Life in Spain

Okay, to begin with, there are a few things I've learned this past week.

- Spanish people hurt their arms and hands very easily. Not a day goes by that we don't spot at the least two people with casts or bandages.

- They also seem to prefer Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Hskies over most other dogs, which is unfortunate. For the poor snow dogs, that is.

- The sea is a lot warmer and easier to bathe in at midnight than in the afternoon. Although, alcohol might have something to do with that. I'm not completely sure.

- Coca, traditional Spanish cake to eat at San Juan, tastes really good. Especially with some sand on it.

Things are going well here. Despite getting afternoon classes last week we had a great time and ended up with two of the most awesome teachers ever. I may blog about them in particular eventually.
The house is full of germs, with our flatmates, the two of them that are left, coughing and sneezing all over the place. Wouldn't prise me in the least if I caught something.
The apartment itself isn't nearly as fun as last year, but we met some really cool people through one of our awesome classmates and celebrated San Juan with them. Very international - we had Sweden, Brasil, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, UK and the US represented. Drinking games, champagne, swimming in the dark... So much fun. Best midsummer's eve ever.

Sweden sucked against Germany. That was embarrassing. Although there's no way Lucic should have gotten that red card, and the ref's face when he gave it to him? That was pure malice! He enjoyed it!

Shóko is still on. Free entry, champagne, fruit and a choicolate fountain? We are so there. Granted, the fruit and chocolate fountain is only on Wednesdays, but still. It's a good place to go.

I'm sure I've forgotten loads, and I would love to blog more about San Juan especially, but there is no time. I'll be back, hasta la vista, baby, and all that.

xxx

Off we go!

So, I'm leaving in a couple of hours now - just thought I'd leave a little goodbye note in here for anyone who might stumble by. Barcelona for a month, and it's going to be really good to get away. The bag is packed and I'm sure I've forgotten something, but what the hell - we're going to a big city. They have shops there.
Although I'm nervous as hell about the flight and the test we have to take tomorrow morning when we arrive at school.

Take care, you guys. I'll miss you. I can't promise I'll get online that much, but I'll try and pop in here to update at least a few times. No pictures guaranteed though, that'll have to wait until I get back home. ;)

Should the plane crash, I want Cathedrals played at my funeral. Remember that.

Evil, I tell you

You Are 28% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well. In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.

How Evil Are You?

Well, there you go. Apparently, I'm more than a quarter evil. Interesting.

I should pack. I hate packing to go away. The only thing I hate more is packing to go home.

When television turns into audiovision

How ironic is it that I rediscover my love for Everwood all over again when the show was about to have its series finale in the US? Screw you, CW and Dawn Ostroff. And a special 'eff you' to Brenda Hampton's train wreck 7th Heaven (or 7th Hell, if you prefer that) that is responsible for Everwood being killed. No more Bright, Ephram, Amy, Andy or Edna. And no more Colin, but perhaps that doesn't count seeing as he's been gone for the past three years. Still. I miss him.
I'm so getting the s1 DVDs when I get home (Colin! Did I mention I miss him?). And excuse me for a second while I yell at Amazon - who really have no responsibility whatsoever but are easy to blame when I don't know who else to yell at - for not having seasons 2-3 available.

Like I mentioned on here a long time ago I never listen to the radio. Subsequently, I 'find' my music in other ways, mainly by listening hard when I hear something I like on the TV. And thanks to Everwood (and TWoP) I discovered one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, which has been playing non-stop on my iTunes ever since I found it. Jump, Little Children - Cathedrals. Seriously, I can't stop playing it. You, go buy it on iTunes, or buy the CD (Magazine) or something - I don't care how you get it, just get it.

In the cathedrals of New York and Rome
There is a feeling that you should just go home
And spend a lifetime finding out just where that is

I love falling in love with songs. This one is going to stay with me for a very long time.
Thinking of the scene it was used in just adds to the whole feeling of it.

It's too warm to be outside. I'm just going to sit here by the computer until I'm heading into town for the graduation.
Maybe I'll listen to Cathedrals again while waiting.
I think I probably will.

Complement

As I promised, Logan. ;)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The man who could well save us in the World Cup if he just gets himself together. I know he has it in him, I know it. And so does he, I'm sure, but there's something not quite right at the moment.
"Described as 'half ballerina, half gangster', Sweden's Juventus striker could be England's undoing in Germany 2006." That was how the Sunday Times (UK) described him and god, I hope they were right.

Australia beat Japan! How cool was that? Three goals in the last ten minutes... The poor Japanese team had no idea what hit them.



As for the handball team, I think they deserve a picture as well. From left to right - Marcus Ahlm, line player; Pelle Linders, didn't play last night but is a great defence player; and team captain Stefan Lövgren.

I really miss the good old days of EC 2002. That was an amazing team, and it's not the same without the oldies. At this point, Lövgren and Vranjes are the only players left from the 'Golden Team'. I wonder if we'll ever get up to the standard we had back then.... I mean, really, we were unbeatable. Other teams feared us, the dangerous Bengan Boys. Handball players all over the world whimpered at the mention of names such as Wislander, Lindgren, Vranjes, Pettersson, Lövgren, Svensson and Gentzel. Now, well, it is what it is. We're not bad, but we're far from feared and far from the form we need if we're going to become a leading nation again. Will the new kids be able to hack it?


I ran into Tereze at H&M today! She's home this week to see her sister graduate and goes back to Italy on Sunday, I think. Really good to see her, I haven't seen her in ages. I think she found her home in Italy. Will be good to see her on Thursday again, before she goes home and we leave for Spain.

Yikes. Barcelona is less than a week away.

New look and sports

I kinda like this one. Pink is never wrong.

The football World Cup... Well, the game last night was a bit of an embarrassment. In your face, everyone who were saying we'd win by two or three goals. Zlatan needs to focus. Ljungberg needs some help on his side, he can't be expected to do everything on his own. Henke needs to move his feet. Mellberg needs to judge distance better and adjust his passes to it. Svensson just needs to get better. And Lagerbäck needs to put Kim Källström in the game earlier.

So, to advance, at the very least we need to beat Paraguy and Paraguay need to beat Trinidad-Tobago. If we beat England, well, that will just be a bonus. Before yesterday I was sure we would, but after seeing them play... Not so sure anymore.

And the handball team lost the first World Cup qualifying match against Iceland. It didn't look that good, but not too bad either. Kim Andersson made a great game for three quarters of it, but can't handle the pressure of being a few goals behind and took some bad shots during the last minutes. Several players seem to have that problem. If Kim gets past it, he's going to be unstoppable, though. Lövgren doesn't quite have the same wicked arm as he used to and almost seemed a bit hesitant to shoot at times. Worrying. Ahlm looked alright, though missed a few golden opportunities. Lindahl, well, he's no Pettersson, but did good. I want to see more of Larholm, and Franzén. Vranjes is still the largest littlest handball player there is - takes his responsibility when needed and isn't afraid to try and break through a wall of defence players 12 inches taller than him. Awesome, but one out of six having that drive isn't enough. Gentzel had a fantastic first half, had more saves than I could count and didn't let Iceland score until 8 minutes into the game, but couldn't keep up the same standard for the whole game. And can't be expected to. I would've liked to see Per Sandström in the squad - that boy has potential. I think he could have been a asset between the goalposts.

We've got one more chance next Saturday and need to win by at least five goals, so I hope the boys are World Cup-hungry enough to kick some ass. I know I am.

Oh, look at me being the sports girl.

Intrigued

I have to say I am a bit curious about this...

Nostalgia

It's that time of the year again... Boys and girls in tuxes and gowns heading to Grand Hotel for the student ball. Kids dressed in white, wearing the student hats, walking the streets screaming and blowing in their whistles. Fancy cars with flowers and decorations riding around town. People, all dressed up, hurrying along with huge bouqets of flowers in arms while also trying to hold on to a placard with a picture of a little boy or girl doing some typical child's activity.

Graduation time.
It's a huge deal in Lund. Let's face it - this town is famous for one thing, and that is the University and the snobbery that surrounds all things academic.

It's a great time though, if you don't mind you hearing deteriorating from all the car horns, whistles and general screaming. Everyone's so happy. It brings me back to when I was the one getting ready for the ball. Hair, make-up, pre-drinks... Fancy dinner at Grand, waving from the balcony, waltzing, party at Mejeriet and then at school, the aching feet and the people looking at us walking - limping - home the next morning.

It brings me back to when I was the one wearing white, walking around town singing with my friends 'För vi har tagit studenten- fy fan vad vi är bra'. I remember every minute of the day, despite all the champagne I had. Champagne and strawberries (and cigars, if you were that way inclined) for breakfast in the Botanical Park, the busride to our mentor's house during which everyone signed everyone else's hats (or at least as many as you had the time to), food and more champagne in the garden, dancing, signing more hats, riding back to school to be photographed, dancing and singing so much the photographer had to wait until we'd all calmed down, sitting in the aula hearing our class being called out, running down the stairs out to all of our families waiting, being the only class who defied tradition and sang 'The Bird Dance' on the stairs in front of everyone instead of the classic student song, and then riding around town with Ricky Martin on the radio (not my choice!) shouting and waving at everyone else in their cars. Family and friends waiting at home with food, cake, presents and congratulations. Going to Tegnér's to party with all the others all night.

Crying my eyes out to the pricipal's speech and the choir's goodbye song in the aula the next day, the same aula where we were shouting and laughing the day before. Large group hug in the classroom before leaving. Sitting in the park all afternoon with my closest friends, not wanting to say goodbye.

I can't believe it's three years ago, they've flown by so fast. That week was one of the best weeks I can remember. The whole atmosphere in Lund during these days is something special, especially if you're from here, have grown up with it and know what it all means.
Three years. Damn.

Summer time

So, I'm done. Finished my final, final exam and emailed it to my mentor. And it feels so. Damn. Good. Hopefully, if things go right, I never have to set my foot at Malmö Högskola again. Well, I'm going to miss some things... The incredible library on the fifth floor with the most fantastic view... The cafeteria... The large, ugly sculpture in the middle of the foyer... Oh, fond times. I'm really going to miss my classmates. I stood talking talking with Joel and Frida last Friday and we were saying how we wouldn't see each other this week since we weren't in the same group, and wishing each other a good summer. Suddenly it struck me wouldn't see each other after summer either. I'm going to be glad to be rid of my future as a bitter, unhappy teacher, but I'm going to miss the stuff around it.

Looking at some statistics from last year at Lund University my hopes actually went up about the fall, though - it said that all applicants with the course as their first choice had been accepted, and there were no 'lowest admission points'. Fingers crossed!

With that in the back of my mind and Barcelona only a week and a half away, the future is looking quite bright at the moment. It's summer!

I'm also waiting for post which will make me very happy... I doubt it'll have time to get here before I leave, but it'll be a nice present for when I get home.

Ramblings before time is out

You know how much I love Les Misérables, right? And that I can start bawling just listening to it? Well, normally that would be the case when I watch it, too, but apparently it's not the best idea to watch a just as (if not more) emotional matinee show like Blood Brothers before rushing to Queen's to do Les Mis in the evening. I was completely empty. I'd cried and cried at the Phoenix before - thank god I had no one on either side of me - and could barely squeeze out a few tears when the barricade fell. That is saying a lot about the effect of BB.

Not much left now. Our last day at uni is on Monday, when we present our final exam analysis, and then I've completed this year of wasted time and money and can hopefully move on to doing what I want to. But I'm going to miss my coursemates. We've had a lot of fun during this year, but no matter how much you want to keep in touch it usually ebbs out after a while. Sad but true. Hopefully there'll be some new friendships during the fall, if only I get in. I'm really dreading getting the letter telling me my marks weren't high enough - I want this so bad. I've finally figured out what I want, and the possibility of not being able to do it frightens me.

It's awesome to know that there are some people you don't lose touch with no matter how much time passes without seeing. Lovely cake drop-in at E's yesterday with making plans to go out for lunch on Wednesday. Babe's 21! I miss her, but seeing as she's going to work in Copenhaguen she's actually going to be closer to here than she's been in ages. Before she heads off to Umeå, that is. *pouts*

I really should get some work done on the analysis.
Although perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea to let my teammate be responsible for the last bits... I felt like I was taking over a lot yesterday, without being able to help it. But I like writing. I've always written a lot. I might even go as far as saying I've gotten quite good at it and I've always found it difficult writing together with someone else, someone who doesn't necessarily use the same language as I do. It's hard compromising your style and it's very easy being set on using your own wording, especially when you're the one doing the typing. It's not something I'm doing intentionally, but I can't seem to let it go. Written sentences in Swedish need to be perfectly worded, adequately complicated and just the right length.