Vlog Two: Don't Let the Scarf Distract You

Tuesday is, now and forevermore, video day. This week's episode includes landmarks, staticky hair, and the music stylings of Veronica Maggio.

[Don't] Sing Out, Louise

One of the first things I realized about my room was how fantastic the acoustics are.  So naturally, I decided to spend my alone time in a constant loop of vocal performance:  Heart, Les Miserables, Ingrid Michaelson, Next to Normal, Madonna, a narration of what I'm doing...it hasn't stopped.  Although it should, because I've only recently realized that if I can hear people talking outside my window, they can hear me belting Like A Prayer.

Oh, and a recap of this weekend's adventures:

Saturday
Went into town, bought a mug, took a different bus than normal and ended up on a tour of Vaxjo's residential area but made it back A-OK.

Sunday
Didn't watch the Superbowl.

That's all for now!

A Glance Into Swedish for Beginners

The class happens on Monday and Wednesday, from 5:00 to 7:30 in the evening.  This is how it goes:

1. We trudge in and shed our layers and whip out our pirated copies of the textbook.  Unless you're me, and then you wait for someone who's had the foresight to prepare for class so you can share.
2. Role call.  Someone's not here.  Someone's not supposed to be here.  Someone switched sections without anyone's permission.  Someone doesn't know his name.
3. Nine years later, we begin.
4. Swedglish ensues: "Jag heter Emelia.  Jag studera political science och pop culture.  [My name is Emelia.  I study political science and pop culture.]" 
5. The Italians shout "Bra! [Good!]" a lot.  
6. A random outburst of English profanity occurs and is ignored.
7. We have a break and I go get a cup of very strong coffee and a snack. 
8. At some point, I feel the need to burst into Spanish.  Wrong. 
9. I draw a picture in my notes.  Sometimes it goes well. 
10. Homework instructions get fired off in a language that is neither Swedish nor English.  My hausaufgaben  will not get done if I can't understand the direcciones. 
11. Finally, we scurry off into the night. 

The magic of learning.

Swedish Words and Phrases I Know for Sure

Hej.  Means hello.
Hej hej!  Means hello, hello! 
Hej doa.  Means goodbye.

Nasta. Means next, as in next stop, or get off here, foreigner.   Useful on trains and buses.

Kyckling.  Means chicken.  Useful when looking at a menu and having no freakin' clue what any of the other words mean.

Jag heter Emelia.  Means My name is Emelia.  Useful when wanting to tell a Swede who you are, thereby instigating a conversation in Swedish that you will have no idea how to translate.

Rea.  Means sale.
Slut.  Means end.  (Not cheap, as I originally thought.)
Slut rea.  Means sale end.  Also means buy the sweater; life is short.

Jag talar engelska, spanska, och lite tyska och svenska.  Means I speak English, Spanish, and a little German and Swedish.  I hope a little translates to incredibly minimal, or else I am falsely advertising my linguistic ability.

Also, I kind of know numbers.

That's all, folks.

In Living Color

If you're in the mood for a drinking game, take a shot of something every time I...

[] Say "anyway"

[] Touch my nose

[] Touch my bangs (they had mascara stuck in them)

If you follow those instructions, you will most likely be buzzed after just two minutes! 

"It's a normal Swedish name....IKEA."

Today, there was a pilgrimage from Linnaeus to one of Sweden's most globally significant creations...

Photo credit: Jackie Smith

Pictured: Alex "He Doesn't Even Go Here!" Hipwell, Australian Emelia, and American Emelia 

(Yes, there is ANOTHER Emelia. We are the Emelias.) 

Yep.  IKEA.  The first one ever from 1953.  It's in Älmhult, a town about an hour from Vaxjo.  On the bus ride there, sights included a bunch of trees, a lot of snow, and houses at random.  

Note the cloud line! 

After patronizing Sweden's finest mass-marketed products, we ventured around town a bit.

Okay, so we actually saw this from the bus, but it's in the town, so get over it. 

I hope everyone likes my coat, because it's shaping up to be the only thing I'll be photographed in until at least March. 

Then we accidentally boarded the bus an entire hour early and compared driver's licenses and our various ID cards.   On the return trip to Vaxjo, I fell asleep.  This was a big deal, because I usually can't sleep in moving vehicles.  Seriously, I can count the number of times it's happened on one hand.  (But I won't, because no one cares about that.) 


Tomorrow is a day of cultural happenings in town.  Stay tuned. 

Technological Adventures

I Skyped my family last night.  Note the look of extreme wonder on Jeffie's face.

(Not pictured: my mother and several cats.)