menstrual cup

The reason I decided to try menstrual cup was purely ecological. I had been looking for a choiche to the disposable pads and tampons for a while. I had big doubts of the cup but I decided that in order to call myself ecologically thinking it should be seen in my consuming. So I bought it and haven't regreted it at all. On the contrary I find it VERY GOOD. It's easy to use, safe, cheap and mostly you can forget that you have periods. All the itching and uncomfortable feeling is gone.

This is from the web site of Lunette the manufacturor of menstrual cup:

Lunette™ menstrual cup is:
• Made in Finland of 100% medical-grade silicone.
• Hypoallergic, latex-free, odourless and safe.
• Economic and ecologically-friendly; used with care, one Lunette menstrual cup lasts for about 5-10 years
• A sanitary and healthy alternative to disposable tampons and sanitary napkins.
• Easy-to-use and comfortable, needs emptying only 2-4 times a day. Can be used during the night.
• The lining of the cup is totally smooth and the tab is flat, so cleaning is extremely easy.
• Measuring lines of 7.5 ml and 15 ml outside the cup, for monitoring the amount of your flow
• Can be sterilised by placing in boiling water for 2-5 minutes
• Can be used by all women
• Can be used before first sexual intercourse and also with a IUD and contraceptive diaphragm.
• Not to be used during post-natal bleeding due to the risk of inflammation.
• Does not disrupt the natural lubricating ability of the vagina, nor does it dry the vaginal mucus membrane
• No dampness; no outbreaks of vaginal candidiasis, cystitis nor toxic shock syndrome have been linked to the use of menstrual cups.
• Can be worn during sports.
• Not tested on animals

School party in South African way

While we visited Arethabeng school of course they arrenged a big party for us there. The party was awesome! Lots and lots of many kind of programme. I enjoyed very much of that living performing of those children. There were songs and poems of South Africa and Arethabeng, traditional dancing (you can see group coming to performe in the picture), songs of love and friendship, jive, dialogues etc. We even saw an educational play about aids afterwards. It didn't fit to the long programme.



We also sang one traditional Finnish song and the African ladies danced on the rythm of that. I love that spirit of doing things together combining traditions feeling sisters no matter of your colour, position or anything else. All men are equal!

In that party also all of those whose story was printed in the book Tunne kieleni - tseba leleme la ka - know my language got their own book. It was a big thing for them! It could have been the first book for some to own. Our children have a whole bookshelf of books. Life just isn't fair.

Well, I miss all those children of Arethabeng and I will cherish those memories in my heart for the rest of my life!

Tunne kieleni - tseba leleme la ka - know my language

This is one product of the friendship school project between Arethabeng school and Mikkola school. This is book has been made by storycrafting first grade pupils in Mikkola school and in Arethabeng school. In storycrafting a child (or a teenager, adult, etc.) tells a story, someone else writes it down. Then the child hears her story and then she can make changes if she wants. Simple! All the stories of this book are in Finnish, English and North Sotho (the language of Arethabeng school). Some of the stories have been told by an immigrant pupil here in Finland. Those stories are aso in their mother tongue. So the book is multilingual.

I really like the book. You can hear children's voice in it. If you compare the stories made in South Africa and stories made in Finland you will find differences. South Africans tend to tell about their every day life as Finns tell a story more often. Also the places they tell about are different. In comparison you will also find similarities. Boys play with cars and girls get happy of the new doll - no matter where you are.

Some of the stories have violence, some tell about fears, some are representations of every day life, some are cute little stories about friendship, some tell about unfareness of life some tell about how you can find compromise in life. It's a very many-sided book and it tells me that children see this life much better than we adults think they do. We should listen children more carefully in order to understand life in itself. Storycrafting is a wonderful method for that.




All the pictures of the book have been made by children. If you got interested about the book: Tunne kieleni - tseba leleme la ka - know my language, go an read it in thislink! I would love to hear what is your favourite story.

The school year is over

It's time to say good bye for the Alakylä school in Lappeenranta. While it was Jonna's last year in grade school they all got roses. Viivi got the teddy bear from her teacher just to say good bye. Next year we'll be in Mikkola school all together once again. Mikkola school is a comprehensive school with grades 1 to 9 so even Jonna stays with us in the same school but she'll just be in upper grades and in subject teacher system. That will be a big change for her but she is very happy to get back to the old school with old friends. Normally the grades 7-9 are in different school buildings. My classroom will be next to Viivi's classroom. I don't know yet if it's a good or a bad thing :).

Anyway I'm very proud of our beautiful daughters. They came home with good reports and many good moments and experiences with their friends and teachers at school! They adapted to the new school well and became part of it in short time. In my opinion the best part of being one year in Alakylä school for our girls was excellent hand craft teaching. The skirt Jonna is wearing she made herself for example.

Happy summertime to all of you!