Finnish student-teacher pursues dream in Hurley

HURLEY - Devoted to her passion for teaching English, student-teacher Taina Takamaki, 45, came to America with her family to teach at Hurley K-12 for summer school.

A long way from home in Finland, Takamaki arrived in Wisconsin three weeks ago with her husband and three of her four children. While in America, Takamaki said she's living with her husband's relative.

"It seems that everybody has some Finish relatives here," Takamaki said. "My husband has relatives here. But I don't have any relatives here."

Before coming to teach at Hurley K-12, Takamaki said she was an exchange student during high school in Wisconsin.

"That was a lot of fun," Takamaki said. "Everything was so new, but I was open minded and took everything as it came."

Because she's older than most college students, Takamaki said she to had to seek out Hurly K-12 on her own.

"This is an experience for me," Takamaki said. "Because of my age, I don't get to go to any official university exchange program. So this is what I've done by myself. We're going to be here at Hurley Summer School for three weeks."

During her time here, Takamaki said she helps teach fourth grade and is learning everything she can.

"I wanted to come here to prep my English and speaking skills," Takamaki said. "I wanted to be at school and learn how these teachers just do there job."

Form the first day of of school, Takamaki said they've been welcomed with open arms.

"I've been very welcomed, and I appreciate that," Takamaki said. "We've had a lot of fun. I'm helping out with everything I can."

While her family is here, Takamaki said her children are also attending summer school. So far, Takamaki said her children have enjoyed summer school

"They like it in Hurley," she said. " It's an experience for them, too. Before, they didn't want to go to school. Now, I can't get them out of here before 4 p.m. because they like the classes and to learn."

As summer school draws to a close, Takamaki said she's going to miss her experiences at Hurley K-12.

"This is the last week," Takamaki said. "That's a bummer. I could continue."

Likewise, Steve Eder, Community Education Director, said they're going to miss having her.

"Takamaki's been great to work with," Eder said. "Having her here has been really neat for our students, because she's able to impart some of the customs and differences between our two cultures. It's something the students wouldn't get anywhere else."

After summer school is over, Takamaki plans to stay until August, even though her family is leaving in the next few weeks.

"I'll be here for two weeks by myself," Takamaki said. "I want do something. I want to go somewhere and help volunteer to practice my language. But I don't know yet."

When it's time for her to go home, Takamaki said she's going to fulfill her dream of becoming a junior high English teacher teacher.

"I'm going to going to go back to school for three more years," she said. "I want to teach the teens. I like challenges, and there's enough challenges."