Mic Check

There seems to be an unwritten rule or perhaps some mystical mathematical equation that states that the size and number of tasks to be done are in inverse proportion to the given departure date. Work, driving, shopping, dishes, sleeping - all these activities seem to take longer, or time passes more quickly, or they don’t get done….

Last week we took our monthly drive to the Newfield Fire House and attended the Finger Lakes Finns meeting. Along with the good conversation, we always get the opportunity to fill up on a variety of creamy potato dishes and pulla (a yummy cardamom coffee bread). Perhaps most importantly, we unexpectedly acquired a taste for traditional Finnish beet salad and have learned how to make it.

But food aside, we look presently around our apartment and see no evidence of a long sojourn. Ideally, we have fantasies that of all of our current projects are completed and loose ends are tied up, but in reality the coffee table is still covered with mail, some read and unread, the kitchen is still warm with panang curry- dishes unwashed, and the studio a wreck with the soft smell of a candle filling the house.

Both of us when faced with such adventures tend to kick into overdrive and find new projects. Ron has discovered polymer clay and already declared 'this is going to get me into some trouble'. Also, he has started to revisit the Community Dialogues project started in 2009. Mackenzie has started to work on a paper she will present at a language policy conference in Finland. Before she leaves, she plans on interviewing two bilingual language schools, one in Oregon and one in Corning. Although she has less than a month, she has honestly just sent out her first request for an interview.

Community Dialogues Series #1, 2010

But despite our best efforts to overwhelm ourselves, we have been making strides in our preparation. Last weekend we conducted a “test” interview in the Rauma Dialect with two amazing and willing volunteers. This couple is actually from Rauma and has told us that when they speak Finnish, friends and family will comment on how old their language sounds. It is common for language to stagnate if isolated and so we are very lucky to find them. We hope to start our CD with a story from them as a sort of christening.

So, for your listening pleasure we thought we would include this 'behind the scenes' audio check we recorded a few days ago. Just for fun;) and perhaps a little too telling…