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Revisiting Scuba-Stu

Meggie and Liam ready for their first open water dive at Leadbetter Beach, Santa Barbara, CA.

Many times in my life I have had to literally force my mouth to stay closed while my wife’s fingers dig into my arm to prevent me from interfering with something that is not under my control.  Never more so than now as a dad watching my kids learn how to negotiate the new skill of scuba diving.  This past weekend was the culmination of several months of online training; pool sessions (not easy during a pandemic lockdown, I might add); a successful, if murky beach dive; and now the holy grail for a new diver: The legendary open water checkout dives from a real dive boat.  Incredibly, both my 13 and 16 year old kids took on the challenge and became certified with flying colors.

Chuck Schonder, a local veteran scuba instructor for NAUI, risked developing grey hair by taking on the job of turning my swimmers into divers along with 2 friends, and it was with equal measures of excitement and nervousness that we found ourselves gearing up for the first dive of the day aboard the dive boat, Spectre.  Thankfully, this make up day out near the east end of Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park in California, was sunny and calm with just a light wind and better than hoped for visibility (a solid 45-50 feet).  Our prior attempt had been cancelled as something akin to a force 10 hurricane had descended on the Santa Barbara Channel creating 11-15 foot wind waves and virtually plucking the very feathers from surprised seagulls.  Not so this day.  Even better, the anticipated heavy west swell had failed to materialize meaning that my guys wouldn’t have to battle nausea along with the demands of donning and using heavy scuba gear.  I was also secretly pleased that due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, the Spectre was operating at 50% capacity so I wouldn’t have to worry about anyone in my group turning around awkwardly with their BCD and air tank knocking someone over on a crowded deck.  Of course, the offender would most likely be me, but I saw no reason to share this information…

Soon enough, my kids were briefed, dressed for immersion in the chilly 56 degree water, and lined up behind Chuck ready to take the plunge into a completely different world than they’d experienced during their brief time on the planet.  They’d done it all with minimal help and progressed through their checklists and prep together as a buddy pair-all I was allowed to do with my years of experience and know-how was to pull up a hard to reach zipper on my daughter’s wetsuit.  In fact, soon after my valuable contribution, I discovered that my own arms had shrunk a foot or so in length and that I too needed help reaching my wetsuit zipper.  So much for experience.  One by one my friend Jason’s kids and my own followed their instructor off the swim step at the stern of the boat into dazzling blue water.  Jason and I followed as we were allowed to trail the group serving as an extra pair of eyes and not as co-instructors (I could almost feel my wife’s fingers on my arm as I agreed to the directions).  Without any fuss each student signaled the divemaster that they were okay and grouped up by the anchor line.  My kids signalled to me more subtly that they were fine, and that I could, well, go now, Dad.  Jason and I buddied up and with a short blast of air from our BCD’s swam down to the bottom clearly visible 30 feet or so below to distract ourselves on this momentous occasion and watch the action while satisfying our own desire for exploration.

This dive, and the 2 subsequent ones, were notable for the clear water, thick shady kelp beds attached to large and interesting rock formations looking for all the world like an ancient sunken city lit by laser beams of golden sunlight through the waving fronds, and of course the diversity of wildlife.  Sometimes called the Galapagos of North America due to the explosion of creatures thriving in isolation, the CINP boasts clear water teeming with fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals such as seals and sealions.  We saw dozens of species of fish including calico bass, wrass, whitefish, opaleye, gobies, the obscenely orange garibaldis that lord it over other duller species while fiercely guarding their territory, and ever-present hopeful sheepshead that have learned divers will sometimes sacrifice an urchin with their knives to tempt fish in front of camera lenses.  We saw octopus, nudibranchs, sea cucumbers, lobster, and the largest sea hares I’ve ever encountered clustered together in a colony (or orgy, as Jason succinctly put it).

My kids brought a fresh perception to this old favorite activity of mine and I found myself watching them as they explored the deep as much as the wildlife swirling and lurking around me.  I discovered that they had become adults somewhere along the way during their training and was surprised by the depth and complexity of their observations as well as their burgeoning self-reliance.  Later, while discussing this change with my wife, we permitted ourselves a pat on the back for providing our kids this opportunity for personal growth as there is truly nowhere to hide when entering this wild and fluid environment: by its very nature, the ocean is a true wilderness and there is no taming it.  Divers here at the CINP have to deal with extremes of cold water, weather, tough sea conditions and wearing thick gloves, hoods, booties, and wetsuits to delay exposure to debilitating cold.  All of this takes good mental and emotional control and solid skills, and I’m proud to say that my kids demonstrated this and loved every minute of the experience.  In fact, we are all excitedly planning our next foray to explore more of the Channel Islands National Park.

Note: The Channel Islands National Park comprises 5 islands located between 11 and 20 miles or so off the Ventura and Santa Barbara coastline.  It was formed in 1980 and provides many opportunities for diving, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and camping.  To find out more visit their website: 

CINP

Several dive boats operate in the CINP out of Ventura Harbor.  We chose the Spectre and you can book a trip via their website: Dive Boat Spectre

If you would like to spend the day or camp out on the islands themselves, Island Packers runs daily trips as well as whale and bird watching cruises and much more.  You can find out more at their website link here: Island Packers  

For kayak rentals and kayak tours visit Channel Islands Kayak Center or Santa Barbara Adventure Company 

Underwater scene at CINP-Photo: Brook Peterson (waterdogphotography.com)
Dive boat Spectre passing Island Packer’s Island Explorer at Anacapa Island. Photo: Stu

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Amsterdam-Robyn

24 years ago, in the summer following my college graduation, I enrolled in a summer course with the experimental theater department through the University of Amsterdam. It was a transformative experience, especially as it was my first time living abroad. A treasured memory was all the time I was able to spend at Vondelpark. I was excited to share this special place within this fascinating city with my family. When we arrived in Amsterdam, I struggled with how much had changed in 24 years. However, I was adamant about taking my family through this beautiful park and once there, the memories from all those years ago came flooding back. Peace

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Amsterdam, Netherlands-Stu

Saturday evening during the summer in Amsterdam is a fun place to find yourself, especially if you have a somewhat swanky hotel to return to when hot and footsore.  We’d decided to book a room at the Doubletree Hotel perched as it is between the train station and the cruise ship terminal and adjacent to the old town of Amsterdam-a short walk everywhere, in other words.  The old town area hosts the infamous redlight district which proved to be more understated than I’d thought it would be; nice when you’re traveling with kids. We’d previously explained the accepting nature of Amsterdam to our two, but our tour guide from the Freedamtour did a much better job than we did incorporating much history into the modern day version of the city.  As it turned out, the bars and coffee shops were much livelier filled with seemingly every Brit the UK had spare. The aromas of good food, beer, cigarettes, and certain natural ‘herb’ products competed in the hot sun of the lively streets parallel to the tranquil canals and the cool shade of narrow intriguing alleyways. A myriad of boats cruised the miles of canals: tour boats, beer boats, bachelorette parties, and locals enjoying the sights from their own smaller craft.

As the day wore on and the temperature rose to the mid 90’s, we enjoyed the cooler air of indoor cafes and the amazing Anne Frank museum (a must see).  The combination of old-world history from medieval times through the ages to the present day life of the city was wonderful to experience. When we finally staggered back to our hotel and enjoyed the free hors d’oeuvres, deserts, and drinks, the banks of Amstel River was teeming with overheated young people doing what they do best when filled with the delights of the city in high summer temperatures-namely hurling themselves off the dock into the questionable yet cool water.  What a great day!

Before we left the city, we took a canal tour with the Lover tour group which was excellent; toured several open-air markets; enjoyed a neighborhood summer block party (checked off the pommes-frites with mayonnaise and a welcome Heineken beer); and visited Vondelpark, the last being one of the places Robyn remembered from a summer dance class 24 years previously.  We logged many miles in this lovely city and enjoyed every one of them.

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Amsterdam-The Netherlands: Liam and Meggie

Holland

On the days before our cruise we spent some time in the very lively city of Amsterdam. In comparison to the very quiet and peaceful way of life that we became used to in Finland, this was quite a shock to us all. There was so much going on and while we sort of hate to admit it, Amsterdam was the perfect place for people watching – don’t lie, we know you do it too. Similar to a lot of cities in Europe, although most weren’t to this extent, Amsterdam’s most common architecture was from hundreds of years ago. We visited many must-to destinations, but nothing was really as important to our family as the Anne Frank museum. Hearing her story as well as visiting the very rooms her family and four others hid in during the Holocaust was very moving and powerful. We both agree that it was overwhelmingly horrible for someone our age, who had she been born in our time period could have easily have been friends with, went through unspeakable events. 


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Norway

Norway

The first thing we want to say was that Norway is extremely beautiful, think of where perhaps a fairy or some other mythical creature would live, we can promise you that you’ve just thought of the gorgeous forests in Norway. It’s probably clear to say that a family favourite activity of ours was to go on hikes outside of each city we briefly visited while on our trip. The crystal clear fjords were surprisingly deep and so magical to see in real life (this is where we came up with the fairy reference). We started our trip by visiting the capital of Norway, Oslo, which while it was crowded had a very calm vibe. In contrast, another town we visited was a seaside town called Eidfjord in the famous Hardanger Fjord with only 1,000 residents. As we worked our way up the country we discovered that we didn’t see ourselves as tourists, rather touring the country instead. It was confusing to understand how we all felt this way – separate from the other “tourists”. Perhaps it’s because we didn’t want to be associated with the loud, overly dressed, fannypack wearing people (whose only interaction with the country are organized excursions) that we went on the cruise with. Although to an outsider, they probably wouldn’t recognize any difference between these tourists and our family. 

Cruise

The cruise was an experience we never really pictured our family partaking in. From the all-you-can eat buffets, the fancy pools, the special entertainment, and the fine dining, we couldn’t believe how everything was already planned out and ready for us. A traveler’s dream come true. Even with all the activities available, one of our favourite things to do on the ship was find a comfy place with a beautiful view of the ocean to just sit, relax, and read. Our average day often started with waking up early for a work out in the gym then meeting for breakfast (although it was hard, we made healthy choices so we could have a treat at the end of the day if we so craved). There were plenty of games for our family to play including shuffleboard and ping pong. The cruise was a great way to end our long trip with relaxation, and overall a stress-free and fun environment. 

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Midnight Sun-Stu

This week we finally reached midsummer and for people living this far north, that means there is no real darkness at night only a gloomy light as on a cloudy overcast day.  It’s interesting because we are all feeling energized at the wrong times of the day. For example, with sunshine beaming in through the windows, it feels like lunchtime even though it’s actually 10 or even 11pm.  And if you stay up past midnight, any thoughts of sleep are out the window and the new day has begun!

Midsummer in Europe was traditionally a very exciting pagan pre-Christian celebration.  In England, it was known as Litha and in modern times is a focus for the balance of the elements water and fire.  In pagan Finland, midsummer was referred to as Ukko’s Celebration named in honor of a powerful Finnish god.  There are many interesting rituals and superstitions related to midsummer here.  For example, many people would have a bonfire and celebrate with friends and family-the bonfire would hopefully ward off any evil spirits that came snooping around.  Maidens could collect a bunch of nine different flower blooms and put them under their pillow when they finally went to bed to hopefully bring forth a dream of their future husband.  Those girls who were more determined could even use the increase of earth magic to create potions to snare a mate at midsummer. Another Finnish folk tale states that if wandering out in the forest, a person should keep a good eye out for eerie glow of a will-o-the wisp which if spotted and followed would lead them to hidden treasure.  Likewise, observing a fern in bloom was supposed to bring fortune and magic to the lucky finder.

For us, the town of Jyvaskyla emptied out for the weekend and sadly bonfires had been banned for fear of wildfires due to dry conditions (a serious threat when almost every square inch of dry land seems to be a dense forest-a modern battle to balance water and fire, I wonder?).  We opted for a lake cruise on the Rhea followed by a midnight swim in our local lake.  Many Finns leave town to head to their small cottages in order to enjoy the peace and tranquility that comes with communing with nature.  As our boat left Jyvasjarvi and negotiated a small canal leading into the very large lake systems that lead a hundred plus miles south towards Helsinki, we noticed dozens of small cottages each prettier than the last peeking out of the forest and across the water.  Some were even the sole inhabitants of tiny islands that frequently dotted the water. Many had small docks, but the majority were simply there without any fancy bells and whistles way off the beaten track; a simple place for the owners to relax.

After nearly four hours, our boat, now filled with tipsy and happy passengers (the bars did a good amount of business) disembarked.  The sun was closer to the horizon now that it was 11pm and the air was chillier as we rode our bikes to our favorite swimming beach. There were several groups of people young and old sitting in groups picnicking, or playing guitars and chatting good naturedly.  One group of young people had a small, defiant bonfire blazing and the fragrant smell of birch smoke drifted across the beach as we waded into the dark water. The evening was timeless and we could have slipped back hundreds of years. Our time here is almost at an end, and we all took a moment to think about where we’ve been and the things we’ve done the past six months, as well as to look ahead to the adjustment of returning home.  This special night was a good one for our family even if we didn’t sacrifice a bull or two or even find some treasure. I guess the treasure is the experience we’ve all shared during our time here.

Robyn’s photo of a typical lakeside cabin taken from the train
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Moi Moi

I am incredibly grateful for the partnership Fulbright had arranged during my time in Finland. I first met Dr. Raija Pirttimaa via email which stated that she was to be my host at the University of Jyvaskyla. As soon as I googled her, up popped several of her articles referencing some of the most influential topics and professionals of special education and inclusion. From the moment she greeted me at our tiny airport to emails she continues to send, we have been the perfect fit. She led the way to so many opportunities and discussions and I embraced each one with gusto. Two of Raija’s researchers quickly became friends, colleagues, collaborators, and hopefully future Fulbrighters. We know that we will continue these conversations with our global perspectives in special education and inclusion. As we say our goodbyes with tears in our eyes, we know this time together has been special and rare. A unique opportunity to really dive deep into how to support our students in the best ways possible. I’m lucky to have collaborated with them, they have shared that they too feel lucky, and the best part is that our students and their families benefit from the time that we have spent focusing on best practices. 💙Kiitos paljon 💙

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Blog by Liam Young

Go-karting, even the word just sounds like fun.  In the small town of Jyvaskyla there is only one go-Karting place named ironically, gokart Jyvakala.  My sister and I went for a long 7 mile bike ride to the place which is just outside of the town.  Finland is a very beautiful country and it was nice to experience all of the nature (and all of the hills).  About a block away from the course there was a nice little garden by the lake, we laid down a blanket and had a little lunch which consisted of sandwiches made the day before and sliced carrots.

As I was walking up the old tile stairs I could hardly contain my excitement.  Me and my sister put on our helmets and sat down in the very small cars. We were ready for the green light, and I was off-the car was going much faster than I or any of use expected.  I soon left my sister in the dust. As I got more comfortable with the car I started to drift around the corners. Coming up on my 6th lap I got a little excited and went too fast around the corner and spun out.  In its own way it was kind of fun. I got stuck in a crevasse, but I couldn’t go backwards so I had to hail one of the people working there to help me.  As soon as I was good to go, I went and got a new personal best. After the time was up, I did a victory lap and got out with my sister trailing behind to see what our slowest time was and the fastest time.

Well all in all that was a fast and awesome day.

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Birthday Blog-Meggie

Today’s blog is a little overview of some of the more exciting adventures from the past couple of weeks…

My birthday was naturally destined to be very unique and fun due to spending it in Finland but, my family worked so hard to make it all the more special. The day started with breakfast in bed created by the deluxe well-known Chef Liam. We then walked down to the local ziplining place! The course contained a series of obstacles followed by long ziplines that carried you to the next round. We were all hooked up to a wire that ran across the whole structure so we could go at our own speed and not need a guide. This was very special and I can’t believe that I got to go ziplining with such a wonderful view! After completing the entire course two times and our time was up, my brother and I rode the bus because we were so very worn out from all that balancing and climbing. We met our parents at a restaurant called Naughty Burger where my mom, dad, and I got veggie burgers and my brother got a double bacon burger (oh the irony!) After that delicious meal it was time to go back home where I was surprised by a gourmet homemade cake once again a Chef Liam specialty.

The thirst for adventure never ceases because this past week my family went on a trip to have a look around a fellow Finnish city called Turku. It took us all by surprise because of how lively and outgoing people were there. We have grown accustomed to people being kind but also very shy and quiet here in Jyvaskyla, so it was quite a revelation when we discovered the residents of Turku (I later learned that there’s a large Swedish population in Turku which does provide a more understandable explanation).

All in all a very pleasant and fun start to the summer.