Finland has welcomed us with their kindness, caring, and welcoming actions. However, their sharing of emotions is quite contradictory to my typical use of vivid facial expressions. I’m very aware that my face gives it all away. This week I especially felt very unFinnish as I filtered through many visible emotional extremes.
It began with the much anticipated arrival of my moms visit. We were all counting down the days preparing for her stay. She arrived smiling but weary at the tiny airport in Jyväskylä. So great to see her and ready to embark on some good old fashion quality family time while introducing her to the wonders of our temporary home in Finland. Unfortunately, soon after her arrival we were hit with the devastating news that my father had become gravely ill.
Being thousands of miles away with over a 26 hours of travel between us means it has been incredibly difficult to not be by his side. My amazing brothers, aunt, and his partner were quick to be by his side and they all kept me posted every step of the way. Across the miles I whispered goodbyes, face timed, prayed, and cried…a lot. What does a child do when they can’t be by their parent’s bedside? This feeling of helplessness is far from comfortable. We looked up flights, started to pack, reached out to colleagues, contacted insurance companies, and made a plan. We are ready to fly home at a moment’s notice. It feels like holding one’s breath. If you’ve ever met my dad you know that aside from his intelligence and kindness he is wonderfully stubborn which is a good thing.
~Robyn
Dad Part II
This past week I went home to be with my dad. It was a quick journey bookmarked by 2 days of 26 hours of travel each way. However, being able to sit by my dad’s side filled our hearts and souls with the nourishment needed to recover from the scare of the past few weeks.
My brother had picked me up at the airport and I literally ran through the last stage of the customs rigamarole to give him and my niece a much needed hug. Despite the late hour we drove to be by dad’s side and with tears of emotion streaming down my face I knew I had made the right decision to come back. My dad and his entire family are indebted to the incredible doctors who saved his life. He has a long way to go, but there was even improvement during my short stay and he is completely committed to following doctor’s orders. His entire medical team is extraordinary, I had never encountered such a kind, patient, knowledgeable, caring, and hard working team.
Knowing he is in good hands, I felt comfortable to return back to Finland and complete this Fulbright experience with peace and a slightly altered perspective. I am incredibly grateful to Fulbright for supporting this decision and for keeping my dad in their thoughts.