So, today I just concluded a week of travelling around in Sweden and Norway.
I visited several schools, met friends and relatives and spent many many hours in trains (distances are quite long up here for European standards). Conclusion: It was great. A big thank you to everyone who hosted me and helped me along the way.
One thing that strikes me everytime I come to Sweden is how Swedish and not Swedish I feel / am / am perceived as.
Meaning: - I have this very strong feeling of belonging and at the same time things seem strange to me - I have common values and a similair mindset and at the same time I just cannot understand certain things - I look like them and I fit properly into the clothes I try out in the magazines (sooooo nice), but at the same time I dress differently and have a different style
I guess that is the beauty of growing up between two different cultures. You dont really belong to any of the two, but still you do somehow.
I notice this the most, when I speak to a Swedish person somewhere. I look Swedish and I speak Swedish, but still they cannot place me anywhere, because I dont have a clearly defined accent. In addition to that, I might use "outdated" expressions from my parents or just simply use a "swedish-ized" german word that simply doesnt exist. Then they look at me with a confused expression, as if I were an alien in a Swedish body. They notice that something is different, but cannot really tell what it is.
Sometimes it feels a bit frustrating not to be 100% Swedish or Swiss. Always missing a certain expression or a detail about the culture. Then again you might ask yourself, what being Swedish or Swiss really means.
In the end, it doesnt really matter, I know. But as searching for your own identity somehow seems to be an integral part of most human beings lifes, I guess it is only natural that these thoughts trouble my mind from time to time.
Tomorrow Im heading back towards Switzerland. Another long train ride is awaiting me...
Location: Skane, South of Sweden, in the train from Lund to Malmö State of mind: Enjoying the perfect moment
Just got back from visiting a school in Lund, as part of my internship. Went to Rome last week, visiting a school there. Have now been in Sweden for three days. Visited three schools today and was expecting to be tired. Instead I experienced the perfect moment.
I love those moments that arrive unexpectately. You are sitting there and just fully enjoying the moment. Today this meant: - Having the feeling that I achieved something today - Having a chai latte in my right hand - A chunky marshmallow cookie in my left hand - Listening to a beautiful song - Maria Mena with "Calm under Waves" - Hugging two shopping bags with some great new clothes I found in beautiful Lund - Watching at the sunset and the breathtaking landscape passing by
Small things adding up to the perfect moment. Thank you for this.... Tomorrow I´m taking the train to Norway...
Location: On my bed in Baden-Dättwil, relaxing with my sister Sofia and my cat Ronja Frame of mind: Tired, but happy
So, the adventure begins... I got an internship! My destination is finally set: Beijing, China. And yet, I will probably see less of China during the next months than I thought at the beginning.
As part of my intenship I'm lucky to be able to travel quite extensively and you will hear more about that during the next few months, so keep reading the blog.
I'm so excited! Hope it all works out. Right now I'm working a lot (for my internship and my work at ABB), sleeping little, enjoying my time with family and friends and slowly getting ready to start my journey.
My job description: Head of European Market for Weland International - enabling students from Europe and the rest of the world to travel to China to be part of the largest Asian MUN conference - WEMUNC - the WE Model United Nations Conference and experience China as a country on the WEXPLORE Tour.
WANT TO JOIN? ;) Have a look at the video: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTIyNTE3MTEy.html
Great lyrics... Are you rising or coming down at the moment?
Merry go round Solas
Someone is tossing petals in a stream Somewhere someone is standing at the foothills of their dreams Someone got a paintbrush, is painting over doubts Someone opened up his eyes and saw the sun coming out Someone was captive and found the courage to get off From a boulder in the well, somewhere the rain has stopped Someone is finding the place where they belong
Everyday is summer somewhere in the world And the summer boys are headed for the falls to kiss the girls With their impatient hands groping honey breasts and curls They are filled with desire And high in the hills there's a baby being born As forgiveness and peace wash over bruises and sores People bridging the distance over nettles and thorns
Everyone aboard on the merry-go-round Some things will rise up so that others come down If the devil don't dance, heaven won't shine It's a mighty thick haze and it's a pretty thin line If the facuet is tightened up the love won't flow If the love isn't bright enough the corn won't grow If the night isn't dark enough the moon won't glow
A rich man counting money, a tired man counting sheep While the safe man counts his blessings, the hungry man has beans There's a million people praying, raising up their eyes To what turns out to be the same god, the same sky We are slightly scared of death, a little bit afraid So we celebrate everything we can think to celebrate We shall sing out loud to keep the hounds away
Everyone aboard on the merry-go-round Some things will rise up so that others come down If the devil don't dance, heaven won't shine It's a mighty thick haze and it's a pretty thin line If the facuet is tightened up the love won't flow If the love isn't bright enough the corn won't grow If the night isn't dark enough the moon won't glow
Prisons will crumble and governments will fall It's the order of freedom to be preceded by walls Cause the truth would be worthless if no one ever lied So we carry our shame in the interest of pride And we have all these questions to make us go roam And we’ve got all this distance to make us come home As the sun burns, a child learns, the tide churns, the world turns
Everyone aboard on the merry-go-round Some things will rise up so that others come down If the devil don't dance, heaven won't shine It's a mighty thick haze and it's a pretty thin line If the facuet is tightened up the love won't flow If the love isn't bright enough the corn won't grow If the night isn't dark enough the moon won't glow
I've finished my bachelor in international relations and I've finished my term as Member Committee Vice President of Talent Management in AIESEC in Switzerland....
I'm standing at a crossroads and I'm ready to take the next step in my life.
Meaning?
- That I want to go abroad - That I want to take some time before starting my masters to travel, work abroad, learn a new language, challenge myself further and learn more about myself and the world - That I can't wait to get into the airplane and fly to...
DESTINATION UNKNOWN
When?
I don't know...
Where?
I don't know...
How?
Hopefully with AIESEC...
Exciting, nerv-racking, thrilling, ...
World, here I come... Be ready for the helvetic viking!
