Today I stumbled across this video, which was posted on Facebook. Sometimes it can be great being a girl and being able to weep at stuff like that. Cheers and good night:
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Comeback!
As it often goes with a lot of changes in life, I kind of neglected my blogging. I started a new job in May, I moved once again after the old apartment brought some major hick-ups with it but after all the dust has settled now. It took a while getting used to my job and I think I am still not completely "in", but things smoothed down and I feel like I am in control again. A big plus of my job is working from home and doing a lot of things in my own pace, but it also means to stick to my own goals and being disciplined. So far it works out well, although I sometimes need to remind myself to switch off the computer and have a normal evening.
Just work and no fun does not turn out well and sooner or later even the most hardcore workaholic will get sick of it. After I slowly drifted down that bad road, forgetting to just stick to my schedule, taking breaks, doing sports, spreading 8 hours of work into 12 hours my batteries said: enough! And so said my wrist, which did not enjoy mouse clicks on 12 hours a day... So it was time for a break from that self-imposed routine. My break took me to Stockholm and to Venice.
Stockholm, as usual, did not leave any time for rest, it was my time to meet my friends, absorb the beauty of the city and just feel like I am back home. I left a year ago and still, whenever I am back, I always feel like the city is welcoming me back with open arms. I stayed with my lovely friend Michi. Her room is full of love, memories and it always makes me feel like being back where I belong. We did not take it easy but instead we plunged ourselves into Stockholm and whatever it has to offer. My visit was also due to a friend's birthday and the same time his big good-bye from Stockholm. Lately more and more of my friends decided to leave Stockholm. It seems like no matter how beautiful this city and this amazing country is, there is a due to date if you are a foreigner. Either this due to date is caused by the incredibly difficult job hunt or the completely ridiculous housing market. It hit me, that I need to leave Sweden, when I had just quit my horrible last job in Stockholm and I was determined to find something better. There was this one job, that I REALLY wanted to have, so I applied and started a little experiment at the same time: I applied for the same job twice, just to prove to myself what I was already suspecting. Once I applied with my own name and the second time I applied with a fake Swedish name: Svenja Svensson. And guess what?! I got an interview... with the fake name, while my application with my real name got rejected followed by the explanation, that the position had already been filled. Needless to say, the CVs were both the same and therefore the qualification were also the same. Then and there I reached the point where I felt "Thank you Sweden, for wonderful 4 years, but from now on we need to go separate ways." Honesty can be brutal, but at least then one knows what one is dealing with - and I really missed that honesty in Sweden. If a job only requires English and no Swedish will be needed, why are you asking for applications in Swedish only and reject applications of foreigners? At least have the decency to ask for applications by Swedish citizens only.
However, back to my holiday: Well Michi and me did not sleep at all in two consecutive nights, but when you are having the time of your life, apparently you don't need any sleep. Also standing in line of Soap Bar for more than one hour seems bearable, despite your legs and feet being frozen blue.
After a fantastic time in Stockholm I continued to Venice for some me-time. And what can I say: 5 days no talking (besides ordering food) was bliss. Me, my book and the sun had a pretty darn good time together. When i was not eating ice cream, cookies, pasta or pizza I was walking around in the endless narrow streets, crossed countless bridges or took boats to the islands. A big advantage of the off-season is that especially those "remote" island like Torcello, Burano and Lido are empty. I had the beaches and harbours just to myself. No noises besides the ocean and the occasional birds: bliss! Also I had nice 22 degrees during the day and the sun was not too strong: my pasty white skin appreciated that a lot!
Beautiful Burano and its artistically colourful houses:
Oh Italy, you and your food. Mjam!
When in Italy.... I had Aperol every single day!
So now I am back in Berlin already dreaming myself off to my next travels. Coming up: Amsterdam in December, Mexico in January and San Francisco in March. A friends also tipped me off to this amazing festival "Tomorrowland" which will definitely be on the agenda for summer next year. I am already counting the days to my next journey, seems like the travel itch is never stopping - and I am so grateful for that!
I will upload some pics of the journey soon. Oh and my Mando Diao addiction is back... or have I ever gotten rid of it?!
Just work and no fun does not turn out well and sooner or later even the most hardcore workaholic will get sick of it. After I slowly drifted down that bad road, forgetting to just stick to my schedule, taking breaks, doing sports, spreading 8 hours of work into 12 hours my batteries said: enough! And so said my wrist, which did not enjoy mouse clicks on 12 hours a day... So it was time for a break from that self-imposed routine. My break took me to Stockholm and to Venice.
Stockholm, as usual, did not leave any time for rest, it was my time to meet my friends, absorb the beauty of the city and just feel like I am back home. I left a year ago and still, whenever I am back, I always feel like the city is welcoming me back with open arms. I stayed with my lovely friend Michi. Her room is full of love, memories and it always makes me feel like being back where I belong. We did not take it easy but instead we plunged ourselves into Stockholm and whatever it has to offer. My visit was also due to a friend's birthday and the same time his big good-bye from Stockholm. Lately more and more of my friends decided to leave Stockholm. It seems like no matter how beautiful this city and this amazing country is, there is a due to date if you are a foreigner. Either this due to date is caused by the incredibly difficult job hunt or the completely ridiculous housing market. It hit me, that I need to leave Sweden, when I had just quit my horrible last job in Stockholm and I was determined to find something better. There was this one job, that I REALLY wanted to have, so I applied and started a little experiment at the same time: I applied for the same job twice, just to prove to myself what I was already suspecting. Once I applied with my own name and the second time I applied with a fake Swedish name: Svenja Svensson. And guess what?! I got an interview... with the fake name, while my application with my real name got rejected followed by the explanation, that the position had already been filled. Needless to say, the CVs were both the same and therefore the qualification were also the same. Then and there I reached the point where I felt "Thank you Sweden, for wonderful 4 years, but from now on we need to go separate ways." Honesty can be brutal, but at least then one knows what one is dealing with - and I really missed that honesty in Sweden. If a job only requires English and no Swedish will be needed, why are you asking for applications in Swedish only and reject applications of foreigners? At least have the decency to ask for applications by Swedish citizens only.
However, back to my holiday: Well Michi and me did not sleep at all in two consecutive nights, but when you are having the time of your life, apparently you don't need any sleep. Also standing in line of Soap Bar for more than one hour seems bearable, despite your legs and feet being frozen blue.
After a fantastic time in Stockholm I continued to Venice for some me-time. And what can I say: 5 days no talking (besides ordering food) was bliss. Me, my book and the sun had a pretty darn good time together. When i was not eating ice cream, cookies, pasta or pizza I was walking around in the endless narrow streets, crossed countless bridges or took boats to the islands. A big advantage of the off-season is that especially those "remote" island like Torcello, Burano and Lido are empty. I had the beaches and harbours just to myself. No noises besides the ocean and the occasional birds: bliss! Also I had nice 22 degrees during the day and the sun was not too strong: my pasty white skin appreciated that a lot!
Beautiful Burano and its artistically colourful houses:
Oh Italy, you and your food. Mjam!
When in Italy.... I had Aperol every single day!
So now I am back in Berlin already dreaming myself off to my next travels. Coming up: Amsterdam in December, Mexico in January and San Francisco in March. A friends also tipped me off to this amazing festival "Tomorrowland" which will definitely be on the agenda for summer next year. I am already counting the days to my next journey, seems like the travel itch is never stopping - and I am so grateful for that!
I will upload some pics of the journey soon. Oh and my Mando Diao addiction is back... or have I ever gotten rid of it?!
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