LOUISE

It's 11pm and I am soooo bored, I shouldn't be the only night person in Växjö, right? At least it seems like I am. Should I go to bed then? Ahhhh I guess so. If anyone has great advice for how to get sleepy, don't hesitate. I might even stop complaining! Cheers!

I've been terribly bad at keeping my blog going. Not that I have a thousand interesting things to write about, nor do I have heaps of followers, but just for fun I'm keeping this thing going.

First of all, my trip around the US this summer was just amazing! Seeing NYC, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and San Fran was a dream! No to mention all the reunions with Nick, Emma, Angel, Gretchen, Chris, Andy, Nichole, Alex, and Charlie. How insane is that? And it all happened in three weeks. Can you even imagine how exhausted I was by the end of it all?

After returning to Sweden, I started uni in a matter of days and I must say that I really love what I am studying. The second year of my program focuses on peace and development, which is the best part of it all. Looking forward to lectures, and finding new areas of interests for every day that passes by is.... I can't even describe it,. wonderful!

Elsewise, this year I'm celebrating new years eve in no place less than Park City close to Salt Lake City, Utah. So yes, two rounds to the United Stated within six months, I am one lucky gal! I'll be seeing Chris again, and I'll learn how to ski, I guess it'll be interesting and a bit embarrassing being a Swede not knowing how to ski. I might have to make them all believe that I have a polar bear as a pet to defend my "swedeness", or what do you think?

Needless to say, I miss traveling already and I cannot wait until I'm on that plane, knowing that I'm going to a new and exciting place to explore. Sweden is amazing, I guess it's just not my cup of tea, so to say.

And more? There's not much left to say about me. My life is pretty ordinary filled with studies, work every now and then and as many trips as I can possibly go on. My flatmate and I decided to get a third, so now we're three people living here which is nice! But life goes on in the same directions as before, I am single, uncertain of what will become of me, and schizophrenic when it comes to my taste in music.

However, I have spent more time thinking about what I want to do with my life, and even though it is all a huge blur I'm pretty certain I want to spend my life doing field work, the actual practical work in order to change societies to the better. Salary has always been a factor of importance to me, as I am taking loans for my studies. But in time, money becomes less and less important. I fully understand the value of money, however I don't count money in terms of power or fancy clothes, but in plane tickets and good food, and I guess that's what's been influencing my certainty of doing field work in the future. And I'm happy about it, because how could it not be more important to contribute to the world's development and it's inhabitant's improved living situations, than having a six figure amount on your bank account? It simply doesn't add up to me.

But of course that does not make me a non-materialistic person, I'm still a so-called "brand-whore" regarding certain things, and as so many people I too thrive for some things in my life to be of a higher value, e.g. my laptop.

Oh well, I just cleansed my mind a bit there. I'm going to continue my studies now. It's very interesting, but there's so much to read and understand.

Cheerio

So it's summer by now, and life's going by faster and faster, it's almost sliiping out of my hands. At least it feels like it from time to time. It's alomst a year since I came back to Sweden after living in New Zealand for one year, at still it feels unreal to be here, and not down there. I'm still getting used to it, I suppose.

The blog consists, nowadays, mainly of pictures of myself. Yeah, but as I don't feel like writing just as much as I love using my new webcam, it's simply the most logical outcome. Cheers.

On Sunday I'm heading off to Ängelholm, but I'm leaving Växjö already in Saturday afternoon, which feels kind of sad as I will not be back until late August. At least I have the whole summer planned with work and travels, so that's always something. My flat mate, Cornelia, went to bed a while ago, and I will too in a few minutes.

Today has been such a long day, I'm quite knackered actually. It started off with a group meeting at 9am, followed up with presentations of our field studies which lasted from 10am-1.30pm (ish). As for now I just came home from a three hour long meeting at Stallarna where I work, so I'm just sitting in Sigvard (my chair) and chilling. A project for tonight is to fix my room and perhaps go to my old apartment and get some stuff, and also finish a textbook for an exam.

Tonight will be the last ever that I'm spending in this apartment, because I'm moving out tomorrow morning. I'm sooo psyched, can't wait! You can't even imagine how excited I am!!

Wow. I feel so lost right now. Not physically, but mentally. What do I want? What do I need? Honestly, I have no idea. Some days I feel like I've been where I am for way too long. I feel a desperate urge to get out of here, to see new places and live in new countries. I never felt an urge to break free this strong when I was away.. I guess I should have stayed, because seriously I'll probably never be as happy here as I was there.

I'm home from work, sun is up and time is past 4am. I'm not going to bed quite yet, even though I'm tired. I skyped Tash, and since I'm not very sleepy I'll be productive instead of staring up the ceiling. Either way, things are closing up and my schedule is pretty tight.. These are just a few things:

At the library, as usual.. Not the best day of my life, one of y best friends Dad died last night. I still have to try to concentrate, but I can't help but thinking of him and his family.