If there was an award for that, I'd be right up there fighting for the top spot. It's actually more like no sense of direction, it's not bad, it's missing. Today the temperature in Luleå slowly, and with great hesitation, started to drop a little. From -25c to only -15c and I decided to try Peter's freestyle cross country skis. The actual skiing part didn't go very well since I couldn't get the damn skis to glide even in the downhill sections. I tried pretty hard for maybe ten minutes before I gave up, because I felt stupid skiing like a maniac without hardly moving, didn't have fun and was afraid my hernia would rip open. So I decided to turn around and go back, but then of course I was lost. You think going one way in a ski track, not turning more than twice and always follow the signs for the blue track, it'd be close to impossible to get lost. That's what I thought, but I forgot I was me.
Tomorrow is the funeral. Me and Dylan are riding down to Bastuträsk with Ida and Peter while Peter's mom and her partner are comming here to be with the kids. Jennie is still a little sick and I got up and watched the same Barbie movie again with her this morning. It's getting a little old. Some movies you can watch again and again, Barbie in a Christmas Carol is not one of them.
Since it's too cold to be outside for very long, we've basically been reading books and watching a lot of sports. I can't believe we lost to Slovakia. Actually I can, we always suck in the "easy" games. Now I don't know what team to cheer for...definitely not Finland, definitely not Slovakia. Dylan cheers enough for the US, they don't need more support. Canada? I don't know.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
sick day with the niece
We're up in Luleå now, took the bus here yesterday. Jennie is a little sick, has a fever and a couch. So she's home from daycare and we're hanging out in front of the TV, watching Barbie movies and eating grilled cheese while her parents are at work. She got so big, they all have. I feel like she defenitly remembers me though, she gave me two home made princesses when we got here last night and seemed excited about the sun feather I brought her from Argentina. Pontus might kind of remember us, but Kasper is obviously clueless, he just runs around and says "alåå" to everybody...they call him the little French man. Except for Pontus who calls him Hebbe.
Jennie is very excited about her coming little sister, I am too but I guess I won't be seeing her for while. I don't come here enough, don't see the kids enough, that's for sure... But it's good to be here now.
Jennie is very excited about her coming little sister, I am too but I guess I won't be seeing her for while. I don't come here enough, don't see the kids enough, that's for sure... But it's good to be here now.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
for bannat kallt!
It's so so cold now. The thermometer says 22 below or something like that, not too bad. But it's windy too and just really really bitter cold. Last night me and Dylan had to walk about a mile from the bus stop to my friend's house (this is Sweden, we don't just drive) and it was brutal. Walking the same way back to catch the night bus 6 hours later we decided to run in order to keep wark and Dylan did it Olympic style...
-Look at me, I'm Björn Berry! he shouted and took of pretending to be a ski-shouter. Every 50m he would stop to shoot, both standing and laying down and in the downhill part he pretended to be taking the corner on his skiis. It was really funny, almost made me forget how cold I was.
Tonight we're watching more of the Olympics but also of course some Schlager, which is a music competition where it's decided who will represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest in May. It mostly really bad stuff, but everyone still watches it just so they can be in on the conversations about how bad it is.
Other than that, I'm happy to report that Dylan's Swedish is actually getting better, I think it's from watching the olympics every day all week. His vocab is very sports oriented though, a lot of "good form, keep right, bad balance, loosing speed" and stuff like that... but still.
-Look at me, I'm Björn Berry! he shouted and took of pretending to be a ski-shouter. Every 50m he would stop to shoot, both standing and laying down and in the downhill part he pretended to be taking the corner on his skiis. It was really funny, almost made me forget how cold I was.
Tonight we're watching more of the Olympics but also of course some Schlager, which is a music competition where it's decided who will represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest in May. It mostly really bad stuff, but everyone still watches it just so they can be in on the conversations about how bad it is.
Other than that, I'm happy to report that Dylan's Swedish is actually getting better, I think it's from watching the olympics every day all week. His vocab is very sports oriented though, a lot of "good form, keep right, bad balance, loosing speed" and stuff like that... but still.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
back in high school
I'm subbing again, back at my old junior high school. It sucks in a way, it's not a fun job, but it is pretty sweet to be able to just walk in and get a full week of work.
Yesterday we went into the city and met up with some couchsurfer and old friends from working at Harry's, a good time but getting up at 7:30 this morning was a little rough.
Other than that life is slow. I work and Dylan watches the olympics. Next week we'll be in Luleå with my sister and her family.
Yesterday we went into the city and met up with some couchsurfer and old friends from working at Harry's, a good time but getting up at 7:30 this morning was a little rough.
Other than that life is slow. I work and Dylan watches the olympics. Next week we'll be in Luleå with my sister and her family.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
My Valentine
Valentine's day today, still early but I think it will be a good one. The weather is great, sunshine on the snow and not too cold. In a couple of hours my brother and his girlfriend will be out here and we're going to the Holmsund House of Tropics with them, supposivly they have monkeys there...although it seems strange. Then my parents are treating us all to coffee and desserts at my mom's favourite café, Nisses Konditori. Later tonight me and Dylan are going in to the city to make home made pizza with Karin, her sister Frida and their boyfriends, a nice dinner for 6, should be fun.
Yesterday we went to the hospital in Skellefteå and visited my grandfather. I should say it was great to see him, but I'd be lying. That's just not how I want to remember him, he was so thin and grey and old. It was like hugging a bird. I don't know what else to say, I feel bad.
Yesterday we went to the hospital in Skellefteå and visited my grandfather. I should say it was great to see him, but I'd be lying. That's just not how I want to remember him, he was so thin and grey and old. It was like hugging a bird. I don't know what else to say, I feel bad.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
We're up early today because we have a shared dentist appointment in about an hour. When you're married you do everything together, even going to the dentist... No, it's not that bad, just that my parent's next door neighbour -who is also our dentist- just booked Åsa+1 so we're going together. I saw her before leaving for the US this last spring, but chipped my tooth eating shellfish in Chile so I need her to look at that and Dylan hasn't been to the dentist in years so it's about time.
My grandfather is scheduled to have his surgery today and we are going to try and visit him saturday. Tomorrow we're going to go to my old office at the university and join my old co-workers for a wine lottery, should be fun.
I have told the two local high schools that I'm back and ready to sub if they need me, but so far got nothing.
Yesterday we went cross country skiing. Dylan packed coffee and sandwiches in a backpack and then fell on it probably three times before we stopped to eat. He has a hard time going downhill, but other than that he's not bad for a non-skier.
My grandfather is scheduled to have his surgery today and we are going to try and visit him saturday. Tomorrow we're going to go to my old office at the university and join my old co-workers for a wine lottery, should be fun.
I have told the two local high schools that I'm back and ready to sub if they need me, but so far got nothing.
Yesterday we went cross country skiing. Dylan packed coffee and sandwiches in a backpack and then fell on it probably three times before we stopped to eat. He has a hard time going downhill, but other than that he's not bad for a non-skier.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
English still
Had a hard deciding what to do about this now that I'm home...keep the blog in English or switch to Swedish? Since the outcome no doubt will affect the lives of millions, I feel it's very important...
Well, since I'd like to keep writing even though our lives won't be very exciting anymore, I decided to keep it English since the only people who might find life in northern Sweden somewhat entertaining will be the people who are not here. Once back in the US, the opposite will be true and then I will go back to writing in Swedish. There...the decision has been made.
It's been a little more eventful than I had anticipated, comming home. My uncle died last week, the day before we left Argentina. Nobody told me, although I actually read about it on our local newspaper's website right before we went for the airport but thought nothing of it since they didn't reveal the name of the person. It was my mother's brother and the funeral will be later this month. It's all very surreal.
My grandfather (on my dad's side), whose health has been declining rapidly this fall is now in the hospital and will probably have his foot amputated this week. We will try to go visit him this weekend.
There's also more of the neverending Green Card hoops to jump through, but I feel selfish worrying about that stuff now that people are really suffering around me.
And in the middle of it all, it's good to be home. We had a great weekend with family, friends, sunshine on the snow and frost bitten cheeks. Dylan will no doubt be ready to leave on March 3rd and I will definitly be ready to follow him on the 24th. But for now, it's good to be home. Good to be around.
Well, since I'd like to keep writing even though our lives won't be very exciting anymore, I decided to keep it English since the only people who might find life in northern Sweden somewhat entertaining will be the people who are not here. Once back in the US, the opposite will be true and then I will go back to writing in Swedish. There...the decision has been made.
It's been a little more eventful than I had anticipated, comming home. My uncle died last week, the day before we left Argentina. Nobody told me, although I actually read about it on our local newspaper's website right before we went for the airport but thought nothing of it since they didn't reveal the name of the person. It was my mother's brother and the funeral will be later this month. It's all very surreal.
My grandfather (on my dad's side), whose health has been declining rapidly this fall is now in the hospital and will probably have his foot amputated this week. We will try to go visit him this weekend.
There's also more of the neverending Green Card hoops to jump through, but I feel selfish worrying about that stuff now that people are really suffering around me.
And in the middle of it all, it's good to be home. We had a great weekend with family, friends, sunshine on the snow and frost bitten cheeks. Dylan will no doubt be ready to leave on March 3rd and I will definitly be ready to follow him on the 24th. But for now, it's good to be home. Good to be around.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
so close now
One thing I forgot on the list; best invention - couch surfing. We saved a decent chunk of money doing it, met some great people and got to know places in ways we would not have otherwise. I hope we will be able to host people on our own couch one day, but if we live in Pocatello I have a feeling they won't be beating down the door...
Our last night in Buenos Aires ended up being more eventful than we expected, as Tom brought us along for dinner at his favourite Italian restaurant and then to a couch surfing get together in Palermo. It was really fun, almost made me wish we weren't leaving the next day. A really anoying guy from Israel who insisted we payed a twelvth of the total bill (even though all the others had eaten dinner there and we only ordered one drink) couldn't even ruin my night even though he was trying pretty hard at times. I talked to a Turkish guy who had studied in Luleå and spoke a really impressive Swedish. It was a good time, but we still left pretty early since we had a plane to catch the next morning.
Today (no wait, this is Thursday now..) yesterday when we woke up the rain was comming down hard over Buenos Aires. The flight to Madrid was one of the bumpiest I've been on, the "Fasten seat belt" sign was turned on almost the whole 12 hours. Dylan was seated next to a lady who kept talking about how afraid she was that her dog was getting cold, she had a little chihuahua somewhere on the plane, in Spanish. I hardly slept at all, I can't sleep sitting up. The flight to Stockholm was better since the plane was almost empty and we could stretch out over three seats each and sleep for a good 2 hours.
Now we're killing time in Stockholm, waiting for the last flight to Umeå. The snow is comming down hard and heavy so I really hope we won't be delayed. So close to home now, so close.
Our last night in Buenos Aires ended up being more eventful than we expected, as Tom brought us along for dinner at his favourite Italian restaurant and then to a couch surfing get together in Palermo. It was really fun, almost made me wish we weren't leaving the next day. A really anoying guy from Israel who insisted we payed a twelvth of the total bill (even though all the others had eaten dinner there and we only ordered one drink) couldn't even ruin my night even though he was trying pretty hard at times. I talked to a Turkish guy who had studied in Luleå and spoke a really impressive Swedish. It was a good time, but we still left pretty early since we had a plane to catch the next morning.
Today (no wait, this is Thursday now..) yesterday when we woke up the rain was comming down hard over Buenos Aires. The flight to Madrid was one of the bumpiest I've been on, the "Fasten seat belt" sign was turned on almost the whole 12 hours. Dylan was seated next to a lady who kept talking about how afraid she was that her dog was getting cold, she had a little chihuahua somewhere on the plane, in Spanish. I hardly slept at all, I can't sleep sitting up. The flight to Stockholm was better since the plane was almost empty and we could stretch out over three seats each and sleep for a good 2 hours.
Now we're killing time in Stockholm, waiting for the last flight to Umeå. The snow is comming down hard and heavy so I really hope we won't be delayed. So close to home now, so close.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
A look in the review mirror
Last night in Argentina, last night of this trip that started out as a sailing adventure and ended up being pretty much a bus ride through South America. I'm going home and Dylan is going to his second home. Sweden will always be home for me and I'm excited to go back and see all the people I said good bye to before the summer started. But I am also very excited to soon be back in the US and start building a new home, with Dylan - finally.
Anyways, looking back on this trip, it's been a ride. Good and bad, fun and boring, safe and not so safe, well planned and totally spur of the moment.
Most boring: All the waiting, for and on buses, endless days with nothing to do in Punta Arenas, waiting for this damn Green Card.
Funniest: Probably when Dylan squirted himself in the face with bide water. He was afraid he'd get pink eye, I laughed so hard I almost had to use the bide myself.
Best place: Mendoza or Rosario, love Argentina.
Worst experience: The guys trying to rip us of and the night at the police station in Lima. For Dylan probably also the food poisoning that followed, for me the food poisoning on the night bus from Mancora to Truhillo is still a vivid memory.
Most over the top: Jaime and Feliepe's wedding. So much fun, so many people, so out of this world.
Most windy: Punta Arenas, seriously I still don't understand how people can actually live there.
Best dog: Ljuiba, we miss our little foster puppy.
Best troopers: Randy's grandparents who threw a kick ass BBQ and stayed up till 5 am with the youngsters.
Best purchase: the blanket we bought two days after we landed in Colombia and have kept with us throughout the trip and used almost every night. Throwing it away tomorrow, though.
Worst purchase: the clay pitcher Dylan bought in Peru, kept in his carry on and didn't even unwrap before it broke in Chile.
Best/worst gifts: for Christmas Dylan gave me a seafood dinner at a fancy restaurant and for my birthday I got a cat. Very excited for both of these gifts, have yet to see them though.
Worst updated border crossing: Ecuador, they had never heard of Sweden and looked at me and my passport like I was claiming to be from Neverland.
Most unexpected: the guy recognizing Dylan from SFI in Umea at a bar in Rosario, Argentina.
Most optimistic: Gary about his boat - as far as we know he has still to leave the US.
Best birthday: Mariah's in NYC before we left.
Can't think of any more ones.... Today we spent walking around the Buenos Aires zoo (which was cool but not spectacular) and soon we are going to dinner with Tom. Next time I write I will be in Sweden and unless anyone would mind (and maybe even still) I will soon go back to writing in Swedish. Hasta luego!
Anyways, looking back on this trip, it's been a ride. Good and bad, fun and boring, safe and not so safe, well planned and totally spur of the moment.
Most boring: All the waiting, for and on buses, endless days with nothing to do in Punta Arenas, waiting for this damn Green Card.
Funniest: Probably when Dylan squirted himself in the face with bide water. He was afraid he'd get pink eye, I laughed so hard I almost had to use the bide myself.
Best place: Mendoza or Rosario, love Argentina.
Worst experience: The guys trying to rip us of and the night at the police station in Lima. For Dylan probably also the food poisoning that followed, for me the food poisoning on the night bus from Mancora to Truhillo is still a vivid memory.
Most over the top: Jaime and Feliepe's wedding. So much fun, so many people, so out of this world.
Most windy: Punta Arenas, seriously I still don't understand how people can actually live there.
Best dog: Ljuiba, we miss our little foster puppy.
Best troopers: Randy's grandparents who threw a kick ass BBQ and stayed up till 5 am with the youngsters.
Best purchase: the blanket we bought two days after we landed in Colombia and have kept with us throughout the trip and used almost every night. Throwing it away tomorrow, though.
Worst purchase: the clay pitcher Dylan bought in Peru, kept in his carry on and didn't even unwrap before it broke in Chile.
Best/worst gifts: for Christmas Dylan gave me a seafood dinner at a fancy restaurant and for my birthday I got a cat. Very excited for both of these gifts, have yet to see them though.
Worst updated border crossing: Ecuador, they had never heard of Sweden and looked at me and my passport like I was claiming to be from Neverland.
Most unexpected: the guy recognizing Dylan from SFI in Umea at a bar in Rosario, Argentina.
Most optimistic: Gary about his boat - as far as we know he has still to leave the US.
Best birthday: Mariah's in NYC before we left.
Can't think of any more ones.... Today we spent walking around the Buenos Aires zoo (which was cool but not spectacular) and soon we are going to dinner with Tom. Next time I write I will be in Sweden and unless anyone would mind (and maybe even still) I will soon go back to writing in Swedish. Hasta luego!
Monday, February 1, 2010
two days left
Monday morning, just two days left now. Yesterday we spent walking around a rainy Buenos Aires looking for a cheap hotel for the last two nights. We just figured we couldn't surf Tom's couch for five nights, that it seemed too much. But when we told him our plans last nights he said he'd be working around the clock these next couple of days and that we were more than welcome to stay since he wouldn't really be home much anyways.
So we quickly weighed comfort and privacy (the futon we're charing is about as comfortable as wearing pants backwards) against money saved and not having to pack all our stuff up and move. Money won without a fight. Besides, we do have a lot of privacy here when he's at work and tonight I'm going to try to fashion something on the floor with couch cushions to sleep on, so it will all be good. And Tom is a really nice guy, if we can lure him away from his work at the computer for long enough, we are going to take him out for a Parilla dinner before we leave.
Today we have to find some more gifts. Saturday was really productive in that field and now we just need to get something for Pontus, Kasper, Dana and the grandmothers. We got some ideas so it shouldn't be too hard. I think we will also have to stop for Helado a few times, Dylan loves the ice cream here and is starting to miss it already.
So we quickly weighed comfort and privacy (the futon we're charing is about as comfortable as wearing pants backwards) against money saved and not having to pack all our stuff up and move. Money won without a fight. Besides, we do have a lot of privacy here when he's at work and tonight I'm going to try to fashion something on the floor with couch cushions to sleep on, so it will all be good. And Tom is a really nice guy, if we can lure him away from his work at the computer for long enough, we are going to take him out for a Parilla dinner before we leave.
Today we have to find some more gifts. Saturday was really productive in that field and now we just need to get something for Pontus, Kasper, Dana and the grandmothers. We got some ideas so it shouldn't be too hard. I think we will also have to stop for Helado a few times, Dylan loves the ice cream here and is starting to miss it already.
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