Having a cold.
I've been at home for the last two days. My throat is sore and my head is really heavy. Today I'm planning on going out though. I mean, not out-out.. I'm going to see my hairdresser.
It's my mom's birthday today so we're going to celebrate her tonight. My sister and her kids are coming home over the weekend as well so it'll be nice.
Lately I've been very busy with school. There are a lot of assignments due this semester. It feels great though to be heading towards graduation! We haven't planned the reception yet but I think we'll just do something small with the family and some close friends. I'll let you know.
The passed couple of weeks I've arraged most of the things for prom. I booked a photographer, hairdresser and a vehicle. I'm sure it'll be great! My mom will help me take a look at the dress incase something has to be done before I can use it. Then I just need to find a pair of shoes and maybe a pair of gloves. And voila, I'm all set!! Haha.
This winter we've had a lot of snow and the "weather guy" has said we'll have a few more inches this weekend. I add a picture that I took one week ago. At least it shows some of the snow. I wish you all could be here to see it!
Swedish winter.
Other things that have happened here since I wrote the last time is:
My line dance "classes" have started. Monday night I dance three hours and tuesdays I dance one hour. I've got great groups this semester and it's a lot of fun!
January 24th my sister and I went out to dance when a very popular "dance band" came to our village to play. We had a lot of fun! The band is called 'Larz Kristerz' and they were on a tv-show last fall. I'll add a picture of them below:
http://www.larzkristerz.com/
Then my relatives came to visit last weekend. My cousin and his seven month old son. So cute! Guess who was babysitting big part of the time?! :)
That's about all that have happened over here. More updates later.
Hope you're doing well!
Love,
Lisa
Pictures
I thought I'd upload some pictures of the Swedish winter land. (The polar bears were hiding though.....)
Snow.
View from the window.
One of the barns at the farm.
The White House...
Sunset.
More updates when I have the time!
Love,
Lisa
Holiday update.
I hope y'all had a great Christmas and a fantastic New Year celebration!
Christmas
Christmas I woke up late. The phone was ringing and my aunt called to say they wouldn be able to make it this year. Usually they come to visit before noon on Christmas Eve (when we celebrate in Sweden). So I ate some breakfast and got dressed before I helped my mother with the food. I talked to my sister on the phone and she said she was on her way. Shortly after 2 pm she arrived and we sat down to eat. Ham, herring, salmon, beetroot salad, potatoes, stockfish, meatballs and bread was some of the things on the table. Yummy!
After the dinner we played some games and talked about things. It was really nice, although I was outclassed on Trivial Persuit... Anyways, later we ate porridge which is a traditional meal around Christmas here in Sweden. I don't get how people can eat so much during the holidays, really?! We went to bed fairly early without opening the presents like we usually do. We wanted to wait until my sister's kids were there with us.
The table with Christmas food.
The living room with our Christmas tree.
Christmas day morning I woke up around 9 o'clock am and then I was ready for breakfast; wheat buns (shaped like billy goats) with hot chocolate, it's delicious! My mom's cousin came to visit shortley after that. Anna and I got to help him with some things on the computor and then we "fikade" (fika means "take some coffe and a cake"). My sister talked to a friend of her's and they made plans for us to go out dancing that night.
After lunch we got ready and drove to my sister's home town. Anna's friend picked us up by 6 pm and we went to her house to eat. Another friend of theirs was there too and when we were ready we got a ride into town. Dancing the night away. I slept at my sister's house and the day after we picked up the kids and drove home.
There was excitement and they almost couldn't wait to open their presents. It was really sweet to see their faces when they saw what "Tomten" had left for them. (Tomten is our Swedish name on "Santa".) He had left a scarf with a hat for me, together with a few other things. Again after that we ate a good meal and then we took it easy, the kids played and we watched TV.
The days in between
When Christmas was done I became ill. I had a terrible headache and a cold. So I didn't get much done those days. My sister and the kids went home on monday and I was doing everything to get well for New Years.
New Years Eve
I went to my good friend Christopher and ended up on a party with a few other friends. It was very calm. We were talking and singing a bunch of songs (karaoke). It was a whole lot of fun! I'm hoping for s'more occasions like that throughout 2009.
Since then I have been studying. School starts on Thursday and I'm behind in som classes from last semester. No biggy, they're soon taken care of. Tomorrow I'm going to see a couple of friends I went to Junior High with, it'll be fun to see them again!
I'll write some more when I have the time!
Miss you a lot!
Love,
Lisa
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas y'all! Love you and miss you a lot!!
Love,
Lisa
2008-12-04
It has been snowing non-stop for three days now, which is unusual compared to the last winters where there have been few snow days. Tonight I'm going with my friend Jennie to Bollnäs (twenty minutes away) where she will sing at a small event. I'm "just" going to sell the cd, but I figure she'll feel more comfortable if I'm there.
It'll be lots of fun anyways...
Love,
Lisa
A trip to Stockholm.
The weather is weird here in Sweden. It's been really cold the past few weeks and now all of a sudden, the snow is melting again. When I walked home from the bus stop a while ago I almost fell on the ice. Not so nice.
Anyway. Last tursday-friday (20-21 of November) went to Stockholm with my class in school. We went to the trade fair where most of the colleges and universities were informing about their programs. I don't know how many bags with brochures I had home with me on friday. Thursday night we went to Dramaten, a popular theatre where all the celebreties go. The play wasn't the best I've seen. I actually liked the plays up at West Side better :) I went to bed early that night. Totally exhausted!
Friday we got to spend on our own. I went shopping with some girls before lunch and after that I went to Sivletto, my favorite store in Stockholm. They sell rockabilly stuff. I bought a pair of bibs (Dickies) and just enjoyed the visit. There are so many nice things to look at. Our bus went home about 4.00 pm and I was so tired I slept most of the way. The ride took a little over three hours, not too bad.
Saturday-sunday I spent at a friends house and saturday night we went to listen to John Lindberg Trio (some friends who play in a rockabilly band). It was a whole lot of fun! I didn't go to sleep until 4.30 am. Haha!
I'll give you an update on what's happening this weekend later.
Love,
Lisa
Updates.
Time to tell y'all what has been going on here in Sweden the last few months:
Dancing is going well. I think the interest for line dance is increasing. I have between 20-25 people in my beginner group and another 25 in my beginner/intermediate group. It's so much fun! Yesterday I found out about a course where you learn more about what it takes to be an instructor. I think my association will let me go. It only takes one day and then you're certified.
October 23rd I passed my driving test so I've got my licence now. It's such a relief!
The first snow fell over Hälsingland on November 31st. I spent Halloween with my sister and the kids in a town close to Hudiksvall where they live. Emilia and Elias cut their pumpkins and that must be a hidden talent of theirs...
Made by Elias (left) and Emilia (right).
School is taking a lot of time these days. All the students in my class have started UF companies. I work with my friend Jennie and we're going to sell a Christmas record that she is recording. The whole UF thing (UF means enterprising youth or something close to it) and we do it to lear how to run a company. We are required to do it because economy is our major. The process is very stressful but in the mean time it's fun and very different from writing essays and taking tests.
I've been to several rockabilly gigs this fall too. The Swedish band Domestic Bumblebees played together with Danish Randy Rich a couple of weeks ago. It was really neat to hear them live. They played in Enviken where my sister and I went this saturday (i wrote about it in the last entry) and they really shook the place!
Domestic Bumblebees with Randy Rich
Some other news that I really want to share (I know I've told some of you allready) is that my friends are recording a song with a text that I've written. Their band is called John Lindberg Trio. After my sister's friend heard about that, he wanted me to write a text for them as well. So I did and that one is about to be recorded too. It's really exciting! :)
So, this is somethings that have been going on. Seems like I'm busy all the time. I'll keep you updated!
You can comment on the entries if you click on "kommentarer", I'm sorry that all the words, except for those I write, are in Swedish... But on the other hand, it's a great opportunity for you to practice! Haha!
Love,
Lisa
Sweden 110808
I don't know why I haven't thought about this before, to make a new blog so that y'all can get updates on my life here in Sweden.
This is just a short introduction blog entry but I'll write as often as I can, I promise! :)
I'll end this entry with a picture from the trails when my parents visited me/us before graduation. Good times!
I miss you all so much!!
Love,
Lisa
