Hej!
Ok, so its not a week since my last blog, but it is Sunday, so it seems right.
Its been a pretty busy few days since my last blog!
Thursday I had a friend from the UK staying, and he cooked me a really good curry! Steve and Keri turned up about 8, and we had a good night in :)
Friday we went for an 'afterwork' down at the circle bar, and stayed a few hours before going for dinner and then having a DVD night....watched 'How to lose friends and alienate people'. Was actually really good...I was expecting it to be really silly (most Simon Pegg films are) but it seemed a bit different then the others, in a good way. Not that I didn't enjoy the other ones...but you know what I mean.
Yesterday was a REALLY sunny day again in Helsingborg, so Yvonne and Ken (my Canadian friends) Keri and I decided to have a picnic style afternoon down at the sea front. It was so nice! Helsingborg is a little windy a lot of the time, so we found a nice place behind a little wall and had ciabattas with pate and cheese, and lots of fruit...and of course wine. Then ice cream for desert...my first ice cream in Sweden! ('Glass' in Swedish...not to be confused with 'Glas' which is a drinking vessel...)
It then got even more windy...and we considered leaving...until Ken found a really calm spot behind a big wall that had had the sun on it all day, so was lovely and warm! We ended up staying down there for about 5 hours...was so nice! Definitely going to take any of my visitors there if its sunny!
This week I also booked all my flights to come home for my birthday, and also to go to Tenerife at the end of May. Also had a very nice surprise from Sarah...she is going to come back home (to Sweden) after I have been home (UK) for my birthday...so we are going to get 3 weeks together! That’s going to be a really nice present as we dont normally get to spend that much time together :)
I had another Swedish lesson this week too, and surprised myself with how much I know! Its not like I can have a proper conversation yet...but I can form sentences if the other person is going to be very patient with me! But it is really coming along.
So what I have learnt this week:
Helsingborg has a beach, and is VERY nice in the sun (behind a wind break)
I am amazingly happy at the prospect of spending a long time with Sarah
I am getting better at Swedish...and pretty quickly I think!
PS. Planning for the future can be really fun, and quite scary all at the same time. Sometimes you just need someone to plan with and for that makes it all seem ok.
Sunday 26 April 2009
Wednesday 22 April 2009
...being trained, 3 months in!
Hej!
Well the sun is still out here in Helsingborg....or rather it was until about 12pm (midday) It seems to be hiding behind a rather large cloud just now.
But generally speaking it has been a glorious couple of weeks! I have had several very nice 'after works' down by the sea front, making the most of the sun to get these Swedes socialising...not the easiest job, but I have a core group that seem to join me quite regularly now :)
So since my last post I have hardly been sitting at my desk at work... I have been partaking in some training. The first couple of days after the Easter break I was in a 'Welcome to IT' training...yes, that’s right...3 months after starting my job I was introduced into the way my company wants to run its IT setup. It was actually quite good...well, the second day was! The first day was really an introduction to the company, whom I have worked for for 8 and a half years, so wasn't massively important for me! The second day was much more information about things I didn’t know, so I found it much easier to stay awake for that :)
In this training there was also 3 people from Shanghai, so I felt much better about the training having to be in English, as I wasn’t the only one that didn’t speak Swedish!
Then the Thursday and Friday I had a very different kind of training...'Take Personal Leadership'. This was REALLY good! All about how you (me) is the most important part of being able to lead, and showing by example, and taking a step out side the situation...you know, all the really obvious things that you forget about when it comes to work and stress. This training I was the only non-Swede...so felt quite guilty when people were struggling to find words and feelings in English when I was the only one who needed them!
The Swedes are generally very happy to do tings in English, most of them have been learning it from about the age of 7, so know loads! (Also, none of the TV and films are dubbed here, so they pick up very unusual words too!)
I also made a couple of new friends on this training, people whose faces I had seen around work, but hadn't really spoken too...but they liked my invitation to a beer and so I think they will join me more often now. I seem to have built a reputation for always being available for a drink or dinner....which I think is a good thing, even though I don’t actually drink that much!
Saturday I was back in the UK to see Sarah, and had no problems with SAS at all this time! In fact, both flights arrived early, so maybe they were trying to make up for last time...?? So I had yet another really nice weekend in the Sun with Sarah. We didn’t do a massive amount, but did things every day, so it felt like we were busy most of the time, but also got to spend a lot of time just being together which is very important when we see each other so little. It really is hard leaving to come home though.
We did do a lot of looking around shops and things...always quite depressing when you (I) don’t have a lot of money! I keep seeing things that I want, and keep having to think 'wait a while, and see how it goes', a situation I haven't been in for a long time! ... anyone want a Honda S2000 and therefore help me out with money??
We were mostly (kinda) looking for things for me, as it is my birthday in less then a month (hint hint) and I didn’t really have a clue what I wanted, but as usual Sarah had a fantastic idea (or two. 3 actually...) so I know a little of what to expect...but still love the surprise factor! I think it helps that my memory is so bad I never remember details, so although I have picked what I want, I will still be surprised when I open it!
So now I am back in Sweden, but have an English (well, Geordie...I guess they have to be counted as English) friend staying with me for the next 2 nights as he is here with work. He is cooking me and Steve a curry tonight...hope he finds what he needs in my kitchen...its not the best stocked kitchen in the world as I don’t do an awful lot of cooking for one!
Plans for this weekend?? I have no idea! Its quite nice to not really have anything planned, as it means I can do whatever I feel like!
By the way, if anyone wants to know more about a particular thing, just say...ideas are always welcome! I keep thinking of things to blog about...and then when I get to it I forget what they were...
So what have I learned this week:
Swedes form very close knit friendship circles...hard to break in to, but very strong once in
Swedes speak very good English, but don't always appreciate having to speak it...make an effort!
I need more money, as I want to buy loads of things!
PS. Sometimes it is really good to listen to other peoples ideas, as they can see things you can’t. That goes for anything from clothes, to watches, to things to do. Thank you for knowing what I want and what will suit me even more then I do! You make me look good! (in a good way...not in the 'compared to you' way...)
Well the sun is still out here in Helsingborg....or rather it was until about 12pm (midday) It seems to be hiding behind a rather large cloud just now.
But generally speaking it has been a glorious couple of weeks! I have had several very nice 'after works' down by the sea front, making the most of the sun to get these Swedes socialising...not the easiest job, but I have a core group that seem to join me quite regularly now :)
So since my last post I have hardly been sitting at my desk at work... I have been partaking in some training. The first couple of days after the Easter break I was in a 'Welcome to IT' training...yes, that’s right...3 months after starting my job I was introduced into the way my company wants to run its IT setup. It was actually quite good...well, the second day was! The first day was really an introduction to the company, whom I have worked for for 8 and a half years, so wasn't massively important for me! The second day was much more information about things I didn’t know, so I found it much easier to stay awake for that :)
In this training there was also 3 people from Shanghai, so I felt much better about the training having to be in English, as I wasn’t the only one that didn’t speak Swedish!
Then the Thursday and Friday I had a very different kind of training...'Take Personal Leadership'. This was REALLY good! All about how you (me) is the most important part of being able to lead, and showing by example, and taking a step out side the situation...you know, all the really obvious things that you forget about when it comes to work and stress. This training I was the only non-Swede...so felt quite guilty when people were struggling to find words and feelings in English when I was the only one who needed them!
The Swedes are generally very happy to do tings in English, most of them have been learning it from about the age of 7, so know loads! (Also, none of the TV and films are dubbed here, so they pick up very unusual words too!)
I also made a couple of new friends on this training, people whose faces I had seen around work, but hadn't really spoken too...but they liked my invitation to a beer and so I think they will join me more often now. I seem to have built a reputation for always being available for a drink or dinner....which I think is a good thing, even though I don’t actually drink that much!
Saturday I was back in the UK to see Sarah, and had no problems with SAS at all this time! In fact, both flights arrived early, so maybe they were trying to make up for last time...?? So I had yet another really nice weekend in the Sun with Sarah. We didn’t do a massive amount, but did things every day, so it felt like we were busy most of the time, but also got to spend a lot of time just being together which is very important when we see each other so little. It really is hard leaving to come home though.
We did do a lot of looking around shops and things...always quite depressing when you (I) don’t have a lot of money! I keep seeing things that I want, and keep having to think 'wait a while, and see how it goes', a situation I haven't been in for a long time! ... anyone want a Honda S2000 and therefore help me out with money??
We were mostly (kinda) looking for things for me, as it is my birthday in less then a month (hint hint) and I didn’t really have a clue what I wanted, but as usual Sarah had a fantastic idea (or two. 3 actually...) so I know a little of what to expect...but still love the surprise factor! I think it helps that my memory is so bad I never remember details, so although I have picked what I want, I will still be surprised when I open it!
So now I am back in Sweden, but have an English (well, Geordie...I guess they have to be counted as English) friend staying with me for the next 2 nights as he is here with work. He is cooking me and Steve a curry tonight...hope he finds what he needs in my kitchen...its not the best stocked kitchen in the world as I don’t do an awful lot of cooking for one!
Plans for this weekend?? I have no idea! Its quite nice to not really have anything planned, as it means I can do whatever I feel like!
By the way, if anyone wants to know more about a particular thing, just say...ideas are always welcome! I keep thinking of things to blog about...and then when I get to it I forget what they were...
So what have I learned this week:
Swedes form very close knit friendship circles...hard to break in to, but very strong once in
Swedes speak very good English, but don't always appreciate having to speak it...make an effort!
I need more money, as I want to buy loads of things!
PS. Sometimes it is really good to listen to other peoples ideas, as they can see things you can’t. That goes for anything from clothes, to watches, to things to do. Thank you for knowing what I want and what will suit me even more then I do! You make me look good! (in a good way...not in the 'compared to you' way...)
Sunday 12 April 2009
...getting a better experience of Helsingborg
Hej!
Firstly, Happy Easter! I hope you are all having a very nice long weekend :)
Well I am going to start with last weekend, as that is where I left the last blog...
I was meant to be going Swedish clubbing...it didn’t really happen. I had a really nice evening with the expat crowd, Keri, Jif, Helgi, Nuno and Laura, and we made it to a couple of bars, but we never actually made it to the club!
Then on Sunday I met up with Mark, Tom, Jon and Gwen as Gwen was visiting from Gothenburg. We had a nice afternoon trip on the ferry, and then a few beers in one of the 'English' bars in Helsingborg. After that Mark and his band had a rehearsal...so we all went along to watch that too! Was really good fun...a very good day.
Then this week I have had a very workless week! Monday I was in Almhult again, this tie to sit with the customer services people, and learn about how they use my computer systems. This was a really good day too, most of my team were with me and it was a really good day of building friendships outside of the normal work place. We also got ice cream and sat outside in the gorgeous sunshine, so I was happy!
Tuesday and Wednesday I was on a Team Building couple of days...and it was actually much more fun then I thought it was going to be! We did some hard work, had some really good discussions about were we wanted our system and the team to go over the next few years. We also had a very fun team challenge, which involved 5 different things; putting (golf), archery, bowls, blow darting and then some Swedish rock throwing thing. Of course my team won all 5! :)
This was also a really good way of spending time with the whole team in another setting, we had a really nice evening of talking and watching the football and playing a game of guess the song...I think I lost that one, being the youngest and also because they kept on putting in random Swedish songs!
So Thursday was my first and only day in the office this week, and so was VERY busy, trying to catch up on stuff as well as doing stuff for next week...as I'm not in the office at all!
So anyway, to the clubbing experience...yes, we had one! We went out last night, and made sure we made it to the club this time. Helsingborg doesn't really come to life until after about 11, so that’s when we went out. Now normally Swedish people are quite polite, and aware of personal space...apparently that goes completely out of the window when they have had a drink or when in a bar or club! I was bashed into many many times over the night, with maybe 1 or 2 times someone saying sorry. The rest of the time it just seems to be taken for granted that its ok. So I spent a ton of money getting in, a ton of money on every drink to listen to pretty poor music and get bashed about! Brilliant! But saying all that, it was actually an ok night.
This week Sarah has been away on a cruise, and I have really missed talking to her! We normally talk almost every night, and with her away we haven't been able to. But she is back today, so hopefully we should get a good catch up :)
Its strange, she lives in another country most of the time, and yet when she goes away it gets really lonely! Awww, poor little me. Oh well, hopefully we shall have a very good couple of days catching up now.
So what I have learnt this week:
Swedish people change when they have a drink
Personal space does not exist in night clubs
Missing people is a very strange thing...and gets stronger for strange reasons!
PS. Its amazing how much missing someone can hurt, and yet it makes things so much clearer. You get time to think through all the feelings, and realise how strong they actually are. It also just makes the thought of being back with them even better, and the thought of talking to them for hours really really inviting. I love wot.
Firstly, Happy Easter! I hope you are all having a very nice long weekend :)
Well I am going to start with last weekend, as that is where I left the last blog...
I was meant to be going Swedish clubbing...it didn’t really happen. I had a really nice evening with the expat crowd, Keri, Jif, Helgi, Nuno and Laura, and we made it to a couple of bars, but we never actually made it to the club!
Then on Sunday I met up with Mark, Tom, Jon and Gwen as Gwen was visiting from Gothenburg. We had a nice afternoon trip on the ferry, and then a few beers in one of the 'English' bars in Helsingborg. After that Mark and his band had a rehearsal...so we all went along to watch that too! Was really good fun...a very good day.
Then this week I have had a very workless week! Monday I was in Almhult again, this tie to sit with the customer services people, and learn about how they use my computer systems. This was a really good day too, most of my team were with me and it was a really good day of building friendships outside of the normal work place. We also got ice cream and sat outside in the gorgeous sunshine, so I was happy!
Tuesday and Wednesday I was on a Team Building couple of days...and it was actually much more fun then I thought it was going to be! We did some hard work, had some really good discussions about were we wanted our system and the team to go over the next few years. We also had a very fun team challenge, which involved 5 different things; putting (golf), archery, bowls, blow darting and then some Swedish rock throwing thing. Of course my team won all 5! :)
This was also a really good way of spending time with the whole team in another setting, we had a really nice evening of talking and watching the football and playing a game of guess the song...I think I lost that one, being the youngest and also because they kept on putting in random Swedish songs!
So Thursday was my first and only day in the office this week, and so was VERY busy, trying to catch up on stuff as well as doing stuff for next week...as I'm not in the office at all!
So anyway, to the clubbing experience...yes, we had one! We went out last night, and made sure we made it to the club this time. Helsingborg doesn't really come to life until after about 11, so that’s when we went out. Now normally Swedish people are quite polite, and aware of personal space...apparently that goes completely out of the window when they have had a drink or when in a bar or club! I was bashed into many many times over the night, with maybe 1 or 2 times someone saying sorry. The rest of the time it just seems to be taken for granted that its ok. So I spent a ton of money getting in, a ton of money on every drink to listen to pretty poor music and get bashed about! Brilliant! But saying all that, it was actually an ok night.
This week Sarah has been away on a cruise, and I have really missed talking to her! We normally talk almost every night, and with her away we haven't been able to. But she is back today, so hopefully we should get a good catch up :)
Its strange, she lives in another country most of the time, and yet when she goes away it gets really lonely! Awww, poor little me. Oh well, hopefully we shall have a very good couple of days catching up now.
So what I have learnt this week:
Swedish people change when they have a drink
Personal space does not exist in night clubs
Missing people is a very strange thing...and gets stronger for strange reasons!
PS. Its amazing how much missing someone can hurt, and yet it makes things so much clearer. You get time to think through all the feelings, and realise how strong they actually are. It also just makes the thought of being back with them even better, and the thought of talking to them for hours really really inviting. I love wot.
Friday 3 April 2009
...having a lovely time in the UK, and enjoying the Helsingborg sunshine!
Hej!
Well I would just like to say that I am sat in my apartment, typing on my new laptop (!), sat on my IKEA chair on my balcony. Yes, it really is that nice today!
According to Google it is 19 degrees in Helsingborg today, and I think I believe them...I had to take my coat off on the way home from work and everything! (not everything as in I took everything off though...don't worry!)
So anyway, this week...
Well Friday I was up rather early ... 4am to be exact, as I needed to get the 5am ferry from Helsingborg in order to get the train down to Copenhagen. As usual, I missed my ferry, but as they go every 20/30 minutes I didn't really have to wait that long.
Once at the airport it went really smoothly, Copenhagen Airport is one of the best I have been to...and I have been to a lot!
However...this week I encountered my first Scandinavian Airlines non-smooth flight...both to and from Manchester my flights were delayed by 2 hours! Not fun at all. To be fair, this is the first time in many flights that I have had a problem though.
So when I got to Manchester I was met by Sarah, which was really nice (thanks) and we went back to my Mum and Dads house, and then went for lunch with my Mummy :)
Friday night I had a very nice meal in Manchester with Sarah, my Mum and Dad, my younger sister Tova and Gregg and Julie (my brother and sister-in-law) That was really good to see them all, I hadn't managed to see Gregg and Julie last time I was back, so it had been 3 months!
After the meal I had a 2 hour drive back to near Sheffield where Sarah lives, as we wanted to be there for her Mums birthday on the Saturday. So Friday was a VERY long day, but was a very fun one too.
Saturday Sarah and I went shopping for some stuff for her Mum, and to look at a laptop for me...and Sarah spied a very nice one that was on offer (I am a sucker for offers) The only problem is it is on Vista...which is not my favourite windows...but I guess I will have to learn to live with it...and the laptop is high enough spec to cope with it.
Then Saturday night we had Sarah’s Mums party, which was about 100 people in the country pub across the road from their house. That was quite scary, as I hadn't met most of the people there before, and it was the first time I was meeting most of Sarah’s family as her boyfriend, but I think I impressed quite well, and made a good impression...
Sunday we had a nice and relaxing day, and had a lovely full English Roast...something that I had really missed while being in Sweden!
Monday and Tuesday we didn't do masses of things, but had a really nice couple of days just being together and enjoying each other’s company, and catching up on not seeing each other for nearly 3 weeks.
So Tuesday night I came home (yes...Sweden is now home I guess) but didn't actually get back to my apartment until after 2am, so was rather tired for work the next day too!
Yesterday I had a very nice phone call from one of my UK friend, who had ended up coming over to Helsingborg at the last minute, so we went for dinner and a couple of beers and a catch up. He has now got a job which will involve him being here quite often, so that’s really good for me!
The weather has been fantastic the last few days, really sunny and warm...compared to the very low numbers for the last few weeks!
I don't really have a lot to update of comment about Sweden this week...not really been here all that much! So sorry...but I am sure I will have something interesting to say by the end of the weekend as I am going on my first Swedish Clubbing experience tomorrow, and then have a ferry trip with a few friends on Sunday :)
So what have I learnt this week:
Even the best airlines have problems sometimes
It is really really good to see friends and family, always make time!
Sweden is amazing in the sun and warm, Helsingborg really comes alive
PS. It is really important to thank the people that take time out to make you happy, and do things for you. You should always try your best to make them happy, and do whatever you can to show them how much you care. Thank you!
Well I would just like to say that I am sat in my apartment, typing on my new laptop (!), sat on my IKEA chair on my balcony. Yes, it really is that nice today!
According to Google it is 19 degrees in Helsingborg today, and I think I believe them...I had to take my coat off on the way home from work and everything! (not everything as in I took everything off though...don't worry!)
So anyway, this week...
Well Friday I was up rather early ... 4am to be exact, as I needed to get the 5am ferry from Helsingborg in order to get the train down to Copenhagen. As usual, I missed my ferry, but as they go every 20/30 minutes I didn't really have to wait that long.
Once at the airport it went really smoothly, Copenhagen Airport is one of the best I have been to...and I have been to a lot!
However...this week I encountered my first Scandinavian Airlines non-smooth flight...both to and from Manchester my flights were delayed by 2 hours! Not fun at all. To be fair, this is the first time in many flights that I have had a problem though.
So when I got to Manchester I was met by Sarah, which was really nice (thanks) and we went back to my Mum and Dads house, and then went for lunch with my Mummy :)
Friday night I had a very nice meal in Manchester with Sarah, my Mum and Dad, my younger sister Tova and Gregg and Julie (my brother and sister-in-law) That was really good to see them all, I hadn't managed to see Gregg and Julie last time I was back, so it had been 3 months!
After the meal I had a 2 hour drive back to near Sheffield where Sarah lives, as we wanted to be there for her Mums birthday on the Saturday. So Friday was a VERY long day, but was a very fun one too.
Saturday Sarah and I went shopping for some stuff for her Mum, and to look at a laptop for me...and Sarah spied a very nice one that was on offer (I am a sucker for offers) The only problem is it is on Vista...which is not my favourite windows...but I guess I will have to learn to live with it...and the laptop is high enough spec to cope with it.
Then Saturday night we had Sarah’s Mums party, which was about 100 people in the country pub across the road from their house. That was quite scary, as I hadn't met most of the people there before, and it was the first time I was meeting most of Sarah’s family as her boyfriend, but I think I impressed quite well, and made a good impression...
Sunday we had a nice and relaxing day, and had a lovely full English Roast...something that I had really missed while being in Sweden!
Monday and Tuesday we didn't do masses of things, but had a really nice couple of days just being together and enjoying each other’s company, and catching up on not seeing each other for nearly 3 weeks.
So Tuesday night I came home (yes...Sweden is now home I guess) but didn't actually get back to my apartment until after 2am, so was rather tired for work the next day too!
Yesterday I had a very nice phone call from one of my UK friend, who had ended up coming over to Helsingborg at the last minute, so we went for dinner and a couple of beers and a catch up. He has now got a job which will involve him being here quite often, so that’s really good for me!
The weather has been fantastic the last few days, really sunny and warm...compared to the very low numbers for the last few weeks!
I don't really have a lot to update of comment about Sweden this week...not really been here all that much! So sorry...but I am sure I will have something interesting to say by the end of the weekend as I am going on my first Swedish Clubbing experience tomorrow, and then have a ferry trip with a few friends on Sunday :)
So what have I learnt this week:
Even the best airlines have problems sometimes
It is really really good to see friends and family, always make time!
Sweden is amazing in the sun and warm, Helsingborg really comes alive
PS. It is really important to thank the people that take time out to make you happy, and do things for you. You should always try your best to make them happy, and do whatever you can to show them how much you care. Thank you!
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