So here is how it went...
I was just walking down La Rambla in Barcelona at night and spotted one souvenir shop so decided to go in to have a look with a bit of intention of buying. But I had had bad experience in the morning with one indian clerk at the door. He was sleeping the floor and I was about to enter. He stopped me and asked me if I could come back later since he was sweeping. Well, I thought, that makes sense so I turned around and left. As I was leaving I heard him saying that ¨You can come in if you will buy something, but if not, don´t come in.¨ So I was a little ticked to hear that. But I wanted to check out the prices so I decided to try another shop on the same street. So I went in one that didn´t seem to bad. I got in, strolled around, and went up to the jersey section. I was checking out the tag to see the price but there was none. One indian clerk standing right by me spotted me so asked me what I wanted in a very unpleasant voice. So I just told him I wanted to know the price. So he explained three kinds of prices and said ¨Hey, hurry up! it´s closing!¨ So I just mumbled ¨What the fuck...¨ because it was the exact same attitude I got in the morning. So then he got really fired up. ¨HEy fuck you china, go fuck yourself!¨ So I turned around and asked what? ¨It´s fine, I am not from China¨ Then he kept on going ¨just go fuck yourself ok? fuck you.... XOXOXO¨ over and over so I got very very mad then started cursing at him too. And he was giving me the fingers and all those. Then two or three other clerks came about to throw me out. Then I walked out on my own.
and that´s not end of the story....
So I went back to the hostel and sent every friend to boycott those stupid souvenir shops on La Rambla then went out to a Jazz club. After an hour of jazz, I still couldn´t get those disgusting faces out of my head so I decided to revenge. I decided to go pee on their door just to ¨piss them off.¨ So stupidly enough, I went back on that street after 3 hours of the incident. ¨I have to be careful since there are many other indians on the street selling stuff,¨ I told myself. ¨They might look out for each other...¨ So I was wholy concentrated on this business. but GOD KNOWS what happens next!!!!
A 30 year old guy looking sort of like a hobo approaches me so I try to walk away from him. ¨China? Japanese? my friend? Wanna smoke some hash my friend? I have some top fine goodies...¨ ¨No, thanks, I don´t smoke,¨ I reply. But now he starts talking about nothing to do with anything. ¨Where are you from my friend?¨ ¨not the ones you mentioned.¨ ¨Oh, cool, I am from Brazil, you know Ronaldinho? the best football star in the world. you know his tricks?¨ At the meantime, he puts one of his legs between mine and starts kicking them real hard on the inner side of the legs. It starts to hurt a little but I think he may be just high so don´t bother to think to much. Then he takes his leave and throws back¨yo enjoy barcelona my friend.¨ So I am quite confused of his intention.
five seconds after I feel my pocket and realize it is empty. So I turn around and spot that junkie. He is still freaking strolling down the street looking into my wallet. Now I get out of my mind and dash to him in a millisecond and jump on him and grab my wallet off his hand. He still won´t let go. Then I start beating his arms and stuff so he gives up trying holding the wallet. But now almost every falls out on the floor. He and one other guy start picking up the change and cards. I grab back the cards. Extremely shameless, he asks ¨Is there a problem my friend? have you lost anything? I am just trying to help you, you have everything now?¨ as he tries to hand back all the coins he collectd off the floor. ¨Just get lost you SOB...! I hate Brazil, ... Don´t come near me you psycho...¨ Then I check my wallet to make sure all my cards are still there. Fortunately, he only took the cash and picked up the coins, and it wasn´t much. So I walk away from the streets with flames burning in mind.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
First days in Spain- Valencia
So everything went well from the flight to Valencia to settling down in the hostel... although I didn´t see my roommate the first night until late at night when I was already in bed. Since I didn´t have my glasses on I only saw a shadow of a middle aged man with a mustache getting in bed.
The next day I was awake early so I could see more things in the city. The city made me feel at home in Taiwan. Some places feel like the old town in Chia Yi and Taipei. It is definitely different from other European cities. So nothing special happened. I went on Plaza de la virgen and also the church at the plaza. It was dead serious in the church. I went into a chamber with 10 monks citing some sort of holy book. They didn´t seem to enjoy though although they sounded like the budhist monks reciting in rhythm.
So I tried to talk to Walter, the roommate, but he only speaks spanish. We started a conversation without any background of either spanish or english but we still sort of figured out what we were saying to each other. So I found out that he´s from Argentina and was traveling around in Europe alone. He has some friends in Spain but he´s soloing now.
Then an Argentinian American came in and started speaking both Spanish and English to us. He´s sort of a character in terms that he was quite talkative and stuff. We had a nice conversation and he came in just right in time to translate for me and Walter. Such a coincidence that he speaks both languages. He claimed that he was destined to come in to rescue me from being in hell.
So this guy was originally from Argentina and had lived in places such as NYC, Denver, and San Fran. He claimed that he´s partially Basque so he´s unibrowed. But then he started talking about how he got two phone numbers from a Brazilian and Venuezuelan. And he had been saying that he thought Valencia is the place for him to settle down at because he had found the people very polite and nice and less chaotic than the southern spaniards.
Anyhow, we ended up hanging out at Radio City, a nightclub in downtown, for a bit and just chatted all the way back to the hostel. On the way back to the hostel we ran into two gay Norwegian guys who thought that we were lost since we had a map in hand. So they started talking to us then they asked me something in Norwegian cuz I told them I study in Sweden. I just replied how long I had been studying in Sweden and so on. They seemed like nice guys. So Ernest, the Argentinian American, asked them how they found out that they were guy to begin with, they told us that they had both been married. They were in their late 50´s by the way. Both had ear piercings. So they asked us if we were together looking for the bar then we were like no, we were just friends. Although Ernest is from San Fran he doesn´t quite seem to agree with the idea of being gay. So when he was asked if he would be gay he was reacting quite strongly but the gay guys simply asked how do you know being gay isn´t in if you have never tried it? Well, that´s always a good question but you know what a straight guy would answer in that case. Anyway, after we parted from those gays Ernest told me that they were hitting on him since one guy was touching him the whole time. I was like come on that´s normal for guys besides they were a couple. Then he told me how he´s always been hit on by weird group of people say gays or old women.
The next day, I went to 'La Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias' which means city of arts and science with Walter. We actually had fun despite the fact that we understood no words from each other. But we got by somehow. We went into Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe and the science experiments there were cool but a little bit too much. My legs became so sore at the end but Walter just kept going.
Later that day, we parted on the bus and I went alone to all the famous sites. I went to Plaza de Toros (bullring), different cathedrals and the central station. They all vary a lot from the downtown area. the area near Mercado de Colon was really high classy more like european style whereas the rest of the old town is more like old and run down. The city is just so different everywhere and even at the central station it´s like standing at a big metropolitan city.
That night, me and Walter went to get some tapas at the corner a block from the hostel. I already went there once before and really liked it. we ordered some food and beer and just sat and chatted with the spanish-english phrasebook at hand. It was really funny to hear some questions popping out of his mouth because he wanted to know really explicit stuff that I would never share with a person I barely know. But it was great fun and we seemed to understand pretty much everything we discussed. So he is not married but has three kids. 2 boys and one daughter. He´s working at a shopping mall sort of thing as a cashier. He said that I should enjoy life since I am still young but the rest was kind of too explicit that I was kind of like ARE YOU SERIOUS?
The next day I was awake early so I could see more things in the city. The city made me feel at home in Taiwan. Some places feel like the old town in Chia Yi and Taipei. It is definitely different from other European cities. So nothing special happened. I went on Plaza de la virgen and also the church at the plaza. It was dead serious in the church. I went into a chamber with 10 monks citing some sort of holy book. They didn´t seem to enjoy though although they sounded like the budhist monks reciting in rhythm.
So I tried to talk to Walter, the roommate, but he only speaks spanish. We started a conversation without any background of either spanish or english but we still sort of figured out what we were saying to each other. So I found out that he´s from Argentina and was traveling around in Europe alone. He has some friends in Spain but he´s soloing now.
Then an Argentinian American came in and started speaking both Spanish and English to us. He´s sort of a character in terms that he was quite talkative and stuff. We had a nice conversation and he came in just right in time to translate for me and Walter. Such a coincidence that he speaks both languages. He claimed that he was destined to come in to rescue me from being in hell.
So this guy was originally from Argentina and had lived in places such as NYC, Denver, and San Fran. He claimed that he´s partially Basque so he´s unibrowed. But then he started talking about how he got two phone numbers from a Brazilian and Venuezuelan. And he had been saying that he thought Valencia is the place for him to settle down at because he had found the people very polite and nice and less chaotic than the southern spaniards.
Anyhow, we ended up hanging out at Radio City, a nightclub in downtown, for a bit and just chatted all the way back to the hostel. On the way back to the hostel we ran into two gay Norwegian guys who thought that we were lost since we had a map in hand. So they started talking to us then they asked me something in Norwegian cuz I told them I study in Sweden. I just replied how long I had been studying in Sweden and so on. They seemed like nice guys. So Ernest, the Argentinian American, asked them how they found out that they were guy to begin with, they told us that they had both been married. They were in their late 50´s by the way. Both had ear piercings. So they asked us if we were together looking for the bar then we were like no, we were just friends. Although Ernest is from San Fran he doesn´t quite seem to agree with the idea of being gay. So when he was asked if he would be gay he was reacting quite strongly but the gay guys simply asked how do you know being gay isn´t in if you have never tried it? Well, that´s always a good question but you know what a straight guy would answer in that case. Anyway, after we parted from those gays Ernest told me that they were hitting on him since one guy was touching him the whole time. I was like come on that´s normal for guys besides they were a couple. Then he told me how he´s always been hit on by weird group of people say gays or old women.
The next day, I went to 'La Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias' which means city of arts and science with Walter. We actually had fun despite the fact that we understood no words from each other. But we got by somehow. We went into Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe and the science experiments there were cool but a little bit too much. My legs became so sore at the end but Walter just kept going.
Later that day, we parted on the bus and I went alone to all the famous sites. I went to Plaza de Toros (bullring), different cathedrals and the central station. They all vary a lot from the downtown area. the area near Mercado de Colon was really high classy more like european style whereas the rest of the old town is more like old and run down. The city is just so different everywhere and even at the central station it´s like standing at a big metropolitan city.
That night, me and Walter went to get some tapas at the corner a block from the hostel. I already went there once before and really liked it. we ordered some food and beer and just sat and chatted with the spanish-english phrasebook at hand. It was really funny to hear some questions popping out of his mouth because he wanted to know really explicit stuff that I would never share with a person I barely know. But it was great fun and we seemed to understand pretty much everything we discussed. So he is not married but has three kids. 2 boys and one daughter. He´s working at a shopping mall sort of thing as a cashier. He said that I should enjoy life since I am still young but the rest was kind of too explicit that I was kind of like ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Sunday, December 16, 2007
MY CORRIDOR
Well, I know it's a bit too late to do this but since half the people in my corridor are leaving I would like to honor them in some way. I will miss them. I am also going to include the ones who are staying, so no one is left out!
Maria- German
Used to live with her boy friend Miguel from Colombia. Ever since he started working in Munich in October, she has been down. She is leaving tomorrow for good because she has to go home to finish things off there... I really enjoy her company because she's always a little bit off beat but in a good way. We kid around a lot so it feels like we were old friends. She plays the guitar very well and sings with a deep voice. We have always talked about the first time we met when we were a corridor away from each other and didn't really get a good look at each other. But then we turned to very good friends in the end. She reminds me of Good Bye Lenin because she's from East Germany and her parents are kind of like the parents in the film. I plan to visit her in Berlin and Naumberg. and She plans to visit me in Seattle.
Oh (Ninja)- South Korea
She's a character. cooks dinner 3 in the morning, baking 4 in the morning, and asks questions that no one cares about. We have not had a real conversation besides answering her questions because she's always in the room. She's a good person I believe but it takes a while to adjust to her style of interaction.
Stephanie and Ivar- Sweden
One of the sweetest couples I have ever seen. Lots of times I just tell them to go get a room because they carry out serious actions in the kitchen although I have just been kidding around. Stephanie is majoring in nursing and I am very sure that she will make an awesome nurse. Ivar is a music producer/ lyricist/ joker/ sweet lover... although he's in his early 30s, he makes you feel young. Apparently, he's pretty successful in his business.
Caisa- Sweden
One of Stephanie's best friends. Big and cool girl. Her boyfriend is from Shanghai who also lived here last year. She speaks Swedish with the southern accent, not that I could make out the difference. Whenever I see her she's always positive and inspired. We don't trust each other's cooking that much hehe.
Mikaela- Sweden
An extreme horse lover. She can't spend any second without her horses. She personally thinks that ball sports have no attraction because the ball does not have feelings like the horses. So she's never played any ball sport. Too bad that she's not fitting in Stockholm since she thinks the people are cold here. She is moving back home and going to Linköping for school.
Anders- Sweden
Really positive guy, always making people laugh. Even if people don't laugh, he laughs himself. Rises early, Goes to bed early. He's the guy to go to when you have any kind of problems. He has studied chinese, and is fond of history. Likes to chat about anything, Goes to the gym everyday. He's the right kind of persons to marry if you are looking for a responsible guy so please call him immediately!
Milda- Lithuania
Very bright girl who is working and finishing her studies. Also always wears a big smile on the face but I rarely see her. She speaks perfect Swedish and English so she's pretty well off in the corridor. Also, a crazy dancer who rocked the party in September 4 in the morning still.
Daniel and Linda- Sweden
Very nice people. Daniel is always very hyper and active. According to Sebastian, Daniel is the fastest and nervless person he's ever seen. He owns a PS2 and challenges people for Singstar and DDR and FIFA all the time. HE's going to be a math teacher and I believe he's going to make one of the best teachers because he's pretty good at explaining stuff and is very patient. He has a heart of a 12 year-old. Linda could be quite quiet at times but is very passionate about the things she likes. She's going to be a Swedish teacher and also Spanish I think. She sings very well and hooks me up with Swedish music which I am listening to right now.
Manu- Spain
He came in as a boy who only spoke Spanish and Spanglish to a long haired guy who speaks Spanish and English and very little Swedish. He's very willing to learn everything and is very friendly. He's from Barcelona and is proud of it too. Although not as proud of Catalan as other Catalonians. He plays stunning football and cooks Tortillas Patatas. Uses the word Exisido meaning Exquisite in english all the time.
Sebastian- France
Typical super horny French guy. He seduces every girl he sees. But I suppose he's pretty damn good at it too. He plays the numchucks and is good at Tae kwon do I hear. He's pretty good at languages too. He speaks Swedish, Spanish, English besides his own mother tongue. He's pretty trustworthy too if you are not a hot girl.
Malte and Irena- Sweden and Serbia
Very peaceful people. Irena acts almost like a mother caring this and that. Malte, me, and Daniel often play FIFA and Irena often has to come to the room to ask Malte to have dinner so he would give up playing. Irena is currently working in Norway making big bucks and Malte is moving to downtown near the centralstation and KTH within walking distance. He expects Irena to make tons of money so they could both pay the rent together.
Funny thing is that we have many couples in our corridor and we are definitely one of the happiest corridors in Lappis. I will always miss the laughs and good times we have had... But I will carry on the mission of being a fun member of the corridor!
Maria- German
Used to live with her boy friend Miguel from Colombia. Ever since he started working in Munich in October, she has been down. She is leaving tomorrow for good because she has to go home to finish things off there... I really enjoy her company because she's always a little bit off beat but in a good way. We kid around a lot so it feels like we were old friends. She plays the guitar very well and sings with a deep voice. We have always talked about the first time we met when we were a corridor away from each other and didn't really get a good look at each other. But then we turned to very good friends in the end. She reminds me of Good Bye Lenin because she's from East Germany and her parents are kind of like the parents in the film. I plan to visit her in Berlin and Naumberg. and She plans to visit me in Seattle.
Oh (Ninja)- South Korea
She's a character. cooks dinner 3 in the morning, baking 4 in the morning, and asks questions that no one cares about. We have not had a real conversation besides answering her questions because she's always in the room. She's a good person I believe but it takes a while to adjust to her style of interaction.
Stephanie and Ivar- Sweden
One of the sweetest couples I have ever seen. Lots of times I just tell them to go get a room because they carry out serious actions in the kitchen although I have just been kidding around. Stephanie is majoring in nursing and I am very sure that she will make an awesome nurse. Ivar is a music producer/ lyricist/ joker/ sweet lover... although he's in his early 30s, he makes you feel young. Apparently, he's pretty successful in his business.
Caisa- Sweden
One of Stephanie's best friends. Big and cool girl. Her boyfriend is from Shanghai who also lived here last year. She speaks Swedish with the southern accent, not that I could make out the difference. Whenever I see her she's always positive and inspired. We don't trust each other's cooking that much hehe.
Mikaela- Sweden
An extreme horse lover. She can't spend any second without her horses. She personally thinks that ball sports have no attraction because the ball does not have feelings like the horses. So she's never played any ball sport. Too bad that she's not fitting in Stockholm since she thinks the people are cold here. She is moving back home and going to Linköping for school.
Anders- Sweden
Really positive guy, always making people laugh. Even if people don't laugh, he laughs himself. Rises early, Goes to bed early. He's the guy to go to when you have any kind of problems. He has studied chinese, and is fond of history. Likes to chat about anything, Goes to the gym everyday. He's the right kind of persons to marry if you are looking for a responsible guy so please call him immediately!
Milda- Lithuania
Very bright girl who is working and finishing her studies. Also always wears a big smile on the face but I rarely see her. She speaks perfect Swedish and English so she's pretty well off in the corridor. Also, a crazy dancer who rocked the party in September 4 in the morning still.
Daniel and Linda- Sweden
Very nice people. Daniel is always very hyper and active. According to Sebastian, Daniel is the fastest and nervless person he's ever seen. He owns a PS2 and challenges people for Singstar and DDR and FIFA all the time. HE's going to be a math teacher and I believe he's going to make one of the best teachers because he's pretty good at explaining stuff and is very patient. He has a heart of a 12 year-old. Linda could be quite quiet at times but is very passionate about the things she likes. She's going to be a Swedish teacher and also Spanish I think. She sings very well and hooks me up with Swedish music which I am listening to right now.
Manu- Spain
He came in as a boy who only spoke Spanish and Spanglish to a long haired guy who speaks Spanish and English and very little Swedish. He's very willing to learn everything and is very friendly. He's from Barcelona and is proud of it too. Although not as proud of Catalan as other Catalonians. He plays stunning football and cooks Tortillas Patatas. Uses the word Exisido meaning Exquisite in english all the time.
Sebastian- France
Typical super horny French guy. He seduces every girl he sees. But I suppose he's pretty damn good at it too. He plays the numchucks and is good at Tae kwon do I hear. He's pretty good at languages too. He speaks Swedish, Spanish, English besides his own mother tongue. He's pretty trustworthy too if you are not a hot girl.
Malte and Irena- Sweden and Serbia
Very peaceful people. Irena acts almost like a mother caring this and that. Malte, me, and Daniel often play FIFA and Irena often has to come to the room to ask Malte to have dinner so he would give up playing. Irena is currently working in Norway making big bucks and Malte is moving to downtown near the centralstation and KTH within walking distance. He expects Irena to make tons of money so they could both pay the rent together.
Funny thing is that we have many couples in our corridor and we are definitely one of the happiest corridors in Lappis. I will always miss the laughs and good times we have had... But I will carry on the mission of being a fun member of the corridor!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
football story from Half Fin half Spaniard
I was watching the football match between Real Madrid and Lazio with this friend of Sebastien's.
I was joking to her how hot Casillas was. But then she told if I had met him in person I would change my mind.
So she told me the story how he met the Spanish team when they came over to play Sweden.
She stalked them to the hotel they stayed at and tried to sneak up with a couple that actually stayed there.
And when the door opened, she saw the whole spanish team waiting in front of the elevator. But she was speechless because it was such a shock.
Then she saw a security guard coming to block the elevator. Then she heard the most hurtful words from Casillas. He was cursing how the fans should just get lost.
But then she got the chance to talk to Sergio Ramos and Cesc Febregas so she was happy.
I wish I was there to see the stars myself.
I was joking to her how hot Casillas was. But then she told if I had met him in person I would change my mind.
So she told me the story how he met the Spanish team when they came over to play Sweden.
She stalked them to the hotel they stayed at and tried to sneak up with a couple that actually stayed there.
And when the door opened, she saw the whole spanish team waiting in front of the elevator. But she was speechless because it was such a shock.
Then she saw a security guard coming to block the elevator. Then she heard the most hurtful words from Casillas. He was cursing how the fans should just get lost.
But then she got the chance to talk to Sergio Ramos and Cesc Febregas so she was happy.
I wish I was there to see the stars myself.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Talk with Nima
Nima, this kid, is really something.
I ran into him randomly in the library when Behnam (Iranian German) was making a copy of something at the front desk. So the guy who was making the copy started speaking something that didn't resemble anything. But Behnam replied stuttering. So I got curious, I asked Behnam about his origins and he told me that he was originally from Iran.
But what got me curious is that the guy also spoke perfect English and Swedish when dealing with different clients. So I went to the front desk to ask him about his identity.
From then, I often randomly bump into him on the street so we exchanged numbers.
But last night was the real time when I really got to know him.
So I invited him to the building party in Lappis since he doesn't live in Lappis. He came then we started chatting. We shared lots of common thoughts about almost everything. And also since he had been to Spain before I wanted to ask him about it for my trip to Spain. Then with his enthusiasm he told me one of the craziest journeys I have ever heard.
He hitchhiked the whole way around in Spain and they were some scary experiences. For example, one time they got picked up by this single guy who didn't speak a word on the ride and as they were thanking the guy for the ride, the guy told them that it's fine because he wasn't going anywhere anyway, he was just driving the road because he had nothing else to do.
But the craziest part still has to be when they camped on the beach in Barcelona. Although they got many warnings from the locals that NEVER CAMP on the BEACH. and they also went to the police to ask. They said it was illegal. But they were almost broke so had to find a place to camp. They didn't buy all those warnings and still went on camping on the beach. So at night they snuck in a part where no vehicles could ever get to at the beach. But about 2 in the morning, something extremely noisy was coming towards them from above. They couldn't see what it was since they were in the tent and they also locked the tent with a lock. so his travel mate pulled out a knife, slashed the tent, then jumped out of the tent. It was like a monster tractor making a huge circle around their tent. And that was all it did. I was guessing it was some kind of warning for not camping at the pot field since Nima told me people were digging out drugs from the sand around them too. But then, it started pouring from the sky. so he was getting really went since he didn't want to go in the tent to sleep just to watch out for himself and his buddy. Then people who were fucked up started looking for a shelter and, of course, the first thing they saw was the tent. Then they started trying to squeeze in but Nima locked the tent and tried to stop people from the outside by saying that it was already full inside. Meanwhile, he saw a couple making love on the beach. and that wasn't just it. Two passersby stopped right beside the love making couple and observed and studied them from different freaking angle.
Another short story was about that when they got to Paris by hitchhiking, they went to a one star hotel somewhere. and it was definitely the shittest hotel he's ever stayed in in his whole life. The room was run through by freaking pipes that were as thick as a tree trunk. And the bathroom was shared. the best part was that you couldn't get into the bathroom if you go in straight because there was no room for you to turn around at all if you want to do some serious business. And this one counterstaff there was seriously from one of the National Lampoon's movies. Nima and his friend arrived at the hotel, and the receptionist was him. When he tried going down to the lobby 3 in the morning he was still there. the next morning when they went out it was still him at the counter. When they went out the day after it was still him. He had worked for like 72 hours straight when they left Paris. And they asked him how he managed to do it, he just simply said "I like my job."
I ran into him randomly in the library when Behnam (Iranian German) was making a copy of something at the front desk. So the guy who was making the copy started speaking something that didn't resemble anything. But Behnam replied stuttering. So I got curious, I asked Behnam about his origins and he told me that he was originally from Iran.
But what got me curious is that the guy also spoke perfect English and Swedish when dealing with different clients. So I went to the front desk to ask him about his identity.
From then, I often randomly bump into him on the street so we exchanged numbers.
But last night was the real time when I really got to know him.
So I invited him to the building party in Lappis since he doesn't live in Lappis. He came then we started chatting. We shared lots of common thoughts about almost everything. And also since he had been to Spain before I wanted to ask him about it for my trip to Spain. Then with his enthusiasm he told me one of the craziest journeys I have ever heard.
He hitchhiked the whole way around in Spain and they were some scary experiences. For example, one time they got picked up by this single guy who didn't speak a word on the ride and as they were thanking the guy for the ride, the guy told them that it's fine because he wasn't going anywhere anyway, he was just driving the road because he had nothing else to do.
But the craziest part still has to be when they camped on the beach in Barcelona. Although they got many warnings from the locals that NEVER CAMP on the BEACH. and they also went to the police to ask. They said it was illegal. But they were almost broke so had to find a place to camp. They didn't buy all those warnings and still went on camping on the beach. So at night they snuck in a part where no vehicles could ever get to at the beach. But about 2 in the morning, something extremely noisy was coming towards them from above. They couldn't see what it was since they were in the tent and they also locked the tent with a lock. so his travel mate pulled out a knife, slashed the tent, then jumped out of the tent. It was like a monster tractor making a huge circle around their tent. And that was all it did. I was guessing it was some kind of warning for not camping at the pot field since Nima told me people were digging out drugs from the sand around them too. But then, it started pouring from the sky. so he was getting really went since he didn't want to go in the tent to sleep just to watch out for himself and his buddy. Then people who were fucked up started looking for a shelter and, of course, the first thing they saw was the tent. Then they started trying to squeeze in but Nima locked the tent and tried to stop people from the outside by saying that it was already full inside. Meanwhile, he saw a couple making love on the beach. and that wasn't just it. Two passersby stopped right beside the love making couple and observed and studied them from different freaking angle.
Another short story was about that when they got to Paris by hitchhiking, they went to a one star hotel somewhere. and it was definitely the shittest hotel he's ever stayed in in his whole life. The room was run through by freaking pipes that were as thick as a tree trunk. And the bathroom was shared. the best part was that you couldn't get into the bathroom if you go in straight because there was no room for you to turn around at all if you want to do some serious business. And this one counterstaff there was seriously from one of the National Lampoon's movies. Nima and his friend arrived at the hotel, and the receptionist was him. When he tried going down to the lobby 3 in the morning he was still there. the next morning when they went out it was still him at the counter. When they went out the day after it was still him. He had worked for like 72 hours straight when they left Paris. And they asked him how he managed to do it, he just simply said "I like my job."
Tyska Kyrkan i Gamla Stan- German church in the Old Town
It's almost too weird that when you step inside the church you only hear German choir singing in the middle of Stockholm, You are in the German Church.
My first impression of the church is not very good. The doorman who stands behind the doors is handing out programs to the ones who come in for the German concert. And I knew about the concert. But the first thing he says to me when he sees me at the first sight iss "No Sightseeing!" Then I go "I am here for the German Concert!" Then he hands me a program. Actually I am still quite mad about it because just because I look Asian, and younger than most of the people there (almost all in their 70's) it does not give him the right to treat a attendant like this.
But the music is ok after all. The choir and the organ are not in sync lots of times but it is good overall. It feels Christmasy when they sing the german version of Hosianna.
But it is some nice time. And Melanie shows up right in the beginning of the concert. She's a French girl who I know through Christophe. I just ran into her in the Xmas market in Gamla Stan and I told her about the concert. I am surprised that she shows because she said she was going somewhere else so probably couldn't make it.
But after I ran into her, I went into a crystal store. The crystals there were all really pretty. But all a sudden I started recognizing the Chinese characters on the warning signs. They did not look Mainland Chinese because they were the Traditional. And the store manager looked asian so I asked her where she was from. She was quite friendly so she went "You have three chances to guess where I am from." So I went from Hong Kong, then China, then Taiwan! But none of them was right. So she revealed her identity. She was Thai. Then we just started chatting about random stuff like when did she move from Thailand to Sweden, etc. And she was complimenting the Taiwanese people because she thought we are international. "Anyhow, I enjoyed the conversation but have to run to the concert so I will see you!" Then here I am inside the church.
My first impression of the church is not very good. The doorman who stands behind the doors is handing out programs to the ones who come in for the German concert. And I knew about the concert. But the first thing he says to me when he sees me at the first sight iss "No Sightseeing!" Then I go "I am here for the German Concert!" Then he hands me a program. Actually I am still quite mad about it because just because I look Asian, and younger than most of the people there (almost all in their 70's) it does not give him the right to treat a attendant like this.
But the music is ok after all. The choir and the organ are not in sync lots of times but it is good overall. It feels Christmasy when they sing the german version of Hosianna.
But it is some nice time. And Melanie shows up right in the beginning of the concert. She's a French girl who I know through Christophe. I just ran into her in the Xmas market in Gamla Stan and I told her about the concert. I am surprised that she shows because she said she was going somewhere else so probably couldn't make it.
But after I ran into her, I went into a crystal store. The crystals there were all really pretty. But all a sudden I started recognizing the Chinese characters on the warning signs. They did not look Mainland Chinese because they were the Traditional. And the store manager looked asian so I asked her where she was from. She was quite friendly so she went "You have three chances to guess where I am from." So I went from Hong Kong, then China, then Taiwan! But none of them was right. So she revealed her identity. She was Thai. Then we just started chatting about random stuff like when did she move from Thailand to Sweden, etc. And she was complimenting the Taiwanese people because she thought we are international. "Anyhow, I enjoyed the conversation but have to run to the concert so I will see you!" Then here I am inside the church.
You really want a Swedish woman? think twice before you fall in love with one...
You know, I was told by this American professor never to fall in love with a Swedish girl. Well, in his case, it's more different because he is married to a Swedish and now he's forever stuck in Sweden.
But after reading two articles regarding Swedish females, I am really starting having doubts...
One is about two freaking crazy ass bitches beating the shit out of a poor guy on the street (sorry about the language)
read more on
http://www.thelocal.se/9281/
The other one talks about that there are more kids living with single dads than single moms.
The divorce rate is quite insanely high in Sweden. I was first encountered the question "Are your parents married?" when I first got here by a Swedish girl.
read more on
http://www.thelocal.se/9328/
But after reading two articles regarding Swedish females, I am really starting having doubts...
One is about two freaking crazy ass bitches beating the shit out of a poor guy on the street (sorry about the language)
read more on
http://www.thelocal.se/9281/
The other one talks about that there are more kids living with single dads than single moms.
The divorce rate is quite insanely high in Sweden. I was first encountered the question "Are your parents married?" when I first got here by a Swedish girl.
read more on
http://www.thelocal.se/9328/
Saturday, December 1, 2007
On the dogsleds
In the far north of Sweden,
on a dogsled
The Danish old captain speaking, he's about in his 60-70's
" you see that young dog over there?
There is a story behind that dog.
He's named after a hero dog called Belcho from Alaska.
I was there for quite many years. And there was this legend
dog who rescued the whole village by bringing medicine to the town
of a deadly disease. So a small village in Alaska was out of contact with
any others in Alaska and was infected by a very rare disease
that can't be cured by normal medicine. So they ordered Belcho and
his dog fleet to the nearest town to ask for help. Then they did and Belcho
didn't live long afterwards."
" So you name your dog after Belcho?"
"exactly," replies the Captain with a Danish accent.
"So what brought you to Sweden since you are from Denmark?"
"It's a very long story, but basically, I was a sailor for 25 years before a
huge storm hit the coast of Demark and my town was entirely under water"
"Wow!"
"Yeah, and I moved to Greenland for a while"
"Was it like Lappland?"
"No, it was much less trees and more ice,
but it was a whole new experience.
Then I continued on to Alaska for some dog sled races,
you know my dogs are not trained for tourist purposes but for racing.
And It's also good for traveling in the mountains.
Once you take them out in the mountains they really help you a lot.
for example, during the nights, if you feel cold in your sleeping bag in your tent,
you just drag one or two dogs into your tent to sleep with you then it's very warm.
Sometimes the tent is too small and I have 3 dogs with me and it becomes really crowded."
"Interesting..."
"Yeah, they are all like my buddies."
"But how do you maneuver the dogsled by only yelling out orders?"
"Oh, there are some leader dogs among the team, and they follow the orders and lead other ones. There could be more than one leader dog in the team and don't necessarily have to be in the front of the team. Although you wouldn't want the naughty ones go in the very front as well because they would just cause you trouble."
It's amazing how much the huskies understand what the captain is saying. I think they understand better Swedish/Danish than I do! They stop when the captain wants them to and start, turn to the right, turn to the left. They will even stop if they have not received the order on a unfamiliar route. It's amazing!
on a dogsled
The Danish old captain speaking, he's about in his 60-70's
" you see that young dog over there?
There is a story behind that dog.
He's named after a hero dog called Belcho from Alaska.
I was there for quite many years. And there was this legend
dog who rescued the whole village by bringing medicine to the town
of a deadly disease. So a small village in Alaska was out of contact with
any others in Alaska and was infected by a very rare disease
that can't be cured by normal medicine. So they ordered Belcho and
his dog fleet to the nearest town to ask for help. Then they did and Belcho
didn't live long afterwards."
" So you name your dog after Belcho?"
"exactly," replies the Captain with a Danish accent.
"So what brought you to Sweden since you are from Denmark?"
"It's a very long story, but basically, I was a sailor for 25 years before a
huge storm hit the coast of Demark and my town was entirely under water"
"Wow!"
"Yeah, and I moved to Greenland for a while"
"Was it like Lappland?"
"No, it was much less trees and more ice,
but it was a whole new experience.
Then I continued on to Alaska for some dog sled races,
you know my dogs are not trained for tourist purposes but for racing.
And It's also good for traveling in the mountains.
Once you take them out in the mountains they really help you a lot.
for example, during the nights, if you feel cold in your sleeping bag in your tent,
you just drag one or two dogs into your tent to sleep with you then it's very warm.
Sometimes the tent is too small and I have 3 dogs with me and it becomes really crowded."
"Interesting..."
"Yeah, they are all like my buddies."
"But how do you maneuver the dogsled by only yelling out orders?"
"Oh, there are some leader dogs among the team, and they follow the orders and lead other ones. There could be more than one leader dog in the team and don't necessarily have to be in the front of the team. Although you wouldn't want the naughty ones go in the very front as well because they would just cause you trouble."
It's amazing how much the huskies understand what the captain is saying. I think they understand better Swedish/Danish than I do! They stop when the captain wants them to and start, turn to the right, turn to the left. They will even stop if they have not received the order on a unfamiliar route. It's amazing!
Swedish women want to go topless in swimming pools
Here's how liberal, or crazy to some, it may sound to people.
It's about some Swedish women fighting for their rights to go topless in swimming pools.
Their argument is that if men can go topless in Swimming pools why can't they?
Also, some men comment that it's ok if they are pretty ladies who go topless but not so good if they are ugly.
So the women who run for the campaign say that men can go topless no matter how they look.
Actually to my opinion I can't see why not.
They can go topless however they want, but the only holdback I have is that maybe some conservatives would argue that they wouldn't want their kids to go to swimming pools anymore.
But I really can't see why not it cannot be realized.
Read more on: http://www.thelocal.se/9263/20071130/
It's about some Swedish women fighting for their rights to go topless in swimming pools.
Their argument is that if men can go topless in Swimming pools why can't they?
Also, some men comment that it's ok if they are pretty ladies who go topless but not so good if they are ugly.
So the women who run for the campaign say that men can go topless no matter how they look.
Actually to my opinion I can't see why not.
They can go topless however they want, but the only holdback I have is that maybe some conservatives would argue that they wouldn't want their kids to go to swimming pools anymore.
But I really can't see why not it cannot be realized.
Read more on: http://www.thelocal.se/9263/20071130/
Friday, November 30, 2007
Spanish New Year Countdown
Have you ever imagined people count down for new year before it actually happens? Ok read on.
So I am just about to prepare for bed and Manu msns me saying that there is a party in the laundry room in Lappis. I am not very sure what he means by a party this time and the laundry room. I am not sure if my english has totally lost it or he is making jokes again. So I go out to his room. He opens the door all dressed up and says yeah people are counting down for new years in the laundry room now.
Ok then, the time has really past by fast since I have not noticed that tonight is new years eve. Then he tells me that we have to go count down with the crazy spanish crowd in the laundry room.
Then I realize that the countdown is just symbolic and not so much for the new years. You know, spaniards just like to find excuses to party.
So I go with Manu to the laundry room and everyone is there! They have a laptop set up for the event and are giving out grapes. The spanish tradition to count down is to eat a grape every second for the last 10 seconds of the countdown. So here it goes, 10,9,8....1 There is actually a countdown for last year's Spanish TV program on the laptop and every second is recognized by a ring of a bell somewhere in Spain. After the countdown, everyone greets each other with joy and hugs. Too bad I don't know that many Spanish girls so can't get that many warm hugs.
So I am just about to prepare for bed and Manu msns me saying that there is a party in the laundry room in Lappis. I am not very sure what he means by a party this time and the laundry room. I am not sure if my english has totally lost it or he is making jokes again. So I go out to his room. He opens the door all dressed up and says yeah people are counting down for new years in the laundry room now.
Ok then, the time has really past by fast since I have not noticed that tonight is new years eve. Then he tells me that we have to go count down with the crazy spanish crowd in the laundry room.
Then I realize that the countdown is just symbolic and not so much for the new years. You know, spaniards just like to find excuses to party.
So I go with Manu to the laundry room and everyone is there! They have a laptop set up for the event and are giving out grapes. The spanish tradition to count down is to eat a grape every second for the last 10 seconds of the countdown. So here it goes, 10,9,8....1 There is actually a countdown for last year's Spanish TV program on the laptop and every second is recognized by a ring of a bell somewhere in Spain. After the countdown, everyone greets each other with joy and hugs. Too bad I don't know that many Spanish girls so can't get that many warm hugs.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
JAG TALAR SVENSKA!!!
The conversion from English to Swedish is the following,
step one. swap everything with a c for the k sounds to a k
step two. change the endings of verbs into era
step three. change the adjectives' endings from ive to iv
step four. many words have e's in english as an ending but remove them when you are in Swedish
step five. in -> i, on -> på
step six. and when you try to speak, try to stress the ending of each single damn word!
There you have a complete idea how swedish looks like?
step one. swap everything with a c for the k sounds to a k
step two. change the endings of verbs into era
step three. change the adjectives' endings from ive to iv
step four. many words have e's in english as an ending but remove them when you are in Swedish
step five. in -> i, on -> på
step six. and when you try to speak, try to stress the ending of each single damn word!
There you have a complete idea how swedish looks like?
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
weird and stupid advertisement here!
Ok, I will let you judge.
I went to Lidl(a cheap German grocery store) yesterday, and I saw this ad at the door on the brochures and on the window. It was ham on sale, 20 kr off. So I thought to myself that I could make the fried cheesy ham thing that Manu made a while ago. So I got it and paid for it then realized that it was not on sale! What the f? So I went to take a look at the ads again, shit, the ads is for next week?!? this week just started but you have the ads for next week on the windows and at the door?! I seriously don't get how the Swedes think, or maybe Germans in this case
I went to Lidl(a cheap German grocery store) yesterday, and I saw this ad at the door on the brochures and on the window. It was ham on sale, 20 kr off. So I thought to myself that I could make the fried cheesy ham thing that Manu made a while ago. So I got it and paid for it then realized that it was not on sale! What the f? So I went to take a look at the ads again, shit, the ads is for next week?!? this week just started but you have the ads for next week on the windows and at the door?! I seriously don't get how the Swedes think, or maybe Germans in this case
Monday, October 22, 2007
Stereotypes of a Swede
Men
1. clothing- really fit jeans, dark fit jacket in the winter, pointy leather shoes, no sweatshirts, tend to wear stuff that's dark and fit
2. hair- gel your hair straight
3. figure- usually slim, tall, blond, blue-eyed
4. been to Thailand
Women
1. clothing- really fit stuff as well, high heels, grey top that shows half of your breasts but goes below your bottom, like stretchy things that a pregnant woman wears, dark pantyhose
2. hair- blonde, straight, long
3.figure- slim, nice bust, a bit tanned, blue-eyed, super long legs
4. also been to Thailand, or at least wants to go to Thailand
1. clothing- really fit jeans, dark fit jacket in the winter, pointy leather shoes, no sweatshirts, tend to wear stuff that's dark and fit
2. hair- gel your hair straight
3. figure- usually slim, tall, blond, blue-eyed
4. been to Thailand
Women
1. clothing- really fit stuff as well, high heels, grey top that shows half of your breasts but goes below your bottom, like stretchy things that a pregnant woman wears, dark pantyhose
2. hair- blonde, straight, long
3.figure- slim, nice bust, a bit tanned, blue-eyed, super long legs
4. also been to Thailand, or at least wants to go to Thailand
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Saturday and Sunday nights- Oct 14, 2007
It wasn't such a pleasant weekend to me and my buddies...
Saturday night, we went to a sports bar to watch the semi in the Rugby World Cup with the usuals. It was France vs. England- not even kidding. Ever since history began, those two nations never had peace. so did the night.
The first 3 minutes was a disaster for France. Some French player made a huge error. he let the offense go past him because the rugby ball was bouncing irregularly. so E had a touchdown. I went with the French crew so I was for France, well... I never liked England anyway so...
But then France came back and lead for quite a while until the last 10 minutes, the english team crushed the dreams of the home team. It was a nice play though, I have to admit. Although Shabo (this shaggy famous french player) went on the field trying to assist the team. It was in vain. My buddies were almost crying after the game while the english people are dancing around in the pub.
While watching rugby, I was also looking around, well, as usual. Saw some nice looking swedish girls also staying but only chatting with some guys. But something amusing comes up. this girl from America, first by her accent then she tells it herself, goes right in front of me, listening to these two british "gentlemen" speak. then she goes right in to start a conversation with them. I think this girl is desperate. oh, it was an american sports bar btw because everything on the walls were all from boston. Boston RED SOX, CELTICS, THE ICE HOCKEY Team and so on and so forth. I also Magic johnson's autograph on the wall on a picture of his presence in this bar.
Then here comes sunday night. we had 9 players so had more than enough to sub. But the games were horrible. So many misjudges, and uncalled fouls. And also people getting pissed at each other. I was one of them. there was one guy in the first game who slide tackled all the time and hurt many of our players. He got me some times but I got really mad at him after seeing him doing it over and over. So when I was on the side, I called him son of a bitch. then after the game, he came to me and asked me who the hell I called son of a bitch then I went YOU. He really got the guts to come back to ask me cuz we had the whole team there and he came alone. So I just kept on insulting him because he played really dirty and I thought he deserved it. But I apologized at the end because I was a woos.
The second game it was even worse. Samy, Thijs, and Chritophe almost had fights. It wasn't pretty. But the calmest player was Thijs. I admire him for that because he knows how to calm down and the rest don't.
We were leading in the beginning but we kept making errors to let them score. And our mentality just snapped so it wasn't any hope either. But oh well, life is tough.
Saturday night, we went to a sports bar to watch the semi in the Rugby World Cup with the usuals. It was France vs. England- not even kidding. Ever since history began, those two nations never had peace. so did the night.
The first 3 minutes was a disaster for France. Some French player made a huge error. he let the offense go past him because the rugby ball was bouncing irregularly. so E had a touchdown. I went with the French crew so I was for France, well... I never liked England anyway so...
But then France came back and lead for quite a while until the last 10 minutes, the english team crushed the dreams of the home team. It was a nice play though, I have to admit. Although Shabo (this shaggy famous french player) went on the field trying to assist the team. It was in vain. My buddies were almost crying after the game while the english people are dancing around in the pub.
While watching rugby, I was also looking around, well, as usual. Saw some nice looking swedish girls also staying but only chatting with some guys. But something amusing comes up. this girl from America, first by her accent then she tells it herself, goes right in front of me, listening to these two british "gentlemen" speak. then she goes right in to start a conversation with them. I think this girl is desperate. oh, it was an american sports bar btw because everything on the walls were all from boston. Boston RED SOX, CELTICS, THE ICE HOCKEY Team and so on and so forth. I also Magic johnson's autograph on the wall on a picture of his presence in this bar.
Then here comes sunday night. we had 9 players so had more than enough to sub. But the games were horrible. So many misjudges, and uncalled fouls. And also people getting pissed at each other. I was one of them. there was one guy in the first game who slide tackled all the time and hurt many of our players. He got me some times but I got really mad at him after seeing him doing it over and over. So when I was on the side, I called him son of a bitch. then after the game, he came to me and asked me who the hell I called son of a bitch then I went YOU. He really got the guts to come back to ask me cuz we had the whole team there and he came alone. So I just kept on insulting him because he played really dirty and I thought he deserved it. But I apologized at the end because I was a woos.
The second game it was even worse. Samy, Thijs, and Chritophe almost had fights. It wasn't pretty. But the calmest player was Thijs. I admire him for that because he knows how to calm down and the rest don't.
We were leading in the beginning but we kept making errors to let them score. And our mentality just snapped so it wasn't any hope either. But oh well, life is tough.
Monday, October 8, 2007
IPHONE!!!!
Freaking iPhone cost me so much for the stupid Swedish toll - 25 percent of the original value!
But here comes a sweet picture of it so all of you can stare at it and hate yourself for not being able to have it!
In comparison, my old shitty siemens is a piece of junk although i paid probably 1/10 the price of an iphone for it. But check out that huge screen man... aren't you tempted too?
But here comes a sweet picture of it so all of you can stare at it and hate yourself for not being able to have it!
In comparison, my old shitty siemens is a piece of junk although i paid probably 1/10 the price of an iphone for it. But check out that huge screen man... aren't you tempted too?
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Sushi dinner- Sep 22, 2007
Random collection of photos
Skansen2- Sep 13, 2007
Skansen1- Sep 13, 2007
Traditional Swedish structures under a very good weather condition
Sangria party at Sundbyberg! Sep 9, 2007
Corridor party continued... Sep 8,2007
Our corridor party- Sep 8, 2007
KTH chapter parties- Sep 5, 2007
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
