Sisu travels, Part 1.

OK. We are a little late with the blog and have missed a couple of pretty big events already: The launch at the factory, and the big kick-off of the Centennial in the United States in Minneapolis in mid-January. Before we get to those, however, let’s jump in to current events and backtrack later.

Sisu is currently residing in Dallas, TX in the good hands of the dallasians. I recall Finns classifying themselves as savolainen, hämäläinen, pohojalaanen, and others. But, dallasians? Did we, all of a sudden, transport ourselves to star date 2917, to Finland 1000?

While Sisu has proven to travel really well, we are still in February, 2017. The dallasians, taking care of Sisu, are the Dallas Finns.

Our first conversations with Dallas in the fall of 2016 were initiated by a group of Nokia and former Nokia employees. As we all know, Nokia had large operations in the Dallas area, and still has a rather sizable presence. The Finnish business community in Dallas is organized as the Finnish American Business Guild.

Original schedule for Sisu was built around “12 Signature Events”. Dallas was inquiring why only 12, and why Dallas was not included? No one had a good answer, so we decided we need to get to Dallas!

After the executive branch had made the decision, Leila Jäämuru, head of the Suomi-koulu in North Texas, stepped in. Leila told everybody that if Sisu comes to Dallas, it needs to be a community event, not just some board room meet and greet. Well, if Leila says something (we learned) this something will happen!

For her maiden trip, Sisu left Minnesota under blue skies and with excitement. First stop would be in Kansas City, KS at a private event. Oh, did those people enjoy a hot sauna! 200+ Fahrenheit! Watch out!

Next day, Sisu made a stop in Branson, MS at the Branson Hot Tubs and Pools. No gambling, though! The proprietors of the Branson Hot Tubs and Pools, Glenda and Dan Foraker, had a grand opening of their new store and we were more than excited to go help out. Pools you can swim in, pools you can practice rowing in. Come on!

After a good day of exercise, please step in to the gentle steams of a real sauna. Can we say: “Relax, man...”.

Next, Sisu visited the campus of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. Dean of Fay Jones of School of Architecture and Design, Peter MacKeith, had invited us to a visit. Peter had lived in Helsinki for 10 years, and was desperate for a sauna.

College students are a special breed. They encounter things with open eyes and with no reservations. What is this? Why? Can I try?  Apart from the student population, we had staff and friends of Finland stop by. You need a testimony? Go Fayetteville!

And, if this wasn't enough, a reporter from the local press stops by, and we are in the news the next day! Read all about it!

Thank you very many, Peter and Lane Schmidt, Assistant to the Deans, for this opportunity to visit and speak with your faculty and students.

For our trip from Fayetteville, AR to Dallas, TX, we decided to take the scenic route through northern Oklahoma. Not long after leaving Fayetteville, we noticed signs “Trail of Tears” on the roadside. This prompted us to visit the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Capitol Museum in Tvshka Homma, OK. The “Trail of Tears” refers to the forced removals of the Native Americans from their ancestral homelands, primarily the Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations.

February 4, on a crisp 40 F winter day, Sisu arrives in Dallas, and is greeted by the entire Finnish School staff and kids, Honorary Consul Kenneth M. Niesman, and everybody who has found their way to the Oak Grove Park on Grapevine Lake. Suomi-koulu had organized a Liikuntapäivä, mini-Olympics. Did it get busy, or what? At one point, we find over 40 kids in the sauna. All at the same time! What a hoot!

After the games we lined up for pyttipannu, laskiaispulla and coffee.

One very cool detail from the day (in addition to the weather… locals said: “Unseasonably cold”, Sauna Ambassadors said: “Nice!”): Sauna enthusiasts from Estonia had contacted Leila and sent her two ladles. Both were engraved. One was donated to Traveling Sauna, one stays in Dallas. Thank you, our friends from Estonia!

Check out video and pictures of the day at the Suomi-koulu website, or on their Youtube channel.

After the olympics, Sisu was left in Dallas for a couple of weeks of sauna sessions. The setup at Gamill’s proved to be exquisite. A nice sitting area with a fire pit to cool off during and after sauna sessions was provided, and the back yard is totally enclosed which provides privacy. Couldn’t have asked for more.

But wait, there’s more! Reports of the quality of the löyly have been overwhelmingly positive which we are so glad to hear. Traveling Sauna was pretty sure to provide no disappointment but, now we have user testimonials to prove that.

Thank you Helena Tiainen, Tanja & Ryan Gamill, Leila Jäämuru, Vesa Ylinärä, Tero Kiiski (video), Orvo Välilä (photos), Sami Pekkala, Juha Lappalainen, and everyone in Dallas. You guys set the bar high!

You can say hello to the dallasians on their Dallas 100 Facebook page

Next, Sisu can be found in Houston. Everyone is invited to the FACC Houston organized luncheon on Saturday, February 25 at Chef Pedersen. In addition to Sisu, you’ll have an opportunity to meet and greet Ambassador Kauppi in Houston. Details and RSVP, contact FACC Houston.

From Houston, Sisu travels to Albuquerque, NM, Phoenix, AZ and Los Angeles, CA. Stay in touch, come say hello, take a selfie, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, blogspot, younameit!

For Sisu’s full schedule, or to contact us, go to Sisu's Traveling Sauna website.

For Finland Centennial Calendar in the US, go to http://www.finland100usa.com