好久不见! , ”Long time, no see!” is a Chinese phrase for not seeing someone for a while. This is what I and my Chinese guests said to each other when we met on this May. 

The Global Education Community (GEC) and Global Innokas Network has given me many opportunities to meet new people around the world. During our trips to China we have for example met Joan, a journalist of Education. On this spring she came to Helsinki with Wang Xiaofeng (a principal in a rural school near Beijing) and Hongdi (a voluntary teacher in Beijing area). They all wanted to visit Nuuksio National Park and our school – both visits went well! 

On Sunday the 21st we wandered in Nuuksio National Park and I told my visitors about Finnish Nature and the Nature School of Haltia. My visitors were amazed how important role the Nature has in Finnish everyday life. We also visited Haltia’s exhibitions where Joan, Xiaofeng and Hongdi were able to learn how animals survive during wintertime or how bear or birds live. After that we came to my house to talk and to have dinner together. 

On Tuesday the 23rd my guests came to visit our school. They were impressed how well organized everything is and how much is going on all the time. Joan, Hongdi and Xiaofeng followed me and my students (4th and 9th graders) to Riistavuori Senior House where my students performed their poems to seniors and where seniors performed their poems to my students. My Chinese guests wondered, how come we are having this sort of cooperation. Well, the idea comes from our National Curriculum, doesn’t it! 

I hope I see my Chinese colleagues in a future, either here in Finland or in China! 

Raini Sipilä, Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu