I just had the best night ever sense I came down here. There is a real sweet cat living at my place and she loves to cuddle which she did all night long, sleeping under my covers. Aww! It felt almost as having "my Cat" there again, like it was in Sweden. Gah! Miss you all so much! But I love it in my new place and will take lots of pics as soon as I can. Still haven't got Internet at my place and the library doesn't like me uploading more pics I guess, or it just doesn't work right now.
Art class today was real fun too. We had metal casting and experimented with zinc =). I want to do more! I only really get ideas for the projects when I actually talk to the different materials. Need to work with my hands. So I'm hoping to get more studio time.
Yesterdays movie: The boy that could fly
Real cute 80's style but somewhat cheesy.
This park is about 2 min walk from NMIT and my old apartment, now it takes about 25 min to school but that's fine also. I just discovered a small Chines garden right next to Queens garden too, peaceful place. And I found it right before going to Meditation as well, Zen Buddhism - here I come? Really what ever makes my head go quiet for at least an hour is good enough for me.
There are flowers here in the middle of winter.
And yeah, I got a new place today! Me and a friend form school were just over there and it's going to be great! Lots of colours on the walls, the house is nice, hippies living there and a creative atmosphere. Me and Spickey got a room each and it's about 20 min walk to school. But the best thing is - Only $100 a week including power and phone! At campus where I live now it's freezing cold, $165, no power, heat, internet or phone. Think I'm gonna like in at the new place, the owner seams real nice too.
It's been a good weekend in total, we went out last night and I think I really did get so pissed but it was all sweet. Meet some cool backpackers and danced a hole lot. More movies tonight. I also attended my first Contact Impro class here in Nelson, wow! I love it, now it's just a matter of training and building some muscles.
Song playing right now: Architecture in Helsinki - Hold Music (They are from Australia despite there name and are crazy, fun loving sweet band)
It's been a good weekend in total, we went out last night and I think I really did get so pissed but it was all sweet. Meet some cool backpackers and danced a hole lot. More movies tonight. I also attended my first Contact Impro class here in Nelson, wow! I love it, now it's just a matter of training and building some muscles.
Song playing right now: Architecture in Helsinki - Hold Music (They are from Australia despite there name and are crazy, fun loving sweet band)
Oblivion is really a horrible computer game with good graphics, interesting storyline and as you might have guessed by now, I'm so hucked. This week has been about Oblivion, not doing my homework (but I started now) and partying. Everyone has been sick and it's cold so people are just not up to much right now.
The landlord tried to cheat me out of money, I've got ants every were in my kitchen (how do they survive the winter?) who have been here sense I moved in. My internet connection acts all funny and she changed the prices for Gb as we were talking, I have to get out of these apartments! Looking for some in the paper now with a friend, hopefully we'll find something. Apparently I1ve paid to much rent at some point also. According to her it coasts $20 for 1 Gb and if that is true I'm not going to be able to talk to anyone of you at home. Not properly any ways. But I'm not heating any more which saves heaps of money, the problem is just that this morning when I woke up it was 4 C in here!
I guess it's just not been my week but it happeneds to us all besides I just moved to a totally new place, nothing feels like home jet, it's a bit harder to accept the new community then I expected and I've been stressed out for the last 6 months for planing and getting all the paperwork, money and so on to be able to come here. So considering it's quite okay, just not my week.
Song of the day: Bush – Everything Zen
The landlord tried to cheat me out of money, I've got ants every were in my kitchen (how do they survive the winter?) who have been here sense I moved in. My internet connection acts all funny and she changed the prices for Gb as we were talking, I have to get out of these apartments! Looking for some in the paper now with a friend, hopefully we'll find something. Apparently I1ve paid to much rent at some point also. According to her it coasts $20 for 1 Gb and if that is true I'm not going to be able to talk to anyone of you at home. Not properly any ways. But I'm not heating any more which saves heaps of money, the problem is just that this morning when I woke up it was 4 C in here!
I guess it's just not been my week but it happeneds to us all besides I just moved to a totally new place, nothing feels like home jet, it's a bit harder to accept the new community then I expected and I've been stressed out for the last 6 months for planing and getting all the paperwork, money and so on to be able to come here. So considering it's quite okay, just not my week.
Song of the day: Bush – Everything Zen
My first night out, on Friday, was so strange and it almost got me killed! I think I'll have to be more careful in the future. What the hell happened?
We started out at Britain's place, a few of her old friends came by and we walked from place to place picking people up. In “town” there actually are some bars and we found a dance floor, yay me! The music was quite good too. Me and Britain ran out on the floor, just having fun. After a while this chick (yeah, they call us girls that down here) came on to me. She was real cute so I didn't mind. After dancing for a while, getting closer and closer we (of course, you should know me by now) kissed and all of the sudden someone grabbed a hold of my hair and throw me down backwards on the floor so I hit my head real hard. Then I saw the foot coming for me and I rolled out of there, if it would had hit me I'd probably be in a hospital. WTF?
It turns out that she was her sister and real over protective. I've found somewhat of a queer “club” around here, pretty underground but I think I'll call them instead of ever having fun on the dance floor in this time with a girl again. Gah!
The rest of the weekend I spent with a new friend of mine, Spikey. He's real sweet and we watched heap's of movies. And I'm slowly getting used to the cold, now it's bearable any way and a bit warmer too. Three of them were horrors! But it was pretty okay though, I'm sitting in the dark typing this now and am not that afraid. Maybe I'm finally handling my fear of the dark.
We stayed up late last night talking and I realized that I'm happy now, I am where I want to be. Studding art, meeting new people, living in a different country, properly travel some, on my own (Relationship Anarchy), handling things and that feels so good. The real problem right now is that I miss you all back in Sweden so much (and Germany too). Longing to hug you all or just to see you, spend time and be able to touch you would be enough.
School is going good, I love the art teachers. They are so motivating but there is, just as it should be, a lot to do. And it freaks me out that we are getting graded on our art. How can you grade art?
This weekends movies:
The Labyrinth
The Others
The Locals
White Noise
Song of the week: Explosions in the Sky – Have you passed through this night?
We started out at Britain's place, a few of her old friends came by and we walked from place to place picking people up. In “town” there actually are some bars and we found a dance floor, yay me! The music was quite good too. Me and Britain ran out on the floor, just having fun. After a while this chick (yeah, they call us girls that down here) came on to me. She was real cute so I didn't mind. After dancing for a while, getting closer and closer we (of course, you should know me by now) kissed and all of the sudden someone grabbed a hold of my hair and throw me down backwards on the floor so I hit my head real hard. Then I saw the foot coming for me and I rolled out of there, if it would had hit me I'd probably be in a hospital. WTF?
It turns out that she was her sister and real over protective. I've found somewhat of a queer “club” around here, pretty underground but I think I'll call them instead of ever having fun on the dance floor in this time with a girl again. Gah!
The rest of the weekend I spent with a new friend of mine, Spikey. He's real sweet and we watched heap's of movies. And I'm slowly getting used to the cold, now it's bearable any way and a bit warmer too. Three of them were horrors! But it was pretty okay though, I'm sitting in the dark typing this now and am not that afraid. Maybe I'm finally handling my fear of the dark.
We stayed up late last night talking and I realized that I'm happy now, I am where I want to be. Studding art, meeting new people, living in a different country, properly travel some, on my own (Relationship Anarchy), handling things and that feels so good. The real problem right now is that I miss you all back in Sweden so much (and Germany too). Longing to hug you all or just to see you, spend time and be able to touch you would be enough.
School is going good, I love the art teachers. They are so motivating but there is, just as it should be, a lot to do. And it freaks me out that we are getting graded on our art. How can you grade art?
This weekends movies:
The Labyrinth
The Others
The Locals
White Noise
Song of the week: Explosions in the Sky – Have you passed through this night?
My first week of school is all done now, I only have classes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Which basically means a heap load of working on your own. But I like it so far and of course my favourite class is object studio. Where we are going to do sculpture in all kinds of materials. Now I just have to throw myself in to it all.
With little luck I might be moving to a different flat with some new friends in a couple of weeks which would be real nice, since it's really cold here and expensive. I figure that I'm gonna hate anybody I live with after a few months so it doesn't really matter who it is.
This hole am-pm thing is a lot harder then I had expected. Yesterday I set my alarm at what I thought was a reasonable time to wake up on your “day off” but it as it turns out it wasn't on at all. It was the pm dot that was on and not the alarm at all. So I slept right through the day and woke up at 3 pm.
Sill missing you guys so much! I try to keep busy and distracted most of the time but at night right before I get to sleep you all circle around in my head. I wish you could see all this, that I could share it with you in other ways then just on the blog. Or that I could crawl up under the covers to find a warm Cat purring. But you are all there in my mind. I don't miss “home” that much though.
One of my teachers runs a contact improvisations class on the weekend so hopefully, if my money comes throw tomorrow, I'll be able to join them. Yay me!
Kiwi fact of the day: They don't hug when they say hallo, I might have to introduce them to that!
Song of the day: Blink 182 – Miss you
Yesterdays film: Stay, which was a fabulous movie and very artsy! Go see it!
With little luck I might be moving to a different flat with some new friends in a couple of weeks which would be real nice, since it's really cold here and expensive. I figure that I'm gonna hate anybody I live with after a few months so it doesn't really matter who it is.
This hole am-pm thing is a lot harder then I had expected. Yesterday I set my alarm at what I thought was a reasonable time to wake up on your “day off” but it as it turns out it wasn't on at all. It was the pm dot that was on and not the alarm at all. So I slept right through the day and woke up at 3 pm.
Sill missing you guys so much! I try to keep busy and distracted most of the time but at night right before I get to sleep you all circle around in my head. I wish you could see all this, that I could share it with you in other ways then just on the blog. Or that I could crawl up under the covers to find a warm Cat purring. But you are all there in my mind. I don't miss “home” that much though.
One of my teachers runs a contact improvisations class on the weekend so hopefully, if my money comes throw tomorrow, I'll be able to join them. Yay me!
Kiwi fact of the day: They don't hug when they say hallo, I might have to introduce them to that!
Song of the day: Blink 182 – Miss you
Yesterdays film: Stay, which was a fabulous movie and very artsy! Go see it!
Pictures coming on here as soon as I can find a free internet connection!
As I got of the plane in Bangkok everything seamed surreal, it was quiet, not that warm and the atmosphere at the airport wasn't Asian at all but as soon as I got outside security the scenery changed. Some nice but very firm people persuaded me to take a cap for 900 bath into town and I didn't have the energy to barging. But I got to Wat Pho, the temple I was suppose to see. Cat and I had been checking it out on the web earlier. And as I tried to cross the street a nice man helped me and said that Wat Pho was closed until noon. I had totally forgotten about the warnings on wikitravel about people saying stuff was closed but it wasn't. So I let the nice man write down some places that I should go and see. And he helped me to get a Tuk-Tuk for 50 bath that would take me to all the different locations and wait for me while I was inside looking around. Of course I was nervous but hey, what did I have to lose? If I didn't like it I could just hop out and take a cab back to the airport.
First I went to Watin (That's what he wrote but I can't find it anywhere on the net), which is a very tall Buddha covered in gold, most Buddha's in Thailand are, and I learned how to “worship”.
I did this procedure lots and lots of times through out the day.
Next I went to this cool marble temple called Watr (?as he wrote it again, I'm gonna have to do some deep research here I think). They were praying as I got there so I didn't want to bother them but it was real cool hearing the monks chant away. They had a huge collection of Buddha's who all were very different, one that looked like a skeleton, real scary. And I had a stroll around the grounds bare feet course of all the signs everywhere saying I should take of my shoes. It rained but I didn't mind, it just added up to the hole feeling of the place.
Then my tuk-tuk driver, who had been waiting patently while I was gasping at everything, took me to the next Buddha. On the way from and to every “tourist attraction” I shot lots of pictures of the city, I didn't have time to go there but at least I had them in digital form? Better then nothing?
The driver pointed me in to a little brown temple which didn't look like much on the out or inside. There was a real sweet man who grabbed a hold of me and showed me the way to the lucky Buddha and how/what I should do in front of the altar. “Make a wish and it will come true!” So I did and I hope it will.
Sadly I didn't have enough money to go shopping for real but everyone persuaded me to go to this Export centre. Every year for one week they get to buy jewellery there without having to pay taxes. But I neither wanted or had the money to get anything, not there anyway. There was a better store a bit later where I couldn't help of feeling sorry for the tuk-tuk driver, he could get a ticket for 10 L gas refill if I only bought something out of the shop, which I (as a real tourist ought to) did. When I got back to where I started out at Wat Poh and it was time to pay him I felt sorry for him again. He wanted 100 bath before the nice man who told me where to go negotiated it down to 50 bath. And as I sat there, doing a bit of quick maths on how much that was, I realized that giving him a tip for 20 bath would have made me feel stupid as well. So I gave him the hundred, not knowing if he really needed it or just had succeeded in fooling me. But either way it's okay with me.
At last I got in to Wat Poh, which was a really big temple place. Lots and lots to see and to take your shoes off. But the best of course was the main one, as I got in I couldn't believe my eyes! There it was, that's got to be the biggest Buddha in the world (?)! Reading about it is nothing like seeing it for real, 15 meters high and 45 meters long. He's laying on his side, all coved in gold as the rest of them but huge!
Pretty quickly after seeing the big one the others seamed less interesting and though I went in to a few more temples on the sight, prayed some more and took lots of more pictures I was all Buddhad-out! One more hour until I had to go back to the airport, you never know how Bangkok traffic will treat you, I strolled around the city's small shops and found myself walking along some small streets far away form tourists attractions. And there it was, the river I had heard so much about. Beautiful! And another nice man wanting to take me out in his boat for a ride , but I didn't have the time. Shortly after he also wanted to take me to the airport again for 1200 bath in his private car but I heard the alarm ringing in the back of my head and kindly declined. And my reward for doing that was not only getting a taxi for 600 bath (set price).No, the best thing was to be able to walk right out into the street, look as cute as you can and in “real Hollywood style”pull up a cab. Yay me! I have never been able to afford that and it's the easiest way to get around in Bangkok if you are in somewhat of a hurry. And quite cheap as well.
Just because nothing bad happened to me on my strange adventures in Bangkok it doesn't mean that it never does. And the worst thing I could possibly do I of course did, in original Elli style, I fell a sleep in the cab. But if was totally fine, the driver laughed and I was back at the airport.
With some food in my belly, sore feet, being tired as hell, still having time to pass, I had some bath left over. What to do? Oh, I know! Get a Mochachill! I don't know where I got that splendid idea, oh but yes I do! It's you again Cat! You introduced me to the one at 7-11 which almost doesn't taste like coffee at all, more like Baileys! But this one didn't and I was just about to throw it away when the sky must have cracked open, suddenly it was real nice! And I promised myself I would never tell, but look at me now? That's the second impossible thing you taught me Cat, what are you doing to me? Think of my reputation! I've been a strong anti coffee-tea person all my life. An while I'm writing this I'm drinking a huge mug of Earl Gray...
As I got of the plane in Bangkok everything seamed surreal, it was quiet, not that warm and the atmosphere at the airport wasn't Asian at all but as soon as I got outside security the scenery changed. Some nice but very firm people persuaded me to take a cap for 900 bath into town and I didn't have the energy to barging. But I got to Wat Pho, the temple I was suppose to see. Cat and I had been checking it out on the web earlier. And as I tried to cross the street a nice man helped me and said that Wat Pho was closed until noon. I had totally forgotten about the warnings on wikitravel about people saying stuff was closed but it wasn't. So I let the nice man write down some places that I should go and see. And he helped me to get a Tuk-Tuk for 50 bath that would take me to all the different locations and wait for me while I was inside looking around. Of course I was nervous but hey, what did I have to lose? If I didn't like it I could just hop out and take a cab back to the airport.
First I went to Watin (That's what he wrote but I can't find it anywhere on the net), which is a very tall Buddha covered in gold, most Buddha's in Thailand are, and I learned how to “worship”.
- “Donate” money to the Buddha, 20 Bath.
- Take some incense and a small yellow candle.
- Ask if you might take a flower as well, they are long and have a white bud that hasn't bloomed jet.
- Put the flower in the vase in front of the Buddha.
- Light the candle and set it down by the rest of them.
- Take out the little piece of paper that sits between you incenses sticks.
- Light the incense and bow down.
- Put your hands together, palm to palm and pray while holding the incense.
- Take the hands up and down in front of you head three times.
- Stick the incense in with the rest of them in a bucket of sand or it might have been ashes from previous sticks.
- Take of you shoes !!!
- Go on up to the Buddha and take out your little pieces of paper, there you will find 3 or 4 tiny gold squares, very fragile and thin. Stroke them on to Buddha's foot.
- You are now fully... blessed? Prayed out? Good as gold? (As they say down here in NZ.)
I did this procedure lots and lots of times through out the day.
Next I went to this cool marble temple called Watr (?as he wrote it again, I'm gonna have to do some deep research here I think). They were praying as I got there so I didn't want to bother them but it was real cool hearing the monks chant away. They had a huge collection of Buddha's who all were very different, one that looked like a skeleton, real scary. And I had a stroll around the grounds bare feet course of all the signs everywhere saying I should take of my shoes. It rained but I didn't mind, it just added up to the hole feeling of the place.
Then my tuk-tuk driver, who had been waiting patently while I was gasping at everything, took me to the next Buddha. On the way from and to every “tourist attraction” I shot lots of pictures of the city, I didn't have time to go there but at least I had them in digital form? Better then nothing?
The driver pointed me in to a little brown temple which didn't look like much on the out or inside. There was a real sweet man who grabbed a hold of me and showed me the way to the lucky Buddha and how/what I should do in front of the altar. “Make a wish and it will come true!” So I did and I hope it will.
Sadly I didn't have enough money to go shopping for real but everyone persuaded me to go to this Export centre. Every year for one week they get to buy jewellery there without having to pay taxes. But I neither wanted or had the money to get anything, not there anyway. There was a better store a bit later where I couldn't help of feeling sorry for the tuk-tuk driver, he could get a ticket for 10 L gas refill if I only bought something out of the shop, which I (as a real tourist ought to) did. When I got back to where I started out at Wat Poh and it was time to pay him I felt sorry for him again. He wanted 100 bath before the nice man who told me where to go negotiated it down to 50 bath. And as I sat there, doing a bit of quick maths on how much that was, I realized that giving him a tip for 20 bath would have made me feel stupid as well. So I gave him the hundred, not knowing if he really needed it or just had succeeded in fooling me. But either way it's okay with me.
At last I got in to Wat Poh, which was a really big temple place. Lots and lots to see and to take your shoes off. But the best of course was the main one, as I got in I couldn't believe my eyes! There it was, that's got to be the biggest Buddha in the world (?)! Reading about it is nothing like seeing it for real, 15 meters high and 45 meters long. He's laying on his side, all coved in gold as the rest of them but huge!
Pretty quickly after seeing the big one the others seamed less interesting and though I went in to a few more temples on the sight, prayed some more and took lots of more pictures I was all Buddhad-out! One more hour until I had to go back to the airport, you never know how Bangkok traffic will treat you, I strolled around the city's small shops and found myself walking along some small streets far away form tourists attractions. And there it was, the river I had heard so much about. Beautiful! And another nice man wanting to take me out in his boat for a ride , but I didn't have the time. Shortly after he also wanted to take me to the airport again for 1200 bath in his private car but I heard the alarm ringing in the back of my head and kindly declined. And my reward for doing that was not only getting a taxi for 600 bath (set price).No, the best thing was to be able to walk right out into the street, look as cute as you can and in “real Hollywood style”pull up a cab. Yay me! I have never been able to afford that and it's the easiest way to get around in Bangkok if you are in somewhat of a hurry. And quite cheap as well.
Just because nothing bad happened to me on my strange adventures in Bangkok it doesn't mean that it never does. And the worst thing I could possibly do I of course did, in original Elli style, I fell a sleep in the cab. But if was totally fine, the driver laughed and I was back at the airport.
With some food in my belly, sore feet, being tired as hell, still having time to pass, I had some bath left over. What to do? Oh, I know! Get a Mochachill! I don't know where I got that splendid idea, oh but yes I do! It's you again Cat! You introduced me to the one at 7-11 which almost doesn't taste like coffee at all, more like Baileys! But this one didn't and I was just about to throw it away when the sky must have cracked open, suddenly it was real nice! And I promised myself I would never tell, but look at me now? That's the second impossible thing you taught me Cat, what are you doing to me? Think of my reputation! I've been a strong anti coffee-tea person all my life. An while I'm writing this I'm drinking a huge mug of Earl Gray...
So I finally got my NZ bank account yesterday, my bank is called Kiwibank – you get 3 guesses to why I chose that one, and the first thing that happened is that my internet log on locked me out. Another trip to the bank today and I can hopefully log on but no money in sight. Haha, just my luck. Well, I'll manage. I've always got my visa where I can pay more but get money any ways.
Audio/video class started today and was okay, the teacher is not that good but alright. And of course I ask a lot of questions, that's what you are suppose to do as a student (and I have got all my fancy cards to prove it) and at the end of the lesson he said; “You've got a lot of questions there, haven't you, Grasshopper?” Well, yeah?! I wanna learn! But that's not what I said, I just polity asked the question again.
We're gonna do an audio documentary about 20 minutes long that might actually be broad casted on NMIT's own (?) local radio. I'm scared to death, I haven't done anything like that ever before! It's gotta be on music, so if anyone out there has an idea please let me know.
Just after I got out of bed this morning another alarm goes of and at first I thought that it was my neighbours, with the thin walls and all but then I realized that it was my electricity meter. It beeped, blinked and had a smiley face on it. What the hell? Later on I found out that it meant that I have to feed it more money, otherwise my power will get turned off. Fricking hell! I've only been here since Friday and I have already used up 20$ of power? No way! I've tried to not use the radiator much at all but now it will be none of that for me. I hope I'll get my money before I run out. But I found out that I can sit at the library in the warmth with my laptop and power but sadly no wireless but they have got internet on some computers there too.
I need to get out of these apartments! But I asked around some today and it doesn't seam that hard. Just got to find a paper and have some patience. Maybe not my strong side? Haha!
And yeah, they actually have got on&off switches on the sockets. The electronics cultures here are so different form Sweden's. Life here is very different all in all but it's okay, as long as I've got people around me I'll be fine. I didn't think that the isolation part was gonna be so hard on me, I love being alone. When I chose to at least.
Having the English language around me everywhere is quite okay but at the end of the day the thong always wants to skip a beat or two. Tired from all the unusual exercise. =)
Today's Maori fact: A hand shake is called “how do you do” course that what's always said when you shake hands and the Maori thought that that was it's name.
Song of the day: Leo Nordwall – Theme for The Zone
I am glad to report that I have survived the first day of school. It feels a lot like the things I did last year in some ways and in others totally new, like the audio/video class I'll be having tomorrow. We started out with a welcoming ceremony a so called Põwhiri which is an old Maori tradition. And we had to sing a song to =). It goes like this:
E toru nga mea
Nga mea nunui
E ki ana
Whakapono
Tumanako
Ko te mea nui
Ko te aroha
Which, from what I understand, is somewhat like a prayer and is about trust, understanding and love. Or something like that anyway. I could have done without the Christian references but it was real sweet, they talked a lot which nobody understood and we got muffins and “real” tea afterwords. We also got to take a muffin with us home but I got a bad surprise in mine, it had fish in it! A cupcake with fish? Come on? No way! I spit it out and am gonna be a lot more careful with what I eat from now on.
And oh, I got jet another student ID. It feels like I'm collecting them, I got three now so nobody can come and say that I'm not a student! But of course they are very different – in colour, pics of me and different discounts. The last one has even got a discount on the local liquor store, yay me?!
I give in, I lost the war. I admit it, I have truly caved this time. I've been longing for real tea since I got here and the tea shop that I found today had already closed. So I bought, no you wont believe it, Earl Gray. I know, this time I've gone to far. But Cat, your going to have to take the blame for this one! And they only had it in pre packed bags as well. Still... Yummi!
There were lots of introductions throughout the hole day and drawing & design class, which seams real good but the classroom is freezing cold. You really start to wonder, I mean they have been living here for quite a few generations and still they don't really get this with double glass windows, thick walls and good heating. But I got some slippers and another warm sweater today so I'm doing fine.
I also got some nice blisters under my feet, which keep on growing each day. And I had the most idiotic idea today, I just got to see the ocean. So off I went and I got to tell you that it's a lot like San Francisco always looks like in films, up a hill and then down again. At last I got there any ways, and it was astonishing. Lovely, that's why I moved here.
But the ocean can be really cruel to, not just beautiful to look at, nice to smell and calming to hear. No, it had a totally different effect on me today. It was like the everlasting prof that I'm not gonna see Cat, mum and the other for a long while. That I am on the other side of the world. So I sat down and cried. Again. Seams like it's all I do when I think about you guys. I miss you a hole lot! It feels like being between to homes, I said goodbye to my life back in Sweden (but not in the way that I wanna forget you or not have any contact, on the contrary!) and I haven't yet build up a “friend base” here in NZ. But I also realize that it wouldn't have mattered if I had gone to Denmark, Africa or Russia. You would have been to far away for the hugs I want right now any way.
On my way home I ran into a big fat cat that snuggled up to me and purred. He reminded me a lot of “my” own cat back home, except for the fat, all furry and having four legs part. But it felt like I was petting you, like I just to do.
Every time it gets really hard I take out my little small knitted sweater I got from my mum, it means that she is always under my “pullover” and real close to me. And I look at the little heart I got from Cat, remembering what's inside and imagining his arms around me, and even though it makes me wanna cry all the time it's also comforting to know that you guys are out there.
I've got a film on the ocean as well but I'm a bit scared of loading it up here, it seams like using the internet only for writing and chatting is making me automatically download a massive amount and I only get 1 gb included in the internet pricing each moth, which I already overrated. So I guess for now there are no more skype calls for me. At least until I figure out a way how to deal with this hole thing. Going back to isolation.
Theme of the day: Everything new
Song of the day: Anthony - Blue Angel
Torrent for that song: http://www.torrentz.com/b0e343897847f0d7fdd497f0b51b8674716b390e
(Blogger is giving me a hard time on just about everything from links to publishing right now.)
E toru nga mea
Nga mea nunui
E ki ana
Whakapono
Tumanako
Ko te mea nui
Ko te aroha
Which, from what I understand, is somewhat like a prayer and is about trust, understanding and love. Or something like that anyway. I could have done without the Christian references but it was real sweet, they talked a lot which nobody understood and we got muffins and “real” tea afterwords. We also got to take a muffin with us home but I got a bad surprise in mine, it had fish in it! A cupcake with fish? Come on? No way! I spit it out and am gonna be a lot more careful with what I eat from now on.
And oh, I got jet another student ID. It feels like I'm collecting them, I got three now so nobody can come and say that I'm not a student! But of course they are very different – in colour, pics of me and different discounts. The last one has even got a discount on the local liquor store, yay me?!
I give in, I lost the war. I admit it, I have truly caved this time. I've been longing for real tea since I got here and the tea shop that I found today had already closed. So I bought, no you wont believe it, Earl Gray. I know, this time I've gone to far. But Cat, your going to have to take the blame for this one! And they only had it in pre packed bags as well. Still... Yummi!
There were lots of introductions throughout the hole day and drawing & design class, which seams real good but the classroom is freezing cold. You really start to wonder, I mean they have been living here for quite a few generations and still they don't really get this with double glass windows, thick walls and good heating. But I got some slippers and another warm sweater today so I'm doing fine.
I also got some nice blisters under my feet, which keep on growing each day. And I had the most idiotic idea today, I just got to see the ocean. So off I went and I got to tell you that it's a lot like San Francisco always looks like in films, up a hill and then down again. At last I got there any ways, and it was astonishing. Lovely, that's why I moved here.
But the ocean can be really cruel to, not just beautiful to look at, nice to smell and calming to hear. No, it had a totally different effect on me today. It was like the everlasting prof that I'm not gonna see Cat, mum and the other for a long while. That I am on the other side of the world. So I sat down and cried. Again. Seams like it's all I do when I think about you guys. I miss you a hole lot! It feels like being between to homes, I said goodbye to my life back in Sweden (but not in the way that I wanna forget you or not have any contact, on the contrary!) and I haven't yet build up a “friend base” here in NZ. But I also realize that it wouldn't have mattered if I had gone to Denmark, Africa or Russia. You would have been to far away for the hugs I want right now any way.
On my way home I ran into a big fat cat that snuggled up to me and purred. He reminded me a lot of “my” own cat back home, except for the fat, all furry and having four legs part. But it felt like I was petting you, like I just to do.
Every time it gets really hard I take out my little small knitted sweater I got from my mum, it means that she is always under my “pullover” and real close to me. And I look at the little heart I got from Cat, remembering what's inside and imagining his arms around me, and even though it makes me wanna cry all the time it's also comforting to know that you guys are out there.
I've got a film on the ocean as well but I'm a bit scared of loading it up here, it seams like using the internet only for writing and chatting is making me automatically download a massive amount and I only get 1 gb included in the internet pricing each moth, which I already overrated. So I guess for now there are no more skype calls for me. At least until I figure out a way how to deal with this hole thing. Going back to isolation.
Theme of the day: Everything new
Song of the day: Anthony - Blue Angel
Torrent for that song: http://www.torrentz.com/b0e343897847f0d7fdd497f0b51b8674716b390e
(Blogger is giving me a hard time on just about everything from links to publishing right now.)
AM-PM? Sure I get it but obviously not when I'm setting my alarm clock. And as a result I slept through the hole day. But I guess its ok, still being jet-laged and all.
Last night I went out for a late stroll around the city to find out more about my new home and more importantly - if the night sky would live up to my memories about 15 years back. And no, sadly to say, it didn't but as I said, 15 (!?) years ago, being a child miles away from any civilisation can make every memory seam bigger then it really was. Back then I couldn't see the star signs course there were to many stars out there but now they where a lot fewer but I didn't really get a chance to look at them outside the city, maybe its different out there.
And then something else hit me, its as I thought a really small city, walking distance to literally everything. I'm hope that the worst case scenario wont come true, that it wont be a city like Enköping or something like that but even though it might be there's still one huge advantage to Nelson - we got palm trees! Even in the winter! I promise to take lots of pictures and load them up here, this one is from my first morning walk yesterday.
And before I forget again, my aunt found out that the time difference is only 10 hours, I'm ahead of you back "home" in Sweden. Somewhere I heard is was 12 but it's not, which makes it easier to keep in touch with everyone.
Song of the day, in honour of the Yellow Lemon Tree outside: Fool's Garden - Lemon Tree
Last night I went out for a late stroll around the city to find out more about my new home and more importantly - if the night sky would live up to my memories about 15 years back. And no, sadly to say, it didn't but as I said, 15 (!?) years ago, being a child miles away from any civilisation can make every memory seam bigger then it really was. Back then I couldn't see the star signs course there were to many stars out there but now they where a lot fewer but I didn't really get a chance to look at them outside the city, maybe its different out there.
And then something else hit me, its as I thought a really small city, walking distance to literally everything. I'm hope that the worst case scenario wont come true, that it wont be a city like Enköping or something like that but even though it might be there's still one huge advantage to Nelson - we got palm trees! Even in the winter! I promise to take lots of pictures and load them up here, this one is from my first morning walk yesterday.
And before I forget again, my aunt found out that the time difference is only 10 hours, I'm ahead of you back "home" in Sweden. Somewhere I heard is was 12 but it's not, which makes it easier to keep in touch with everyone.
Song of the day, in honour of the Yellow Lemon Tree outside: Fool's Garden - Lemon Tree
So I'm finally here, in my new apartment in Nelson New Zealand. And having the Jetlag from hell! It's freezing cold in my room, about 15°C after I turn the heater on! But I've put my warmest clothes on (plus mittens and a cap) and hope for the best. It's 12-15°C daytime outside.
Everything is still very surreal and I'm still asking myself the same old question over and over again, What the hell am I doing? But it's ok, I know it will be ok in a couple of days. Or I hope it will.
Surprisingly I'm not homesick but but I miss everyone. To be honest I break down and cry when I remember that the next time I get to hug my mum, brother and Cat is probably in April 2009. I miss you soooo much! And all you others back "home". But every time it gets to hard I just look outside my window and I remember why I moved here, there's a palm tree and what I think is a lemon tree - all green in spite it being in the middle of the winter.
The trips was an experience to say the least but it went well, flying with Thai air was so wired. The last time I was on a big air plan I was about ten years old and a lot has changed scenes then. On the flight to Bangkok there was a huge screen showing movies all night long and free drinks which was a really good idea, calming my nerves. And from Bangkok to New Zealand it got even worse, a small flat screen on the chair in front of everyone. So strange! And again, free drinks. Bangkok was totally awesome, I'll tell you al about it later.
I went to the market today and guess what, of course the fruit and veggies are a lot cheaper here. I paid about 10$ for all this! Thats 45 kr!
And I made my first embarrassing video of my apartment, this time in Swedish but I think it will be better in English the next time, so my aunt will understand =).
Todays song: No you don't - Nine Inch Nails
Note to self: Every time you think you are freezing to death, get outside!
Everything is still very surreal and I'm still asking myself the same old question over and over again, What the hell am I doing? But it's ok, I know it will be ok in a couple of days. Or I hope it will.
Surprisingly I'm not homesick but but I miss everyone. To be honest I break down and cry when I remember that the next time I get to hug my mum, brother and Cat is probably in April 2009. I miss you soooo much! And all you others back "home". But every time it gets to hard I just look outside my window and I remember why I moved here, there's a palm tree and what I think is a lemon tree - all green in spite it being in the middle of the winter.
The trips was an experience to say the least but it went well, flying with Thai air was so wired. The last time I was on a big air plan I was about ten years old and a lot has changed scenes then. On the flight to Bangkok there was a huge screen showing movies all night long and free drinks which was a really good idea, calming my nerves. And from Bangkok to New Zealand it got even worse, a small flat screen on the chair in front of everyone. So strange! And again, free drinks. Bangkok was totally awesome, I'll tell you al about it later.
I went to the market today and guess what, of course the fruit and veggies are a lot cheaper here. I paid about 10$ for all this! Thats 45 kr!
And I made my first embarrassing video of my apartment, this time in Swedish but I think it will be better in English the next time, so my aunt will understand =).
Todays song: No you don't - Nine Inch Nails
Note to self: Every time you think you are freezing to death, get outside!
Almost lift off, and I have no Idea what I'm doing. Just a couple of more hours in Sweden and I haven't, as you can see, had any time to blog this month. Filling out the damned forms and biting my nails off waiting for my passport to return from first the Swedish immigrations board then Holland where my nearest New Zealand Embassy is (Going back and forth for some wired reason).
But I had time to play a lot with my fiends, go camping with Cat, be an inquisitor at a larp and scare the hell out of people. I moved from my place in Kista, all my stuff is now in Småland at my mums (Thanks a lot!). I'll travel light? Well 20 kg was all the airline would allow. I've become a Swedish citizen but am holding on to my German as well. Now I have to be a part of the strange traditions that I've been trying to avoid my hole life. But I still don't understand them!
My last days in Sweden was spent with Cat in the middle of Stockholm just a few minutes away from the central station. At night we walked around, smiling, talking, exploring, UE and just falling in love all over again - with the city and with each other.
At the Larp Kastaria I had some beautiful experiences. Lots of heavy intrigues and real nice playtime. Apart from some bad mistakes made by a couple of participants the hole thing surprised me and sill gives me the chills when Evelyns memories pop into my head. Lots of huge hugs to my group, the people seeking faith and forgiveness and of course to K&H (I could cry for less). The feelings of a character always lingers on afterwards and it's no different this time around. My personal larp keeps on going in my head and the thought of her life is calming and mysterious all at once!
Hopes and quests for my"new life" down under:
Having a good and educational time at School Get a bike, see everything! Check out he Buddhist centres near by Not forgetting about how to be a relationship anarchist, knowing that it's the best way for me to go without getting a bad reputation
Not getting into fights just because I have lots strong feeling about politics, environment and being a veggie. Finding my next tattoo
Finding things that I need/want in my life:
Dancing Larp Free role-playing Improvisation
That's quite the list, well then I guess I just have to take a deep breath of the Stockholm morning air, crawl into bed for a quick nap and be on my way to the other side, wanna join?
Song of the day: Dedications to K for the marvellous game time.
Song of the Month: Dedications to Cat for all the love and good times, my heart still skippes a beat when you look at me.
But I had time to play a lot with my fiends, go camping with Cat, be an inquisitor at a larp and scare the hell out of people. I moved from my place in Kista, all my stuff is now in Småland at my mums (Thanks a lot!). I'll travel light? Well 20 kg was all the airline would allow. I've become a Swedish citizen but am holding on to my German as well. Now I have to be a part of the strange traditions that I've been trying to avoid my hole life. But I still don't understand them!
My last days in Sweden was spent with Cat in the middle of Stockholm just a few minutes away from the central station. At night we walked around, smiling, talking, exploring, UE and just falling in love all over again - with the city and with each other.
At the Larp Kastaria I had some beautiful experiences. Lots of heavy intrigues and real nice playtime. Apart from some bad mistakes made by a couple of participants the hole thing surprised me and sill gives me the chills when Evelyns memories pop into my head. Lots of huge hugs to my group, the people seeking faith and forgiveness and of course to K&H (I could cry for less). The feelings of a character always lingers on afterwards and it's no different this time around. My personal larp keeps on going in my head and the thought of her life is calming and mysterious all at once!
Hopes and quests for my"new life" down under:
Finding things that I need/want in my life:
That's quite the list, well then I guess I just have to take a deep breath of the Stockholm morning air, crawl into bed for a quick nap and be on my way to the other side, wanna join?
Song of the day: Dedications to K for the marvellous game time.
Song of the Month: Dedications to Cat for all the love and good times, my heart still skippes a beat when you look at me.
