Of all the things I miss...

Now, being in Sweden there are a bunch of things I miss. Oh, don't get me wrong, I miss people (my family, boyfriend, friends and bestfriends) and I miss places (my bed, the library, Davidson, Davidson College, my "study spots")

But there are things I miss. And one of those things is my books.

I read a post on a blog I follow here, and the author of the post noted how her mother says she doesn't need to meditate because she has her books. And I have to agree. Whatever Anita seems to get from meditating (the calm, the stopping and just relaxing, the moment to herself) I can get from reading.

I love reading. At home I often average two or three books per week. These exclude the reading I do for classes or on the internet. I read about 450 pages of text a week. Just for pleasure. Now, granted, I often read books more than once, and I am reading brain candy- mostly romances, paranormals, and murder mysteries, but despite that, I read A LOT. It's my way of decompressing.

Here in Sweden? Don't read so much. Not many books in English, and the ones that are in English tend to be classics or more intellectual novels, because the smart people are the people who are Swedish and reading books in English, and if their reading in English it probably isn't for escapist purposes.

So, yes. I miss my giant hot chocolate mug, my collection of crocheting needles and yarn (Yeah, I miss that a lot) my drop spindle and carders. I miss my plants and my comforter and my pillow (even though the ones here are just as good). I miss my familiar smelling deodorant and shampoo (although I've been finding some nice-smelling alternatives).

But books?(In English?) I miss them a heck of a lot. I'm going to have to do a lot of making up reading when I get home.

I got a package from my boyfriend... and I opened it on the subway... that was a mistake

So this morning before classes I got up a bit earlier to pick up my package from the mail distrabution center. It means I had to carry it around all day, but the other consequence was waiting until tomorrow to pick it up because today it would close before I could go. So I got it just before I got on the subway to go to school.

Picture this: Me, on the subway. Everyone acting acording to the Swedish unwritten code "tho shalt not talk on the subway unless you're with friends, and tho shalt not speak loudly enough to attract undue attention". An old lady had already shushed the man beside her because he was speaking on his phone too loud and that was 'very rude.' (or at least, that is what I think she said. I got the very but it might have been very loud or very _fill in blank_) And then I FINALLY get all the tape off using an old fashioned key (not the new types because the key to the appartment has one of those old fashioned keys that don't really have sharp points to them) and a ballpoint pen and my crocheting hook. I pull back the cardboard.

A sudden squeal.

The old lady looks over, and I can feel her stare pressing into my back. That... forigner is making noise. (yes me) and getting quite excited about... *the old landy cranes her head to look* a doodle bear and butterfly stickers. And strange american candy in much too bright colors. (Swedish candy is much more subtle, less bright colors. You can tell what brands are imported and which ones are made in Sweden. Look at Tolberone for example... again, it all goes back to the belief that all Swedish people have that nobody is better than anyone else, and assuming your better than anyone else is rude and arrogant. It translates into Swedes believing that drawing attention to yourself is very rude. In contrast to the belief in American where we go, "how dare you think that I'm not as good as you!" We think that you should put yourself forward, make your own way, be an individual.)

But back to the old lady. She glares at me.

*snickers*

Needless to say, I was quite delighted by the package. Went around with a dopey expression on my face all day. As one of the girls on my program said when I told her the box was from my boyfriend and I showed her what was in it... "Somebody loves you a lot" I could only nodd and grin. I have to think of something cool now to send my boyfriend.

I haven't listened to the mix he sent me yet, but I now know what my breakfast is going to be tomorrow morning (grits that were in the package), and each morning for the following days. Or perhaps I'll save it for special occasions. YEY GRITS! And I don't know where he got the stickers, but each time I see them I'm convinced someone knows me very well, but not only that, but is very very very thoughtful. I feel very loved.

Well, I have a lot of reading I need to get done, payment for my work on my story last night. *Must get to it*



PS: But the best thing about the package? After I told my boyfriend about the Italian guy flirting with me on the subway, he sends me a list of all the different languages he can think of, each one saying "I have a boyfriend" Or "I'm taken." It made me giggle each time I looked at it.