Bucket list

I believe that every person has something they want to do before they die, whether that be sky-diving or bungy-jumping, or mayhaps witnessing the beauty of the Taj Mahal in the early hours of the morning, just as the sun breaks through the horizon.
I know that I have a few things that I want to to before I die. Some are a little more ostentatious and crazy, whereas others may not seem as outrageous, but nevertheless incredible. Here are a few things on my bucket list:

One of the things on my bucket list, which I will be able to tick off the list sooner than I expected, is celebrate New Years in Sydney. On New Year's Eve, roughly 1.6million people congregate in the metropolis of Syndey, New south Wales, Australia, to witness the 7 tonnes of fireworks explode in the night sky.

Even though it might be a chilly night, I would absolutely love to spend a night in the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden. Th whole concept of actually building an entire hotel of pure ice, mesmerizes me.

Planning a trip to Iceland has been on my mind for months now, and it may be happening sooner than I expected. Stefanie and I are really keen to go in January, to witness the beauty of the Aurora Borealis. Visiting the Blue Lagoon, Eyafjällajökull (I managed to spell that without using google!!), and hiking in the mountains is also on my list of things to do in Iceland.

When I really got into watching short documentaries of surfer girls such as Alana Blanchard, Lakey Peterson and Bethany Hamilton among others on YouTube, I was completely blown away by the beauty of Hawaii and its many islands. Above is a picture of Kauai; no words are needed. But what I really want to do is surf the waves on the coast of Kauai, even though I'm a rookie...

This is a very recent addition to my "Things to do before I die"-list. The Inca Trail is one of the most, if not the most, famous treks in South America. It starts in Chillca and follows a route up to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. I've always thought that the ruins at Machu Picchu seem unreal, perched up on that mountain, almost as if they belong to a folk-tale, but to witness them with my own eyes would be incredible.

Ever since I saw the Pippi Longstocking movie where she flies a hot air balloon, I've wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride. The location for my ideal hot air balloon ride would be over the Great Rift Valley in Kenya, East Africa. However, I am a little skeptical towards the landing, or should I say "crash-landing" of the hot air balloons...

Over the summer, my brother and I had a conversation about visiting Toronto, Canada. Toronto is a city made up of great cultural diversity, as it has one of the highest percentages of foreign-born populations. I don't just want to visit Toronto, I would actually like to live there. Something about the city just appeals to me

To make the big move down under, a.k.a. Australia, has been on my list for the longest time! People always ask me why I like Australia so much, and first of all, the accent is my favourite accent of all times, but also it's diversity in natural beauty, the food, the people, the lifestyle, the beaches, the desert, the animal life, the list goes on. I'll be visiting Aus in December, and I literally could not be happier :D Ultimately, I want to move out there on my own; get a flat, a job, live life, meet awesome people, and travel around the ginormous country!

My list is long, but these are 8 things I really want to do right now!!

Days like these...

It's days like these that I wonder why the heck I chose to live and study in Aberdeen of all the places in the world... No but seriously, I love it here but the weather... oh, the weather....

It was really nice for about a week, with sunshine and +15 degrees, but on Thursday the weather started getting worse. It started with being incredibly windy! I almost fell over outside the library because the wind was so strong, and when Matilda and I were heading over to 6° North for a beer with a few people in the evening, it felt like the wind had picked up even more. When we headed over to Oskar's flat on Friday, it was pissing it down with rain, resulting in Christel, Matilda and I arriving at his flat completely drenched as he lives quite far away. Saturday and Sunday were pretty bad as well, but I spent both days in the library writing my psychological assessment essay, so it didn't really bother me. Yesterday was when the weather really flipped out! The rain was chucking down all day and it was quite windy, just like today. Absolutely terrible.

It's a funny thing though. Almost every time I say that I live in Scotland, people ask me "Isn't the weather really bad!?" and I always respond "Not always... but when it's bad, it's really bad!" Truer words have never been spoken, haha

Aberdeen on a nicer day than this

Autumn loving

As a sweater-loving type of gal, who adores to bundle up warm with cozy scarves and don the chic chelsea boot, autumn is prefect for me! It has actually become one of my favourite seasons due to what I can find in my wardrobe; simple items which one can layer, cozy items (a.k.a. knitted sweaters and scarves), and boots.

With autumn just around the corner (read: it's already here…), it means I'll be heading back to Aberdeen for my third year at university. I'm looking forward to coming back and catching up with all of my friends and hearing what they got up to this summer! I'm especially eager to hear David's story, as he is cycling all the way from Orlando, Florida to Seattle, Washington. Last time I heard from him he was in Montana. Crazy bastard.

During Freshers' Week 2014 I'll be volunteering, as well as PR-ing for the Nordic Society, which I am so incredibly excited about! Since first year I have wanted to volunteer during Freshers' - the week of madness, followed by the infamous "Freshers' flu". Last year I had the flu for over a month. But it was worth it!

Terrified...

I turned my bed side lamp off at roughly 23.00 and put my head on my pillow. Just as I was about to slumber I hear a noise in the house. It was one of those noises which completely freaks you out. It's not that it was super loud or anything, but it sounded suspicious. One of those noises that you don't normally hear.
At this moment I froze in my curled up position in bed, swaddled by my duvet, and I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. I lay still for a while, hardly breathing. Listening for that sound again. I heard it several times and started to freak out even more, as I was almost certain someone was in the house.
In these situations, I usually am too afraid to even breath, and will absolutely not move form my frozen position, not even to turn on the light and sit up in bed. But after a serious debate in my head of the consequences of me not getting up and investigating, I finally rolled over and turned on the light. I then sat up and reached over for my phone on my bedside table. I quickly punched in 112 into my phone (just in case), but didn't call. I then put my feet on the ground as quietly as I could and snuck over to my door and put my ear against the door. At this point I felt my adrenaline rushing though my body and my  heartbeat was pounding like never before. I then heard the sound again and mustered up enough courage to open the door. Just in that instant I recognized the sound I had heard as the sound of water dropping from a tap. I cautiously headed over to the bathroom but it wasn't coming from there, so I stood still for a while, listening for the quiet "plop" sound again.
It wasn't coming from downstairs, so I headed into the living room, thinking it was coming from in there (weird.. I know). But apart from the buzzing lights we have in there it was silent. So I headed back to my room, when I heard the "plop" once more. It then occurred to me that it was coming from my brother's radiator in his room. As his room is right opposite of mine, and his door is open as he isn't home, I could hear it very clearly from my position in bed. I cannot describe the relief I felt when I finally figured out where the strange noise was coming from, and what was causing it. I let out a huge sigh of relief and instantly felt a bit queasy, but headed back to bed to try and calm myself down by listening to calming music and watching 2 clips of Robin Williams' stand up on YouTube. Now, after writing this, I am going to catch some z's.

Our trip to the north

Early on Wednesday morning, my grandma, Oskar and I set out on our road trip up to Sollefteå, where my grandma is currently residing. The car journey went smoothly and we were all eager to get out of the car once we arrived. I spent a part of the afternoon napping, trying to recover from our grotesquely early morning. After dinner, Oskar and I went on a walk around Risön, which is right next to where my grandma is living.

The bridge you cross to get to Risön

Standard foot picture. My brother is truly baffled as to why I take these types of pictures, and to be honest, I don't know why I do.. Also, I am absolutely loving Oskar's "sock-tan" haha!

On Thursday we set out on an adventure up to Myre, which is situated right on Ågermanälven (a big river). We had a delicious lunch and then had a quick look around in the "loppis"

Our view at lunch

The old barn which had been redecorated into a small café/restaurant was decorated with charming old cans and bottles, as seen in the photo above

On Friday around noon, we headed up to Imnäs to visit my grandma's brother:

The view of the river from their cottage

After a day of fishing with Oskar, and watching Oskar swim in the river, I headed back up the hill to pick some raspberries. I have never seen so many raspberries in the same place in my life, I picked about half a litre in a matter of minutes and it wasn't even noticeable!

Of course one can't visit Imnäs without diving over to Skogsnäs and the best tomatoes and cucumbers on the planet! This is a greenhouse owned by a farmer where the locals come to handpick their vegetables. We have been coming here since we were children, and this time was no different, apart form the fact that the place had been plundered by a few people just before we arrived, leaving us with only a few tomatoes to take back home.

Oskar looks like Slenderman in this photo, cracks me up

I cannot express in words how insanely cool and dangerous this place feels. (This picture really doesn't do this place justice.) As I was standing there on the brink of the water, with the loud noise of the water gushing out, I felt so peaceful. It had been raining quite a lot over the past couple of days, and as a result they have to let some of the water out of the reservoir to maintain the water level

The view from my grandma's balcony out over the garden and river, and in the distance you can see the camping site.

Oskar and I drank many glasses of the homemade (it was actually purchased in the shop but it's homemade by a woman in the area) blackcurrant "saft" (cordial/squash).

We got home at around 19.20 on Sunday evening, and after dinner I headed out for drinks with Natalie and Juno

Friday night

Before I headed off to dinner with Natalie, I had an aperitivo at home with my parents and two family friends. My dad made watermelon and mint drinks, containing watermelon flavoured rum, sprite and chunks of fresh watermelon and crushed mint.
At roughly half past eight, Natalie and I ended up at Level (a bar & restaurant) for dinner and a glass of wine. After our dinner, we headed over to Sushi Yama for a taster of their cocktails. I had a mojito, which was super nice and fresh! After my cocktail we headed down to Ivy to meet up with a few people and a cider. We then headed to Satin, where I bumped into a few friends and stuck around until half past 2, when we finally decided to skedaddle and head home. As Natalie was the designated driver for the evening, we first drove home Robin, her boyfriend, and two of his friends, but only after a quick stop at Sibylla, where they got some food. I got home at twenty past 3 and headed straight for bed as I was knackered.

This morning, Oskar and I took the car over to our grandparents house for lunch. We then helped them around the house a little bit and ran an errand, before we headed back home.
My Sunday will be spent at work, as I had to cover for a girl who couldn't make it. I'll be working from 11.30 to 22.00, so I'm making the most of my chilled Saturday.

Heatwave

Snapped a quick photo of the pink clouds the other evening before I headed out

The heatwave that has struck Sweden has left its population in awe. It has even made me feel like I'm not in Sweden at all. It has been around 30 degrees for the past two and a half weeks, and it's bloody sweltering. It makes me a little upset that I have to work during this glorious heatwave, but I am grateful that I finish in the early hours of the afternoon, so I am able to quickly head home and enjoy the sun for the rest of the day, and perhaps a quick catch-up with a friend in town.

Even though I enjoy the sun and heat, I have to run inside for refuge when my body is clammy with sweat and my head all dizzy from the scorching sun. I chug a glass or two of cold water to quench my thirst and then head down into the wine cellar for refuge in the blissful 15 degree A.C. After a few minutes inside recovering from my my minor heatstroke, I head back outside to read a chapter or two of The Great Gatsby and then a nap in the shade to recover from my early mornings. 

I spend my weekends hanging around the house and the garden, sketching, reading, listening to music and drinking cold iced tea. In the evenings I either opt for a chilled dinner with the family or a few drinks with a couple of friends at Satin until the early hours of the morning.

Stenshyttan

On Friday morning my mum, dad and I left to go to our summer house. This is the place where Oskar and I (and mamma) spent most of our summers growing up. Every time I go back I feel very nostalgic and peaceful. It's very quiet out there which is extremely relaxing for someone who lives in a city. We got back a few hours ago, and I'm super tired for some reason. I slept almost the whole way home. I hope I'm not this tired tomorrow morning when I have work!

Sunny weekend

Tired and ready for work at 6.30am on Monday morning

My mother and I went out for a terrific dinner at the newly opened restaurant Makeriet on Friday evening. My mum recommended a sublime white Italian wine for my seabream and paella. For dessert I enjoyed a crème brûlée, which is probably the best one I have ever had in my life!

The weather this past weekend was excellent, so I decided I would lay out in the sun and read The Catcher in the Rye (this is my mothers book from the 70s!). I didn't like it. But at least I can tick this book off my book list, as it's on of 'the classics'. I started reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain today. My dad also recommended a few books by Hemingway and Steinbeck.

I spent Saturday evening with Natalie, Juno, Ronja, Ewelina and Jenny, driking wine and enjoying fresh fruits and crisps with dip. My mother let me have this bottle of white Chenin Blanc from South Africa, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Ronja and Jenny went out at about 11 or so, and Juno and Ewelina left a little while after that. At around midnight, after Oskar, Robin and Emil arrived, we headed out to Satin where we met up with Juno and Ewelina again and had a beer. We sat there until closing at 2.30am

Okay? Okay.

Last night, after dinner with Natalie in a Greek restaurant, Juno met up with us in the cinema to watch The Fault in our Stars. When Natalie first suggested that we go see it, I was against it. I'd seen the trailer countless times on the YouTube adverts, heard about how good the book was through several individuals, but the story just didn't appeal to me. Mainly because the outcome in these sorts of stories is always the same; death.
However, I gave the movie a shot and before I knew it I was letting myself be entertained by the many light-hearted, humorous comments and jokes throughout the movie. It was hard not to get a slight attachment to the characters and shed a few tears along with them. In all honesty, you'd have to be an extremely cold-hearted individual not to shed a tear and sympathize with the characters.

Keep on keepin' on

Dunes in Scotland, June 2011

That's my motto for the time being. I regard it as a less cliché version of "Keep calm and carry on," which I bloody hate at this point if I'm perfectly honest.

We are constantly surrounded by people. We live in big urban cities, that come alive with the hustle and bustle of its inhabitants. However, I think there is an overwhelming feeling of loneliness amongst many of us. I have always been comfortable being by myself, I just don't like feeling lonely. I'm not one of those icky people who has to be with someone for the majority of their time to get by with their lives.
I'll leave it there for now, as I will most likely get carried away with my thoughts and ramble on about everything and nothing between heaven and hell.

On a happier note I started work yesterday and will be working all through July until around mid-August, if I'm not mistaken. Furthermore I saw an ad in the newspaper this morning about a strawberry-picking-farm located a mere 20-min ride with the car. If that doesn't scream summer, I don't know what does.. Our strawberries haven't ripened yet, but there's heaps of them to munch on once they have turned red in July!
A few days ago I was researching vacation destinations on the Interwebs. I seriously need to stop doing this to myself! I just get sad when I realize I will most likely be spending my whole summer in Sweden…
Also, yous should check out Ed Sheeran's new album X!

Taking it easy

Drinks and tapas upon arrival in the motherland

Wallpaper in my room in Stockohlm

Enjoying the gorgeous weather

My alarm went off at 5am on Thursday morning after 2 and a half hours of sleep. I more or less jumped out of bed, got dressed, packed the rest of my things into my bag and hurled my way out the door to my taxi, leaving behind what has been my home for the past 9 months. 

As I said, I did go out on Wednesday night, partying it up in Institute with a few friends. I got home at around two, and crashed on my unmade bed at 2.30. Most of my day was spent traveling down to London, and up to Stockholm, where my dad picked me up.

The 6th of June was spent painting my room pink, and going out for dinner in the evening at Kitchen & Table on Kungsholmen. The rest of the weekend was spent putting up wallpaper and cycling around Stockholm. A much needed chilled-out weekend in other words.

These past two days I have met up with Natalie for a pizza at Paolo's, soaking up all the D-vitamin I can muster, and eating my mother's good food. I have also finished the second season of Orange is the New Black on Netflix, and started reading A Feast for Crows (book 4 of the Game of Thrones series).

The rest of the week will most likely consist of reading my book in the sun, going out for drinks, eating food, catching up with friends, and eagerly awaiting Helen's arrival on the 16th.

2nd Year

Now that second year has come to an end I feel an overwhelming feeling of relief. However, I feel as though this year has gone by a lot quicker than last year… I have no idea how this is even possible. Even though there have been times where I have felt that time stood still, but looking back at those times, they actually went by pretty quickly.

I'm looking forward to going home and spending time with family and friends who I don't get to see as often now that I spend most of my time in the UK. I am also looking forward to my work/internship, it'll be a good experience for me and will give me an insight into the field of work that I'm highly interested in. Of course I am looking forward to the week where Helina comes over to Stockholm to visit me. I have a lot of things planned for that week and I am excited to spend that time with my closest friend! Surprisingly, I haven't booked a trip abroad this summer and it makes me a little upset because I love spending time in the sun, preferably at the beach, reading good books, drinking cold coca-cola, swimming in the sea and eating good food.

Tonight I'm pre-drinking with my flatmates and then going out to Exo with a bunch of friends. Gaah! I can hardly contain my excitement! It's going to be a good night :D Tomorrow I'll be packing up my things and putting it into storage. I plan on going out tomorrow night as well with a few other friends, and pulling an all-nighter as I have to catch a flight at 7.35 down to London on Thursday morning. Wish me luck!

Getting there...

We seem to have stumbled into the month of May rather quickly, and in 5 days it will be June!
Okay, how is this possible? As much as I want my exams to be over and to be home in Örebro, I am not ready for it to be June. Mainly because I don't like how bloody fast time flies, and that the weather here is proper shite. We have our sunny days of course, just like any other country, but I'm stuck inside with heaps of revision…
My first exam is on Monday and my second is on Tuesday. Wednesday will be spent packing up my room to put into storage for the summer. I then leave early in the morning on the Thursday to fly back home.

I've planned my June to be a chill month. Mostly I will be hanging out with friends, relaxing, and a bit of traveling (hopefully). Helen is arriving on the 16th which means we have 6 days to faff around Stockholm and Örebro. We are planning on cycling, kayaking, possible visiting Grönalund, having picnics in the park, going to the cinema, eating food, going out for drinks, visiting one of the many islands in Stockholm's archipelago, and most importantly making sure to show Helen how Swedes celebrate Midsummer!
I then hope I can catch a train down to Copenhagen to visit Christel. I think Sofia, Matilda and Lauren will also be there, which means we can all explore Copenhagen together.
I then start my work experience in July.

As a distraction from this term's exam revision, I have been planning my holiday next summer. A little bit ambitious perhaps, but I like getting excited for things!
I want get a 22-day rail pass to go Inter-railing around Eastern Europe, starting off in Berlin and working my way down towards Split, Croatia. Stopping in Warsaw, Krakow, Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Ljubljana and Zagreb, before getting to Split. Hopefully it all works out as I've been wanting to go inter-railing for quite a few years now!

Valborg

Stefanie, Irma and I at the Tunnels

On the 1st of May the Nordic society got together on campus for a meet up which included champagne and strawberries, music and good times. We spent a few hours on campus enjoying the sun once it finally appeared amongst the ever-grey clouds of Aberdeen. After a few hours of chilling in the grass a few of us headed over to Wavell in Hillhead for a few more hours of socializing.
In the evening, Irma, Stefanie and I headed over to the Tunnels where the rest of our evening was spent with the rest of the Nordic society, and eventually the Politics and IR society. We snacked on the nibbles available, had a few drinks and danced to some golden oldies. All in all, it was a pretty successful day :)
As the new Swedish representative for the Nordic society, I am excited to plan next year's events along side the rest of the new committee!!