Beach park near Klara's house
Walking with Klara
Reflection pool at the cemetery
Greta Garbo's headstone
Mocha latte
Me on the ferry
Butterflies can't cry
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
"Normal" Stockholm Weekend
Today started off with Klara making Swedish pancakes for the both of us. Her mom, Monica, mentioned that she had made some lingonberry sauce. I asked "This morning?" and she replied "Oh, yeah, I was just out picking lingonberries and making jam." Her husband Anders continued, "Just a normal Swedish morning." They were both joking with me of course.
We then took the subway, which was actually above ground the whole time, to her cousin's birthday party. Her cousin is this pretty successful performance artist. Check out his website. The party was at his studio and was filled with all the crazy stuff he uses in his shows. We talked about art and the advantages and disadvantages of doing performance art versus photography. One of the coolest things I saw was this antique vampire hunting kit, but he had plenty of other crazy things.
It was pretty funny because Klara has been trying to help me have an authentic Swedish experience and here we were at a normal family gathering, but in one of the most unique and weirdest places I have ever been. I knew it was going to be a "different" kind of place when we walked up to the terrace and there was a wild boar pelt hanging over the railing, and from there things only got more strange and exotic. It was amazing.
We left the party and took the subway back to the city center. After a couple hours of subway riding and walking all over the city we made it back to Farsta and will continue the night recuperating by watching Swedish movies!
We then took the subway, which was actually above ground the whole time, to her cousin's birthday party. Her cousin is this pretty successful performance artist. Check out his website. The party was at his studio and was filled with all the crazy stuff he uses in his shows. We talked about art and the advantages and disadvantages of doing performance art versus photography. One of the coolest things I saw was this antique vampire hunting kit, but he had plenty of other crazy things.
It was pretty funny because Klara has been trying to help me have an authentic Swedish experience and here we were at a normal family gathering, but in one of the most unique and weirdest places I have ever been. I knew it was going to be a "different" kind of place when we walked up to the terrace and there was a wild boar pelt hanging over the railing, and from there things only got more strange and exotic. It was amazing.
Me and the polar bear head that guards the door, wearing a top hat and some kind of complicated spectacles.
We left the party and took the subway back to the city center. After a couple hours of subway riding and walking all over the city we made it back to Farsta and will continue the night recuperating by watching Swedish movies!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Hurricane Sandy
Flooded NYC subway. Three guys broke in and took this picture.
The size of Sandy compared to Europe.
In West Virginia the rain turns into heavy snow.
Ground Zero getting flooded with sea water.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Presentation Anxiety
So I have been working on this big research project about Iceland's climate change strategy since September and we were assigned by the Program Director to present our research tomorrow at 4:15. This is not a little assignment as we will be speaking for nearly two hours while also being educational and entertaining.
However, Friday afternoon, the Program Coordinator emailed the program saying that our schedule for that day should end at 4:00, not 6:00 like it would if my group was presenting. While we were able to email her explaining this issue, the director, like most Swedes, has been avoiding his office email all weekend, and is, as of 9:25pm tonight, still unavailable.
So now, we have this huge project and we don't know if we are presenting tomorrow or not. Two months of research to explain, professional outfits to wear, and hair to tame and it could be all for nothing. It feels a bit like preparing for Christmas to come, but not knowing if Santa will have dropped off the presents by the time you wake up, or if he has one more day of traveling to do.
However, Friday afternoon, the Program Coordinator emailed the program saying that our schedule for that day should end at 4:00, not 6:00 like it would if my group was presenting. While we were able to email her explaining this issue, the director, like most Swedes, has been avoiding his office email all weekend, and is, as of 9:25pm tonight, still unavailable.
So now, we have this huge project and we don't know if we are presenting tomorrow or not. Two months of research to explain, professional outfits to wear, and hair to tame and it could be all for nothing. It feels a bit like preparing for Christmas to come, but not knowing if Santa will have dropped off the presents by the time you wake up, or if he has one more day of traveling to do.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Milestones of Today
Today me and my partners had a dry run of our presentation, complete with a working lunch. We shared a fresh, crusty baguette with butter, mashed potatoes, crispy salmon cakes, and apple turnovers. The meeting was both productive and delicious.
I also cancelled my housing contract for my student corridor. In about a month, I will be moving into a completely renovated, two bedroom apartment right in the city center with another Human Ecology student.
I also finally applied for my Swedish personal number. I don't exactly know what it is but it gives me more rights as a resident in Sweden, even though I already have my residence permit card.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I saw falling snowflakes today! I was out running errands and a few snowflakes, not raindrops, started falling. Swedish fall really is here!
Apparently this is what I have to look forward to:
Great success!
I also cancelled my housing contract for my student corridor. In about a month, I will be moving into a completely renovated, two bedroom apartment right in the city center with another Human Ecology student.
I also finally applied for my Swedish personal number. I don't exactly know what it is but it gives me more rights as a resident in Sweden, even though I already have my residence permit card.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I saw falling snowflakes today! I was out running errands and a few snowflakes, not raindrops, started falling. Swedish fall really is here!
Apparently this is what I have to look forward to:
The main square in Lund covered in snow.
Great success!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Söderåsen National Park
Today I went to Söderåsen National Park. After a short train ride and bus trip we arrived. We decided on a 7km trail through the rift valley, which the nature guide said was a must-see if we hadn't been there before.
Trailhead.
Natural spring, complete with ladle for easy drinking. I filled up a bottle and had it with dinner after the hike. Risotto, spring water, and the applemust that I bought on Friday.
Territory demarcation from the Iron Age in the valley.
Up on the ridge.
Me at the top.
Fall in a Swedish beech forest.
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