Sleepless
Even though I'm tired, I can't sleep. I'll probably stay up for an hour or so just chilling, can't really go to bed straight after work. Well, work was all good and I'm off tomorrow. I'll try to get up earlier than I usually do to see if it would make me less tired during the day, and also to clean. Inspection on Friday (tomorrow) huh. And then in the evening it's thai restaurant with Kels. Yay!
Buuuuuuuut I'll turn on the TV or something. Maybe have some Indian food (starving!!) and then hopefully fall asleep soon. And oh, I do have one suggestion for my resolution: return to Swe in better shape than I left the country with? Quiestion is if I'll actually pull that off. I'll give it some more consideration.
Good night (to you in Sweden: have a good day!)
Butter Chicken
I feel hungover tonight. I tend to feel that way every day after working, which is wierd because I rarely feel hungover when I actually have been drinking. Oh well. Kelsey and I just ordered some Indian food (believe it or not but I actually quite enjoy an Indian dish called butter chicken) so we're waiting for our food, watching Two and a half Men. Tomorrow is Kelseyday, so we're going out for dinner to a BYO place (a restaurant where you can bring your own wine) and have a nice night together. Work starts in three hours so until then I'll relax, eat and try to find some energy deep down inside of me, I know it's somewhere hehe!
Ah well, Erika from my class in high school is coming soon and I am very exited. She'll be my first visitor, amazing!!!!!
Back to relaxing now, I don't think work will be too busy tonight, probably work from 11 pm till 4 am if I work at both bars, which I most likely will. Okay, it os quite stressful running up and down doing the glassy job for two bars, but I like it :)
I could use some excercise now, haha. Maybe start up a new FC Salad when I return to Auckland?
Wooooork
Next week is going to be crazy as, and I am soooo happy! I've been given six shifts, all of them working at the two bars at the same time, so I'll most likely be sleeping all week being tired, but gosh I am so grateful for some extra hours. Thank the lord (or rather Kirsty who's in charge).
But yeah... I'm really tired, so I'm off to bed. Tomorrow I need to go to the bank, call WSA about my contract and shit, then work all night. I hope everyone's enjoying winter in Sweden, believe me when I say I do miss snow, which I haven't seen for quite a while now.
Woooorkeliwork, I'm happy!!
Ciao!
"Approved by life"
Today has been sooo boring! It's a public holiday, so most places are closed, hence not much to do in a small town as Christchurch with 350 000 people, more or less. I wanted to go to the art gallery but that will have to be done another time. Thank God I'm working tonight. I'll be off in two hours, so until then I'll do some cleaning for inspection three days from today.
My iTunes is set on my "best of Sweden" playlist, so Lars Winnerbäck is on right now with the song Tvivel. I did make a proper dinner today: schnitzel with oven baked fries, an egg and some chick peas, creds for me!
Anywho, in two days (more or less regarding the time difference) it'll be six months on the spot since I left Sweden. So wierd, it means that I've consumed half of my time here and it does remind me that time really flies by and soon I'll be sitting on a flight out of New Zealand, not to come back most likely in plenty of years. I'll be leaving one home for another. Which one do I like the most? In all honesty, I don't know.
I really want to do my bachelor abroad. I want to see new places, speak a different language than the one a grew up with. I want ro explore. But a while ago I just set my mind on Sweden anyway, even though it was quite impossible to find something that suited me and what I want to do. The few that I actually found were in schools that, at least I, find are not as much a priveledge to enrol with as the older, more traditional universities. I have, however, found one similar to what I study in Auckland up north in Sweden. It is called "Public relations and communication programme with specialization in peace studies and development work" and is to be found in Växjö at Linnéuniversitetet. It was a while ago now since I found it, and when I first read about it I had the same feeling as when I first read about Conflict Resolution, the one I'm doing right now.
It starts every September. I was hoping to find something that starts in the beginning of the year, because that would mean that I still could fulfil my dreams of Thailand and Australia. But it is just a fact that I won't wait until September 2012 to continue my studies, that would be insane and nothing I'm willing to do. I planned for a few months of travelling in between studies, not a year and a half.
I'll just apply for it and cross my fingers to be accepted. If so, I'll have a few weeks home, and then away again up north to stay there for three years. Maybe I could live out my dreams after those three years, between my bachelor and master, who knows. Anywho, there is a possibility to do the fourth semester abroad, which would be tempting. But it won't be anything to think about until I'm in my second or third semester so I'll skip the plan making for that.
People who knows me well are aware of my way of making plans. They always change. I'm not sure how I will feel about this study in three months, but as far as I know myself I will be as much interested as I am now. I've done most preparations one could do before even applying for the study (won't be able to do it until 15 March) so I'll just wait.
Ah well, it is hard to make a decision when my whole future depends on it. I won't wait with fulfilling my dreams until I'm too old for doing it. I'm young, and I will use my youth as much as possible. I know it will all sort itself out, in time. I mean, my dream during high school to do after graduation was travelling, studying and working, for experiencing, learning and making some money and I am doing all of it right here. Maybe I can find a solution for the next step? I know that whatever I choose to do, it will be the right one.
So many people doubted me and critizied me for my NZ plans before I got here, for a number of reasons. All I can say is that I was right and you were wrong. It's not fun when people drag you down like that, but on the other hand there will always be someone critisizing you so one might just get used to it and learn how to stand up for their dreams and make it happen. Never let someone else keep you from living your dreams! I doesn't mean that you should ignore everything people tell you, but learn how to know what to really listen to and what not to.
Well, those were the thoughts of the day. I'll get started on my cleaning now, work in 1,5 hours!
And oh, I still haven't decided on my resolutions. Reading The Gretch's blog reminded me that I really should determine them now, or soon enough. I'll give it a few more days, can't just promise anything, it has to be fulfilled!
Ciao!
Me in Changi, Singapore, "a few days ago"
Pyro
Well, I'll hit the shower and then go for a quicky in to town. I am tired as usual. I like my job, but there is no denial of that I am quite pleased that I don't have to work night shifts for too long from now, a month and a half.
But yeah: shower -> breakfast -> town -> dinner -> work
Sorry for a boring post. To be honest I just can't be bothered right now to make it any interesting at all (just woke up).
Ciao!
Pleasant surprise
Hi y'all, as the Gretch would say!
Work yesterday was all good. It was entirely dead the first hours, but I kept myself busy all night with cleaning glasses in some kind of solution that makes them shine more, so I didn't just stick around waiting for the action, hehe. We did get busy later on, thank God!
Well. Today has been quite slow, mostly because of the weather: it's been too hot to even be outside so we've just been watching movies and relaxed. Also had some drinks but it never hurts though. The best thing though was when I got paid and realized that I've earned like twice as much as I thought and that rent is paid and I've already bought food for the week, so I put it all in my piggy bank. I also got paid more per hour for working on new years eve, so I can't deny that Im happy over saving some moneeeeey, yay!
Well, here's the plan for the week:
Monday: off from work, chill out
Tuesday: go do something during the day, then work
Wednesday: work
Thursday: off from work, drinks with my wonderful flatmate Kelsey
Friday: work
Saturday: work
Sunday: off from work
Not too bad aye, nice with a few days and I hope they'll call me in for some more hours as well.
Ah well, it's almost 12.30 am and I am really tired, I just thought I might give you guys an update (especially since I'm terribly bad at answering my mail). I think I'll grab my Nat Geo magazines and read them for a while and then fall asleep.
Buona notte
Elegi
Jag sitter i mitt rum, lyssnar på Lars Winnerbäck (har en "Best of Sweden" playlist med bland annat Winnerbäck, The Ark, Carolina Liar, Robyn, The Sounds, Krunegård, Hellström osv.) och svettas. Ja, det gör jag faktiskt. Klockan är kvart i åtta på kvällen och det är dövarmt. Det är underligt, för solen har inte varit framme i mer än fem minuter under hela dagen.. Det har varit molningt och blåsigt, men FAN så varmt. Shorts och linne känns som en enorm dunjacka.
Jag jobbade på nyårsnatten, men det var ok. Började 10, så innan dess förfestade jag med Kelsey och ett par andra människor hemma hos oss, drack vin, åt plockmat och hade allmänt kul. Sen var det jobb till sex på morgonen, hemma sju. SJUKT sliten, baren var fullpackad HELA natten och folk är verkligen odrägliga när de är fulla. Hade så många män som försökte ragga upp mig och det blir ganska jobbigt i längden, haha. Men det var kul, och vi avslutade med en jägerbomb och sen hem till mig för att dricka vin (vi måste ju också få fira lite!). Slutade med att vi tömde 2,5 flaska vin och en flaska vodka, sen stack vi till stranden.
Jobbade igår med, utan att ha sovit däremellan vilket var lite sjukt men inte så farligt. Det var så dött att jag fick sluta vid midnatt, fick min staffie öl och stannade och spelade biljard med Omar i tre timmar.
Så idag har jag sovit igen de timmarna jag gått miste om tidigare, hängt runt på ett shoppingcenter och druckit kaffe och snart ska jag laga middag och vila. Sen är det jobb, och jag hoppas innerligt att det är mer stress ikväll. Det finns sannerligen inget värre än att gå runt där utan någonting att göra, jag föredrar att ha saker upp över öronen och kuta runt och försöka hinna med allting på en gång.
Medan vi väntade på något att göra fulade jag, Jamie och Andres oss. Andres började tvätta väggarna, vi tog på oss underliga hattar osv som kunder har glömt kvar och allmänt fjantat oss. Jag har riktigt härliga människor på jobb och det fy skam att jag inte har AUT och Micky Finn's i samma stad. Min chef bad mig att bara stanna här och jobba, men det är ingen plats att bli kvar på med tanke på lönen. Åh om pengar ändå inte hade spelat så stor roll, då hade jag gärna haft det jobbet en stund till.
Men ja, jag städar upp på mitt rum och försöker göra det mer personligt, så jag har satt upp lite brev, en nz karta och bilder på väggarna, och även svenska mynt i brist på annat att fylla ut vita väggar med. Fast det ser ganska ok ut, och jag får ju vara lite nationalistisk, hehe.
Om det ändå inte vore så varmt! Det är omöjligt att ha energi som det är nu; föreställ er att leva ett normalt liv inuti en bastu; ungefär så känns det just nu!
Ja, jag har inte så mycket intressanta saker att dela med mig av just nu, jag är trött som fan och livet rullar på som vanligt. Jag har inte blivit tjock eller smal, jag är inte gravid, jag har inte gjort något spännande med mitt hår, jag har inte en pojkvän och jag är fortfarande 159,5 cm lång. Jag kommer att vara samma person när jag kommer hem, i grund och botten.
Nu ska jag fixa lite middag och ladda inför en kväll av härlig live musik och förhoppningsvis massvis att göra!
Gott nytt år på er alla.
Förresten. Vad är era nyårslöften?
Jag har faktiskt inte fastställt mitt ännu, jag har för många olika att välja mellan!
Jobb ikväll! Dessutom många timmar nästa vecka, lyckan är gjord!
Pallar ette
Jag är helt inne på detta. Jag kommer att jobba så mycket som möjligt och så hårt jag bara kan för att uppfylla detta. Jag har uppfyllt alla mål jag hade för i år, och mer därtill, så det är dags att sätta upp nya mål! Nya mål att uppfylla, det är något jag måste ha i mitt liv.
Är det inte sjukt, att när jag tänker på mitt förhoppningsvis kommande äventyr i Asien så blir jag lika stissig och pirrig som jag blev för sju månader sen när jag tänkte på Nya Zeeland? Skillnaden denna gången är att jag är inte speciellt nervös. Jag vet att jag kan klara av det, det är det inte ens någon fråga om, och det är vad mina än så länge sex månader här nere har lärt mig: att psyket är det viktigaste och med ett starkt psyke kan man komma långt. Ett starkt psyke skapar mod.
Det är en härlig och framför allt en erövrande känsla, att veta att hela världen är öppen och bara väntar på mig. Och jag är påväg!
Neurotic me
Concerning noodles
I would never refer to myself as a perfectionst, but when it comes to small details in my life, they have to be in a certain way to make me happy. When it comes to noodles, I do not want other people to make me noodles because in order for me to enjoy them, they definatley have to be overcooked, about 2 minutes more or less depending on the brand. I don't want the water, in that case I'd be makin noodle soup and not noodles, copy? And the most important: I would never put in the spices as I boil them. Never in my life!! To get the ebst taste out of it, I drain the noodles, put them in a bowl and then I add the spices. If noodles aren't made this way, I'd seriously be irritated for about two minutes, and then I'd realize it's a stupid thing to react to and eat them. But I still wouldn't enjoy them. I'd most likely not say anything about this if someone was about to make me noodles, you know for being polite.
Another example is salad
I absolutely HATE to mix salad woth food. Just recently did I learn to actually really love pasta salad (the best tudent food ever), so that would be an exception. But otherwise, salad and food are not to be mixed up. Hencefore, I hate when other people put my food on the plate, because they don't divide it as I wish they would. I want the salad in one corner, the meat/fish in one, the pasta/potatoes in one and the sauce in one. NEVER MIX! Another exception is tacos, which is actually really yum! Same principle with dressing or sauce: NEVER MIX WITH THE FOOD!! I absolutely HATE when someone pour the dressing over the salad. Yuk!
Last example is clothes
In my wardrobe, my clothes have to hang in the same direction. I don't care too much about dividing them in colours, material or whatever, as long as they hand in the same direction I'm happy. If they wouldn't, I'd go nuts.
But yeah.. Since I know it's crazy, I usually don't remind people about this. Well, I do believe that all of us are a bit crazy.
What do you have that makes you crazy?
4.45 am: Dinner
I came back from work just a while ago, but I'm not as tired as I reckon I should be.. Work was fine. As usual I had a few guys who had to come up and talk to me when I had my break (LEAVE ME ALONE I'M ON MY BREAK) but it's always nice to talk to someone and meet new people.. I just don't like when they have to ask me for my number and shit. Even worse is when they make me take their number, because they always get pissed off when I don't text them or so, but seriously, why should I feel obligated to keep in contact and gp out for a beer with every god damn dude wo talks to me at the bar? Because I'm pretty sure that's not even possible with only 24 hours a day.. Ah well, I guess it could have been worse..
But yeah, here I am. I just had grilled cheese and half an avocado, but I'm still starving.. But I don't know what do to.. I want to make nothing, but eat everything.. But yeah, these are the options:
- crumbed garlic fish with pasta
- 2 minute beef noodles
- eggs (any but raw)
- pasta bolognese
Aaaaaah this is sooo hard.. I really feel like having fish.. Maybe I should just make the fish and skip the pasta? Pasta only takes time to make... Or just noodles? FUCK I hate this, I should have someone here cooking for me, haha!
Nah, it'll be noodles. I need to go vegetarian for a few days anyway (okay, it's beef noodles, but it doesn't count)
FOOOOOOOOD NOW!!! Then Big Bang Theory and hopefully soon enough, SLEEP
The dream WWOOF in Rayong, Thailand
Read this:
"The project "Land for All" is a part of the community development of the Neo-Humanist Foundation. The aim of latter is to support the development of human beings physically, mentally and spiritually and to care for animals and plants too. My position in the Foundation is general coordinator, i.e. to link the different activities of the projects in Thailand. The main request to the volunteers is to be service and open minded, flexible and adjustable to the different culture and environment. The activities will be: planting fruit trees like banana, papaya etc. harvesting; planting harvesting vegetable like tapioca, potatoes; harvesting of medicinal herbs and manufacturing to presentable products; composting to learn all about Effective Microorganisms. Vegetarian meals will be served. The accommodation is western standard. The building was constructed 5 years ago."
Situation :
house with garden
Number of :
adults 1, children ?
Accommodation :
individual rooms
Can Accommodate Children :
yes
Location :
near other houses
Getting There :
can collect at train station, accessible by foot
Work With :
gardens, building
Languages Spoken :
English, German, Italian
Diet :
vegetarian OK, vegan OK
Can Provide :
clothes / boots, tents
Prohibitions :
no smokers (in house), no alcohol
Hours per Day :
4
Days per Week :
5
Minimum Stay (Weeks) :
1
Maximum Stay (Weeks) :
?
Months Most Needed :
5 - 1 1
Months NOT Needed :
1 - 3
OMG! I HAVE TO DO THIS!!
Jealous
So this is really annoying, and I know everyone will probably think I'm stupid for saying this, but as I am currently reading some Swedish blogs (Kenza & Blondinbella) I can't help but envy these girl's lives. Kenza is in Thailand right now, and Blondinbella is going on a trip at least once a month. Oh God, what shall I do to be able to live life as they do?
And it's really annoying, because I should be happy for what I have already. Not only do I live in New Zealand and had a beautiful week in Samoa just three months ago, but I am most likely going to Asia for a month in July, and maybe a few months an Australia as well. How can I even feel a hint of jealousy? It's crazy. But I guess I never settle, I always want something better, which sometimes is a good quality, but in most cases a bad one.
And oh, have I even told you about Asia? Well, here's the thing
The 5th of July my New Zealand visa expires, and I have no intentions whatsoever to extend it. Nor do I want to go back to Sweden in July, so I really have two options, both of them depending on money.
1. Asia -> Australia -> Sweden
If I'd be able to save enough money, I'd go to Asia with Millie in the end of June or beginning of July. I hope for Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. I'm guessing I'd be away for a month travelling around and hopefully being able to see as much as possible, but it could be extended or shortened, it's all about how much money I can save. Well, we'd pretty much only spend money on flights, and other shit you do such as buy souvenirs and drink alcohol, but not on food and shelter as we will be WWOOFing, which means working on organic farms 4-6 hours a day in exchange for food and a bed. How awesome is that? You can go WWOOFing anywhere in the world, and it's definatley something I think I can do.
After some time there, I'd buy a flight ticket to Australia, stay there for approx two months and work and save some money, but also travel around the east coast being the tourist I am. Then finally I'd go back to Sweden, and try to be there before my 20th birthday which would be hard but not impossible in this case. Most likely I'd aim to be home for Christmas if I do Asia and Aussie in between NZ and Swe.
2. Australia -> ? ->Sweden
If I wouldn't feel like I'd afford some travelling in Asia, I'd get a working holiday visa in Australia and go over there straight away. I'd stay there and work, and whenever I would afford it leave Aussie and head back to Sweden with one or two destinations in between. It would be cool to fix my flights so that I would have a few days to spend in say Hong Kong, Dubai, LA or London. It's really all up to me and what I will feel like when the time comes.
If I choose this option, I'll be back earlier, probably around September or October.
Any thoughts?
We could do it like this: Vietnam - Laos - Thailand - Malaysia
What place else would be the perfect last destination than Kuala Lumpur? I could catch a flight from there to Sydney for a low price. BUT I would need at least two months to make it properly. I would do it for two months if I could. I will know more about this once I start planning with Millie, who is going anyway and asked me to tag along. It would be the dream trip, and it definatley is something I will work hard for. To be honest, I'll go wherever she goes, Asia is Asia and I want to see anything!
Misery
Dominik is gone. Sarah and Jess are in Tasmania. Esme is in Holland. Gretchen and Brittany are in the States. Kelsey is at work. The rest of the WSA whanau are in Auckland. And all the other international students are all around the world, and I am all alone.
Ah, I hate this feeling. There is nothing worse than feeling alone. I am listening to Africa by Toto, which doesn't make it better. Nor changing to Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve, which reminds me of Esme. And now I want to watch Cruel Intentions as well. DAMMIT!
But I can do this. I can take care of myself. I can be alone without a breakdown. Even if it is hard, I can do this.
At least people from home, my Sweden home, is coming soon. That will be sick.. Will I keep it together and hold myself from crying when I see them?
x
Urgh
Ah well. Dominik is gone after living here for five days, and it feels wierd not having him here.. I'll just grief in the couch. Ciao!
Bailies Irish Bar
Because I can!
Shaky
Anywho, yesterday was spent on the beach. Weather wasn't too good, but we went there anyway and slept on the beach for hours, and it was wonderful just lying down outside, enjoying some fresh air. We'll hit the town soon, and later on tonight we'll go to Woodend for some New Year's celebration (they start on 26 December, Boxing Day) which most likely will last all night long. Nice!
I'm out of here now. Don't be worried about the earthquakes, it's not scary, just fun, and it's certainly not dangerous!
xx
Earthquake!
♥
So a summary of Christmas 2010 in Christchurch, New Zealand
Dominic and I started the day looking for a supermarket where we could buy food for our luxurous Christmas brunch and superb lasagne dinner, but as everything was closed but a gas station, we ended up with toast bread and coca cola. For breakfast we had toast, and the day was spent in the sofa watching movies as the weather wasn't good enough for the beach.
After a nap in the evening, Dominik woke me up with a plate of dinner in front of me, pasta bolognese with beans and mushroom and damn that was one of the best bolognese I've ever had. Right now we're watching Apollo 13 with a glass of Cabernet Blanc, and during the day we've seen The Grinch, Sex and the City, A dog named Christmas and some shows.
Tomorrow we'll be going for the real food, starting the day with a trip to the supermarket, then home to prepare brunch (crossaints, and most likely olives as well) to be eaten on the beach. Later on we'll make the lasagne for dinner and maybe go out for drinks later at night? It'll be great weather so there will be more things to do outside than today and I can't wait to improve my tan!
Well, it has been a great day with great company, and I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas celebration!
Ciao!
Improvisation
We'll imprivise and go for what we have, so we'll make pasta bolognese and for brunch we had grilled cheese with ham and mushroom, yum! At the moment, we're watching a movie about a dog named Christmas. It's a bit cheesy but cute..
Regardless of windy weather and not the fanciest dinner, I'm still in a great mood having a great Christmas Day!
Haha!
