We're back, bronzed and bonded!

Hi all,

I'll write more later, but we returned last night and had a great time. We extended the vacation 2 extra days. So, we were gone 2 full weeks. Everyone is and remained healthy throughout the trip. We got a great tan from biking and being on the beach. We are bonded by sleeping in a tent for 2 weeks with 2 kids in 2 sleeping bags. We moved as a group, from showering to meals to pooping. It was all about communal togetherness. Biking was great and we really enjoyed it. We have lots of fun anecdotes to share with you all, but just wanted to let you curious folk know that we are back and healthy and somewhat relaxed (if that can really happen with two little kids).

Yaz

Off to Gotland

We're heading out to Gotland this morning so you're going to have to read this post over and over for the next 2 weeks. We've packed everything in 2 backpacks and are traveling light. Should be an interesting experience. We're catching a train to Nynäshamn which will take about an hour. From there we grab a ferry to Visby which will take about 3 hours. Ah to be on the sea again, smelling the salt air. How my heart palpitates. At least I'll be on deck.

Speaking of smells... we went out yesterday walking around the town. We went into a second hand clothing store and to my amazement it smelled just like Value Village in Eugene. So if you want to smell a bit of Sweden I recommend you visit that store. What an olfactory delight!

The rest of the walk was less odiferous and quite nice. We spent the day strolling down tree lined streets in Östermalm. It used to be a notorious slum in the mid 1800's but now is quite upperclass. City planning and all that.

I also stopped in an American grocery store to see what there was. About the only thing I considered buying was Tony's cajun spice. I hear that it is the only place to get Oreos in the city as well. There were plenty of potato chips and peanut butter. American cuisine at its finest.

Saniya is particularly excited to go camping. We'll see if her enthusiasm can last the 12 days we'll be gone. I am eyeing our paper thin sleeping pads suspiciously, suspecting that I am going to be one big backache when I return. It will also likely mean that Yasmiene will want a backrub everynight. But maybe the fresh air will somehow prevent my back joints from fusing.

I am glad for the vacation. It has been a stressful couple weeks. I solved a new structure and was writing up the paper. Writers block hit me pretty hard. (Hope you don't have it Laura) The paper still needs work but overall I am pleased with it and the structure is quite good. I'll talk more about it when it's published. Didn't think I would be getting a paper out so soon, but I'll deal with it.

I also arranged for an apartment for the weeks we're without a home. So we'll have a temporary home. It is on the same island, .Södermalm, as our more permanent abode. It is on the west side of the island which is on the opposite side. So we'll get to see another part of the city. It is even smaller than our current place. Gonna be tight. 30 kvm = 323 sq ft. At least we won't be forced to tent under a freeway overpass. But maybe the camping in Gotland would condition me to such conditions...

It is good to hear from all of you as well. I know your emails and skype calls have allowed for a little bit of sanity to appear every now and then. So thanks for that.

Rob

Bet you didn't know this....

My friend sent this to me. I just responded to it. Thought I would share it with everyone. Maybe ya'll could share your favorites with me if you are in the mood.

How well do you know me? For instance, did you know...


Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. Waitress at Marie Calendar's in Eugene - HAHA

2. Shore Manager for off shore experiment in Virginia Beach, VA

3. Caviar processer and handler at a fish processing plant outside of Juneau, AK

4. Womenspace night supervisor in Eugene (Shelter for Battered Women and Children)


Four movies I could watch over and over:

1. When Harry met Sally

2. Election

3. Youve Got Mail

4. All old movies from the 40's on - pretty much any romantic classic


Five Places I have lived:

1. Mclean, VA ( outside of Washngton DC)- 2 years

2. Pasadena, CA - 13 years

3. Boston - 2 years

4. San Francisco - 3 years

5. Portland, OR 2 years

I will throw in Gainsville, FL (the first 5 years of my life)


Four TV shows I like to watch:

1. Scrubs

2. Larry David show

3. Sopranos

4. 6 ft. Under (before it ended)


Four places I have been on vacation (or for me, I think the term is "long term travel"):

1. Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Laos

2. East and Southern Africa

3. Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras

4. Eastern Europe - Hungary, Czech Repulic. Then to Spain and Portugal. After, I met Rob in London and went together to Africa.


Four web sites I visit almost daily:

1. my hotmail

2. this one

3. http://lexikon.nada.kth.se/swe-eng.shtml
it is the Swedish - English dictionary site

4. NPR.org
to turn on program stream and listen


Four of my favorite foods:

1. Coffee if that counts

2. little Brach candies

3. yummy salmon

4. tri tip steak


Four places I would rather be right now :

1. somewhere without my kids

2. having a drink - in an outdoor bar - without the kids

3. reading in a cafe - alone or with Rob is ok, but no kids

4. in a spa hotel, with the kids in a fun day program and we just see then at night

(Sounds negative about the kids. But, it appears some away time is needed when that is my wish list! Maybe I will wish upon a star and it will happen soon, or not.)


Anyways, we are off to Gotland tomorrow. Hoping it will be a fabulous adventure. But, then getting away always is, right? I complain about the kids, but really I am excited to have us experience this adventure together.

Hasta babes,

Yasmiene

Planning, planning and more.....planning

Isn't life just a whole slew of endless plans? We plan for one thing, when that is accomplished then we create another plan for something else. The planning isn't that excititing for me, although I do love to organize, but really I love the actual event. We planned; to come here, clean out the house in Eugene, find an apt., find a school for Saniya. Also, we have not started this one yet, but we need to find a place to live for 2 weeks until we move to our new place. Another planning escapade.... Aren't these all just one plan and then another and then another....it really is endless.

Now, we have just finished planning our 2 weeks off for mid to end of July. We are going to camp and bike around Gotland, an island off the coast of Sweden. Around the island, there are over 100 medieval churches. The town of Visby is walled and retains it's medivial appearance. We are camping because it is affordable and gives us flexibility. They say it is great for biking because it is flat and very few cars. I think we are a little yacked to think of doing this with a three and 1/2 year old (I think she will be great with it, actually) and a 9 month old (we'll see how great he'll be with it). I think both kids and parents will have their finer moments with the trip, but that's what it's all about. So, we'll attempt it and see what happens. We are taking a ferry and then will be on the island for 12 days. We will see Visby for a few days before cruising to different places around the island. It is supposed have lots of sandy beaches. There is also a law that stipulates that we can camp anywhere as long as we respect people's privacy. So, that is cool.

Here is a map of Sweden with Gotland highlighted:

Today we visited the National Museum. It was impressive and I love that so many of Stockholm's museums are free. When taking two little ones it is hard to invest the cash and the effort in a museum and then there is a meltdown or something. This way we stay as long as it works and then go. Yesterday we shopped around for cell phones and camping equipment. The cell phone dilemma is confusing. We are getting different information from different sources. So, no phone yet.

I think Rowan will walk soon. He is cruising along side furniture.

Here is map of Stockholm. Just the city, no burbs. We show where our current abode is and where we will be moving:

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the summer.

Yasmiene

Simning, Stadshuset, Skeppsholmen och Saniya

We had a wonderful weekend. We went to the city hall where they hold the Nobel prize awards and banquet every year. An impressive number of bricks. We had lunch on the lawn outside among sunbathers and tourists. The next day we walked around Skeppsholmen which is a small island in the center of Stockholm. There we went to the Östasiatiska Museet and looked at some photos of children from Asia. Saniya also took some pictures.

We also went swimming last weekend. The water was not particularly warm and Rowan wasn't too happy about it.

Rowan eating sand and swimming at Brunnsviken


The cute couple strolling along


A great view from the city hall. Across the water is Gamla Stan.


Rowan had the Gold room all to himself


Saniya looking out at the water


Our picnic spot


Saniya's first picture


Saniya's self portrait

Hello again...

Well, it has been awhile so I thought I would share our last week with you. It has been a hard one. Really, I think it is more about having a baby and 3 year old than living in Sweden. At least for me anyways. Everyone speaks English here and people are friendly and helpful. So many people may English it may be hard to learn Swedish. We will try though.

We are considering a Swedish school for Saniya. There is a bilingual school in which she is on the waiting list. There is an English speaking school near our new apt., but I am not so excited about that. The woman that owns the apartment we are renting said with in 3 months children can understand and begin speaking in a new language. She has an 8 year old she will put in an Italian school. They are moving to Florence for a year. We signed the papers to move to our new apt yesterday. Yeah! I will have Rob put a map on of where we live now and where we will be moving. It will be really great and there is a wading pool near and lots of greenery and walks.

We are researching where to go on vacation with our 2 week window in July. The institute closes for the last 2 weeks in July. I think most people go on vacation for the entire month of July. We are contemplating a biking /camping trip around the island of Gotland, south of Stockholm. It looks fun. Are we crazy to even contemplate that? The other option is the Baltic states. This is more going city to city with a jaunt to the beach. It would be more transport related activities like planes, trains and buses. That feels like a lot of work too. Hmmmm...

We opened a bank account this week. There accounts do not give you checks. Everything is done on the internet to pay bill and such. It was kind of different! We received our person numbers (like a Social Security card) and hope to get cell phones this week.

We are out sightseeing or going on walks every weekend. I think Rob and I are exhausted and would love to stay home all day. But, it is so unrealistic with our tiny apt. and the kid combo". So this weekend we are going to either:

the Nobel museum
http://www.nobelmuseum.se/zino.aspx?lan=en-us

or the "Stadshuset" (city hall)
http://www.stockholm.se/Extern/Templates/InfoPage.aspx?id=34155

Their city hall is on the water and really incredible. It is where they hold the nobel prize awards and dinner. It is one of those tourist places that people say is worthwhile on a visit. We'll let you know!

The weather is great and I actually feel I have acclimated to the long days. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer at home. We miss everyone. Talk to ya'll soon!

Yasmiene