Seasons...

I'm not sure what happened but I feel like we skipped fall and went straight to winter. It has been so cold, rainy and windy in the past week. Hopefully I will find an apartment soon so I can get all my winter clothes! But patience is something I being forced to learn (and if you know me well enough, patience is not one of my strong points!).

But all is well in Sweden. I have finally begun the planning process with my department at work, definitely nice to have something to work on! Here is a picture of my fancy little desk... I feel so 'grown up' now!

I am happy to say that I have booked my flight home for Christmas. Pains me a little knowing I now have to pay for my trips home but they will be worth it. Besides, I couldn't imagine spending Christmas alone here in Sweden. I think the count is down to 72 days until I fly out!

Keeping this one short and sweet!

Weather: 51*F cold, rainy and WINDY! Brrr!!!

(Did I mention the zipper on my rain jacket is stuck? Not the most convenient time for that!)

Officially a month!

As of September 21st I have been living in Malmö for a month. It's strange because it feels like it has been so much longer! With everything that has gone on with work and life it feels like it should already be the end of October. But work has been work lately. We are almost to the end of our training, meetings, briefings, etc. We get the final details for out departments this week from our sales people and I HOPE that we start planning by Friday, but we will see. Everything seems to move at a slower pace here. At home I would have started planning 2 weeks ago but that's how Europe differs a little. I keep joking that I am going to live an extra 6 years when I'm old because of the laid back lifestyle here. But I'm sure I'll be stressed soon when those deadlines start rolling in.

I've started to make some new friends. Last weekend I hung out with Roma and Elena, they just moved here from Moscow Russia so Roma can take the graphic design position with Common Store Plan. We went to Lund last weekend for the culture festival and to take photos, I have never been to Lund before but it's a very cute town! It's only about a 15 minute train ride from Malmö so I may go there more often to explore. Below is a picture of the university where many international students attend, apparently it's a great school if you are interested in environment studies.

We also attended the annual Malmö artwalk last night, reminded me a little of home. I just wish it were once a month like Seattle!

I couldn't take it any longer and ended up buying a blender. I miss my smoothies, I used to make them all the time at home! After 10 months of not having one I decided it was time. Here is the making of my first fruit smoothie (and yes it was delicious!).

Until next time...

Weather: 60*F and sunny (good day for a bike ride you think?)

A few new 'things'

So another week down. Work went well, we had 4 days of computer training- 2 days on AutoCAD and then 2 days of this program called Sketchup where we worked with 3D spaces. I've never worked in 3D before so I found it pretty fascinating!

I've started jogging again, trying to get healthier and with the beautiful scenery nearby it's not too hard to get myself out there most days. I love being there at sunset. I think I found my Redondo Beach replacement! That was my de-stress jogging boardwalk back home, nothing like being near the ocean to calm you down! Here are a couple photos of the area...

I also found a bicycle this week! I bought it at a store across the street from IKEA. The people in the store were nice enough to help me adjust the seat and put my basket on since I don't have the tools at home to do it. But I love my new bike! I've figured out the route to and from work (takes about 40 minutes to work since it has a slight incline and 30 minutes home). I'm sure I can knock 10 minutes off of each of those once I get used to biking more. If I mapped it out right it's aprox. 4 1/2 miles each way. Not bad! I don't have many more good weather days to bike, but if I see no rain in the forecast I'm definitely going to take it to work! Here is my new bike! This picture was taken yesterday after my roundtrip trek to work!

I also finally broke down and got my Swedish phone and kissed my old American number of many years goodbye. So sad! But here is my handy dandy new iphone! I was excited to finally get a white one! If you have 3G and want to download an App called Viber you can call and text me for free! Just ask me for my number!

Well, that wraps up this past week. I've been hearing a lot of rumors online about tomorrow, being that it's the 10 year anniversary to 9/11. So be safe everyone. Until next time...

Weather: 63*F Cloudy (feels like home)

Italy Video

Here is my Italy video I made a couple weeks ago... (I told you I love making videos now!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=V-n7G32Argg

2011... what a blur so far!

Ahhh.... Happy Friday! What a long but fast week! We are still in the "learning" phase at work with meeting after meeting along with workshops. But at least it's been a refresher course for me so I'm ready to plan when it is time. Next week we get some extra training on AutoCAD and a program I have never used called Sketch-up where I'll get to make fun little 3D drawings of my area.

So I've been in a video phase ever since I saw my dad's video of their vacation to Europe. I just finished one that includes my life in the past 8 months, from January to August. It's not perfect but it sure is fun to make! And if anything it's another documentation of my life for when I'm older can't remember what I did in my youth!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oc8TYz9r_s

I'm ready for a relaxing weekend in hopes that my sleep pattern gets back to normal. I think it's the constant moving that I have been doing, adjusting to new surroundings and beds all the time. But I'll snap back quick I hope! My goal this weekend is to find a bicycle! I found one today, a brand new shiny black one in a store across from IKEA but I plan to shop around a little to see if I can find one with some color because everyone has a black bike here!

Weather: 60*F and SUNNY! Beautiful day out there!

Here is the Turning Torso, I took this photo walking to my apartment after work. This area is so peaceful, so much different than where my hotel was last week.

I must say, I love being able to take the bus to and from work! It's a stress free way of commuting... and cheaper than gas! I just need to hurry up and buy a bicycle, though from where I am living I might be huffing and puffing by the time I get to work. Luckily it's flat pretty much all through Malmö so I'm sure I could manage.

Weather: 58* Showers and wind!

This weeks quest: Buy a new cell phone and say goodbye to my old number- sad!

Once apon a time...

♥ Hello family & friends! Welcome to my Sweden blog! I was never good at keeping a journal but I'm going to attempt to keep you updated on my new life with this lovely little page! Also I will post photos from time to time for those of you who don't have Facebook so you can see a bit of what Sweden looks like.

I arrived in Sweden a week ago on Sunday, August 21st. I checked into my tiny hotel room at Rica Hotel Malmö and called that home until now. Today. I got to move into my new temporary apartment (paid by IKEA) until I find a place of my own... but I do like this one! It's a one bedroom furnished apartment over looking a pond and has a view of the Turning Torso (the tallest building in Malmö). I've already walked across the street to the ICA Maxi supermarket to get milk, cereal, yogurt, fruit and some lunch and diner basics. I'll go back again this weekend when I have time to make a shopping list. I'm so happy to have a kitchen again! It's been hard living out of a hotel for the past 3 months!

Work has been great and everyone is really nice! So far we have had introductions, a bit of informative meetings and an idea of our schedule for the upcoming weeks. We have a lot of training and meetings ahead of us, as well as an overnight trip to Ålhult to see IKEA of Sweden (IOS), the mother-ship of IKEA where everything IKEA starts! I'll get to check out all the new products that are coming out next year in the stores and get informed on my department as well. I was excited to find out that I'll have the Children's department to plan for my new job! I have always enjoyed that area and look forward to continue working in it!

I'll wrap this post up with a few photos of my accommodations lately.

My room at the Rica Hotel Malmö (see right)

My new apartment! (below)

Fingers crossed that my condo back home gets rented soon and that I'm able to find an apartment I can afford here in Malmö!

Weather: 59*F Partly cloudy with random rain showers