Mission: Write 20 random facts about yourself
Assignment by: Aunty Marianne
Deadline: October 17, 2005, 23:00
1. I had to have two surgeries on my left eye by the time I was 18 months old due to a extra fat tissue on my eyelid. Fortunately, the doctors did a good job and today you can hardly notice it.
2. Continuing on the same theme, I had appendicitis in the summer of 1996 when I was an aupair in Pittsburgh, USA. Fortunately I had good insurance coverage so I didn't have to foot a penny of the $15K bill. I did have some complications though (vein bursting from the IV and loss of feeling in my thigh for almost a year due to a pain shot that hit a nerve) and was told later I could have sued the hospital, but being Swedish the thought didn't even cross my mind.
3. When I was 10 I stepped on a rusty nail that almost went through my foot (same theme). I had to have a tetanus shot and missed my third grade leaving party, but otherwise I was fine. I just have a tiny, almost not noticeable scar today.
4. I played football for seven years (age 9-16) but never got hurt. I don't know if that means I was lucky or that I wasn't a very good player...
5. I tried rugby after quitting football but only lasted one practice. I lasted at least a few weeks when I tried athletics (track-and-field) but that was when I was much younger.
6. I stopped playing football because I couldn't participate in all practices (and then they wouldn't let you play matches) due to a growing political interest and membership in the local Social Democratic youth club in Södertälje (though I was on the barricades with my mum at the May 1 demonstrations already as a toddler).
7. I had a seat on a local council (Södertälje) dealing with disability issues for three years 1994-1997 but had to resign when I moved to Uppsala to study. These particular issues are dear to me since I have a brother who's mentally handicapped (but such a fun guy nonetheless!).
8. I have a degree from Oxford, which my working class self would never have imagined ten years ago. But I didn't have a problem socialising with the likes of Emirate princesses and Chelsea Clinton (my interaction with the latter consisted of giving directions to the "restroom").
9. Otherwise I hardly ever see any celebrities, but when I was living in London I lived in the same street as John Cleese.
10. I used to think Brad Pitt was gorgeous but since this Jolie thing his star has fallen in my sky because I'm definitely on Team Aniston.
11. I just LOVE "Friends"! My friend Kim and I have so much fun watching that show and she's so good at remembering all the lines and bringing them into conversations and situations!
12. Kim (who lives in England) doesn't have any children yet but otherwise so many of my friends are producing babies like on a conveyor belt. They are cute but sometimes I just want to have friends who want to go for a beer or take a trip...
13. When I have children one day, I'm going to have a girl called Isolde, otherwise it's not happening!
14. I have tried Internet dating - in order to find the father to Isolde - and I recommend it! It's fun!
15. I have never purchased anything on eBay. I actually don't think shopping is that fun though I seem to spend money nevertheless.
16. I'm a book-a-holic - the big black hole where my pay check goes - but I don't read as much. They need to sit on my bookshelf for a while to "mature".
17. I'm on the lookout for a Butler's Tray to go with my couch and my book shelves.
18. I want to build a house in American colonial style in Sweden one day.
19. I don't mind paying more than half of my income in taxes. I'm sure it will come back to me one day one way or the other.
20. I love ice cream! In fact, I think I'm going to have some now!
Monday, October 17, 2005
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Turkishtravel.org
My previous blog about my visit to Turkey this past summer has been published by a travel site called Turkish Travel! Look here.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Turkish Delight
When I visited Turkey this summer I promised to blog about it but then didn't actually get around to doing so. But now, with the EU, after delays and late-night mangling, finally having agreed to start membership negotiations with Turkey, it a good time as any.
I visited the town of Marmaris in the southwest of Turkey with a friend for about a week. Marmaris is located in a bay of the Mediterranean with a beautiful marina, below the green, majestic Taurus mountains. Taurus actually continues all the way through Asia and turns into Himalaya. Sultan Süleyman the Great had a fortress built in the 1500s and founded the city. Legend has it that when the Sultan returned home in one of his ships and saw the finished fortress, he shouted "Mimar as!", which means "Hang the architect!". Hence the name Marmaris today.
We spent a lot of time at the beach (it being the main reason for the trip) but with the temperature approaching 40 Celcius degrees, it was nice, and also the plan, to set aside some time for sightseeing outside town. Except for the obligatory Hamam, we took a day-tour to Dalyan and Kaunos, which included a river boat ride passed ancient royal graves carved in a mountain side, a mudbath at an ancient spa location, and a swim at a beach where the Caretta turtle lays her eggs. Another excursion brought us to Pamukkale, with its magnificent white limestone basins, making it one of the natural wonders of the world. On the way to Pamukkale we made a very interesting visit to a rug factory - had I known I would have taken my savings and bought one of the amazing silk rugs!
On the way to these sights we passed through a number of different towns and villages. I must say that I was surprised in both positive and negative ways. I knew Turkey was a very varied country, with Istanbul and other cities quite developed while the majority of the country is mainly rural and undeveloped; however, I wasn't prepared that Marmaris and other cities would feel so much like (especially southern and Eastern) European cities, while travelling through the countryside felt like going back in time to a 1950's Sweden. To take an example: People of all ages were working in the field in very old-fashioned clothes with tools seemingly from the pre-industrial area!
So Turkey has a long way to come but the best road to take is the European highway, even if it has to keep by a speed limit of 5 km an hour and sometimes do a U-turn and make a fresh start. On the way it has a lot of important passengers to pick up: democracy, human rights, a new account of its history, the role of the military, economic development, etc. Luckily it has extra drivers, some a bit reluctant but most of them forthcoming.
I visited the town of Marmaris in the southwest of Turkey with a friend for about a week. Marmaris is located in a bay of the Mediterranean with a beautiful marina, below the green, majestic Taurus mountains. Taurus actually continues all the way through Asia and turns into Himalaya. Sultan Süleyman the Great had a fortress built in the 1500s and founded the city. Legend has it that when the Sultan returned home in one of his ships and saw the finished fortress, he shouted "Mimar as!", which means "Hang the architect!". Hence the name Marmaris today.
We spent a lot of time at the beach (it being the main reason for the trip) but with the temperature approaching 40 Celcius degrees, it was nice, and also the plan, to set aside some time for sightseeing outside town. Except for the obligatory Hamam, we took a day-tour to Dalyan and Kaunos, which included a river boat ride passed ancient royal graves carved in a mountain side, a mudbath at an ancient spa location, and a swim at a beach where the Caretta turtle lays her eggs. Another excursion brought us to Pamukkale, with its magnificent white limestone basins, making it one of the natural wonders of the world. On the way to Pamukkale we made a very interesting visit to a rug factory - had I known I would have taken my savings and bought one of the amazing silk rugs!
On the way to these sights we passed through a number of different towns and villages. I must say that I was surprised in both positive and negative ways. I knew Turkey was a very varied country, with Istanbul and other cities quite developed while the majority of the country is mainly rural and undeveloped; however, I wasn't prepared that Marmaris and other cities would feel so much like (especially southern and Eastern) European cities, while travelling through the countryside felt like going back in time to a 1950's Sweden. To take an example: People of all ages were working in the field in very old-fashioned clothes with tools seemingly from the pre-industrial area!
So Turkey has a long way to come but the best road to take is the European highway, even if it has to keep by a speed limit of 5 km an hour and sometimes do a U-turn and make a fresh start. On the way it has a lot of important passengers to pick up: democracy, human rights, a new account of its history, the role of the military, economic development, etc. Luckily it has extra drivers, some a bit reluctant but most of them forthcoming.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Euroverdict
My friend and former flatmate in Brussels, Marianne, told me about this Euro quiz by the BBC. It's created for a British audience but give it a go anyway!
Not surprisingly my result was:
Mr and Mrs Chiantishire
This group are Euro enthusiasts; they like all things European from going on holiday to sundried tomatoes and red wine.
The quiz wasn't only about leaisure activities and food, which you might deduct from the verdict, but featured questions about one's attitudes to the euro (€), religion, work, etc.
What's your euroverdict?
Not surprisingly my result was:
Mr and Mrs Chiantishire
This group are Euro enthusiasts; they like all things European from going on holiday to sundried tomatoes and red wine.
The quiz wasn't only about leaisure activities and food, which you might deduct from the verdict, but featured questions about one's attitudes to the euro (€), religion, work, etc.
What's your euroverdict?
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