Day 157: Fallback

Filled with energy after my friend's house warming party this evening. What a transformation! She moved from a larger to a smaller space in the same neighborhood. Since I was last there, just a couple of short weeks ago to lend a helping hand, the place has been painted, all the cartons unpacked, furniture put in place and pictures hung on walls.

Which proves a point I've always made: nothing motivates you to get a move on than planning a party! I've enjoyed the pleasure of a clean and tidy home more times than I can remember by planning a party for the not-to-distant future. Just the thought of celebrating is inspiring. And as a bonus, once all the guest are gone, I get to enjoy the beauty I've created.

I leave you with this thought: remember to turn your clocks back one hour before you go to sleep tonight...if you live in Sweden, that is.

And be happy for an extra hour's sleep tonight...

Day 156: Musicians

I have endless respect (and a modicum of envy) for musicians. Today, I got to hang with five excellent ones as they rehearsed the music for Assassins. As an added treat, I got to sing along since our conductor was quite hoarse. Utter luxury. The base player actually said, "It really helps having you sing along." Trust me, it was a huge kick since I know that I only approximated the beautiful-but-difficult melodies.

I lead a blessed life.

Day 155: A good math day

Some people have good hair days. Today, I had a good math day. This means that I was able to help more students than not. And I got one of the other volunteers to explain the concept I could not help with to me, so I even learned something new.

There is something so incredibly satisfying when the light finally goes on and I just see the route to the solution. It makes me even happier when that light is in the eyes of one of the students. Math 2B classes are having an exam tomorrow so the Math Lab was packed tonight. I didn't count but I'd estimate approximately 32 students of which two(!) were guys. What percent is that? How do you figure out what percent that is? This was actually quite similar to a question one of the guys needed help with. Had to physically stop a student from reaching for her calculator to solve 36 minus 27. I just could not stand it. "Use your fingers," I told her. "Activates the brain." :-)

As an aside, let me tell you, they're not teaching math they way they used to back in the day. Either that or I've totally forgotten things like i squared = –1. Another of today's challenges was solving inequalities by graphing them. Sheesh. But what fun.

Day 154: Submerged in Stockholm

People, people...Hör upp. Någonting spännande händer.

Våga vara annorlunda. Stöd musikaler i Sverige. Var med om en spännande upplevelse...sant att det inte är West Side Story (som Sondheim förresten skrev texterna till)... Det är Sondheim på sin topp. Udda. Annorlunda. Och med den mest fantastiska musiken. 

OBS! Dock. Kan bli beroendeframkallande. Se upp. Du kommer vilja se den flera gånger, jag lovar. 

Sondheim to the people!

Day 153: Art isn't easy

Attended a fascinating lecture on international trends in contemporary arts this evening. So happy that I accepted this invitation despite having only a vague interest in the topic. The speaker, Karolina Bertorp, founded and runs Moderna Samlare (Modern Collectors) and is extremely knowledgeable about how the art world works.

By way of thanks, I told her all about Sunday in the Park with George and recommended she watch "Putting It Together." Here is a link for your viewing pleasure too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJFz-ucuTvs

Day 152: Inväntar

Two buses and two train rides later, I am at home (after a detour to Gamla Stan for this evening's Swedish language exchange). I find it really interesting (and fun) to talk language and especially to try to explain the meaning of words in Swedish to foreigners who are trying to learn Swedish.

Today, though, I was tickled by my own use of the Swedish language. The train from Östersund to Sundsvall was slightly delayed and as there were only 10 minutes between its originally scheduled arrival and the departure of the train from Sundsvall to Stockholm, there was not much room for delays. The conductor stopped at each car to let passengers know at which platform we would be arriving and which platform the Stockholm train would be leaving from. My question to him was, "Inväntar de oss?" which translates into "Will they wait for us?"

"Väntar" in Swedish means "wait" so naturally my "students" wanted to know why "inväntar" and what the difference is between the two. We spent a good 15 minutes on the subject (in Swedish) during which I kind of explained it and they kind of got it. What tickled me is that I used the word altogether. It was one of those moments when I surprise myself with my grasp of this language which I began learning quite late in life.

And now for some much needed catch-up-sleep...sweet dreams everyone!

Day 151: Hugs make me happy

The hotel in Gäddede invited all the organizers and instructors who were still here tonight after the Lindy Hop  Festival was over to dinner. The meal was prepared by their kitchen staff, a group of four young women from the Middle East (Lebanon and Sudan I believe). The food was exquisitely delicious and a reminder of how truly small our world has become. You would hardly have expected to feast on homemade Middle Eastern food in a small village in northern Sweden just a few short years ago.

There were many toasts and many accolades at dinner, many people to thank and recognize for the amazing work and spirit of this dance weekend. And lots of laughs. And many, many hugs. Hugs of hello and hugs of farewell. Hugs of appreciation and thanks. Hugs simply for the pleasure of giving a hug. I felt transported in time to 1992 and my first visit to Herräng Dance Camp (during my second visit to Sweden). Then, as now, there was an intimate, close-knit spirit to the event. And many hugs.

I leave here tired...and happy...and looking forward to the next time in hopes that it stays this small and perfect.