Erin Rothwell is a high school English teacher at Maryvale Preparatory School in Lutherville whose goal is to spark curiosity and inspire others to go on adventures and embrace new experiences. She shares her lessons she learned on her family trip to Helsinki, Finland.
As I stepped out of baggage claim and boarded the train to downtown Helsinki, the first thing that crossed my mind was, “Where should I eat?” I imagined my family leisurely strolling through a local food market and coming across a young artisan serving Finnish crackers with samples of homemade lingonberry jam. I imagined myself tasting fish soup on a hand-carved kutsa made of birch.
Our path led down the Esplanade to the waterfront where the famous market awaited. Even though it was already covered in snow, it started to snow, creating a picturesque scene. We were literally in Finland, and the falling snow stuck to our eyelashes, making the experience even more magical for the Baltimore family.
As we approached the market, my husband, armed with his phone’s GPS, pointed ahead, but all we could spot were three or four market stalls. Yes, you read correctly, three or four. In my excitement, he missed one important point. This means that closing times on Saturdays are different from weekdays. The familiar pang of disappointment that comes to families when something goes wrong crept in. We hadn’t reached “National Lampoon’s Vacation” level yet, but there was a fleeting Chevy Chase moment where we realized Wally World was closed.
Nevertheless, a ray of hope appeared in the form of Helsinki’s Flying Cinema Tour. Having experienced her 4D City Tour/Movie in Rise, NY, I was convinced this would be a great option for my family. The Flying Cinema had a cool atmosphere similar to a nightclub called PALM. The interior of the store is decorated with pink LED tube lights and stylish furniture, making for plenty of Instagram-worthy moments. My teenage daughter was also very excited to have her photo taken. To my surprise, there was a children’s birthday party going on in the corner, and I heard a little voice saying “Hyvää syntymäpäivää” (“Happy Birthday” in Finnish).
The bartender, who was also the movie operator and ticket salesman, provided a leisurely drink service. However, I soon realized that Finns operate with less transactional emphasis than Americans. Their slow pace, which at first seemed tiresome to someone from the East Coast, began to resonate with me as an invitation to just be. Instead of the usual routine of buying tickets, watching a movie, and heading home, we sat at a high table and watched the ebb and flow of the crowd while soaking up the Finnish atmosphere.
The film 4D Flying Tour of Finland provided seatbelts and got us excited. However, while the film was visually appealing, it didn’t quite live up to the exhilarating scenes depicted on the website. But the experience went beyond the movie itself. It wasn’t an American-style rush. It was about soaking up the atmosphere, embracing the Finnish way of life, and realizing that there are countless ways of living beyond our familiar shadows.
What I gained from my unexpected adventure in Helsinki was a new appreciation for the unique experiences that travel can provide. Initially she wanted a short 15 minute luxury of her 4D, but what I received was an immersive encounter that went beyond the movie itself. Traveling abroad is about more than just getting a glimpse of another culture. It forces us to reevaluate our way of life and opens our eyes to the diverse ways people live all over the world.