Sangfroid

Yesterday was my last day at work. Time has really passed so fast and I've made my best to use this limited time at home. I've barbequed, played ultimate, read in the hammock, had fika with friends, baked a lot and been with the family.

People have asked me if I'm nervous about going to Taiwan and it's quite strange but I'm not nervous at all. I should be a little frightened (it would be the most normal state I guess). After all, I've never been abroad for such long time period and I don't know the language. It might be that I'm cool with this whole thing because I feel mentally prepared and I have my sister with me.

However, the only mission I had today was to have a kebab pizza. I dare say the best kebab pizza are made in my hometown Jönköping. (I know, this pic is not very impressive).

Home

When I talk to friends from the university I often refer "home" as Linköping that is the city where I study and "home-home" is my hometown. However, in a deeper perspective what is the definition of "home"? Is it where your family lives, or a place where you stay for a longer period of time, or somewhere you know all the names of the streets?

I would say that home is where you feel safe and a place you always can return to with joy. Home is also connected to many special memories and people I care about. Today I biked along the beautifully glistening lake Vättern in my hometown which aroused strong home-feelings for beloved this place.

Midsummer

Midsummer is a typical Swedish tradition with a mysterious background and is celebrated with somewhat weird rituals. Dancing and pretend to be a frog around a giant pole dressed with flowers that symbolizes a phallos, eating early potatoes with slimy herring, and in addition to this, stubbornly defy the rain that tends to fall. Yes, it's a tradition.

So. Midsummer anno 2011 was great, which included good friends, lots of early potatoes and "sill" and strawberries with vanilla ice cream and barbeque. We danced till the sun went down and after some more whirls and twists and "bugg" (a Swedish dance style) the sun all of a sudden rised again and there seemed to be no end of the day. Song of the day: Dancing under influence

Swedish Summer

It's been raining all day long and my plan to play golf was utterly changed into baking tasty mazarines, dinner at my grandma's place and now movie night.

Laktritsskallar

Yesterday, my friend S asked me what I'll missed the most from Sweden when I'm away and without thinking too much I said Swedish "lösviktsgodis" which is pick candy. Especially I'll miss the salty liquorice skulls. But I've heard that there's a wide variety of food in Taiwan so I'm not worry. But most of all, I'll miss my family and friends and all those things that I'm used too like being understood and all the familiar streets. However, to be a little confused is also the charm when coming to a new place.

http://swedishcandy.org/2010/09/28/salta-skallar/

Moo!

Today, a small bicycle trip with my two younger cousins to say hello to the cows and calfs and fika under a tree with pale yellow blossom that swirled around.

How cows deal with eye-itch...

A New Era...

... is here. Sounds dramatic, doesn't it?

I can barely believe that I have ended my third year at the university, time really flies by. And I have to admit that it has been a tough year from time to time. For example, I've been struggling with Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in quantum physics, laborated with antibodies and modeling of the insulin pathway with scientific research purpose. In retrospect this feels very cool. Though, I must say to be a student is not all about study. I've had so much fun during this time such as going on concerts from classical to electronic, met nice people, participated in Bioteknikdagarna at Chalmers in Gothenburg, had a blast on parties, taken classes in house dance and been a dodgeball leader.

Despite the fact that I enjoy the university life at Linköping University I look for new challenges. I will now take one year off and to learn Chinese in Taiwan for a half year. It's gonna be awesome! Now is the most exciting time as I'm not sure what to expect. Just wait and see...

Vemod

If I were a computer it would scream "data in process, please do not interrupt". The experience of the full spectra of emotions this week has somewhat resulted in dullness. But finally I see the light in the end of the tunnel and for all must-do:s (which the sun pictures brilliantly). Two exams finished , lots of ice cream and farewells to my friends and classmates may summarize what I've been up to.

Vemod. This beautiful small word would describe my mood state best right now. It's Swedish and the closest translation in English is melancholy. The feeling that arise when saying goodbye to friends, not really knowing when you'll meet again and at the same time the warmness in the heart because they are special. Happy sadness.