Hello and salutations! It's been ages or very nearly a week that just feels like an age. Where have I been and where can I start? My days have been very full and after my last post, very much and very little has changed.
I have learned that change is inevitable. Call me blind but, I never realized. The last childhood-hopefuls inside of me have finally come to bare.
This past week and a day have changed and calmed me. I've learned a lot about myself and I've gained a new perspective of the life I've lived before. It's refreshing, terrifying, and offensive. I have the strange feeling that someday I'm going to tell my mind and it's not going to go over well. But finally I can say that I DO have a mind and an opinion and I don't feel so bashful about that anymore.
Anyway, back to the details of life on a farm. After the first few days it occurred to me: I've never really worked before. And I always considered myself strong, capable, and earthy but until you have spent consecutive days being strong, capable, and earthy, I think the truth is otherwise.
Everyday has been something new. New pains, new kinds of dirt, new smells, new flavors, new sights. Just today I planted a couple dozen egg plants in a freshly made bed (a bed being a rich parfait of dirt, horse manure, dirt, chicken-shit, and more dirt). Afterwards we sorted squash plants and then planted around 200+ out in the fields. The "we" being a freshly arrived girl from Taiwan, a sympathetic and helpful Japanese girl, a calming and joyfully gangly German girl, a Canadian Swede in spelunking boots, and me.
- Tangent.
Let me tell you, there is nothing more disgusting than a 50 pound bag of rotting carrots. Rot has a smell and vegetable rot is a unique experience. Sweet, soft, and damp in the nose - add a dash of heavy carrot and a sprinkle of mold and there! I'm elbow deep in a bag of black and orange slime, sorting carrots in a musty room with dim lighting, dusty farm cobbles underneath my feet and the squish-squish noise fresh in my ears. That has been so far the most disgusting experience for me on the farm. Oh sure, digging through horse exhaust with my hands was no picnic - nor sticking my head in the bucket of chicken shit as I reached for another hand full. But carrots! God, spare me the day when I have to see another rod of orange!
I spent a solid two days in a green house solely with tomatoes. Before we touched them, the tomato plants were HUGE, majestic plants bushing out in great imitations of a South American paradise. Then we came in and tore, snapped, and snipped our way through till only one naked vine remained per plant. We tied them up. It's hard for me to explain. I'll just post a picture, which will invariably not do it justice - I saw lines of blue and tomato plants in my sleep for days after. Did you know that your hands turn the soap suds neon yellow if you've been working with tomato plants?
Other duties have been to plant hundreds of cabbage and broccoli plants in the field. Once, it rained buckets as we did this. I was outfitted with a very attractive orange rain jacket more suitable for a very big man than me and green pants to match. I've also planted egg plant, squash of all sorts, lettuce, two more kinds of cabbage, as well as the broccoli.
A few things get me around the place - a few reasons why that even though I like the work, I don't really want to stay more than these two weeks. The place is vegetarian and that normally wouldn't bother me at all. I actually don't miss the meat in my diet except for my seeming constant lack of energy. It's the variety that gets me. We don't have fresh fruit, we are discouraged from eating the cheese ($ reasons), and I'm very tired of eating Swedish hard bread. Bread has been a great part of every meal. A bakery is attached to the kitchen and sometimes the husband will bake bread for the farm. I've had so much bread that the yeast is starting to muck with my body. Bread, tea, butter. That's the bulk of my diet. We have one meal a day "prepared by the hostess." I use quotations because she actually hasn't been doing the cooking very often at all. We have one hot meal usually consisting of carrots, beans, and potatoes. Granted it is wonderful and that one meal is like heaven on earth but for the morning and night... So food is somewhat of an issue for me. One day this past week I had time to visit the store and I bought chocolate and candy but it disappeared in two days (much to my own piggy chagrin). I also munch apples when I can buy them. Man. Sometimes I just want peanut butter or a drumstick!
The other thing is that the actual house is a mess. You will notice, as I go on, that I have several bones to pick with The Head Lady. She doesn't clean enough or at all. The bathroom for the workers is atrocious and stocked with the house's litter box for the family's two cats. I've stared at the mini-mountain of turds and watched it grow for the past four days and wondering when it will disappear or, more likely, topple out of the litter box. The trashcan is overflowing with scented hygiene products, q-tips, floss, tissue, and unmentionables. Am I getting anal in my old age? Anyway, the room has class.
Besides the Lady cruising around during the day, waving her pendant and whispering to it, and mentioning that she's so busy - as she stops to whittle at your ears - she has a good heart (I hope). She was a natural doctor, believes firmly in astrology, and was a portrait sculptor. Nowadays I think she runs more towards the term hedge witch, pendler, and meddler. They aren't harsh words for me - sometimes I feel quite fond of her. Sometimes.
Other random oddments are as follows:
1. The Japanese girl told me, as we were tying up tomato plants on top of a ladder, that I look like Tom Cruise. Somehow I find it difficult to imagine Tom Cruise tying tomato plants.
2. I have never had so many nightmares before and in color.
3. It's my personal mission to read all the Hemingway novels in the town library (undeniably few). I'm working through For Whom the Bell Tolls right now.
4. I'm also memorizing poetry. The nights are long and when we sit on the tractor to plant, I have nothing better to do than recite poetry in my mind. I would love suggestions! Please, tell me your favorite poems!
I would like to thank everyone for sending me - in the past or present - words of encouragement and love. It came from all corners and from places I hadn't expected. Time is all I have on the farm and your kind words filled my thoughts constantly. With such support, I know that anything is attainable. :)
A load of pictures are to follow! Love.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Pendulums, Cabbage, and Tears
I got to the farm on Thursday night around 6:45pm. It's a place... It's a place that's seen better days. There are piles of stuff: old metal, broken bicycles, shanty houses of red slat wood. The first person I met was a tall skinny girl with dyed red hair and a smudged bandanna around her head. Her name is Ann-Katrin, German, and first impressions lead you to believe she's half asleep or stoned. The next person I meet, shortly after standing awkwardly with Carl and this girl, is Anderjs, the Swedish man married to the woman who I have been in contact with. He's a man that has a sweet smile, although he's really quiet and flighty albeit a nice guy.
Here is a rundown of the personalities at the farm:
1. Flighty
2. Stoned
3. Hyper
4. Mystic
5. Japanese
Where do I fit in? There is one Swede, three Americans, one German, and now one Japanese girl on the farm.
Right away I was put to work in the green houses and then off to the field. We started around 7:30pm and didn't end till 11pm. It was really great working in the greenhouse, unearthing cabbage and broccoli plants to be replanted in the field. it felt really good doing something systematic that had my hands in the earth. Next we rode a contraption behind a tractor, planting what we had unearthed. That was also really fun - although I hope my black thumbs won't do their evil magic here. We finished and I went to bed in my humble room.
I will honestly say that I had a breakdown. Everything that has been coalescing over the past months in my mind converged on yesterday - Friday. I walked around with water in my eyes and enough pressure in my head to make everything want to abandon ship my brain. I started questioning everything and that's never been a good pastime for me. Pretty soon you start questioning yourself into dark corners and loosing sense of actuality and hope. Ah well, I'm starting to worry if this is a trend for me - I really have to smash the ice with my head in order to feel any comfort at all. I was all set to slink away down the road - feeling inhuman, alone, ignored, sad, lost... blah blah blah... when I decided that if I was to stay at this place, I gotta talk with the lady in charge and let her know how I feel.
I did talk with her and it did help. The thing about American turned Swedish Hippies is that they're really relaxed - about your problems and theirs. Into astrology, sitting on a couch wrapped in a blanket and surrounded by her cats, she says that something about my Pluto and Saturn is out of alignment. *sigh* OK, so even if my planets are colliding, she did agree that I can stay for at least two weeks to help out during this extremely busy season with the option of re-extending my stay to the original 4 weeks if I change my mind.
ALRIGHT - Now you are all maybe thinking: Crazy Katie, can't follow through on her ideas. Well. YEAH. Me = transitional stage.
Now for more details. The place is vegetarian and we get one large meal a day in the afternoon, cooked by the lady of the house. Otherwise we scavenge what we can find, which for me equals Swedish hard bread with butter and cheese with water. My creativity cooking skills will need to improve out of necessity. The first night I got there, everyone disappeared right away after work and ran to their rooms to sleep. My stomach was growling - hadn't eaten in 9 hours - with not a clue where anything was and too afraid and tired to ask. My bane, my fears they are. So I trundled away to my bed but was unable to sleep. Woke up for good at 7:30am and was working again for the day. And that was the day I broke down inside. Little food, little sleep, little hope = BAD DAY. I'm much better now. Let me say that again: MUCH BETTER NOW.
I'm the muscle of the farm. Already, my arms have been discovered and my nickname is Tidus, which laughingly reminds me of a certain Final Fantasy video game. I haul around sacks of potatoes, carrots, and jars of Lactic Acid (really, I want to know too). And, now that I'm feeling better, I think it makes me walk taller. After a bout of caustic sadness is drawn out, the only way to stand is tall, especially when you are needed.
The big deadline for the farm is June 16 - everything has to be in the ground by then in order for the farm to get governmental money. As far as I can see, we got a lot of work ahead of us. They have many different kinds of crops. One of the duties is watering the green houses and I can see cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, squash, cabbage, and many other sorts of plants that I just can't recognize yet.
The farm has many different out buildings. One is a very lovely barn with stables that I can tell were once much used and loved but are now falling into disuse. There is only one old horse on the farm that stays out in a paddock all day happily munching grass. Once things slow down, maybe Karin (lady of The House) would let me clean it up and take care of all the tack in there. The disorder of this place hurts me a bit - the orderly German parts. Sure, being relaxed and carefree is great but how about a little more order to it. Maybe I'm missing something.
Today, since not much is happening, I needed a sanity break as well as a long shower. I went into town, was bemusedly dropped off by Karin (who was in a rush) somewhere I didn't recognize, and spent 45 minutes walking with a map and Swedish directions to my bike. After buying another plug adapter for my computer (it services 150 countries! woohoo!), food, and that gloriously long shower, I'm feeling much better.
Well, I gotta pack things back up and head for the bus back to the farm. Pictures will come later - I have to charge my camera battery but the fear of starting a fire with this old wiring is very real for me... Soon, soon I shall brave it!
lots of love.
Here is a rundown of the personalities at the farm:
1. Flighty
2. Stoned
3. Hyper
4. Mystic
5. Japanese
Where do I fit in? There is one Swede, three Americans, one German, and now one Japanese girl on the farm.
Right away I was put to work in the green houses and then off to the field. We started around 7:30pm and didn't end till 11pm. It was really great working in the greenhouse, unearthing cabbage and broccoli plants to be replanted in the field. it felt really good doing something systematic that had my hands in the earth. Next we rode a contraption behind a tractor, planting what we had unearthed. That was also really fun - although I hope my black thumbs won't do their evil magic here. We finished and I went to bed in my humble room.
I will honestly say that I had a breakdown. Everything that has been coalescing over the past months in my mind converged on yesterday - Friday. I walked around with water in my eyes and enough pressure in my head to make everything want to abandon ship my brain. I started questioning everything and that's never been a good pastime for me. Pretty soon you start questioning yourself into dark corners and loosing sense of actuality and hope. Ah well, I'm starting to worry if this is a trend for me - I really have to smash the ice with my head in order to feel any comfort at all. I was all set to slink away down the road - feeling inhuman, alone, ignored, sad, lost... blah blah blah... when I decided that if I was to stay at this place, I gotta talk with the lady in charge and let her know how I feel.
I did talk with her and it did help. The thing about American turned Swedish Hippies is that they're really relaxed - about your problems and theirs. Into astrology, sitting on a couch wrapped in a blanket and surrounded by her cats, she says that something about my Pluto and Saturn is out of alignment. *sigh* OK, so even if my planets are colliding, she did agree that I can stay for at least two weeks to help out during this extremely busy season with the option of re-extending my stay to the original 4 weeks if I change my mind.
ALRIGHT - Now you are all maybe thinking: Crazy Katie, can't follow through on her ideas. Well. YEAH. Me = transitional stage.
Now for more details. The place is vegetarian and we get one large meal a day in the afternoon, cooked by the lady of the house. Otherwise we scavenge what we can find, which for me equals Swedish hard bread with butter and cheese with water. My creativity cooking skills will need to improve out of necessity. The first night I got there, everyone disappeared right away after work and ran to their rooms to sleep. My stomach was growling - hadn't eaten in 9 hours - with not a clue where anything was and too afraid and tired to ask. My bane, my fears they are. So I trundled away to my bed but was unable to sleep. Woke up for good at 7:30am and was working again for the day. And that was the day I broke down inside. Little food, little sleep, little hope = BAD DAY. I'm much better now. Let me say that again: MUCH BETTER NOW.
I'm the muscle of the farm. Already, my arms have been discovered and my nickname is Tidus, which laughingly reminds me of a certain Final Fantasy video game. I haul around sacks of potatoes, carrots, and jars of Lactic Acid (really, I want to know too). And, now that I'm feeling better, I think it makes me walk taller. After a bout of caustic sadness is drawn out, the only way to stand is tall, especially when you are needed.
The big deadline for the farm is June 16 - everything has to be in the ground by then in order for the farm to get governmental money. As far as I can see, we got a lot of work ahead of us. They have many different kinds of crops. One of the duties is watering the green houses and I can see cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, squash, cabbage, and many other sorts of plants that I just can't recognize yet.
The farm has many different out buildings. One is a very lovely barn with stables that I can tell were once much used and loved but are now falling into disuse. There is only one old horse on the farm that stays out in a paddock all day happily munching grass. Once things slow down, maybe Karin (lady of The House) would let me clean it up and take care of all the tack in there. The disorder of this place hurts me a bit - the orderly German parts. Sure, being relaxed and carefree is great but how about a little more order to it. Maybe I'm missing something.
Today, since not much is happening, I needed a sanity break as well as a long shower. I went into town, was bemusedly dropped off by Karin (who was in a rush) somewhere I didn't recognize, and spent 45 minutes walking with a map and Swedish directions to my bike. After buying another plug adapter for my computer (it services 150 countries! woohoo!), food, and that gloriously long shower, I'm feeling much better.
Well, I gotta pack things back up and head for the bus back to the farm. Pictures will come later - I have to charge my camera battery but the fear of starting a fire with this old wiring is very real for me... Soon, soon I shall brave it!
lots of love.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Homes and Farms
I'm fresh back from seeing what an actual Swedish home looks like. The house was in a beautiful area, thick in a nature that I can't really describe as being in Ohio or Pennsylvania. It's wide, open, green, and ever so gently rolling - like a blanket of green unfurling. After looking at a map, no wonder it doesn't resemble anything that I've ever seen or felt in America. We are at 60 degrees north latitude, which is somewhere high up in Canada. Philadelphia is at 44 or 42 degrees. I cannot be exactly sure.
Ah well. It was good fun, relaxing. I saw my favorite horse breed: Icelandic Pony. It's not really a pony at all, more of a delicate horse. The stallion in the field looked like a rastafarian wannabe. He was hilarious and beautiful, a punk rock teenager. It will always be my favorite and it will always be unattainable - being incredibly expensive in Europe and rare as well in the states.
I saw a lake that brought me closer to a feeling of wild nature than anything I've ever encountered before. I felt just a little rush of terror. Maybe it was because I felt just a little bit alone and vulnerable. These things happen.
My friends online are all talking deep thoughts - thoughts of loneliness and internal clocks. It all makes me think and reevaluate my own actions and life. These things are good too. Step back, look, and make note of the road you're walking on. A certain amount of carefree-ness is good but don't forget to live a little. For so long, I was worried about everything, experiencing as much as possible, avoiding sickness or pain that I thrust my self into a grand state of 'not caring.' But now, I'm finding out that I want to care after all.
My mind is a little drowsy so I am going to power nap before heading off to the farm - a short few hours away.
Next time you hear from me, I'll be a real farm girl!
Ah well. It was good fun, relaxing. I saw my favorite horse breed: Icelandic Pony. It's not really a pony at all, more of a delicate horse. The stallion in the field looked like a rastafarian wannabe. He was hilarious and beautiful, a punk rock teenager. It will always be my favorite and it will always be unattainable - being incredibly expensive in Europe and rare as well in the states.
I saw a lake that brought me closer to a feeling of wild nature than anything I've ever encountered before. I felt just a little rush of terror. Maybe it was because I felt just a little bit alone and vulnerable. These things happen.
My friends online are all talking deep thoughts - thoughts of loneliness and internal clocks. It all makes me think and reevaluate my own actions and life. These things are good too. Step back, look, and make note of the road you're walking on. A certain amount of carefree-ness is good but don't forget to live a little. For so long, I was worried about everything, experiencing as much as possible, avoiding sickness or pain that I thrust my self into a grand state of 'not caring.' But now, I'm finding out that I want to care after all.
My mind is a little drowsy so I am going to power nap before heading off to the farm - a short few hours away.
Next time you hear from me, I'll be a real farm girl!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Gypsy Jazz
Second post of the day!
Remember that Chinese party I went to a while back with the self proclaimed gypsy jazz musicians? Well, I finally discovered the cooler capabilities of my camera software that lets me instantaneous upload Youtube videos.
Sorry for the quality. Hope you enjoy anyway!!
Remember that Chinese party I went to a while back with the self proclaimed gypsy jazz musicians? Well, I finally discovered the cooler capabilities of my camera software that lets me instantaneous upload Youtube videos.
Sorry for the quality. Hope you enjoy anyway!!
Big Blue Yonder
Pretty soon I will be off to the farm and this rash of blog entries will be at an end. I don't know what my access to internet will be like and so this might be one of the last few complete entries for awhile.
On Monday I went to Stockholm via train. It's only about 40 minutes away, which for me goes quickly. I love riding in a train as much as I love riding in a car. I've actually come to despise the dormant, stuffy quality of an airplane - although I still enjoy the 'teleportative' quality of flying. But in a train or car you can see everything rushing by. I love the rhythm and the constant motion, the feeling of taking giant steps without actually moving the legs. Riding a train is a rare experience for Americans, I feel. Subways and city transportation don't count - only when you can see an encompassing countryside whizzing by, interrupted by towns and bicyclists... It's an invigorating experience.
Carl was pretty familiar with the Stockholm area and we were able to find the Austrian Embassy with nary a hitch. I handed in all my papers only to find out - a half hour before they closed - that my passport photo didn't meet their specifications. Now, this wouldn't be such a big deal except for the rigmarole I went through in getting those pictures taken at Ohio's one and only Meijer - a 45 minute wait and the struggle of the employee to use the camera. The lady at the embassy told me the color was off, I wasn't facing the camera straightforward, and you could see teeth (a very frightening thing in Austria - only terrorists have teeth). The need for speed rushing us on, we ran from the embassy to a nearby mall, snapped a very appropriate and sweaty picture of me, and ran back - all under 15 minutes (wtf Meijer). Now my paperwork for Austria is in and I can on that front, to a degree, relax.
Stockholm is a very beautiful city. It reminds me of Baltimore, Maryland, in a way. Tall ships in the harbor, the smell of water, and lots of people but that's where the similarities stop. The architecture in Stockholm is unique, fittingly European. The color is off: Swedes love red, yellow, and brown for building. Also there are lots of islands in and around Stockholm. It's a great city - I'll post pictures. For all the greatness, however, the city doesn't call to me like Berlin or Philly. The people are too quiet, too tame, and the streets are too clean (what a complaint, eh?). Well, I just can't SEE myself there for more than a fun weekend.
Carl and I went to the National Maritime Museum to check out some awesome models and paintings. Come to think of it, Stockholm is a city made more for my parents who harbor a great love of the water and ships and all things maritime. I think they would have loved it there, appreciating the maritime culture much more than I could have.
Not really wishing to stay in the city too long, we cruised around the old portion of town, took pictures, and lounged at a cafe before hopping the train home.
Then last night was relaxing and somewhat sad. The semester here has just ended and the great international student population is making its exodus back to the homelands. Carl's friends threw a farewell party on the roof of one of the student buildings and we spent some time there. I then watched Nanny McPhee back in the room. (Umm... a whirlwind pretty thing with superficial substance).
Today it actually rained for a bit - around 10 minutes of precipitation. Go figure, a travel day and it has to rain! It's so refreshing - what I wouldn't give for some thunder.
That's it for now! I'll try and update within the next few days but I'm going to Carl's house in a few hours, which could mean limited internet.
On Monday I went to Stockholm via train. It's only about 40 minutes away, which for me goes quickly. I love riding in a train as much as I love riding in a car. I've actually come to despise the dormant, stuffy quality of an airplane - although I still enjoy the 'teleportative' quality of flying. But in a train or car you can see everything rushing by. I love the rhythm and the constant motion, the feeling of taking giant steps without actually moving the legs. Riding a train is a rare experience for Americans, I feel. Subways and city transportation don't count - only when you can see an encompassing countryside whizzing by, interrupted by towns and bicyclists... It's an invigorating experience.
Carl was pretty familiar with the Stockholm area and we were able to find the Austrian Embassy with nary a hitch. I handed in all my papers only to find out - a half hour before they closed - that my passport photo didn't meet their specifications. Now, this wouldn't be such a big deal except for the rigmarole I went through in getting those pictures taken at Ohio's one and only Meijer - a 45 minute wait and the struggle of the employee to use the camera. The lady at the embassy told me the color was off, I wasn't facing the camera straightforward, and you could see teeth (a very frightening thing in Austria - only terrorists have teeth). The need for speed rushing us on, we ran from the embassy to a nearby mall, snapped a very appropriate and sweaty picture of me, and ran back - all under 15 minutes (wtf Meijer). Now my paperwork for Austria is in and I can on that front, to a degree, relax.
Stockholm is a very beautiful city. It reminds me of Baltimore, Maryland, in a way. Tall ships in the harbor, the smell of water, and lots of people but that's where the similarities stop. The architecture in Stockholm is unique, fittingly European. The color is off: Swedes love red, yellow, and brown for building. Also there are lots of islands in and around Stockholm. It's a great city - I'll post pictures. For all the greatness, however, the city doesn't call to me like Berlin or Philly. The people are too quiet, too tame, and the streets are too clean (what a complaint, eh?). Well, I just can't SEE myself there for more than a fun weekend.
Carl and I went to the National Maritime Museum to check out some awesome models and paintings. Come to think of it, Stockholm is a city made more for my parents who harbor a great love of the water and ships and all things maritime. I think they would have loved it there, appreciating the maritime culture much more than I could have.
Not really wishing to stay in the city too long, we cruised around the old portion of town, took pictures, and lounged at a cafe before hopping the train home.
Then last night was relaxing and somewhat sad. The semester here has just ended and the great international student population is making its exodus back to the homelands. Carl's friends threw a farewell party on the roof of one of the student buildings and we spent some time there. I then watched Nanny McPhee back in the room. (Umm... a whirlwind pretty thing with superficial substance).
Today it actually rained for a bit - around 10 minutes of precipitation. Go figure, a travel day and it has to rain! It's so refreshing - what I wouldn't give for some thunder.
That's it for now! I'll try and update within the next few days but I'm going to Carl's house in a few hours, which could mean limited internet.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Island Fun
I am back from my northern island adventures and feeling just a little guilty at my luck after checking the weather for Pennsylvania. From what I see, the humidity is back with a temperature to make it throttling. After reading that, you really don't want to know what the weather is like here. You really don't.
The Swedish island adventure was as close as I will ever get to living fantasy, I think. Seriously, how often does a body get to chill on a Swedish island alone with nothing to do all day but read, swim, play games, and eat?
We were quite a motley crew: 2 Swedes, 2 Austrians, 1 Italian, 1 Spaniard, and 2 Americans. The language of choice was English - in all it's beautiful array of interpretation (I find accented voices are curiously interesting).
I have some very strong impressions from this trip.
Let's get the negative ones out of the way first:
1. Parts of Sweden smell like rotting, salty, putrescent sea life even when you can't see the sea.
2. Swedes prefer musical audibility to air circulation when driving in cars with broken air conditioners. This experience turned out to be the sauna of the trip.
3. Mosquitoes suck. Literally.
Everything else was gorgeous and perfect. Our group of eight was split. I went by train and by car, journeying for about 4 hours - including walking time - while the others went solely by train. Jon (in Swedish it sounds like "Yon") spent most of his childhood summers on the island and was a great host, even those times when he paraded around the island just wearing his sailor hat and some very tight undershorts. Yeah. We did things like Beebee gun competitions, playing a great game called Kubbb (which I shall try try to bring to America), burning nachos, catching and eating fish, swimming, tanning, reading, eating tons of hot dogs...
We had two unfortunate casualties for the weekend. One of the Austrians was literally devoured by Mosquitoes. She had a violent reaction and half her face swelled to twice its size. Her Italian boyfriend was good spirited and said she looked a little Asian.
The second causality was the other American. During our stay, the two of the oven's burners broke and couldn't be turned off. We had to resort to pulling the oven out, unplugging it, and pushing it back in whenever we wanted to cook. Nick, the American, received the oven onto his foot, crushing his big toe. OUCH. Both of them survived, thankfully but I'm anxious to see what other mishap was in store - bad things come in threes.
Me? I had a good time. I finished reading FAREWELL TO ARMS. Great book. Hemingway is like a trip: it's more about the journey than the destination. I have never felt "good" about any of Hemingway's endings. They cut off abruptly and all of a sudden you are wondering where the last five pages of the book went because this can't be 'it'. Ah. Style, I like it. It's a great part of who he is as a writer. He doesn't tell you everything.
Today I am hiding out and taking some 'me' time. It's funny but I really have fun with my own space, my own quiet, my own noise... Besides, I got too much sun and now I feel like a sick cherry.
I put up pictures. On the right hand of this blog, my pictures are scrolling and I believe if you click on it you can get to the newest ones first.
Tentative Schedule:
Monday - Stockholm
Tuesday - Stockholm
Wednesday - Flogsta
Thursday - Flogsta
Friday - Farm FOR THE DURATION
The Swedish island adventure was as close as I will ever get to living fantasy, I think. Seriously, how often does a body get to chill on a Swedish island alone with nothing to do all day but read, swim, play games, and eat?
We were quite a motley crew: 2 Swedes, 2 Austrians, 1 Italian, 1 Spaniard, and 2 Americans. The language of choice was English - in all it's beautiful array of interpretation (I find accented voices are curiously interesting).
I have some very strong impressions from this trip.
Let's get the negative ones out of the way first:
1. Parts of Sweden smell like rotting, salty, putrescent sea life even when you can't see the sea.
2. Swedes prefer musical audibility to air circulation when driving in cars with broken air conditioners. This experience turned out to be the sauna of the trip.
3. Mosquitoes suck. Literally.
Everything else was gorgeous and perfect. Our group of eight was split. I went by train and by car, journeying for about 4 hours - including walking time - while the others went solely by train. Jon (in Swedish it sounds like "Yon") spent most of his childhood summers on the island and was a great host, even those times when he paraded around the island just wearing his sailor hat and some very tight undershorts. Yeah. We did things like Beebee gun competitions, playing a great game called Kubbb (which I shall try try to bring to America), burning nachos, catching and eating fish, swimming, tanning, reading, eating tons of hot dogs...
We had two unfortunate casualties for the weekend. One of the Austrians was literally devoured by Mosquitoes. She had a violent reaction and half her face swelled to twice its size. Her Italian boyfriend was good spirited and said she looked a little Asian.
The second causality was the other American. During our stay, the two of the oven's burners broke and couldn't be turned off. We had to resort to pulling the oven out, unplugging it, and pushing it back in whenever we wanted to cook. Nick, the American, received the oven onto his foot, crushing his big toe. OUCH. Both of them survived, thankfully but I'm anxious to see what other mishap was in store - bad things come in threes.
Me? I had a good time. I finished reading FAREWELL TO ARMS. Great book. Hemingway is like a trip: it's more about the journey than the destination. I have never felt "good" about any of Hemingway's endings. They cut off abruptly and all of a sudden you are wondering where the last five pages of the book went because this can't be 'it'. Ah. Style, I like it. It's a great part of who he is as a writer. He doesn't tell you everything.
Today I am hiding out and taking some 'me' time. It's funny but I really have fun with my own space, my own quiet, my own noise... Besides, I got too much sun and now I feel like a sick cherry.
I put up pictures. On the right hand of this blog, my pictures are scrolling and I believe if you click on it you can get to the newest ones first.
Tentative Schedule:
Monday - Stockholm
Tuesday - Stockholm
Wednesday - Flogsta
Thursday - Flogsta
Friday - Farm FOR THE DURATION
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Who needs a reason?
The high plans I had for today kind of fell in a rut but these things happen. I had hoped to take the train to Stockholm and get my application for a residency permit filed at the Austrian Embassy but that didn't pan out. I slept in and after phoning them found out that not all the kinks of getting a residency permit abroad had been worked out - especially when the embassy closes at 12:30pm and I'd only woken up at 11am. I think everything will be fine but it will now have to wait till next Monday because of FUN TIMES ahead.
Tomorrow, a bunch of the corridor people will be going with a guy to his cottage on an island for shenanigans. That sounds too picture-esque for belief. Carl and I are going as well. It sounds pretty cool. We'll be going by train, car, and finally private boat. We'll be returning on Sunday. Now you know as much about the trip as I do - except there will be swimming, lounging, and possible sauna building!
After the downfall of Stockholm plans, Carl and I spent a healthy amount of time lounging about before heading out to Uppsala for fresh air, sushi, ice cream, and a LIBRARY CARD! Yes, I am now certified to check books out of a Swedish library. Thank goodness they have a substantial English section. I came away with FAREWELL TO ARMS by Hemmingway and WALTZING THE CAT by Pam Houston (a novel a woman twice my age and bound by husband and children would be reading - definately, no offense meant!) Both portend to be great reads and a good manner of diversion on the farm when I'm not bent over double in the fields weeding.
Tomorrow, a bunch of the corridor people will be going with a guy to his cottage on an island for shenanigans. That sounds too picture-esque for belief. Carl and I are going as well. It sounds pretty cool. We'll be going by train, car, and finally private boat. We'll be returning on Sunday. Now you know as much about the trip as I do - except there will be swimming, lounging, and possible sauna building!
After the downfall of Stockholm plans, Carl and I spent a healthy amount of time lounging about before heading out to Uppsala for fresh air, sushi, ice cream, and a LIBRARY CARD! Yes, I am now certified to check books out of a Swedish library. Thank goodness they have a substantial English section. I came away with FAREWELL TO ARMS by Hemmingway and WALTZING THE CAT by Pam Houston (a novel a woman twice my age and bound by husband and children would be reading - definately, no offense meant!) Both portend to be great reads and a good manner of diversion on the farm when I'm not bent over double in the fields weeding.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Beautiful people are lame.
I found resolution to my Mega ICA adventure of yesterday. Carl came with me and when yesterday everyone I saw had the wand of frustration, today only about 1 in 4 people had it. Apparently Male Model didn't mention that I could just have gotten in another line. THANKS.
The plus side is that all my items were still there behind the potted plant minus only one - a little black book for note taking.
Well, the computer is about to be hijacked from me! Here are some photos for your examination!
(All taken from ICA)
The plus side is that all my items were still there behind the potted plant minus only one - a little black book for note taking.
Well, the computer is about to be hijacked from me! Here are some photos for your examination!
(All taken from ICA)
Monday, June 2, 2008
ICA, A Swedish Wonderland
There's a little grocery store not 100 feet from the student complex where I'm staying at and it's called 'Ica', a miniature exposition of Swedish cuisine. All the students shop there and it always has a crowd, especially around 10:30pm - a half hour before closing. It's pretty regular as far as grocery stores go. If you're from Ohio, I would call it 'Meijer lite' or those of you from Pennsylvania, 'Mini Redners'. The major differences between US mini-marts and this one are the cheese and meat sections. You see, here the cheese section is about twice the size of the meat section and this extract of cow is sold in GIANT wedges, wheels, chunks, slices - I'm not sure the Swedes know what petite means in terms of cheese.
Being an unprejudiced omnivore, I was slightly disappointed in the meat section. When I went to Eastern Europe meat was on the menu at every meal. Here it seems meat has taken a back seat. Chicken and beef are expensive (unless it's ground beef, for some reason there's tons of that) and pork comes in front with the lowest $ sign.
Good news is that my bike is fixed! With the new wheels, I wanted to check out a shopping complex a fair distance down the road. When I got there, I walked into the first building, not really caring what it was. To my chagrin I had stepped into a Swedish Wal-Mart, which just turned out to be an ICA on steroids. I cruise around, absorbing the strange words, labels, packaging. Not expecting to buy much, I only grab a few apples and some Haribo gummies before checking out, satisfied that this ICA differed very little from an American shopping complex. In line I noticed that something was not right. Everyone had a hand-held Star Trek device that they handed to the cashier upon check out. Of course, my cashier was the 19 year old, Swedish male model of the year. He looked at me pityingly and said something in Swedish to which I answered 'Engelska?' with my sweetest and most innocent of smiles. In perfect English he replied that I needed to register and get one of the Star Trek wands out front. Flustered for more reasons than one, I didn't ask him HOW. I had to ditch my purchases behind a potted plant for sale and head back out front of the store.
Once there, I was completely and utterly trounced. There was a wall of the thingamabobs (I can't believe that word passed spell check), a movie in Swedish showing how they worked, and a sign that said you needed an ICA card to start the magic. But they didn't tell you HOW to get the card, at least not in English. In the end, I decided it wasn't worth the hassle of revealing my American ignorance to store staff so I just left, my purchases waiting alone behind that potted plant for a later date when I have my Swedish translator with me.
ICA 1, Katie 0.
Yesterday was a very relaxing Sunday. I pulled my gaming Swede outside and we walked the hour to town together and we established a language class while walking. I can now say 'How are you' and 'It's cool' in slang/dudish as well as formal Swedish. YES.
I swear this is a God blessed country because it hasn't stormed or rained any fair amount since I've been here. The humidity is nearly nill and the heat is moderate. Everyday is a perfect outside day. Imagine, perfect weather for baseball, horseback riding, gardening, walking, running - you name it.
Uppsala was gorgeous. Sadly, my camera batteries died after having lasted an admirable 6 days on a half charge. Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure:
A crutch for a tree. Pretty neat, huh!
Being an unprejudiced omnivore, I was slightly disappointed in the meat section. When I went to Eastern Europe meat was on the menu at every meal. Here it seems meat has taken a back seat. Chicken and beef are expensive (unless it's ground beef, for some reason there's tons of that) and pork comes in front with the lowest $ sign.
Good news is that my bike is fixed! With the new wheels, I wanted to check out a shopping complex a fair distance down the road. When I got there, I walked into the first building, not really caring what it was. To my chagrin I had stepped into a Swedish Wal-Mart, which just turned out to be an ICA on steroids. I cruise around, absorbing the strange words, labels, packaging. Not expecting to buy much, I only grab a few apples and some Haribo gummies before checking out, satisfied that this ICA differed very little from an American shopping complex. In line I noticed that something was not right. Everyone had a hand-held Star Trek device that they handed to the cashier upon check out. Of course, my cashier was the 19 year old, Swedish male model of the year. He looked at me pityingly and said something in Swedish to which I answered 'Engelska?' with my sweetest and most innocent of smiles. In perfect English he replied that I needed to register and get one of the Star Trek wands out front. Flustered for more reasons than one, I didn't ask him HOW. I had to ditch my purchases behind a potted plant for sale and head back out front of the store.
Once there, I was completely and utterly trounced. There was a wall of the thingamabobs (I can't believe that word passed spell check), a movie in Swedish showing how they worked, and a sign that said you needed an ICA card to start the magic. But they didn't tell you HOW to get the card, at least not in English. In the end, I decided it wasn't worth the hassle of revealing my American ignorance to store staff so I just left, my purchases waiting alone behind that potted plant for a later date when I have my Swedish translator with me.
ICA 1, Katie 0.
Yesterday was a very relaxing Sunday. I pulled my gaming Swede outside and we walked the hour to town together and we established a language class while walking. I can now say 'How are you' and 'It's cool' in slang/dudish as well as formal Swedish. YES.
I swear this is a God blessed country because it hasn't stormed or rained any fair amount since I've been here. The humidity is nearly nill and the heat is moderate. Everyday is a perfect outside day. Imagine, perfect weather for baseball, horseback riding, gardening, walking, running - you name it.
Uppsala was gorgeous. Sadly, my camera batteries died after having lasted an admirable 6 days on a half charge. Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure:
A crutch for a tree. Pretty neat, huh!
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