Monday, October 20

This morning was cold and wet but not actually raining. After an hour or so of emailing and administration, I left Arcada to collect Steve and his gang. I found the Scandic Paasi in Hakaniemi and met with three of the five. Finally the other two appeared to make up a group of five jetlagged people and me. Everyone is from the University of West Georgia, which is based in Carrollton, about 45 miles west of Atlanta.

Now I am outside waiting for the others to gather. We will walk down the road to an R-Kioski to get five day travel cards, and then across the road to Hakaniemihalli where I will show them the market. We will take the metro and tram to Arcada where I will introduce them to all and sundry and give them lunch.

For a really interesting ninety minutes in the afternoon our team and theirs will engage in a discussion about e-learning and narrative pedagogy. Steve is now chair of a department that does no face to face teaching at all.

After this I will take them to the centre and spend several hours orientating them and showing them important landmarks. We will include the Burger Kind at Rautatientori, which everyone will love so much we will stop there; Rautatientori itself; Stockmann; Esplanaadi; Kasarmikatu (because Diane has the address of the best wool shop in Helsinki); kauppatori; the Old Market Hall; and the Silja Line terminal. They are spending tomorrow in Tallinn.

After this I will walk them back to the metro. They will get off at Hakaniemi and I will continue to Itäkeskus. I will be home shortly after 18:00 when Irma and I will begin to follow the Mystery of the Russian Submarine on television and social media.

Naa will arrive home fomr journalism about 20:00.