traveler: my last week in Sweden
It’s the last week in Sweden for me. Though there’s the odd feeling of missing a place I haven’t left yet and didn’t even particularly love, today I’m entering the stressful period of packing and moving with a comfortable mind and a full heart. I’ve done a lot during this second semester in Umeå, and though there’s still so much more I could do, I’m content. I’ve made friends and connections, I’ve sampled the loveliness of the super-long days of light, added pieces to my portfolio, even gone to a barbecue or two. It’s funny like that — you never get done even half of the original projects you plan on doing, but at the same time, you wind up doing so much more. A good argument for not relying too much on plans! Roberto has given a tentative yes to an offer, and I’m looking forward to doing mad research on our new home-to-be. (I’m not saying the name yet because I’m superstitious like that, but I’m happy about it.) But for now, it’s on to packing and deep breaths and getting ready for California and the new stage in our lives.
To help recap my last weeks here, I’m compiling the last month of Facebook updates (because someday I’ll quit FB, and all those posts will be lost — though maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be. But I am contrary and loathe to let things go, even ephemeral digital things):
5/31 It’s 3:30am and it looks like 10am outside. Outside our window, students are hanging out and riding their bikes. Amazing.
5/31 is grateful for blue sky, plenty of sunshine, no darkness at all, and good times with good people. pa-pa-papa-papa-pa-papapa…
5/29 Thanks for the patience and input of all the peeps I polled! Now, off to the design school for Korean pub. Yes, I’m still in northern Sweden.
5/29 Berlin or London? London or Berlin? You’ve got an hour… pick one!
5/27 learned how to make tortillas from scratch this week. What? Isn’t that part of the usual northern Sweden experience?
5/26 It’s 1am and there is light in the sky. I’m eager to see the next stage of our lives, but for the moment, I’m grateful to be here.
5/25 is worn out from unproductive worrying and in such a state of exhaustion it could be mistaken for zen.
5/21 reminds herself that everything comes with change, including the good things. Deep breaths.
5/21 is stressed. It will all work out. It *will* all work out! WILL IT ALL WORK OUT!?! Trying to breathe. So stressed I couldn’t remember how to spell breathe.
5/20 needs someone to publish a version of “The Artist’s Way” without all the references to God, so I can actually get through more than a couple of pages at a time.
5/17 is so grateful for the chance to live in this place of idyllic blue lakes, 10pm extended sunsets, and super-smart, super-nice people.
5/17 is marveling at how amazing life is, even while mildly freaking out.
5/16 Looking for pay-as-you-go mobile phone options in the SF Bay Area. Recommendations? Which companies have better coverage?
5/15 is looking up, counting down, and freaking out.
5/13 is fighting off panic. 3.5 weeks left in Sweden! Aieeee!
5/12 loves, loves, loves that there’s light in the sky at 11pm and 2am these days.
5/11 had a relaxing birthday, with sunshine, embroidery, puttering around, kisses, chocolate ice cream, and phone calls and messages from friends. Thanks for the b-day wishes!
5/11 is still smiley and enjoying the birthday wishes from Europe and beyond!
5/11 is smiley.
5/10 is back in Umeå, chillin’ like a villain.
5/8 is befuddled. I’m on vacation in a foreign country but I can understand the locals. Back “home” where I live currently, I can’t understand them at all!
5/7 7-hour layover + 4-hour delay (the plane got hit by lightning — twice! — on the way in) = way too much time in Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport. Finally arrived in London. Weary wheee!
5/6 is on her way to London for a few days. Wheee!
5/4 has about a month left in Sweden. Eeek! Yay! Boo! I’m so confused.
5/2 has tickets for London! Wheeee! Now, which shoes to pack? And does watching episodes of “Poirot” count as research?
5/1 is agonizing over plane tickets. Again.
Add comment May 31st, 2009