Babel

Yesterday was an eventful day. I went to town at two to meet my friend Amanda but she was one hour and 45 minutes late :( so I went around and did some shopping. Nothing special though, just tights and some other things. Then we met up and we went for coffee at espresso house. I then went to Rita's place for dinner, got ready and biked to kajsa's where there was a party. We all got drunk haha and then some of went to babel. It was a lot of fun but I do not feel good today :( but I am getting better now. Seeing my friend Ebba tonight so that'll be fun😃

Valentines day

Jesper tagged me in a link on Facebook where we can win a romantic night at a fancy hotel for valentines day. Whoever writes the best love poem wins and we thought it would be funny that the one non couple wins. Haha we would have a blast with the free champagne and food. We have to win. I just wrote a quick poem now while I'm waiting for my friend because If we both participate in the competition we have a better chance of winning haha. 

                      Jesper poem 

                         My poem 

Questions about my move

Why have you chosen to go to university in Australia?
I've chosen Australia mostly because I wanted to live somewhere exotic. I was sick of the place I've been living at now and I felt like I needed a change. Australia has a really good reputation and it is an amazing country and I feel like I will get to see and experience a lot by living there.

How did you find the university?
I was at an exhibition that was set up by an organisation called Study Abroad about a year ago with a couple of friends. We mostly just went because it sounded like a good idea and none of us really knew what we wanted to do with our lives. We looked at a bunch of pictures from different places and spoke to different people. But when I saw "University of the Sunshine Coast" I just thought it had a beautiful name so I asked about it and looked into it a bit more on my computer when I got home later and it sounded incredible. I had a really good feeling about it and applied almost instantly.

What will you be studying? Why?
I'll be doing a bachelor in Creative Writing. I love both reading and writing and it gives me a lot of opportunities in the future.

What do you wish to accomplish with your education?
There are so many things I want to do. Creative Writing is a wide education so I want to try everything from writing a novel to writing poetry. But I think my biggest dream within writing at this point in my life is to write my own TV show.

For how long will you be staying?
The education is three years and I'll be there for that entire time. Who knows what happens after that; whether I stay longer or find some other place is a mystery.

How will you support yourself?
I get money from CSN and I've taken a loan from there too. I am also going to look for a part time job but I want to get into my studies first.

What are you looking forward to the most?
A lot of things. Starting uni of course. Good weather, cute surfer boys haha, the beach, the freedom, meeting new people.

What will you miss the most?
My friends. And Swedish candy haha!

Young at heart

My favorite movie of all time is The Lion King. Every time I see it, I get chills down my spine, literally. It is an incredible movie and it had such an impact on my childhood, I can never explain what it means to me. Disney is the shit! For real. Yes there are some good new ones; Tangled, Frozen etc but there is just something about the ones that I watched growing up that no other movies could compete with. Pocahontas, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and so many more. I've watched all these now when I am older too. But today I was listening to The Lion King soundtrack on YouTube which I do every now and then. When I later look at what YouTube had recommended for me to listen to next, I saw a bunch of music tracks from Disney movies that I haven't in like 12 years that I had almost forgotten about. Man, I am in such a mood now to watch all these movies that I loved as a kid. It's crazy how memories of something that small can just come back to you suddenly and mean a lot. When I have kids of my own I am definitely showing these movies to them, and as they grow up I'll continue just to prove to them that the most important thing to not loose while growing up, is the child you once were.

Anastasia

The Prince of Egypt

The Little Mermaid

The Swan Princess

(Not a Disney movie but I still love it)

Mulan

My inspiration

It's my idols birthday today. Or it's past midnight so technically it was yesterday. But ellen degeneres! She turned 57 and she looks at least ten years younger! She is the funniest woman who ever lived. The most beautiful and good hearted. I watch her show every single day and look up to her so much. If I would ever be on her show, i would spend the entire time crying of stars truck! She's absolutely amazing! 

Famous Phrases

The grass is always greener on the other side 

This is probably the most famous saying in several languages. I think it is very good expression actually. There are so many people who live in their own little bubble they don't know what they are missing, and they complain about life. The grass is always greener, it doesn't have to be so dull for everyone. Or when someone is depressed or is going through something, it always gets better. You just have to fight until the very end because it will get greener. 

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck

I think this is true to an extent. People act out the way they want to so it becomes true for people only watching on the outside, but when one digs a little deeper in a person, there is more to the person than what is normally shown.

Blood is thicker than water

No, well yes but I don't think that's an excuse to choose family first. It is all about respect and who's treated you the best. I feel like in many of my situations I would rather talk to my friends about things but at the end of the day, it is in fact family that won't change but friends do. But I find that a friend can become family too and you don't share blood there. People who aren't treated fairly by family shouldn't choose blood over water just because they happen to be born with a bad seed.

Everything happens for a reason

No. I do not believe this is true. There is no reason for a girl to get raped, or for someone to be brutally murdered or for a healthy young person to get cancer or some other sickness. 

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened

Yes, this is a beautiful phrase. Because no matter what someone has been through, no matter how hard it has been, it is the reason for that person being who they are today. And when someone looses something precious, it is important to remember it as something amazing while it lasted because that is the only way to happiness.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

I don't about this one actually. I'd say keep them both close because no matter what happens with the enemy, you will need your friends there at the end of the day. But I don't personally have any enemies so I wouldn't really know.

It ain't over til' it's over

How is this even a saying? It is so like duuuh.... Of course it isn't over until it is over. 

What glitters isn't always gold

Yes, this can be very true. Not everything is as it seems. Something can seem glamorous and wonderful on the outside but then on the inside it's just dark and cold. I guess that don't judge a book by it's cover works both ways,

Actions speak louder than words

Well yeah. Talk is just talk most of the times and actually doing is what counts. Like if I went around and told everyone what it is like jumping bungee jump without ever doing it, my words mean nothing but I have done it which was an action and I think that my experience speaks for itself. 

Experience is the best teacher

Absolutely. Someone can stand there in front of me and tell me all the basic facts but I won't really know the truth about something until I see for myself. Experiencing something in real life is the only way that you can truly get a feeling for something, no text book can give you that. 

You don't know what you have until it is gone

I think that being able to really live in the moment and cherish what one has, is a very rare gift. People often don't realize how lucky they are to have something until it is gone. That's why memories are so great, because they give you a way to always hold on to something special and love it at the same time.

Once a cheater always a cheater

Well I believe that someone who cheats is just too immature for a relationship, and if they cheat on one person they will most likely follow the pattern they have created themselves. But I am also a believer in soul mates and when a "cheater" meets that one person, I think they will treat that person differently. I guess there is a thin line between never and always. Just like you should never say never, you shouldn't either say always. 

Beatrice

I'll be arriving at the Sunshine Coast on the 22nd of February, the 23rd is orientation day and then later my darling Bea whom I missed so much is coming. She is currently searching for a job at the Sunshine Coast and together we are trying to find a place to live. It is perfect! We have lived together before so we know we work well together, we are both social so I don't have the least bit of fear that she is going to distract me from meeting others, and the other way around. I am so excited. However, finding a good house near the university is hard. Both of us keep searching the Internet like crazy and there are a lot of great ones that have a good prize. It is even cheaper for us now that we are two and can split the prize. But I feel like it would just be easier if we just went down there and fixed all this in person so I think that maybe we will do that.

I've actually missed Bea a ton, I've realized. We are so much alike but so different all at the same time. And when we see each other in Australia, we will have a been to 6 countries together which is more than I have with any other friend and that is amazing. When we first met however in August of 2012, we did not like each other at all. I can't remember why actually, but we stayed out of each others way and I don't think we ever exchanged a single word to each other. Then in January 2013 a whole group of people from school had watched a horror movie and were discussing ghosts and other supernatural things when Bea and I both somehow ended up in the discussion and I realized that Bea has the exact same opinions as me and we talked for a really long time about it. A few days after that we got drunk together which was real team building and before we knew it, we were hanging out on regular basis. We went to Uganda and Rwanda together, we met up in Sweden as much as possible, went to Copenhagen and now, we happen to be in Australia at the same time. So great, I can't wait to see her!!!!

Movies and games

I went to kajsa's today. When I got there Rita was already there so we cooked dinner just in time for Jesper to come. It was spicy but good. We then watched John Tucker Must Die which we all had seen millions of times before but it's so funny. Then we played twister haha lots of laughter happened there. Alma and Sophia came later on and we played pictionary! That was so much fun! We then watched Big Hero 6. I didn't want to see it at first but they convinced me and boy am I glad they did because it was THE BEST MOVIE IVE EVER SEEN!!!!!! Oh my god loooooove! Watch it! Whoever is reading this, watch it!!!!! Anyway I took the last bus home and it's like four in the morning now so I am going to try to fall asleep now. Byeeehh!

Best TV gal pals

Gossip Girl- Serena and Blair

Beverly Hills, 90210- Brenda and Kelly

 Buffy the Vampire Slayer- Buffy and Willow

Grey's Anatomy- Meredith and Cristina

 New Girl- Jess and Cece

Orange is the New Black- Poussey and Taystee

The OC- Summer and Marissa

One Tree Hill- Peyton and Brooke

That 70's Show- Jackie and Donna

Thursday night

My friend mandy came over last night for dinner. We had tacos!!! So good! Then we didn't know what to do so we just spontaneously went to malmö for free drinks at this bar. We bumped into Jesper and two girls Vicky and Greta there. We drank and talked and just enjoyed ourselves until mandy and I went back to my place, ate cookies and watched movies. 

Time can't go by soon enough

I am so excited about moving now I think I might explooooode!!! The realization that I am actually moving away might not have actually hit me yet because I don't feel the slightest bit nervous or scared, or maybe it is because I've moved a million times but at least right now all I feel is excitement! The beach, the sun, the hot surfer dudes. Time can absolutely fly by right now! And it isn't just any country I am going to, I am moving to Australia. Don't mean to brag but how cool is that? The country of kangaroos and other amazing animals. I actually told a guy a few days ago that I am moving to Australia and his response was "What's with the death wish?" Haha don't know how to respond to that. But I am extremely happy that my life is actually going places now, that I have three whole years to look forward too. I wonder what my life will be like in three years, an interesting thought, hmm.
I however can't stop looking at video's and photo's of the Sunshine Coast and my near future university. It looks absolutely amazing and I have only heard wonderful things about the place! If anyone has ever been there I would be more than happy if anyone wants to tell me a bit about it :)

Less than a month away before I am sitting on a plane to the land down under :D

Homeguuuurl

My homeguuuurl is back from Seattle. After living there for like 7 months I am glad she's back and I get to see her before I move. She came over yesterday. It was great seeing her again. Wiiieeee! We did all sorts of things last night, we were everywhere and just went crazy like we usually do together. We have decided to meet again next week so I am excited!!😃

The shooting

Almost two years ago there was a shooting right outside my school. I blogged about it then but I was recently asked about it so I thought a trip down memory lane to a terrifying yet thrilling moment would be appropriate all this time later. It isn't the most normal thing to hear gunfire for so long right by you and even though I got over it fast, I realized later on that my sensitivity to loud bang sounds is a type of trauma caused by the fearful event and is now unwillingly in me.

It was 2013, sometime between March and the end of April if I remember correctly. The sun had gone down for the day and everyone was safe and sound in school (for those who don't know I went to a boarding school in Nairobi). Some were in the library studying, some were smoking in the smoking area, and others were off doing other things. I personally was sitting by the window of my friend Cornelia's room. Isabelle was in the chair next to me and Cornelia was sitting on her bed towards us. From what I can recall we were just talking casually about the night before like we normally would on a late Sunday afternoon. The window was open and we were laughing about something when suddenly we hear 6 loud bang noises outside the window right next to us. Our first reaction was to throw ourselves to the door that was on the other side of the room. We crumbled together as close to the door as possible and screamed. It didn't take long until we realized what the sounds were and our next reaction was to open the door and get out of the room when more shots were fired. Everyone else in our corridor ran out of their rooms in panic and automatically we all threw ourselves on the ground. The door to the balcony was open so we could see out. As the many guns kept firing over and over again, we saw how our guards ran away from the gate and hid behind one of our school buses. I remember so well how fast my heart was beating as me and the other girls were laying in fear beside one another. After a couple of minutes we see Antoine, our boarding parent, running out of the cafeteria screaming to everyone to stay down and far away from windows. It took about ten minutes when we realized that the shooting wasn't actually going on in school, but right on the other side of the fence which calmed us a little, but not nearly enough to let go of one another. The gunfire kept going on and on for at least thirty minutes and not until the very last minutes of the shooting had we learned to relax enough to get off the floor. Right at the end my very good friend Bea ran in to our corridor and told us that she has been trying to regain courage to run in here from her room where she had been alone. We all decided to sit down next to one another to feel safer until it had quiet down which it eventually did. A few minutes of silence told us that it was all over. Everyone called home to their parents afterward to tell the traumatic story. For about a week after that, the shooting was all everyone could talk about. There had been bullets that were shot into the mural by the smoking area which had led to panic for everyone that was sitting there. Others had been drinking tea on the balcony above the cafeteria and had been dragged in by Antoine seconds after the first six bullets. It wasn't until a few days later that we heard that there had been a fight between a group of thief's, and a full police car. Four people died and several bullets had hit the walls around the school. Of course rumours were spread all over Nairobi. Just a few weeks later I was at my friends house with a couple of his friends and they had heard that bullets had actually gotten in to the school and a bunch of people from the school had died. Thankfully that wasn't the case at all, everyone from my school remained safe and very much alive. All the scars that it left us with was a huge shock, and in my case a small fear of loud noises. 

I am so thankful and glad that the situation for us wasn't worse than it was and even though we might have thought at first that the shooting was actually going on at campus, which wasn't the case, we all live to tell about it. It was definitely an experience and just knowing how afraid I was then, I can't imagine how it must be for those who have actually been through a real shooting. Truly horrifying!

Right outside my school. The guards had been sitting in that little house when the shooting occurred

I was in the first corridor to the left and the smoking area is right between the building and the bushy fence

Click HERE for watch a video that Isabelle took at the very end of the shooting when we had all calmed down

Two recipes

1. Entrecote Steak with rösti, stir-fried vegetables and garlic butter

• Put out as much butter as you eat in a little bowl and let it stand out so it softens
• Melt some more butter, not too much and let it cool down a little
• Chop 2-4 potatoes into tiny pieces and mix it with an even amount of grated cheese. Add the melted butter to the mix
• Heat up a pan with some oil and pour the potato mix on it and flip it after about 5 minutes like a pancake
• Heat some oil up in a wok. Chop 1 red onion, about 3 mushrooms and half a broccoli and throw it in the hot oil until it has softened
• Marinade the steak with some olive oil, BBQ powder and chili pepper
• Heat a pan up with oil and put the steak on there and let it fry for about two minutes on each side (medium rare)
• Crush one large garlic into the softened butter and add some salt to it, mix it all together 
• Heat the oven up and place a piece of goat cheese in there for about ten minutes
• Cover the cheese with honey and walnuts
• Sprinkle the plate with some salt before placing the piece of cheese on the top
• Enjoy your meal!
  
  

2. Butterfly chop with risotto

• Heat some oil in a saucepan
• Chop one small yellow onion and place it in the oil and let it glans up
• Add 1.5dl risotto rice and 1dl white wine to the onion and let it heat up
• Add about 2dl broth to the mix and let it sink into the rice, keep adding broth until the risotto is completely soft and good to eat
• When off the stove, add cheese; either parmesan or goat cheese and sprinkle with some salt
• Marinade the chop with chili pepper, mustard and hot taco sauce
• Heat a pan up with some butter or oil
• Chop some mushrooms and let them fry
• Fry the chop for a couple of minutes on both sides, make sure it is completely done
• Ready to eat!
  

Two night stand

Helluuuu guys! I just got back home from Line's place. After a day filled with tiredness and nausea, I forced myself out of bed and it was not a pretty view in the mirror. I had like mascara down to my lips and eyeshadow all over my face so I thought that a shower was in need before I hopped on the bus. Line met me at the bus stop by her place but before that I met a friend from Kenya on the bus which was fun. Line and I went grocery shopping for pasta salad. We then went to her place, cooked and ate. Talked about life and all that. We then  we ate nuts, drank some sparkly wine and watched the movie "two night stand". It was really good. Perfect girl movie for a cosy night. We then went for a walk and talked a bit about everything. How things change, back in Kenya, Line and I would never even dream about hanging out and now she's the person from there I see the most. Little did we know then how great we would actually get along. The ride home was a journey. On the first bus there was a couple in their 60's that were like dressed as hard rockers being extremely sexual towards each other and at one point it sounded as if the woman had an orgasm. It was gross! I couldn't help but to laugh hysterically to myself when I got of the bus. The second bus literally smelled of so much gas and there was a boy holding a lighter and I was just thinking "please don't play around with the lighter and blow this bus up" so I was a bit scared the whole way back. But I am home now in bed so I am going to watch something before going to sleep :)  

Hangover day

Good morning. I am laying in bed realllllly tired. Last night I met Rita, Kajsa and Sophia for dinner and drinks but when Rita and Sophia wanted to go home Kajsa and I wanted to be out longer so we went to all sorts of bars and then ended up at babel, a nightclub. It was fun! It has been FOREVER since I was out last, besides the time in holland though. But I enjoyed myself :) 

All sorts of questions

How old are you? 
20
How old do you feel?
20
What did you do today?
Work out, cook dinner, took a bath
What movie did you last see?
You're Next

Who did you last call?
My friend Amanda Thulin
Are you addicted to anything?
PASTA
Are you afraid of blood?
No, I wouldn't say that
Which is the dominant color in your closet?
Probably black
When did you wake up today?
Sometime between 11 and 12
Which is your favorite season?
Summer all the way!

Which is the worst country you have ever been to?
There isn't one
Where in the world would you want to be right this second?
On a sandy beach somewhere getting a tan
What are you listening to right now?
Kashmir- Led Zeppelin
Have you ever had an operation? 
Yes, a knee operation
What are some things that you will most likely find in your fridge?
Probably butter, vegetables and juice
Who is your favorite artist of all time?
MICHAEL JACKSON!!

What mood are you in at the moment?
No specific mood, calm maybe?
Which continents have you been to?
Europe, Africa, Asia, America, Australia
Do you snore?
Guilty as charged
Which jobs have you had?
Babysitter, cashier at a store, tour guide, personal assistant, daycare teacher, volunteered at a few orphanages and schools in different slums
How do you usually dress?
Now mostly just jeans and a normal top. During the summer I usually wear dresses

What's your zodiac sign?
Cancer
What's your favorite type of candy?
Liquorice I think
Which words did you last say?
"Which words did you last say" when I read the question out loud
What was your favorite lesson in school?
English I think
What are you wearing right now?
A nightgown
How many times have you moved?
20000
Are you a morning or night person?
Night person
Have you ever skinny dipped?
Yes, hihi!
What did your life look like ten years ago?
I was ten years old and I think I lived in Helsingborg then.

Have you ever been arrested?
Nope!
Where do you put your phone when your going to bed?
In my charger next to my bed usually
What was the last thing you ate?
Ice cream
Who is the world's most beautiful woman?
There are so many beautiful women
Are you shy?
Not at all
What was the last concert you were on?
Hmm.. American Authors maybe?

What is your middle name?
Brita Kristina
Do you have feelings inside you that no one knows about?
Doesn't everyone?
Do you have pets?
No :(
Do you want to get married?
Someday I assume
What time is it?
23.53
Have you ever performed in front of an audience?
Yup!

Have you ever seen a dead body?
Unfortunately yes.
What color is your house?
Black
Do you often argue with your friends?
No, like never
Have you ever been in court?
Nein
Have you ever snowboard?
No
Who do you admire and why?
I admire lots of people. Can't think of a specific name now though
Do you have any nicknames?
Yes a bunch, Tinii, Teenz, Marta Sparta etc
What are your plans for the weekend?
Going out for dinner and drinks with Rita, Kajsa and Sophia on Friday and on Saturday having dinner at Line's house
Are you good at cooking food?
I like to think so :)
Do you have any tattoos?
Yup and many more to come!

Did you cry today?
No, I didn't
What are you going to do after answering these questions?
Going to bed Zzzzz