In 1983 Joel got a small scholarship from the American Scandinavian Foundation Finnish Fund Fellowship to study at the University of Helsinki for a year. It came with a travel grant from the Fulbright Program. He was met at the airport by the Kettunen family with whom he had stayed in 1975 and 1977–1978.
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| Veikko and Aino Kettunen greet Joel at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in September 1983 |
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| Joel with joulupukki (father Christmas) and Jarno and Jani Juntunen, Christmas Eve 1983 |
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| Joel on the Helsinki waterfront |
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Joel gave a short presentation to the Finland-America Foundation in Helsinki;
sadly he had the flu so his voice did not carry to the large hall |
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| Joel with U.S. Ambassador Keith Foote Nyborg and his wife Raija-Leena Itkonen |
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| Joel at a party in Helsinki |
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| Joel with Pertti Pyhtilä sunbathing on a rooftop in Helsinki |
Joel joined the Finnish planning committee for hosting the International Gay Association conference in Helsinki. IGA primarily attracted Europeans and some White South Africans but few Asians or Americans. The Finnish organization SETA (Seksuaalinen tasavertaisuus 'Sexual Equality') was the sponsor and host.
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| Joel (far right) assisting with the International Gay Association 6th Annual Conference in Helsinki |
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| Seppo Kettunen, Joel, Aino Kettunen, and Veikko Kettunen, Helsinki–Vantaa Airport, August 1984 |
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