Language

The human brain amazes me. How, we as humans, as little kids even, are able to learn language. How the brain is able to make since of this crazy gibberish, called English or Swedish or even Arabic, coming out of somebody's mouth, and in turn make that same gibberish come out of our mouth as well. Like, that's insane! And I am now just realizing that, because well, I guess my brain is doing the same thing. It's insane how that works, how even though I've only been in Sweden for a month and a half, and I am able to order at restaurants, buy clothes, check out at the grocery store, and even somewhat understand my teachers (with the exception of physics, but I'm not sure I would understand that class in English either so...;)) I just don't think there is any good way to express this matter over text, expect for to say how much this whole language thing astoundes me. And those who have heard me discuss this matter know how weird I find it. 

The other thing that totally wigs me out is how, not only with Swedish, but with any given language, that it is the respective person's English. That that is the way they think, and dream. They don't spend time translating everything into English and then understand. They just hear it and understand it, I mean I know that's how English is with me, but it's just so weird. I must sound like a crazy person right now, but it's true, I just cannot fathom these ideas in my brain. At. All. 

Anyways, I was also thinking about how we as humans are creatures of habit. And I myself am oh so very much a creature of habit. Take right now for instance, I am sitting in the café that I go to pretty regularly, sitting in the exact same place that I have always sat in with the same exact music blaring in my ears. But, that comforts me, how the situation around a person can change so drastically, but the person doesn't seem to change all that much. How, even though I am 4,000 miles away from home, I am still the same person. My music tastes haven't changed, my "sense of humor" hasn't changed, and even the way I learn and keep notes hasn't changed. I might've acquired some new habits, like drinking coffee and milk (I know, weird right?!), eating boiled potatoes, and dressing a little nicer. But, should we really call those type of things changes or evolutions? Do humans ever really change, or do they just evolve? And I know, I know, every scientist will say, "you yourself are not evolving, you are the result of it," but this is on an emotional level. Even if those "changes" are for the worse, you are still evolving from your former self. (Wow, am I babbling, or what?!) 

And so, I continue to evolve, and adapt to my surroundings.  

Potato, Potato

Have you ever heard the joke with the blond, brunette, and the red head, and the police are chasing them so they run into a barn and the brunette hides with the pigs, the red head with the cows and the blond in a bin of potatoes? (yeah, I thought so, but I'll keep going.) So, when the police come into the barn they look in the pig pen, but all they hear are pigs so they move on. Then, they look with the cows but again, all they hear is mooing. But, when they go to look in the bin of potatoes, the blond goes 'Potato, Potato!' ... All in all, not one of the best jokes but, still kinda funny.

I thought a little joke at the beginning would make this easier to write...because to be honest here, I cannot think of anything to write. Life has been mundane. Well, mundane as it can be in a foreign country. I've been going to school, swim, hanging out with friends and family, everything is going quite well. Expect, I feel as if I am just going through the motions of life, and not really living it. I feel as if I'm on a boat out at sea, and in the distance to my left is the USA and everything comfortable to me and on the right, not so far away into the distance is Sweden and everything not to comfortable. I can't make up my mind. I still feel as if I'm coming home in the near future. It is like I am unconsciously not trying to make a lot of ties over here, because my brain still thinks that I'll be home with everything I'm used to in a month or two.

Don't get me wrong, coming home has crossed my mind more than a lot. I constantly go from feeling like I can make it the year to searching Delta for the next available flight. It is that constant change in my mind that frightens me. I'm halfway in between. Stuck. But, the challenge is good for me. I do like that it is harder than I thought. I couldn't live with myself if I came home.

Not to sound like a broken second but, everything over here is so different. Hell, even my last name changed. And that freaks me out, it seems as if its not really me over here. Lets just say its been kinda hard adjusting to things, even little things like the cadence of peoples voice, and the way swedes suck in air to agree with you, instead of just nodding in agreement.

But, life goes on, each day arises a new challenge and sometimes, a new victory. 

Rain, Rain, Go Away

So, I have made the executive decision of only having one blog post a week. I decided that writing two a week, plus all of the other things I have going on would be too much. Besides, who wants to read about my life twice a week? I cannot think of anyone except probably my mother...

Everything has been getting better each day. I'm starting to get used to life here. Starting to know where things in town are (not that Borås is a huge town), and I'm getting to know people in my class. I must say though, that it is weird walking around in a school where you don't know really anyone. I mean, I might not know everyone at Service, but when I walk in the hallways there I recognize people, I see similar faces. Here, there's a new blonde around every corner. I also miss being with different people in every single class. That variety of types of people depending on what class you are in, ranging from Seminar to Choir. It's also strange having a different schedule everyday, it teaches you to like the steadiness of having the same classes at the same time everyday. But, life is starting to become more comfortable. I'm getting used to not seeing Oreos and peanut butter on a regular basis, and those gorgeous mountains we take far to for granted in Alaska.

Its funny to hear People talk about The States here. They say we have everything, that is must be better because its America! They seem to forget I'm from Alaska; land of the midnight sun and absolutely nothing to do besides fishing and camping on the weekends. (Not saying I don't like fishing and camping...but still, Alaska is very different from the rest of The States.) 

I love being around so much family here. I don't have any extended family is Alaksa so it's a very nice change. Being able to get to know them. I've always felt so unattached from the family life over here. 

It's amazing how much the weather changes here. Take today, it was pouring down rain this morning and cold, and now, it's sunny, a little windy and quite warm. And people don't think of takin about the weather as a bad thing, as a conversation killer. It's very much a conversation starter. Like, "oh hey, it was raining 15 minutes ago and now it's super sunny? What's up with that?" Is totally cool and actually really interesting here. 

My mom left on Saturday morning and let me say that I miss her. More than I thought. We all might bag on our parents, especially our moms as teenagers but, we do love them,

deep down. And I realize how much I took her for granted. That, you know, if something goes wrong, it will be okay, because mom is there. That if you need a shoulder to cry on, she's there. It's a very drastic change. But, I'm sure like everything else I'll get used to it. It just might take longer than, let's say, not having peanut butter and toasters. 

Regardless, life gets easier. It goes on.