Plutification

As Pipi Longstocking found out, 'plutification' is not always very easy.

Recently, one of my Ethiopian students sent me a link showing the traditional Ethiopian way of multiplication. The approach is very different from how multiplication is done in the West, although both methods are mathematically equally valid.

To find out how Ethiopians do multiplication, click here.

No doubt you are wondering why an MSc student on one of my language courses would send me a link about mathematics. The reason is Henry's homework.

Henry had some difficulties with subtraction, for example, 33 minus 17. So I tried to show him the way I had been taught, i.e. "ten to the top, one to the bottom." But he refused to accept this method as he had been taught a different way at school, moving tens from one column to another. This deadlock led to Henry's mother being asked for her expert opinion, she being a maths graduate. H-M agreed with Henry.

So, what does one do when one disagrees with an expert? Find another expert, of course!

I decided to ask one of my classes, all non-Finnish MSc students and engineers, and one a student of maths. The outcome; the majority favoured H-M's method, and the Africans used my method. Oh, and one student got the answer wrong.

Remember that numbers are fun and, as the Dr Seuss book points out, fun is good!

End of May

The end of May is always hectic with lots going on before the start of the school summer holidays. There are dance performances (H-M), circus performances (Henry and Thomas), music performances (Henry) and spring school trips (Henry and Thomas).

The sort of logistics formerly only found in invading armies is needed to get everyone to the right place at the right time. This year there was only one major hitch - and yes, it was my fault. (Snippet of phone call:"What do you mean, Henry's got circus practice today?")

There aren't many photos as the camera tended to get left behind in the rush. But below, a few to keep you entertained.

Part of Thomas's circus performance.

(Photo courtesy of H-M's friend, Mervi)

Thomas's turn to stand on the ball.

(Photo courtesy of H-M's friend, Mervi)

The weather this May was very dry and sunny, as the following photos show.

An aircraft parked at Lappeenranta Airport.

(18 May 2009)

The aircraft caught Henry's attention so we popped into the terminal building to find out more. The airport staff told us it was a plane chartered for holidaymakers. It had arrived from Portugal and would then fly to Joensuu before continuing to Turkey. (Information for aircraft fans: Boeing 737, registration TF-JXG.)

The airport at Lappeenranta is going through troubled times; there just aren't enough passengers. The local airline, Fly Lappeenranta has daily flights to and from Helsinki (flight time: 35 minutes, operated by Scotland-based Highland Airways) but most people take the train. Attempts to build links to St Petersburg seem to be getting stuck in the wheels of Russian bureaucracy, and low-cost airlines don't see enough market potential in the area. The only exciting aircraft to be seen are chartered airliners flying holidaymakers to the sun.

A rather ostentatious-looking motorboat moored in Lappeenranta harbour. (18 May 2009)

(Photo taken with Nokia 5500 Sport)

If you really like it, I think it might be for sale, click here. Mind you, the asking price of EUR 670 000 is a little steep for the likes of Elks Street.

Below, more views of Lappeenranta harbour in the sun.

(Photo taken with Nokia 5500 Sport)

(Photo taken with Nokia 5500 Sport)

The yellow stuff floating on the water is not algae but birch pollen. There is so much in the air that people with allergies really suffer.

As well as trees, Finland is also home to many wild animals. Below, one of the less dangerous species - seen by Henry on the way to school.

Hedgehogs

(Photo taken with Nokia 5500 Sport)

While our garden is frequented by hares and hedgehogs, the east side of town has recently been visited by bears; not the kind of animal you want to see in your backyard - they are anything but cuddly!

In recent years, there have been quite a few so-called 'city bears,' who somehow find themselves in urban areas. To see bears in their natural habitat, click on the Live BearCam link here.



Of course, no school year is complete without the dreaded school reports. Here, a brief resume.


Thomas:
Top marks for everything except handwriting and geometry.

Henry:
For the first time, some of Henry's grades were in the form of numbers. He got 8/10 for Finnish language and literature (and in my opinion would have done even better if his stories had been a little less 'minimalist') and 9/10 for mathematics (which was somewhat of a surprise). He did well in science, English (unsurprisingly) and music. His weak areas? Religion, art, and physical education.


Now that school is over, what is everyone up to?

Henry, Thomas and H-M are visiting Tiina in Tapiola, where the boys are at a handicrafts workshop at Espoo Museum of Modern Art, and H-M is taking some dance courses at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. And I'm still at work - anyone want to proof-read a text on evolutionary algorithms? No, me neither!

Handicrafts 2

Henry is not the only one who brings home examples of his handicraft work.

Below one of Thomas's artworks

A peacock made of wool and felt.

1st May

The first of May is, officially, the students' and workers' day; a day when students don't study and workers don't work. While in the past 1st May had considerable political meaning, with marches and demonstrations, it has now become merely a carnival. The eve of 1st May is a big party day all round, and on 1st May itself, Finns nurse their hangovers with students putting on their white caps and having champagne parties in public parks. A few die-hards still march behind the red flags, and politicians make speeches that few people take much interest in. Below a few photos of Elk's Street's 1st May celebrations.

Both Thomas's and Henry's class had a fancy dress party.

Thomas having breakfast wearing his frog hat.


Henry having breakfast wearing his spider hat.

Elk's Street is not very good at fancy dress, there is always a scramble at the last minute to find something vaguely suitable.

While students may drink champagne, the traditional Finnish drink for 1st May is 'sima' accompanied with doughnuts. Tiina was in town, so she and Lilli dropped round for afternoon coffee and the above mentioned 'sima' and doughnuts.

We also had another special guest, Simo the hedgehog. Simo is a toy that each child in Thomas's class gets to take home for a couple of days. They then either have to tell the class about what Simo did, the activity for the autumn term, or write an entry in Simo's diary, the task for the spring term.

Simo enjoying some chocolate cake.

With 1st May falling on Friday, people could enjoy a long weekend. Elk's Street used the Saturday to visit Anttolanhovi, a resort/spa near Mikkeli, about 100km from home. The idea is to spend a few days there to celebrate H-M's 'round' birthday in August, and the aim of our quick trip was to check the place out.

The restaurant has one of Finland's better chefs, and while the à la carte menu looked very good, we took the cheaper buffet menu, which was traditional Finnish fare but done very well.

The chalets are award-winning designs, although to my uneducated eyes they do look a little prison-like. The inside of the chalets makes Elk's Street's normal run-down living conditions look a little shabby.

Chalet from the road side.

Chalet from the lake side.

Thomas throwing stones off the jetty, Tiina and H-M in the background (H-M in her Paddington hat to protect herself from the sun).

On the way home we stopped off for ice-creams in Puumala, the 'Gibraltar of Saimaa' and the location of the fourth longest bridge in Finland.

An empty Puumala marina waiting for the summer guests to arrive.


Thomas and Henry on the bridge lift.


The steamship Wenno moored at Puumala jetty. (To see Wenno 'live' click here for the 'Wenno Cam' webcam, for more information about Wenno (in Finnish) click here.)

As can be seen from the photos, the weather was excellent, blue skies and warm temperatures, rather unusual for 1st May in Finland, when there are often grey skies and driving sleet.

Easter Trip

Courtesy of the incompetents currently running the university, the situation at work is horrible. But some relief was provided by a couple of days in Helsinki.

I had some time on my own so after having visited the bookshop I made my way over to a very windy Suomenlinna. Below a few photos.

The bridge at Tykistölahti Bay with the Visitors' Centre on the right.

View of some houses (looking back from the ramparts of Kustaanmiekka).

View from the ramparts of Kustaanmiekka (looking towards Helsinki).

Suomenlinna fans will find some further photos in the posting of July 2008, and for a fly-by view of the fortress in summer go to the interactive aerial photo here.

I was really spoiled that day as in the evening I managed to see a hockey game, the SM-League bronze medal game Espoo Blues vs KalPa from Kuopio. After a first period when they were comprehensively outplayed, KalPa managed to pull themselves together and win the game 1-2. Unfortunately, SaiPa didn't make it that far; having come last, they were involved in the playouts.

Below a photo of the winning team.

SM-League bronze medal winners 2008-2009.

And Stephen gets extra points if he can spot Sami Kapanen in there!


The next day included a walk at Laajalahti Bay near Otaniemi. Below a few photos.

H-M on the bird-watching tower.

Henry and Tiina taking this bird-watching lark in a more relaxed way.

Thomas with his binoculars.

After spotting a few seagulls, hardly exotic, the healthy members of the group set off on the nature trail towards Villa Elfvik. Henry, who was a little under the weather with 'flu, went by car, chauffered as usual by his private driver, Tiina.

Thomas on the nature trail through the reed beds.

Villa Elfvik is a restored Jugend-style building with a small exhibition and a small café. For a little more information, click here.

Of course, no trip to Tapiola is complete without one festive meal, accompanied by a glass of red wine from oenophile Tiina's exclusive collection.

To finish a photo of one of the cooks in action - Thomas on guard duty, making sure the food doesn't get burnt.

Handicrafts

One of the delights of having school-age children is that at regular intervals you are surprised by home-made artefacts.

Henry's 'technical work' class has moved on from the autumn term's sewing to woodwork this term.

Below two photos of his efforts.

A sailing barge.

A smiling giraffe.

May the giraffes of the world smile on you!

The Pianist 2

Returning from work last Monday afternoon did not go well. I opened the house door to be confronted by a barrage of noise as Henry raced to reach me before Hwei-Ming did. The cause of the kerfuffle? A message from Henry's teacher - in the last 4 weeks he had managed to 'forget' his homework ten (!) times. Not good, and a sign of some serious memory problems - particularly since I'd been regularly told, "no homework today."

Ten was the number of the day as Henry managed to hand me his science exam results, 10, before giving me the note from the teacher, which mysteriously had been written already in the middle of last week and which, as a result of Henry's poor memory, he had forgotten to show me.

The day ended with Henry performing at another concert for the music school.



Decide for yourself a score for this performance. Maybe not ten (I'm still annoyed about the homework) but perhaps 8+.