obs!

since I re-discovered how to post on the old (new) blog, I'll toggle between both.
Yes, this is how exciting my life is. . . I feel the need to spread it over two narcissistic internet forums!

woo

http://sweetsweden.tumblr.com/

Canada, I'm coming home. . .

I can feel it!
A little more hop in my step!
A little more spring in my. . sprung?
French-Canadian Noël here I come!

Huit jours et je serai de retour! Ah, que j'ai hâte! Friends, family, pets. . . my two fish who are constantly forgotten about, under or overfed, neglected in the form of unchanged water, and stared at like dinner by greedy cooped-up cats, I am returning to you.

Human companionship in the form of all my friends. . . man oh man, am I ready for you!

Centrum. . . the worst place on earth that somehow plays the backdrop to far too many teenage and adult memories. . . see you soon.

It's surreal that I'll be re-immersed into so many memories in such a short period of time.

Borås and apartment. . . you will not be missed much!

p.s 7 dollar pad thai. . . 7 dollars. Sharing it with a fellow do-gooder: priceless!

My 'life' in photos

Shout out to the #1 Renblog fan to ever exist: BLaf. Can't wait for the classiest of dining experiences in the eloquent banquet hall known as the Bayshore Food Court.

Also, you know it's been a lazy say when you update your blog twice. haha. I am a loser.



Så, I just want to write a little about the Swedish bar scene. Now, we all know they become ruthless pushers while inebriated. However, last night I was further shocked by another bar trend. So here is the deal: you're busting a move with your crew on the D-floor, drink in hand. Now, this 'D-floor' is not giant,so it's quite easy to navigate in and out of. Once said drink is finished, is not the natural inclination to step (briefly) off the dance floor to place the empty drink on a table or a nearby surface? I'm pretty sure that this causes very little pain or suffering, and generally does not cause any deterioration of fun or dance moves, and one can quickly return to the latest Lady Gaga song blaring from the speakers. So last night, again, at this club I witness COUNTLESS people dropping their beer bottles and empty glasses onto the floor. No remorse, no guilt. No one reacting to this. Without exaggerating, I stepped on at least ten different items, and saw people doing this. I even cut my finger while picking up a glass. There is do-gooder karma for you! But really. . . who just throws a glass on the ground? It wasn't just super-drunk hooligans. You know those ads on public transit: 'If you see something, say something' ?, well, I saw something, and I am saying something! People will break their ankles, get cut, or just weirdly have to dance around bottles. So from me to you Sweden: not cool.
(I know most of Sweden reads this blog.)

Anyways, other than that, can't complain.
Here is some visual accompaniment to my life in Sweden. You will see copious amounts of food. . . lots of pictures of snow. . . not so many of people. haha that's quite okay. In no particular order:

#1: The 'Modern Language' Dept. French, Spanish and German. At the local Canadian bar! Note the antlers on the wall.


The almost final set up! Yes, I am a hostess.


On my walk to work. A little Christmas set-up.


Not yet finished product!


Next few photos:
instead of Christmas lights, Swedes put up lights in their windows. Either a star or a candle-looking this. It coincides with the Sunday of advent. It's pretty nice, but I am looking forward to the bright, bright lights.

Also, my courtyard full of snow!



Göteborg lights!



Snacks, snacks, snacks!


I bought that little Santa at a thrift short for about 20 kronor!
Fun fact: Santa : Tomten.

Music, music, music - dancing, dancing, dancing

Last night was a very musical night indeed! I went to a friend's house, and we took turns playing songs the other had not heard, or songs we love. Music has so much power, so many different meanings, so many universal qualities, and so many emotions tied in. It's so exciting to hear new music played at a specific instance, because then certain songs will be tied to a memory. Anyways, it was nice to get out, not think or talk about work or school, and see that there are indeed people who like to have fun in this town of Borås.

Yesterday I also headed to Gothenburg with friends. They lit it up so beautifully, and there were so so many people on every street. To my amazement, no one really pushed too much!

Otherwise. . . .ten more school days until I board the multiple stop-over return to Canada.

Also, I am obsessed with this video, so I'll post it here. We went to a Science Centre with my class, and they played this video. It was so cute to hear which parts made the kids laugh. I think I love it for the same reasons everyone else does: the universality of dancing, and how it brings joy to people all over the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY

(I don't know how to actually load it. . . so just follow this link if you haven't seen it yet.)

P.S Listening to the new Kanye album. After 808 I don't have the same expectations, so we'll see.

They came!

The party was SO good that I'm only writing about it now!

Jokes.

However, I think there were 11 people. Let's be honest, that's as many as I'd have in Ottawa I bet. No bailers! Say what you will about Swedes, their word is a good as gold. If they say they'll be somewhere, they will.

There was one mishap: about twenty minutes before expected arrival time, I finally ended my mind debate and decided to vacuum. Since there were a few lights, my computer, and my new Jul star up in the window, I blew a fuse as I plugged in the vacuum. FAN, thought I. My display of food and Christmas decorations would not be seen in the dark. So I ran to Netto, my grocery store, and bought handfuls of candles. Man, I felt like a dummy, because in the dark no one would even see my carpet.

Eventually, my friends showed me that my electrical box was actually in my apartment. Let there be light!

Other than that, it was nice to get together with food and beverages, in a warm and cozy apartment for one. I have the empties on my window. No clue what to do with them.

12 school days left! No way! Friday min kompis is having a Jul party, which I'm looking forward to. Two more weekends in Borås, and then homeward bound.

Other than that. . . just went to this intense gym class. . . circuits of intensity and my arms are sore just typing.

Ok, det är alt for nu. That's Swenglish.

Hej då

p.s it gets dark at 4 pm sharp. It's about minus 12 right now, and the sun rises at. . . 830? yuck

Me, a get together. . . hilarity will surely follow.

I know I changed blog addresses. . . but I'll just post it in both places. Give my millions of fans some choice.

Anyways, last Sunday after what was probably a cleaning-product induced momentary lapse of reason, I decided to invite the entire staff to a 'get together' at my minuscule bachelorette apartment. Did I think this through? Not really? Do I regret it? Absolutely not! BUT I was thinking that if I'm bored, I should do something about it. This sure is something.

Now, I pretty much knew beforehand that it would be a max of about 15 people, if everyone I thought might come came. However, seeing as it was such short notice, quite a few colleagues had prior plans. As of today at work, there should be about ten or eleven, if nobody bails. I do foresee a few bails. . .

Anyone who has known me for any period of time knows that this is an overwhelming feat for a lazy slob. But I can do it! Wine and beer have been purchased (twice was I asked for i.d. . . it will never end) and I chopped veggies and prepared dip. I even bought vegetarian cocktail weenies. I didn't really tell anyone that I wouldn't be serving meat, but, well, I won't be. I'm not doing total vegan, and I must admit I sampled the dip and cheese. Mmm.

I even bought napkins, new glasses, and Christmas (or Jul) decorations and a few candles!

Tomorrow: the big clean. Even though I cleaned last weekend, it's not 'guest-clean.'
I'll have to run a few errands, perhaps briefly run to the gym, and then put the final touchings on this apartment.

I keep picturing when Bridget Jones throws the dinner party and she thinks she has her shit together, but then ends up with blue soup. Thankfully, I'm not making soup!

This week I had two separate dinners with work friends, and that was great!

In other news, teaching is going fine, however, being a role model for pre-adolescent youths who can instantly switch to any of four other languages I don't understand can be trying.

I can't wait to touch down in Canada, and to sleep in an actual bed (not a couch-bed hybrid).

The 18th. . . all roads lead to the 18th! Will Jangles remember me?

New location!

Hello!

Sweet Sweden has moved!

http://sweetsweden.tumblr.com/

see you there. . . .or not!

My week in photos

Since I got back from vacation I have been first too sick, then too tired, and now too lazy to write about Stockholm and Berlin and do them any justice.

It was so nice to get away from being an 'adult,'and getting to being a twenty three year old youth, staying in hostels, and wandering around, getting lost in new cities.
It also helps that I don't look a day over 18, so I really can blend it as a university student travelling. Plus, I can always get reduced student prices!

I've been back 'home' for a week. We had interviews with parents, and it was exhausting! Today's been a lazy, lazy day!

Since I am still too lazy, here is a snap-shot of my week off in pictures, with hilarious captions. . . . maybe.

Photo 1: Stockholm
Two of my colleagues out for the night in Stockholm! A nice refreshing change from the five bars of Borås.







Berlin! This is the East Side Gallery. The longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall. Beautifully painted over.



Beautiful words.





A very natural stance at the Brandenburg Gate. Fun fact: Napolean was apparently the first to walk through the gate!




The wall again!



At Checkpoint Charlie! I was a Cold War history nerd in HEAVEN!




The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Pretty profound to get lost in memory and thought while paying respects.