Better than a Cup of Coffee

I survived the first week with students and contrary to previous beliefs, 4th graders are not terrifying. I thought my personality was better suited for teaching older students, but I must say that so far teaching the younger ones has been awesome. I have a smile plastered on my face constantly and I feel positively - dare I say it - peppy. And I think I know where I've found the energy to be like this.

I do not shy away from my addiction to coffee. I've started my mornings with the good stuff since watching Lorelai and Rory practically guzzle coffee at Luke's Diner in every episode of Gilmore Girls. I've been a faithful lover of coffee for more than 10 years. I've fed my addiction and spent God knows how much at Angelina's and Heine Brothers and Starbucks and Hillside Café and countless others. But now I can honestly say that I've found something that works even better.

Botaniska trädgården yesterday morning

When I arrived in Uppsala almost a month ago, I bought a monthly bus pass and a bike. I thought I would use the bus for commuting to work and the bike for trips around town. But after just a week, I was annoyed by the bus. I didn't like being at the whim of its timetable and the 750 SEK (about $90) wasn't a selling point either. The 7k ride to work intimidated me, but the bus annoyed me more. Late last week, I hopped on my bike at 7am and I haven't looked back. I thought I'd get to work sweaty and disheveled, but the mornings have been cool and I bring toiletries and a change of clothes. Since last Thursday, I've biked more than 60 miles and I bet that's further than I've gone in my 24 years combined. (Sorry Mom and Dad for all the bikes you bought me that I didn't fully appreciate and that I didn't notice were gone when you gave them away...)

Anyways, here's what I love about biking to work in no particular order: I pass by Carolina Rediviva, the largest library in Sweden, the Uppsala Castle, built in 16th century, and the stunning Botanical Garden. I get an hour's worth of exercise (and endorphins!) every day. I have to be alert early to navigate cars, pedestrians and other bikes, contributing to the "better than a cup of coffee" wide-awakeness that I feel. I'm getting a nice pair of thunder thighs and a butt to match. I make up for all those times I drove two blocks in Louisville. And I have the energy to keep up with 10 year olds. 

Come the dark and dreary mornings of December I'll be riding that bus without complaint, but for now I'm happy on two wheels. 

Weekend Warriors

Full disclosure - As I write this, I'm stretched out on the couch with a cup of coffee and my only plans for the day include making another pot... But just go with it.

I like the weekend… a lot. It’s safe to say Saturday is the best day of the week followed closely by Sunday and then Friday. (That’s the truth and anyone who claims otherwise is wrong.) And I like lazy weekends: mornings when I don’t set an alarm, afternoons filled with a book or a hike, unhurried dinners and a second glass of wine. I like that. But in addition to liking restful weekends, I also like to—wait for it—do stuff. Crazy, right? And it just so happens that those two glorious days can also be spent doing stuff, and I like that too. 

Aun, Adil and Egil or maybe Thor, Odin and Freyr??

Last weekend, I did stuff. I biked out to the museum in Gamla Uppsala, or “Old Uppsala,” where viking kings were buried in these massive mounds. The museum is filled with all things archaeology and mythology and the mounds themselves, named Aun, Adil and Egil, were once thought to hold the Norse gods Thor, Odin and Freyr. Even though I’d visited the site before, I was still taken by the fascinating history (and mystery) of the spot and the incredible views of Uppsala’s cathedral in the distance. And as much as I like my leisurely Saturdays, days spent exploring a city’s culture are pretty awesome too.

Kungsholmen by kayak

Later that weekend, I tagged along with friends kayaking around Kungsholmen. Stockholm is a city of islands and Kungsholmen, Swedish for “King’s Islet”, is one of the city’s central neighborhoods. It was a perfect day to be outside and it seemed like everyone had the same idea, especially since the sun has made few appearances this summer. The island has these stretches of rock where loads of people were laid out. It was so cool to see people swimming and boating while still very much in the middle of a city. After paddling more than 10k (I’m slowly learning the metric system…), we had a well-earned beer at a waterfront restaurant. Few things compare to a cold beer after a long day. On the train back to Uppsala that night I was exhausted, but so very satisfied. Funny how that works. So to recap: weekend spent relaxing = good, weekend spent doing stuff  = heaps better. More to come soon!

- EM

Vertical Challenges and Visual Surprises

Pants 2.0

My friends over at Live Music Louisville turned me on to the absolutely amazing world of... well... live music. I'd been to a few concerts (read: B. Spears when I was 18), but Brittany and Aubrey showed me another experience spanning local bands in grungy bars to big name arena headliners. The music was always top notch, but the atmosphere and the crowd always added that extra magic. One of the things I knew I would miss about living in Louisville was the music scene and the people who made it so wonderful. But I made a promise to myself to continue to seek out those experiences while at home in SF (hey, Lissie, you were stellar at The Chapel!) and here in Sweden. Last night, I made good on that promise. I met a friend in Stockholm for the Lenny Kravitz show at Gröna Lund and I was reminded of a few things: Swedes are tall! Nordic people are tall! Vikings are tall! And seeing as I am none of those things, I am not tall. Though I saw very little of the show, Lenny sounded awesome live and was LOUD. The place was packed, the evening was warm and the band was excellent. And who could forget the moment of hilarity when good ol' Lenny split his pants and gave the first few rows much more of a show than they bargained for. Good laughs, good music and good people - I'm so thankful to have had these in Louisville and so excited to find them here in Sweden. 

On Cycling and Settling In

My new bike! She needs a name...

Tomorrow, I'll have been in Uppsala for a week - how quickly the days have flown by! I've spent the time reacquainting myself with this amazing city, running errands and enjoying the last few days of this extended vacation with friends new and old. This summer in Sweden has been a rainy one, but I've lucked out with some sunny days this week. Today, as I write from my apartment's balcony, it's so hot my phone overheated - am I back in California or in Sweden??

Navigating the city has taken some getting used to and I'm slowly learning my new bus routes and neighborhood, situated just 10 minutes from the city center and Uppsala University. I bought a bike a few days ago and have completely fallen in love with cycling around this place. Uppsala is so bike-friendly and even though I'm possibly the worst biker, I feel very safe (Not sure what other cyclists or pedestrians feel with me on the road, but oh well!) I really appreciate how easy it is to rely on a bike or public transportation here. When I was planning this move, I was apprehensive about biking, especially given my inexperience, but as soon I as hopped on my bike, I was hooked. A lesson in tackling fears perhaps?

I'm heading to Stockholm soon for a Lenny Kravitz concert at Gröna Lund, an amusement park situated on Djurgården island. (If he sings "American Woman," I'm going to lose my ish.) My job starts tomorrow and I'm looking forward to meeting the team there, though I must say 6 weeks off has been pretty awesome. But on to the next thing! So here's to new beginnings and new bikes!

- EM

Välkommen hit, välkommen hem

Uppsala's Domkyrka Cathedral and the Fyris River as seen from Östra Ågatan

Hallå from Sweden! It's been four days since I began this adventure in Uppsala and I am still in disbelief that I'm back. When I arrived at the train station on Tuesday afternoon, I saw an old favorite - the sign that reads: "Välkommen hit, välkommen hem." Welcome here, welcome home. I studied here more than three years ago, and this week has been a homecoming of sorts. Walking past old haunts, familiar cafés, or a favorite park - the feeling is absolutely surreal. Much is the same, and much is different. I am reminded of the Nelson Mandela quote: "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered." This could not ring more true now. Many of the people who made living here so memorable before are now scattered across countries and continents, and the circumstances of my being here are different. And I am different.  Even still, the magic of this place is as present as ever. 

Välkommen hit, välkommen hem represents the beginning of this new adventure, this new challenge of forging a home and a life in a favorite city. I couldn't be more nervous, excited and overwhelmed. But I'm game for it. 

- EM

A Quick Hello

I can't stay and write for long, but I wanted to a) give a little update and b) keep working on that daily writing habit.

I have some news to announce in the coming days, and I'm making changes to make this blog more accessible to a larger audience. Bear with me as I tweak things here and there. Looking forward to the days to come - lots of exciting things in the works. Until then, hej då! ;)

- EM