give or take a couple of minutes, my train will be pulling into Malmö central station, and I'm so excited I might vomit. (classic Chandler quote if you didn't know. If you didn't, you probably need to watch more Friends)
I'm looking forward to drinking beer in Copenhagen, to seeing my friend's little baby, to living in a proper house for a while, to having someone cook for me (hint hint mommy..), to taking a long walk in the woods and to just doing nothing. I think some shopping in Malmö can be expected too, doing it in Copenhagen would be madness right now, what with the weak Swedish krona and all.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Fuck what the people want, what to they know? Why did we even have a referendum in the first place? We wouldn't be where we are now if we hadn't. Now we have to have another one, because we are a democracy and anything else would be disrespecting the voice of the people. Still, it really can't be said enough; introduce the euro in Sweden!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Maybe I'll stay
So I was thinking. I've been working at my current job for pretty much exactly six months. Six months that have passed by rather swiftly, despite it being the most depressing time of year and despite my being bored half to death most of the time.
I have a one year contract, which will end on October 1st, I believe. I want to spend the summer in Stockholm anyway, because I've always wanted to try it, Stockholm really is amazingly beautiful in the summer. And since I haven't yet decided whether I want to stay in Stockholm, or whether I want to move somewhere else (Malmö, London), I'm thinking that perhaps I should just endure these coming six months and then go from there.
I could take my two weeks off in August to go to Boston and New York just like I planned, and I'd get to experience what it's like working at an embassy in Sweden when Sweden has the EU presidency. 1st October really is just when things start getting worse again, weatherwise I mean. Until then Stockholm will be a pretty neat place to live. And I will have my new, higher salary and will be able to enjoy Stockholm life better. More money, more sunshine, I think I really can't say no to that.
I have a lot to look forward to, for once. In a week, I'm going home to Malmö for easter, something that I'm VERY excited about. Then a few weeks later, Michelle is coming to visit, and after that perhaps Annie. And then I'm going to Düsseldorf to visit my Spanish friend Mercedes, who I met in Arizona when I studied there, and perhaps some of the other people will come too. Then it's the Bruce Springsteen concert in June, and hopefully I'll also go on a little trip to London in June, together with Marina and perhaps Audrey, to visit the people who still live there. And then, in August, I will visit Misha in Boston and together we will travel down to New York, where she has a friend.
With all these plans, I don't think I should be leaving neither Stockholm nor my job. I'll just stay here for a year, which was the original plan after all, and then I'll just have to wait and see what live throws my way. All things considered, my life feels pretty damn good right now.
I have a one year contract, which will end on October 1st, I believe. I want to spend the summer in Stockholm anyway, because I've always wanted to try it, Stockholm really is amazingly beautiful in the summer. And since I haven't yet decided whether I want to stay in Stockholm, or whether I want to move somewhere else (Malmö, London), I'm thinking that perhaps I should just endure these coming six months and then go from there.
I could take my two weeks off in August to go to Boston and New York just like I planned, and I'd get to experience what it's like working at an embassy in Sweden when Sweden has the EU presidency. 1st October really is just when things start getting worse again, weatherwise I mean. Until then Stockholm will be a pretty neat place to live. And I will have my new, higher salary and will be able to enjoy Stockholm life better. More money, more sunshine, I think I really can't say no to that.
I have a lot to look forward to, for once. In a week, I'm going home to Malmö for easter, something that I'm VERY excited about. Then a few weeks later, Michelle is coming to visit, and after that perhaps Annie. And then I'm going to Düsseldorf to visit my Spanish friend Mercedes, who I met in Arizona when I studied there, and perhaps some of the other people will come too. Then it's the Bruce Springsteen concert in June, and hopefully I'll also go on a little trip to London in June, together with Marina and perhaps Audrey, to visit the people who still live there. And then, in August, I will visit Misha in Boston and together we will travel down to New York, where she has a friend.
With all these plans, I don't think I should be leaving neither Stockholm nor my job. I'll just stay here for a year, which was the original plan after all, and then I'll just have to wait and see what live throws my way. All things considered, my life feels pretty damn good right now.
Monday, March 30, 2009
So much for being healthy
Today I paid the English Shop in Söderhallarna another visit. I picked up a small easter egg, a creme egg, mini eggs and some McCoy's flame grilled steak chips. And I'm working my way through it all at quite a fast pace. I adore easter in general, and English easter eggs in particular. Thick, creamy, hollow chocolate eggs, preferably Cadbury beat a normal chocolate bar any day.
My first easter in England was spent over-indulging in these easter eggs. I probably put on a couple of kilos only because of this. I was completely obsessed with these eggs, and one day I even had an entire egg for breakfast. Luckily I think I'm over that initial obsession and can now have a somewhat healthy relationship with the chocolate eggs. But that doesn't mean that I don't once in a while treat myself to a couple, after all easter only comes once a year.
My first easter in England was spent over-indulging in these easter eggs. I probably put on a couple of kilos only because of this. I was completely obsessed with these eggs, and one day I even had an entire egg for breakfast. Luckily I think I'm over that initial obsession and can now have a somewhat healthy relationship with the chocolate eggs. But that doesn't mean that I don't once in a while treat myself to a couple, after all easter only comes once a year.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
In a slow part of town
I had a date yesterday, or what could very well have been a date if it had been with someone other than my friend Ida. Dinner and a movie. Very datish. But it also makes for a good evening with one of your best friends.
I'd reserved a table for us at Nhu's, which is supposedly the best budget thai restaurant in town. It's located in a part of Södermalm called Hornstull, a trendy area that I know little about. All I know is that from what I've seen of it, it looks everything but trendy, it's grey and industrial looking and definitely does not look much to the world. I must have missed something because apparently it's full of trendy bars and cafés.
From my experience, it's just a very slow part of town. Traffic lights take forever to turn green, and when I say forever, I really mean forever. Waiting for five minutes at a red light just isn't acceptable. The restaurant, too, was slow. Appallingly bad service, it took half an hour for us even to get our drinks on the table. And not only was the waitress slow, she also wasn't very friendly. Not once during the evening did I see her smile. And for a budget restaurant, it really was very expensive. Perhaps it's just me, but I don't think that paying 170 kronor (17 euro) for a main course is very budgety.
The food was good, though, but not more amazing than any other thai food I've had for that price.
After dinner, we headed back to Medis to catch a movie, Confessions of a shopaholic. It was alright, not exactly high quality stuff, but that wasn't what I expected or wanted. Sometimes a good chick flick is all you need. And it didn't hurt that Hugh Dancy, who played Luke, is very easy on the eye either... http://www.imdb.com/media/rm729061888/nm0199215
Now it's once again Sunday night. And we have lost a whole hour today. Thankfully something good will come out of it. But heaven knows I'm not looking forward to going to work tomorrow. Hopefully a new job is on the horizon. If only the horizon didn't seem so out of reach.
I'd reserved a table for us at Nhu's, which is supposedly the best budget thai restaurant in town. It's located in a part of Södermalm called Hornstull, a trendy area that I know little about. All I know is that from what I've seen of it, it looks everything but trendy, it's grey and industrial looking and definitely does not look much to the world. I must have missed something because apparently it's full of trendy bars and cafés.
From my experience, it's just a very slow part of town. Traffic lights take forever to turn green, and when I say forever, I really mean forever. Waiting for five minutes at a red light just isn't acceptable. The restaurant, too, was slow. Appallingly bad service, it took half an hour for us even to get our drinks on the table. And not only was the waitress slow, she also wasn't very friendly. Not once during the evening did I see her smile. And for a budget restaurant, it really was very expensive. Perhaps it's just me, but I don't think that paying 170 kronor (17 euro) for a main course is very budgety.
The food was good, though, but not more amazing than any other thai food I've had for that price.
After dinner, we headed back to Medis to catch a movie, Confessions of a shopaholic. It was alright, not exactly high quality stuff, but that wasn't what I expected or wanted. Sometimes a good chick flick is all you need. And it didn't hurt that Hugh Dancy, who played Luke, is very easy on the eye either... http://www.imdb.com/media/rm729061888/nm0199215
Now it's once again Sunday night. And we have lost a whole hour today. Thankfully something good will come out of it. But heaven knows I'm not looking forward to going to work tomorrow. Hopefully a new job is on the horizon. If only the horizon didn't seem so out of reach.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
One lovely spring day
First, we took a ferry from Slussen/Old Town to Djurgården. It's a really beautiful ride, and since yesterday was the first time the weather permitted us to sit outside, I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the beautiful surroundings. Unfortunately blogger is playing up and won't let me move the pictures around, so the will appear in a bit of a random order.
Södermalm, the old working quarters. It may not look much to the eye, but to me it's beautiful. Walking down those cobbled streets, you can almost imagine what it was like living there a hundred years ago.
Once we reached Djurgården, we found a small bridge where we sat down to enjoy the sunshine and have some coffee. It was slightly cold, but the coffee did its best to warm up our frozen bodies.
I sure don't look very warm, and I felt rather like an elderly woman with my home-brewed coffee in a thermos and a home made sponge cake to go with it.
Ida preferred some tea... And left her mittens on.
The ice was still pretty thick, but was definitely melting. We had a good time trying to make holes with our feet, but were too scared to put our entire body weight on it. This little bird evidently was not.
Another picture taken from the ferry, of one of my favorite streets in Stockholm. These quarters are the opposite of Södermalm, this is where the posh and rich people live. And where I work. The street is called Strandvägen, and it's absolutely gorgeous. I like this part of town too, Östermalm it's called. As a moved in Stockholmer, I'm allowed to like all parts of town. If you're born and raised here, I think you have to take your pick. You're either a Söder och Östermalm girl. I'm both and neither.
The Vasa Museum and another museum which I believe to be the Nordic museum, but I could be wrong. Another picture taken from the ferry.
Also from the ferry. This is Slussen, the first part of Södermalm that you come across if you walk from the city to old town. It's worn down and dirty, but it has its charm. I like it, and I'm worried that all the grand plans that are being made for its future will take away its charm and history.
Södermalm, the old working quarters. It may not look much to the eye, but to me it's beautiful. Walking down those cobbled streets, you can almost imagine what it was like living there a hundred years ago.
Once we reached Djurgården, we found a small bridge where we sat down to enjoy the sunshine and have some coffee. It was slightly cold, but the coffee did its best to warm up our frozen bodies.
I sure don't look very warm, and I felt rather like an elderly woman with my home-brewed coffee in a thermos and a home made sponge cake to go with it.
Ida preferred some tea... And left her mittens on.
The ice was still pretty thick, but was definitely melting. We had a good time trying to make holes with our feet, but were too scared to put our entire body weight on it. This little bird evidently was not.
Another picture taken from the ferry, of one of my favorite streets in Stockholm. These quarters are the opposite of Södermalm, this is where the posh and rich people live. And where I work. The street is called Strandvägen, and it's absolutely gorgeous. I like this part of town too, Östermalm it's called. As a moved in Stockholmer, I'm allowed to like all parts of town. If you're born and raised here, I think you have to take your pick. You're either a Söder och Östermalm girl. I'm both and neither.
The Vasa Museum and another museum which I believe to be the Nordic museum, but I could be wrong. Another picture taken from the ferry.
Also from the ferry. This is Slussen, the first part of Södermalm that you come across if you walk from the city to old town. It's worn down and dirty, but it has its charm. I like it, and I'm worried that all the grand plans that are being made for its future will take away its charm and history.
Unfortunately, days like yesterday are few and far between. Today got off to a good start, but the weather quickly deteriorated, and just as I was heading out to buy dinner, it started to snow. And as it did, the love for Stockholm that I felt yesterday quickly turned into utter disgust.
I think it's safe to say that you'd be hard-pressed to find a more depressing view than this right now:
Wanting everything and nothing at the same time
I like Stockholm, especially when the sun is shining. I think I could like it even more if I had a job I enjoyed, more money and less studying to do. I dislike the fact that Stockholm is so far north that winter is eternally long, I wish Stockholm had markets to go to and I wish I had more time to do all the things I want to do.
I adore London, no matter where I end up living in the future, London will always be my second home and I will always miss it, despite the poor living standards. Now I might have an opportunity to move back there, and I can't decide whether to go for it or now, if I'm given the opportunity. Granted, I have no idea if anything will actually come out of this opportunity, and if it doesn't, I'm not sure if I'd go on applying for other jobs myself. Because if I do, I'd be making a conscious choice to leave Stockholm and the people I know here.
And why would I want to leave some of my best friends voluntarily?
I'm also tempted to move back to Malmö, to live a settled down life and have Sunday dinner with my mom every week. But truth be told, I know that I wouldn't be happy in Malmö in the long run. Yes my mom lives there, and another one of my best friends, but that's about it. Right now one of my best friends from uni is living there too, but I'm pretty sure she won't be staying too long.
Why does a part of me want a fancy career in London, and another a settled down life in Malmö, while a third part of me just wants to stay where I am right now, albeit with another job? And why does it feel like no matter what I finally decide to do, I'll be letting someone down? And why is it so hard to know what is the right thing to do?
Guess there's no point in worrying before I know anything, but it's really hard not to. It's hard being a grown-up, I wish someone could just tell me what to do and what would make me happy. Then again, as soon as someone does try to tell me what to do, it annoys the hell out of me, so I guess I'm better off making my own decisions. But still, it's pretty damn hard.
I adore London, no matter where I end up living in the future, London will always be my second home and I will always miss it, despite the poor living standards. Now I might have an opportunity to move back there, and I can't decide whether to go for it or now, if I'm given the opportunity. Granted, I have no idea if anything will actually come out of this opportunity, and if it doesn't, I'm not sure if I'd go on applying for other jobs myself. Because if I do, I'd be making a conscious choice to leave Stockholm and the people I know here.
And why would I want to leave some of my best friends voluntarily?
I'm also tempted to move back to Malmö, to live a settled down life and have Sunday dinner with my mom every week. But truth be told, I know that I wouldn't be happy in Malmö in the long run. Yes my mom lives there, and another one of my best friends, but that's about it. Right now one of my best friends from uni is living there too, but I'm pretty sure she won't be staying too long.
Why does a part of me want a fancy career in London, and another a settled down life in Malmö, while a third part of me just wants to stay where I am right now, albeit with another job? And why does it feel like no matter what I finally decide to do, I'll be letting someone down? And why is it so hard to know what is the right thing to do?
Guess there's no point in worrying before I know anything, but it's really hard not to. It's hard being a grown-up, I wish someone could just tell me what to do and what would make me happy. Then again, as soon as someone does try to tell me what to do, it annoys the hell out of me, so I guess I'm better off making my own decisions. But still, it's pretty damn hard.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Stockholm spring
Spring has definitely come to Stockholm. It's not as warm as one might wish, nor is it as sunny, but it's a far cry from the past months' snowy winter weather. In celebration of spring's dawdling arrival I went out for a jog this morning, and it actually felt better than I thought it would, if you don't consider the fact that I almost passed out when I finally stopped, after running up a hill. I bent over to tie my shoelaces, and all of a sudden the world started spinning. It passed quickly, though, and I could soon continue my walk home.
Now I've just baked a cake, and I'm going to make some coffee to put in a thermos, and then I'm meeting up with a friend for a celebratory spring picknick in the park. I don't think it's actually warm enough for a picknick, my thermometer says it's 10 degrees, but it faces the sun, which is admittedly hidden by some light clouds, so is probably not completely trustworthy.
Nevertheless, a picknick we are going to have, even if it means being covered up in coats and scarves and freezing half to death. I'm determined to live life as though it were spring with the motto, fake it till you make it. If I fake it long enough, spring will indubitably be upon us before we know it, am I right? And I'll have my coffee to warm me up if my plan, contrary to expectations, fails...
Now I've just baked a cake, and I'm going to make some coffee to put in a thermos, and then I'm meeting up with a friend for a celebratory spring picknick in the park. I don't think it's actually warm enough for a picknick, my thermometer says it's 10 degrees, but it faces the sun, which is admittedly hidden by some light clouds, so is probably not completely trustworthy.
Nevertheless, a picknick we are going to have, even if it means being covered up in coats and scarves and freezing half to death. I'm determined to live life as though it were spring with the motto, fake it till you make it. If I fake it long enough, spring will indubitably be upon us before we know it, am I right? And I'll have my coffee to warm me up if my plan, contrary to expectations, fails...
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