Late Night Walks

When I first came to Lund, I (being the extremely paranoid person that I am) wasn't really a fan of walking at night and in the dark. But throughout my time here I've grown to really enjoy the cold air and the serenity of walking at night. Last night, with a million thoughts floating through my head I decided it best to go take a walk. I suited up in my jacket, scarf and gloves and went for about an hour long walk through the town, which is saying much because the city itself isn't very large. Something about the peacefulness here is intoxicating. Then again tonight for example, I headed to one of the Wednesday night pubs with some friends, and decided to take a longer route walking home. I don't remember much of the walk only because I was so wrapped up in my own head and thoughts, but there has to be something about the crisp air that adds to the appeal of the darkness here.

The Leaves Are Turning

Lund has to be one of the most beautiful places imaginable during autumn..the trees have been turning beautiful and deep reds and oranges, leaves on the ground everywhere and with the backdrop of the brick buildings, it's simply bliss to be here (pictures to come).

Yesterday (Sunday), Sara, Jen, Cyrus and I made crepes. Okay, so I mainly sat around and acted as moral support because me in the kitchen is just an accident and fire waiting to happen..but, it was lovely nonetheless. Cyrus being the French man of the group was in charge of making the vegan crepes, and after about six failed attempts and doctoring of the batter was able to make about 10 absolutely lovely crepes (beer included in the batter). We added all sorts of yummies such as mushrooms, onions (my favorite), spinach, zuccini and a garlic sauce that Cyrus made, delicious beyond belief! Unfortunately I had been munching on a baguette and some cookies the whole time of cooking so when the crepes were done, I was stuffed after just one. Along with some delicious food came some equally interesting conversation..mainly about the way that we were raised, and what kind of parents we think\hope to be, as well as our views on marriage. There's nothing more I enjoy than theorizing with other people (especially this group who are all so open and amazing), seeing where people come from, how we gather from experiences throughout our life and are constantly evolving and changing.

Random factoid that I recently learned from a Swedish friend about why classes start fifteen minutes past the hour, he was telling me that people used to not have watches and lived outside the city in the countryside..so on the hour a bell would ring and then the students would know that they had fifteen minutes to get to class (yay for a little bit of history!). Another point of amusement for us has been how the Swedes text, and when mixed with some form of alcohol certainly makes for some giggles on our end. We have rejoiced and tried to decipher the code of Swedish friends' text many a times (disclaimer:not all Swedes text with interesting sentence structure and incomprehensibility, just some). I have one friend who says "quite much" quite often, which I find to be adorable, another one of our friends says "okeeeej" which apparently is a Stockholm thing and one has to hear to understand it's hilarity and strong desired to be imitated constantly, we also has a friend who starts off most sentences with "well" or "well jaaaa." And secretly behind their backs, but with the greatest amount of love, I immitate them from time to time.

On another side side side note, it's officially November, which means that there is very little time left until two of the most amazing girls I've met here (Jen and Sara) go back home to California. I have extremely mixed feelings seeing as they've been such a large part of my time here in Sweden, we pretty much live at each other's corridors, spend every day of the week together filled with good food, good laughs, and good tv shows. It's so bizarre to imagine how the structure of my day will change so dramatically from fall term to spring term, so much so that I would rather live in denial and pretend like they're never leaving. Seeing as it is November, this also means that I'm officially a month and a half away from going home to California for two weeks, an event that I am both looking forward to and slightly nervous about, although I couldn't tell you why it makes me nervous. It's bizarre to imagine leaving Sweden, going back home to in a way mentally debrief from my first 4.5 months here in its eventfulness and intensity, and then return for another 6 months. And in conjunction with that, it's hard to grapple with the idea of leaving Sweden in June..of course I can't foresee how I might feel about my departure since it's so far in the future but for the moment, I'm recognizing how many connections I've made. Sure, some will follow me back to California and that will follow me back when I return home..but others that will simply, end. Not to say that I won't keep in touch with the Swedes I've become good friends with, but more that I don't know when I will see them again. The idea of being here for 10 months, creating these bonds and these memories and then leaving is an overwhelming one..I know, I know, I'm fretting far too prematurely. However, I must say that I've spent some extensive time thinking about all of the people that I've missed from California, all of the food that I will eat (and alcohol I will not be able to drink), as well as the beautiful California coast I hope to repeatedly visit, Mount Tamalpais that I will see outside of my bathroom window, as well as the Golden Gate Bridge that I miss so terribly. It's hard to conceive that there is a world that is still existing and turning in California without me there, and that I will go home and things will have somehow shifted, maybe not majorly or too noticeably, but time has an amazing effect and I'm eager to experience it for two weeks.

I apologize for the inconsistency and rambly quality of this posting, I suppose it reflects how I'm feeling: overwhelmed, excited, full, stimulated, nervous\anxious, and loving every minute of it. Cheers

The Most Politically Incorrect Weekend in Sweden

And what a weekend it was indeed...some of our Swedish friends planned a White Trash sittning (which is retrospect is of course a recipe for disaster in one form or another). On Friday we went to a friends corridor to have a pre-party, and were pleasantly surprised to see how seriously our Swedish friend took the theme, you certainly don't want to be the only one looking ridiculous at such as white trash. Flannel, cutoff shorts, wigs, mustaches, fake pregnant bellies, teased hair, bright eye make up, bare midriffs, fake tattoos, and Confederate flags, yes, Confederate flags. It was a memorable moment turning around to see our friends Norberg, Kristoffer and Calle walk up from across the parking lot donned with camouflage and carrying a large Confederate flags; Calle even had a flag stitched on the back of his denim vest. The whole time the Kaliforniens and I would look at each other in disbelief, "This would never happen in the states, you would get shot for this." But this isn't California, and we rejoiced in the humor. We moved on to the Hallands nation where the sittning was scheduled, and the flag managed to find its way as well, being hung next to our three tables. The kicker of the sittning? There were four tables in the room, three for the white trash sittning and one table of only men, I believe Hallands "alumni" all wearing suits and looking quite dapper..talk about some sort of contrast. Jen and I bumped in to two of the men in the elevator, where I suddenly felt it necessary to cover up my picnic table cloth patterned bra as I said how bad I felt that they had to be in the same room as us while they looked so nice, "Oh no worries, we've been there before." Phew. The sittning itself was probably one of the best I've been to, singing traditional songs is a crucial part of sittnings, while pounding the table with your fist and often standing on top chairs causing many glasses of wine, cider, and champagne to be knocked over. My main goal of the evening was to get nothing on the overalls I was wearing (apparently they're coming back into style because I found them at H&M) because I had spent $60 on an article of clothing I hadn't worn since probably 2nd or 3rd grade and surely wouldn't wear after that night; rest assured, I was able to return them with no problem :).

The next evening Jen, Cyrus and myself had a Halloween themed tackfest at Wermlands nation (which we have determined through experiencing different nations tackfests that it is by far our favorite.) Desperate and overwhelmed by having another theme to dress to, I settled for a Native American, with war paint, a headdress and a tomahawk..while Jen was a "baker of love" wearing a red dress with white polka dress, an apron with a heart on it and a rolling pin, a true Betty Crocker. Of course the Swedes either wanted to call me Pocahontas or an Indian (to which I shutter at). As I mentioned before with the White Trash sittning, songs are a huge part of any Swedish dinner, however there's one in particular I refuse to sing that's about 9/11 (like I said, the Swedes are something different), however there is a song that I do quite enjoy:

If the ocean were whiskey and I were a duck

I'd swim to the bottom and drink my way up

But the ocean's not whiskey and I'm aint no duck

So let's go to Germany and have a good f...

In more news, I've officially booked a plane flight home for two weeks back to California from December 21st-January 4th! I came here with the idea that I wouldn't go home the whole time, I would be here consistently for ten months. However, as time has worn on I've felt increasingly more compelled to touch back with home base for a brief moment in time comparatively to how long I'll be in Sweden. I absolutely love Lund, I love the people that I've met, there isn't one moment I would take back from my experience so far, and I'm so excited to come back and continue my time. I feel like I have three homes now: San Rafael, Santa Cruz, and Lund..I'm so comfortable here and so incredibly happy, and I wouldn't call going home trying to escape..more like taking a breath for a second. After being in California for two weeks, I'll come back to Lund and hopefully in the next couple following days head to Utrecht in the Netherlands to visit Maura and come back with a few days to settle before school starts around January 17-19. With the end of the semester seeming to be fast approaching, it's hard to fathom Lund without Jen and Sara..two girls who have seriously made my experience here (they will kill me for my high corniness factor and even bringing up their departure), but I treasure them far beyond belief and I find it amazing the ability we have to connect to people on such a level in such a short period of time. And we have also officially been here for three months!!

Hej då

That Night We Ruled The World..

So tonight was a night that I feel I need to blog about in order to remember, not that it was especially different from most others but it had some lovely highlights that should be recorded. Leo, Jen, Kristen and I wanted to go out tonight to Östogöta Nation, also known as ÖG's..we biked there only to find that they weren't open (...but they should have been). Flustered, we went to Göteborgs..to find that they had two locations, and we weren't at the right one; finally we get to the right location and find an extremely long queue which of course we wait in. In line, this rather drunk tall blonde Swedish man begins a conversation with us in Swedish, kind Leo explains to him that we don't speak Swedish, and aren't from Sweden..but oh this man thought he had us completely figured out and was convinced that we were lying. After about ten minutes of his drunken ramble we show him our passports, clearly pointing to the "California, USA" line. We get inside to find that the TWO coatrooms that they have are both full, not only that but we also could barely move the place was so packed..especially when you're about a foot shorter than any Swedish male or female, you end up feeling like cattle being herded. We finally decided to leave and head to the last option: Lunds. We somehow are able to talk to the guys at the register and get our 50 kr. (about $8) back that we paid for entrance. Finally we arrive at Lunds with hopes of being in a nation where you could move your arms if you so desired, only to find that ohhh fantastic, they were full as well. Feeling hopeless, our friend Leo devised a plan telling Jennifer to go to the security guard and say that she was visiting a friend in the building (the nations also are corridor buildings housing students). Jennifer gets in successfully, next I go, saying the same thing.. "You aren't going to the club are you?" He asks me, "Nej" I reply and continue to make my way up the 6 flights of stairs feeling ever so triumphant. Having worked a couple of times, we knew the main security guard at the top of the stairs before the club entrance checking ID's, he looks at us and says "Oh I know who you are I don't even need to see your ID." Crisis averted! We go in to dance along with Swedes acting more like they were in a mosh pit than anything else, so much so that Leo was bumped leading to some of her cider flying through the air and conveniently landing on my hair and down my shirt. All and all, I feel like the Kalifornien girls and the Swede worked the system tonight, and does it feel so good! :) Good night all!

Celebrate The Smaller Moments In Life...

• I've blogged about working at the nations in Lund multiple times, they're such a great experience and then getting the tackfests after (free dinner and alcohol) doesn't hurt too much after. However, there is an added bonus I have failed to mention. If you work at a nation a certain amount of times (often 3 but sometimes 2) you also are able to get in for FREE, yes, I repeat FREE for the rest of the semester which saves you about $7-$9 when you got out. Trust me, it's worth it and it's amazing. I know have free entry into Lunds Nation and Wermlands Nation for the rest of the semester. I've also worked at Blekingska Nation, Krischan Nation and Sydskånska Nation and I assure you, the Kaliforniens travel in packs and we aren't done yet :).
• I have gotten way more comfortable riding my bike here. I was pretty traumatized when I also got sideswiped by a moving vehicle while riding a bike in the Netherlands, and I must say that it has stuck with me. Riding bikes has become so handy, although Lund isn't large at all..it's a easy way to get from point A to point B. I also wonder if my calves and thighs will ever stop burning from that damn thing. I am proud to report that I am not able to ride with only one hand AND pedal at the same time (trust me, I had to work up to that as well), I can signal (but pretty much only if I'm turning left) and I'm starting to take both hands off the handlebars and it will happen, definitely will.
• I've been able to get away with not speaking English to Swedes..I'm talking in grocery stores, convenient stores, at nations. However this doesn't mean that I speak Swedish to them, I just say nothing at all, simply smile and pretend that I'm Swedish. There's nothing worse than letting a Swede get midway through a sentence before you interject with a "Jag pratar inte Svenska" or the Julia way "I'm sorry, can you speak English?" which then leads into the long conversation and great fascination of, "Where are you from?" "Oh California" "Ohhhhh California!!" I can't really understand for crap because different areas in Sweden have different dialects (not that I can pick up on them but it's a good excuse, at least), and I only can pick up small words here and there. But I'm finding that I can oftentimes read it fairly well, which means that I can sometimes understand Swedes Facebook status updates or wall postings :). I even had a friend say to twice on two separate occasions, "Vad sa du?" which means "What did you say?" and even after that said a whole sentence to me in Swedish, to which I must have looked quite dumbfounded. Is it possible that I'm even fooling that Swedes that know me into believing that I might be able to speak/understand their language? It's too soon to tell but I will certainly report back.
• I'm planning on getting a tattoo rather soon! I feel like I need to get something on my body while I'm here, and if possible I hope to acquire another tattoo again in the spring before I leave. I found this awesome tattoo shop in Copenhagen, Denmark (about an hour away by train from Lund) that reminds me of the Spider Murphy's back in San Rafael. I'm looking to get a pink lilly flower on my right lower calf, it reminds me of home and of my mom. I'm currently in the process of booking an appointment, more news on that later.
• I'M DONE WITH TWO OF MY FOUR CLASSES FOR THE SEMESTER. This has to be the most bizarre feeling to barely have school, less than I already did. Now instead of having maybe 4-6 hours of school a week, I have about 2-4..very bizarre feeling indeed but that just means I get to enjoy the beautiful Lund in autumn!

Well, I suppose that's all I have for the moment. This past weekend was a great success in my mind, filled with tackfests and tons and tons of dancing. Thinking of and missing everyone back home, and anyone who reads this. God natt och tons of love from Sverige.

Reason 84293842 Why I Love The Swedes..

How they dance! It's indescribable, fantastic and unique (or possibly just European). Having grown up in California I'm used to rap music whenever you're dancing and always the slightly too intimate, close up and personal types of dancing. However, here one often dances on their own, and when you dance "with" someone your bodies aren't stuck together like two magnets. Dancing here is far more enjoyable than in the states :)

I keep dancing on my own

The Beautiful, Carefree Life

There I go again, not posting for three weeks and consistently putting it off..thinking I'll do it tomorrow, or starting a blog post and saving it with intentions of finishing it at a later time but not. So here I am, forcing myself to reflect on my life the past three weeks although it feels daunting and overwhelming..but it has been a wonderful life nonetheless.

-Two of my four classes are officially over! Well, I still have a final paper due this coming Saturday for one of them, but other than that, I only have two classes that meet about once a week (sometimes twice) for the rest of the semester. This does seem slightly ridiculous, and don't be fooled because it is completely ridiculous. The SAS (Special Area Studies) courses that I'm taking are geared toward exchange students, and I really have enjoyed the different ways I've been mentally stimulated by the courses, although they aren't academically rigorous or demanding. Because in all honesty, who would come to study abroad only to sit in a library for hours on end and study? Nej, not I...so the relaxed feeling of my classes has really catered and in a way added to my experience here because school isn't something I necessarily have to actively stress and worry about.

-Although we haven't really had rain in about two weeks (yay!) it is definitely getting colder and the days are getting shorter. I've learned how to properly layer my clothing so that I am some degree of warm when the projected high for the day is something around 50 degrees. A couple of weeks ago I was walking with a couple of my friends to a nation in the evening, with gloves, a scarf and two jackets on, being a stupid Kalifornien and saying "It's so cold out!"..you say they get great pleasure out of this, laughing back at me and saying "This is warm, this is pleasant, just you wait" which often times across as some sort of threat..and I can't help but feel that they're waiting to see how I suffer when the weather is absolutely unbearable. Although I find myself following Jen's lead in wearing less clothing now while it's still considered not the worst weather so that I can hope to acclimate to the cold faster (we're crazy, yes). One would be amazed, while I'm wearing a scarf, two jackets and a pair of gloves, I'm walking next to one of my Swedish male friends wearing a leather jacket and jeans, daring to say that the weather isn't bad. Blasphemy.

-My Kalifornien friend from UCSD, Sara deserves her own blog posting in

hopes of conveying her overall amazingness on so many levels. Sara has been vegan for about 6 months and is my absolute idol when it comes to cooking. Jen, Sara and I have cooked together quite a bit (all vegan of course) but I've had so much fun exploring the different ways to substitute dairy and animal products while still having the food be delicious (no offense vegans, I just never really thought it was possible). Jen and Sara are the type of girls to read food blogs late into the night and get overly excited about a recipe and then the next day make it. Our recent triumphs are all in the realm of baking: we make a pie that was 1/4 plums, 1/4 bananas, 1/4 blueberry, 1/4 blueberry banana and it was absolutely delicious! The crust and dough were a little overcooked and harder to eat but regardless, we were very proud considering none of us had ever baked a pie. And yesterday, we made banana bread that was unspeakably amazing, my taste buds must have died at least thirteen times over, it was perfect in every way. Lastly, yesterday was Gaby and Kristen's birthday (Grattis my loves!) and we headed over to Gaby's corridor to make apple pie. Fear not, this time we got it soooo right, we took the pie out of the oven a little early and it was absolutely perfect in every way..needless to say I consumed enough sugar to make a 7 year old bounce off the walls for 6 hours and my tummy is bursting at the seams with deliciousness, but I've never been one to complain about eating a copious amount of dessert!

-I've still been working a decent amount for nations, most recently I worked

at Lunds Nation again last Thursday and Blekingska Nation on Friday. And this week I have three, yes, you read that right, THREE Tackfests at different nations. Wednesday: Sydskanska, Thursday: Lunds, Saturday: Blekingska...and just to reiterate, one doesn't get paid for working at nations, rather you receive tackfests where you often will get a dinner and free alcohol or sometimes just free alcohol. Also, if you work at a nation three times you are able to get into that nation free for the rest of the semester. The people we work with at nations are always so surprised when they realize that there are multiple Kaliforniens working together (there are usually at least 2 of us working at a nation, if not sometimes 4), yes, we travel in packs and are planning for overall nation domination.

-My lovely UCSC friend Ianna, who is studying abroad in the UK for fall term will be visiting in about a month and I'm am so excited for my first visitor :)! My parents are set to visit in March and I'm just getting so excited to share a place like Lund with people that I love and care about, because I do believe it's an extremely special and beautiful place. And surprisingly enough, I've felt very, very minimal homesickness..which is so nice. I haven't had any time where I've thought to myself "God, I just can't wait to go home," I feel so planted here, so rooted and so comfortable that when I think of leaving it does make me sad for the Swedish friends I've made and truly care about. In the same way, when I think of Sara and Jen leaving (which we've deemed an unspeakable topic) I simply can't imagine what the content of my days will look like without them to cook/bake/bicker with.

Cheers from a way chillier place than California!