A storytelling update

This evening I told a story at a storycafe gathering in swedish-speaking Parainen, on the Archipelago. As I travelled there & back with a fellow blogger, I was reminded that I haven't written about this for a while. Too much weather!  (NB snow's nearly all gone)

A few weeks ago I told a "big" story at a storycafe gathering in Turku. The story was a traditional Irish tale - The Children of Lir - and it was the first time I had told it. It went well but I was very nervous beforehand... it was almost 25 mins long and I was telling to a gathering of Finnish, Swedish & English speakers. Amongst them were two visiting storytellers from Scotland. One of them, Claire Hewitt, I have mentioned before. The other is Judy Paterson, who I also met during the Nordic Voices Festival last Autumn. They have both become "mentors" in my journey into storytelling, so I really wanted to do well.

Claire & Judy were here in Turku for a week, revisiting the schools who are participating in the Story Harvest and Finscot Projects. At the start of the week, I spent a day with them at Puolala School listening to stories, learning new techniques and enthusing teachers. As well as catching up on all our news and having fun at the storycafe, Judy ran a worshop for teachers and we had the opportunity to socialise a little...

The workshop was originally aimed at teachers but only 2 came along. It meant there was time for Judy to answer lots of individual questions about her work, the schools projects and tips for the future of storytelling here. Also more socialising - pizza at Tinta - nice cafe by the river (which has now melted, but hadn't then - the river, not the cafe!). 

When I told the story of St Patrick to two classes at Puolala School in March, I also spoke to the principal about the possibility of an running afterschool club starting in August (the new academic year). She was quite enthusiastic, so Judy's workshop gave me some ideas and insight into how to run the workshops.

When we were at the Story Cafe in the Book cafe, Brinkalla, we were invited to attend another storycafe in Parainen and hence our trip today. The story I told, Two Trees, is from a book of stories given to me by Claire. It is a collection of Scottish Traveller Stories as told by a Traveller himself. He was aware that the travelling traditions were dying out and he agreed to have his stories transcribed - word for word. It is an interesting insight into a way of life that is dwindling fast. The storyteller, who died several years ago, was Duncan Williamson; the book is "Fireside Tales of the Traveller Children". Thank you Claire.  

So the winter continues to creep away and the storytelling continues. 

Oh! and I saw some crocuses today! YEAH!

New Year

Well, the storytelling at the Christmas Market went well. Despite the organisers not expecting me on the first day and  people continuing to chat over coffee while I was trying to entertain them on the second, I also got some lovely feedback from complete strangers. 

I was so, SO delighted that friends came to support me, too. To look around the room and see familiar faces made me feel so much more comfortable.

The Storytelling continues. I have now told at Monkey's playschool and have plans for a friend's primary school class. There are also some story café events coming up - so I'll be there too. 

I have also added a new string to my bow. I am now the proud holder of a TEFL Certificate! I am certified to teach English as a Foreign Language. The course, at Kingston University, was a very intensive and fun-filled three days. It included skills which will cross over into my storytelling - I need to develop some school workshops to support the stories. 

With Mouse turning 3 in just over a year (already!!!) I have to build up some kind of earning potential... I am hoping that the Storytelling, Book Selling and English teaching together will allow me a decent income doing work that's flexible enough to work around Monkey & Mouse while at the same time not relying on me learning Finnish well enough to work in Finnish! 

My Finnish language lessons are ongoing... I do feel like I'm learning and I do get fairly good exam results but I am not practising and with a primarily english speaking social circle I don't really have to.

I used to be a person who watched with scorn TV programmes about families relocating abroad without learning the language. Now I have become an immigrant who can't communicate with the locals.. oh dear... note to self... must try harder. Hmmm sounds familiar ;D

Collecting Stories, putting down roots.

I've been buying books of stories to tell. As I'll be telling in English, in Finland, I've decided to concentrate on Finnish tales (familiarity for those studying English), English tales, London tales and possibly some Irish/Celtic tales (to reflect my own culture).

I have also been revisiting some of my folk CDs. I was particularly struck a song called Roots, sung by Show of Hands. It includes the line 

"Without our stories and our songs, how to we know where we come from? We need roots"

It reminded me that although I live in Finland I am still English, as is the Monkey. I was born in London, as were my parents and grandparents but 2 of my great grandparents were born in Ireland, 1 in Manchester and the rest in London. Of course my children's cultural heritage is even more of a mix - including their Finnish Daddy, grandparents, greatgrandparents etc. Further back there are links to Sweden and Russia - bearing in mind that Finland has only been independent since 1917. The Mouse was born in Finland.

So, my Finnglish family is more than just Finnglish. It is FinnEngIriSweRussian!?!?

The books I have started my collection with are collections of stories retold or simply collected. There are "Tales from a Finnish Tupa", "Siberian Folk Tales" (which includes Saame, or Lapp tales) and "London Lore". 

I also have an incredibly abridged version of the Kalevala, called "Songs of Power" with all the adventurous distractions and complicated language reduced to simple verses over less than 50 pages. It is a great introduction to the central characters and the basic themes of Finland's great Epic. It will allow me to start telling a simple tale which will be recognised by most Finns. Over time I can build on the central story, adding in the extra characters and their adventures.

I'm looking forward to my first storytelling - probably at a storytelling cafe; a sharing of stories with other storytellers - hopefully some others in English, although it will be good for my Finnish to listen to some in Finnish, too! 

If anyone has christmas, winter, winter solstice or just snowy stories to share with me, I'd love to hear them, I hope to be telling some at the Christmas Markets in December!

Storytelling

I've just finished a 2 day seminar on Storytelling. It was actually for teachers but somehow I managed to find my way in... it was wonderful - a real revelation. This is my new venture... I'm going to try and be a Storyteller. On Saturday I went to the culmination of the Nordic Voices Festival. Ten storytellers from Nordic Lands telling ten stories in various languages - 1 in Finnish, 2 in Swedish, 1 in Danish and the rest in English - one from a German woman and the other a Danish/Faroese Man. The English storytellers were from Scotland and Norway! 

It was wonderful - inspirational... and I realised that this might be something I could do.  

So, I spent 2 days on this seminar and I found a mentor. Claire Hewitt is a Storyteller, a singer, a harpist and a handworker - she makes felt, among other things. She shared stories and taught us how to felt, she inspired us to listen to and tell stories and share this with others.

Stories on the beach

The Raven put his wing across his face!

raw wool ready for the felting

lovely view

story inspirations, and Claire's book

our workshop space

Autumn sunshine through the trees outside our wooden windows.

So, now I am started to collect stories for telling, in English. I'm looking for Finnish Tales, English Tales and London Tales. I already have several potential "gigs" so this really could be a great new start for me.