A Swedish sock

Every year, I set some personal and professional goals for myself. Last year I wanted to do most of the fieldwork for my thesis, submit my first paper and take most of the class credits I need for my PhD.Those were my school/professional ones.I accomplished all of them and are well on my way for 2010!

Among my personal goals was learning how to knit a sock. I've always loved knitting, but one can only make so many scarfs and other 'flat knitting things'. This year, when my advisers came to visit me in Guatemala I got surprise: my new adviser Kj would gladly teach me once we were both in Umea.

So I started. I had much to learn because I had never used five needles at the same time. However, practice and perseverance go a long way. Today, while on the plane to Bergen I finished my first sock EVER! It won't have a partner, as it was just a practice run, but I am very proud of myself and can't wait to do many, many more!

A very good present indeed

I should be finishing up one of the chapters for my thesis now. However, I got a present from one of my advisers today and I am so happy I just needed to 'write it out'.

So today I got a cook book: 'Swedish cakes and cookies'. It has hundreds of recipes to make all sort of Swedish desserts, and even some variations on cakes I already know how to make.

Have to go back to writing now, but this weekend you will find me in the kitchen making cookies!

Scared of writing

So I've been in Umea for a month and a half. That's right, about six weeks of fika, korridors, ever-longer days and my bike. In that time I've taken a class, bought and Ipod, made a bunch of cakes, missed my boy-friend, gone shopping and taken up running. Notice something missing in the mix? Something that should be my main focus?

That's right folks, I am scared of writing. Well, I was. It took me a month to actually put fingers to keyboard to do something else besides up-dating my FB status. The thought of my advisers saying my writing was bad, my logic off, that I lacked structure (and all the other fun comments that come with a first draft of the manuscript) made me find a thousand other things to do.

How do you get over your fear of writing? It just so happens I wrote what other people said. I just started reading and taking out full quotes and grouping them into 'themes' to write later. Then, last Saturday I got a nice first paragraph and it was been fun since then. I think I might have found my trigger for writing, and a useful activity while I wait for inspiration.

And I have an meeting for that paper on Friday, so I expect to freak out about how badly I did... but it's always bad and then it gets better..... right?

Finally!!!!

After about a week of being lap-top-less, she's finally back from the doctor. She just needed a new cord and now she's back!!!

*happy dance

Elastic waist-band?

Have you ever noticed how tight Swedish-girl jeans are? I have. I've also wondered how that is even possible.

Well... now I know! Yesterday I went down to H&M to look for a birthday present for my little sister and looking through tops and cardigans I noticed that they had proper pants and then some sort of tights with a big-old elastic waist made to look like acid-washed jeans, indigo-blue jeans, stone-washed jeans and black pants. I had to look at them more carefully and examine them to actually tell that they are tights! So know it all makes sense to me: Swedish girls don't really wear pants that are really tight... they actually wear tights that look like pants.

Oh the things you learn in Scandinavia...

Amazing.

A much needed brake

After all the worries and problems in Guatemala, and before I start stressing about turning my fieldwork into a thesis, I decided to come visit my boyfriend in London. It's been a great week so far, and time has gone by really fast with all the gap-minding in the tube and looking tot he 'wrong' side of the street before crossing it.

The days have been really nice: not that much cold and hardly any rain. I also got a bit of sunshine for my birthday, and got to welcome my 29th year of existence with a whole day at the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Magnus has gone with me to so many amazing places and even though he has to do his fieldwork, I know he's taken extra time off to be with me :)

Today, I took the day off from London and decided to catch up on a little work. The day is clear and sitting in the sun with my computer is so nice that I haven't managed to work that much anyways!

Leaving on a jet plane!

And I'm not sure when I'll be back again.

I've always left Guatemala knowing when I'm due to return. I've also never been away from home more than four or five months at a time. However, 2010 looks like a heavy travel year and I'm not sure if I'll even make it home before 2011.

I feel bittersweet about that not coming home for so long. On the one hand, I have my internship, my papers to finish (and a mid-term seminar to be had), two little vacations with Magnus, and so much work ahead that I can't help but be excited. On the other, I won't have my mom around. Today is the last time I'll stuff myself with her perfectly made rice in a long time (and then my friends Alison and Gerd will have to pick up the rice-slack as I usually refuse to even try to make it). I won't be hangin' out with my youngest brother anymore and my sis will finally have some rest after 10 weeks of goofing off with her... and I won't have my puppy around anymore! I think I will miss her so much (and she is very anti-Skype, so that will not be happening as much as I would like).

I know its already mid-March, but I can't help but feel like my year is just beginning... and also like I have to leave a lot behind to do all the stuff I need to do before 2011 comes around to knock!