After the Pori game we were informed that we had our "Rookie Party".  Since this is our first year here in Finland, Ryan and I were both considered rookies.  There were about 3 other guys as well.  After I stepped out of the shower I was handed a trash bag and was told to wear that and underwear.  Ryan was handed some high-water pink overall's and a pink furry pig hat (See Pics "Pori game pics").  By the time we loaded the bus I was dripping sweat!  Our first stop was at the ABC for dinner.  We had to make a human pyramid in the parking lot as if we needed to draw any more attention to ourselves.  Then after everyone saw us perform that task we then headed in for dinner.  One lady, in English, told me as I was walking in the front door, "you’re not allowed in here...your trash". 

Task #2

On the bus after dinner we had to make our "Game-Faces" out of cardboard, crayons, and markers.  We stopped at a rest stop and had a vote to see who's was the best.  I happen to be the winner then we were handed a bottle of bubbles and had to blow all the bubbles and pop them.  Kinda random stuff but pretty funny to see bunch of football players dressed up in goofy outfits blowing bubbles and chasing them down the highway. 

Task #3

We stopped at a Karaoke bar in Tampere.  It was packed with locals so we definitely got some looks.  Most the girls laughed at us, but most the guys seem offended.  The first act was Ryan and I singing Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen.  It was terrible and absolutely embarrassing.  Then the other rookies got up and started singing some Finnish song. 

Task #4

We pulled over about 20 minutes outside of Tampere.  Then we were informed that we had to strip down, or just take of my trash bag, and jump off a dock into a roadside lake.  Let’s say it was a little bit cold!  We swam around in the lake for about 20 minutes then headed back to Kouvola!

We arrived back in Kouvola around 2:30 a.m and went straight to Amarillo.  We all just hung out and talked about how stupid we looked till about 4:00 a.m. when the rookie party finally ended and I went with Jukka to his house to sit in the sauna and went to bed!