The Update

Ok. I admit. I should write here more often. Lately seem to have put all my words into either assignments or emails. Anyway, assignments are now over. University is actually formally over in the middle of July - that is when my graduation is.

Dissertation went well (I hope!). With God's help I also found a suitable job for myself, but I won't reveal any more details until I have signed a contract. I am happy to tell that it seems to be the job of my graduate dreams.

This summer I am tourist infoing it at the Tourist Information Centre in my hometown (Åsele). It is likely my last summer as Tourist Adviser, but it has been the most enjoyable summer job possible. Not all people get the privilege of working with The Stick and Slyve Homegreen ;).

Last week I did some interpreting Swe-Eng for a group asylum seekers that were taken on a bus tour past the sights around my hometown. Working with refugees is something I really really enjoy, and I hope I can get some time to do voluntary work within that area in the future.


Today Simon has:

Listened to Air
Read some computer game text
Noticed how God is good, even though Simon has felt so and so.

Go to Bed!

Or maybe a blog post instead. Feels like ages ago. And sadly (or to the amusement of others, and myself the day after) I write like a drunkard when tired.

I am currently doing my dissertation, which I - strangely enough - find quite enjoyable.

I do not think I have dreamed any controversial dreams lately.

The longer I stay in this country, the more I seem to like it.

Why do I keep sneezing? My flat is actually relatively clean... and surely the hayfever season has not begun...?

I have my running route past two very fine furniture shops. One is particularly hard to avoid seeing, and whenever I pass by I look at the posh tables and couches. Why do I do this? I do not know. This as I...

1. ...do not know anything about the future, apart from that my last deadline is the 21st of May.
2. ...do not have any money to spend on furniture.
3. ... do not have any space for furniture.
4. ...have no plans of moving into a bigger flat, no matter where I end up.


Why did I not put down a reminder in my phone for that coffee today?

Had a very bad customer service experience today. Rang E*TRADE to activate my American debit card that I recently got. I spoke to three customer service agents. One friendly bloke called Joseph, then two less than service minded girls whereof one bore the name Amanda.

They seemed to not have time with me, and I felt obliged to excuse myself for taking their time! Which I actually did. One actually yawned during our talk - without apologising!

If I were their manager and heard those calls, I would give them a stern talking to.

In the greater scheme of things this is obviously an event of small significance, but I am surprised that they are not more customer centred as a financial services firm operating in a time like this.

Anyway, E*TRADE has a brilliant online share trading facility. Just do not talk to them...

Today Simon has:

Listened to Trans-Island Skyway by Donald Fagen
Read Dr Ike's slides
Noticed that the WSJ has written about Raoul Wallenberg today (www.wsj.com)

When Old Tunes...

...pop up in your head, and you do not know why – there is nothing better than sharing the joy (?).

www.myspace.com/mserneholt

I Need A House and TTW MHG are (moderately cheesy) classics.


Moving swiftly on.

www.myspace.com/kentsweden

747, here for some unknown reason called Like a Wishper. Whatever a wishper is...

According to many Swedes, 747 is the perfect song. Make sure you listen to the whole track, if you want it in Swedish just look up 747 + kent in the search box. Chans is also a good tune:

"Så får jag en chans att säga
allt det jag aldrig sagt

Så får jag en chans att ge dig
allt det du aldrig haft

Men jag är för feg"


In English it would be something like:

"I was given the chance to tell you
all that I never said

I was given the chance to give you
all that you never had

But I am a coward"


Right, that is all for today. Two blog posts in one day. That will not happen again this semester.


Since the previous post today, Simon has:

Listened to all the above
Read The Economist (how mature am I?!)
Noticed that the Facebook chat is touch and go...=/

A Different Breakfast, Alanis, Marital Status and Coursemates

I will probably be fed up with this dish in a few weeks' time as that is what I keep cooking for friends. As I had leftovers from yesterday, I decided to fry these (those?) for breakfast.

Oh, I had this dream tonight. It was about me nearly missing my dissertation celebration flight to New York. I was pleased waking up and realising it had been just a dream.

According to Wikipedia, Alanis Morissette is dating some kind of environmental lawyer called Tom Ballanco. Never mind. I hope she is happy. Really.

During the past seven days I have socialised with friends once, and that was yesterday. Before that it was a night (or in my case, late evening) out with the coursemates. It has been such a privilege getting to know a few people on my course better. I hope we will keep in touch with each other after graduation.

When I was seventeen years old I thought I was gonna be married at the age of 22 and, if not, definitely by the age of 24. Two and a half brief relationships later, I now have no intention of getting involved in a relationship. Of course I did not enjoy getting dumped in the past, but with the benefit of hindsight it was the best that could happen.

I am not scared of staying single the rest of my life. As it is now I probably would not mind, but I have to acknowledge that this contentedness is largely dependent on me finding a meaningful career. However, I am scared of losing the friends that I actually have. My future life will probably consist of a lot of moving around. Heck, I have lived in five places in five years – and actually enjoyed the hopping around.

I have to admit it feels strange to leave Newcastle after graduation. It is the first town I have identified myself more with than Stockholm. I felt as home in Newcastle after a year as I did in Stockholm after three years.

One reason is probably that I have felt more like a member of the church here, while in Stockholm I always felt like a guest. Having said that, my priorities have rather been with my studies than church activities during the last few years.

That does not mean that I see my Christian faith as little more than a Get Out of Hell Free card. For instance, I would not have had the courage to come here if it was not for my faith.

Clocked up another six miles of running yesterday. Let me know if you want to join at some point.

I usually do not write about private matters on my blog. Hope you enjoyed the exception ;).

Today Simon has:

Listened to Andy Murray's racket
Read nothing yet
Noticed that going to bed early is so rewarding

Personality Test

I did a personality test the yesterday while on a break from cleaning my flat (ehrm). After answering 150ish questions I got the following profile(s). Some of it is very accurate, but I am questioning me being an orderly perfectionist...

Then I assume this test was very unscientific in the first place, so I will probably try to do something endorsed by a bunch of psychologists next time. Anyway, enjoy reading.

Conscientious

(Work)

Work ethic, get the job done and done right, strong morals and values, loyal, perfectionist.

Hard work:	The Conscientious person is dedicated to work, works very hard, and is capable of intense, single-minded effort.
The right thing:	To be Conscientious is to be a person of conscience. These are men and women of strong moral principles and values. Opinions and beliefs on any subject are rarely held lightly. Conscientious individuals want to do the right thing.
The right way:	Everything must be done "right," and the Conscientious person has a clear understanding of what that means, from the correct way to balance the checkbook, to the best strategy to achieve the boss's objectives, to how to fit every single dirty dish into the dishwasher.
Perfectionism:	The Conscientious person likes all tasks and projects to be complete to the final detail, without even minor flaws.
Love of detail:	Conscientious men and women take seriously all the steps of any project. No detail is too small for Conscientious consideration.
Order:	Conscientious people like the appearance of orderliness and tidiness. They are good organizers, catalogers, and list makers, and they appreciate schedules and routines.
Pragmatism:	Conscientious types approach the world and other people from a practical, no-nonsense point of view, They roll up their sleeves and get to workwithout much emotional expenditure.
Prudence:	Thrifty, careful, and cautious in all areas of their lives, Conscientious individuals do not give in to reckless abandon or wild excess.
Accumulation:	A "pack rat," the Conscientious person saves and collects things (storing them in orderly bundles), reluctant to discard anything that has, formerly had, or someday may have value for him or her.

Mercurial

(Emotions, Relationships, Self-Control)

Life is a rollercoaster, insist you come along for the ride, yearn for experience, enduring to emotional weather changes.

Romantic attachment:	Mercurial individuals must always be deeply involved in a romantic relationship with one person.
Intensity:	They experience a passionate, focused attachment in all their relationships. Nothing that goes on between them and other people is trivial,nothing taken lightly.
Heart:	They show what they feel. They are emotionally active and reactive. Mercurial types put their hearts into everything.
Unconstraint:	They are uninhibited, spontaneous, fun-loving, and undaunted by risk.
Activity:	Energy marks the Mercurial style. These individuals can stir others to activity.
Open mind:	They are imaginative and curious, willing to experience and experiment with other cultures, roles, and value systems and to follow new paths.

http://www.personalityonline.com/ - The page of the test

Today Simon has:

Listened to Sleeping in my Car by Roxette
Read nothing
Noticed how quickly you burn cash in a music store