Friday, May 4, 2007
4:14:14 PM

Today was an even earlier day as I had to take public transportation in to the facility at the Gothenburg University. Instead of continuing my CI planting trees today, I was signed out by the PA (performance arts) team for vocal workshops. I almost fell asleep so many times in the morning because I’d missed breakfast and subsequently coffee this morning. We worked on the Danish song for next week and in the afternoon we started learning the songs for Thailand. Thailand is going to work very differently than any of the other countries we’ve been to. The only time the whole cast is probably going to be together is for the show and on travel days; but I’m ok with that. By then, I’m going to be counting down the days till I’m home again. Anyhow, In the afternoon I was tired of falling asleep funny eh?) so I turned to my good friend caffeine. A couple of energy drinks later I wasn’t falling asleep, but tonight I know I’m probably in for a major headache. Lunch was held in the cafeteria on campus, we had some salad, yummy. I went to the 7/11 and bought a pastry. I’ve had 3 heavily caffeinated beverages so far today. The rest of our afternoon here is going to be spent collaborating on our CI projects for next week. Next week, we are creating out own community impact projects. I’m working with 12 other students and as of right now we’re planning to go and play some music (cause we all play fiddle/violin) in the children's wing of a hospital or a youth outreach center. I hope it goes well. Next week is our last week in Europe, then its Thailand, then Home; Yay :)

5:48:07 PM

Well, we’re working on our CI stuff right now, well not exactly. Our Team leader is currently taking alcohol orders for tonight. A large part of the cast is going to have a party out on one of the islands tonight. I don’t think its a good idea to go, I’m so tired as it is; plus tomorrow is another operational day as well. I won’t be doing any partying until I get back to NS and I can celebrate my birthday. Since I last wrote, I’ve had a cappuccino, a very good one, thus extending my synthesized state of consciousness for a little while longer. I wish I could check my email. I was able to this morning, that was before the staff arrived with their router. Sometimes I find if frustrating.

Thursday, May 3, 2007
May 4, 2007 3:51 PM

Yesterday was show day, it felt quite strange to have this so early in the week, and to be followed by 2 operational days. We don’t have our free day until Sunday. My room mate and I left the house shortly after 7 and walked to the house of a near by host family. Yesterday we had gotten lost on the way there. My room mate had been there just the day before that and it was only about a 50 meter walk, but she still got lost. I called our host mom and got the directions again. Since we were late, we got stuck in the morning traffic. They were all so concerned about making it to their “staff circle” and pointed out how “unimportant” I am. I got quite pissed off at them. So what if the assistantship that I have this term doesn’t let me into the “staff circle”, When I was doing my advanced work internship, I really didn’t care to make it in, I wasn’t going to die or freak out if I missed one of my trams or busses. Anyhow, We made it in eventually, maybe I was just tired, but it seemed like some people were treating me like I was stupid in the morning. Probably just me being tired. Anyhows, we eventually got setup finished and had rehearsal. Since I’m not a big fan of Green Room before the show, I volunteered for “Front of house” which I basically handing out programs and taking tickets. We had over 600 people to the show. We had lots and lots of high school students participate in the show. As well, we had a new half hour segment in the show with out Guest performers called “Triple & Touch”. It was two guys that played trumpets, guitars, and sang in a style much reminiscent of Louis Armstrong. Our Swedish song went over well. “Ja Trigs Best I Oppna Landskap”. After the show, I was on interviews, thankfully. The student that interviewed was probably the best candidate to the program that I’ve interviewed as of yet. I was so tired when I got home, but thankfully the internet was cooperating and I was able to get in touch with Miranda back home. She’s heading to Nova Scotia in about 2 weeks to start her summer job as a lifeguard.


I’d just like to make a clarification from earlier this week. The Nickname “Beenie” was given to me by Peppe from Sweden because when we were room mates back in Denver he recalled my fondness for beans. Its all Good™.

Today marks the 100th page of journal for me on this trip.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007
May 3, 2007 12:45 PM

Wednesday we planted trees. Its come to my attention that I’ve somehow earned the nickname “Beenie” I have no idea where its from, probably something Swedish for sure. Anyhow, It was great to be outdoors all day, its been a while since I’ve been able to do that. I’ve got to say though, planting trees with people that have never planted them before is a tad bit frustrating. Its hard to explain that its not an “Exact Science” where if a tree is a few centimeters off of the grid that its the end of the world. I probably could have planted the entire area that our CI group planted in just the morning alone. But it was fun, It wasn’t to difficult and I got to release some stress. I did however get my legs pretty cut up from the bushes and stuff, but thats my own fault for not wanting to wear pants. Before we wrapped up the day we did an activity that was basically an introduction to the concept of “Coaching” (personal, business, sports, etc.). Right after host pickup, my host family took me to Ikea. They have a restaurant there where I had some Swedish Meat Balls with Lingon berry juice (which is the same flavor as the North American “Swedish Berries” soft candy.

Yay FOr Coffee

Lets Plant some Trees!
Partick Plants a Tree


Mmm Swedish Meatballs
Eating at Ikea

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Tuesday was an internal education day. In the morning we worked on our Swedish song for the Show on Thursday, I get to sing in the Mic groups for that so thats cool. The rest of the morning we had a seminar with Birte Bruce with the title “Leadership and Conflict”. I’m pretty sure I can’t remember any of it because I was so tired. Lunch was served in the cafeteria on campus, just around the corner. I had mashed potatoes and wieners, not exactly the most healthy thing, but I had slept in and missed breakfast for the most part so It was all Good™. In the afternoon we had a brief presentation on the history of Socialism in Sweden, and since it is labour day, we took in some of the massive demonstrations downtown. Former United Nations Secretary of State, Kofi Anan was to give a speech at 4 but we needed to be back. I really wasn’t happy about that. Instead we went back and some “Ubuntu” time (which seems these days to be the all-encompassing catch phrase for anything educational, which really annoys me because we never know what you are doing) where we had a presentation on Gender roles. It really wasn’t anything new to me. Anyhow, it was all good. I’ll be home soon enough.


Thats a Whole lot of Chocolate!
Peter and Kenzo chillin on the rocks
Demonstration parade
Yay for French Horns!

Monday , April 30, 2007


Monday was one of two free days this week; it was much needed for me after our long travel day and no sleep before hand. I slept in until 11:30 when I decided I was hungry for breakfast so I went downstairs. My chinese room mate had already been staying with my host family for 2 weeks so she wanted to get out and help in the garden. My host dad and I dug a new garden bed down on the front lawn. It took most of the morning and into the afternoon because we not only dug the garden, but we transplanted the front lawn to the back of the house. Its rather frequent to find artifacts that date back centuries. They’ve found flint arrowheads, huge chunks of iron, as well as pottery. The property is on a hill so I got a good workout anyhow. Just before lunch, my host dad and I rushed down to his wife’s parents house because they received a phone call from their house phone and no one was supposed to be home. We arrived and found that nothing was wrong, but I got to see some more of the landscape. I’m actually living on an island this week, there are bridges to this one, but not to a lot of the others that are around here; more on that later. Lunch was a deliciously cheesy lasagna that we ate outside in the sun, it was just warm enough to eat outside at about 13°C. Later in the afternoon, we took a trip by ferry to some of the outer islands and saw some of the little shops and sights. If I had to compare the geography to any other places I’ve been, it would be the Islands, like the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia, but with the rugged barren rock of Newfoundland. Everywhere in this area in Sweden there are giant rock outcroppings. The area where I’m living this week used to be an area of summer homes, but now almost all of them have been converted or renovated to be full time homes. On our way back from the islands, we stopped at the local market and I bought some stamps to send postcards home, its about 11 crowns per stamp. In the evening, I showed them where Newfoundland was on Google Earth. Before I went to bed I called Miranda, soon, its only going to be a month till I’m home again, and I’m getting excited for that.

Front Yard

Back of House

Artifacts
The Coast
Eating Lasagna
One The Ship

Could be any place in NFLD eh?
Use the Key to start the Car!

Hocky still Big :)




Wind Farm!