[video]
I haven’t been so good at updating at all. I’ve been on vacation, and before that I had been excited about the possibility of getting a job. The job didn’t turn out, but the vacation was quite nice.
I find myself constantly thinking about what it is I want to do with my life in Sweden. The workplace here seems like an exclusive VIP club that I keep trying to break into. The rejection is disappointing, and I end up feeling as if I don’t belong here anyway.
The vacation, however, gave me lots of inspiration to just simply UTILIZE THE DAMN LANGUAGE ALREADY. It also gave me three weeks of speaking nothing but English. The people that work in Cambodia and Thailand understand that knowing English or another tourist language (Italian, German, Chinese, etc) brings them money and a satisfaction of working. It was inspiring to be amongst those who work so hard to learn languages.
So I am signed up to take an intensive Swedish course in the fall. If I pass the test on Monday. After the course I can take some sort of internship class/work thing that can place me in what I want to do. Or I can completely change my career path and education focus.
It’s so easy to get a negative attitude about everything here. It’s stacked against me for some reason. However, it is exciting too! I can do whatever it is that I want! Graphic design, website design, gym instructor, professional dog walker. Anything!
I know it isn’t what I was expecting in the beginning, but maybe it is better? The amount of freedom is amazing.
UN Studio’ application of sustainable features and a ‘feasibility’ checklist for each project.
[video]
getting ready for vacation !
[video]
[video]
(via fuckyeahcartography)
[video]
[video]
Well I haven’t updated in a long time, mostly because I have been so busy! I was studying like mad for my last Swedish for Immigrants test and then I had the craziest of crazy things happen to me where I got called into an interview that I wasn’t expecting at all! Then there was Easter, having people over for dinner, an art tour, dog-walking, a bit of proofreading work, and starting up my serious running training again.
Wow. It’s been a blur. And I am not complaining one bit.
So, the results of the SFI test were that I received a C on the test and a B in the class. This feels pretty good. I know that my weakest area is speaking and the test confirmed it. I had perfect in both reading portions, I missed a couple in hearing, and received a B and a C on the essays. The talking portion I received a C and a D. My personal speaking topic was HARD. “How can one create a good working environment?” I mean, isn’t that on the verge of being a philosophical question? I suppose that means one can speak a long time about it. Luckily for me, it was only 4 minutes, and the judges asked questions so it was more of a conversation.
Onwards and forwards with that!
As for the interview, it is for an architecture firm in Malmö that is interested in advancing their capabilities in green building. The interview was a good conversation and I am looking forward to our next meeting where we will discuss things a bit more. Even though the interview was in English I was pretty nervous before it. Both the interviewers were quite nice and I soon felt at ease. We’ll see what happens! If it doesn’t work out I am signed up to continue Swedish classes.
Easter! So it was Easter a couple weeks back, and wow have I never been more relaxed about a holiday before. We had friends over the evening before, and the plan was to just get up whenever we felt like it on Easter Sunday. As Swedes are predominantly a secular culture— meaning they view religion as superstition— there was no worrying about going to church, looking pretty, spending money on a new Easter dress, or any of that MESS that I usually associate Easter with. It was, instead, completely relaxed and happy. I baked cinnamon rolls and made fruit bowls for us. We took a extremely lazy two hour walk around the neighborhood and through the park, taking in the nature and the quaint architecture.
We did spend part of the Easter weekend with Mats family going on Konstrunden or an art/gallery roadtrip of sorts. This year they decided to do the trip in Northwest Skåne, rather than in Osterlen, which is where the watercolor artists we love so much live. However, we were still able to see an AMAZING British ex-pat watercolorist by the name of Elizabeth Tyler. Check out her work— simply amazing stuff!
In the meantime Mats and I have been planning the details of our vacation. We’ve been saving for this and we’re extremely excited about it. We’re going to Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia! We’re only staying in Singapore during two extremely long lay-overs from Thailand to Cambodia but it will be enough to go outside and take in the city! I must admit I am overwhelmed by the idea of this vacation, but its going to be an experience. I am most excited by the idea of Singapore and the blending of cultures there (and the food!!!!), followed closely by Cambodia’s history and beautiful temples. I am not so excited about the touristy crazy parts of Thailand, but I know it is definitely part of the experience. Plus the beaches are BEAUTIFUL. Ah, it’s going to be lovely. And crazy. And awesome.
More updates to come soon. As for now I feel I am just taking the time to do things I haven’t had time for— like run, and do art, and just relax. It feels pretty amazing I have to say. Gotta take it when you have it.
Varför säger man “puss och kram” och inte “kram och puss”? Därför att det finns en söt liten fras “Puss och kram, vi ses på stan!”
(Source: fuckyeah-sweden, via fuckyeahcartography)