Land Of Swedish Meatballs

2007-07-31T19:45:00.000+02:00

Everyone has a story to tell. Sometimes we are too quick to judge people based on first impressions and lose the chance to get to know them better before neatly categorising them to fit our stereotypes or deciding that we are better off not knowing them well. As I get older, I try to be more open-minded and tolerant. Because it's harder for us to make friends, or know people beyond a superficial level.

So, I want to know, what's your story?

things i can't get used to

2007-06-21T08:38:00.000+02:00

1. the weather. it's unbelievably hot.
2. there are just too many people, and they
- drive on the wrong side of the road.
- stand on the wrong side of the escalator.
3. not living in a corridor.
4. living with the parentals.
5. people don't sort their rubbish before throwing them away.
6. plastic bottles don't cost me an additional 1 kr.
7. i don't have to bring my own plastic bag to the supermarket, and they even bag up your groceries for you.
8. everything is so cheap. i'm not used to seeing 1 digit prices.
9. they don't sell 1 litre bottles of yoghurt in the supermarket.
10. they don't state the amount of fat (in %) in butter/milk/ yoghurt.
11. not having to walk 2km to town.
12. not seeing bicycles on bicycle paths on the way to the nearest ICA.
13. they don't call supermarkets ICA!
14. there are motorbikes in this country?!
15. starbucks? wtf?
16. did i mention that the weather is just too fucking hot?

From Lynn

2007-06-03T03:23:00.001+02:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Last Night in Varmlands

2007-06-03T02:30:00.001+02:00

Well, I guess you can tell from the photos that we had tons of fun! I will miss Friday nights at Varmlands :(

Today

2007-05-31T12:07:00.001+02:00

will probably be my last day working in the pub at VG. :(

is the last lesson for my course, Introduction to American Law.

my legs and arms are aching from all the jogging and exercising I've been doing.

Life

2007-05-28T03:02:00.001+02:00

Forty-something guy prancing on stage.

Save my pride

2007-05-28T03:01:00.001+02:00

Blondie on drugs

Cara Mia

2007-05-28T02:47:00.001+02:00

really hot, but a bit gay

Favourite Swedish Songs

2007-05-28T02:45:00.001+02:00

I'M A TRUE BELIEVER.. :)

whoever said uppsala was ULU

2007-05-26T00:03:00.001+02:00

can eat their words now.

This week:

1. The Swedish Royal Family came down to visit.
2. The Emperor and Empress of Japan also came to visit.
3. Kofi Annan discussed international politics in the University Hall.

It's a real happening place.

2007-05-14T01:15:00.000+02:00

Last night, when I was coming home from work at VG at quarter past three in the morning, I saw the morning sunrise, and it was a beautiful sight. But it's getting harder to sleep because the sun sets at 9pm and rises earlier each day (perhaps 10 past three today).

Although work at VG is tiring, I love it because I get to meet people whom I probably will never meet but for working at the pub. The Swedes are usually really cold and unfriendly, but now I can count a few of them on my fingers - E, the next 6M, A (the current 6M) and his little brother, and S the bar master. It's amazing how friendly they can be when they are drunk - I met S are Varmlands one Friday night and he was so pissed drunk it was funny. I never thought he could loosen up because he looked so fierce and all, but I guess it's what alcohol does to you.

Funny how I never really drank when I was home, mostly because I wasn't allowed out at night, but now I just gamely drink up when it's served to me - tonight we all drank a bit of Bacardi with Coke while watching a movie and eating popcorn on the couch. And the day before, E and I finished up a bottle of white wine after work because he said it would go bad if it was left open till Wednesday. But mostly I stick to Vodka or pear cider, because beer still tastes pretty darn awful to me.

I really love this little town. I guess what I will miss most is my freedom and independence - I like the fact that I do not have to account for my whereabouts to anyone (except maybe Aurelie because she worries when I come home late from work) and I get to come back however late I want or choose not to come back at all ;). Anyhow, I guess all I can do is make the most out of my remaining days here - I really will miss everyone in Ekeby when I'm gone, especially now that everyone is finally getting along with each other. Oh, it makes me depressed just thinking about it already.

2007-04-18T22:28:00.000+02:00

it seems as though my days here have merged into one - it seemed like yesterday when i first arrived here, fresh faced and homesick.

but now, i have a longing to cling onto to whatever fond memories i have of this lovely place. exchange is such a strange experience - i found myself plucked out of the comfort zone i have been living in for 21 years to survive for myself in a strange and foreign place, and yet when i have finally gotten used to the rhythm of life here, i have to say goodbye to the people that i have met, some whom i will probably never see again, to go back home where everything has changed.

it's too surreal for me.

2007-03-31T15:14:00.000+02:00

you know that you are preoccupied when

- you wear your clothes on wrong and don't even realise it until you are putting on new clothes
- you forget what transpired the night before
- you wake up really early and cannot go back to sleep
- you try to find something to occupy every single minute of your time

2007-03-30T11:13:00.000+02:00

i've got a bad case of insomnia. i wake up sweating because my room faces the sun in the morning, and i desperately want to go back to sleep because i feel so tired, and the waking hours are the worst.

sometimes i really miss anais, josh and rachael because they made me happy. i think i might be reverting back to that phase i went through a few years ago, and it makes me sick just thinking about it.

but i will still wake up every morning and plaster a wide smile on my face. because that's what good actors do. being in tsd taught me to put on a mask and continue facing your inner demons until you exorcise them. i wonder how everyone is doing now. :)

a university town

2007-03-26T02:19:00.000+02:00

the bad thing about being in a small university town is that you will always bump into someone that you are avoiding in town. and the more you wish to avoid a certain person, the more times you will bump into her/him.

i hate feeling so ambivalent about things.

Avenue Q - It Sucks to be me

2007-03-18T15:11:00.001+01:00

This best defines my life, right here right now.

Damn fucking it.

2007-03-15T07:40:00.000+01:00

since i got back from kiruna, i've been having between 4-6 hours of sleep a day.

and today, i woke up at 7 to read the fucking case before my tutorial at 9.

i think it's really killing me. the only good thing i can think of, is that i'm beginning to lose my appetite.

2007-03-14T23:21:00.000+01:00

This week is hell. I have class every single day at 9am in the fucking morning.

But on a sidenote, it feels good to be able to tell whisper all your secrets to your friend, knowing that he/she won't judge you. Because they understand that (1) shit happens (2) sometimes there are things that cannot be controlled (3) sometimes things spiral out of control and (4) there is always a right time to tell secrets, and if you give it away too early in the game you will risk jinxing everything.

I am dying. I have another 150 pages to go, and 34 pages of a case to read. It's going to be a really long night.

2007-03-13T00:19:00.000+01:00

karma really is a fucking little bitch that will bite you right in the ass when you are least aware.

perhaps if you hurt yourself enough times you will be immune to the pain. but somehow, like the little masochists (thanks, M!) that we are, we always come running back for more.

i don't think i know how to place these emotions anymore. there are times when you feel like giving up, and then there are these times when you feel so fucking stubborn that you want to hold on to that one little thing that keeps you going, unfortunately, it's already slipping out of your grasp.

i think for me, at least, the chicken has flown the coop. and all it takes, ladies and gentlemen, are five stupid words. remember that, you fucking little bitch.

To 5 years of friendship

2007-03-06T02:14:00.000+01:00

Happy Birthday Hongda, Happy Birthday Yinwei, Happy Birthday Bang!

Here's to 5 years of friendship - sleep overs at Li Yun's house, mahjong at Hongda's house, watching movies at PS and cycling at ECP.

I remember the time when we were fresh eyed exchange students at 和平高中 and we met each other for 麻辣火锅 in 西门町. Later on Hongda and Sam told me that I looked so quiet and demure sitting at the table introducing ourselves, but the moment I opened my mouth their nice impression of me was shattered.

But somehow, the seven or eight of us have stuck it out for 5 years, and we still meet up once a month to have the occasional game of mahjong at Hongda's house, albeit with the usual occurrence of Hongda gaming with 12 or 13 tiles.

I miss you guys! Here are some pictures over the years:

Bang with his birthday present last year. Act cool!

Bang likes his food!

I wonder who was taking this photo.

Happy family.

Li Yun isn't ready, and Ruth didn't act cute.

Damn gay.

Clueless men.

A photo with all of us.

At Ruth's 21st.

The handsome guys.

I miss you all.

Disjointed

2007-02-24T01:16:00.000+01:00

I think sometimes animals are better creatures than human beings. At least they learn to avoid doing things that hurt them, but human beings never learn - they just go at it again until they die.

And we are never satisfied with we have. We keep asking for more and more, until we bleed everyone dry and we still end up unhappy.

Life is just too tedious. There are days when I feel like I would be better off spending the entire day in bed, looking out of the window, just soaking in the fucking misery.

Nostalgia

2007-02-16T03:03:00.000+01:00

Damnit. I miss the times when I (1) was thin; (2) had short hair; and (3) was happy.

Anais, Elodie, Rachael, Stephie and Josh, I miss you! I don't seem to get along with the new people, try as I might. I mean, they are nice and all, but we have different interests and we just don't click.

On another note, I'm hitting the gym tomorrow, at 9am. Wish me luck.

2007-02-12T00:27:00.000+01:00

"Dear Leonard, to look life in the face, always to look life in the face and to know it for what it is. At last, to know it, to love it, for what it is and then to put it away. Leonard, always the years between us, always the years, always the love. Always the hours."

It is such an ambivalent feeling.

2007-01-27T03:31:00.000+01:00

I've been losing my appetite recently, and I don't know why.

I've been feeling increasingly empty lately - the disconnect really hits home this time.

I think the more I try to be happy, the harder I feel into the abyss that is my depression.

Maybe my vision's so blurred that I will never find my way out of this maze.

And it makes me lose my drive to continue.

Whining Again

2007-01-09T22:46:00.000+01:00

I know I keep whining about school work, but this is horrible!

I present to you, my brilliant essay topic -

The complex cohabitation of civilians and combatants in international humanitarian law

How like that? I flip through my rather useless textbook and I realise there's almost nothing on the blurring distinction between civilians and combatants.

At least I can still use Bush and his many conquests to 'illustrate [my] reasoning with current examples from law and practice.'

MY GOODNESS. HOWHOWHOW.

I shouldn't have ventured there

2006-12-27T00:15:00.000+01:00

From the Return of the King:

How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart, you begin to understand... there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep... that have taken hold.

parallel lines

2006-12-26T01:00:00.000+01:00

if only i didn't have to reopen old wounds.

每一夜被心痛穿越
思念永没有终点
早习惯了孤独相随
我微笑面对
相信我我选择等待
再多苦痛也不闪躲
只有你的温柔能解救
无边的冷漠

we are two parallel lines, you and i. and we belong to two different worlds. you are destined for greatness, and my existence in your world is defined by someone else.

2006-12-18T01:30:00.000+01:00

It seems so long ago that I left Singapore for the land of meatballs. I left a mess behind, hoping that they wouldn't follow me to Sweden. But what I found here was a more entangled web of lies and deceit that I wove.

I never told anyone the truth. Not everything. I told people bits that I wanted them to hear, but not the full story. I guess as we grow up, things get more complicated, and we yearn to go back to the times when things were simple. I wish I could go back to the days when I could sleep at night, and not huddle up in fear that I would dream of things that I didn't want to see, even in my sleep.

I think I have alot of things I regret, and I have alot of things I wish I had done differently.

For now, I wish I didn't have to lie to the people I love. I'm afraid to tell you the truth because I'm afraid that things will never be the same again, and I am afraid that I would hurt you.

I'm so sorry. But I can't continue living like this, because its killing me inside slowly. I can only take baby steps to the truth. And I never meant for it to be like this.

Trust me. I wish I could run away from everything and start everything on a clean slate. It feels like I'm living a double life, and I don't know who I am anymore. The more I try to escape, the more my lies come back to haunt me. And I don't want stay this way. So I choose the painful way.

It's only going to get worse

2006-12-11T01:52:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I did a very stupid thing. I washed my coat and forgot to check my pockets. I'm sure you all know where this is going. I got a very clean phone back from the wash, but sadly it wasn't working anymore.

So I went to get one 'cheap' phone today. It costs me 999 Kr, and another 250 Kr to unlock the service provider lock so I can use it back home.

And today, I had a nosebleed, and food poisoning. I spent my entire day in the toilet trying to puke and get the horrible food out of my system.

Tomorrow, I have an 8am lesson. And its 2am now. I'm so lucky.

Youtube is my best friend

2006-12-04T22:55:00.000+01:00

Because the sun sets at 2.30 and it gets dark at 3, I have a tendency to not go out of the house after 3, unless I have class or have to go to the ICA (supermarket). So, in the meantime, I have been watching alot of TV. In fact, I am the female version of Josh here, who sits on the couch all day long and watches MTV. This is due to the fact that I know the daily TV schedule almost by heart - 4.30 Las Vegas, 6.10 Judging Amy, 8-9 The Simpsons, 12.05 Sex and the City, 3am Buffy Uncut version, 4am She Spies and the list goes on.

Anyway, I've been watching Survivor Cook Islands, KO One, Hana Kimi and the last few episodes of Goong on Youtube too. All this while not studying for my Swedish listening exam tomorrow. Oh no. But at least I read some Swedish subtitles when all the said shows are playing on TV. And Christmas is coming, am so loving it!

the little bitch that is my take home exam

2006-11-27T01:07:00.000+01:00

I officially hate my Professor for Jus Ad Bellum because she sets an almost impossible question to do within 6 days on Darfur, no less!

And as a form of protest, here are some nonsensical lyrics that have been in my mind all week because they keep playing it in town, fucking Swedes!

Melody Club - Destiny Calling Song Lyrics

Since the day when I met you
I've been lost in desperation
It's in everything I do
Like a bittersweet sensation

I am, I am, I am, I am
I'm your destiny calling
I am, I am, I am, I am
I'm your destiny calling

Everytime when we're apart
I am all about frustration
You're the chain around my heart
You're my final destination

I am, I am, I am, I am
I'm your destiny calling
I am, I am, I am, I am
I'm your destiny calling

Oh, you can reach me
No one else can chain me like you do
Ohh, you can reach me
Everything just leads me back to you, yeah

I am, I am, I am, I am
I'm your destiny calling
I am, I am, I am, I am
I'm your destiny calling

It's a cool wind blowing in
It's the time when leaves start falling
All the things that might have been
I can hear a silent calling

I am, I am, I am, I am
I'm your destiny calling
I am, I am, I am, I am
I'm your destiny calling

Helena Paparizou - Heroes

Desire, the fire, it's haunting you
The passion, and action, you take me through
I'm living it, I'm loving it
This is where the dreams come alive
A shooting star in the night

Para siempre
Viva los heroes

To all the heroes, the rush of emotions
In this high and low, ah-ay-ah let's go
To all the heroes, we celebrate our nations
Let the whole world know, ah-ay-ah let's go
To all the heroes.

Emotions, are rushing out of control
A notion, touching my body and soul
Can't fight it, can't hide it
Everything I'm feeling inside
Reflects the gold in your eyes

To all the heroes...

Viva los heroes, the rush of emotions
In this high and low, ah-ay-ah let's go
Viva los heroes, we celebrate our nations
Let the whole world know, ah-ay-ah let's go
Viva los heroes

Para siempre
Viva los heroes

To all the heroes, the rush of emotions
In this high and low, ah-ay-ah let's go
To all the heroes, we celebrate our nations
Let the whole world know, ah-ay-ah let's go
To all the heroes.

Ok, now I've got to go do my introduction. Die bitch!

Happy Birthday

2006-11-12T14:35:00.000+01:00

Happy Birthday Lynnie!

I miss you in Sweden! (: Here's to more studying at Kallang Macs, online shopping, MSNing during tutorials, and maybe one day, we could fulfill our long standing but never materialising mahjong date! I love you!

Have fun, and good luck for your exams!

Ping-Pong in Sweden

2006-11-10T20:20:00.000+01:00

Today, Anais and I played mini ping-pong in the kitchen and we ended up playing many variations of ping-pong. Instead of playing with a bat, we used the palm of our hands until it got really red. Then, we decided to play ping-pong without the table, in the cooking area. So the ball bounced off the cabinets and into the sink, and we chased it all around the kitchen (even in the fucking dirty dustbins, don't ask) until we got really tired and decided that it was time to do some readings.

Speaking of readings, I must complain about my current course. I'm doing special topics of Public International Law, and the textbooks are really boring. And they didn't stock enough textbooks in the three book shops in Uppsala, so the Swedish students were really worked up about not having a textbook. And one of the authors has to use really fancy language when talking about law, so I'm using dictionary.com almost every 2 seconds. Like who uses abjure, predilections, proscription, soi-disant, recrudescence and all these archaic words now?

And I'm hooked on youtube. And Goong. After hearing all the good people back home talk about how they are hooked on Goong, I started to watch it and now I can't stop. Previously, I was watching Bleach and after the Soul Society Arc it got a bit boring and I didn't watch further. Then, I turned to Love Contract which I must say is mind numbingly boring even with the hottie in the show so now I really. must. stop. watching. Goong.

The weather is getting pretty sunny now and I am really really glad that it isn't snowing because it is just such a pain the arse to trek through the sludge for 4km everyday and get frostbite. And all the damn time I can't stop eating and it is bad, mainly for 3 reasons. First, I don't really exercise much because it is so fucking cold. Secondly, it costs money to snack, and I need to save some money for travelling. Thirdly, I can't fit into all my jeans because the zip won't close and I can't wear black gym pants to school because I would freeze to death in the cold.

So, besides getting really fat, watching alot of shows on youtube and sleeping alot, I guess life here is pretty mundane. It really isn't as exciting as writing a 10, 000 word essay or studying for the exams, so be thankful you are not getting wrinkly skin from the cold weather here in Sweden.

Cheers.

Wonderful Weather Ahead

2006-10-29T22:52:00.001+01:00

Today marks the end of Daylight Saving Time. As of now, I am back to being 7 hours behind Singapore time. With this, the temperature is currently hovering around the sub-zero threshold, and the weather reports say that it is going to snow on Wednesday. Wednesday also happens to be the day of my five hour exam which starts at 9 am sharp. The location couldn't have been better. I reckon it's going to take me an hour to walk there in the cold snow. So there is a high chance that I won't make it for the exam because: 1) I have no idea how to get there, 2) It is away from the city centre and 3) I might get frostbite before I even reach the exam hall.

So, before you start complaining about the haze in Singapore and how terribly humid it is, remember your dear friend who is about to freeze her arse off in Sweden.

Have a good day! (:

Reccegask

2006-10-23T17:07:00.000+02:00

Apparently, I said I would blog about a few things but my research essay last week consumed my life, so I was too busy to update. Anyway, these are pictures of the Reccegask. For the uninitiated, it is a formal dinner which is similar to prom, only this one is the grown up version of dress up.

It was alcohol haven! Free flow of snaps, champagne, wine and beer, with a 3 course meal. Considering that it cost 250 SEK, it was no wonder that everyone wanted to get their money's worth of free booze.

Warning - photo-whoring ahead!

Ok, I have to update later because my brain is still tired from churning out 10 pages of comparative legal analysis last week.

Forlat for the lack of updates

2006-09-26T09:51:00.000+02:00

I've been in Sweden for almost a month now, and still there are no blog posts in sight. So this is for the folks back in Singapore - I'm sure BTC is just as nice as Uppsala. Hurhur.

First, we explored Uppsala and spotted the landmark Cathedral situated in the middle of town.

This is the compass of lost people, and in olden times people relied on the large clock tower to get to their locations on time. This is why even now we have something called the academic quarter, where all the classes start a quarter past the hour. I think it's a good thing to have, because I always get lost and at least on the hour I still have 15 minutes to run to my class.

Next, we went to Ikea to get our supplies to furnish our bare room. Ikea is national pride here - everything we own in our student housing is from Ikea! Cups, pans, dishes, blankets, bed frames and everything a student needs are purchased from the mighty yellow and blue company. Of course, I assume you already know that yellow and blue are the colours of the Swedish flag. Anyhow, this is Ikea in Uppsala. And the lovely girls who live in my student housing.

Their delicious meatballs! Look at the carbohydrate laden potatoes. So big and round and delicious! Yummy..I am getting hungry now.

Next, we went to Balsta to visit a place called Skokloster Castle. It was where Carl Gustav had his summer residence, and boy, they had really magnificent handwoven tapestries on the wall, with big fireplaces and a huge armoury full of exotic guns and canons. But they didn't allow photos, so I'll just show you pictures of the outside:

Wei Ming and I are off to Belgium to visit Bob tomorrow, so more adventures up when we get back!

Next blog post: Stockholm, Welcome Dinner, Japanese Party, Reccegask and trip to Belgium. (: I kind of forget that I have to study while I'm on exchange. Speaking of which, I have an essay due soon (Yes we do have to write essays ok). Ugh! The horror!

Toodles from the land of meatballs. I'll leave you with the lovely sunset.