A Perfect Day in Sweden in the Life of Marlies L.

(recollections from yesterday)

Early rise... no alarm clock necessary.

Coffee. Skimming the Norrkoping Tidningar.

Watching silly baby-girl Lilly make funny faces.

Riding the bike to the market place. Bouncing over cobble stones.

More coffee, some fresh bread with butter.

Working on stuff (that will help set up a company that makes sense).

Enjoying a good conversation with "the big brother".

Library visit (receiving an email from a past student who is doing wonderfully).

Going home, beeing greeted by a letter from my mom.

Making my current favorite lunch at home (Falafel, Hummus, Tomatoes, Feta, some Kernels, Corn,... hmmmm).

Packing and organizing gear for the upcoming 2-month trip to the US.

Taking - what turns into a 40k - bike ride with the intention to swim in the sea one last time. Doing so but also picking cherries, taking a ferry to make it a loop, running into an acquaintance, and finally, dipping into the sea..... Feeling strong and healthy and balanced.

Coming home, making dinner and drinking tea.

Reading "Lord of the Flies" for some relaxation...

Falling asleep early.

It doesn't get better...

We frikkin did it.

I visited the US Embassy in Stockholm today.



I was afraid.



I had put everything on one card.



I had spent my remaining funds on getting ready for a job that I wasn´t sure if I was gonna be able to show up for. Because I hadn´t gotten the OK for my visa yet.



A "no" would have meant that I would have had to start over. Try and find a job in Sweden for a couple of months without the necessary language skills, living with my future boss and his wife and kids, maybe not being able to afford getting Bufi here, waiting for our company to evolve and eventually offering me employment. Without employment, no right to reside. Chicken or egg? I don´t know but it was messy. Somehow I trusted that it was going to happen. Despite lacking paperwork. Despite being too late to get an appointment. Despite all the smaller "no´s" I got along the way. Pushing button after button until some provided answers and allowed me to step closer to my goal.



I got a "yes". No, I wasn´t able to bring a Personbevis... instead I killed them with letters from me, stating my intent to come back and support families in Sweden in their healing, my future bosses here and in Colorado, even the immigration officers wrote a letter for me. My parents sent paperwork and stuff in the mail. It all arrived on time. And told me that everything was going to be fine. Patrick, my "adoptive big brother" in Sweden and boss encouraged me and trusted it was going to happen. We all did it. I feel so grateful for community.



I don´t know what I would have done if it hadn´t worked out. Maybe I would have gone swimming. Tried to let go. Now that it worked out I will likely... go swimming. Let go of the clenched fists and the tense jaw. Find balance... and maybe keep it for a while.



I cannot express how thankful I am for friends, family, and nature.



Life is beautiful.

Vildmarksterapi för Mig

I believe my title means "Wilderness Therapy for Me" (?), at least that is what I am attempting to say. Seems like a credible translation, no?

Life is roller-coastery to no end. My intention is to find some calm in the craziness and breathe. My absolutely best way to do that is by getting my butt out into nature. Followed closely by talking with friends and family, and journaling...

I don't have the time to take a whole weekend out. I don't have the money to call friends and family the way I desire. But I do have a journal and it's busy receiving daily to-do-lists with some thoughts and emotions mixed in there. And I have this Blog - which I am sharing with more and more people. Including my parents as of recently.

Additionally I take the time to get out daily. That is when something magical happens. I leave the house on bike. I bike hard. As hard as I can. And let my thoughts race. Feel my legs and their strength. Then I reach a place.... a lake, more often than not. I find myself a spot that seems just right for the occasion and I start sinking in. I let my thoughts and emotions run wherever they need to. I cry. I smile. I let myself just be. I don't check my phone for time, or anything... Sometimes I pull my journal out. Sometimes my camera. Then I see some berries somewhere. Or I slip out of my clothes and into the lake. I take a deep breath before I give my body to the cool water... and let go of the struggles that attempt to consume me. I admire the reflection of the tree trunks in the water. I feel safe and at home. I just float....

It's tough starting fresh somewhere. It's tough missing my dog and my family and friends. And it's incredible. I don't wanna be anywhere else. I find that no matter where I go nature is always there to hold me.

I wish everyone a floating experience today...

Heading West: Step-by-Step

Wow. I feel like I am dying (and luckily getting reborn) every day. My life has a ton of spice in it right now.



I am supposed to fly from Stockholm to Denver in 15 (!!) days for a job that will start a couple of days after. My to-do-list is triplefold (I actually have an excel sheet that outlines everything... Swedish job, getting ready for the US job, and getting Sweden ready and official) - and each day I feel like I almost miss some crucial part.



The most recent shocker was that the US Embassy in Stockholm wasn´t going to give me the necessary appointment for the visa application until August 12th (at that point I am supposed to work with our German group of kids in the Monument Valley - standing in a line somewhere in Stockholm wouldn´t be practical!!). I found out yesterday that I could only call the embassy MO til TH between 1 and 2 pm. Luckily it was Wednesday. When I called today they said - after I had completed listening to a ring tone between 1:00 and 1:11pm (yup, I am committed) - that my only chance of getting in was if I got a spot online early in the AM, when they updated the system with cancellations. Patrick, my Swedish best friend and boss, did the math later... with that system I would have approximately 5 days to get lucky - otherwise time wouldn´t allow for things to fall into place. Which would mean that I would not be able to go work in the US with German youth and have the time of my life in beautiful spots, all the while earning money that will allow my dog Buford and I to get established in Sweden. It would mean trouble, that´s what that would mean. But, once again, I got lucky (or: perseverance pays off, or karma, or...). Just as I was starting to write an email to my support net (hiring company and visa sponsor), I received an email from the US embassy in response to mine from yesterday. It simply stated: "Hello, We can work you in at 2:00PM on Wednesday, July 22nd.Please reply by return email that you can confirm this date." I was about ready to cry. And confirmed. And sent a jubilation email to my support net.


I also got a bank account at Swedbank today (that only took an hour). And partial pay for my Swedish job. And lots of compliments for my work from my Swedish boss.


Am still struggling to get a TB test and a physical. The visit to the vårdcentralen or the medicinskt centralen made things only more complicated. But: I will win in the end!

Life is good in Sweden. Come visit!

And tonight I must swim to celebrate - and get some time away from computers and visa application forms.

Show and Tell

I got some immediate reward for following through with the activity schedule I created a couple of days ago. Here is what it looks like:

Yup, it’s berry time in Sweden. Thousands, or more likely millions, of the little energy packets are waiting to be picked by eager hands and beaks. And even though there are that many, I am not the only one that’s excited. Today I collected the berries above in my Klean Kantine alongside with a couple of families. That totally reminds me of my childhood. Sweet! The clover is eatable too. Swedes are huge at knowing their plants and their uses. In the meanwhile, I have been introduced to eating clover blossoms (even though the one in the photo was a little old = less sweet) and sea grass roots. I am eager to learn more. Until then, I will add my gatherings to my morning yoghurt or snack on them while I play in the woods.

Outstanding physical shape…!?

So, I am getting lots of emails from Colorado recently. One of the ones I got today said the following: “I also wanted to encourage you to do what you need to do in order to be in outstanding physical shape. Our itinerary – especially in the Grand Canyon – is very vigorous and challenging and we will need folks to be in top form”. Ahem… yeah. So, guess what has become top priority on my Sweden-To-Do-List? That’s right. Two to three workouts a day. And vigorous ones at that. ;) So, I did the one logical thing one does when given an “encouragement” like that: I sat down and came up with a trainings plan (my first official one ever!) that will be fun and hopefully effective. I will run + swim, swim + bike + do yoga, bike + walk + do push ups, etc. every day starting today. Of course I am serious… Who wants to be in less than “outstanding shape” or “top form” on national TV? Not I, that’s for sure. Plus it kinda sounds fun, no? I have been enjoying healthy food and quite a bit of exercise already anyways… And I have never not been ready to tackle a trek or a rotation before. But hey, why not really work for it? And, don’t you love the reference to the Grand Canyon?? I sure do.

Feel free to use the comment field below to send me motivation, virtual hugs, and tips! But sorry, have to go now: Sit ups, push ups, and headstands are calling my name!!

On a Mission

Yup, I am on missions now. Note "missions", not "mission". I bascially have missions lined up now till X-mas... well done, Marlies!

My current mission lasts until the end of the month. It includes spending many of my waking hours in front of my laptop and in discussion with business partners brainstorming and writing up how our future organization will be run. It´s quite the playground for me as I love program development. Parallel I am preparing myself for the Colorado adventure I wrote about the other day. There is lots of paperwork to be done for that, too. Currently, I am trying to get a physical examination appointment and a shot (the TB kind, not the akvavit kind). That task kinda forces me to figure out if I am indeed covered by the Swedish health care system. I should be. We will see. At the first place I went to, Söderköpings Vardcentralen, they told me that they are only seeing sick or injured people. Luckily I am not. When I asked the lady at the reception if they would treat me upon seeing my personnummer in case I was in need she said: "Of course". Nice to be taken care of like that by the system. She sent me on to the Medicine Centralen in Norrköping though - I will have to figure out if they can do my physical.

This morning we went and checked out an island that we may be able to use for our organization (e.g. as a place to begin the seakayak portion of treatment). The meeting with the land owners was what I have come to understand as typically Swedish. We arrived, talked, wandered around on the property (not the island in question, never even mentioning it from what I could understand), met the ducks, a cat, checked out some military vehical, and so on. About two hours into our visit we were invited to Fika (Swedes swear by it - two times daily, most Swedes come together, sit down, drink coffee and eat some pastry or crispy bread with cheese). Finally, during Fika, the conversation wandered towards the island and our program. While I already had given up on ever setting foot on that island we then went out, got a couple of boats ready, and visited the island. While people here tell me that there are indeed Swedes who are living at a faster speed and are more attached to schedules and their watches, I find this morning´s experience enjoyable to get used to. One thing is sure: I am not cutting back on my caffeine intake any time soon!

Letting Things Settle....

Wow... things have seriously turned around for me within the last week. Not only did I get to savor another weekend in Tyrisloet - I also made some major progress with my Sweden To-Do-List. But first some impressions from the weekend:

My new favorite way to explore...

One of my swimming spots... reminds me of the Boundary Waters, only saltier.

Scandic, the coolest, most pink and most simple bike I have ridden since I wrote a three-wheel. Screechy but blissful... I gave it some oil in return and now she rides silently.

My home for the weekend and possibly longer... It was love at first sight, of course.

But now: To what really is going on for me:

~~~~~~

As of a couple of days ago I am hired to spend August and September in Colorado. I'll make real good money in exchange for working with troubled German youth in the wilderness while being filmed by a filmcrew. I've done it before and consider my circumstances as incredibly lucky (having the skills to do it, the time, the support from my Swedish colleagues, etc.). That also means that I will be able to visit my friends in the States and - if all goes well - pick up the pooch that I miss so dearly to bring him to our new home.

As of a couple of hours ago I am also hired here in Sweden. Yes, I came here for a job; however, that job as well as the organization I will work for still have to be developped. Tricky situation for everyone and definitively for me as I didn't show up in Sweden with lots of cash. Just lots of ideas. And passion. And dreams.

The owners of the organization are eager to hire me longterm. So I'll come back in October to a job. A secure one. And I'll come home to a home. Maybe a Shark (aka vehicle).

As I said, some major movement has happened on my To-Do-List. Guess what I will do tonight? Study svenska... as I do every night. :)

And... have a beer in celebration.

Foton (as promised)

My new (old) team: Karl (my Swiss bike from 10 years ago), Bob (the borrowed trailer).

Having to take the ferry at Stegeborg: a free ride :)

Fueling up - note the Swedish book always at hand...

Evening ambience in Tyrislöt.

Tyrislöt boat house.

Gunvor's evening gift: "Wanna take a boat and go out to that little island?" - "Well,... yeah!!" :)

Island´s only inhabitants that I could find... they glittered in the evening sun.

Boat parked.

Swim'n'refuel in Yxningen...

My Kind of Road Trip: by Cykel

Yup, I left all the mundane struggles behind this past weekend and biked instead.

Here´s my route (mostly noted to make YOU giggle): Söderköping - Mem - Å (yup, that´s a place... say "O" though, not "A") - Stegeborg - Tyrislöt. Then on Sunday from Tyrislöt to Gryt. And then Gryt - Valdemarsvik - Gusum - Ringarum - Söderköping on Monday. All in all about 150 km. Both my overnight spots were at the sea. The first one, Tyrislöt, is a potential home for me. The photos of this post were mostly taken there. I feel at home there. Problem is that I am about 60 km from where potential work is if I live out there. Am still considering it. It's a powerful place for me.

The lady who runs the place (a seakayak touring and rental business), Gunvor, is like a longlost aunt to me. We have been communicating via email over the last several months, my goal being to connect with potential summarjobb employers. She said right away that she didn´t have a job left but that I was welcome to stay at the place. Back then I thought that I may be able to find another job in the area... which turned out to be a bit uninformed (unless I could do work with the moose or the seagulls). I still haven't given up hope. It´s beautiful out there. But see for yourself... (next post - till I figure things out).