A few changes to the blog

Living in Sweden has become quite routine. How could it not? We've been here 10 months now, and the "one year" mark is looming large. I have bouts of homesickness, and sometimes I get a little shocked that I actually live here. That said, I want to expand my blog to cover some new topics since writing about just Sweden is kind of tough. I want to be able to blog about cooking and well, uhm, cooking. I've been working on creating a really healthy multi-grain waffle that might be interesting to tell you all about someday. I've also been on quite a fitness kick that might be interesting to talk about. So don't be shocked if I don't write just about Sweden from now on.

Full-time Student

I just finished my first week of school. It feels strange to be reading academic literature, studying in University lounges, and listening to lectures while taking notes. I enjoy it though. The structure suits me, I like knowing what is expected of me and knowing what is coming next.

So far it doesn't seem too difficult. Maybe I'll be eating my words later in the semester, but right now I don't have that crazy-overwhelmed-thisisn'tpossible feeling that I had during almost all of my undergraduate career. We have one course at a time, so while you have plenty to do, you're not juggling multiple syllabi at one time. The reading load is formidable - you have to sit down every day and work towards it, but if you're smart it's completely possible (unlike so many grad programs where people say the readings just cannot be done). It seems like there will be a group project every week, but I sincerely like my co-students (as Dan calls them) and I don't mind working with them.

At this point, I'm glad I made this decision. My closest friends tell me there aren't good and bad decisions, just decisions. But right now this feels like a good decision not just for my career and future but for my current activities. Ask me again when I'm writing another thesis and we'll see what the real verdict is!

Meet: Kodak and Kompis!

In May, Dan and I became parents to two cats - Kodak and Kompis. We adopted them from Katthjälpen in Malmö. They are 1.5 year-old brothers. Silly, crazy, and kind of naughty, they keep us very entertained.

Kompis

Colors: Black tabby with white paws and belly

Personality: Meow-y, hyper, super cute

Skills: Leaping high, could potentially catch birds

Bad habits: Chewing on expensive laptop cords, sleeping on the counter-top

Cuddle style: Under the blankets

Kodak

Colors: Browns and blacks, sort of a tortoise/tabby mix

Personality: Too cool to be pet, sweet at night

Skills: Chasing fake mice, running fast

Bad habits: Sleeping in the middle of the bed

Cuddle style: On my chest with his face in my face - I can't roll over!

The kitties with my Mom when she was visiting. They can smell any fish or meat you cook and they get very excited!

First Day of School

I just got home from my Welfare Policies and Management masters program informational meeting. This was my first program-specific meeting - we met the program directors, a few professors, and all 20 of my new colleagues. I'm a little overwhelmed. My mind is swimming with textbooks to buy, school supplies to assemble, readings to find and print out, and just how I will do another thesis next year.

I can't believe I'm starting grad school. I always knew I would eventually study further than my bachelor's but this is a bit sooner than expected. The program is a bit like what I imagine a Social Work and Public Policy degree might be at the University of Minnesota. It includes courses on economics, political science, sociology, social work, and tons of research methodology.

The way the program is set up - and I think some of this is typical in Sweden but I'm not sure - is that you have two semesters per year. Just like in the US, there's Fall Term and Spring Term. BUT, during each term you have two "courses." The first "course" runs from August to late October, the second October to January. So at one time you focus on only one "course." However, each course is very broad. For our first course, "Welfare Regimes in Transition," we will have 3 professors and 500 pages of reading. Then onto Research Methodology in October. We have only about 8 hours of class per week, which seems pathetically little to me, but I've heard that there is quite a bit of group work.

I hope I enjoy the program. It may not necessarily be my very first choice in all the world. Yet Lund is very highly rated in the EU and the world. It is by far the best University in Sweden and it's quite prestigious. This degree program is new and interdisciplinary and very interesting. I hope that I made the right move to transition from job hunting to grad school, all the while improving my Swedish to make me a better job candidate down the road (and for fun of course!).

When I think of these things - Did I make the right decision? Should I have done this? I remind myself that I admire people whose life story is interesting, with twists and turns and time for exploration. I admire people who take chances and really live the journey rather than focus exclusively on one singular goal down the road. This quite from Steve Jobs sums up my life view right now:

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future," told Standford University graduates during a commencement speech in 2005. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

The End of Summer

The short-lived summer is nearly over for us in Sweden. Today is August 7th, and I know that our sunny days on the balcony won't last long.

The other indicator of the oncoming autumn is our last set of summer visitors! Dan's parents arrived last week. We spent our first few days in Lund, letting them get over the worst of the jet lag and catch up with Dan. We did sightsee a bit - one of the perks of having visitors is seeing your own city and region in a different light. In Malmö, the nearest big city, we were able to do a nice boat tour of the city's canals. We've enjoyed lovely outdoor lunches and leisurely dinners as a family.

Then we flew to Norway! We began in Oslo, which was far more beautiful and fun to be in than I expected. The restaurants are good (although painfully painfully expensive), the people friendly, and the sights clean and safe. I keep saying that Norway is Sweden prettier more friendly cousin. The languages are so similar I can understand most Norwegian, but people seem to be a little nicer overall. Better restaurant service too!

From Oslo we took crazy train rides and multiple boat rides into the fjords. Today we're in Balestrand but getting ready to head to our final destination, Bergen. We have hiked and canoed and had a bit of a relaxing time. I'm really enjoying myself, and enjoying getting to know my future-in-laws as well.

Once we get home, I'll jump back into Swedish classes and also into my masters program!

Living Abroad

I've been spending a lot of time on internet discussion forums. It's something I haven't done before, but for the time being I'm enjoying it. One of them is a wedding forum on TheKnot.com, and another board is on TheNest.com that is for people living outside of the US.

This question was posted today (slightly adapted): Has living abroad made you more certain of what you want in life or less certain?

Here's what I answered (slightly adapted):

That's a really fascinating question... For me, it's a mixed bag. Being away from the US has definitely shown me that the States is my home. I don't think I could retire anywhere else. I even question if I could have kids away from my family without the constant support and familiarity. On the other hand, I see very clearly the problems in the US with healthcare, retirement, family policy, etc. I worry for my future there. So I think being here has given me a different perspective.

Career wise, I think I know what I want to do - I just can't do it here. So I have this idea of what I'll do someday. On the other hand, I've always admired people who are "wanderers," who can go with the flow and go where life takes them. I am not that person (way too type A), but being here has forced me to work less, to give up productivity, to think about what really makes me happy day-in-day-out, to create a mini-family with my fiancé. I imagine it has been character-building for me. Who knows where it'll lead.

/end post

I realize I didn't really answer the question, but it's a hard one for me to pin down. It hasn't made me more or less certain, but it's complicated my future, given me a strong relationship, and provided me important experiences.

Much Needed Update

It's been over a month since I've blogged. I don't have much of an excuse. For a while I was SO BUSY. In fact, I feel like since we moved here 8 (!!) months ago, I've been slammed and unsettled. But lately - wow, I am so bored.

After my parents left, I had about 3 weeks of Swedish for Immigrants. At the end of those 3 weeks, I took the test to get out of that level. Luckily, I passed! That was a big accomplishment. Since then, I haven't had any class! The next level doesn't begin until August 15th, so until then, my days have been open and painfully underscheduled.

In addition, my work has really dried up. My substitute personal assistant job needed me a lot in the past - unfortunately when I was busy moving and getting ready for our guests. Since I've been back, I haven't been called very much. Somehow my babysitting and cleaning jobs have also disappeared. The people who really needed me before just... don't. It's weird.

I spend my days wedding planning. For some reason, I got the bug. I think it happened one night when Dan and I were out with some people from the American Women's Club. Someone asked about my engagement ring, then asked when we were getting married. I explained a bit about the difficulty of figuring out a wedding that sounded fun, wasn't mad expensive, and also wasn't overly complicated due to our great distance from the US. The ladies had some great points of view. They reminded us to do what we want, and provided some ideas I hadn't thought about. After that Dan and I talked a lot about the direction and did some research. Details forthcoming, but I'll say we're close to choosing a venue.

The last piece of news is that I'm going back to school for a masters program in Welfare Policies and Management. It took me a LONG time to come to this decision. When I applied in December, I wasn't gung-ho on the idea. I figured if I HAD to I'd go back. I was accepted in March, and at that time I (supposedly) had decided that I wouldn't go back because I was working and had some possibilities for full-time work in the future. But as time has gone on, I've pulled a John Kerry and flopped back to wanting to go. I've reserved my place, I've told my employers (Lovisa if you're reading, I'm still laughing about that...), and I'm ready to go. What a crazy turn of events.

So I'm on a home-vacation until July 28th with Dan's parents come, then August 26th it's back to school!