Greetings from Finland!

Eija Posted: 16 February 2004, 3:43 PM   So, the main reason I'm here is that... well I love orienteering! And that's the reason why I decided NOT to become an exchange stundent in Australia in the first place - there's no way I'd leave my most beloved hobby totally for a year! Then I heard about orienteering in Australia - an became excited. I don't know whether I'm in the right place, but if someone would like to tell me a bit about, yeah, orienteering in Australia, I'd be really happy. I guess though, I'd have to skip Ski-O for a year, but that'll have to do... Thank you, Eija Merilaenen (eisku101@luukku.com) Ps. To avoid confusion, that's a girl's name! Pps. Finland is a northern country next to Sweden.   Jamie Posted: 17 February 2004, 2:01 PM   New Zealand is that southern country next to Australia. The one that hasn't been built by a convict race.   Eija Posted: 17 February 2004, 7:14 PM   And I still keep wondering if Jamie really is a boy's name after all...   Eija Posted: 17 February 2004, 7:39 PM   And I should have checked this site before I wrote anything... Good for me!   Jenni Posted: 18 February 2004, 2:11 AM   Hi Eija, Although my first reaction the other day when I read your post was to write much the same thing as Jamie (our geography is a little better than most Americans here!) I'm a little more polite than him. (Jamie -I thought you were studying for exams and in your spare time you're posting me your Southerly Storm O top!) I guess you have found the Australian O website http://www.orienteering.asn.au/ A Finnish orienteer called Henna Makalainen was here in NZ competing early this year, she had been studying in Melbourne, Australia last year. The email addresses she gave were henmak@utu.fi or henna_m@hotmail.com so she might be able to give you good advice from a Finnish point of view. Hope you have a good time and come here and visit all the rude New Zealanders as well! Jenni   Jamie Posted: 18 February 2004, 2:20 PM   Jeni, if I hadn't replied then you never would have and therefore no one would have and we all would have appeared rude even though we are all very lovely people deep down inside like Darcy from Pride and Prejudice (the guy that looks like Neil).   Eija Posted: 18 February 2004, 6:48 PM   *and still ashamed of her own stupidity*   Eija Posted: 18 February 2004, 6:49 PM   Thank you!   Melissa Posted: 19 February 2004, 9:06 AM   Darcy: http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/postcards/images/darcy_pride.jpg Neil: http://img3.photobucket.com/albums/v12/Firefoot/Melissa/neildance.jpg[ Can't see it myself This message was edited by Melissa on 19 February 2004, 5:14 PM   Neil K Posted: 19 February 2004, 1:42 PM   Least I don't have a Girls name.   :D Posted: 19 March 2004, 5:48 PM   Eija, The best place to go for 'o' in Aus is probably Canberra, it's certainly got the most active group of orienteers. Lots of maps close in to the city too, unlike Sydney and Melbourne where you have to drive for hooooooooours. There's a couple of universities - ANU (Australian National Uni) and Uni of Canberra. I don't know how you'll go for ski-o, they usually try to have one event a year in Victoria (and they call it the national champs!) and you're lucky if it's held at all. It's usually postponed and postponed until they get some snow, if they do. We do have lots of mountain bike o though...