californiabylagesson

The flight went fine, one stop on Island and then 5 more hours to get to the states. Luckily I got a seat next to a Swed. He was traveling with his family first to NYC and then down to Florida. We talked for 5h straight and I told him (and wrote it down) everything they should see and do in NYC and just stuff tourist usually don’t know. He really appreciate it so I hope they’ll get a great vacation now.

When we got to Newark it took a while to get through security and when I went to get my bag there wasn’t one for me. I had to talk to this guy for a while and tell him what it looked like and give him my information and stuff.

Then finally I got out of the airport and Dan was there waiting for me :).

 

 

Next day Dan had a class around 10am-12pm and then we, believe it or not, went to the mall, since the guy at the airport said it could take up to Thursday night before I’d get my bag.

We started by getting some lunch. He got all fried stuff and I found some sushi, not the best one put it was ok.

In the afternoon I got a call my bag was on it’s way and around 7pm it rang the door and I just sign a paper and there it was, my big red awesome bag filled with my Swedish food, -and clothes of course.

At night I had Dan and some of his roommates try all the stuff I brought. Such as hardbread with soft cheese tasting like salami, and of course box-picked candy, like liquorices, peppermints (polka) and ‘dumle’. I also got small cinnamon buns with me we put on the grill the next day (yummie).

 

At Menlo mall

 

 

Today, Wednesday we went downtown to the shoe repair, had to fix one of my zippers on my booths. It was $30 (about 200 sKr) back home it was 430sKr when I asked. Already saving in the money for the trip ;)

Afterwards we just walked around a bit, it’s been around 20 C since I got here but it will get a bit chillier in the end of the week.

We then went to Stop and Shop to get some groceries. I got stuff to make meatballs-burgers and some other stuff like chocolate mousse jell-o (tasted good but had a jell-o consistence).

So when we got back Dan but on the grill and bbq’ed his steak and I did my meatball-burgers and I also got stuff to make tzakziki. It tasted like heaven and we sat outside on the porch eating too.

Right now he’s somewhere doing homework with other people and then he have some frat-stuff and then something else so he’ll be back around midnight I think, so im just hanging out back here at their house with his roommates.

 

 

Pumpkin made out of soda's, at StopNShop

 

Dan at StopNShop

 

BBQ'n at the porch, notice the shorts, it's waaaarm here!!

 

Grillmaster

 

Started to rain but it was still pretty warm so we just sat there and enojoyed

the heat from the grill.

 

 

 

Tomorrow Dan has class at night so I think I’ll just drop him off and then go to the mall for a few hours and then pick him up when he’s off again. On Friday we’ll go to Edison, were his mother lives and I might as well go see the Rubin’s on Friday if they’re free (I emailed Janis earlier today). Saturday it’s Halloween and there’s a party at Dan’s frathouse if I remember it right.

 

Otherwise we’ll just take it one day at the time. We got an idea to maybe go see his sister down at Maryland, it’s like a 3h drive though. And I also would like to go to a farmer’s market because now at Halloween you can pick your own pumpkin and so.

Well, well we’ll just see what’s up. I’ll try to make some updates here : ).

 

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

 

As usually i’ve been kind of bad with the updates. So let’s take of from were we left it.

 

Last weekend Svenja and P had to go to the wedding and I went with them ( and their mum) to the ceremony in the church and then I went with their mum home afterwards while they went to the dinner and so.

When I got home I was just chilling and around 7 or 8pm I went downstairs to see what’s up. Then Astrid, Svennys mum, told me to put on shoes and we walked over to their neighbor and there they tried to tell me I should go with the neighbors’ daughter and her friends to party. I was like.. ehmm.. ok?!

But I thought, why not?!

So I went in and got ready. And I had misunderstood most of it (since her mum doesn’t speak pretty much Any English).

I though we were going for hardcore party!, we went to eat and then to a bar, and I was wearing a party dress and heals. I felt so stupid!!

Anyway it was nice of them to take me out. We were 10 girls I believe, and it was nice I guess just talking and later on having a drink.

 

The whole last week we were working the later shift at work, 2pm to 10pm. Most of the days we were sleeping until 11 or noon and then we had cooked dinner for breakfast :P

I liked it much better then the early shift since, first of all, I wasn’t tired at all and the people we were working witch were so much nicer and chilled. We were also aloud to listen to music (radio or mp3) while working. The days past by so much faster. Only negative was that you didn’t really have much else to do except for working and sleeping since we got home that late.

 

Friday after work we got home and then right away got ready to go out, I had taken a shower before work so I only redid my make up and changed my clothes. Half an hour later we were in the car down to “Roadhouse”, a newly opened bar downtown. It was crowded but we found a table and not much later we met friends of Svenja and also one girl from work. We had a great time and I learned to (finally) drink beer. Also it’s so cheap in Germany, one beer was 1 euro and the same price for a snaps! I think I had at least 10 snaps and 5-6 beers, I think I paid less than 20 Euros that night.

After the bar we went over to a nightclub (around 3-4am), there were like no people that night but we had fun and danced around until 5.30am! I got us in for free too so I had to make my “money” worth and dance, dance,dance!

At 6am we had spaghetti at Svenjas place! ;)

 

Saturday we slept until 2pm I think and later that afternoon we took a walk to get some fresh air. I must say I love the landscape around here!

 

 

last sunday at P's soccergame

 

friday, after the club, at like 6am, svenja n marvin

 

Later we got ready again to go over to some of Svenjas friends and from there to “Roadhouse”, same place as the day before. We met more people this night. First we were sitting with some guys (mainly boyfriends of Svenjas girlfriends). And then suddenly I hear, “Aquavit” and I’m like WTF.

One of the guys at the table had ordered in one aquavit snaps and I had to ask him why in the world he could to that, it’s so horrible, strong and taste like asshole!

 

It all ended with him ordering in one for me as well… and then another one. I told him both times I can’t drink it, but as you probably understand I still did. (urrk!).

To be “nice” back I ordered in a gin snaps for him, just to see a ugly face while drinking it… but I didn’t got one, he liked it. Damn!

Then I hear from someone; “You have to drink a rusty strew if you’re man enough to do it”, I’m like, hit me up.

Apparently it’s some snaps with Tabasco sauce. Just imagine for one sec. Before I had it they said, “ all the guys usually puke after having it, so you have to drink a glass of milk afterwards”. I did. And later there was one more in front of me, don’t know where it came from. I had the other one, but no milk. I had at least 2-3 beer after it as well, no problem. I Do feel like a man now, handling all that weird stuff!

 

Tabasco n milk w tim

 

svenja took a million pics :P

 

w the girls

 

this is torben sleepin at the sidewalk when we got out of the cab xD

 

 

 

After our shot games Svenja wanted to go home but I was way to drunk and happy to end the night. I ended up at the nightclub again with this guy and one friend of Svenja, we danced and drank until 6am I believe and then took a cab home.

 

On the way home I realized I didn’t had my driving license in my jacket pocket anymore so I got really pissed. It must have fallen out while I was getting money or something, and I can imagine that if someone found it, they’d keep it.

Other that the DL problem I had an awesome night again, and I was so worth it after all that work the whole week!

 

Today was the first day of the last week and we are back to working the early shift, so need to get up at 5am every morning.

I was so F-ing tired the whole day today and just wanted to go home, when I did, I took a shower and a nap. Later, around 8-ish, we went to see Svenjas girlfriends at some restaurant place and were just talking and so.

 

Tomorrow after work we are going to Paderborn, the city Svenjas going to study at, to look at an apartment for her. It’s almost an hour away so we have to leave right after work pretty much.

 

Wednesday we’re meeting some other friends of Svenja and Thursday I think she said there was something going on as well. The weekend we have no plans for yet but I think I need some more beer before I go back to Sweden.

 

Tuesday morning I will be home in Sweden again J

 

sound of music?

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

WIHOO, just finished one week of asshole work. Today I made a compartment to Svenja that we are like back in the days in Egypt. Like the slaves and Farao and so on. At work, we are the slaves! And then we have the faros who’s looking down at us from their office to see if we’re working hard enough. And Yes we do!

 

Shiesse, today I started by doing some stuff (100 of them). Putting some parts together, and then put some small plastic paper/plastic rings where the hole for the screws goes. I got so frustrated because I couldn’t fit the screw, and after 5 minutes the “orange” guy came and saw he had given me too small rings. Wow, Thanks, exactly what I needed 6 in the morning. After a 100 I was done and then went over to where Svenja were and helped her out to put her things together (same things I was doing like two days ago). Then we packed all of the things in boxes for the rest of the day. We packed about 400 small boxes and packed 10 of the small one in one big one.

When we got home dinner was ready and then we had planned to sleep but I wasn’t tired so now I’m sitting here and finally updating my blog. Though I had no pictures.

 

 

Yesterday night we went to get kebab, soo good. I don’t think I had it since before I went to America!

 

Tonight I think we’re going to a place were you’ll get a beer for 1 euro! That’s like less that you’ll buy one for in Sweden!

I think we’ll go there kind of early, like around 8-9pm.

 

And tomorrow Svenja and Patrick are going to this wedding so I’ll have to find some other thing to do.

 

Well now it’s napa-time!

 

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

 

I’m getting used to not understand anything over here. The language is getting me a headache sometimes but I think I’m starting to learn some though. People over here are not very good at English either so it does feel very lonely sometimes.

 

This weekend we have been at the fair every day. We started Friday and first had a pree party here at Svenjas house. Some of her friends came over and we went over to the fair around 9pm. We had like a lot to drink and everything was so cheap!

 

Saturday we were both kind of hangover the whole day so not until 6-ish I took a shower and got ready (while all the girls already had came to pree party). This night came to be the craziest night the whole weekend, so the rest you can all figure out yourself.

 

Sunday we just went there to eat some and see what was up, so no drinking or anything. I felt like shit the whole day and had the worst hangover ever in my life I think. These Germans are crazy when it comes to drink and party!

 

Svenja w german friends

 

 

some other friends of Svenja

 

 

 

Monday we were suppose to work and start at 6 am, so we had to get up at 5am! I didn’t get any sleep at all that night so I was not feeling very good the whole day. When we got back from work all I wanted to do was to take a nap and die for a bit. Svenja the other hand was totally ready to go back to the fair for one last fight. She got ready and then went over, I was sleeping until 5pm and then got a ride by her dad over to join her. I wasn’t drinking but this German girl did her last try to party and had a good time. Around 10pm we took a cab home and had some fries before we went to bed.

 

Is she was hangover today at work? – No. –She was still drunk. Haha.

 

So I have to tell you guys what we are doing at work.

 

First of all I finally know what the company is called, “Dallmer” and do like things for the bathrooms. Like pipe-things and other weird stuff you never seen before.

So first day we were first just packing the weird things into boxes and taped them and then stapled them. We were at some different stations and then we were told to go upstairs and help at the storage place and had to unpack about 1200 boxes or so, and then look if the machine had put on two something stickers or one (something that was about the quality or something, we didn’t know). And when we looked in the box we then had to close it and re storage it again. So this is what we did for about 4 hours first day and then 6 hours next day.

I can’t say it’s fun, it’s easy but boring. So you get tired since you don’t have to use your brain but the bodywork is very intense.

 

Anyway so we also have 15 minutes break twice a day and work from 6am-2pm. Next week we will work from 2pm-10pm I think.

 

Gosh I’m so tried but I hope I updated a little of what we’re doing over here.

 

Well in the end today we had to put like 10 things together and then use a drilling machine and so witch made me feel like a …. Not a girl?!

 

So it’s a whole lot of bodywork!

When we get home from work Svenjas mum opens the door for us and then we sit down to eat lunch right away, lovely.

After our nap we had to go get some new shoes for Svenja since the once she had was killing her feet at work, afterwards we also got each a nice foot massage of her mum, I think I can stay here for a while!

 

Now I think we’ll watch a movie and then it’s time to sleep again.

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

 

 

So I found my way to Germnay. The day I left I had a lot of stuff to finish before I could take off. I also had time to have a quick breakfast with Jessica and talk about everything and nothing.

When I finally was on my way and had weight my big red bad (20,4 kg, and I was allowed 20) , I was on my way down the elevator when I realized I forgot to get my passport!

2 minutes later I was rolling my bag down Brogatan to get on the buss to the station and from there take the train to Kastrup (the airport in Copenhagen).

 

When I got there they didn’t even had announced the counter where I could check in to I had to sit down for a bit.

I think my mum for once would be proud of me being early instead of last minute as I usually am.

 

After checking in everything went smooth. I slept on the airplane and when I got to Köln I just grabbed my bag and walked out to Svenja and Patrick who were picking me up.

 

It took about an hour to get home and when we parked Svenjas mum, Astrid, ran out with a big sign saying welcome. I will put up a picture on it later because it’s really nice!

 

None of her parents speak English, only a few words, so I had to use Svenja and P to translate, but the whole day today I’ve been studying my German/English lexicon I got from my mum.

 

We had something to eat and just chilled, I unpacked and then we went pretty early to bed.

 

Today we got up around 9am and had breakfast. We went downtown to get a tax card so I can work and that went all smooth.

We were suppose to go to Paderborn to look at an apartment for Svenja but the girl who was going to show it to us never answered the calls neither called back.

Instead we chilled and later went to get some drinks for the weekend (there’s a big fair going on the whole weekend).

Svenja got us 6 bottles of like sparkling cider/champagne for 22sKr/ bottle (3 dollar). So cheap!

P got tons of beer and some more beers for his soccer team,

 

We had a light dinner and then I had a nap. Mmmmmm.

Later a friend to Svenja showed up and we were just talking and hung out.

 

Tomorrow we’re going to the factory I’m going to work in, starting Monday, just to see what I’ll be doing there and also to give them all my papers and stuff.

In the evening some friends of Svenja are coming over and then we’ll go to the fair later.

 

 

Time to say goodnight and I’ll try to put up some picture tomorrow or so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

The time has come for Svenja to go back to Germnay. She's leavin tomorrow morning so I just put on 4 alarms on my phone to make sure she won't miss the flight....again!

The past week we have been doing some stuff and Monday when all my friends came back from Greece we went over to Pontus to hung out.
The day after (yesterday) we went w my brother to Lund (after a quick visit at the golfranch). We got mad stuff to cook and made a awesome meal for 10 ppl.


Today I finally got the answer and call I've been waiting for. I now got the job in Germany at the Factory so I'm leavin myself next Wednesday. Booked a two way flight and will be back the 5th of October.

So enjoy the pics. from past week now.. next pics could be all the way from Germany!









Malmö castle




In the Submarine in Malmö



Climbing in the submarine




At IKEA



Malmö



After work på St: Gertrud, buy a beer n get free bufe'



The ladys



Svenja w Pontus 2 kg choclate




Svenja n Pontus in Bjärred




Pretty awesome right?!




Shootin some golfballs w Andre'




Svenja gave it a try aswell..




Svenjas goodbye dinner




Svenja n Kathy in Malmö








Catch you on the flip side!

Today we decided to go down to Österlen witch is the southwest of the south of Sweden. A trip we try to do every fall and decided we could just as well do it a bit earlier this year so Svenja could be a part of it.
First we had to drive for about 1,5 h before we reached the first goal, "Simrishamn". We walked around a bit, took some photos and then had some ice cream down at the harbor. Svenja "enjoyed" some Germans trying to ask a swed where to buy fish (in German).

 

Actually the first stop was at 'Dalby', the village I grew up in. This is the church

Witch is the oldest stone church in Scandinavia, about 1000 y old!

 

At Simrishamn

 

 

Simrishamn

 

Down at the habour in Simrishamn

 

 

After ice cream at Simrishamn

 

 

Back in the car I took us to a very nice beach called "sandhammarn". The beach was so much wider last time I went there, things apparently happened when you go abroad. We snapped some photos before we went back to the car.

 

 

At Sandhammaren

 

Ready for takeoff

 

 

Ingela-la-la 's always so niice

 

 

The last stop was at "Kåseberga", a very small little fishing village but who has a very old heritage. A bunch of stones, big once, are formed as a ship and are thousands of years old and still no one is really sure what it means. Alternatives are that it's some sort of calendar, how the sun shines on the stones or that it's a kings grave.

Anyway, we walked around (among the cows), took some more photos and then time was 6pm and we started to get really hungry.

 

 

Cows waren't as friendly as we hoped for

 

On of many of the mysterious rocks

On the way home while my mum was driving me and Svenja took a nap. Back home again it was time to make some dinner so me and Svenja went off the grocery store to get what was missing for dinner.
A friend of my mum stopped by later and we all watched a movie called "Zodiac". It was pretty freaky in the beginning when some guy was killing two couples, but later on it was more exciting then scary, thank god!

Tomorrow we're going to a second hand market place in the morning. Sometimes you can find some nice stuff there. I know Svenja is looking for a leather bag and I like to look for accessories myself.
Hopefully we'll just get up in time so we don't miss the whole thing!

 

 

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

It’s been a while with no updates. Let the pictures speak for the last two weeks J

Vaccation w the Keiser family down the Jersey shore




Dan, Ryan, Rob n Becca




Ma man Dan and myself, Jersey shore




Back in Sweden w Svenja




A visit at my grandparents house in Eslöv




Back in Sweden at my homecoming party




La familia, Svenny, mum n André




J.P Stevens in Sweden. Down at the west habour in Malmö




Crawfish festival w Kattis, Svenja, my mum n Elisabeth at Malmö festival




Miike Snow at the fesival, thumbs up!



Just some updates what's going on...




Catch you on the flip side!

Monday:

 

Location; Niagara falls.

 

Waking up to the smell of smoke wasn’t the best but I reminded myself we would have to pay double price so get same quality motel without a smoking room.

 

After packing everything together again we went over to IHOP (international house of pancakes) to get some breakfast. I had hopes to get something breakfast-ish but got very disappointed. What they had to offer was either really fat or really sugary. Not what a Swed is raised to eat for the “most important meal of the day”.

 

 

IHOP

I ended up with a pancake and some scrambled eggs. Dan had a whole breakfast plate but didn’t even finish closed to half of it.

 

After getting some food we went over to the falls, we were looking for a good place to park that wouldn’t be to expensive. We saw parking all the way from $ 20 /day and down. We parked at one parking and just when we went to pay someone gave us a ticked for 3 more hours, since they we’re leaving. Mission complete.

 

We went down and walked among the falls. We could see both the falls from the American side and the the Canadian falls (horse shoe falls), of course the Canadian falls was more awesome. After looking around and taking tons of pictures we went pack and started to move towards Toronto.

 

 

 

 

During the time down at the falls someone had tried to call us. Apparently it was the Bed and Breakfast we had booked for the night. I called back and they told us they’d got overbooked but that they had booked us at a hotel instead. I must say I was very disappointed since this B&B seemed very nice but the owner was so helpful and nice it was hard to not be nice back and thank him for getting us the hotel (that was actually more expensive).

It was a best western Inn and it we had breakfast included so we couldn’t complain too much.

 

After checking in we took a shower and got ready, put on some nice clothes (Dan looked fresh to death in his new bottom up shirt I talked him into get).

We put in the address for the Science center of Toronto and got there around 4.30pm.

We walked around until 7pm, when they closed, and had the time to go through 4 out of 6 levels including the kids place (one of the better levels I must say :P).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all the brainworks at the S.C we drove down to downtown Toronto trying to find a place to have dinner. We decided for and English pub that turned out to be the perfect choose.

 

This was also the first time Dan was allowed to buy “alcohol” for the first time legal since the drinking age in Canada is 18. He was pretty pleased after 1 liter of Stella.

 

 

 

 

 

Next morning after breakfast it was time to pack everything again. The plans was to go to Toronto zoo. When we got there it was crazy hot.

We went around and saw probably 70% of all the animals before we both agreed it was to hot to see the rest, although we spend over 3 h there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the zoo we drove downtown trying to find a place for a swim. We found a park/beach but we weren’t allowed to swim there.

We lay down on the grass to relax some and trying to figure out what next to do.

 

 

 

 

After a while we realized we saw everything we wanted to see in Toronto and around the area we found no reason to stay another night just to drive home in the next morning. We decided to cancel the motel reservation we made and start driving back home.

 

Before we start going back home we took a tour up to the CN tower. We wanted to go up but it was tons of people who had the same idea, I think you also would have to pay for it.

 

 

 

 

Dan started to drive for half an hour or so until we stopped at a McDonald’s to get something small to eat and use the bathrooms.

After tons of fries for him I got behind the wheel and drove for about 3,5 h, the longest I ever been driving straight without stopping.

Before changing we did our second stop at another McDonald’s where I had a Angus meal, a surprising good burger, even better if it shared with Svennyboy.

Dan was nice and drove the worst part; through dark, dark Pennsylvania. At the end he got a bit crazy and that’s when I realized it was my turn again. I took the remaining hour before we got home 3am Wednesday morning after a 9h trip.

Good work on both our behaves!

 

Wednesday was a day to relax. Laying out on the trampoline by the pool for a while, taking a nap and then getting some movies at the red box.

 

 

Today I must admit I haven’t done anything. I feel very tied down with no car and all my friends are working. Tomorrow there are neither any plans so far, but I guess it’s time to do some laundry at least. Thea was taking about watching a movie at night I guess at the theater but I don’t know what’s out right now.

 

Maybe a trip to the city again Saturday and then Sunday sometime I’m going down the jersey Shore to see hang out with Dan on his beach house vacation or what they call it. I’ll stay there until Tuesday and then it’s just 6 days left before I leave. Time to pack?

 

 

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

We left around 10am Sunday morning but after getting breakfast and other things we were not on the road until 11am. It took 3 stops and we got into a few traffic stops and we got in to Canada 7.30pm. It took a while to get over the bridge since they had to check passports and ask us a lot of questions. Luckily they let us pass, and we rolled into Canada! Wihooo!

Right when you get over the bridge (Rainbow Bridge) you end up right where the Niagara Falls is.

Next mission was to find a place to stay at we had already called some hotels/motels but everything was full or just really expensive.
After about an hour of looking for a place to stay the night we ended up at a place called "Knights Inn" first they told me it was about $ 120 and it was for a smoking room. I said "no, thank you" and walked over to the place next to it which had a even higher rate. When I got back to the car at the other place the manager came out and wondered how much we would be willing to pay ( it was their last room).
I said $70, he said $75... I won. Though we had to pay some tax to it ended up at $ 80, but it was ok.
The room smelled so much smoke but after leaving the door opened and sprayed the whole place with air refresher it was okay.
After a shower we took the car downtown to see the Niagara Falls at night, the lightshow. Though we ended up in traffic and no parking lots we just went downtown instead to get something to eat and look around.
We got back and went to bed around 1am.

Driving through New York state (or Penn)



Knights Inn




Downtown



Downtown



Ripley's belive it or not



Ripley's Belive it or not



Today we're going to see the falls and later driving over to Toronto we're we alreday have a Bed and Breakfast booked.






Catch you on the flip side!

This Saturday we went to long Branch again, my choice. To learn from last time we wanted to go early this time instead but didn’t go until 9.30am, which actually wasn’t too bad.

Dan the man was so pissed because of the traffic, funny thing was; there Was no traffic, almost!

So this time we got there around 11pm, found an opened place and then it didn’t take to long before we went into the water.

The water is so nicer now; refreshing and you can easily stay in for a while without getting cold, way better then the ocean back home that never seams to get nice and warm.

 

The man who says he hates Traffic n Shopping!

 

 

Long Branch beach

 

 

Long branch beach

 

 

Sand was sooo hot we burned our feet, well dan did, i stole his flipflops!

 

 

I always wanted to know what I look like with no hair

 

 

Waves were crazy fun!!

 

 

Danna

 

 

We stayed at the beach for 5 ½ h before we went home. On the way back I picked up the delicious frozen drink at DD.  Mmmm it’s so good!

 

 

Strawberry-Tropicana!

 

 

Sunday we went over to Menlo park mall so I could return a cardigan I got a week or so before. I went home with more money than I had in my pocket when we went there. That’s something new!

It started to thunder and I think it might started to rain a bit too later that evening. I came up with the idea to go into the pool; we stayed in there for about 32 seconds before we decided the pool is for sunny hot days instead!

 

Sooooo americano, pancakes with butter (urrk) n syrup ( at least he's drinkin milk with it).

 

 

Today Monday I went to do to driver license test in Rahway and when I get there I mistaken the line and ended up in a line with about 30 other cars for an inspection. I had to call someone who could tell me if I was right or wrong. I tried to call Dan, but he worked, so I called Ryan, the guy at the skate shop. He was sleeping! Haha. But he told me what to do :).

These moments I wish I had Svennyboy around!

 

So, when I finally get into this place they tell me my visa expires soon so I can’t take the test. It has to be at least 90 days before. So I had to put my butt back in to the car and go home. On the way home I picked up some stuff at ShopRite.

 

Tomorrow I’m going over to Fatma during the day. I want to see how she’s doing. I saw her for like a minute last week but I think it could be nice to hear what she have been up to lately.

Tomorrow night there’s this free outdoor movie thing going on in a park in Fanwood. They are showing ‘Ice age 3’. I’ve seen the other movies and they are really funny, I think it could be nice to do something outside at night, and it’s free as well! Thea and hopefully Denise too, are coming.

 

Wednesday I’m thinking of going to the mall, but I’ll see what I feel like. I got something going on at night too.

Thursday the family is taking me out for dinner since it’s the last week I’m working. I wonder where we’ll go.

 

We’re not leaving for Canada until Sunday morning since Dan’s moms birthday is on Saturday. Maybe I’ll go to NYC during Sat day then.

 

 

Today it's 3 more weeks in the USA!

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

Another week just passed by but I felt like I haven’t done much though.

This week Brian had soccer skills and drills for only 2 h every day, which means I had to stay home all day since he didn’t hang out with friends during the afternoon.

At night I’ve been hanging out with Thea and Dan. I think Tuesday, I and Dan went out for a run. I’m still so out of shape but at least I got around the block twice. Then we went into their pool which is perfect warm/cold now, first time I couldn’t feel my leg when I put it into the water to see how ‘warm’ it was.

 

Yesterday I took Thea to see bike Mike’s and Ryan’s skate shop since I couldn’t see it when it was done last Saturday. It looks sweet, really nice I must say. He hung out for a little and on the way home we picked up an ice smoothie at Dunkin Donuts for me and a vanilla smoothie for Thea at Rock n Joe’s.

 

Today Curt’s working form home and is taking Brian to the doctor after his soccer practice around noon so I only have to go to ShopRite today. Tonight I’m going over to Dan’s, no plans but we’ll figure something out I’m sure.

 

Next week will be the last week for me to work. It’s really getting closer to the end now! I got 5 days left to work, 4 more weekends, 25 more days and I will be home in 26 days.

Before I go home I have some stuff to do. I have to go to the city a few more times, get some souvenirs (for my self), and go shopping at Jersey gardens Mall. Get my driver license (I think I’ll have the time to go next week). I also have something going on next week but I’ll tell you guys about that when I go home instead.

 

I don’t know if I wrote earlier that I started to pack all my clothes and so on the day after Svenny left. Everything is in one of my suitcases and outside it. I just had to see if I could fit it all, and also get an idea how much more I can fit ;)

That means my whole wardrobe is empty and everything is nicely folded into the suitcase, waiting to go home to Sweden.

 

 

Last year packing For the trip..

 

 

 

I really can’t remember either if I wrote I booked a flight for Svenja?!

She’s arriving half an hour later than me to the same terminal in Copenhagen. Even if I did write it I guess it just tells how much I’m looking forward to see her!!!!

 

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

This past week I only worked Monday and Tuesday since Brian Wednesday morning went to soccer sleep away camp. I spend my days sleeping till noon and then hung out with friends. I think it was Wednesday; I was hanging out with bike Mike when I got the brilliant idea to go to ‘Fuji’, the half price sushi restaurant (half price Sun-Wed). We had each two rolls and shared one special roll (Edison roll, the one Svenja had last time we went there), it became the favorite one! We were sooo full when we left, and it was only about $ 10 each!

 

 

Thursday I met up with Thea and we went to Woodbridge mall during the day. I found one top at Forever21 which I really liked, and since I had a store credit card it was already paid for!

I also got a new pair of aviators (sunglasses) since I lost the last pair. I think I’m on my 6^th pair for this season; luckily I never spend too much money on them.

 

Friday I didn’t do too much, in the afternoon I went over to Garwood and met up with bike Mike and his friend John and they went up to Johns place and did some jammin.

Since I didn’t have to work I went over to Dan’s place after dropping Mike of in Westfield around 6pm.

 

 

Mike n John

 

Around 10pm we went to pick up Dan’s friend Jesse and from there we went over to Menlo park mall (no shopping unfortunately) to see the premier of the new Leonardo Dicaprio movie, ‘Inception’. Sooooooo good! I don’t know when it will get to Europe but you must see it!

I don’t know where to start describing the movie, but it’s mainly about messing with your mind as you dream, and when Leo can access the mind of another person he can get or plant information that can’t me reached in real life.

It totally mess with your mind trying to realize what’s really the dream and so on, but it’s not impossible to understand it’s just a movie when you have to think and a great movie to analyze. I defiantly need to see it again. There’s so much though behind the whole movie and the guy who wrote it took 10 years to finish it so you kind of get it’s not an ordinary film just knowing that.

 

 

Leo is a damn good actor, and totally rules in this one! See it!

 

 

So after watching the movie we had to analyze it for a while and I think we all had some good ideas but as I said; I still need to watch it again!

 

Around 11am I and Dan picked up bike Mike in Cranford and we went over to Elizabeth where Mike’s friend is opening a skate shop and had a free BBQ and an organized skate competition in a nearby skate park.

I’ve been to the store a few weeks ago with Svenja but this time I didn’t see the result of the shop since we hung out in the skate park instead, so another day I’ll go there and see.

This was, it was insanely hot this day, me and Dan got each a chair and sat down (far from all the crazy skate kids) trying not to get in the way.

We saw Mike skate around with a megaphone trying to get all the kids organized for the competition. We stayed around for about 2 h before we realized this might be the end if we don’t get out of there soon; the sun went crazy!

 

 

Kids signing up for the skate competition

 

 

Mike skating

 

 

Kids skating

 

 

This is Dan just remebering he's actually a skate pro

 

 

When we got back to Dan’s place we went into his pool, and finally the water is nice-cold instead of paralyzing-cold.

At night we went over to a party to one of his friend where also Dan’s twin sister Becca went with friends. It was mainly friends from high school which meant everyone knew each other except for me! It was fun though.

 

Sunday ‘morning’ we packed some towels, Sudoku book (the one I gave to Svenja and she 2 seconds later give to Dan- that book) and some sunscreen, and went down to Long branch.

It took about 2 h to get there since the traffic was crazy. When we get there we were suppose to pay an entrance (to the beach- craaaaaazy) of $10 but for some reason we didn’t had to pay, Dan said it was because they though we were to awesome; and I believe him!

I burned my feet so bad in the sand getting down closer to the water. We put down our towels and stuff and then went up to the boardwalk trying to find some breakfast/lunch.

Dan had had his eyes on a burger place but when we passed and saw what they served I got a bad feeling (probably as bad as if I would have eating the ‘food’ there) and instead convinced him to go to the Greek restaurant next door.

I had a plate of gyros, tzatiki, pita bread and fries, unbelievable good! Not as close as the Greek place back home in Malmö (which I’ve been dreaming of going to for so long now) but far enough (after one year it’s fine, trust me).

So after having one of the best meals in month we went down to the beach again and into the water. It was really nice, not cold at all. The waves close to the beach were crazy so we hung out just a few meters out where it was a slight bit calmer.

After a while I realized there was some nice looking stones on the bottom so I picked out a couple for my mum since I know she loves stones in all shaped and colors (me, myself like Candy in all shapes and colors, but we all have different devotions).

 

The time we actually spend On the beach tanning was not enough to get me a tan as nice as I wanted, but I’ll give it another try soon!

On the way back we stopped by a place called the light tower, if I remember right, and had some ice cream.

 

Ice cream break in the grass

 

 

Look at me with all that money..

 

Around 8pm we got back, took about 1 h to get back, no traffic. We chilled for a while and then Dan took me home.

 

This week I think Brian has some soccer day camp for just a few hours every day, so I feel, just like all the other weeks it’s going to be a very relaxed week.

 

Since I know Svennyboy is reading my blog now when she’s back home in Germany I want to tell her I miss her very much!

It’s so boring not having someone to call, text and hang out with, doing girl-stuff (poor Dan has to stand a lot, but still haven’t got him to get a manicure with me at the nailsalon).

Best thing though is that last week I booked the flight for her to come to Sweden, she’s arriving 30 minutes later to the same terminal as me, in Copenhagen. Just can’t wait to see her there!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

Wow, it’s been quite a while now since I updated, I can’t tell you why I haven’t but let me just tell you a bit what I’ve been up to lately and let the pictures speak for the rest.

 

Weekend before Svenja left we booked a bus tour to Boston for each $ 31 back on forth. We had to take the bus from china town in NYC and from there it took about 4 h to Boston. We walked around, watch a baseball game in a park and realized how clean Boston is. We stayed over at a friend’s house and the next morning, while watching Germany win one of their games in the world cup, we got ready and later went to Harvard University!

At 3pm we took the bus back to Jersey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last days before Svenja went back to Germany we had the time to go to the city one more time, celebrate 4^th of July with a lot of fireworks and had a small dinner with her host parents And of course packing!

 

Monday night, day before leaving I had organized a surprise party at Dan’s house and Svenja had no idea what was going on. I had planned it for more than a week and that means I had to lie to her for more than a week, just small lies but luckily she never had a clue.

The party/BBQ went great I had a lot of help from Dan and we had a big cake problem that he solved, thank God!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last day I mainly drove her around and made sure she had done everything she had to. At 3 pm we went over to the airport and 3 hours later she went on the plane back home to Germany.

 

It sucks being here without her since I spend most of my year with her. But I’m not going to sit around and be depressed, soon I will see her at the airport in Sweden and I just can’t wait.

 

What I’ve been doing for the rest of the week? Packing! Crazy I know but I want to get an idea how much clothes and stuff I actually bought over here and of course I want to bring all of it back home.

So I folded all of my clothes and put them in to piles, and the result: I think I can get more stuff! Hehe

 

I also got my flight, after a lot of work, first they wanted to give me a flight with a polish airline (LOT) but everyone told me it’s not the best, also I had to wait 4 h in Warszawa. So two flights later the best they could give me was with Lufthansa, 2 hours waiting in Frankfurt. Feels better so now I know when I’m going home and it feels so close, believe it or not.

 

This weekend I’ve spend with Dan at his house. Friday we went to his place at Rutgers and met up with his friends he now shares his house with. We played some beerpong and I think I manage to drink maybe 2 beers, I’m proud!

 

Saturday we went back to Edison, and we got some stuff so I could make him some Swedish pancakes. What did he think about them? He hated them! Just because American pancake sucks!

Anyway, the weather was bad so we didn’t do too much only thing was probably when we walked over to rent a movie, Shutter Island, a movie we already seen. The walk was about 20 min to get there and we kind of regret we didn’t took the car because it was so hot outside.

 

Sunday we went for a morning (noon) swim in their pool and then watched the final game in the world cup. I also manage to force him to go to the mall to return a cardigan, ended up buying a new one and a pair or pants instead. We also got a bottom up shirt for him that was fresh to death, but all I heard was complains about how expensive it was and how many McDonald’s meal he could have got for that money.

 

This week I’m only going to work Monday and Tuesday + Wednesday morning, so I have no idea what to do for the rest of the week!

 

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

Got over to Dan’s house around 6pm yesterday and Svenja didn’t show up until 7pm, because she had to work a bit longer than usually. Thing was she got all the stuff with her as well so we couldn’t start to bbq without her.

When she Did arrive she told me she had eaten the whole bag of chips we had got since she was feeling really sick earlier that day, a whole bag! But that was about all she had eaten for the whole day. Crazy!

 

Anyway, we started to chop down the potatoes and boiled them for a while so they got softer, then we put the salmon in ten foil with olive oil, lemon pepper and a piece of lemon. In another wrap we but the potatoes with copped onions, some olive oil and salt and pepper.

It all didn’t take longer than 10-15 min on the grill, and it turned out really good.

Oh, by the way, did I tell you what Dan had?

-Hot dogs! Not even real sausage, but hot dogs. Uwwe!

I offered to get whatever he wanted but Nooooo. For “desert” he had toasted waffles with syrup and also a bag of popcorn.

- So now you know where I get my bad food habits from!

 

 

 

 

Today, after dropping of Brian at school, I’m going over to see my local au pair, -whatever it’s called. She’s going to help me to fill in the paper I got for going home. When that’s done I can send them in and hopefully soon find out what my options are what date I can go home. I’m aiming for the middle in August.

Some might already know there’s going to be a party when I get home, it’s going to be the 21^st of Aug. My mum already booked the local, same as for my goodbye party, but hopefully we can be outside too and bbq.

I thought it was a bit too early on to invite people but I guess it’s good to tell them already though, since its summer and they are planning to go away sooner or later.

I’m so excited!

 

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

Friday we had plans to finally go out in Brooklyn one last time together. After work, I went to see a French au pair me and S met when we played mini golf. His name is Kevin and comes from Paris, so cool. He has been here for almost a year now but is going over to California, San Francisco, for another year. I know there’s one girl I went to the au pair school who’s going to stay for another year as well, but in the same family.

 

Anyway, back to Friday evening. After meting up with Mr French I went to pick up Svenja and then we picked up some dinner at Panera bread and went over to my place.

 

We had our delicious sandwiches and salads. I’m really going to miss Panera!

 

Around 10.30pm Fatma picked us up to take us to the train, but of course Svenja had looked up the train for Saturdays instead (not on purpose, of course) so we had to wait till 11.20pm before the train came. Just after midnight we got in to Penn station and from there we decided to take a cab to Brooklyn.

Since I’ve been to the bar twice before with Kathy, I knew where to walk from the subway station, but we ended up further down the street with the cab. We got out and though it must just be around the corner. Time was now about 1am.

We walked around, asking people but I had forgotten the name of the bar, so we tried everything to get near the place.

At one point we stopped an asked a man on the street where the subway was, but he was just to ask the same And he was also German as Svenja noticed right away. Next person helped us finally and around 2am we stumbled in to the bar, with the man of directions.

 

Lunchbag drinkin

 

 

At the Royal oak

 

 

Outside the bar, when closing. Svenjas two friends and the tall one is Ben

 

 

Me n Svennybanan

 

We had a good time at the bar as usually and Svenja made friends with someone she thought looked like Obama (trust me, he didn’t).

At 4am we got kicked out and where about to take the subways back to penn and wait for the first morning train at 7am, but the directions guy, Ben, said we could just crash at his place until the train were running again. Since he was a 31 old middle school science teacher and the sun almost were up by the time we got back, I though it couldn’t hurt (and American horror movies always takes place during the night, and not in Brooklyn).

We crashed on the sofa for a few hours and didn’t got all the way back to Westfield until 2pm, takes about 2 h to get there from B-town.

 

Our feet were hurting so much and when walking home from the train station, the ground was so freaking hot from the sun we got burned. We know we looked funny as hell running from one hot spot to a piece of grass, since people were laughing at us!

 

Back in westfield

 

 

 

 

 

Around 4pm Svenja dropped me off at Dan’s house, then I took a quick nap an around 6pm we went over to his fathers house where he had a bbq for Ryan, Dan’s brother who just graduated from High School.

We had pina coladas and I kicked Dan’s ass in some game where you throw beanbags into a wooden plank with a whole in. We had tons of food and were all sitting outside in the garden. At night you could see all the light bugs, something I though was only in the cartoons, like Robin Hood, but it’s something that really exists. All of it was really nice and American to bad I was still really tired and exhausted from the night in Brooklyn.

 

Next morning I got picked up at 9.30am by Janis parents. My host family went down to their beach house Saturday morning, so we just went down there for the day to celebrate father’s day.

It took about one hour to get there and the weather was really nice, warm and a little bit breezy. It was the first time I saw the house, before I’ve only seen pictures.

It’s a two floor house with everything you need in a permanent staying and a big porch and backyard. Best of all is the lagoon right outside the house, you can go for a swim there too, it’s a bit warmer than in the ocean.

Just a 5 min walk away is the beach and it was really nice, reminded me a lot of our Swedish beaches. Since not many people know about this place it’s only those who have beach houses that goes there so it was far away from crowded and most people knew eachothers.

After 5 hours on the beach we went back to the house and I took a shower before dinner, outside! So nice and there was both warm and cold water.

 

At the beach, Janis n Louise. (around 5pm, so it doesn't look as sunny anymore).

 

 

The beach

 

 

Outdoor shower, best shower I took in a while

 

"backyard" and lagoon

 

 

Lagoona

 

 

Louise, Annie, Brian, Thea, Janis and Jerry

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner was barbequed ribs, steak and chicken, with salad and potato salad. Really good! We also had a big plate of fruit before we packed everything up and went home.

 

Great day!

 

Today and the rest of the week it’s going to be around 30 C, one or two days of thunderstorms but usually it’s only for a few hours, if even that long.

 

Tonight we planned on having a bbq at Dan’s place, we got stuff this Friday but we canceled it so way not tonight when it’s going to be nice all day long.

For me and Svenja we got fresh salmon that we going cook in foil with potatoes, onions and butter. For Dan we got gross hotdogs and bread. Not even real sausage, no he only eats hot dogs filled with so called meat. Well, his choice.

 

Now I’m going back for a few more hours of sleep so my ears can chill down a little, see I got a bit burned yesterday because I forgot putting sun lotion on them.

 

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

This morning I took Janis to the train, got back, woke up Annie and made her lunch, and that’s about it. 20 min of work today can’t complain!

 

Brian is going with Curt to the city that’s why I don’t need to work any. Thought I have no idea what to do with my day off. The weather isn’t the best today; otherwise I’d just go outside and enjoy the sun for the day. Maybe it’s actually time to start studying for the driving license…

 

Monday evening my host parents went to a car dealer and ended up buying a new car, I call it the batmobile because it’s black and awesome. It’s a Nissan and that’s pretty much all I know about it. I wonder who’s going to drive it, since this is out third car. Right now I’m driving the van all the time but I’m not very fond of it, also it feels stupid driving a 7 persons car all alone, and I don’t mean it as I don’t have any friends (I got about a million of those), but all the gas and it’s so clumsy!

 

After dinner, Monday, Svenja picked me up and we went to one of hers au pair meetings. Today the, sk. Meeting, was at a mini golf course in Scotch Plains, just about 3 min away from me. We played together with two other girls, one from Kina and a new girl from Germany. The Chinese girls English was really good, I was impressed! Usually they have a really bad accent but she was way better than me and Svenja. The German girl by the other hand had the typical German accent, but she was new so I hope she’ll get over it.

 

 

 

After playing we were on our way to the car when a guy au pair started to talk to be and asked how the game was. We started to talk and he told me he was from France (not very had to notice from the very hard accent). Funny thing was he told me he noticed me when we were playing because I was so tall! I felt like a was two meters tall at that point ( you see over here, being tall feels like to be called a freak, since everyone, women and men, usually only reaches up to my chin).

Anyway, we talked all the three of us for a while before we decided to all go to Rock and Joe’s for a late coffee. The whole way over Svenja and Kevin, the French guy, spoke French all the time, Svenja learnt French for about 4-5 years if I remembered it right and seemed to understand most of what he was saying. I understood about 1%.

 

 

Yesterday, Tuesday, we had breakfast with a Swedish au pair, Madde, at my house. In the beginning we used to hang out a lot but then we kind of went different ways but we always stayed friends of course. Madde is going home in about 2 weeks; it’s crazy how everyone is starting to leave now. Svenja only have 20 more days and that just sucks!

 

Talking all about this; going home stuff, I felt a desire to go to Ikea. So yesterday after work I went over to pick up Dan, and having some discussion with his mum about his bad food habits, we went to pick up Svenja too. I think we got to ikea just before 8pm, because I had planned to get some meatballs for dinner but almost right when we got there, there was an announcement that the restaurant was closed! I got a bit upset so instead I bought some stuff down in the Swedish foodshop; “Kexchoklad”, “Kardemumma skorpor” and “mjölkchoklad” . And there’s still some left, believe it or not!

 

My homemade suit..bag? Last july, in our old kitchen apparently!

 

 

I had some mail discussion with my au pair organization lately. They have their head office in California so I never met the “boss” or whatever she is. The discussion mainly was about me going home and what airport I’m going from, they say JFK, I say Newark, I think she said I can go from Newark now actually. Also I complained about that the new airline rules are that you are only allowed to bring one suitcase. How brings ONE suitcase after one year over here? I got al least 3 check in bags plus hand luggage and computer bag.

I told her the organization should pay for it since they send me over here with two suitcases, it didn’t went very well, she just got annoyed by me, it was worth a try at least!

 

I already had to pay $ 50 for the one bag Pontus took with him home, and then I’m going to have to pay about $100 more for the two extra bags I’m going to bring back with me. Sucks!

 

Within a month I have to let them know what date I want to go home, I think I know when but I’m just going to wait a week or two before I let them know, and everyone back home. I still got about 2 more months so no rush! Right?

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!

An hour ago I had 8 chocolate chip cookies and one cheese thingy. I’ve felt sick ever since!

 

This week have past by fast even though I haven’t been doing very much. I wonder if we ever will take the driving license, I really hope so, it’s a cool memory to bring home with me.

 

Today I send a old co worker from Lindex and email asking for the email address to my boss. She didn’t have it but I’ll keep looking and see if I can figure it out somehow.

The plan is to get some hours in a store, hopefully in Malmö, for the fall and winter. I’d like to be in the boutique in Malmö city because I know there’s a different tempo and it would be fun with a different flow.

 

Tonight we had some plans about going to the city, well actually, b-town (Brooklyn) but the weather is kind of boring witch makes me not in the mood to go. So right now we have no plans yet, if the weather allows we’ll go to the city tomorrow during the day though. Hopefully we can go to b-town a weekend before Svenja leaves at least.

 

Btown, dec last y. With Kady n Svenny. Good old times!!

 

For you who don’t know, Svenja is going home to Germany the 6^th of July. You probably know my feelings about that too. Not very happy!

I’m working till end of July, actually my contract is till the 20^th of August, but since my family are going down to their beach house in the end of July they don’t need me working any more.

I guess plans so far are to hang around for at least 2 weeks, maybe more, I’m allowed to stay legal on my visa here until sep 20^th.

 

Time will tell.

 

 

At least I made up my mind for my new “plans”, but I won’t tell yet, I haven’t even started to start. But I will!

 

To quote bike mike;

 

Don’t hate the flow

__________________________________________________

Catch you on the flip side.

First a short summary about Pontus last days;

 

Thursday we went to six flags as planned, we got there at 10am when they opened and before we went in I had one toasted bagel and one and a half glazed donut.

After the first rollercoaster we got on I thought I’d see my breakfast again but I was fine.

 

Of course the guys had planned to go on the world’s highest rollercoaster, “Kingda ka”, but I told them I would never go on it. You should google the name and see yourself on youtube, it’s insane! 139 meters high!!

 

The six flags park contained mainly  rollercoaster’s, and I think we tried almost all of them, some, Dan told us, you shouldn’t go on if you didn’t wanted your neck to snap. Though I already had neck problems since 2 days back and I can tell you that later that night I had to move my whole upper torso to be able to turn my head. AJ!

 

Friday we went to the city and the weather was great, we did some uptown sightseeing and around 8pm when we got back, we went with Svenja and Dan to “outback steakhouse” and then to see the premier of the movie “Take him to the greek”. Great movie, funny as hell!

 

Saturday we had no car around so we mainly chilled and around 6pm, when we got the car, we went to Jersey gardens mall for some last minute shopping.

 

Sunday it was time to pack the bags, P had brought a smaller bag for me to pack some stuff for him to bring home. I thought he was allowed to bring two bags á 23 kg each, apparently not, he had to pay $50 for mine, but rather that then leaving half my stuff back here.

 

 

This week, so far has been calm one. Yesterday we went to see “Sex and the city 2”. Everyone said it was soooo bad but I thought it was fine. 2 hours and 27 minutes… so at least we got our money worth it.

 

 

Hopefully we’ll make up some sweet plans for the weekend, but I just saw it’s supposed to rain, so we’ll see.

 

Now I’m going to take Brian to school and then go over to Svenja, for lunch, we’re going to a sushi restaurant, yummie!

 

 

 

Catch you on the flip side!