The Smaller Details

Now that Christmas vacation has come and gone I have little excuse for procrastinating longer than I already have: the next few months shall determine my future career. DOONG. No pressure! I just have to find an internship and preferably a PAID internship. People tell me that finding a paid internship is like finding a health care plan that will actually pass through both the House and Senate. Besides feeling daunted, I have to assemble my entire academic and non-academic history into something that cannot be resisted by the employing world.

Today I made the first attempt and sent my resume and a cover letter (electronically) to an NGO that isn't even hiring. They looked interesting, they're based in Washington, and if they're not hiring, I have nothing to lose anyway, right? It's the first plunge and I'm glad it's over with. Now that the ice has been broken, I hope to crank through these applications without the dragging feet of old.

What I've been doing to distract myself (and to procrastinate) is find out new things to bake and cook. Last week it was chocolate chip cookies followed by oatmeal raisin cookies. This week it is potato leek soup and Swedish chocolate cake. Spring better hurry up because soon I won't be able to fit into my pants - but I will be outfitted with a stunning repertoire of recipes.

Other than that, class isn't demanding enough. I wish it wasn't the Swedish prerogative to say up front that nothing about a class is compulsory. Where is the incentive in that? I know, self motivation, right? My American schooled sensibilities are revolting. Revolting against the lack of rod behind my back.

When I do manage to drive my 23 year old body out into the cold, winter wonder of Sweden and bike the 20 minutes into town, I spend the day in the library with friends. Every once in a while we all go out for coffee and a group-grumble before returning to the books. It's a good student life. I can't complain.

On Backorder

Whew, has it been a while? Although it would behoove me to do a massive update of my life over here in Uppsala, but that would move contrary to my dilatory personality. Let's take this one small step at a time, yes?

Christmas holiday was just what the doctor ordered: an extended amount of time with family and a lack of educational stimuli. YES. When I got back to Sweden, however, I was given a cold welcome, a -11 degree F (-24 degree C) welcome to be exact. That ranks as the coldest temperature I have ever experienced (and hopefully ever will experience).

Some things you might like to know about cold weather:
1.) moisture in your nose will freeze as well as the edges of your eyelashes
2.) moisture in the air will freeze to your clothes and exposed skin
3.) better breathe through your nose or the freezing air will catch in the lungs
4.) small outdoor excursions turn perilous without proper attire

Some anomalies associated with Swedes:
1.) jogging at night is still an option
2.) biking is still 'go'
3.) the mentality that "it could get colder and possibly will so buck up"

Now that it's warmed up to about 21 degrees F, I think my overly-adjusted body finds the weather quite tropical.

Besides the weather, life has moved on in quite desirable directions.
- I've joined the orchestra associated with a student union and play French Horn beside an extremely talented Taiwanese Hornist (believe me, when you play beside someone better than you, the pressure to represent decreases significantly). The horn I'm borrowing is from the German company Alexander Mainz, extremely renown for high-quality instruments. Besides being a little worn, the sound is beautiful, like the honey to the spiced-wafer of my Conn 8D at home. Rehearsals are Sundays at 6pm. At first I was worried about where to practice, but then a corridor mate indicated the sauna upstairs which remains mostly vacant during daylight hours. HUZAAH! One of the slides is stuck fast...I wonder if a little Sauna heat and moisture might loosen it up? Just kidding. ;)

- My methodology course has finished. Now I'm onto something called Security Policy Analysis. Very interesting - riveting when compared with methodology. Classes and seminars are optional (the liberality of the Swedish educational system). Only thing that IS obligatory with this course is a 10pg research paper due by February 18th. But don't worry, I am being a diligent student and attending every class and seminar (yes, you guessed right. I have no idea for a paper topic).

Besides that, I've been following the news and performing a gratuitous reassessment of my life and habits. It's hard to follow the news (international) and NOT feeling grateful/guilty about my standard of living. Appreciative am I...

*Posted later* No Title

- - - Yep, once again I thought it pertinent to get a post out there that was half written but never finished.  God, why do things get left behind? - - -

 

A few weeks ago my bicycle started to fall apart in a few very unfortunate ways.  At first the sensitivity of the brakes became as tangible as last night’s half-remembered dream.  Then the gearshift pooped out (remember the theme song to Friends?  It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear…).  To top it off, the front wheel started to ‘fall’ off.  Please note – my bike gets a heavy workout everyday, at least 40min of action. 

With winter coming on (and after a few misses at the intersection) I figured it was high time to fix the problem(s).  Now that it’s fixed (except for the gearshift) and I’m back on two wheels, which have the capacity to stop, I’m beginning to realize what a luxury that is: to stop.  No longer do I have to worry about inertia or gravity.  When I squeeze on my brake levers, I stop.  So simple, yet oh-so necessary. 

Then I thought to transpose my new ‘to stop’ revelation on the Swedish educational system.  I don’t think students in America ever have the luxury to ‘stop’ their studies without some sort of slap on the wrist or, more likely, a kick to the wallet. 

Swedish university students get a monthly ‘allowance’ from CSN (an acronym that I’ll try and find the meaning of later).  The allowance is partly free and partly an interest free (or low interest) loan from the government that every Swedish citizen is promised for up to 6 years of study.  Pretty nice.