WITH THIS SERIES OF PICTURES I WISH TO PRESENT MY WARMEST THANKS TO ALL THE PEOPLE – CLOSE AND FAR – WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF MY LIFE , AND WHO HAVE MADE IT JUST AS RICH AND BEAUTIFUL AS IT EVER HAS BEEN BY NOW!

I ALSO WISH TO REMEBER THOSE CLOSE RELATIVES AND FRIENDS WHO ARE NOT WITH US ANYMORE, ESPECIALLY :

MY GRANDPARENTS MATTI AND ENSI KUUSISTO , MY FATHER ILKKA KUUSISTO, MY GODFATHER EINO KOIVISTO, AUNE HAATAINEN, MY ATLANTIC COLLEGE DORM MATEDEBORAH (DEBBIE) HEMBROW (AC 1979-80) AND MARJA-LEENA (MARJUSKA) RASANEN, WHOM I MISS, SO VERY MUCH!

In Riihimäki, February the 6th, 2011

Riikka Katariina Kuusisto

Riikka Katariina Kuusisto - 50 years

Riikka Katariina Kuusisto, 50 vuotta

TÄLLLÄ KUVASARJALLA HALUAN LAUSUA KAUNEIMMATKIITOKSENI KAIKILLE NIILLE IHMISILLE, SUKULAISILLENI, YSTÄVILLE, KOULU-JA TYÖTOVEREILLE – LÄHELLÄ JA KAUKANA – JOTKA OVAT OLLEET OSA ELÄMÄÄNI JA TEHNEET SIITÄ JUURI NIIN RIKKAAN JA ELÄMISEN ARVOISEN KUIN MITÄ SE TÄHÄN ASTI ON OLLUT!

HALUAN SAMALLA MUISTAA NIITÄ ELÄMÄSSÄNI TÄRKEITÄJA HYVIN RAKKAITA HMISIÄ, JOTKA EIVÄT ENÄÄ OLE KANSSAMME:

ISOAVNHEMPIANI MATTI AND ENSI KUUSISTOA , ISÄÄNI ILKKA KUUSISTOA, KUMMISETÄÄNI EINO KOIVISTOA, AUNE HAATAISTA, ATLANTIC COLLEGE VUOSIEN 1979-80 HUONETOVERIANI DEBORAH (DEBBIE) HEMBROW’TA SEKÄ MARJA-LEENA (MARJUSKA) RASASTA, JOITA KAIKKIA ,YHDESSÄ HEIDÄN LÄHEISTENSÄ KANSSA, IKÄVÖIN.

Rakastan teitä kaikkia!

Riikka

YOUR CHALLENGE IS TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR LIFE AND TURN ALL THE FEALURES AND FIGHTS THAT YOU EVER FACE INTO THE SUCCESS – FOR YOURSELF AND THOSE WHOM YOU LOVE!

Riikka Katariina Kuusisto – was born in Finland, in Finnish countryside in Kiukainen, Saarenmaa, in the west coast of Finland in 1961, as an oldest with two sisters and a brother (Reetta, Kristiina and Miikka). She was raised by her grandparents –did well at school, was a scouts-leader and did many kinds of musical activities at her early age, composed and presented songs and played several instruments. She received a scholarship from Kiukainen Lions Club in 1977 to travel to USAas a Lions Club exchange student. She got into a motorcycle accident that same yeardue to which she was operated a couple of times in 1977. Her grandmother Ensi Kuusisto died that same year. She applied for a 2-year scholarship in Atlantic College while still being operated at the hospital. In 1978 she received two scholarships, one from Kiukainen Lions Club and a 2-year scholarship from the Finnish Cultural Foundation and The Ministry of Education. Riikka visited Garner Iowa for 2 months as a Kiukainen Lions Club scholarship student in summer 1978. After returning for Finland she left Finland the same year at the age of 17 to attend Atlantic College (1978-80) in Walesfor two years to take the International Baccalaureate (IB) Examination . She got married in 1980 in Finland after returning for Finland from AC at the age of 19. She started studies in logopedics at Oulu University in 1982. Joona was born in December 1983. After several rather interesting pages of stories Riikka now lives in Riihimäki, Finland. She is working as a Project Manager at Aalto University Professional Development (Aalto Pro).

Riikka has a rather ”versatile” background related to her working career and her hobbies. She was known for her music , singing and performing with her guitar, where ever she went. She did musical studies prior, during and after Atlantic College. Her love for horses and riding led to guiding handicapped children an riding therapy in the late 80´s. During Atlantic College 1978-80 she was trained in in Beach Rescue Services Unit. She also shared her time within social services helping handicapped and elderly people. Acting and stage performing came part of her freetime when she joined Hello Dolly musical and Olviretki at Schleuzengen at Seinäjoki and Oulu town theatres as an evening actress in the early 90´s. She worked as a music and English teacher at Oulu Steiner-school for years while studying at Oulu University. She also worked as a special teacher for kindergarten and handicapped children and deepened her pedagogical knowledge about Montessori method. She worked as a speech therapist at Alavus Health Centre for years in the beginning of 2000. She funded her Oulu university studies also partly by working as a marketing secretary at several estate agencies during summer times. She took an examination at Marketing Institute to improve her knowledge about the subject. She worked for information society projects, worked as a marketing manager in mobile business and extended her knowledge about marketing in international b-to-b in 2000. She is currently working as a project manager at Aalto University Professional Development (Aalto Pro). Her main specialty is related to web-based realtime communications and improving working and training models and methods in project work and continuing education.

LINKS TO PLACES AND ORGANISATIONS

Area where I was born (1961-1978): (Municipality) Kiukainen(Village) Panelia, SaarenmaaWikipedia: Panelia info

The United World College of The Atlantic, WALES (1978-80)

Oulu (1980-1991)Oulu University

Dipoli Building in Espoo, Otaniemi

Aalto-UniversityAalto-University Continuing Education (Aalto Pro)

Riikka at the age of one - in 1962

I was born in Finland, in Kiukainen, a small village called Panelia Saarenmaa inthe West Coast of Finland. The name of the house where I was bornwas Kuusisto. My father Ilkka, my mother Marja, my aunt (farther´s sister)Mirja and his husband Eino Koivistoalso lived in that same Kuusisto house with their son Antti in early 1960´s.

My grategrandfather had takenthe name of the Kuusisto house when hemarried his wife, my grategrandmother.Had he never had done that, my (our) second name would be Sievari. Sievari is a family name known in Harjavalta.My grandfather had several sisters living in that same (Kiukainen) Panelia, Saarenmaa village and they also had a great impact into our life during my childhood.

Me and my dog Fiiuin 1973.

GARNER IOWA IN SUMMER 1978at the age of 17

ATLANTIC COLLEGE 1978-80My birthday on 6.2.1980- 19 years behind

- Picture taken by TakaHiro

ATLANTIC COLLEGE1978-80AC TOUR CHOIR CANNES, FRANCE

- Picture taken by TakaHiro

2004 – ”Let it be”...

Some graphic works of mine – hoping to find more time to draw at some point in the future

Roadracing and motorcycle events (2004)

Thinking about Mai Laif – not too serious - never...

in 2006

My first crossing of The Baltic Sea in 2003 –Love the sea and love sailing!

ATLANTIC COLLEGE 1978-80

Local newspaper- Kiukainen, spring 1978

Some frases below are from the song that I wrote and devoted for the AC-students and staff while staying at the college in 1978-80 – a ”little” naive touch with the text, but still – the message is what matters most... There are always as many Truths as there are people...Our challenge in life is to find and learn to build the Common Truth -The Truth that builds and puts together instead of ripping apart.

”...We were afraid when we all came, since we new it won´t be the same, as it waswhen we were staying at home...Remeber days when sun seemed to shine andyou were feeling so fine, after making somebody smile...We are going to make it, going to get through, by walking hand in hand- knowing that the aim is the truth...”

- Atlantic College (AC) in 1978-80

All the activities and the hard academic programme at AC werea big challenge for me. My musicalstudies never led to a profession,but music has been a central part ofmy work and freetime ever since.

ATLANTIC COLLEGE, ST DONAT´S CASTLE (main building of the campus)

MY DORM MATES AT ATLANTIC COLLEGE1978-80

KYRIAKI BALTA (78-79)CAREN WAY, (78-80)ANNA REEVE (78-80)

I miss You All!

Elderly people always say that the time flies.

It is very easy to understand it, when you look at yourown pictures in the timeframe at this point. You may then find out things and meaningsthat you never saw there before...

Find the time to share itwith those whom you love ,as we are not here for ever.

SAARENMAAN MUMMU JA PAPPAGRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER

Niin paljon Teidän piti kantaa huolta,niin paljon Teidän piti rakastaa,etteivät mitkään maailman suureetvoi sitä määrää kuvastaa!

We never would have made it in lifewithout you!

– We All Love and Miss You both, so very Much!

My fartherIlkka Kuusisto

- Picture taken by Keskuskuva Porion his confirmation day

Niin aikaa mennyttä katselemmeJa polkua yhteistä muistelemme.Oli kukkia varrella polun sen,Ilon onnen sekä myös murheiden,Niistä kaikista sidomme seppeleen,Yhdessä sinua kiittäen, kaivaten.

Nyt olet vapaa ja mukana tuulen,saat kulkea rajoilla ajattomuuden.Olet kimallus tähden, olet pilven lento,olet kasteisen aamu n pisara hento.Et ole poissa, vaan luoksemme saavutmuistamme yhteiset hetket,yhteiset aamut, ja jokaisen tummuvan illan myötä toivotamme sinulle ”Hyvää yötä”.

HAKKILAN ISOMUMMI (17.10.2009)ja pikku Christinan isänisänisänäitiAune Haatainen

There are angels on the earth and you were one of them!Keeping the positive attitude no matter how hard times life had to offer us you helped me to to laugh during difficult times and fly over stormy oceans. We shared the feeling that life should never be too serious and it helps when youlearn to laugh at yourself.

It is important to feel safe –– you need people that love and care for youand you need people to love.

MY BROTHER AND MY SISTERS - MIIKKA, KRISSE, MYSELF AND REETTA

Reetta, Krisse & Riikkain early 60´s.

JOONA JA HETA

ÄITI JA EDDIE – MOTHER AND EDDIE

Herkkyys nähdä asioitaja uskallus kulkea polkuja, joiden määränpäätä ei voi nähdä– sellainen kyky ja tahto on äidillä.

...kyky nauttia pienistä asioistaja poimia kauniit kukat sieltäkin,missä muut eivät edes näe niitä olevan- sellainen taito on hänellä!

Kiitos äiti elämästä ja elämisenilosta, jota olet meille opettanut!

Laura – kummityttö

Jarno ja Jenni

Pikku-Elli - Krisse-mummin päivänpaiste- ja tietysti meidän kaikkien muiden myös!

Veli Miikka & Elina ja veljenpojat - Lauri, Eero Sakari ja Oskari

Heta, Eleni ja pikku-Sissi - päivänpaisteet

ULLALLE JA EEVALLE– KIITOSYSTÄVYYDESTÄJA RAKKAUDESTA-KIITOS KAIKESTAILOSTA - YHTEISISTÄNAURUN HETKISTÄ!

-Kuva 29.8.1992

OLETTE AJATUKSISSA MISSÄIKINÄ KULJETTEKIN

JA ULLALLE KIITOS ELÄMÄNIKAUNEIMMASTAKUKKAKIMPUSTA!

-Kuva 29.8.1992

MAIJA –

Kiitos kaikista yhteisistähetkistä – KiitosYstävyydestä!

ABILITY TO FORGIVE AND ASK FORFORGIVENESS ARE THE GREATEST SKILLS THAT A MAN CAN EVER HAVE –AND HAPPY LIFE IS NOT ABOUT RECEIVING – IT IS ABOUT GIVING!

ALWAYS REMEBER TO SAY THAT YOU LOVE, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

I AM SO FORTUNATETO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT IWOULD NOT GIVE A DAY AWAY FROM ”MY LIFE”!

”Tis is mai laif”

I Love You All!Riikka