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.

*

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...

'
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.

Crissy man

In our household, we have pretty much gotten used to that every weekend, there is a great possibility of one of our closest friends Criss to come sleep over. It has pretty much been this way because we help him with school-work. Anyway, our apartment is like a second home for him now. :)

It all started with random cookie bakings. After that it became maths... biology... English ... You name it. Criss even has his own toothbrush now, bed and own pjamas here at our place. Normally, we're not exactly that much of a host to be honest. We always have to make a big fuss when receiving guests that's why. Criss is an exception though. ^^

Mom just said right now: "I guess it's nice that people feel comfortable with us". I completely agree. It's nice to know that there are people who feel comfortable with one, so comfortable you get used to having them around. So comfortable, they accept all your good sides together with the flaws. So comfortable, they pretty much know you inside and out. One is so open with one another, that it nearly comes to no surprise to have the door open for that person anytime.

"When all else fails"

"When all else fails" - Marius and my titription for our new dictionary. Yes, we're so awesooble like that. Snowboarding probably made us go in such a mood that we come up with totally random word-phrases...

My arms' in pain. My legs' in pain. My neck's in pain. My torso's in pain...but despite it all, it's totally worth it! :D

I haven't snowboarded for two years, but two days ago, I finally did once again. What can I say? It was totally awesome!!! :D I want to go snowboarding again during the Sports Break!

There is some feeling of adrenaline, outburst of energy, freedom, when going down those slopes on a board. The wind blowing through your face and entire body, trying to stop you from going in such a speed. Each single snowflake hitting my goggles creating a large impact than it really should, due to the speed. No, when going those slopes, I feel alive and unstoppable. It feels as though I am breaking through every single thing trying to hold me back. When going down those slopes on a snowboard, I feel invincible.

Valentine's Eve

It's that time of the year once again. To be honest, I don't really care about this day - anymore. Before, yes of course, you know the usual, "Oh my goodness I hope he asks me out, I hope I get a rose blablabla"... Now, it's more like, "Oh, it's Valentine's?"

Because of my current thinking, I think it backfired on me.

Well, at school yesterday, there was nothing special except for the great helium balloons in the corridors and the roses people were walking around with. I didn't get one, if you were wondering. It was a totally average day. After school, it was Pavlov practice, General Assembly with Tito Frank at church and Criss sleeping over. I was sooo tired by the end of the day (as usual?).

Today however, was different. I went to Jasse's 18th birthday party, and well, yeah. On my way home, Lyon & I went off Gullmarsplan and I had to wait for like 15 min for my tram, whereas Lyon's train was going to come in around a minute. Great, I thought, 15 min by myself in Gullmarsplan during midnight. Ouch. When Lyon's train came though, I turned around and saw someone hug me, it was someone I know and like quite a bit. :) Yay, I wont be alone afterall I thought.

We talked, and really, I love talking with him. He's such a nice person to talk to. We talked about our day, the previous day and of course the day after. Apparently neither of us had plans for tomorrow. Silence... then I changed subject to relieve the awkward-ness.

Eventually, I had to go to my tram so we said goodbye. When I rushed away, he said wait. I turned around then he told me: "I hope you have a nice Valentine's Day". I smiled and said: "Same to you", then rushed away. After that, I realised. I checked my phone, it stood that it was 12.05. Crap, it's Valentine's Day.

I wonder, why did he come in perfect timing at around exactly 12.00, Valentine's day? If I realised that earlier, I wonder what would have happened then, and tomorrow? Well, after that though, I went home feeling like the biggest idiot ever.

Smoking Kills

Well, I just feel like putting this here, as I find it a worthwhile read.
My friend recently posted a pro-smoking blog, and this is my response to it, translated to English:

"Sam said ...

I ABSOLUTELY do not agree with you. I think you know that already though.

Why you may I ask? Well, it is because then I would really offend someone who was a father-figure to me, someone I care a lot about.

My great-grandfather/uncle was a very famous man in the Philippines, because he was a successful journalist/writer. Billy Balbastro was his name, and at about your age, he began to smoke. He smoked until he was around 40, when he stopped because he had too many cases when he was taken to hospital. He could hardly breathe anymore. He had lung cancer. He died two years ago at the age of 67.

He regretted smoking completely. Why? Well, it took his life. He was very religious, and apologized to God several times. He asked about having more time or to undo everything. This cannot be done of course, so instead, he asked to die in peace on Mother Mary's day, a Saturday. That prayer, was answered.

Despite everything you said, smoking is a sin. You are destroying something sacred, something God has created. God's temple. Sure, you can certainly always say that there is insufficient evidence, but as I said before, it is not sufficiency that counts. That smoking already leads to bad consqeuences should suffice as a reason. God would not want to do something that would kill you - commit suicide?

Is to destroy the temple of God better than not being able to participate in some social communities? Is to calm onself temporarily, better than to remove several years of your life? Is it really worth it to throw away a gift received from God?"

Then, Now and Later?

It turned out that I was one of the priveleged and lucky to go to the Cambridge meeting yesterday. So, Marius, Shuai and I sat on our own green couch during the meeting - the 1337 trio reunited as always. Haha. Ever since the 1337 project week last December, its always been great to see and be with them :)

We learnt a lot there actually, it was very informative. They were quite literal when they said something like this: "Being the few selected and coming from this school, you are one of the best in the world. However,you have to be EXCEPTIONAL. Straight MVGs are not good enough". Our response: Great...

During that meeting, I also learnt that I was not unique in my life-long dream. Apparently, Marius wants the EXACT same thing as me. I was shocked. A medical degree with a PhD in biochemistry. I thought I was special but not anymore! Well, what did they tell us about our aims in life then? Apparently, we REALLY need to start getting work experience... and so, I asked Fr. Kristoff later on that day about volunteering in Josephina Hemmet. However, he responded with an even better offer, maybe Marius and I might be volunteering in Stockholms Sjukhem... :) Shuai on the other hand, being the extreme math genius he is, was nonchalant with his subject of choice - physics.

What else did I get to know about the future? Well, I have decided, my real goal is to come into a university in the UK. That then means that it's not a long time left until I have to apply for universities etc. Apparently, I have to apply for all the UK tests next month and apply to my universities of choice latest this October. Does it sound like a long time? Definitely not even close to enough for me!

What does that then tell me about now? It's not that obvious, it's just that I have to study and spend less days like yesterday. Yesterday, after school, I then went to daily mass as usual, and then Teddy, Criss, Ate and I continued to the Fredagsträffen. There we didn't do anything but chill around, talk, guitar etc. It was nice to be honest. After the Fredagsträffen, Teddy and Criss slept over to our house, but I was so tired that I went to bed and woke up recently seeing them all gone. Sad. I even forgot to help Criss in Biology. :(

It seems like I've been writing quite a lot about the future recently. To be honest, it's because I'm quite scared of it. What if I don't even get anything I write about here? What if, I get the absolute opposite? Only time can tell, and so far, I believe that I still have the chance to make everything happen!

Oh future, must you run after me?

Some typical nerdy natural science goodness:

f(L<3)=(Sam + x)^076.......
√-x/0 = apocalypse - "la racine d'une numéro negatif et divisé par zéro"

If you don't understand our jokes, it just tells you that you're still normal. :)

***

So far, it has pretty much been school-church-even more school-violin-school-SCHOOL... Well, I should not be complaining though, as I am pretty much enjoying it as it goes by. However, it hasn't always been the usual. I actually have done a lot of work lately. Not only for my school (such as loads of PR work several days in a row - for no pay) but also "real" work haha. I can't believe that working can actually be fun. Dancing in the kitchen, why not?

If you think about it, why am I doing all these things in the first place. Why not, take a "chill pill" like what some tell me to do. I'm overworking myself they say. Well, no, I'd seriously be depressed if I didn't do anything. Also, I'm doing it like an investment for the future.

Right now, we have been thinking a lot about our future at school. It's time to make the real decisions. For example, we just decided our electives for next year (I picked: Math E, Chem Extended, Bio Extended and Philosophy A) and this Friday, a couple of people from Cambridge are coming to our school to talk to a selected secret number of ten students, hopefully me being one of them. So far, the future is a rather famous subject.

Well, how about me, what about my future? What do I want to do? To be honest, I want to do a lot of things. Mainly though, I want to be happy, and I want to use my abilities to their maximum potential. So far, being a doctor with a PhD in biochemistry fits this demand quite well. Although, is it really what I want? Is it really my own decision?

I hope that this Friday, I will be in that meeting, among with nine other students, talking to the Cambridge people. I hope that then, I will be able to recieve answers about studying in the UK, maybe in one of those prestigious ones, or why not a Scottish university, I do prefer that actually. I hope that well, whatever the outcomes of the future will be, that it will be suitable and pleasing, for me and everyone around me. :)

Reality Bites Back

I don't know why, but there is something I find aesthetically pleasing in the picture to the right... A "sculpture" Ivan made with my bag underneath the cushions when I left to get snacks for our little physics study group. He said that the the three chairs were worshipping the chair god.

It's been around two weeks now since I started school once again. It's amazing how time flies so quickly. Already I've done so much. Reality bites back.

I know that during the winter break I pretty much made myself promise to write often but already as school started, that promise kinda went downhill. At least I'm trying, that's why I'm writing now! One promise that hasn't failed though which is rather encouraging, is that I have decided to go to church everyday with Teresa. I have been doing that for two weeks now, actually since the very very first day of school, the day before my mom's birthday!

It was an odd first day of school I think. I felt really uncomfortable, like something was missing. So I decided to go to church and pray for my future term, and for my mom's birthday. I went to mass in Domkyrkan and tried to pray the rosary afterwards but I got kicked out, so I went to mass once again at St. Eugenia and THEN completed my rosary. It felt nice doing that, and wondered if I could do it everyday. I wouldn't want to do it alone though, so I thought I could go with someone, like Teresa... Out of the blue I saw Teresa after mass, then we decided together to go everyday (except Saturdays :P).

It was very satisfying to go to two masses that day. It was just a spur of the moment decision for me. I feel like it is necessary to hopefully be able to have yet another successful year. So, I want to continue that feeling, lift my problems and thank God for my blessings during my daily life everyday at 18.00 in St. Eugenia. Afterwards, like a simple reward for another day passed, a small "fika" and chat-time in McDonalds with Teresa (sometimes with other people from church too) fits rather well, making the entire daily journey complete.

Reality bites back rather quickly, and already I have accustomed my daily routine for the next six months. I can already feel the summer coming!

Back to School

Back to school... Konkordia's typical math book every term (loads of writings which she has to erase before handing it in) to the right and Mom's birthday celebration to the left.

Well I guess it's not that bad. I've missed my friends, teachers and the school environment anyway. What I don't miss however is all the stress and blääh... Ah well, that comes alongside the experience I guess and without it, I don't think I'll be able to appreciate school as much. To realise the good, one must see the bad, right? Otherwise you won't have anything to compare it to. Plus if you don't see the bad, you will take the good for granted and not take the good seriously.

School-wise, I can compare this situtation to for example grades. If you always get good grades and never get a bad grade, you may take your grades for granted and in the end get sloppy and lazy. Result? Bad grades later on. This happened to me sadly. In the end I just told myself with confidence that there's no point in studying if I know what I'll get. Result? I got my very first G that made me cry in the hallways. Haha. I guess I deserved it.

In other notice, it was my Mom's 46th birthday on the 8th of January, yesterday then. What did we do? Well, we ate at Vapiano where we had to wait an hour to get a table. The food was good at least. Although my pasta was far too oily so I couldn't eat it up. Sayang.

So here I go welcome the New Term. Hello challenges! Hello obstacles! Hello another term of SUCCESS?! Let's hope for the best! In a blink of an eye, it will be summer again anyway.

An Iceland-er in Stockholm <3

Wow, the photo is so dim... Anyway, if you didn't know who we were in the photo, wouldn't it be hard to guess who of us was from Iceland? xD

Kuya Garri was here for nearly 24h, just arriving from Vienna then the next day (today) moving onwards going home to Reykjavik (oh wow I learnt how to spell it). We picked him up from Arlanda and was at our place at around 4 pm. We just enjoyed each other's company here at home until 6pm, then trying desperately to catch the malls. In the end it became Kista Gallerian. Once the shops closed, Kuya Garri, Criss, Ate and I went back to our place, spending the night together whereas the others went home.

To be honest, I haven't had proper sleep for two days now, and that's very rare considering that it's the holidays and it's school tomorrow. Why? Well, first of all, I didn't sleep when we picked Kuya Garri up, and then we didn't really sleep when he was here. Not being able to meet him since last summer, we had loads of catching-up to do. After watching Gabriel, Brüno and Seven Pounds (never cried so much in a movie before) after one another, we just decided to catch up with things and "chill". It's amazing to hear one's new stories since we last met and also one do realises that time passes by real quick.

I can't believe that it was only months ago since:

• I happily went from school to summer vacations with an award
• I was in Greece for almost two weeks making another extended family I just got to know there
• I was singing with 3000+ people from all over the world in Stockholm
  
• I was in Turin together with 400+ other Catholics my age from around Europe
• I was in Vienna to be in Lisabel's debut :)
• I was in Marseille in their wonderful beaches
  

Now recently during this autumn:

• I happily went from school to the Christmas break with the Pavlovian "Dog Bone Award"
  
• I was in Åsljunga, Skåne, making another extended family I just got to know there
• I have been singing in my choir in so many different concerts
  
• I was in Vadstena with 400+ other Catholics my age from around Sweden
• I was in Oslo to be in the Nordic PDA
• I have been around Stockholm to see its wonderful snow (?)

Well as you see, a lot has happened, and I can't believe everything is happening so quickly. There are similarities to what has happened a few months ago and to what has happened this autumn if you may have noticed. To be honest I didn't realise the similarities myself until now. Quite interesting though.

However, despite the new things that do happen as you notice as time goes by, there are things that do stay the same, or even develop - if you treat it right. Change doesn't always have to be a bad thing. An example would be yourself, your skills and of course even friendships. I guess my perfect example of this for now, would be Kuya Garri from Iceland. Despite that long time we haven't seen each other and the distance from Sweden to Iceland, we still keep contact and of course keep the friendship. I guess it's nice to know that even if everything is changing, your friends' availability to you never will.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

I was in a real crap mood yesterday (hormones?), that's why I didn't feel like writing. Nevertheless, I did feel that I had something worth mentioning here, and so I write about it today.

Yesterday was a regular Sunday, however it was the first time I EVER came late to mass. It was amazing, I came late so I couldn't serve due to me forgetting my bus card. I felt guilty and I guess that was the reason for me to come late, to realise the real meaning of serving. Lesson learnt, okay?

After mass, I went around with the friends a bit, ate McDonalds and looked at the NK annual Christmas display (photo). I didn't have the chance to see them until then. It was cute, as always. Afterwards, my family and I went to watch a movie - the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. It was Heath Ledger's last movie, and I really don't know what to say about it. The story was not the best (I can understand why since the main character died in the middle so they had to improvise) but the concept was nice about dreams etc., and the effects were awesome.

In the movie, the main characters were in a touring show featuring the chance for you to be able to go "behind the mirror" and experience your wildest imaginations. Imagine, for a moment, you have the chance to experience everything you have ever dreamed of. You can experience what it is like to be the president of the entire world, fly, or why not the best thing of all, meet the one person who always seems to linger in your imaginations. It can be exactly anyone I guess, an old friend, a late relative, your loved one...

If you think about it, isn't the power of imagining remarklable? By simply doing this, you can find yourself in a distant place, you can have whatever you've ever wished for, you can meet any person you've ever wanted to meet... You simply have all the power to experience whatever you want to experience. It's a great tool to escape reality for a while. Escape your fear, escape your grief, escape all your hardships. As if those never have existed. It's just all up to your imagination to decide.

2010!

Happy New 2010 to everyone!! Let's hope that this year will be the best we'll have - so far, right?

So what did I do to wait for the new upcoming year? Well to be honest, I didn't do anything actually. I just sat here at home and watched tv. I didn't even mind when the fireworks came.

My original plan for today was to spend it with friends outside, but as my sister already was going out I didn't want to leave my mom at home alone, especially on this special day. The day was spent at home with mom and a bottle of Pommac.

Nevertheless, I couldn't ask for any better New Year. I was at church on the 31st and on the 1st, whereas the 1st being a day of obligation. Despite it being a red-day there were not so many at church then. Just a bit more than the mass the day before, where there were hardly anyone.

Teresa's mom told us on the 30th that one should always come to mass on the last day of the year. One should be thankful for the year that has passed, especially for all the blessings and all the happiness. In my opinion, that should even be more important than coming on the 1st of January, asking for yet another great year. Isn't it better to be thankful than asking for anything? In my eyes it is anyway, as I believe that it was just not under my power that I had a successful 2009. No, I believe I also had a little help from a friend above. :)

The 2009 Album.