mickan in world

The gap in writing that has occured is not due to a lack in living. Rather the opposite actually. I was pondering the end of this blogg for a little while. Felt too busy living life to write it. But I'll give it another chance....

So much has happened since I last wrote I don't now where to start... maybe just here:

Current whereabouts: Trinity Halls, Dublin, Hillary Term Freshman Year BESS Trinity College.
Current activities: Coking lasagna and writing my blogg while simultainiously trying to do my statistics homework.
Current mood: Bright, getting frequent happy-vibes from being at the absolut best place and best time I can possibly think of.
Curent Health: Splendid apart from aching muscles from boxing and football.
Future prospects: Having a bunch of people over for lasagna and celebrating Henry's birthday, football game tomorrow, London with dad next weekend.

Mixed feelings in leaving Sweden on New Years Eve. I had an amazing holiday, everything I could've wished for. FAMILY, time-off. reading the newspaper and I met up with basically every FRIEND I could think of. What more can one ask? Oh, maybe ice skating, got that too!!

Linda, Jossan, Vicki and I came over here for New Years and we had a few days of party and pleasure in this the city of cities. The Bergholtz sisters left on the 4th and me and Linda headed north for a splendid weekend being the Bells in Belfast City. Despite of pityfull weather, overcome by wellies, we enjoyed ourselves like kings and eachothers complany like sisters. It was really sad to say good bye to her on Sunday.. but hopefully I'll see her for easter.

This week has been hectic, filled with party, boxing and already a shitload of work in College.. already left behind I feel. But I got two of my exams back and I am more than pleased by the result which keept my spirits up.
On Monday i tok my bike to school for the first time and it was brilliant! Saved half an hour in every direction.
On Thursday the bike was stolen. Eventhough parked and chained to a pole on a busy street someone managed to knick it. Little naive Swedish girl, who hardly even locks her bike at home , was confronted with foreign reality. And it made me angry!!! Argh,..... still boiling!

Well, well.. yesterday I took it easy and watched a movie with Hanna and today I have a bunch of people over for lasagna and celebrating Henry's B-day. Hitting the bottle and the town tonight. Yeha!

Now.. back to statistics..

After thirty minutes in the air we hear a buzz in the speakers of the plane and the capten announces that "the plane is a bit broken" so we'll have to go back to Arlanda. Scary, but Fia and I clung to eachother and the trip back was eventless. After waiting two hours in the airport the capten announces that indeed the plane is broken, but it doesn't matter: we have back-up. And we leave. Before take-off they swap the hole crew and capten though. We are suspicious but atleast on our way.

 One night in Dublin. Staying in Isaaks hostel, going for a pint in Doyle's. Feeling happy and light and going to bed early. All the anticipation got to us and we slept deep and long.

After being a bit puzzled over where to go for our little two-day holiday we basicaly just set up a few requests. We wanted small (but not too small), close (but not too close), charachteristic and of course a desent pub life. One town that fit the description was Killkenny and so that's where we went.

We arrived in the afternoon and checked into our cozy hostel. Small, family run and with two precious dogs; what more can you ask? We procedeed to visit the famous castle and got a very interesting guided tour. The castle park was lovely and the castle smashingly posh. We could see ourselves living there any day.

After a pasta dinner we asked around and found out that Andrew Ryan's was the place to go for a pint in Killkenny. Indeed that wasn't easy to know, there were a few pubs to choose from. Once there we instantly got talking to the (very cute) bartender, with whom both me and Fia fell madly in love with after about three seconds (not really but why not?), and he asked us where we were from. Upon answering the question we found out that there was one other Swedish girl living in Killkenny and that she was the bartenders best friend.
Five minutes later I felt a tap on my shoulder and there was a blond haired, blue eyed girl, asking us if we might be the newly arrived Swedes. Eva turned out to be a real tresaure and we got introduced to most of the people in the bar. As the night fell we almost grew into locals at Andrew Ryan's and we even got our picture taken to be posted with the other locals in the ceiling over the bar.

There was a band playing; "The Swinging Bluecats" and on moving closer to the music we stumbled over two guys from Wicklow to whom we got talking. One of them was living in Killkenny so when the pub closed they took us with to the local night club and we danced the night a way. Had a real good time and I swear we were the last to bed in Killkenny that Tuesday night.

Wednesday we were up early, not voluntarily but because our roommates were. Noisy blokes, but nice. The sun was shining so we took a power walk around Killkenny and enjoyed the sunshine. The follow-up to that bit of exercise was climbing up in the tower of St. Candice's Catherdral and looking out over the city.

We had arranged to meet the Wicklow boys at 12 to go to the famous caves situated about 10km from Killkenny. Luckily for us they had a car so we saved bith money and effort. We got the tour of the caves, which was really interesting. We had a lovely guide, Michael, and learnt a lot about stones and caves in general. Also we learnt that the Vikings apperantly massacred a whole lot of poor Irish paysants in the cave and we got a bit of the blame for that; being the only Scandinavians and all.

the evening was spent in good company at Andrew Ryan's and with the fire place in the Pumphouse with the two Wicklow guys. I was a pleasant evening.

Now we're back in Dublin. Happy with our little holiday. Fia is looking at rooms on daft.ie and I'm excited about moving into my room tomorrow. Tonoght's Thursday, guess where we're going. Can't wait to spend another Thursday at the Celt!

I love you.

It is funny to see how you handle it; when things you're counting on just doesn't happen.

I was definate that I would get a room at Trinity Hall (campus). I even booked my plane ticket accordingly. So when I got an e-mail that the lists for rooms were out I wasn't even very nervouse. People kept saying; first-years were prioritated, so were international students. No problemo.
Then I couldn't find my name on the list. Why? Because it wasn't there.

First there was chock and a slight panic.

Then there was anger.

Then I realized I didn't even wanna live in Trinity Hall. It was just the safe option.
But who was I kidding? I wouldn't have liked it there. With all the freedom I've had this last year I wouldn't have been happy living in a place where "No boys in the room after 8pm" and "Alcohol or intoxication is not allowed" are two main rules of life. I am not a baby anymore...

So now I am homeless but happy. And dead nervouse for what's to come. I might (keeping all my fingers crossed) have chance for a really good room (friend who might be moving to Belfast). If that doesn't happen I'll just have to swallow my pride and go to Dublin a week early and sort it out over there.

Lesson learnt? Don't count on anything... and make it happen yourself.

I have a stomach in tangles....

How did I ever think I would be bored here?

I love this place, always has. My lack of faith in enjoying my time here must have been the result of too many months of absence.

There are a couple of things that makes me happy right now; the thought of the summer being eternal for one. There is so much time ahead of me in Båstad; it's like an ocean of space, calm and loving and I can not see the horizon which is named fall.

Being with my family. Having family dinners out on the porch, bbqs, daddy's fish soup and mum's sallads. My sister being seventeen and always going somewhere meeting new friends and being a lovely source of gossip. She's almost outgrown me since I've been away and she is not the little sister anymore, she's become a good friend and simply a sister.

Yesterday I went for a jogg in the landscape which I find being the most beautiful in the world. Summer's Skåne, described so well by Selma Lagerlöf and captured in paintings and songs. The grass is green, the shade of the trees makes patterns on the dusty gravel path and the ocean, always on my left is a solid blue. With the sun sparkling in the small waves and the rocks with their greyish contrasts against the blue it is easy to become absorbed in the beauty of the summer and the nature. It is a miracle I don't stumble over the strong tree roots as I stare in amazement, not at the ground (as any person who'd like to keep their knees intact) but at the wonders of Skåne. A white butterfly leavs the flower where it's been perched and joins me in my jogg. It becomes my companion for many a minute, trying to keep up with me and circling my right ear, floating up and down like the buoys laid out by the fishermen and rocked by the sea.
Exhausted I finish my jogg by throwing myself on the green, green grass of Gulstad parc. Stretching and gazing out over the ocean wich reminds me that summer is still young and there is an eternity until the cold of fall.

Ending the day with a swim from Pauline's Pier. The water is icy, but it clears my head as I move around like a madman to keep a bit of warmth. Wrapped in a bathrobe I steal the warmth from the air and lets the wind dry my hair.

When coming home after a while of being away you mentally prepare yourself that everything should be different. Your brain tells you that lots of things should have changed while away. For example the seasons, your friends' civil status, the fashion of dressing, the TV- shows and the way you see things. Deep in your mind though you are still convinced that everything should be exactly the way you left them.
This mental contradiction causes a bit of confusion when coming home. At least for me. When I came home I was at first utterly surprised it was summer (When I left it was winter!). After getting over the change of seasons I moved on to about my friends getting new boy- and girlfriends after which I moved on to being very much surprised by the fact that some of my friends STILL stayed together with their old partners (after all this time!). I am also very lost in watching TV since everything's changed, but at the same time I can't beilve they are showing the same old shite as when I left ( I never was much of a TV person though).

A most surprising change was displayed to me last Friday when going out with Bengan and Bea for a beer on the town. We were scheduled to go to their new favourite place, KGB. Something with that name did sound familiar but I couldn't place it (it was a bit out of context) but when we got there the pieces fell into place. The place wasn't one I'd expect to see Bengan and Bea in when I left, it was... how can I put it... a bit too...red. And the pictures of Lenin and Russian music I thought wouldn't be their attraction. But that was in the old days, and I have to admit, it beats Stureplan, I had a great time! Go change!

Saturday was cozily spent walking in the sun with Bengan after celabrating Beas birthday with scones and coffe at a café on town. The afternoon I spent with my grandma at the hospital (she's been a bit ill, but she's better now, came home today) and we gossiped and ate candy.
Fia and I thought we'd have a cozy picnic in the parc with a bottle of wine and some girlie talk, but our plans were wrecked by the sillyness of a Thai corkscrew (it wasn't a screw when we were finished). So we ended up having to go to a restaurant and ask them to open the bottle and then being to lazy to go back, drinking the wine on a bench like two drunks. Luckily Mange showed up and shared it with us. It's like I've always said: "Three drunks look better than two". Mange and I went out for a beer in the South part of Stockholm until two real drunks chased us running.

Sunday I was cozy with Vici and Bengan and had dinner with my dad at a restaurant. Pretty nice day!

Today- my last day in wonderful Stockholm (tomorrow I leave for equally wonderful, but small town Båstad, to start my job at the supermarket) I power hung out with Naomi and Fia. Baked scones, listened to good music and cursed leaving again so soon. Then I spent some quality time with my grandma before cleaning like crazy, packing and getting everything in order. I'm a bit reluctant to leave for Båstad, of course I love it there, but it's such a small town and I'll be there for seven weeks. It's a long time for someone who's gotten used to constant stimulation 24-7, for almost a year. I hope I will handle it by becoming an excercise addict, that's how I usually do it, and that would be helpfull in Lappland. Time wil tell; one good thing is Jossan is there, Great to se her again! And my family too, it will probably be good once I'm there- when I think about it; I'm convinced it will be.

In good company and with some nice meat on the bbq, the sun still up and with the knowledge that it wont set for a couple of hours still; that, my friends, is my definition of summer. The way I like it.

As promised, some details on my birthday bbq (only three months late) last Sunday. A good show up, had about 15 really good friends over (we only really missed Bea, but she was labouring in the restaurant as usual, we'll make that up tomorrow with her birthday brunch, only three days late). Beautiful weather too (as ordered) and we were all seated out in our (very small) garden, eating well, drinking well and contemplating frivolous (is that a word?) subjects such as... I don't really rember but we did have an encyclopedia (a gift from Mange and Hugo) and we sure did use it. We finished the evening off with Margaritas on the porch, trying to fit everybody in made it very cozy. Some incence and candles, all imported, and the evening was complete as the sun finaly set and the day closed on our small company.

Monday was relaxing, had Naomi and Fia over for a Mexican dinner and I went to see my old soccer team practise. I got a warm welcome and itching feet. I can't wait to get started again! I've got chronical "I got to kick the ball"-desease and I had a hard time keeping myself from disturbing the practise by screaming "But, I can be goaly since I'm not changed!" or "Here! Here! I'm free!". No, I definitely decided: Today- observer, but in the fall I'll be playing again. Had a good time seing everybody again though.

Tuesday gave more soccer and a very longed for game. Djurgården- Göteborg at Stockholm Stadion (Sthls Stadion våran borg, vårat hem- Djurgården!). I met up with Mange, Jacob and Ingrid early to get in the proper mood before the game, we had dinner at Kungshallarna and met up with Hugo and Mange's friend Bosse. A beer later and we were at the stadium where Bengan and Gustav met up in the stand-up section (N as always) and we enjoyed a good game. Depressed when Göteborg scored the first goal and then adrenaline when we equalized, followed total happiness when Andrej Komac scored the winning goal with a long distance shot, the ball hitting the bar and the ref having to call the goal (in the last minute of the first half). We sang with winning voices the rest of the game and when the ref called it off we fell into each others arms and thanked the players for a brilliant game.

Wednesday and Thursday I spent on the countryside, aka Norrtälje, at Fia's family farm. Surrounded by beautiful nature, sheep, cows, fields and bird song we took long walks, talked about life, boys, the universe, sex and other girly things you can only talk about with you best friends either while out walking or while drinking. We came to the usual conclusions; you know, that boys are complicated but too damn simple and that we still love them and that we wanna go to every single country in the whole wide world, that both of us wanna study history and herbal medicine but never will and that we both wanna find a boyfriend but still wanna be happy, drunk and single etc.. etc.. Absolutely terrific of course. And for a little nostalgia I went to watch Fia's little sister Marie finishing fourth grade; they were so cute! And they had a consert and a play, I really enjoyed it, but I am actually quite pleased with not attending fourth grade.

Today I had a very important meeting with Fia and Naomi; we are planning our annual (third year now) Lappland trip. Very productive, studying the map and calculating days, food and costs. We are going to try to climb Kebnekaise, the tallest peak in Sweden (it's not very tall) in August. Also we bought a tent. Isn't that a sign of strong friendship? Sharing custody of a tent. It will eather bring us closer together or tear our frindship appart. We have been warned; a rip in  the tent might be a rip in our friendship, but I belive our friendship can take it.

Then I went for a run. Kind of have to after deciding to climb Kebnekaise. It was not encouraging, but my new sportsbrah was nice.

Seven days; a week back home and it has been wonderful.

I brought the weather with me from the sunny SE Asia, Sweden has seen a new June heat record, starting the same day as I came home and since Sunday I have not seen a cloud.

I love hanging out with my family. Having taken care of myself for so long it is amazingly relaxing having mommy around to hug me and feed me and say good night and tuck me into bed. I must have regressed about 15 years since I came home, but that's okay cause that puts me at the same age as my daddy and we're having a really good time going to football and such (I think he missed his soccer-bud). Hanging out with my sister and catching up on some news and gossip isn't bad either.

Also meeting up with my friends has been extrodinarily easy. I mean, just picking up where we left it is as easy as that. A hug and a  "Welcome home!" and you're back were you were nine months ago (counting Ireland). I guess that's what really good friends are for. I love you so much! Sure, some of them have new boyfriends and has moved out but that is just stuff for the gossip bank and it is stuffed I tell you and I love it!

Only cloud in my blue, blue sky is that I got farily sick coming home. But a visit to the doctor ( I took all the tests in the whole wide world) and an order for ten days of antibiotics to get whatever tropical infections out of my system and now I feel as healthy as the seed of a nut (old Swedish expression).

Things I've done since coming home:

- Saw Sweden beat Island with 5-0 in the Euro qualifyers at Råsunda Stadium

- Played kubb (extremely exiting Swedish game involving big pieces of wood and a king) with Bengan and Bea
- Drunk many cups of tea with many people
- Had a salmon sandwich
- Went to four graduation parties and on the back of one graduation truck getting totally soaked in beer and drinking strong, cheap, far too sweet cider (just like the good old days)
- Went to the doctor
- Went to the library
- Got drunk with my best friends and danced the night away
- Had three bbque's
- Hugged a lot of people and got hugged a lot
- Swum in the Baltic sea
- Missed Asia (a little)
- Had meatballs
- Bought two dresses
- Had sushi
- Went to Systembolaget (Swedish bottle shop, age limit 20, first time!)
- Went to dinner at grandma's
- Sunbathed
- Took a bike trip around Stockholm
- Heard the Swedish Euraovision Song Contest melody (It wasn't very good, might put my life at risk saying that)
- Lay in the grass

Today we are celebrating my 20th, a little delayed but still wonderfull. I have 12 friends coming over for a big bbque and my parents sung for me this morning and we had a birthday breakfast with cinnamon buns and card games (I lost). Also I got a few usefull gifts; an alarmclock (welcome back to reality), a new sports brah (for those of you who remember I had a little incident with a sports brah in Laos) and from my sister two CDs with the songs of the spring (One with the radio tunes, just for common knowledge I guess and the other CD with the songs that are actually any good. Quite thoughtfull don't you think?).

Now I'm going sun bathing with my mum. All the papers are screaming out: "The heat will last til Wednesday, take your chance you might not see the sun again until next year!" I will take my chance.

My tan is great. Isn't that enough to make your day? Also I have bought a new bikini, might be my one chance to use it.

Sverige är vackert och livet är bra. Använd solkräm och simma lugnt!

PS. Stay tune. The blogg will go on. Next time: Details on bbq.

Why not leave with a Bang?

Arriving on Ko Phan Ngan midday Tuesday me and Laura celebrated with a Frozen Banana Daiquiri. It is important to arrive in stile. The boys did it their way when they found out the price of a Chang Beer; they set off on a twelve hour drinking maraton. After a walk, a nap and a shower; approximately 7 hours later we joined in and spent our first evening cherfully chatting on the guesthouse veranda. Comfortable on Thai cushions (I love them!), with drinks in our hands and the sea breeze in our hair we were pretty content with life in general.

Wednesday we went into town and discovered the differences and similarities of boys and girls. After a nice Thai lunch we split up, me and Laura in one group and the boys in the other. When we met back up again we discovered that both boys and girls like to be painted on. Me and Laura went straight for a manicure and pedicure (it was needed!) and the boys went for Henna tattoos (of questionable necessity). Us girls got talked into both a foot scrub and waxing (I am not a wax-virgin anymore, I am now the owner of nice hairless armpits. Painfull though; apperantly my hairs are somewhat wax resistant. Solution: Tweezer. Aoh!). The boys got into the tattooist with cute geckoes in mind and came out with enormous tribal patterns. Conclution; we are an easily manipulated gang. Where girls and boys are different? We asked the price before- the boys did not (painfull lesson I reckon).

My last evening on Ko Phan Ngang is not one I will easily forget (or, what I remember now I will not forget, it is a tiny bit blurry). It all begun with a sign advertising a cross-dressing pool party. The boys; always eager to put on dresses and make-up, insisted that we should go. A pre-drink at the guesthouse later and we were all up for a bit of fancy dress. They were all so pretty, the boys, (except for Marc who was actually a bit of a skank, and Paul who looked like a cancer patient, but in a charming way of course)! I was sexy and butch in surfer shorts and Paul's AFL (Aussi Rules) jersey (Go Bulldoggs!). We sett off happy as only drunk transvestites can be and when we discovered the cross-dressing party was off, we didn't see why we shouldn't go down to the beach with our splendid outfits. Parading down to la playa; being stared at like cirkus animals (no one had even heard of a cross-dress party) was hillarious. Also my jersey worked very well for picking up good-looking Aussies, I was more popular than the barbie dolls in beach dresses(at least that was what I thought at the time, after a bucket or two). The rest of the evening is a bit of a blurr, I just remember being insainly happy and almost being shoked by foam at some random foam party we found. Sand on my toes, the sound of music, the breeze and a bucket in good company. "That must have been the best send-off ever!" - Nick.

Thursday I left the island and my friends for Bangkok. 20 hours of travelling left me with one funny story. Having to kill 2 hours between the boat and the bus in Surat Thani, me and a hungarian bloke stumbled across an Aloe Vera plantation. Growing the plants in potts on the pavement in the middle of the city it was a bit of an oasis. The woman working there cut us a chunk of fresh Aloe Vera each and we smeared it on our bodies. It might have been a tiny bit sticky on the bus but now my skin is smooth as a babies butt.

I arrived at 5.00 o'clock this morning and had to eat breakfast for two hours before the guesthouses opened but now I am staying at the same guesthouse as last time (but the nice 24 hour-lady is gone, Jossan!).

I am a bit restless; tomorrow I am going home. Today i will hit Khao San Road.

I can't wait to see you!

At first you can't see it; the sun is to bright and the sand is white as snow. After a while your eyes gets used to the light and it appears as if called for by a Hogwarts wizard. Stunned you turn around to see the rest of the passangers on the boat grinning back at you; touching your face you realize that you look just as sheepish as them. The smile that appeared on my face on first sight of Pulau Kecil, the smallest of the Perhentian Islands,  didn't wipe off for the hole time I stayed there (except when I got a urin infection from too much swimming, but with a little medecin it all worked out fine and the smile was back). Finally I understand the term: Paradise Island.

Our first day was lazy. Changing between shade and sun, working on the tan, walking up and down the beach, having good food and enjoying life. Sharing a very basic chalet (yes on the Perhentains they don't have bungalows; they have chalets) with my friend Paul; being bitten or eaten by mosquitoes (they just don't respect the repellant any more) but that wasn't nearly enough to put us down. Waking up at 3 AM to se Liverpool - AC Milan batteling for the Champions League title and life was complete; beach and football (soccer; just for you Andrew), what else is there?

The next morning our friends from Cameron Highlands arrived and set up camp in a couple of chalets on the other side of the beach. A nice bunch of people, three English guys and a Canadian girl, we also befriended two Swedish siblings (from Dalarna) and that made our gang complete. Excellent group of people.

Renting a canoe and some snorkelling gear and we got our exercise of the day. Slowly but steadily following the coastline, being stunned everytime we passed a new cove and amazed at the fish and corals under the sea. I think I might have scared away a fish or two with my far too loud version of every single "Litlle Mermaid"- song, but the occasion required it and who am I to say no?

We spent the evenings in high profile aswell; most of the time you'd find us on the veranda of the diving school drinking whatever there was and playng "Settlers" (a really funny board game the Swedes brought with them). Or we might just be in the sand somewhere chatting away ( or getting buried, right Tom?).

The best hours of or island retreat must have been the snorkelling tour though. It was spectacular! We stoped at a couple of different places; all gorgeous and with great names such as; Shark Reef, Turle Point and Fish Garden. And they really earned up to their names; the fact was we saw both sharks and turtles (and fish, but none of them were gardening). I got overly excited when we, at the first place saw a Nemo-fish, but that was just the start. The highlight must have been Turtle Point; we were cruising around in our boat; waiting for the turtles to surface for breathing. As soon as we spotted one the driver went into highspeed and we jumped of the boat and persued it. Turtles are amazing creatures. We saw five (three different spieces) and they were all magnificent, the way they move, just like flying a few decimeters above the bottom. Slowly, not caring you're there; staring at them. They have an honorable way about them, peaceful and majestic; and huge (I think most of them were as big, if not bigger than me). I get an adrenaline rush just thinking about it.
The shark was cool, a bit scary though. It took us a little while before we realized it was actually circling us. When we described it to the others they just chuckled a bit and said stuff like; "Oh, you don't want to mess with that one". Funny because me and Paul were messing around with the "Jaws"-tune just seconds earlier, might be why we jumped (figure of speach, you can't actually jump in the water) when we saw it.
The Fish Garden was crazy; the boat drivers keep feeding the fish toast (they like that for some reason) and as soon as they see the boat they go crazy. Getting into the water I must have knocked a couple of fish blurry and when you go below the surface you have a hard time actually seeing the water. The fish even tried to eat my bracelets (apperantly they resemble toast) which brought forth a series of girlish screams and giggles even I didn't know I could master.

We had some more sun and then a nice send-off to ourselves, the islands and our Swedish buds (they're going to Kuala Lumpur) Sunday before leaving on Monday morning (maybe noon doesn't count as morning back home but it does here). After 20 hours of travelling, with some hillarious travelling stories, a taste is; getting caught in a monsoon, being chased by dogs, hitch-hiking, Thai kareoke and a lot of tired laughing, we find ourselves (I am still a bit surprised) on Ko Pha Ngan. Didn't really see that one coming, but it kind of makes sense; this is where I started my travelling with Jossan in January and this is where I'll end it with this lovely group of people. It feels good, I'll have two drunken, sunny days here before going to Bangkok on Thursday. Catching the flight home on Saturday night and on Sunday I'll be back on Lidingo. Feels like a happy ending.