wild north

so i've been really busy in the few days i've been in Inari so far. a quick update on what i've been upto (i'll post pictures later when i'm not so tired):

+Suvi introduced me to an awesome friend of hers, Mari, who was a fellow student at the Sami school here. Mari is studying making handicrafts with reindeer materials. the day before yesterday, Mari, her friend Kaisa (a silversmith) and I hiked 8 km to the Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church in the forest, where some of her friends were camping out at the free cabins they have here. we hung out the whole day by the fire and going to sauna, with bunches of juniper to strike our skin with to improve circulation. so. incredibly. relaxing.

+yesterday these gals invited me to the home of their friend Aki, who is studying to be a chef and is also a gold prospector. he made us a killer meal which consisted of: 1.) spicy carrot and cabbage soup with yogurt and pistachio garnish 2.) mustard sorbet ice cream and gazpatcho 3.) chocolate marscapone cake and coffee. oh and 4.) home-made bread.

+on a more professional note: i got accepted to an artist residency by SIM, Association of Icelandic Visual Artists, in Korpúlfsstaðir, Reykjavík for the month of August. i have accepted their invitation and as a result will have to extend my trip by a month or so

that's it for now. i'm off to help this German guy and Suvi to cook some food..... laterrr