Power of Good-bye

So it has ended. Four months of studies and work across an ocean. Meeting new friends and experience it together. Thursaday it all paid of. The certificate cermony. The last time I saw many of my friends and classmates. Afterwards I had to run over to my internship to say goodbye to them as well. Another tearfull moment. Returning back was as enter a black hole, no sound, no light, only lingering memories. Memories that will stay with me forever. Memories of dear friends and people making up the whole.

The last days was just packing, saying goodbye to those who stayed and those leaving earlier. Then the day come. Leaving in the afternoon, staning outside of Capital for the shuttle to the airport. There the last lingering people came by to say goodbye. I am gonna miss everyone. This didn't help that my Ipod during the wait at the airport played those sad ballads over and over again. It got worse. At the flight they showe Wall-E. Allready is my mind in turmoil, but this was horrible.

Maybe I was tired as well, for I couldn't sleep so I watched movies the whole trip. Then in Paris I waited 3 hours for my connecting flight, bying some chocholate and coke. Unfortunatly, at the flight I sat next to some childrens families (small children) who couldn't be quiet as I wanted to sleep. Landing in Sweden and walking thru all the ceckpoints and standing at ther terminal exit and my parents...are late (which wouldn't have surprised me if it weren't for that they have not seen me for 4 months). It's good that I have these memories to lock back for it will be a loooong winter.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Everyone.

School's Out

What began in August have now ended. Time has flown by in an incredible speed. I have met so many people, seen so different places and experienced something that I will remember as one of the best parts of my life.

School ended with the final exam Monday morning. Not prepared for t enough. Sunday was quickly reading through as much as possible. Afterwards I can say it paid of. This test feels like the best of those I written so far. Ironically I felt the first one to be horrible, it turned out very goof and the second one felt easy, but turned to be a low point. Maybe hybris play a great deal in this. Then I should probably say that it felt like the worst exam ever.

After that I more or less roamed the corridors watching everyone either go to there exams or watching people take of. Ones again the corridors have turned almost silent, like the the final sound of breathing from a dying man before the Winter strikes with its full strength. There was a small glimpse of the warmth in the corridor as we had a very small celebration of the final exam and as well as a goodbye to those leaving already the following day.

Today the silent lay heavy in the morning. Went on a shopping trip to find presents to myself. Thats right, you feel so much happier spending money for yourself (until the hangover comes over you and you think "why did I buy this stuff?"). Need to start thinking about packing all my stuff together.

Hej Mitt Vinterland

Seems like I have neglected updating this as the final exam comes upon me. Alright, the 4 December we had the final guest speakers of the course. Someone from Inter-American group or whatever and the other the Jamaican Ambassador. A very "nice" lesson (not enhanced nice, just fun to see if there is some reaction). Afterwards thinking up some skit for the coming day.

Friday. Goodbye speak from the professor and writing of evaluation. Then the class skits. Very funny, one of the best lessons ever (of course there was cake there as well). Only thing that surprised me was that no one made a parody about me. Come on, I spent the whole semester going around saying "it's not that cold", people referred to me as the Swedish bank, my ramblings about Norway, Finland, Denmark and Russia and King Niklas I would alone be something, but no. Nothing. Still, it was very funny.

Later that day. Preparing for the Winter Masquerade. A very good party. I need to upload the pictures on facebook. The best thing was the Chocolate Fountain. And strawberries. Good God, my senses was in heaven while tasting that, exploding with the sweet taste of chocolate together with the natural taste of the strawberries.

Saturday. Finished the book critique. Not a good one, but it's finished. Began studying for the exam. Oh, and it snowed as well. And it is damn cold.

Sunday. All study day and the snow is still out there, but only in some remote location under a shadow. Need to press more knowledge into my head.

The Final Countdown

It's been a week since the last update, so here's a quick recap:

First of, New York City. The city that never sleeps. The Big Apple. Four hours buss ride starting 3:30 in the morning. Plugged in to my Ipod and let the music float over me and accompany me in my sleep. Arrives 7 in the morning and goes to see the Thanksgiving parade when it passed by Columbus circle. Very fun seeing Snoopy, Kermit and the Muppet's and other famous characters passing by together with other less famous like Miley Cyrus (I watch to much Disney). The only bad thing was that I didn't predicted the weather. It was freezing cold. The howling wind cut through my clothes and bones and left me shaking in the streets. I was not the only one. I meet some other from the university and out of us there, two others where from Scandinavia and all three of us as shaking while the Americans had fur coats (not really, but they were at least prepared). We stod there for 5 hours!!!

Other things that day were that we went and had dinner together, and on our way we passed the outskirts of Central Park and onto Broaway and Times Square. After dinner we went to the Metro. It hated me. I couldn't get a pass out from the damn maschine as it didn't tae my card or didn't take money. Luckily enough one of the Americans had an extra card so I use that. Stupid maschine. The Norwegian I was traveling with and myself went onward to Harlem were our Hostel was located. We also went and saw the new James Bond movie. Vey good and so true in many ways.

Let see, Friday Today we headed to the UN. When we went out of the Metro station we looked up and saw ths tall old skyscrape. Empire State Building we though (apperently it was the Chrysler Building). Entered the UN and walked on tour with a Rumanian guide. Got use of my political science studies when you could outshine everyone in how many members the UN have (192 to be exact) and the Secretary-General. Very nice presents fom different countries around the world, especially a nice sculpture made out of ivory and very detailed from China.

After this we went to Broadway to get tickets to a show with the Norwegians supervisor and family. Went and saw "Hairspray". I would probably prefured "Phantom of the Opera", "Jesus Christ Superstar" or even Mamma Mia! (it's swedish and I know the songs, come on) but it was very good. That night also when we were walking down Times Square I heard one of my classmates from the University. The odds for that are so low.

Saturday. Time for mass sighseeing. We actually went inside the Chrysker building and were told that it was not the Empire State Building. We got the direction and walked over there instead and entered. Hugh cue to the top, so we decided to skip going to the top. Walked over town through Wall Street and to Ground Zero. Also, when we came to Wall street three or more firetrucks came and firefighters went down in the Metro were we came up from, and later on I was just standing on the pedestrian walk when two taxis crosed the street and one forced the other on to the pedestrian walk and continued. Just in front of me, 3-4 meters away.

Sunday and it was back to D.C. at 8 o'clock in the morning. The Norwegian guy had partyed from 1 to 4. He was tired. Lucky for us, the weather changed to rain as we sat on the bus so no problem there. Rest of the day was study day. 12 pages left on a book critique. Was down to 9 at the end of the day.

Monday work day. New employee at the staff and a free lunch. Forth time eating something asian. Stressed back and continued writing. 5 left at the end.

Tuesday. Final day. Felt very sad t leave as it has been fun to work there. While working I couldn't help but check my e-mail and the book asignment had been postponed 24 hours. There is a higher power! After work I continued writing and had one page left. Clock was 2 in the morning.

Wednesday and I woke up at 10. Wrote half a page. Went to classes. Afterwards I had the final meeting with WASSA and then we went forlunch together. Organization paid of course, most of it. Need to finish that one last page now I tought and went back at 9 for one hard hour writing. Didn't do that, but talked for half an hour with people I hadn't seen since before Thanksgiving. Finaly sit down at the computer and a new message. Once again the ssignment is pstponed, now to Sunday. There is truly a higher power.

Sound of Silence

It has been a while now. Quick recap. Nov. 19 don't remember anything special from that. Nov. 20 one of my classmates turning 21. Nice party. Nov. 21 to 23 out of my memory. Sunday morning, more specific 1:30 am a German and Korean calls my roommate to celebrate his birthday. After he been parting all night. He got a 2 cupcakes and a balloon. We celebrated him a bit later in the day with a very god cake and a present. Nov. 24 - 25 was work days. The 25th was also the day when the students in Ecuador came back. Some people were more happy than others but it was very chaotic. Also the Japanese guy came back, but disappeared again. He seems to have survived Ecuador at least.

Today. The silence was thick when everyones gone away for thanksgiving. My day consisted of to do as much homework as possible to make up for the coming days as I go to New York. Thats right. I'm making another trip outside of DC. Hopefully I will not feel bad for all the work I'm leaving behind. Everything will turn out fine, but it will probably some all nighters before that. Happy Thanksgiving to those who care.

Phantom of the Opera

Sunday afternoon. The economic students are insane. It's cold and they are doing a sketch outside for 20 minutes (and I'm just stupid for agreeing to film the whole sketch, should have gotten more clothes).

Monday. Work again and then stress back to campus for an opera performance at the Kennedy Center. Showing Lucrezia Borgia with Renée Fleming in the lead (in Italian). Very good I must say, very good. Very funny to look at the rest of the audience. All old, ladies wearing fur coats and so on. But all was sold out so all seats was taken. There were Italians, French, Asians (don't know if it was Japanese, Korean or Chinese) and Americans. And definitely a Russian couple. An old man going around with his much younger wife (those classmates who where in Egypt last year should know what I'm talking about).

Tuesday and a new working day, but this day the interns toured the Capital and the Library of Congress. And ate at the cafeteria in one of the bildings for the Congresspersons. Nothing special. Although I must say that the whole complex is huge with underground tunnels and halls with beautiful statues. It stunned me, much more intresting than the White House. Great place for a paint-ball war (would probably never happened, but it would be fun). Funny fact, they had a bust with Raoul Wallenberg inside the Capital.

And to tie together with the last entry, it snowed today. How fun.

The Illusion of Power

It is a couple of days recap now.

Thursday. Bought Judas Priests new album Nostradamus and some new earphones and god, those earphones was a very good investment. I can actually hear the music now without turning the volume up to max. And what a sound. It's heavenly.

Friday. Don't remember what happened on Friday, probably a boring day.

Saturday. Up early and away to the White House. Took the bus, cheaper, but packed with all kind of strange people. Wished I had brought my Ipod, but they didn't say it was allowed and I could either strangle someone with the earphone chord or use the Ipod to bash someones head in so I left it at home. And boy, they had a very strict security. Really, it took us almost longer to stand in security check than walking around the White House. So I woke up at 8:30 to enjoy something that took 20 minutes. How fun. I need to go to the Royal Castle in Sweden just to compare these two.

The Afternoon was funny though. I actually had control over the remote and sat there from 7 to 1pm watching movies, series and such. First a documentary of the Antichrist and the Evangelical Christians in the US. Of course they predicted the Antichrist would rise from Europe (hard to see ones own fault). Then the end of Shrek with the songs Hallelujah and I'm a Believer. Most funny things was over, but two of the best songs were there. Then, embarrassing as it is, Alvin and the Chipmunks. Afterwards I sap through the channels until I find Cartoon Network and they show Superman: Doomsday. Those who came in at this moment just looks at me. One even said that she knew I was young, but not this young. I just countered with that I'm a childish person.

After this I went down to the TARC to see Baby Mama with all the others (even though I can't see the difference between my childlike appreciation of movies and series and the childlike humor of that movie). After that movie I go back up and watch two episodes of Doctor Who before going to bed.

Sunday. Horrible. Got a cold again and feeling tired and depressed. The weather is still much better than in Sweden, but now all the leafs are gone and it is just autumn depression vibes over the place. And it's raining. It could at least snow.