Last Full Day at UEF

Today was my last full day at the University of Eastern Finland. The day started with a light snowfall:

Followed by a going away party celebrating my last day here at UEF.

These past few weeks have been highlighted by several colleagues inviting me to their homes to share a meal and spend a few moments together. This week was capped off with today’s celebration. I received several nice parting gifts including a calendar highlighting Finnish nature and a kuksa – a traditional Finnish cup made of birch. I also received several books including Back to Nature Finland. My colleagues indicated that the US tradition of signing high school yearbooks is not celebrated here in Finland so their signing this book may have been a new experience for some. A second book is entitled Moominvalley in November. It’s part of the Moomin series by Finnish author Tove Jansson. I look forward to reading both books. Some of the morning discussion centered on whether today’s snow counts as the first ‘official’ snow of the year in Kuopio. I’m going to think it did since that improves the story!

My work day ended with my final lecture to the graduate students in the toxicology program. I have enjoyed getting to know some of the students this past month.

Today was bittersweet knowing that this chapter of my life is coming to a close. It’s been an amazing opportunity starting back in 2020 with my first visit to UEF. I’ll be forever grateful to my colleagues at UEF, the School of Pharmacy and the Toxicology Program, Fulbright Finland, and the Saastamoinen Foundation. Thanks also to NCSU for allowing me to participate in the Fulbright programs. Hopefully, I will have a future opportunity to return to Finland to visit the friends I have made.

I head off to Helsinki tomorrow morning. My wife Melanie and my two sons (Robert and William) arrive the next day. I’m looking forward to our being together and exploring Helsinki, Tallinn, and Lapland together.