Post by Ritva Paivomaa on Oct 3, 2004 14:50:07 GMT -5
I was born quite a few years ago in the town of Pori, which is on the western coast of Finland. Pori is quite a big town in Finland and perhaps best known for its annual jazz festival that takes place in mid July.
I have two brothers who live in Pori with their families. My parents also live in Pori. I went to school there and graduated from Finnish senior high school, as well as taking the Finnish matriculation examination in 1978. After school I worked in a home for the elderly in Sweden for half a year. After that I spent half a year in England, first as an au-pair and then working in a shop in London.
I moved to Tampere in the autumn of 1979 and have lived here ever since. I studied at the Tampere Language Institute for three years and graduated from there in 1982. English was my main language and Russian my subsidiary language. Then I studied at the University of Surrey in England for three months. I was there on a special exchange course arranged by the Tampere Language Institute. When I returned to Tampere, I did odd jobs as a translator and export secretary, as well as continued my studies at the university. Eventually I ended up in teaching and completed the teacher training for adult and vocational institutes in 1992. I have worked as an English teacher for over 20 years.
My eldest daughter was born in 1992 and my youngest daughter in 1996. So, they both go to school now. The mother has a lot more time for herself nowadays, but still my free time is mostly dedicated to my family. But one can do so many things together with the children such as skiing, skating, swimming, mushrooming, dining out, going to exhibitions and museums, the theatre and the cinema, travelling, reading and most important of all, just being at home. Being with them is good fun! How come me and my husband (or perhaps I should call him my partner as we are not officially married) have managed to bring forth two such lovely persons?!! And of course, every now and then the children go by themselves to stay with their grandparents, godparents or our family friends. And the 'finally free' parents can start to rack their brains to find something to fill the free moments with.
I started to study e-learning only last winter so I really am a novice in this field. However, my encouraging tutor in the field suggested I just "get my hands wet" and try it out. And here I am, hoping that you will take an active part in the creation of this website of ours.
I have two brothers who live in Pori with their families. My parents also live in Pori. I went to school there and graduated from Finnish senior high school, as well as taking the Finnish matriculation examination in 1978. After school I worked in a home for the elderly in Sweden for half a year. After that I spent half a year in England, first as an au-pair and then working in a shop in London.
I moved to Tampere in the autumn of 1979 and have lived here ever since. I studied at the Tampere Language Institute for three years and graduated from there in 1982. English was my main language and Russian my subsidiary language. Then I studied at the University of Surrey in England for three months. I was there on a special exchange course arranged by the Tampere Language Institute. When I returned to Tampere, I did odd jobs as a translator and export secretary, as well as continued my studies at the university. Eventually I ended up in teaching and completed the teacher training for adult and vocational institutes in 1992. I have worked as an English teacher for over 20 years.
My eldest daughter was born in 1992 and my youngest daughter in 1996. So, they both go to school now. The mother has a lot more time for herself nowadays, but still my free time is mostly dedicated to my family. But one can do so many things together with the children such as skiing, skating, swimming, mushrooming, dining out, going to exhibitions and museums, the theatre and the cinema, travelling, reading and most important of all, just being at home. Being with them is good fun! How come me and my husband (or perhaps I should call him my partner as we are not officially married) have managed to bring forth two such lovely persons?!! And of course, every now and then the children go by themselves to stay with their grandparents, godparents or our family friends. And the 'finally free' parents can start to rack their brains to find something to fill the free moments with.
I started to study e-learning only last winter so I really am a novice in this field. However, my encouraging tutor in the field suggested I just "get my hands wet" and try it out. And here I am, hoping that you will take an active part in the creation of this website of ours.