Memorial weekend
We picked Pontus up Friday around noon and managed to take a detour on the way home, but not as far as Dan did when we got home from Mexico; he still got the award for getting lost the most!
Already that night we went out on adventures. Dan had a frat brother how rented a beach house down the shore so around 9pm he picked us up at Svenjas place and we drove almost 1,5h to get there (thought it was closer). When we finally arrive Dan tries to call his friend, but no one answers!
Later we found out he had started to drink around noon and was more than done by now. Since we drove that far we though it was a shame to just go home, so we opened a beer/Smirnoff (closest I can get to cider around here) and it didn’t take long until Svenja got a potential husband- well according to him at least!
We stayed for maybe 2 hours before we went home.
Dan, a dude, Pontus n Svenja
Saturday morning we sat outside on our porch in the sun and were talking about what to do. Since my whole host family was away for the weekend I had no car.
We decided to go to NYC for the day and an hour later we sat on the train the three of us.
When we got in to Penn station we took the subway all the way down to Brooklyn, to walk over the bridge. It was warm but not too warm, the weather have been and still is, either really, really warm or rain and thunder.
After the bridge we went through Chinatown and had a snack at a bakery. Then we walked over to Broadway and from there to the Westside to walk on the highline. The highline and the Brooklyn bridge are two of my favorite places in the city, at the highline I saw they are renovating so there will be 2 more parts all the way up to 30th St, right now it starts around 10th St if I remember it right. Sweet!
By then we walked for a few hours and it was time to walk back to Penn and go home. I think we got home around 8 and directly started to cook some dinner. We made tacos and sat outside since it was still nice and warm, before we went to bed we had the time to both go in the hot tub and watch the movie “The proposal”.
Sunday we got up early to go to Washington D.C. Dan was so nice and had promised to drive us when I gave him a deal that me and Pontus would pay for gas and food.
It took about 4 h to get there and I drove the 2 first hours and then Dan the two remaining, though it didn’t feel that far at all. We got there around noon and managed to park really close to everything we wanted to see.
First we went to the Washington memorial, a big tower, kind of cool actually. From there we went straight down to the WW2 memorial (I think this was the name of it) and then walked along the reflecting pool to get to the Lincoln memorial. If you have seen the movie “Forest Gump”, this is where he holds a speak or whatever he does and when then Jenny runs up to him, through the pool. It’s also a place where the president holds speeches of course.
To see the Lincoln statue was really cool, it was one of three things I really wanted to see in D.C.
From the Lincoln memorial it took more than half an hour to walk to the capitol complex, I don’t know if I told you it was about 30 C the whole day and for some reason it’s never windy around here. We took a break before it was time for the last stop, the White house!
Every time we went under a tree or something else that gave us shadow I had to stop and wait for a few seconds, it was really warm but still far away as warm as in the jungle in Mexico.
When we got up to the white house it was mainly just to take a few pictures and have a look. It was really cool to see it, even though we only stayed for maybe 5 minutes.
White house
Before we went home again we went in to an Aquarium and saw for example the biggest lobster I ever seen!
Back home in Jersey we had plans to go to ‘Outback’ an Australian steakhouse, but when we got there they were closes because of memorial weekend, though someone told us T.G.I.F was opened so we just went over there instead.
Monday I was still of since it was Memorial Day. We had plans to go to the city but when we looked at the weather it said it would start to rain later that afternoon so instead we went over to Dan’s and a couple of his friends were over there too. They were bbq-ing but since we just had breakfast we just had some Rita’s we bought on the way over.
We played something similar to baseball but with like no rules at all, mainly just to hit the ball they through at you and then try to catch it. Apparently I didn’t do to bad but I never really got what was going on.
Just before 5pm we had to leave to go over to Svenjas for a memorial bbq with her family and family friends. We had good food and good desert and Jason was almost, almost a little tiny bit nice to us.
Today, Tuesday, I’m taking Pontus to the Menlo Park mall for some shopping. We were suppose to leave in half an hour but a while ago a man came to fix a leak in the ac so I have to wait for him to get done before I can take a shower and get ready.
If everything works out we’ll go to Six flags on Thursday, and tomorrow or Friday (during the day) we’ll go to Jersey gardens mall for more shopping.
Saturday, probably the city and maybe we’ll go out with Svenja and Chris. Looks like we got some plans going on!
Never had the time to update yesterday so here’s the plan for the rest of Pontus staying.
Thursday we Are going to six flags, I’m only going to work the morning and Friday I
don’t have to work at all!
Friday we’ll all go to Jersey gardens mall, Thea’s hopefully driving. At night it’s the new movie “Take him to the Greek” and also dinner at Outback steakhouse.
Saturday we decided to go in to the city during the day for some sightseeing and at night we’ll go in again to meet up with Svenja and Chris. Sunday it’s time to pack everything and we’ll go to the airport around 3pm.
Wow, I don’t think there’s a hour we haven’t planned! :P Though it’s not stressful just well planned! Sweet!
Now I’m taking Brian to school, then pick up Shoprite gift cards at the temple, ShopRite, and then we all going over to Dan to hang by his pool, hopefully get a nice tan since then one from Mexico is gone going!
Catch you on the flip side!
Midnight walk
Since we got home from Mexico, I've been looking up options about studying abroad, but it's mainly a money question so I need to do some research first before I'll even think of applying.
Tomorrow my friend from Sweden, Pontus, is coming. I'll pick him up at noon in newark and hopefully it will be easier to find him than Staffan when he came over :P.
Our plans for his visit are hopefully a trip down to Washington D.C, Six flags (a amusement park), BBQ's, New York, Movie premier of "Take him to the Greek" and much much more!
The weather's going to stay warm but we have some thunderstorms coming up.
Been a week with glasses
but tomorrow Pontus is bringing
new contacts, fiiiiiinally!!
Last Friday me, Svenja n Dan went to the beach btw, I forgot to write about that, maybe because I wasn't very impressed at all. The beach it self was totally fine, but far away something to brag about. I couldn’t help saying "- It's so much better in Sweden". I just have a picture in front of me of Lomma beach with its white sand and the reed grass. Well I guess there is something to look forward to then when I get back ;P
Yesterday Svenja went out for a coffee with an old friend she hung out with last year when she got here, so I stayed home and hoped she would have the time to take a walk when she was done but her host dad was of course complaining already about the car not being home till 10pm. Instead I was online talking to my mum on Skype, this was around midnight witch means, 6am back in Sweden. I also asked Dan if he felt like going out for a walk since it was still about 29C outside (midnight). He came over and we went for a walk for about 2 h. I was only wearing shorts and a tank top and it was almost too warm to wear that as well.
Around noon today we went over to the mall since it was the last day for me to return a top I've wanted to find in a smaller size (going to look for it in NYC these coming weekends). Of course we bought other stuff as well, I found a pair of black shorts and Svenja got three or four dresses. Luckily we just bought Vacuum bags online this week so when we go home we can put all our clothes in these bags and suck out all the air ;)
Tonight Svenja's coming over and we're going to cook something for dinner. My family is on a Bon Jovi concert so I'm home all alone.
I think she just got here actually...
Catch you on the flip side!
Late May
This weekend we first hade some plans about going up to Boston since it's a place we wanted to visit before Mexico actually, but we just never had the time. Svenja found out she had to work almost the whole weekend so we had to put up the plans again. Instead we hung out with friends that now are back from college. We had some bbq one night and ice cream at Rita's one day; it was a nice relaxing weekend for once!
BBQ, Dan's place
Ice cream at Rita's with Dan and Eddie
This morning I had plans to go out for a run with Dan, I'm not sure if he knew about the plans thought because when I called him 8 in the morning, after dropping of Brian at school, we didn't sounded too excited!
I was fully ready with gym clothes and shoes but we ended up in front of the TV for an hour or two before we went out for a ridiculous short and bad run!
3 days left until my Pontus arrives, going to me so much fun! Trying to figure out what days we going to do everything, but it will all work out I guess. We're going to talk on Skype tomorrow so I’ll try to convince him to bring some Swedish candy!!
Catch you on the flip side!
MEXICO!!!
Sorry for such a late update, but I’ve been mad tired since I got home and I’ve just realized why, I got a cold so my brain hurts! There’s also so much to tell about the week, and I guess I’ll save some till when I get back to Sweden or you’ll have a full night to read about all our adventures in Mexico.
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So where do you start when you had a whole week of awesomness to tell?
I got 599 pictures on my camera and if I could just put all of them up it would be easy I guess!
It all started at hotel Omni in Cancun where we got our room with ocean view without having to pay extra for it. The hotel was really sweet, and they called our room a couple of times to see everything was fine and if we needed anything.
Right when we got there, around noon, we went straight down to the pool and it was love at first sight!
First 5 minutes outside the hotel
Later that afternoon we took the bus all the way downtown, it probably took about 30-40 min. We went to Walmart to get breakfast for the week since we didn’t have all inclusive. All inclusive at the hotel was $ 70 /day per person and how exotic is it to stay in a hotel for a week?
At night we went took the bus and went to Bubba Gump, a restaurant, If you seen the movie Forest Gump, it’s exactly what the concept is build around. It was good food and good margaritas!
Jumbo Shrimps ( I dipped my fingers in the butter, thinking it was lemon water for some reason?!)
Dinner outside at Bubba gump
Next day I think we spend the day at the pool and the beach. The waves were kind of intense the whole week so we couldn’t spend too much time in the ocean.
Monday we went on a tour into the jungle to do some activities and also to see some of the Mayan ruins, something I’ve always wanted to see!
We got picked up early in the morning and it took about 2 hours to get where we were going.
First we go for a very short kayak tour, me and Svenja in one kayak, and I asked her if she done it before, and she said she had, and she fell over… I brought my camera so I got a bit nervous but we did fine.
When we got off we had a short hike in the sk. Jungle. There were a lot of mosquitoes and Svenja is allergic to them so she got bigger rash then the bottom of a corona bottle (I know because I tried putting one on top).
We had a ceremony with a Mayan priest that would give us good luck or something in the jungle, I didn’t really get it, but I hope the old man got paid some for this tourist stuff!
Kayaking
From there we went down in a freshwater cave where we took a swim, it was awesome! And the water was so clear!
Other activities were to lower down from a cliff, cable car ride and kayaking. I guess we felt like doing something else than just hang out at the beach for week when we signed up.
Freshwater cave, me and Svenja to the left
For lunch we had food prepared by Mayans I their village, it was interesting and I think I tried most of it. After lunch we jumped back into the van and droved for about an hour before we stopped at the Mayan ruins. First we had a guide telling us about some ruins around were we stopped then we rented two bikes and went about 10 min further into the ‘jungle’ where the biggest was, called Coba.
You could climb up the stairs, and of course we had to try. It was very steep and the stoned were so hot we burned our hands a little bit.
When we got to the top we were exhausted and warm. Of course we forgot to bring water so Svenja was about to die, -well almost.
On the way down we had to go backwards, one step at a time and I burned my hands so bad I thought I’d fall down from the whole stone pyramid.
The priest and our guide
Lunch at a Mayan village
In front of Coba
The next day we had to recover us out by the pool the whole day. At night we went out to Senior Frogs and met up with some other guys from the hotel.
Wednesday we took the bus all the way downtown to go to Market 28, a marketplace where they sell Mexican stuff, though I thought it was other things than just tourist souvenirs. I think the only thing I bought was a small charm with the Mayan calendar in made in silver, though I don’t really know where I put it!
When we got back to the hotel we played water volleyball with all the other guys from the hotel, fun, but I sucked at it!
At night we went out to a nightclub called “Bulldog” it was really cool place, not as sloppy as I had expected. We went out with about 10 other people from the hotel so we got like the V.I.P table when we got there and had free drinks the whole night (well, everyone had, u paid like $40 for all of it). This meant you could order in a whole bottle of anything just for yourself. Mad crazy!
Downtown
Me and Svenja at the hotel before going out one night
At market 28
At the hotel pool
Jumping picture at the beach, late eveing
Sombrero!
Thursday looked much like Friday;
Last day, Friday, we hung out at the beach and the pool the whole day, sprayed oil on us trying to get the last sunshine on us before we had to pack our bags and go home the next day
At night we had a very spontaneous dinner with two guys we kind of “saved” two days earlier from a backstreet after we were going home from the nightclub, they looked all lost and Svenja remembered them from the hotel, since they arrived the very same day.
Anyway, we went up to them when they were sitting outside at the restaurant/pool at night and started talking to them, it ended with us having dinner with them as well and then we all went out a last night to another nightclub, called “ The City”. We had a great time and the guys were hilarious to hang out with.
When we got back to the hotel we went to the pool down at the beach and jumped in, it was probably around 4am by then. When the “guards” or whatever they where called realized we were in the pool they had us to get up and we all ended up back at the guys room where I ordered room service for all of us (though I do think I was the only one who was hungry). I ordered everything you could order, since they guys had all inclusive we didn’t have to pay anything anyway. Around 6am they knocked at the door and I remembered only having a few things of what we ordered. Then me and Svenja fell asleep at one bed and the guys at the other.
8am I wake up by Svenja telling me it’s 15 minutes before we have to be in the taxi downstairs to get to the airport. We run to our room, pack everything we think we own and get downstairs. Just before we leave Svenja realized we had forgot the small bag with all the money and camera and we had to run up to our room again and look for it. The taxi driver was not very happy with us, but we have him a lot of tips at least!
At the airport we checked in our bags and then went through the safety line. When we got out trough the tax free store, guess who we see? –The two guys from the night before, looking all fresh and happy. I’ll tell you this, we both looked and felt like sh*t!
The guys were talking a flight to Philadelphia so they were leaving a bit before us but we had the time to sit down and talk about the crazy night before they had to leave.
Back at Jersey Dan picked us up and also his sister and a friend who had been to Florida for the weekend. On the way back he took the wrong way so we went on a road trip somewhere for almost 2 h! Way to go! At least we were grateful he picked us up!
So this was the adventure of Anna and Svenja in Mexico! There's a million more pictures and I hope I can show them all when I get back.
I just got one word to describe our week ; AWESOME!
U and me
Catch you on the flip side!
Back in the days
I got off the Wednesday so I could come in to the city and hang out with them one last time before they had to go home.
Outside TGIF
In my van, Johan, Ellen n Tony
At "outback" with the blomming onion.
Janis (my hostmum) n Johan
At home with the swedes
Central Park Wednesday
Ellen n Johan in C.P
Beer time - happy time
Basketball store, don't rember the name of it..
At rockafella
Me n Ellen at rockafella
Famous Pizzaplace close to times square
Catch you on the flip side!
Rutgers n NYC
Friday we took the train from Westfield through Newark and then down to new Brunswick. If we would had a ride to Rahway our trip could have gone from 70 min to 20 min instead, but rather go all that way than sit home!
Dinner in new ark
It was Rutgers festival and it reminded a bit of the festival in Malmö but with only students, maybe more like a mix between the Malmö festival and “Valborg”. It was also about 20-25 C when we arrived around 8pm - like a nice summer night!
Dan met us up and we took the bus over to his campus. New Brunswick is very much like Lund btw.
Back at his dorm we hung out and later played “Never have I ever”, a game when you claim something and if anyone have done it they have to drink. For example: “Never have I ever fall asleep on a public toilet.”. Everyone was so tired since they had been out at the festival all day so we mostly were just chilling.
Never have I ever
Svenja and Dan the man with the tan and the plan
Some "new" guys
Past my bedtime someone stole my camera..
Saturday morning we got a ride back home by Dan. It was about 30 C Saturday! I went home and packed some stuff and tried to get a hold on Ellen, didn’t work very well. Later we realized the area code was wrong. Dan took us back to Svenjas house where I took a quick shower and got changed before I got on the train to NYC.
Svenja the next morning before we went home
Sven and Daninino
Svenja n I at Busch Campus
I was supposed to met up with Daniel downtown to get a dress I forgot at his place last time we went out. So I took the path from Newark to World trade center and then walked over to his place in Tribecka. Do you think he met me up? No! I was kind of pissed because if I knew he wouldn’t I would have gone uptown right away instead. He promised he would send me the dress instead.
I walked uptown through Broadway and went in to Victoria’s Secrets where I found a black bikini top and then to Forever21 where I found a bottom. I had to stand 20 min in line to pay!! I was so pissed and when I got up to pay I asked them why they didn’t opened another (or 3 more!) cashiers. They told me that if they would they wouldn’t have enough people working on the floor. So stupid! Do they expect all costumers to stand in line for 20 min?! Another thing that annoyed me to death was that while standing in line I saw the two cashiers working really slow. They took their time and folded and packed as slow as possible. Back home that would never happened. I know since I worked for Lindex, that you have to “plan” to make it as fast and effective as possible. I have seen other stores being as slow too over here!
I met up with Ellen, Johan (her boyfriend), Tony and Erika (friends of Ellen) around 7pm. We were uptown so we took a cab downtown to meatpacking district. We got up an walked on the highline and then tried to find a nice restaurant/bar where we could sit outside. We found one and then ordered some drinks to start with. Me, Ellen and Erika shared one pitcher of Caprihina. We stayed until maybe 9ish before we started to walk uptown again. It was still so warm outside so I was only wearing a dress then whole night.
Highline in NYC with the Sweds
Sunset from the highline
Ellen and Erika
Ellen helps me with the pitcher
Johan, Ellen, Erika and Tony
At the Irish bar just before I had to leave
When we got up to Penn station/MSG we went in to a Irish bar where we had another drink, well I only had a glass of ice water since I was already so tired. At 11pm I walked over to the station and took the 11.14 train back home. It was first planned that I would stay the night at their hotel but they said the hotel room was really small and it was kind of nice to get back home and get changed and so since we had plans to go to the mall the next day.
Sunday I picked up Svenja and then we were supposed to go right over to new ark to pick the Swedes up but they called and said they wouldn’t get there until half an hour later so we stopped by at Panera in Westfield and got some breakfast.
When we picked them up we went over to Jersey garden mall where we stayed the whole day. We all slit up and me and Svenja walked around trying to find the remaining stuff for our Mexico trip. I got a dress, underwear, a bag, bikini, sunglasses and more. The good thing is that the mall is an outlet mall so you can really find good stuff for great prices!
Ellen, Johan and Svenja at the Mall
We all went back around 6pm and back home Janis and Curt had made dinner for all of us, Svenja stayed as well. We sat outside until 8ish, it was just so nice and warm.
Since Annie was away on a gymnastic met and Curt had a hockey game that night we didn’t really have a car to take the Swedes to the train station later so we come up with the idea to go get Svenjas car before Curt had to leave.
I went with her and at her house she told Jason she was just going to give my friends a ride to the station and then he totally flipped out! He said I was not his priority to help neither my friends. And the insurance just raised 20%. Nothing of this did affect him or the car at all. Like what difference is it if she goes downtown to take a coffee or if she gives them a ride?!
Also that she shouldn’t drive me around anymore either. Since Annie takes the car to gymnastic nowadays Svenja usually drives during night and me during the day. In the beginning I was driving her around the whole time since we usually stayed out later than 10pm (when her car has to be home). He just doesn’t get it, I “help” her out and she “helps” me out, that’s just how it works. He’s an asshole btw! – If I forgot to say it!
Today Ellen and c/o are coming out here to jersey, I don’t really know what the plan is but tonight we’re all going to a steakhouse at least. Sweet!
Catch you on the flip side!
Waiting
Sitting and waiting for Svenja to come pick me up so we can go to the gym. She’s always of from work one hour later than me in the morning. And one hours isn’t enough to take a nap without falling back in a wonderful sweet sleep you don’t want to wake up from after only one hour.
After I dropped of Brian at school I went to fill up some gas in the car at the gas station closest to us, but there’s this construction work on the road so I couldn’t get into it, and had to go around all this roads packed with cars, couldn’t make a left turn here, and this road was closed… ahh how much trouble to you have to go through to get some gas a Friday morning? It took me freaking 30 min to get gas! Felt like I drove so much I wouldn’t have to put gas in it from the first time because I emptied the tank driving around.
Anyway, plans for today are to go to the gym, tan outside in the sun (25 C today), help Svenja to redo her dress and figure out how to get to the train station tonight so we can go to Rutgers. This is going to be the last time probably because when we’ll back from Mexico the guys are off from school. This means last time to go to the dining hall as well! The guys think I’m stupid taking about this freaking dining hall all the time, but I think I’ve always been fascinated by food buffet’s.
March when Staffan was on his visit. About 25C aswell. Sooo sweet!
Saturday I’m meeting up Ellen and her friends in the city but since it’s going to be up to 31 C I think I’m not going to go in until later that afternoon, it’s crazy walking around the city when it’s that warm anyway. It’s going to be so much fun to see her again, and at night we’re going out, hopefully I will get in. Otherwise we’ll just go to another place they said.
Okey this was a boooring update, just because I’m waiting for Svenny…
I hope it’s going to be an awesome “Valborg” today back home, even though I’m not going to be there and make it awesome!
Catch you on the flip side!
A failure
Last day sucked ass!
I woke up when Svenja called me and said she talked to my mum on Facebook and she had told her the letter from the Danish school of design had arrived.
I turned on the computer and went on Skype. She opened the letter and I did Not get in! Well if your stupid enough to apply for one of the most difficult schools to get in to I guess you shouldn’t expect too much. – But you still feel worthless to hell.
Another friend of my applied to the school too and didn’t get in. I know her assignment was really good so I just guess it’s just mad hard to get in!
The stupid thing was I didn’t send my home assignment to the other design school in Denmark. You see you can apply with the same assignment to both of the schools; they are kind of the same but are located in different cities/towns in Denmark. Apparently I though they would pass the assignment forward to the other school since the one in Copenhagen was my first priority. No they didn’t!
Anyway, last day sucked, today feels a bit better. At least I can start planning on what I want to do instead when I get back.
Some plans are to see if I can get a hold on a place in a distance class from the University. Then I would study some and also get some money for it. Other plans (that could work studying on distance) is to go down to Germany for a while. I’m welcome to come stay at Svenjas family even though Svenja probably will move away to another city to study. I will of course come stay with her as well. Her parents are already looking for a sewing machine and calling around to their friends trying to find their old one. So cool!
Maybe I can get some work down in Germany, who knows, the only thing I know is that if I stay I Sweden too long I will get bored!
I will also see if there’s any hours I can get back at my old work in the clothing store, if it’s only going to be a few hours a week I might as well go down to Germany right away.
Found this pic today haha. From my appartment when I was studying at HS.
Guess it cheers you up a bit?!
This week I was expecting sweet ass weather the whole week but at least today or tomorrow it’s going to me “Swedish summer”- weather as we would call it back home. It’s sweet because tomorrow I think we’ll go to Rutgers and then on Saturday I’ll meet up with Ellen and c/o in the city. Haven’t get an answer yet what time will suit her and what hotel they are staying at. She’s not the best on checking her emails :P.
Today we’re going to the gym as soon as Svenja dropped her kids of at school. Then we need to go to a LCC meeting. It’s like a paper she has to sign every month for her Au pair organization. Then back to my place for some breakfast and shower. We also have to go to the Temple to get ShopRite cards (gift cards I use when I go grocery shopping for the family) and also drop of two meet loafs (!) ). Then off to ShopRite, get salmon and some other stuff and cook dinner tonight.
Tomorrow it’s the Swedish “Valborg” and I’ve tried to explain to all the Americans what it is, but since my explaining is something like “We start with a champagne breakfast in the morning, then go to a park and hang around with all the other thousands of students, drink some more, and at night we continue to party, the kids go to see a bond fire and that’s pretty much it, somehow it’s the celebrating for “light” we celebrate.” No one usually get’s it but as long as there’s “party” involved they just smile and say “sweet”.
"Valborg" last year in Lund.
Today it’s 9 days until Mexico… Holy Guacamole!
Catch you on the flip side!
Atlantic City
Let’s start from where we left off..
Thursday:
Last day to get the dress done, I had no pattern for the skirt part but I wish I did because It was impossible to get it to work nicely. I also have to tell you I got a stain in the front of the dress, in the middle of everything. It was some black oil from the sewingmashine and to try to get it of I used water, stain remover and flour (to suck the oil up)… Do you think I made a bigger mess of it… YES! I was close to tears at this point after putting so much time, effort and money into it. Finally I came up with the idea to just cut a piece out and sew it over the part where the stain was… It turned out okey.
To do the last fitting I had to go see Sophie again, Fatmas hostkid. She’s the only one I could come up with being my size, and I was so right.
Sophie
Friday:
In the morning I went over to Svenja again and to fix the last, last thing for the dress. I was trying different solutions before I got it right. I had already packed my weekend bag so when I was done around 11.30am Svenja took me to Rahway station and from there I took the train down to New Brunswick where Dan picked me up.
We didn’t leave until 4ish and because of all the traffic we didn’t get down to Atlantic until 7ish. Usually it takes about 2 h.
Waiting for our ride
We checked in to our hotel with Dan’s Frat brother Mike and his date Kim (same people we drove down with). We got ready and I took the longest- surprised?
Shoot of some pictures before we headed down to the place the Formal was at (still at the hotel though).
We had to show id’s if we were over 21 so you could get a wristband and go on the open bar they had set up. I didn’t bring my so we went upstairs again to get it. No problem getting in, no one knows what a Swedish driving license looks like, - and what it shouldn’t look like.
We had some to eat and I had to pass back drinks back to Dan the whole night since he’s 8 days younger haha. We danced, got shirts, got glasses and got tipsy!
Guys getting ready
Dan's lookin nice
We were the only matching couple
Mike and Dan
Me and Dan
Dancefloor
On the boardwalk
At 11pm it was over and we went upstairs to the hotel rooms for a while and then me, Dan, Mike and Kim went out on the Boardwalk (AC is right by the Shore). We had plans where to go but we lost Kim and Mike somewhere during the walk and me and Dan ended up at a pizza place where I tried for a long time to convince him not to order two plain slices of pizza, just because I think it’s gross. I got a pepperoni slice to shut up.
At the pizza place
On the way back we stopped by another hotel casino since it was a bit cold to walk around in just a dress. I took the last picture at 1.34am and I guess I was asleep before 2am!
At one of the casinos
Saturday:
The next morning we took a shower before we packed up all our stuff and checked out. On the way back we stopped at a diner to have breakfast.
Something funny, on the way down to and home from AC we pass this very orthodoxy Jewish town where 100% were Jewish. They were dressed in black hat, black coat, black pants and white shirt. Almost looked like the Amish people. Looked hilarious!
When we got back to Rutgers around 3pm we took a nap and later we where suppose to pick up Svenja at the train station but something weird was going on with the trains so she wasn’t allowed to board the train when it arrived. There were cops everywhere at the platform. She would have to wait for at least 1 more hour and wasn’t sure there would be a train arriving so she called and said she would just going to take a cab home again instead. Kind of sad because I haven’t seen her in like 24 h by then and that’s a long time being away from each other… weird.
We went by McDonalds’ (Dan’s wish came true) and I had my first McD, meal for this year and it was actually good, the burger, the stripes where kind of bad. I still have to go to White castle, Wendy’s and Sonic before I can say all American fast-food chains are gross!
Back at the college again we went upstairs and said hi to Eddie who was totally a wreck since his formal Friday night (he’s in a different Fraternity).
Sunday:
Svenja picked me up in Rahway around 3pm and took me home since she had to work. I had bought a ticket to Westfield for some reason so I think I had to pay more than dubble price. So stupid!
Back home I was just relaxing, took a nap and hoped Svenja wouldn’t be to tired to go out for a coffee after work, but she was so we talked on Skype for almost 2 h instead. How are we going to live in two different countries in the future?
Monday:
Since I took a nap Sunday evening I didn’t fall asleep until late and after dropping of Brian at school (Annie still drives herself to school) I went back and sleep until 1.20pm!!! What happened?
Just when I was about to text Svenja she texted me and said she just woke up as well. I put on some clothes and went over to her for about 45 min before we had to pick up the kids again.
Tonight we’re going to the gym; we only have until May 10th before our membership ends. So these two last weeks before Mexico (still can’t believe we’re going) we have to get in shape and lose at least 1-2 kg (about 4 lbs).
Tomorrow Thea’s mum is coming to visit her for a week, so I think we’re having breakfast together before she’s going to the airport and pick her mum up. We have to go to the mall so maybe I and Svenja will go tomorrow after breakfast since it’s going to be rainy tomorrow as well.
On Wednesday it’s going to be up to 23 C, and it’s going to stay warm until Sunday at least. On Friday Ellen, her boyfriend and two of her friends are coming to NYC for a week. She emailed me and we’re talking about meeting up on Saturday. Sunday she wants to go to Jersey garden mall so I’m going to see if I’m going too, or I’ll go home and then drive there so Svenja can come too, I want them to meet each other.
Friday we might go back to Rutgers, it would be the last weekend we can go before they are off for the semester, and I have to get a last visit to the dining hall that I’m so crazy about for some reason.
Thursday we’re going to take the driving license test hopefully, so it looks like we have some plans for this week at least!
This was a massive update…
One more thing, this week I’ll know if the Danish school of Design wants me for an interview, I’m so nervous about the answer, I really, really hope they will!!!! Even though I don’t miss Sweden at all I still want to have something to come back to and not just “hang around” until I find something else to do.
Catch you on the flip side!
Dressaster
Today I'm going down to Atlantic City and I'm so excited But the dress is like a disaster, I never made somehing so bad in a very long time haha. I just choose the Worste fabric ever, silk. It moved like sideways so the pattern got wierd and it was also a nightmare to sew in it. Yesterday I got the biggest stain in the front of the dress aswell, when I tried to remove it I made it bigger... well isn't that typical?!! It's "fixed" now though.
Yersterday night I did highlights in Svenjas hair ( she did it on my hair 2 days ago) and we had got this real stuff they use at hairsalons, and it was as much as regular color, def. going to buy some and bring back to Sweden. Anyway, it took us like 2 hours to do it, since we did it with metalfoil and all over her hair, she had to go home at 10pm though cuz she has a curfew so I never saw what it looked like. Hopefully it looks good or she will go mad on me!
Saturday I might stay at Rutgers becouse Annie is going to have like 7 other girls over for the weekend. She's in this JCC ( Jewish comunity center) so all these girls are from another town and come visit and therefor needs a place to stay at for the weekend, so we're hosting them. A reason not to be around with eight 17 year old girls.
Time to take Brian to school and then fix the last part of the dress... and take a shower, and clean up downstairs, and have breakfast with Thea and Denise, AANNDD pack, and.. ahh I havn't sleept in a week it feels like..and a feeling tells me I won't do it this weekend either.
Catch you on the flip side!
hostkid or au pair?
We dropped of Janis and I took the minivan (that Curt took earlier that morning) back home so Annie could take the small car to school.
When I dropped of Brian at school I went over to Svenja and continued to sew on my dress. I didn't choose the easiest fabric to work with (silk) but I think I have it under control. I need to get some stuff at the fabric store tomorrow. I don't think there's enough fabric for the skirt part and I don't think I will be making any pattern for it either and just try to drape it in a nice way since the silk it self will make it look nice.
On Thursday we're going to the mall to look for some stuff for mexico, I need sandals, dresses, bikinis and other stuff too. I'm also going to see if there's any nice jewellry I can wear with the dress, like something big and BLING BLING you know. I just saw the webpage of the hotel we're staying at (in Atlantic C) and it lookes really nice. It's like a smaller version of Las vegas with all the gambling and stuff.
Right now I don't know if we'll have the time to do the drivinglicence test this week since I have to leave around noon on Friday and I already planned to do so much before. We went and got some real hair bleech today too, like the one they have in saloons. Last time we did highlights we used the regular one and it didn't help at all!
Last year. Roadtrip to Philly
Today we took a walk down Summit av. to the Italian café to share a hazelnut coffee. It's crazy how much time me and Svenja spend together, still we have so much to talk about. Today we were talking about when we go home and what our plans for the rest year are. I have some plans but I don't want to tell yet what they are, first of all I want to wait and see the reply from the danish school will be.
Yesterday I had my 8 month anniversary over here. EIGHT months... can't belive it. Time flys by and I already been here 2/3 of my year. Right now I can't see my self going back to Sweden, I still Loooove it over here!! And not once I've been missing home (sorry).
To celebrate (Annies bday) they bought a fancy choclate mousse cake and today I had two pieces... and one glazed muffin.... AND about 10 cookies ... I feel so sick right now! Tonight we're going to the gym, but I think I won't even burn the sprinkle from the muffin... Going to try a strict diet soon... soon.. I promise myself!!
Catch you on the flip side!
p.s Any news about a booked flight yet P? :) d.s
Long Island University
We were taking the train from Westfield at 2.50pm, we thought! When we got there, parked and walked over with our bags there was of course no train. Took a look at the train schedule and saw they departed 25 min past every hour. I think it was my fault, it usually is.
We walked over to an Italian café, right on the corner of South av. and Summit av. (the road Svenja lives on, it’s a loooong road though). We shared a medium hazelnut coffee and a mad good brownie. At the café there were three older Italian men watching Italian soocer. After a while they asked us if we were Swedish or German. We got very surprised by the question but answered them and after some small talking we felt the European connection and it was just cool. We’ll def. go there again, it was a nice café we pass (by driving) everyday but never went in.
Well, back to the station we got on the train that took us to NY penn and from there we took the Long Island railroad towards Hicksville. Both rides took about 40 min each an when we got to Hicksville there was suppose to be a shuttle bus to the University, and it did arrive – 35 min later.
We got something light for dinner and than had about 2 h of class before we took the buss back to the hotel. We got two queen sized beds (about 140cm) and thought we had the room for us self.. No, no! Later two German girls arrived as well and we ended up sharing one of the beds.
Waiting at Hicksville station
8.40am the buss departed from the hotel and took us back to the University. The class we were taking was called “American Indian culture and history”.
There was two other Swedish girls so when we got asked where we came from they shined up when I said I was Swedish. –Like we got something in common just because our nationality. I’m so tired of au pairs! Especially Swedish and German once! You would understand if you were in my position!
At class
Is putting all the right answers on the paper ;)
Indian? or just tired?
So exciting ..
We went to a museum, we had to do a quiz and both me and my (only) German friend got all the right answers and got a price. Later we had to watch a 90 min fact movie and the day was just too long and so not serious. The best thing during the weekend was going to the dining hall! Not just because of all the food (and desserts) you can choose (or choose all) from but there was guys, though all the 160 au pairs that was at the school during the weekend def. freaked most of the other students out (but also me and Svenny).
This weekend was suppose to get us 3 credits but most of all it gave us Facebook rehab and 5000 calories per day!
When we left the class today around 2pm it took us about 3 h to get home, but it felt great stepping out from the train and feel you will never have to be stucked on a island(!) whit 160 other au pairs ever again!
We fled to Svenjas house since mine was full of 16/17 year old girls celebrating my host kid’s 17th birthday (which is tomorrow). So tomorrow morning she’s taking the driving test and will prob. Have her driving licence the same day. This will mean I will have even less work to do from now on, also why I will be the last au pair in this family, since they mainly need me to drive the kids around.
Back at Svenjas house I sew a fitting piece for the formal dress I’ve been talking about. I was allowed to borrow her host mums sewing machine, but Jason (host dad) made it Very clear that it’s very important to them since they need to be able to sew name tags in the children’s clothes with it. Seriously? I’ve told them before that I “make clothes”. Don’t they think I know how to handle a sewing machine then? I started sewing when I was like 5 y old for Christ sake! – Jason just never stops surprising me with stupidity!
I got the fitting piece to fit well but will do some small adjustments on the pattern and hopefully I can start cutting the pieces out tomorrow.
My own pattern
Cutting out the pieces of the fabric
Putting on something I don't know the eng name of, but it gives the fabric more charter
To get the credits for the class we only have to send in a small homework assignment so this week things to do are following:
*HW for the class
*Making the dress
*Go to the gym and work out at least 3 times before Friday
*Studying for driving license
Catch you on the flip side!
National High 5 day!
Today has been an intensiv day, at least if you work as an au pair. After taking the kids to school I got changed and went to the gym where I met up with Svenja just before 9am. We weren't very happy with our achievment so about an hour later we went back to my place, I took a shower and then Thea came and we had breakfast outside on the porch.
I had like a million stuff to eat, as usually. Afterwards me and Svenja went on route 22 and bought me some fabric for the dress I'm making for the formal next weekend. We also went in to Walmart to look for a book but didn't find it.
As you probbably know we usually do One of these things a day, so today I felt really productive! ;) To bring myself back down to earth I took a 30 min nap just before picking up the kids from school.
Tomorrow we're going to the weekendclass in Long Island and have to leave around 3pm. Since we're going to stay at a hotel the whole weekend we went and got some survival food yesterday to bring; the three C's! (Crackers, Candy and Chips!). But right now I'm eating all the Milk dudes (duds), don't tell Svenja!!
Time to cut out the pieces for the dress!!
Catch you on the flip side!
Check! Check!
And Thank you mum for helping me with the pdf. files and all the other shit!!
I don't know last time my heart was pounding like it did when I was sending it away, I was so stressed since it was already 2 minutes past 4pm! :P
Yesterday I got a letter back home in Malmö, it was my tax return. Almost $ 600!! wohoo! But the money is not going down my pocket but to pay the last "bill" for my school last year. Sucks, but nothing I can do about that.
I´m thinking about if I should go and take the NJ driver licence on thursday or wait till next week. Svenja has to take it aswell but it's kind of late, both of us are going home in 3 and 4 months.
Just got an email from Pontus, he's booking his flight to Muir Terrance, Scotch Plains he said! Wohooo!! May 28 - 6th of June! Sweet!
This weekend we're going to the weekend class at Long Island. I'm only going so that Svenja didn't have to go on her own and hopefully it's going to be fun to get away, but there will only be girls so I might freak out aswell!
Next weekend is Atlantic City so I should start on that dress I want to make..
I have to tell you about my weekend.
Friday Svenja had to babysit so I came over and made Swedish "choclate" balls whit Sarah, with my imported Pearl sugar (which they tought were salt!).
Me and Sarah bakin
Saturday we had no plans so we spontaniously went to a tattostudio, but they were closed and had moved to another studio... so we went there instead after having lunch at Panera. We got each an piercing and left the studio whitout any pain.
Late afternoon, we were talking about what to do during the night. Around 7pm we decided to go to Brooklyn and to Johnnys bar, since I always have a bless there. Just before 9pm I get a text from Dan saying we can come to his frat party thing- so we changed our plans and took the train south instead. Well actually we missed the train at Rahway so he had to come get us instead! It was a crazy night and of what I heard, I had a great time!
Next morning we had to get up at like 6pm to take the train and be back whit my car arond 8am! It was hard getting up after maybe just 1 h of sleep!
Svenja at Rahway station, when waiting for Dan to pick us up after
missing the train.
Back at the doorms, Dan Svenja n Nick in the back.
Sunday was a rehab day. After getting some sleep we went for a walk- over to Svenjas house. We stopped by at downtown Westfield to get some Rita's (icecream) and we didn't get to her house until 2 h later- It takes about 10 min to drive from one house to the other one...
When we got home to Svenja the grandparents were there, they are so awesome! They have traveled around the world a million times and are just so cool. I was invited to stay for dinner, pulled pork (bbq'ed). Sweet! We were total 8 pers. The grandparents, me, Svenja and the family. I was sitting on the end of the table and on the opposite side Jason was sitting. I got the evil eye during the whole dinner. haha!
Rehab whit glasses instead of Contacts :P ( my place)
At Luks oil
"Sorry Nicole, but I had to get to School on time"
Summer is the new Spring
This dress my mum worn at the same age as I am now, pretty cool ha'
Tonight we're going to the gym, last couple of weeks before we're signed out for good and before Mexico! I need to lose at least 4 more pounds!
After Mexico we're def. going to Canada for a roadtrip whit Eddie. Going to be AWESOME!
Catch you on the flip side, May 28th!
Summer in Spring
Here's some pictures I took today to give you a feeling how nice it is over here right now!
Svenja's backyard
Thea and the fruitsallad
I didn't wanna get my pic taken n was hiding behind my bangs
After breakfast we layed down on the lawn and tanned
Svenjas house in Westfield
Me and Thea went for a walk while Svenja did a workout in the basement
All the trees are starts to flower
Thea
Taking a break?
This is around noon and it's at least +25 C
Some random house
Svenjas youngest kid goes to this school, it's just 1 min walk from her house
Catch you on the flip side!
The Assignment
I'm not gonna tell you about my idea for the assignment yet but the two word we're working around is "In" and "out". Not very specific I know, but sometimes it gives you a bigger area to work around.
So, for the last 4 hours I've just been sitting down at my desk writing, thinking and making conclusions.
I made the decision to write the assignment in english since I first of all just started to write in english without thinking about it, but also to show that I can handle the language. I do think it's more often easier to explain and find the right describing words in this language than my own. I never got stucked when I was writing and my only problem would be my spelling and the use of the right gramma in some cases.
I took some pictures to show what I've been doing the last hours and also one test drawing from the collection. I'm going to try a new style on the proportions on the model, it's more fun and more "arty".
First page sketch, "In" n "Out"
Second page sketch.
First ideas, helping words and so on.
The new model
Catch you on the flip side!
Spring break Pictures
We took Svenjas kids to Rita's in Westfield for some ice cream a warm
afternoon in the end of the week.
Svenja and Sarah
Saturday we went to the city to go the Central Park but ended up shopping
around midtown
Home in Jersey it was nice and warm but when we got to nyc it got much
cooler and we wish we had brought a jacket since we by now were
freezing our asses of.
Bryant Park
Bryant Park
Spring break week
I just looked at the statistics for my blog and I’ve noticed the average is around 7/8 per day. Who are you? Since I thought there were at the most 5 people knowing about my blog.
It’s been a while again; I’m not as good at the updates anymore I’ve noticed.
This week I’ve been kind of off. I didn’t do too much though since Svenja had to work all the time. We had really nice weather since Wednesday so I can make sure I got a pretty nice tan by now.
Friday night I picked up Svenja after work and went to got some sushi, around 9ish she got picked up of her date, later she came back and spend the night at my house.
We tried to be in time for the 12.45pm train the next ‘morning’ but as always he had to hurry to get there in time even though the train’s always a couple of minutes late. Our plans were to first go to Central park and then go shopping. We never went to the park!
I got make up stuff for over $ 80 and a dress. Svenja got some make up too and a bunch of clothes, so we left happily around 6 pm to go home. Well back we went to rent a movie (“The time traveler’s wife”) which sucked and also some ground beef so I could make us some Swedish meatballs- hamburgers! One or two boxes of candy went downtown too.
Around midnight I took Svenja home and since she had to go with her family to Easter dinner the next morning.
I actually haven’t been thinking much about Easter, I had 3 eggs earlier this week that’s probably as close as I can get “celebrating it”, well the small little Easter candy egg my mum sent me was eaten too this weekend.
Today (Sunday) I went to the city just after noon to meet up with a guy I meet a couple of weeks ago. It’s always nice to meet new people.
We took the subway up to 110 st and walked around in Central park for probably one or two hours. The park was filled with people doing all kind of stuff and the trees were all starting to bloom, it felt like a really nice spring day but it was warm as in summer time. After the park we went down to Bryant Park where we had something to eat, it was a really nice restaurant and it was nice to sit down for a while. Later we walked around some more and around 7pm I took the train back to Fanwood.
Me and Svenja had plans to go to Rock’n’Joe for a late coffee but they were closed which meant we ended up at Dunkin Donut having a coffee and a donut instead.
I’ve been waiting for my Visa now for more than 3 weeks as they said it would take. It’s not like I’m in a hurry but I’m a bit afraid it got lost in the mail. I just heard they’ll give you a new one in that case. Now it’s only 5 weeks until Mexico, so weird. – Good weird!!
So this is what’s going on in the next couple of weeks:
Upcoming weekend 10-11th April
– No plans so far, but hopefully it turns out as a busy fun weekend. Boston if we could get cheap last minute tickets perhaps!?
15-17th April
- Weekend class in Long Island with Svenja, more info soon hopefully, because I have no idea what I’ve signed up for.
23-24/25th April
- Atlantic City with Dan and his fraternity. Dance/prom whatever it’s called and hopefully I’ve have the time to make a dress for this event.
1-2nd May
- We’ve been talking about Boston but since this is the week before Mexico, I guess it’s going to be opened for other things.
8-15th May
- MEXICO, Cancun!!
I’ve been talking to Pontus about his visit and after talking to his boss he’s hopefully going to be able to come the 27th May- 6th of June! That would make it 2 weekends together and my host mum told be I’d be off the first Monday and Tuesday that first week in June. The plans are to go to Washington D.C during the weekend and also one or two visit to NYC. He had a wish to go to “Six flags”, it’s an huge amusement park here in NJ, and a place I haven’t been to yet myself. Hopefully some other friends will join as well. I think we have time to do alot of things since he's here over two weekends. It's going to be so much fun to see him again, been over 9 months since I've seen him at that point!
So now I got something to look forward to this spring, I must make sure I have the time to do all the city-trips I want to do before I go home. We also have been making plans about a roadtrip to Canada with Eddie, so when he’s of in May hopefully we’ll be able to do it.
There’s other things that must get done soon too. Like my NJ driving license. The international is only valid for 60 days so if I would get pulled over for some reason I’d get a ticket for that too, could be around $250. You only have to take the written test to get it since I already have my Swedish one, so soooooon I’ll go there and get it done, just have to study one or two days before so I’ll pass for sure.
The other thing is the home assignment for the application for the Danish Fashion School. I got last Monday but I did for sure not get one thing they were talking about! I tried to translate it on Google but it didn’t help me much. I’ve been thinking and thinking and a few days ago I might just have got in idea what they want me to do and an idea how to do it. I do need to talk to my mum first and see if she think it’s a good idea and/or if I understood it totally wrong.
So this week I’ll have to focus on the assignment. I’m going tomorrow to get some paper and stuff for it at a store on 22. Wish me good luck!
Catch you on the flip side!
P.S Wednesday the weather forecast says it's going to be +28 C D.S
Home alone
This morning I dropped of my host family at the airport in Newark, when I got back I woke up Annie and later took her over to a friend’s house. I got some hours of sleep on the sofa since I didn’t sleep much during the night.
I talked to Kathy on Skype today; she’s applying for a design school in Borås. We talked about her home assignment and I tried to help her understand it and we were mind battle about different ideas for the assignment. I also Google translated My assignment to Swedish, it wasn’t the best translate at all but I do get a hint what it’s about. I need to talk to my mum and see what she thinks about it and mind battle with her.
I just got back from a run around the block. Well a couple of blocks, it’s a good time to go out for a run, when the sun went down and it’s not as warm anymore. Tomorrow it’s going to be around 20 C, I’m taking Annie and her friend to Rahway train station tomorrow morning and from there they’re going down the shore to the beach. Hopefully I can go there soon too, can’t wait!
Catch you on the flip side!
Captain Morgan
I’m sorry I haven’t update in a while. I actually wrote an update Friday afternoon but for some reason I never published it.
I’ve been a bit down the last couple of days, I think the reason is too much sleep and also the calorie diet I’m on. I slept too much and the lack of sugar I’m so used to (for the last 20 years) makes me weird I think.
This week it’s spring break for all the kids in Scotch Plains and Westfield. This means I’m off and Svenjas has to work about 10 hours/day. My family goes to Colorado tomorrow to skiing for 5 days but Annie is going to stay home. All I have to do is take her to gymnastic and give her a ride if she needs one.Tomorrow the weather is going to be nice again, and from now on it’s just going to get warmer and warmer! It's summertime soon!!
Saturday afternoon we went to the city to see Daniel and his friend Chris. The evening included Swedish pancakes with strawberries and ice cream, a bottle of wine and our friend Captain Morgan. The night was thereafter spending at 2 bars and one club and I had a great time :)
Chris n Svenja
Me n Chris
Daniel n Svenja at the club
In the taxi home, getting a good night kiss?
Sunday evening I went over to see Dan after his 32hours of Dance marathon (for charity), he looked like shit haha. I told him to get a shower but all he wanted to do was sleep for.. probbably ...32 hours.
Sleepy?
Monday they'd let us know about the home assignment for the Dansish college, I'm both nervous and excited to see if I can figure it all out! Yeasterday I read it quickly through but since it’s in Danish I did have some trouble understanding parts of it, the important parts of course.
Tomorrow is a new day, a sunny day they told me. Tomorrow I’ll be fine, tomorrow I’ll take a look again at the assignment, and tomorrow I’ll do something that will make me feel better too. Tomorrow is not today.
Catch you on the flip side!
