Unexpected...Surprise in Esse by Kassie Haan
ALASKA
ESSE
COLORADO
During the summer, I participated in the SFHS Heritage Tour along with my grandma, Cassie Chronic, and my uncle and aunt, Scott, and Billie Haan. I was excited to have the opportunity, not only to grow deeper connections to my Finnish heritage, but also to spend time with my family before I moved. I was accepted to graduate school only two months before the trip and would move to Colorado at summer’s end to work towards my Ed.S in school psychology.
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A special part of our trip was meeting and staying with a distant cousin, Paula Maans Ahlvik and her husband Jan-Ole, in Maansfolk, Esse. On our last night visiting with relatives, most much older than me, I was prepping my bags to travel when grandma and aunt Billie said that I had to meet someone. I went out onto the back deck and there stood someone actually my age! Not only was she my age, but she was wearing a University of Denver sweatshirt. I did a double-take and asked about it. It turns out Hannah (Ray) is attending DU as a senior. We exchanged phone numbers and promised to reconnect once she returned to the US, and I had moved from Alaska to Colorado. Now, a few weeks into the start of the quarter, Hannah and I have met up for coffee. We plan to continue to do this regularly. We even talked about me visiting her when she returns home to Finland. I never expected SFHS to provide me with such a unique and amazing opportunity to learn and see Finland and gain a family member with whom I will grow closer while attending graduate school. Photos courtesy of Cassie Chronic & Kassie Haan
