Reality check - summer '10

Photo is my current Facebook profile pic!

Umm... sorry about being lazy, hehehe. It appears as if I haven't written something for months now. Well, what matters is that I am writing now! Kudos to Konkish <3

So what have I done so far then? There is too much to mention but well, simply put, I didn't get everything I wanted, but at the same time I got a lot of things I never expected. For example, I didn't come into Karolinska Sommarforskarskola, but instead I got a place at Stockholm University starting tomorrow until August! Konkordia and my thesis: "Does the chromatin remodeling protein complex B-WICH alter not only the chromatin structure but also the DNA-methylation pattern on the promoter"... I think anyway. I had to translate from Swedish. Other than that, nothing special I guess except... ehh I got a new haircut? Long hair no more! xD

Anyway, so far all is going well. The only way is up, right? However, every now and then one should look down, seeing all the small adventures one has encountered along the way. Right now, my evening entertainment you might ask? Well, it's nothing other than our dance during the YFL Congress in Slovenia 2008... We really could do just about anything back in the days!

How about now then? Currently, I will be turning 17 on the 17th, in three days. Then I will be in Tallinn, Estonia, my 24th visited country. Why? Well, new place on my birthday, why not? Also, I won't be able to have any vacation from today since my lab will start so, weekend trips are the way to go for me this summer. Nevertheless, they are all worthwhile.

Looking back, I am proud to say that I will be entering my 17th year feeling that I have achieved more than enough being a 17-year-old. I'm not sure if I can be any happier, any luckier or any more blessed, to have these memories engraved into my brain. A loving family, an amazing of bunch friends giving me an unending source of happiness. What more can a 17-year-old-to-be ask for?

Thefts, charity and a funeral

I haven't written for a while, I know. In the past few weeks, it has been quite hectic actually, which means that I have a lot to tell!

Firstly, my computer and our projector were stolen. The day after, my sister's cellphone and wallet. Two weeks later (yesterday), four wallets, 4kr and a bus card from Örebro were stolen. Same place (church), same occasions. Geez. At least now I have a more awesome new computer!

Secondly, Marius and I have started volunteering in Josephinehemmet and we have been there twice now. I know that that's not such a big number, but our schedule haven't fit that's all... I played Air in G and Canon in D for them on my violin. :) Also, it was very insightful to get to hear some of the old people's stories. It was fascinating to hear them talk about their experiences!

Lastly, I have been a lot in church lately. Not only because of Easter and our most recent concerts, but because of other reasons too such as our recent YFL Camp batch 3. Also, there was a tragedy which occurred within the community which led to my sister and I being servants during a funeral.

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As the newspapers have mentioned, there was a 13 year-old boy who died because of a game in Slussen. The game was "Urban Exploration" where you explore closed areas underground. While the boy was playing on the undergrounds of Slussen he fell 30m down into a hole.

In my life, I have been to five funerals so far. Two because of old age, one because of cancer, one because of suicide and lastly one because of a game. When I tell my friends this, they tell me it's too much for a 16 year-old. However I must say, these funerals do teach me a lot of things.

During this funeral, I looked around me and I saw people filled with grief. There was an ambience of calamity throughout the entire church. I looked around me, and I didn't know anyone. I didn't even know the boy. However, those cries told me a lot.

Even though I didn't know him, I couldn't help but start crying myself. As I saw the family grieving on the front row, all I could see were their empty faces covering their feelings inside. They could only indicate and give me an impression of their emotions. No matter how much they cry, I would never understand. Noone will.

I looked around me and I saw that at least half the room were of children younger than me. I thought to myself, imagine at that age you are already faced with the reality of death. Imagine that already by that age, you have already forever lost a friend. You will never be able to reminisce those those "good old days", as those days have yet not come.

I marched out the aisle at church holding one of the boy's many baskets of flowers to the song "How to kill a mockingbird" by Eminem. Suddenly, we hear a high-pitched shriek. It was the mother screaming as the coffin, holding her son leaves her sight - forever.

A Spontaneous Visit to an Elderly Home

Criss, Ate and I went to Josephinahemmet, a Catholic elderly home, as a random decision this Saturday, right before our Mock Camp. We went to their mass in the chapel and afterwards, a nun asked us if we were there to sing or play something for the elderly. How did we respond? Why not.

We were running late for the Mock Camp already, but we thought this would be a good cause. Criss had his guitar with him, and we played three songs, just random like that. Even though the elderly didn't make so much noise, they seemed to appreciate it. We got to meet someone we were familiar with from St. Eugenia there, who happily showed us around and welcomed us warmly. He suggested for us to come here often and showed us the schedule I added above. I believe I will follow that from now on.

That visit in the elderly home humbled me. I was always thinking, would I also be like this in a couple of years? I also imagined if it was mom sitting there on the wheelchair, requiring assistance. I wouldn't be the one assisting though, I thought. I would have to be far away, minding my own business, managing my own family and life. That thought was rather depressing.

The elderly there were very kind. Despite as though some were not thinking straight anymore, like one who was offering us her share of fruit salad while we were performing (we didn't know how to react since she spoke Polish). The elderly would look at us with such a stare that pierces through all the way to the heart and soul. When I saw that glance, I felt as though they missed their own family right around my age. I felt a sense of longing on their blank stares. I felt as though I could fill those longing glances with at least a smile, to fill the emptiness from their own families for at least that moment.

We left Josephinahemmet with a feeling of having accomplished and done something good, despite the spontaneity. Even though we were only there for a maximum of 30min, we already experienced so much which made me decide to come back at least once a week, or month. I will start to volnteer there. The rest of the day went well of course, which ended up with Criss randomly sleeping over at our place once again, as usual. :)

Ivan is awesome (Marius' 17th)

My super-cool birthday card for Marius and Konkordia with her mango slice from Dr. Pol! :D

With that simple statement above, I can already end this blog if I wanted to, 'nuff said. No but I won't since I have to justify my statement, right?

Today was Marius 17th birthday. Ivan was soooo into celebrating him, that without him his day wouldn't have been this awesome. Seriously, at first, we bought our presents together. If he hadn't bought with me, it would've been super awkward to be the ONLY one giving a gift. Secondly, he was so into giving it at the same time, surprising Marius that if he didn't suggest the wildest things I would've just given it and like walk away. No, but he texted me to go inside and disturb their lesson, give my gift together with his, sing, then leave the room. Well, it was embarrassing, but he made me do it, succeeded, and made Marius a happy 17-year old! ;D He loved our presents so much he was going to hang the t-shirt I gave him, and he said he'll wear Ivan's on every "Gibb" he goes to. Also, he said he'll try beating our gift buying awesome-ness with my present this summer, but is that even possible? Haha! However, imagine what random comments I got afterwards, since well some random girl barging in during a lesson with a present to a guy all the way in the back of the room. Yes, embarrassing, but totally worth it!

Apart from that nice surprise, my class had a physics success today since noone in my class got IGs and many got MVGs! Dr. Pol gave us mangoes. :)

Well, overall, it was a very good day. Without Ivan being as awesome as he is, my day would not have been this great. I embarrassed myself during the act, but hey, what's new? xD

The apartment of my dreams?

So then we're back. Back to the usual. How did it go you may ask? Well, physics test in the morning and I came first to school so I had to wait outside the door for ages. From there on, I think you can already guess how the rest of my day went. Physics in the morning really makes my mind go completely... disoriented (runndz).

As the day went on with a headache and all, I must admit, it was actually very nice to meet all my friends once again. I've missed them! Also my teachers, I've missed them too! It was entertaining to see Mr. Maier with a mohawk and Mr. Taylor with a Pippi wig!

No but, it was a nice first day I must admit... now ignoring my then physics and french test.

After school of course, I have orchestra. So I went to the Royal College of Music. As I was walking from the train, I overheard small boys talking about the apartment building in front of us, the one on the way to the school. They said that the apartment in front of us are the most expensive apartments in Stockholm. Is that really true?

I pass by those apartments at least twice a week. Everytime I pass by, I always admire that apartment building, as I find something so aesthetically pleasing about it. Just standing there in all its glory, with huge welcoming windows and its circular shape. Outside it, THE royal music school in Sweden, making one surrounded by music of all different kinds in a professional level at all times. 5min away, if one is not so into music, why not go to the Stadium and excercise? The best part of it all, when you come home, there's a sushi restaurant just beneath.

The sushi restaurant underneath!

Everytime I pass by, I've always told myself, someday I'm also going to live there. Near the city, near some sushi and of course, near the passion of my life, music. However, if those small boys were right, then the day I'll be able to overlook the Royal College of Music from my kitchen window is a lot further than it seems...

Ah well, I can't do much about it. I'll just have to wait and see what life has in store for me. Until then, I'll just continue passing by with admiration, everytime I have orchestra or violin. However for orchestra, that won't be until another four weeks... apparently we have no orchestra until then! :(

Sannaz, Sushi and... Physics.

Well, sushi and donuts...

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Yesterday, I went snowboarding again, it was awesome as always. :) However, my pain was a lot worse this time = more worthwhile! I was bleeding, bruised, had a back pain... It was an awesooble day with Marius, Eugeney and Elinor! :) <3

Yesterday too, was Sannaz birthday. Today we celebrated her day with a... wait for it... PHYSICS PARTY!!! :O

Yes, that's how nerdy you become when going to natural science. No, but apart from that, we ate sushi too of course, in a remarkable restaurant, it was really pretty in there! Firstly of course, Konkordia, Mariella, Sannaz and I had to be productive, so before some sushi, we were in the library in Kulturhuset, studying. It was beautiful, having a view over our wonderful city, while thinking of charges and forces in our heads...

There was something mesmerizing sitting up there in the silence, overlooking the small tiny people walking below. We were in the heart of the city, in the midst of yet another busy weekday in Stockholm. However, we of course, trapped in our own little bubble filled with elctrostatic forces, equilibrium and charges, were indifferent to all this. Nope, not this time, Dr. Pol won this round...

Nevertheless, it was a really good day. Moreover, I got to spend it with three wonderful people, especially one who chose to celebrate her special day with us! <3 :)

Awesooble!

Stina our cellist and Elinor our pianist are missing in this photo! :(

Yesterday, all our hardcore ensemble practices paid off. We went on the stage all white to honour Dr. Whiteley, and we rocked it. We managed to receive the trophy, and add it to our trophy cabinet! To be honest, I'm rather happy to finally stop playing that song over and over. Now I can concentrate on playing other songs on the violin...

After the ensemble competition, my friend accidentally left with my phone and keys. I had to break my lock open and go get a new lock, before the shops closed. I hurried off to Gallerian, and on my way to there, I had a nice conversation with Mr. Taylor on the train. When I arrived in T-Centralen, I rushed to Clas Ohlson to get my new orange lock. While there though, I recalled Dr. Pratt telling me last Tuesday that he didn't have a working calculator for pH calculations, so as a random decision, I bought him the same calculator that Marius and I have.

When I came to school today, during my first lesson (English with Dr. Whiteley), Maria gave us chocolate muffins, congratulating us for our Pavlovian victory the day before. She also later then promised, that everytime we win, we will always get something baked for our class! Really, this is an awesooble deal, since she's awesooble in baking...

Next lesson, it was chemistry. I gave Dr. Pratt the calculator I bought, and he was simply overjoyed. He gave me a huge bear hug. :) Later on during the lesson, he gave us cake and FINALLY showed us a presentation of him from when he was our age until now. We got to know that he was the biggest alcoholic ever in our age, and that he is extremely athletic. At the end of all the photos and stories though, he asked, "Do you know why I'm showing this you?". Of course we didn't so he continued: "Because I'm 40 as of today".

Can you believe that my random nice feeling of buying Dr. Pratt a present was in perfect timing? I thought that that was just... unbelievable. God's plan? Meant to be? Nevertheless, these series of events can only be described by one word: awesooble.