July 31, 2004
Hemmoraging $$
Whew--my credit card is worn out! Major expenses this week include:
1. Travel insurance (see previous entry about futility of travel insurance)
2. Prescription medication (see previous entry about how drug companies are making billions off the backs of the uninsured)
3. New computer (see previous entry about sadness related to lack of wireless internet at school)
All of which is to say that the big chunk of change from my condo sale is quickly looking like a pittance. Well, perhaps not a pittance, but certainly not the "roll around naked in $100 bills" fantasy it once was. I've been investigating possible investment options--you would think that after working for 3 years at an asset management company that I would have some idea of what I was doing. Let me be clear, I do not. But it's VERY fun to consider opening accounts like a real adult.
On tonight's agenda is a trip to The Container Store to purchase an accordion folder for all my Sweden-related paperwork. The pile on my pseudo-desk (it's also Janie's play area and the scrapbooking area) is getting unmanageable.
Posted by madchen at 11:41 PM | Comments (0)Moving On
It has come to my attention that reading about someone's self-pity is a boring waste of time. So, I will dispense with the anger and move on to other things. And let me say, nothing helps a person move on like a big, fat certified check. That's right--the condo is now officially sold!!
I forgot to mention that I saw Napoleon Dynamite with a friend yesterday--it was awesome. It captured the angst of adolescence while simultaneously celebrating bad 1980s hairstyles. Good times. I encourage everyone to see the movie and join the fan club.
On tomorrow's agenda--canceling my homeowner's insurance and purchasing a new computer--I finally got specs from school and it looks like I will not be enjoying the privileges of wireless internet until I return to the States. Sigh.
Posted by madchen at 11:40 PM | Comments (0)July 29, 2004
Baggage
I realized today that I am angry. Very, very angry. And I'm not sure what to do about it.
My general philosophy is that it takes too much energy to stay mad, so it's best to just let petty grievances go. I thought I was living by this standard until I found myself boiling over with rage this evening--over things that happened weeks (and sometimes months) ago. Realizing that my mother would completely freak out if she discovered all her china smashed to bits, I resisted a destructive impulse. Now, several hours later, my rage has turned into seething. Sulky, bitter, seething--with occasional bouts of grief. As you might imagine, it's not very attractive.
Even though I am nominally angry with two specific people, I am mostly angry with myself. And that, without a doubt, is the worst kind of anger. As Sophocles (496 BC - 406 BC) wrote in Oedipus Rex, "The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves."
I feel stupid for the way I acted (not standing up for myself, regardless of the consequences) and furious that I allowed myself to get pressured into compromising my values.
I'm torn between confronting the people in question and explaining why they should be deported to Madagascar, and just "letting it go". Here's the problem with both:
1) Confronting these people (who are obviously in the wrong) would do nothing to help me feel better about the way I handled the situations in question. In fact, any confrontation would probably only make things worse, since they would feel that their behavior was validated by my angry reaction.
But...
2) "Letting it go" is clearly not working. I don't want to go through life keeping a 100 yard distance from glass items.
So, I think the solution is to let things go for now, but find a cheap set of dishes to smash for tomorrow.
Thoughts of the day:
Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)
I love life...Yeah, I'm sad, but at the same time, I'm really happy that something could make me feel that sad. It's like...It makes me feel alive, you know. It makes me feel human. The only way I could feel this sad now is if I felt something really good before. So I have to take the bad with the good. So I guess what I'm feeling is like a beautiful sadness.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park, Raisins, 2003
July 28, 2004
Ambivalence
I managed to complete 4 things on my list today, including purchasing travel insurance. The whole idea of travel insurance is such a joke--it will really only protect me if I need a heart transplant, or something similarly serious. It doesn't cover accidents from sports (heaven forbid I want to go skiing while in Europe!) or prescription drugs (like my two daily asthma inhalers). In fact, a quick tally of my mandatory prescriptions comes to approximately $250 a month. How on earth is that possible? I now understand the plight of the elderly on Medicare. Even in Sweden, prescription medications are prohibitively expensive, unless you are covered as a permanent resident--which, of course, I will not be.
I also transferred over my prescriptions from my old medical plan to the local pharmacy. This change will enable me to stock up on prescriptions before going over to Sweden. Once I get there, I'm hoping to do a quick comparison to see where I would get the better deal. I may have to get 10 months of refills from home, then have them sent over to me. Another thing to add to my ever-growing to-do list.
Sigh.
My softball game was cancelled because of inclement weather. I was doubtful that the rain was really serious enough to warrant another make-up game, but 10 minutes before the game was supposed to begin, a downpour started that caused major flash flooding all over the place. In the evening news, they had clips from a bridge a couple blocks from my parents' house that had completely washed out. Glad I wasn't out there in that tiny Miata.
And speaking of the car, I have a possible buyer! He's coming over tomorrow evening to take a look--hope he's not expecting a tricked-out ride. He asked if the car had alloy wheels. Like I know what alloy wheels are. Dad (if you're reading this before 5: 30 p.m.), does my car have alloy wheels?
Other than that, nothing much else to report. Massive amounts of laundry have been done, yet I was shocked to discover a pair of pajamas and three socks were still in the to-be-washed pile this evening. Where the other sock went, I have no idea. If you see a rogue sock (white, athletic) wandering around, please return it to me poste haste.
No new amazing sentences from The Shipping News to report, as I have only made it to page 15. Perhaps tomorrow.
And for all of you (read: mom and dad) who have been mocking my inactivity, I refer you to the great physicist Fritjof Capra:
During [these] periods of relaxation after concentrated intellectual activity, the intuitive mind seems to take over and can produce the sudden clarifying insights which give so much joy and delight.
Based on this theory, I would guess that I am due for an epiphany any day now. I will, of course, share any joy and delight with you, dear readers.
Posted by madchen at 11:43 PM | Comments (0)July 27, 2004
No Motivation
I created a new list of 10 things to do this week--some important (renewing my prescription medication without any medical insurance), some not so vital (like finding a pair of pink slingbacks that have been packed away somewhere). Unfortunately, I have no motivation.
Instead, let me share a couple of sentences from Anne Proulx's The Shipping News, which I just started. So far, I am not impressed--her language is so stilted that it makes reading very jolty. But occasionally, there is a gem.
- A spinning coin, still balanced on its rim, may fall in either direction.
- In another time, another sex, she would have been a Genghis Khan. When she needed burning cities, the stumbling babble of captives, horses exhausted from tracing the reeling borders of her territories, she had only petty triumphs of sexual encounters.
I'm only on page 13, so I'm sure there will be more to come. But first, I am determined to cross 3 things off my list before picking up the book again.
Posted by madchen at 03:31 PM | Comments (0)Blekinge Institute of Technology
I realized tonight that I know virtually nothing about the school I will be attending. So I went back through the English-version website and noticed that additional information had been posted since the last time I looked. Here is the most interesting tidbits:
Blekinge Institute of Technology
Location
Karlskrona, Karlshamn and Ronneby are located in the region of Blekinge, which is in the Southeast part of Sweden by the Baltic Sea. Blekinge is approximately 500 km south of Stockholm and 300 km east of Copenhagen. Thanks to good transportations, the area is convenient to travel to both by plane as well as by train. Go here to see live pictures of Karlskrona--in a couple weeks, we can arrange an online viewing of me, waving to you from the city center!
Golf
Karlskrona has three eighteen-hole golf courses and two nine-hole courses. The ninehole courses are pay-and-play courses and are open to anyone who would like to try golf. If you want to play one of the eighteen-hole courses you need to have an official handicap. At most golf courses you can also rent a set of golf clubs.
Electricity
In Sweden a 220V two-pin plug is used. Please bring an adapter if needed. Adapters can be bought at some stores here, however it can be difficult to find the right one. Another possibility is to arrange with the Student shop to buy one through them.
Climate
Sweden’s climate has great variations depending on the season. During the summer the temperature reaches high 20’s C, and during the winter it can be as low as –30° C in the Northern parts. In Blekinge however, it is very unusual that the temperature drops below –10° C.
During the winter we do get some snow, but it usually melts within a few weeks because the coast climate is rather mild. The rainiest season is in the fall and the temperature is between 0° and 10° C. If you are staying for a longer period you might want to bring an umbrella and a rain coat.Nature
A 250 km long trail going through the Blekinge nature. Walk through forests, coastland, mountains, and farmland from Karlskrona in the East to Sölvesborg in the West. There are eleven different parts of the trail offering a different experience and also places to stay overnight.
Attractions
Amiralitetskyrkan. A woodenchurch built in 1685 with the famous Rosenbom standing outside. Location: Vallgatan.
Nightlife
Karlskrona has two nightclubs, which both are very popular, especially on Saturdays when both places are pretty much packed. The nightclubs stay open till 3 am. Bio Bar, www.biobar.com, Schlagerbaren. There are several bars in both cities where you can grab something to eat, have a coffee or just a beer. The bars usually stay open until 1 am.
Master's in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability
Posted by madchen at 02:24 AM | Comments (0)July 26, 2004
Speed Demon
I must have set a record for the fastest room-cleaning activity ever. Laundry is humming in the other room, books are neatly stacked on the bookshelf, and the cats are happily chasing a fly--poor thing doesn't stand a chance.
Incidentally, I stopped into the Hallmark store on my shopping trip this evening and picked up a fun, new notebook. Is everyone familiar with Anne Taintor? My notebook has the top-right picture and caption--I thought it fitted me perfectly. In case you are wondering, I welcome all Anne Taintor-related products for upcoming gift-giving occasions.
So now I have the rest of the evening looming before me. Wait, you say! It's already almost 11 p.m.--shouldn't you be getting to bed? Hah, I say to you. The night is young, particularly for those who have completed their residence permit application and have NOTHING to do until my softball game at 8:30 p.m tomorrow. I should be up and dressed by then, no problem.
Posted by madchen at 10:31 PM | Comments (0)No worries in a car accident
Finally--my residence permit is now in the hands of the Swedish Migration Board (feel free to poke around for all your Sweden-visiting needs!). I spent a lovely hour with at the Embassy this afternoon, making sure everything was complete. I almost had a heart attack when the first lady mentioned that I was missing proof of travelers insurance (which I don't have, but will be getting before I leave). As you may recall, this was NOT one of the requirements mentioned before. I was ready to throw a tantrum (having recently witnessed one of Janie's best, I was well-prepared) when the other Embassy worker assured me that proof of insurance was unnecessary. Thank goodness, I was not mentally prepared for another round of "complete the residence permit requirements". Now I just have to sit back and wait, and perhaps call them later this week for a little low-pressure harassment.
You might think that this momentous event would be the highlight of my day, but you would be wrong. Speaking of how I'm always right, check out this site. I think I might have found a new calling in life: online lawsuits against my friends!
The true highlight of the day was a trip to the mall for new underwear!! That's right, I can now go approximately 2 months without doing laundry. Janie helped me pick them out, even suggesting that I get a pair of the following:
I hope I needn't explain that I hustled her out of the store as quickly as possible, but not before having to explain that this particular pair would not help me keep warm during the cold, cold Sweden winter.
Now back home, I'm sad to report that my room has, once again, become a federally-declared disaster area (I expect the Bush and Kerry to swing by to view the catastrophe any moment now). The rest of tonight is devoted to digging a path from the door to the bed. And, of course, doing MORE laundry, my nemesis.
In order to stem the tide of complaints from a certain unmentioned sibling, a big shout-out to Jessica. Aside from her amusing antics (ask her about the dirty-underwear-archery adventure from 6th grade), she is also smart, witty, gorgeous, and can pester the hell out of anyone in her path. I have promised to only include parent-friendly stories about her in this journal, so the truly scintillating exposes (concerning the drugs, alcohol, and llama abuse--kidding!!) will have to wait until I can tell them in person.
Posted by madchen at 08:20 PM | Comments (0)July 25, 2004
Hip, Hip Hooray!
What a fun day--
Um, totally unrelated, but I LOVE this entry. Why can't I find love like that?
Speaking of dueling computers, my mom is sitting not 10 feet away, trying to figure out how to burn an audiobook onto a series of CDs. It's not exactly going smoothly. Some might use the word painful, but not me. Oh no, I know better than that.
Posted by madchen at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)Progress Report
But lest you believe that I really have been unproductive, let me confirm that I did:
On the remaining tasks at hand, I discovered that the spider living amongst the empty boxes had either a) met Madchen in a battle to the death, or b) fled to another home. Either way, I am happily spider-free.
I also found out that I don't need to repack and boxes that are already stored in the attic. Thank goodness, because I was going to go "Jason Bourne" on the next person who harassed me about them. (Just kidding, I love you mom!)
On the Quicken front, well, I just didn't do it yet. The prospect is just too depressing. Perhaps when I get my new laptop I will be inspired to combine my technological prowess with a new sense of fiscal responsibility. It could happen.
Posted by madchen at 03:07 PM | Comments (0)Bisque is not supposed to be brine-based
Ahh, a couple of perfectly unproductive days has left me very content. It's amazing what a delightful person I can be when I get 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Uninterrupted, that is, except for a certain 3-year old coming into my room at 9 a.m. and asking:
- Are you awake?
- Why not?
- Want to come play with me?
- Why not?
- Want to come play in a minute?
- Why not?
- You sleeping, Aunt Jen?
- Why you sleeping, Aunt Jen?
- What?
Yes, it's a lovely routine we've perfected over the past few weeks, made all the more fun because I've gotten in a nasty habit of staying up until 4 a.m. catching up on my reading. So while 9 a.m. might be a fantastic time to chat with a normal person, I'm not exactly chipper. Since I seem to be going to bed later and later each night, I'm hoping at some point to completely circle the clock and start waking up at 6 a.m. I managed to do that for awhile when I would shuttle back and forth from Japan, but it's been a LONG time since I've been awake at sunrise of my own volition.
Sweden update: I've managed to get all my permit-related paperwork in order, but didn't make it down to the Embassy on Friday. They have VERY short hours, and my the time I was up and dressed, it was too late to schlep down there in time to catch an embassy representative. So Monday it is!
Today, instead of playing golf, LD and I did uber-girly manicures/pedicures at a fun salon in Takoma Park. Looking absolutely model-esque, we met friends for "The Bourne Supremecy" (TOTALLY unlike the book--but very enjoyable), where we had a run-in with seat snatchers. The four of us ended up sitting in three different rows in order to keep the peace, but bloodshed was ultimately avoided. One comment on the movie--unrelated to the plot--it's shot in a style reminiscent of the Blair Witch Project; I recommend a dose of Dramamine before you go.
Afterwards, we all enjoyed an oversalted meal of Red Lobster. In fact, I can currently feel my body beign drained of all fluids in an attempt to counteract the bisque. But no matter, a dessert of Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough Ice Cream while playing Mario Kart (of four players and 16 games, I came in last all but once--and the one time I came in 3rd, the forth player had taken an ice cream break) finished off the night quite nicely.
Now back at home, I'm still thinking about the Akido Dojo that LD and I stopped into on our way to the salon. It looked like so much fun!! I wonder if school will offer any fun martial arts classes or clubs. It's going to be pretty sad if I don't find some physical activity to ward off the no-sun blues of Sweden in winter.
And now, I'm off to finish "The Bonesetter's Daughter"--one of the last fiction books on my list to read before I leave. That will leave a pile of dry non-fiction. Sigh--books about WWII seemed so interesting at the time...
Posted by madchen at 12:39 AM | Comments (0)July 21, 2004
Now introducing, the next ambassador to Fiji
Before I begin, dear reader, let me assure you that my recent absence was not due to any productive behavior. Oh no, no, no. Instead, I have watched countless episodes of TLC's "The Baby Story," shuffled and re-shuffled (but never, ever filed) paperwork, and perused the Ann Taylor loft Summer Sale. All of which brings me no closer to Sweden, but I'm content to sit here in Bethesda looking good in some new capris. Ahh, the end of summer sale...
And now, the big news of the day:
"Congratulations on passing the April 24, 2004 Foreign Service Written Examination. We invite you to participate in the next phase of the Foreign Service Office selection process, the Oral Assessment. Love, the State Department."
OK, so there were no touching endearments at the end. But has there ever been a pair of sentences so sweet? My next step is to schedule the Oral Assessment (given in Washington D.C. from September-May) next month, which means I'll be coming back from Sweden for a hiatus sometime this fall.
Receiving this news brightened up my day tremendously, because the morning (and early afternoon) had been spent in fruitless pursuit of a residence permit (i.e. a long-term visa) for Sweden. Using the information found on the Embassy website, I compiled a detailed and thorough list of documents for my permit application. Then I trekked downtown to turn in everything personally. Things were going well until I met with the visa assistant who gave me a HITHERTO UNSEEN list of additional materials needed to process a visa application. Because this list included things like a letter of intent (basically a 2-sentence letter from me indicating that I plan to return to America after the program is done), I had to go back home unfulfilled. Very irritating.
I spent the better part of the afternoon getting additional passport photos (I look stunning, by the way), writing a letter of intent, and generally fretting about the impending deadline. The embassy is required to submit all residence permits to the Swedish Migration Board (in Sweden) for approval. The Migration Board then sends a permit stamp back to the embassy, who inserts it into my passport and VOILA! The kicker is that the embassy only couriers permit applications over to Sweden on Wednesday mornings. Thus, since I missed today's deadline, I will have to wait another week for my information to be sent to Sweden for approval. Considering that they recommend 6-8 weeks for visa completion and I am scheduled to start classes in 4 weeks, I am a little worried. Nothing to do about it now I suppose. The embassy staff assured me that the Migration Board is very sensitive to school deadlines and that if I call them next week, things can probably be expedited. It's the word "probably" that has me the most discombobulated.
So the Foreign Service email was a welcome distraction from all things Sweden-related, although I even managed to do a little more work on the car-selling front. I give you, my online ad! (I'm the 1997 Miata with 59,800 miles.)
Other than that, things are moving along swimmingly. My agenda for tomorrow?
1. Get a money order for residence permit
2. Clean room (so much laundry, so little closet space)
3. Repack storage boxes (oh the drama)
4. Kill annoying spider currently living in new boxes
5. File all outstanding paperwork
6. Catch up on Quicken
Hmm, this may be an agenda for the rest of the week. After all, many of these tasks may well interfere with "The Baby Story" and I have to remain loyal to my true priorities.
Posted by madchen at 08:48 PM | Comments (0)July 18, 2004
Presenting...the next Tiger Woods
Another day with no noticeable progress toward Sweden, but no matter. I spent the day with a friend who introduced me to the sport of golf. Who knew it was so much fun?
After a lovely lunch, we hit the driving range where I proceeded to hit most of the balls without a hitch (I'll just skip over the several embarrassing incidents of whiffing)--one even went 125 yards! Lily assures me that I am a natural at the game (SO much better than my first forays into the exciting world of chinese checkers) and we're going to play a round of 9 holes next weekend. After that, I plan on going straight to the Masters. I wonder if they have golf in Sweden...I may need to mosey over to Iceland for their all-night golfing fun.
Back from the golf course, we lolled on the couch for an hour and watched surfing and cheerleading competitions on TV. To be clear, it was two SEPARATE competitions, not surfing cheerleaders. Feeling very smug with my golf abilities--and firmly believing I have yet more untapped talent--I have also decided to take up professional surfing. Or perhaps I will just fly to Fiji and attend the next tournament as a spectator. Whatever.
And then, my most Sweden-related accomplishment of the day. I cleaned out my car!! (Follow my logic closely.) Before I leave the country, I need to sell my car (thus ridding myself of an unneeded automobile AND saving unnecessary car insurance payments). If I sell the car to Carmax, they will give me the Kelly Blue Book Value. If I sell the car myself, I will get an additional several thousand dollars--clearly the better choice. But to sell the car directly, I need to do additional work normally left to the dealer. For the most part, this is not a problem; the car works great. There is, however, a small problem. It's FILTHY.
Today, as part of my 12-step car-selling process, I cleaned out all the junk from inside the car. Now, dear reader, you might ask yourself how much stuff could possibly fit into a Miata? I'm glad you asked, because I've compiled a random sampling of items retrieved:
1. A cooler (empty, except for a fork and a knife) used in last weekend's camping trip at Cunningham Falls
2. A trench coat (you may remember this coat from yesterday's journal entry), worn on my golf outing today
3. Two baseball gloves, accumulated during this season's softball games
4. A pair of flip-flops, from last week's pedicure
5. A navy blue zippered sweater, a standby in case of cold weather
6. A white wool zippered sweater, another cold-weather standby
7. A pink trench coat (barely recognizable because it had been stuffed into a little ball for several weeks)
8. A grocery bag full of clothes (gleaned from my wardrobe MONTHS ago), meant to be given to my company's last clothing drive, but forgotten until now
9. A pink beach towel, which I had been missing for weeks
10. An obi (sash for a kimono) hangar, given to me by my father LAST YEAR, but forgotten until now
11. A baseball cap, used to capture flyaway hair when the convertible top is down
12. A set of my cat's x-rays, from her last emergency vet visit this May (she ate audio tape, silly girl)
13. A manila envelope containing vital COBRA information about continuing health-care after I quit my job (um, a little late, since I am now 3 weeks without any form of medical coverage)
14. A box of energy bars, left over from last weekend's camping trip
15. A pair of mittens, from last winter, I suppose
16. Miscellaneous papers, receipts, and trash.
And that's just a sampling. So, if you are interested in a surprisingly spacious Miata for your VERY OWN, do I have a deal for you!
Once I had a cleaned-out car, I realized just how BADLY it needed to be vacuumed. Thus began the car-vacuuming epic of 2004. For those who haven't vacuumed their car recently, I can testify that it is a most gratifying experience--I highly recommend it. Of course, there are still a few pieces of leaf and grit that just REFUSE to come out of the floor mats, but I prefer to believe that just enhances the car's character.
That's about it--the evening mainly consisted of watching the finals of the Mercedes-Benz US Open Series finals (tennis, people) and Mystery on PBS. All very highly entertaining to watch, not entertaining to write about later.
Tonight is dedicated to plowing through Numbers, having decided this summer to read the Bible through from beginning to end. I started strong, but got bogged down on the construction of the Hebrew temple at the end of Leviticus. Yawn. If I remember correctly, there will be a lot of "smiting" coming up. Until then, I'm stuck counting the troops composing the 12 tribes of Israel. Double yawn.
Tomorrow--the Swedish embassy and paint-your-own pottery!
Posted by madchen at 10:32 PM | Comments (0)Beginnings
In a mere month, I will be leaving the comforts of home and traipsing abroad (as much as anyone can "traipse" with two gigantic suitcases stuffed with all of one's worldly belongings).
This journal will serve as a record of my year abroad in Karlskrona, Sweden at the Blekinge Institute of Technology, where I will pursue a Master's degree in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability. All of which is a fancy way of saying I'm taking a year off from work!
And so, the serious planning begins. Lots of the big stuff has been done. The house has been sold (well, it's still under contract) and I quit my job. All my stuff has been relocated to my parents' house, as have my cats. But many, MANY other tasks remain unfinished. For instance, if I don't get my lazy caboose (family journal, you know) down to the Swedish embassy next week, I'll likely have to forgo the entire adventure for lack of a valid visa.
I've been unemployed for over two weeks, and I thought that by now I would have a serious case of cabin fever. Or at least feeling twinges of restlessness. But no, no no. I've discovered that my true calling is a life of leisure. Waking up at noon every day, playing with my niece, and running the occasional errand--this is the life for me. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a burst of energy starting Monday at 8 a.m.--right about the time I should be hopping on the metro for a ride downtown to the embassy.
But lest you believe, dear reader, that my entire life revolves around this Swedish odyssey, allow me to review my main activities from the last week:
- spontaneous trip to tanning salon, where I partook of the spray-tanning experience ($15)
- dinner at Sette Osteria to celebrate friend's birthday ($20)
- post-break-up trip to the nail salon for a pedicure in Malaga Wine ($28)
- post-break-up outing to beauty salon for haircut and highlights ($120)
- frivolous shopping trip, where upon summer clothes (that will NEVER be worn in Sweden), a leopard print-trimmed trench coat, and a rabbit-fur poncho were purchased ($350)
- having a friend tell me, "Oh just buy it, you know you're going to. I mean, you're WEARING IT AROUND THE STORE." (priceless)
Now, one might recall that I am unemployed--thus, no income. Yet, according to the list above, I appear to be living quite well. Let's see how long it lasts. I predict that a fiscal smackdown on July 26, the date of my next Visa statement.
In short:
1. My time in the United States is limited.
2. Soon I will be living in Sweden.
3. Most of my friends will remain in the United States.
3. I am MUCH too lazy to write individual email detailing all my exciting adventures.
4. Livejournal.com provides me a free way to update everyone on scintillating encounters with fellow international students.
Ergo, I will keep this journal, not only so I have a record of my Swedish memories, but also so that my friends and family can live the adventure right along side me. QED.
Aren't you excited?
Posted by madchen at 12:57 AM | Comments (0)
