of october the hours of daylight decrease from 11.5h to 9h. The minimum is reached at the 23.12. when here at 60° N the sun rises for 5:46h. In comparison Hannover (52° N) has then 7:40h of daylight. So the difference is not as big as I had feared.

Check it yourself on http://www.acl-worms.de/WebForm-Sunrise-Sunset.aspx !

Imagine what is the best you can do on a cold winter evening in Finland?! Of course, sauna! Our students' apartments house has its own sauna and today was the women's turn. I went there with my two French flatmates. That was great. According to the house rules we are actually not allowed to wear any swimwear in the sauna due the chemicals in it like chlorine. But it is possible to cover oneself with a towel. That's what we did, but all the others wore bikinis. So we'll probably also do it next time. But I think the real Fins go to the sauna naked, we exchange students on the contrary don't.