Coffee and glögg and peace of mind
A week home yesterday evening and it has been lovely. Absolutely lovely. Only dissapointment: No snow, but a fair bit of frost and temperatures below zero almost made up for it. It's cold enough I assure you. One thing I've been pondering this last week is how ever did I stand spending, what is it? 4 months of the year in that big eskimo coat? It is clumsy and huge and uncomfortable;but a necessity of course if warmth is the aim. My grandma sais I'm spoilt, complaining about the cold; I should be used to it, after all this is where I spent almost all my life. I grew up living through loooong cold, dark winters and I recall I actually liked it. As a matter of fact I still do. Discussing this with my wise sister she asked me if you ever really get used to the Swedish winters, or if you just get used to it over and over again; every year as autumn grows colder. I think she is right. Winter is a state of mind, something that comes over you when you least expect it. Having a date booked for winter, for the flight I mean, doesn't easen the chock the least, still I get surprised everytime I step outside the door and the cold hits my face. But five minutes into the walk, when I've gotten the steam up I always end up loving it. The colder the better, with the sun reflecting in the frost. Glovs on hands, hat on head, scarf around neck; bring winter on. I am ready!
This last week has been dreamlike. Like the hallucinations I suffered after ten hours of studying. I have finished two books, I've also finished my embroidery and drunk excessive amounts of coffee and tea and beer and glögg and wine with excessive amounts of friends whom I've missed so (fucking) much I didn't even realise until I got home. Having coffee I have discovered is the Swedish eqivalent to having a pint; it's funny, of course I knew that before but coming home always makes you look at the old everyday stuff with new eyes. I have had A LOT of coffee this week!
Also I've seen Djurgården lose in ice hockey, which was a bit of a set-back and I've hung out with my family, made christmas candy, gone christmas shopping with my mom and sleept long lovely full nights. And then more coffee.. I went to the old town's christmas fair and bought roasted almonds with Clara and Vici, that tradition goes back to good old school days together.
Now I will sleep; it's not even eleven o'clock.. and then early tomorrow morning me and dad will go ice skating, can't wait!
Natti Natti
This last week has been dreamlike. Like the hallucinations I suffered after ten hours of studying. I have finished two books, I've also finished my embroidery and drunk excessive amounts of coffee and tea and beer and glögg and wine with excessive amounts of friends whom I've missed so (fucking) much I didn't even realise until I got home. Having coffee I have discovered is the Swedish eqivalent to having a pint; it's funny, of course I knew that before but coming home always makes you look at the old everyday stuff with new eyes. I have had A LOT of coffee this week!
Also I've seen Djurgården lose in ice hockey, which was a bit of a set-back and I've hung out with my family, made christmas candy, gone christmas shopping with my mom and sleept long lovely full nights. And then more coffee.. I went to the old town's christmas fair and bought roasted almonds with Clara and Vici, that tradition goes back to good old school days together.
Now I will sleep; it's not even eleven o'clock.. and then early tomorrow morning me and dad will go ice skating, can't wait!
Natti Natti
The insanity of leaving and coming home..
It was a while since I wrote a sane entry and for that I apologise but this past week hasn't been sane so one is only the consequence of the other. Four exams in five days can make anyone accuse the water boiler of conspiring to take over the world. In fact it did make a move at taking over mine since it is the sole supplier of coffee. A fact that brings it quite high status in our student residence. To cut to the chase...
Last weekend was spent over books in different shapes and sizes but equally weary and time consuming. I couldn't face books on Friday so I went to a bit of a spontainious party in house 80, with Hanna and the boys (doesn't that sound like a lame boogie-woogie band?) and then crawled into bed reasonably early.
Saturday I studied for 11 hours and 30 minutes and then I went to dinner at Elena's with Naomi, Fia, Emilie and Matthieu.. I had a hard time forming sentences except in written form after my studious marathon but they oversaw my lack of articulate talent and feed me good Catalan food instead. I am forever grateful.
During my study marathon I really started to see the benefits with a shared room. Clare was studying the same things over by her desk and sharing the boat was really quite helpfull. Taking breaks for stretching and giving each other neck rubs, taking turns in making coffee and also taking turns to scream in anger over MC and MB terms that does not go towards equilibrium if Martin buys more Coke and watches less movies... gah! It really is quite frustrating this whole Economics thing.. "in the village there are only three people who demand popcorn, if they open a widget factory..." (if anyone wants to tell me what a widget factory is I would be very gratefull!). But the graphs can really be quite pretty if you draw them in different colours.
Clare was away for half the Sunday so my studies were much more boring, but I got some stuff done and went to bed rather nerveuse about my first Trinity test due Monday: Politics.
The Politics test was supposed to be the easiest one; multiple choice and only 20 questions. The tricky thing with multiple choice is that you really gotta know everything.. otherwise an overview is enough and you can make it up as you go along (that's what I usually do). It went quite well though, thank you Clare for in the walk into College teaching me all the countries in the EU and when they joined! And Jean Monnet was the first president of the European Commission (if anyone was wondering).
Clare and I celebrated our first test by buying pizza and Skittles (neon candy) and then we started revising Economics; due Tuesday. Much harder test but not as hard as I anticipated.. for a while there I seriously thought I wouldn't pass but now I am confident I did and that feels lovely. Home and head over Maths books; due Wednesday.
Math was probably the test I did worst in but mostly bacause I didn't plan the time right, I think it was alright though. Then came a beloved break before our last test; Business on Friday.
Met up with Fia after the test and went for some lunch in town and then I got into a very productive x-mas shopping mood and got loads done. We had a great day and finshed over hot chocolate at Insomnia. Split up with Fia and met up with Hanna and took a walk around town.. finally heading home and cooking for me and Hanna, changing gifts.. I got my first own x-mas decoration.. very pretty indeed. Headed over to house 80 and the boys in my pyjamas to watch a movie but ended up drinking beer and watching Roma-Man U. After a few cans the idea of a night out became more and more apealing and soon the pyjama gave way to glitter and we were on our way, a tad surprised. Hanna and I ended up with a girls night out at Hogans and Flannerys and we had a great time! Weren't lonely for a second. Drama unfolded on our way home..
Thursday my head hurt and I got not so much work done; but I picked up my bike! My lovely room mate had seen to it that I got given her sister's flatmate's old bike so now I am the proud owner of a blue pretty bike which is right this second blocking the firedoor in our flat. Also Thursday was the 13/12 and Lucia. Me and Pranesh celebrated our inheritance and went to the embassy's Lucia celebration in Donnybrook church and it was actually quite lovely.
Friday morning, last morning in Dublin, was busy cleaning and studying and saying good bye and Merry Christmas. Exam was on at two so we made our way in with our bags and sat through it and I must admit I think I did very well. A pint at the pav with our bags and me and Hanna and our French friend Clair shared a cab to the airport. Hanna and I were smart enough to book the same flight and it went swiftly with a bit of gossip.
Mum met us in the airport in a light snowfall and then I knew I was home again..
Last weekend was spent over books in different shapes and sizes but equally weary and time consuming. I couldn't face books on Friday so I went to a bit of a spontainious party in house 80, with Hanna and the boys (doesn't that sound like a lame boogie-woogie band?) and then crawled into bed reasonably early.
Saturday I studied for 11 hours and 30 minutes and then I went to dinner at Elena's with Naomi, Fia, Emilie and Matthieu.. I had a hard time forming sentences except in written form after my studious marathon but they oversaw my lack of articulate talent and feed me good Catalan food instead. I am forever grateful.
During my study marathon I really started to see the benefits with a shared room. Clare was studying the same things over by her desk and sharing the boat was really quite helpfull. Taking breaks for stretching and giving each other neck rubs, taking turns in making coffee and also taking turns to scream in anger over MC and MB terms that does not go towards equilibrium if Martin buys more Coke and watches less movies... gah! It really is quite frustrating this whole Economics thing.. "in the village there are only three people who demand popcorn, if they open a widget factory..." (if anyone wants to tell me what a widget factory is I would be very gratefull!). But the graphs can really be quite pretty if you draw them in different colours.
Clare was away for half the Sunday so my studies were much more boring, but I got some stuff done and went to bed rather nerveuse about my first Trinity test due Monday: Politics.
The Politics test was supposed to be the easiest one; multiple choice and only 20 questions. The tricky thing with multiple choice is that you really gotta know everything.. otherwise an overview is enough and you can make it up as you go along (that's what I usually do). It went quite well though, thank you Clare for in the walk into College teaching me all the countries in the EU and when they joined! And Jean Monnet was the first president of the European Commission (if anyone was wondering).
Clare and I celebrated our first test by buying pizza and Skittles (neon candy) and then we started revising Economics; due Tuesday. Much harder test but not as hard as I anticipated.. for a while there I seriously thought I wouldn't pass but now I am confident I did and that feels lovely. Home and head over Maths books; due Wednesday.
Math was probably the test I did worst in but mostly bacause I didn't plan the time right, I think it was alright though. Then came a beloved break before our last test; Business on Friday.
Met up with Fia after the test and went for some lunch in town and then I got into a very productive x-mas shopping mood and got loads done. We had a great day and finshed over hot chocolate at Insomnia. Split up with Fia and met up with Hanna and took a walk around town.. finally heading home and cooking for me and Hanna, changing gifts.. I got my first own x-mas decoration.. very pretty indeed. Headed over to house 80 and the boys in my pyjamas to watch a movie but ended up drinking beer and watching Roma-Man U. After a few cans the idea of a night out became more and more apealing and soon the pyjama gave way to glitter and we were on our way, a tad surprised. Hanna and I ended up with a girls night out at Hogans and Flannerys and we had a great time! Weren't lonely for a second. Drama unfolded on our way home..
Thursday my head hurt and I got not so much work done; but I picked up my bike! My lovely room mate had seen to it that I got given her sister's flatmate's old bike so now I am the proud owner of a blue pretty bike which is right this second blocking the firedoor in our flat. Also Thursday was the 13/12 and Lucia. Me and Pranesh celebrated our inheritance and went to the embassy's Lucia celebration in Donnybrook church and it was actually quite lovely.
Friday morning, last morning in Dublin, was busy cleaning and studying and saying good bye and Merry Christmas. Exam was on at two so we made our way in with our bags and sat through it and I must admit I think I did very well. A pint at the pav with our bags and me and Hanna and our French friend Clair shared a cab to the airport. Hanna and I were smart enough to book the same flight and it went swiftly with a bit of gossip.
Mum met us in the airport in a light snowfall and then I knew I was home again..
A cup pf tea solves everything
One very good thing about sharing flats with a bunch of girls is that there is always tea water... our kettle deserves a very good yearly bonus... I suspect that it secretly runs all of our lives and have plans to take over the world.. sometimes you just have to think about tea and it will put itself on...scary
I lost my screwdriver...
I am going through a very confusing fit.. I keep loosing everyhthing, and forgetting things and I find my thoughts escaping to the most unlikely of places... are my cups falling out of the cupboard?
head in the clouds....
... might it have something to do with me studying 24-7?
I copied this from a book I found under a shelf in the library...
Was a while since I wrote. I don't know why, maybe my mind is worn out from too much reading, writing and English.. It's just not the first thing that pops into your mind to sit down in fron tof the computer and do some more of just that. Today it's fine because I've been laaazy.. so nice, just what I needed, a lazy Sunday and I'm ready to take on the new week.. bring it on!
Another reason for not writing might be that my life isn't that interesting just now.. There is a lot of the same things; namely study, Collage, boxing, football and then of course friends.
Last weekend was football.. tournament on Saturday with Trinity and we came to semi final; it was fun but lord so cold, half storm.. wininininnnnnd...
On Sunday I played with the team we made in Trinity Halls, it resulted in the biggest loss I have suffered in my life.. I don't know if I dare admit it but... 23-0 (it's true!).. we are (as you might have suspected) rubbish.. but we had fun anyways and I enjoy a certain amount of respect as the team's only girl.. With 3 minutes left I was sooo close to scoring, got an amazing shot on; just over the bar.. but I was celebrated like a queen nonetheless.. It was the closest we got..
Monday was study and boxing practice.. first time sparring against the coach and I was glad I got my mouthguard sorted.. he took it easy but you learn the hard way too keep your hands up. I got one or two good punches on and was pretty happy with my performance.. will be fun again tomorrow. Monday is girl's night and we're actually 6-8 of us now. It is really good! But it's crazy how hard work it is, 6 minutes in the ring makes you almost as tired as 90 min on the soccerpitch.
Tuesday I had a bit of a mental breakdown... nothing went my way.. and for the first time since I got here I really missed home.. so tired and stressed about exams.. luckily for me home isn't too far away.. Fia came over and we had tea and after a good cry and a lot of love from my best friend I was good again. I don't know if I say it enough to them but I am so happy to have Naomi and Fia... don't know where I'd be without them.. It is SO nice to have them close; but even when they're only a voice on the phone or on the other end of the Internet they're always there for me..
Wednesday was my day in the sun.. glory, glory on me.. I got to accept my Entrance Exhibition Award in the dining Hall in Trinity. It isn't as big as it might sound, it gets awarded to everyone who exceed certain marks in their secondary school (gymnasiet) exams. We were a good 300 who got it but it is a bit of a tradition (as everything here) which has been going on since 1870 in quite the same fashion. We got free wine and sousages (yum yum) and got to mingle in nice dresses. Then they called everybody's name out and we got our picture taken with the vice provost. Fia and Naomi accompagnied me and afterwards we headed to the pav and celebrated with a pint. Everything was good except for my toes (I am working very hard on this high heals thing..)
Thursday I had another soccergame. I played okay; but the team have hitted a bump in the road I reckon and another loss was a bit irritating. Another irritating thing was me forgetting my pants in the locker room (how stuped is that?). No Celt.. study study study.. bluhsjkdsjhsdhjsggsahgdjj (mushy brain..)
Friday afternoon I spent over books in the library and then over coffee in the pav with friends (I needed it; fell asleep in the economics tutorial, not good) and then boxing. I went to dinner at Naomi and Fia's and Naomi made delicious chicken and we watched the first two episodes of Sex and the City. Fia brought yummy pastries from the bakery.. cozy
Saturday I finished my Sociology essay (yahoo!) and my business presentation (yahoo2!). It was Lorenzo's birthday so we all hit the bottles and then Doyles and we had a god time the bunch of us.. maybe a bit of a stupid mix of alcohool though my head complains today.
Today I have done not much and it has been lovely lovely lovey.. I needed laaaaazy.. tomorrow back to books: Four test and an essay due in the next two weeks... Jag kan. Jag vill. Jag orkar.
I will see you soon so soon.. happy first of advent (I don't have neither a calender nor an advent candle.. quithe the scandal...)
Another reason for not writing might be that my life isn't that interesting just now.. There is a lot of the same things; namely study, Collage, boxing, football and then of course friends.
Last weekend was football.. tournament on Saturday with Trinity and we came to semi final; it was fun but lord so cold, half storm.. wininininnnnnd...
On Sunday I played with the team we made in Trinity Halls, it resulted in the biggest loss I have suffered in my life.. I don't know if I dare admit it but... 23-0 (it's true!).. we are (as you might have suspected) rubbish.. but we had fun anyways and I enjoy a certain amount of respect as the team's only girl.. With 3 minutes left I was sooo close to scoring, got an amazing shot on; just over the bar.. but I was celebrated like a queen nonetheless.. It was the closest we got..
Monday was study and boxing practice.. first time sparring against the coach and I was glad I got my mouthguard sorted.. he took it easy but you learn the hard way too keep your hands up. I got one or two good punches on and was pretty happy with my performance.. will be fun again tomorrow. Monday is girl's night and we're actually 6-8 of us now. It is really good! But it's crazy how hard work it is, 6 minutes in the ring makes you almost as tired as 90 min on the soccerpitch.
Tuesday I had a bit of a mental breakdown... nothing went my way.. and for the first time since I got here I really missed home.. so tired and stressed about exams.. luckily for me home isn't too far away.. Fia came over and we had tea and after a good cry and a lot of love from my best friend I was good again. I don't know if I say it enough to them but I am so happy to have Naomi and Fia... don't know where I'd be without them.. It is SO nice to have them close; but even when they're only a voice on the phone or on the other end of the Internet they're always there for me..
Wednesday was my day in the sun.. glory, glory on me.. I got to accept my Entrance Exhibition Award in the dining Hall in Trinity. It isn't as big as it might sound, it gets awarded to everyone who exceed certain marks in their secondary school (gymnasiet) exams. We were a good 300 who got it but it is a bit of a tradition (as everything here) which has been going on since 1870 in quite the same fashion. We got free wine and sousages (yum yum) and got to mingle in nice dresses. Then they called everybody's name out and we got our picture taken with the vice provost. Fia and Naomi accompagnied me and afterwards we headed to the pav and celebrated with a pint. Everything was good except for my toes (I am working very hard on this high heals thing..)
Thursday I had another soccergame. I played okay; but the team have hitted a bump in the road I reckon and another loss was a bit irritating. Another irritating thing was me forgetting my pants in the locker room (how stuped is that?). No Celt.. study study study.. bluhsjkdsjhsdhjsggsahgdjj (mushy brain..)
Friday afternoon I spent over books in the library and then over coffee in the pav with friends (I needed it; fell asleep in the economics tutorial, not good) and then boxing. I went to dinner at Naomi and Fia's and Naomi made delicious chicken and we watched the first two episodes of Sex and the City. Fia brought yummy pastries from the bakery.. cozy
Saturday I finished my Sociology essay (yahoo!) and my business presentation (yahoo2!). It was Lorenzo's birthday so we all hit the bottles and then Doyles and we had a god time the bunch of us.. maybe a bit of a stupid mix of alcohool though my head complains today.
Today I have done not much and it has been lovely lovely lovey.. I needed laaaaazy.. tomorrow back to books: Four test and an essay due in the next two weeks... Jag kan. Jag vill. Jag orkar.
I will see you soon so soon.. happy first of advent (I don't have neither a calender nor an advent candle.. quithe the scandal...)