« Grr. | Main | Back in Town »
February 16, 2005
Judo Chop
So, I just got off the phone with Dell Technical Support. I haven't been able to connect to any wireless internet networks since I got here to Sweden, and I'd finally had enough. After 45 minutes with Shane, we finally figured it out. Or, at least, we think it was fixed. Tomorrow I'll go down to Wayne's Coffee and test it out. Hurray!
Today was abnormally full of events. I stayed up WAY too late last night (5 a.m.) and was awakened by Roya at 8:30 a.m. for an interview. I'm helping her beta-test an interview for her group thesis, which is about using strategic plannning towards sustainability for the individual. It's pretty interesting, so we'll see how it goes.
Next, I got dressed and headed downtown for a couple hours of judo. That's right. Judo. One of our professors is a judo master and graciously hosted a beginner's session for the class. It was way fun, even if we didn't get to do any throws or punching. They have class twice a week, but it sounds pretty hard core, so I doubt if I'll go again. It made me realize just how out of shape I've gotten since arriving in Sweden. I walk everywhere (and occasionally bike), but I don't really get any aerobic exercise and it shows. I would kill for a gym membership, but it's just not worth it while I'm here. But it's at the top of my list when I finish the program.
Immediately from judo class I went to Wayne's Coffee for a thesis meeting with Ronan. Issues are already beginning to emerge, but I will reserve judgment for another week. Sigh.
From Wayne's Coffee, I went to Wachmeister Mall and paid my March rent and internet bill. Then I grabbed the bus back to campus and stopped by the International Office to pick up a letter from Amy. Unfortunately, the lady who had the letter was out of the office, and the other lady couldn't find it. So after 20 minutes of standing around in a futile effort to call the original lady on her cell phone, I left my address with the understanding that they will forward the letter to the apartment once its located. That settled, I went to our common room and caught the last 2 hours of a class meeting on social sustainability, which I thought was excellently facilitated. There were lots of great questions and comments, and I wish we could have explored it further.
By then, however, it was time for dinner. Several of us tromped through the snow to the pizza place down the road, where I ended up having kebab med brod (yum). Then we turned around and headed back to school for a screening of Cry Freedom, which is an excellent (if heartbreaking) film about Steven Biku and Don Woods and their role in Apartheid South Africa in the 1970s.
Having only had 3 hours of sleep, I gratefully caught the bus with Roya back to the apartment, where we (shamefully) threw out the compost with the rest of the garbage, the snow keeping us from stealth-dropping it in someone's compost bins (since Kungsmarksvagen doesn't have its own composting).
After Roya checked her email, I got on the computer and checked my email and the news. Nothing very exciting. But in a fit of sleep-deprived brilliance, I managed to track down the Dell Service Support number and made contact with Shane, my new best friend in India.
It's now after midnight and I have to be back at school by 10:30 a.m. for a thesis meeting with Karl-Henrik and Dave. I'm not enthusiastic, since I'm already feeling grumpy about the thesis progress so far.
That's all for now. In the next two weeks, I'll be looking at whether or not my "basic human needs" are fulfilled with my current lifestyle. More on that next time.
