Death Valley
Pretty spontanious I will go with three German girls to Death Valley National park over the weekend. We will stay at a camp site for one night. Then I've never hanged out with any of them it will be interesting.
So from tomorrow night I will be away for a couple of nights and probably without a computer - but don't worry. I'll return!
I'm excited!!!
So from tomorrow night I will be away for a couple of nights and probably without a computer - but don't worry. I'll return!
I'm excited!!!
Switch
From now I will be responsible for the two oldest girls in the morning. That is because my hostmum begged me to switch so she can take D. Previous mornings has been a pain for her then her daughters and she don't work out together during this early hour. Just screaming and tons of negative attitude. I'm glad to help out - but in the end the hardest part will be to have her (the hostmum) out of the house on time...
I will share how it went tomorrow.
I will share how it went tomorrow.
Just a cozy calm day
Another smooth nice morning and less chatting at the bus stop (yesterday I spoke to a very nice Swedish woman, who has her own store with knitted clothes here, right on Beverly blvd). So I came home, did some phone calls, wrote some e-mails and then the best of all. I talked to my super sweet second cousin Sara fore more than an hour. Ohh I love her soo much! We had such a hard time to hang up. She is one of them who I really miss badly from Sweden. You can't find a more caring person!
Then I went to the gym - did some machines and I was all set for the day and went back home. On my way I picked up a menu for an Indian restaurant I will try out. I ate lunch and then just hux flux I felt so tired so I decided to give myself time to nap for an hour. Felt much better after that. Then I wrote a post card for grandma and of course I forgot to mail it. I better do it as one of the first things in the morning.
Because D has been such a good girl and sweetie pie for a long period of time I decided to reward her. So I brought her to "The Farmers Market" and she got to choose three cookies/threats and we shared a Pinkberry Frozen Yoghurt with fresh pineapple, mango and strawberries. She is soo nice. Afterwards we sat by "The Grove's" beautiful water fountain for a pretty long time before we RAN home :-) Good Exercise D!
Then I went to the gym - did some machines and I was all set for the day and went back home. On my way I picked up a menu for an Indian restaurant I will try out. I ate lunch and then just hux flux I felt so tired so I decided to give myself time to nap for an hour. Felt much better after that. Then I wrote a post card for grandma and of course I forgot to mail it. I better do it as one of the first things in the morning.
Because D has been such a good girl and sweetie pie for a long period of time I decided to reward her. So I brought her to "The Farmers Market" and she got to choose three cookies/threats and we shared a Pinkberry Frozen Yoghurt with fresh pineapple, mango and strawberries. She is soo nice. Afterwards we sat by "The Grove's" beautiful water fountain for a pretty long time before we RAN home :-) Good Exercise D!
Love, love and love
I don't know how much I enjoy being with this six-year old super sweet and super smart girl. She's just amazing. I feel that I know her so well that I will have such a hard time to leave all the healthy routines we have. Everything works soo smoothly and even if kids are different, I feel like I could make all kids this easy. I will absolutely enjoy having own kids one day - it's really a pleasure and they say so smart things and ask so interesting questions. They knows the limits, they like rules - they respect you if you threat them and behave like you want them to behave. They're learning by playing and instead of always want something they can pretend they have it - oh kids are gold worth and I'm sorry for them who hasn't got the same experience as I have. This life even puts me in good routines and using good manners. What a nice person you will meet when I come home.
"Her hugs, make me forget all the things me bugs.
Her kisses want's me to fulfill her beautiful wishes.
Her strong passion for love, sends God from above.
I'm sure I'm in the Paradise"
"Her hugs, make me forget all the things me bugs.
Her kisses want's me to fulfill her beautiful wishes.
Her strong passion for love, sends God from above.
I'm sure I'm in the Paradise"
I will die, I'm dying
After class (hmm we skipped a part of it - superbad, hehe) Chio, Emma and I went to Santa Monica and we had a lunch att the restaurant on second I don't remember the name of. Like almost always I took the most spicy dish I could find. Some kind of gourmet chili. Ok, fine the "soup" was rated to be very spicy (7/10) but I had to add some Tabasco anyways. I guess I'm crazy. Then when we had been talking about that I must be different, who can have that spicy stuff - I bite this green chili pepper. The first part was fine, so I took another piece - and I got the seed in my mouth and throat! Burning hot! I felt soo bad, drank tons of water, ate an apple and my tummy still feels strange. So now we know - neither I can deal with everything!
After lunch I could announce that I survived and we took some pics and walked on the beach.
After lunch I could announce that I survived and we took some pics and walked on the beach.
Great places for lunch
You might have seen that I often mention where I've been eating and I always want to share those experiences so other can try. LA is full of great ones so it's hard to not dine out. Here are some examples I want to list:
Try out the very cheap but pretty fancy thai restaurant on Beverly blvd (almost in the corner of Fairfax) kalled "JOOM Bangkok café". It's just $5.99 for a whole lunch with rice, salad, your own thai option and a complimentary dessert. Soo worth the money.
You can also try "Larchmonts Noah's bagels" where the cheap chili soup ($3.89) tastes delicious.
"Dough boys" on Highland/Lexington is valuable. The meals you order are at least two servings so you can really take a to-go and have for your next meal. I strongly recommend the chicken, chili and bean soup. Also about just $7
"Soupplantation" - Buffét with fresh salads, soups, bakery and desserts. Everyone loves it, young, old, healthy persons, junkies, vegetarians and meatlovers. The lunchbuffé with cuopon and tax is less than $7.50
"Todai" - The best sushibuffé I've tried, Guess Kado might be good too (never tried). If you love sushi and knows the prices you understand how much value you get when you buy a lunch buffé for about $20 (incl. tax, tips) mon-fri with both appetizers, awesome sushi, hot seafood, crepes and desserts. You roll out - I always have too choose either app and sushi or app and hot food. You never go hungry from this place.
"Mishima" - Japanese food in the corner of 3rd and La Cienega. A good hang out place with good choices for about $10
"Chao Krung" - Great Thai lunch buffé really nice, high recommended place on 111 N. Fairfax avenue abou $10
"The Natural Café" - Organic, Cheap, healthy and nice staff, tried it in Santa Barbara but they have other locations too. But if you are there - try it out! They have all kind of food and great smoothies!
"Lulu's" on Beverly and about one block west of La brea, a place for trendy people, great food - not that cheap but not expensive either. Smaller servings but great for chatting and hanging out...
There is also a great Indian restaurant in San Diego, I don't remember the name of it but it's on the opposite side/across the street from Hard Rock Cafe in San Diego. They have like a Indian lunch buffé for a great price and the best Naan bread.
If you just need to find something quickly don't forget the salad and food bars at Ralphs, Whole Foods, Albertssons etc - they're great! Especially Whole foods on 3rd/Fairfax.
More places will come... and maybe I can share some of the less unhealthy too...
Try out the very cheap but pretty fancy thai restaurant on Beverly blvd (almost in the corner of Fairfax) kalled "JOOM Bangkok café". It's just $5.99 for a whole lunch with rice, salad, your own thai option and a complimentary dessert. Soo worth the money.
You can also try "Larchmonts Noah's bagels" where the cheap chili soup ($3.89) tastes delicious.
"Dough boys" on Highland/Lexington is valuable. The meals you order are at least two servings so you can really take a to-go and have for your next meal. I strongly recommend the chicken, chili and bean soup. Also about just $7
"Soupplantation" - Buffét with fresh salads, soups, bakery and desserts. Everyone loves it, young, old, healthy persons, junkies, vegetarians and meatlovers. The lunchbuffé with cuopon and tax is less than $7.50
"Todai" - The best sushibuffé I've tried, Guess Kado might be good too (never tried). If you love sushi and knows the prices you understand how much value you get when you buy a lunch buffé for about $20 (incl. tax, tips) mon-fri with both appetizers, awesome sushi, hot seafood, crepes and desserts. You roll out - I always have too choose either app and sushi or app and hot food. You never go hungry from this place.
"Mishima" - Japanese food in the corner of 3rd and La Cienega. A good hang out place with good choices for about $10
"Chao Krung" - Great Thai lunch buffé really nice, high recommended place on 111 N. Fairfax avenue abou $10
"The Natural Café" - Organic, Cheap, healthy and nice staff, tried it in Santa Barbara but they have other locations too. But if you are there - try it out! They have all kind of food and great smoothies!
"Lulu's" on Beverly and about one block west of La brea, a place for trendy people, great food - not that cheap but not expensive either. Smaller servings but great for chatting and hanging out...
There is also a great Indian restaurant in San Diego, I don't remember the name of it but it's on the opposite side/across the street from Hard Rock Cafe in San Diego. They have like a Indian lunch buffé for a great price and the best Naan bread.
If you just need to find something quickly don't forget the salad and food bars at Ralphs, Whole Foods, Albertssons etc - they're great! Especially Whole foods on 3rd/Fairfax.
More places will come... and maybe I can share some of the less unhealthy too...
How are you all?
Then my day has been just about doing some househould stuff, a great lunch with Emma & Emma and a calm afternoon/evening with Deanna + enjoyed the sun - I wonder what about you.
I can see that I have plenty off readers but then there are never comments. Show up, tell me how do you feel, how's everything in Stockholm, Värmdö, in Australia, London, Umeå, Sweden in general, Linköping, Finspång, home? Rumors? I'm sooo curious!
I can see that I have plenty off readers but then there are never comments. Show up, tell me how do you feel, how's everything in Stockholm, Värmdö, in Australia, London, Umeå, Sweden in general, Linköping, Finspång, home? Rumors? I'm sooo curious!
Grass valley, way up north
I'm invited to go with my host family to a Bat Mitzvah up there the weekend the week after I come back from Hawaii. Should I go? Sounds like lots of fun and I guess I'm not going to be working because I have to pay for my own flight - or should I stay home and enjoy my time alone?
Easter party
The next holiday which is coming up in the Christian calendar is Easter (here you really get the knowledge that the calendar is not the same for everyone in this world). As I hoped SACC (Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce) is putting something together. It will be traditional Swedish food, games, competitions, face painting for children and other fun stuff. Hosted by SACC and sponsored by SWEA and The Swedish School of Los Angeles all Swedes and other people will gather at Will Rogers State Park Saturday, March 22 and there is no question about if I will be there :-P
Ps. If anyone had thought about sending me a "Easter egg", I can buy them here at "World Market" - but the Karamellkungen candy is gold worth!
Ps. If anyone had thought about sending me a "Easter egg", I can buy them here at "World Market" - but the Karamellkungen candy is gold worth!
Happy happy
Today it was sunny just like weather.com had promised! I woke up and jumped out of bed. Made myself and D breakfast - drove her to her bus stop and started to do laundry. Then I ride the bicycle up to the gym (God know how fast =D) and I got my abs even tighter from a great Pilates class :-) Oh I love that gym soo much.
Afterwards I went for a lunch with Hannah and Emma at, guess what - Soupplantation (of course), then I went back home and chatted with my baby Linn. We have some crazy plans for my last month (we will for sure travel around the country) and it seems like my return date will be September 1st or 2nd, Because I should be in LA for M's Bat Mitzvah. So get started to plan my "Welcome home party". Time passes so fast, so it will feel just like a short while before I'm there talking to you guys. Another date is April 2nd or 3rd when I might go to Hawaii for a week. Isn't that just wonderful. Even if that stupid thing bothers me I love my life again! Obviously my dips are not that deep, I get out of them pretty fast or then I just know how to do :-)
That's not all - I have finally also my studying plans for the fall semester under control. It will be just on-line/distance classes. Physics B, Mathematics E and English C at NTI-Nordic Technics Instititute and Finnish 1 at another school and then French 3 on Värmdö. Pretty good, isn't it? I did also get to know that the adults education, as we call it in Sweden, has so many different language classes. So when I get the time in the future I will study Spanish, Chinese, Russian, German and more Italian :-) I will also force myself to give myself time to take a Spannish class here - you really have the oppurtunity to use it, then you meet no-English speaking Mexicans here, all the time.
Afterwards I went for a lunch with Hannah and Emma at, guess what - Soupplantation (of course), then I went back home and chatted with my baby Linn. We have some crazy plans for my last month (we will for sure travel around the country) and it seems like my return date will be September 1st or 2nd, Because I should be in LA for M's Bat Mitzvah. So get started to plan my "Welcome home party". Time passes so fast, so it will feel just like a short while before I'm there talking to you guys. Another date is April 2nd or 3rd when I might go to Hawaii for a week. Isn't that just wonderful. Even if that stupid thing bothers me I love my life again! Obviously my dips are not that deep, I get out of them pretty fast or then I just know how to do :-)
That's not all - I have finally also my studying plans for the fall semester under control. It will be just on-line/distance classes. Physics B, Mathematics E and English C at NTI-Nordic Technics Instititute and Finnish 1 at another school and then French 3 on Värmdö. Pretty good, isn't it? I did also get to know that the adults education, as we call it in Sweden, has so many different language classes. So when I get the time in the future I will study Spanish, Chinese, Russian, German and more Italian :-) I will also force myself to give myself time to take a Spannish class here - you really have the oppurtunity to use it, then you meet no-English speaking Mexicans here, all the time.
Love you mother <3
All since I talked to my mum yesterday I've felt so much better! Thank you mother! I was a kind of planning to attend a service at a Presbyterian church yesterday night, but because of the rainy weather I didn't feel it was worth it and cancelled. Anyways I went to bed pretty early and woke up this morning calm and relaxed. I got a ride up to the gym where I could see all the preparations for "The Oscar Awards". I went swimming for nearly an hour, walked on the step machine, stretched and did this amazing yoga class. I can't tell how good I felt afterwards and a ride even back home was wonderful. I had some lunch and now I'm sitting here planning on what to do next. I think, I might call somebody to see what's up or just walk myself to "The Grove". Tonight I should somehow supervise "The big happening" because I'm soo close to it. Maybe here now when my family allows television for a while :-) That would be nicer, then it might be cold and rainy at the time everything's going on.
Me and Annika at "The Grove" when she was here
Ps. I would like to advertise for the Living LA-team also writing about LA. For right now they have published a movie from "The Grove" so check them out. The address is http://livingla.blogg.se. They are some friends of mine here. For you guys who know Swedish and want to read more about my life before I started with this blogg, contact me and I give you some more info.
Ps. I would like to advertise for the Living LA-team also writing about LA. For right now they have published a movie from "The Grove" so check them out. The address is http://livingla.blogg.se. They are some friends of mine here. For you guys who know Swedish and want to read more about my life before I started with this blogg, contact me and I give you some more info.
Oh no! Are you cutting my hair!?
I'm sorry, I'm sorry! D looks at me with fear. Then she starts crying, then she becomes angry and aggressive against her father who was next to her. Such a good reaction anyways, it's the same when it comes to the seatbelt - she realizes how wrong she has handled and doesn't know how to deal with it.
That was how her styling-my-hair ended. After brushing, lots of gel in my hair, braids, pony tails and other hair do's she wants to solve a problem - the hair which is sticking up. I was sitting, relaxed of having her pulling my hair when I heard some strange noises above my head. I reacted like my titel and she isn't used that I yell at her, At All, so everytime I do she takes it very seriously and usully says that she hates me (and I correct her that she hates when I yell at her). I gave her a short lecture and we discussed it like grown ups and I decided to give her lunch straight away to have her in a better mood. It took a while for her to calm down though. She's really smart and I love her so much, I can't even tell.
The rest of the day I have been sitting in front of this thing looking at pics on Facebook, phone called my mom, chatted with Linn and enjoyed a dinner with parts of this family I'm living with. I do really enjoy the talks we have Sarah - we have more in common than being big sisters.
My hair dresser
That was how her styling-my-hair ended. After brushing, lots of gel in my hair, braids, pony tails and other hair do's she wants to solve a problem - the hair which is sticking up. I was sitting, relaxed of having her pulling my hair when I heard some strange noises above my head. I reacted like my titel and she isn't used that I yell at her, At All, so everytime I do she takes it very seriously and usully says that she hates me (and I correct her that she hates when I yell at her). I gave her a short lecture and we discussed it like grown ups and I decided to give her lunch straight away to have her in a better mood. It took a while for her to calm down though. She's really smart and I love her so much, I can't even tell.
The rest of the day I have been sitting in front of this thing looking at pics on Facebook, phone called my mom, chatted with Linn and enjoyed a dinner with parts of this family I'm living with. I do really enjoy the talks we have Sarah - we have more in common than being big sisters.
My hair dresser
Depressing Saturday
Today I wish I was the little girl, the little girl back home in Sweden, the girl who was one in her class of Heroes, the busy girl who could never get into hard situations. I wish I was working with E and hanging out with Linn. I guess this might be one of my very few bad days in almost seven months now and maybe my first feeling of homesickness.
At the same time I have never enjoyed and loved my life over here so much as I do now, except the thing which is bugging me for the moment. I live such a simple life, in a family who loves me, I get a lot of credit for the work I do and everything is just perfect. At the same time everything is starting to feel so everyday-the-same, even if everyday really is special. I can't complain on anything. I have very sweet friends here, I go exercising, I travel, I eat out at great different restaurants all the time, I study, I learn, I teach, I chill, I go shopping - I don't know what I miss! Love?
Somehow things here has also lost the special feeling. Like Mathilda (from the LivingLA-team (http://livingla.blogg.se)) wrote about a feeling of being in a movie during her first time here I felt about the same. Now we have to remind ourselves about being in a big house, hang out in Beverly Hills during our sparetime, workout in Hollywood, be able to ride the bicycle to the Oscar Awards tomorrow, have the gardeners, house keepers and whatever around you 24/7. We have got used to this life. I miss the woods back home, the clean nature, Rudolf and Mirri, Stockholms nightlife and the Swedish guys. My relatives. Even my relationship to my family has really become stronger for everyday being here and now I know who are my real friends back home. It's not bullshit that previous au-pairs are talking about how much they've realized and learned about themselves and others when being away for a year.
I do not want to leave LA, at the same time I want to be in Stockholm and I want to go to Helsinki straight away for starting my medical studies. What is my home? I guess I will be (like last year) excited to go home - but when I come home it will take sooo long to adjust. I will miss LA so much and to live in my family is not like having them here for only two weeks. I'm happy I still have a few months to enjoy California and I will spend a week on Hawaii pretty soon to get away from my everyday life here. I need to relax - whatever that is, I thought that's the only thing I do.
Santa Monica Pier and beach known from for example Baywatch - closest coastal access for me
At the same time I have never enjoyed and loved my life over here so much as I do now, except the thing which is bugging me for the moment. I live such a simple life, in a family who loves me, I get a lot of credit for the work I do and everything is just perfect. At the same time everything is starting to feel so everyday-the-same, even if everyday really is special. I can't complain on anything. I have very sweet friends here, I go exercising, I travel, I eat out at great different restaurants all the time, I study, I learn, I teach, I chill, I go shopping - I don't know what I miss! Love?
Somehow things here has also lost the special feeling. Like Mathilda (from the LivingLA-team (http://livingla.blogg.se)) wrote about a feeling of being in a movie during her first time here I felt about the same. Now we have to remind ourselves about being in a big house, hang out in Beverly Hills during our sparetime, workout in Hollywood, be able to ride the bicycle to the Oscar Awards tomorrow, have the gardeners, house keepers and whatever around you 24/7. We have got used to this life. I miss the woods back home, the clean nature, Rudolf and Mirri, Stockholms nightlife and the Swedish guys. My relatives. Even my relationship to my family has really become stronger for everyday being here and now I know who are my real friends back home. It's not bullshit that previous au-pairs are talking about how much they've realized and learned about themselves and others when being away for a year.
I do not want to leave LA, at the same time I want to be in Stockholm and I want to go to Helsinki straight away for starting my medical studies. What is my home? I guess I will be (like last year) excited to go home - but when I come home it will take sooo long to adjust. I will miss LA so much and to live in my family is not like having them here for only two weeks. I'm happy I still have a few months to enjoy California and I will spend a week on Hawaii pretty soon to get away from my everyday life here. I need to relax - whatever that is, I thought that's the only thing I do.
Santa Monica Pier and beach known from for example Baywatch - closest coastal access for me
A regular morning, Catch, Thai lunch and Workout
Like I usully do in the mornings here is that I get up @ 5.30 AM - make myself breakfast and enjoy the quite time by myself. I do also make sure that the kitchen is in a good shape (nicer to start the day like that), pack Deannas (my host kid á la 6 yrs) lunch and prepare her breakfast. My breakfast is 99% of the days oat meal or rye bran and with it I can eat pears, apples, other fruits, dried fruit, nuts, blueberry apple sauce, lingonberry jam or just plain with cinnamon, ginger or cardamom. I also drink green tea with apple cider vinegar + water.
For Deanna the other hand I make everything from rice pudding, polenta, cream of wheat (semolina), cold cereal, hot cereal (like oatmeal), bagels/bread/toast with cream cheese and jam, toastmaster, smoothie, swedish pancakes, omelette, yoghurt. cottage cheese or sth else + some fruit or vegetable every day and her vitamins And a glass of milk, juice or water. I try to make something new every day.
So at 6.15 I wake Deanna up - make sure that her room looks tidy, that her bed is made, that she dresses herself, brushes her hair, puts her shoes on and that she has some books she likes to read on the bus to and from school. About 6.35 she should be downstairs (latest) and eat her breakfast. After that she needs to brush her teeth and 6.50 it's time to walk out the door. Her school bus comes to her bus stop 7.05 (it takes about 2 minutes to get there, bur she loves to hang out with me, listen to the radio and look at herself in the mirrors). She also hates to be late and loves to be early - so cool for a six-year old who's raised in a family which is always late but never make a big deal of it.
Anyways - on Fridays I go to CATCH which stands for "Caring Adults Teaching Children How" at Deannas school in Bel-Air. So what I do is that I go there once a week and have maths with a second grader who has a hard time with it and focus on her in one-to-one basis. It's delightful and I really love to do this voluntaring. On my way there I also pick up Melanie who's a student at UCLA and is mentoring a boy in reading. A very nice girl who wanted to have lunch with me next Friday.
After that I went home to leave the car there and then walk straight to a lunch with Emma & Emma at a great Thai restaurant with a exotic buffé on Fairfax. Try it out LA people. There is also a lot of other options I want to try out - it never gets boring to have lunch or dinner out here. Such a great city when it comes to food. It's also (usully) pretty healthy food for all of us who tries to have the Hollywood body.
When I had been to the Grove where Emma bought an iPod I drove to Sarah's (my oldest host kid in the age of almost sixteen) school, picked her up, drove in the rain back home, dropped her off, went to the library to return a book and then to pick up Deanna, made her a snack Taquitos with sour cream and salsa sauce + oranges + cranberry juice.
Ended up the day with going to the gym again - did a air force fit test and stretched for a long time. It does still bug me that I couldn't go to the yoga class because my confusing - no time understandning ride. Anyways I'm worked out and had a non-fat frozen yoghurt to dinner (I don't know if I have ever skipped a dinner like that but I didn't feel for dinner.)
Love you all of my friends!
(I know that this entry is long, but that's me - I love writing and you have the choice to not read)
LA Fitness Hollywood
That's my second home here! I just love to go there. It's so simple - just to turn on my iPod and exercise. The whole gym process starts already @ this house. I ride the bicycle uphill for about 25 minutes (fast), then I carry my bicycle up all the stairs (it's way high located) and keep on warming up on the step mill. So hard but burns big amounts of calories in less time. Then I do some machines (they have every single thing you can think about) and after that I choose one of the many different cardio machines to finnish my workout. Or...actually I like to swim for a while in their amazing salt water pool and end up sitting in the jacuzzi. Like today I swam 15 minutes freestyle, 15 minutes breast, 15 minutes back and a few rounds trying to do Butterfly.
To describe the place even more - they have four raquet courts, a basketball court, a giant room with free weights, personal trainers everywhere, lots of customers, a space for stretching or static exercises. They also have a sauna, a nice front desk, a cafeteria, a kids club, good looking staff, it's clean and they have great classes of different kinds like hip-hop, latin impact, pilates, yoga (you get it?) I really love this place even if World class, back home, has a very good standard and nicer design in, for example, the locker rooms. Looking forward to see how their new one has come out on Värmdö.
And do you now what I pay for this? You must think I'm kidding - $29.99 a month (with a month-to-month contract). I feel like it's for free..
Ps. It's pretty much nice guys there and sometimes the jacuzzi is the place where to be..
To describe the place even more - they have four raquet courts, a basketball court, a giant room with free weights, personal trainers everywhere, lots of customers, a space for stretching or static exercises. They also have a sauna, a nice front desk, a cafeteria, a kids club, good looking staff, it's clean and they have great classes of different kinds like hip-hop, latin impact, pilates, yoga (you get it?) I really love this place even if World class, back home, has a very good standard and nicer design in, for example, the locker rooms. Looking forward to see how their new one has come out on Värmdö.
And do you now what I pay for this? You must think I'm kidding - $29.99 a month (with a month-to-month contract). I feel like it's for free..
Ps. It's pretty much nice guys there and sometimes the jacuzzi is the place where to be..
Santa Monica College + Swedish guys
Such nice weather (NOT)... anyways I did ride the bicycle to Emma. Then Chio came and picked us up and we went to the English class. We worked with word families for available, contract, economy, period and some more and changed them to availibility, contracting and you name it. Pretty easy but still not unnecessary :-) I enjoy the class.
Afterwards we went to Soupplantation (AGAIN) where we met Hanna, two Swedish guys and the other Emma :-) Swedish meeting yey!
Work is calling - see you all!
Afterwards we went to Soupplantation (AGAIN) where we met Hanna, two Swedish guys and the other Emma :-) Swedish meeting yey!
Work is calling - see you all!
Hiking
Chio and I went to Ranjon Cañon today. Emma was supposed to come with us but needed to drive her pregnant hostmum to the hospital. What would happen in all our families if we wouldn't be here? Anyways we did great on our walk! Afterwards we ate a healthy lunch @ Soupplantation - I guess the restaurant with best value you can find here in LA for a casual meal out. Before we went home we bought some groceries at Ralphs and decided when/where to meet up tomorrow (we're taking an English class containing academic words and idioms). The rest of the day was calm and relaxing and I got to hear how much Deanna loves me again and again.
I do really love to be here and as an answer on her question if I miss home and my family the answer is that I love my life home, but I'm here right now and love this life and this home too, so I don't really want to waste time on missing anything. Honestly I will miss LA more when I come back I guess.
I do really love to be here and as an answer on her question if I miss home and my family the answer is that I love my life home, but I'm here right now and love this life and this home too, so I don't really want to waste time on missing anything. Honestly I will miss LA more when I come back I guess.
Step up 2 - The Streets
Such a great movie - even more dancing than in the first one. I'm sorry that you guys in Sweden have to wait until it comes overseas.
Hangover
Went out yesterday - it's crazy that I've been so intolerant to alcohol. A kind of too much out of control = intoxicated and some loss of memory. However it was a great night with some really sweet Americans - Thank you guys! We gotta get together more often!
Beach trips
I do love California more and more for every day. Yesterday Hanna and I went first to Huntington where we looked at all these good looking and talented surfers and had a great tasting thai lunch. Then we went to Newport but when we came there we changed our minds and drove to Laguna beach instead. Such an amazing afternoon walking on the beach, chatting about everything near and far.
Vacation at last
Finally I arrived San Juan Capistrano where Hanna met me in her cute convertible with stickshift (unusual over here). After chatting for a while we entry the jacuzzi and just enjoy with some more talking.
My journey on the train was interesting because I randomly met three of my au-pair friends who were going to San Diego over the weekend. So instead of having a boring slow trip we ate Swedish candy, drank Smirnoff and laughed.
My body feels strange right now, a minor head ache combined with a pain in my stomach so lets just sleep it out.
~~ Good night ~~
The Devil Wears Prada
Have you read the book or at least seen the the movie? That's my life - voluntary of course and I do love it but it's just so crazy that I could write a very cool interesting story about it. Together with some other au-pairs lives it would get big awards and be translated to more than thirty different languages. There are no problems it's just about finding a solution for different cases at the same time.
Like today I was driving all around LA and got to see many places. I started driving through Beverly Hills to Bel-Air then home, then the pet store, then to Emma and from there back home again. Then up to Hollywood for picking up the Catholic girl high school Immaculate Heart's "Candy grams" to The Cathedral ,boy, high school. So I got up on the freeway heading downtown LA where I needed to find the school by wrong-written directions. Anyways I find out the location, drove east instead of west, did a U-turn and after a while I was back in my neighborhood "Miracle Mile" where I tried to pump the car with gas - of course with the wrong credit card. Shoot! Anyways I'm packing now to head Orange county. I will spend almost four wonderful days with Hanna on beaches like Laguna beach, Newport or/and Huntington. Will be soo relaxing with a break.
Enjoy your Friday folks!
Like today I was driving all around LA and got to see many places. I started driving through Beverly Hills to Bel-Air then home, then the pet store, then to Emma and from there back home again. Then up to Hollywood for picking up the Catholic girl high school Immaculate Heart's "Candy grams" to The Cathedral ,boy, high school. So I got up on the freeway heading downtown LA where I needed to find the school by wrong-written directions. Anyways I find out the location, drove east instead of west, did a U-turn and after a while I was back in my neighborhood "Miracle Mile" where I tried to pump the car with gas - of course with the wrong credit card. Shoot! Anyways I'm packing now to head Orange county. I will spend almost four wonderful days with Hanna on beaches like Laguna beach, Newport or/and Huntington. Will be soo relaxing with a break.
Enjoy your Friday folks!
Do I know everything?
I don't think so - but sometimes even I need to fight for my opinion and knowledge!
Valentines Day
Ohh it was just such a lovely day. I started the day making some Swedish pancakes I cut out to hearts for my hostkids. The red strawberry jam on top made it look even more sweet. I'm soo happy I'm appreciated here and even though the day was a kind of slow (all by myself) I enjoyed is as much as all my other days. Around 3.40 pm I went to my youngest hostkid's bus stop and when she came out she was carrying a goodie bag stuffed with candies and "Happy Valentines Day" cards from her class mates. Here in the states all the holidays are a big commercial deal, with that Valentines day. We went to Pan pacific park for eating afternoon snack. I had bought a cookie in the shape of a heart and when Deanna (in the age of six) got it she smiled. After we came home she completed, as always, her homeworks with care and we could make up performances contained circus, gymnastics and ballet. Even though it's in the middle of February we played Christmas music and the lovely spirit warmed up the house. I don't know how many kisses I got from Deanna (also called DeeDee) but at least thousands :-) Even her oldest sister got a very special surprise and I guess I've been smiling all night because I'm so happy for her. The parents did, also, go out for dinner by the time we enjoyed Papa John's pizza.
Happy Valentines Day everyone - I miss you all back there in cold Sweden! I would also like to Thank my family for sending me a cute heart with Lindt chocolate in it and my host family for the lovely heart & delicious chocolate truffles - both appreciated surprises! <3
Happy Valentines Day everyone - I miss you all back there in cold Sweden! I would also like to Thank my family for sending me a cute heart with Lindt chocolate in it and my host family for the lovely heart & delicious chocolate truffles - both appreciated surprises! <3
Introduction
This is a blog everyone can enjoy, both my family, relatives, friends, fellow-workers and people elsewhere. I will share my experiences, thoughts and feelings. For right now mostly from my life in Los Angeles. Here below you can follow a short introduction of me myself.
I was in 1988 baptised to Sofia, nowadays I prefer the spelling Sophia, on an island named Värmdö east of Sweden's capital Stockholm. My parents have both grown up in Finland so apparently I'm somehow also Finnish citizen. Anyways - all since I was born I have lived on Värmdö where I attended pre-school and my nine-year compulsory school. My secondary school on the other hand was located in one of the more central parts in Stockholm. The most important happenings in my biography might be obvious after a certain time but I would like to mention a few of them.
The absolute most significant thing I have been doing up to now is gymnastics. I quit quite a while ago but have been teaching kids for about five years now. The other thing is, of course, school. Always absorbed and intrested in improving it - both for myself and others. I did also have a unique alignment at secondary school - life saving. A huge experience then my class and I went trough both the physical and academic parts of life saving in fires, avalanches, ice, sea, car accidents, aircraft crashes, scenes of accident containing chemicals and much much more. We became so bonded that it was hard for all of us to separate after three years in the company of each other. The latest life experiences walk somehow hand in hand. Last summer I spent two and a half month in New Hampshire at a Special needs camp for all ages where I met people I otherwise never had met. People with different needs needed to be solved by a staff scattered in more than dozen nationalities. A demanding and intimate summer. That challenge made me thus start working as a personal assistent when I came back home and for a whole year I enjoyed working with a terrific girl who I will never forget. For now, since six months, I'm au-pair in Los Angeles, California. I will start where I am right here, right now but sometimes I might look behind and share some random memories.
I was in 1988 baptised to Sofia, nowadays I prefer the spelling Sophia, on an island named Värmdö east of Sweden's capital Stockholm. My parents have both grown up in Finland so apparently I'm somehow also Finnish citizen. Anyways - all since I was born I have lived on Värmdö where I attended pre-school and my nine-year compulsory school. My secondary school on the other hand was located in one of the more central parts in Stockholm. The most important happenings in my biography might be obvious after a certain time but I would like to mention a few of them.
The absolute most significant thing I have been doing up to now is gymnastics. I quit quite a while ago but have been teaching kids for about five years now. The other thing is, of course, school. Always absorbed and intrested in improving it - both for myself and others. I did also have a unique alignment at secondary school - life saving. A huge experience then my class and I went trough both the physical and academic parts of life saving in fires, avalanches, ice, sea, car accidents, aircraft crashes, scenes of accident containing chemicals and much much more. We became so bonded that it was hard for all of us to separate after three years in the company of each other. The latest life experiences walk somehow hand in hand. Last summer I spent two and a half month in New Hampshire at a Special needs camp for all ages where I met people I otherwise never had met. People with different needs needed to be solved by a staff scattered in more than dozen nationalities. A demanding and intimate summer. That challenge made me thus start working as a personal assistent when I came back home and for a whole year I enjoyed working with a terrific girl who I will never forget. For now, since six months, I'm au-pair in Los Angeles, California. I will start where I am right here, right now but sometimes I might look behind and share some random memories.
