Pippi Longstocking

Hey peeps. Last night I went home directly from work and got into my Pippi outfit. Me Jess and Jessica then went to Therese to get ready. I colored my hair bright oranged. It turned out pretty good. People even took pictures of me in the metro. One girl laughed at me a lot. Good or Bad? We all went to Jordan to the Halloween party in his house. They are 10 guys living in their own house and everyone had brought their friends. There were a lot of people and great variation in costume creativity.

Today I am going to dinner with Joakim and his two friends from Sweden. I dont know where the night will take us but its going to be nice to get away from everything and meet some new people.

Jessicas aunt just called and said she was getting rid of a chair.

2 minutes later I have a pink chair in my room.

Its perfect, I love it! See

One more thing. I have to find some way to create a undisturbed information pipeline to all republicans. Their is so much that they need to learn and I am sure if they just heard the arguments in the right forum, they would be convinced that things need to change. Please end my misery and help me talk some sense into the republicans. To be continued…

And oh… today is snowed! Big white flakes but it didn´t stick.

Fall

On my way home from work. Watching the georgetown students row under the bridge. (downloaded blogger to my iphone so now i can blog on the go)

Later im going to u-street to buy tickets to the sounds. They are playing next saturday.

Ps. Today i bought flight tickets to boston to attend the New England Chamber cleantech conference next week. Business trip! Im Representing sacc-USA. How about that!

Walking to work across key bridge

Pickup Munks and the Prince of Sweden

Im going to be straight on. This week was a lot of fun. I made some close friends, met famous people, ate some good food and pushed around some projects at work. Just another regular week in DC ;)

Here is a weekly rundown and some pictures to prove it.

Monday -

Ran 5 miles with Therese after work. Dont remember anything else.

Tuesday -

Ran 5 miles with Therese after work. I was promised an afterworkout but I got duped. I did finish my round with running through the memorial fountain in the harbour. Got wet. Was promised we were gonna do it the same time, together, got duped.

On the way home I walked to safeway (all up hill) and bought groceries. Bought a little bit too much and barely made it home. I was so sweaty and mad when I finally got home, even sweating in my ass (ledsen mormor, det måste sägas :)). Hade wine and m&ms for dinner. Complained to my roommate Jessica that this life is depressing during the days when everyone just wants to go home after work.

Wednesday -

Sent out Outlook-invitations for a tapas night at my place to save a perfectly good wednesday from being ruined. Everyone bailed, got duped. Called Jessica and made arrangements to go have a drink with her instead. Got duped again, she came home at nine and went to bed.

Thursday -

Convinced Joakim and Johan to go with me to Clydes in Georgetown and try their lobster and fries. Good lobster, bad combination with fries. After dinner we went to McFaddens where George Washington University was having a college party and met up with Therese and Saeed.

Friday -

Made another attempt to invite everyone to my house after they all cancelled on a trip to

old town that I had planned (picking up on a trend?). Finally they all came (6 peops) to my place where we made Raggmunk, bacon and Therese brought Lingonsylt from IKEA. We had creme brulee (I guess you can do everything right the first time because it tasted more like äggost) and New York coffee (coffee, sherry and creme) for dessert. Then me and Joakim had made a music quiz each and we finished of by watching Brides Maids. I hope everyone enjoyed the night. that said they did, but isnt that what you are supposed to say. I think I will wait around for better confirmation.

Saturday -

Me, Johan and Rikard (he works at the defense apartment and the embassy) went to Capitals vs Red Wings. I initiated a bet, and I bet on Detroit and they were instead beat by 7 to 1. So that idea cost me a beer for Johan. Later we went to Columbia Plaza where the other embassy trainees was having a party. There were people from the danish and swedish embassy as well as exchange students from Karlstad, my colleagues, and our roommates. We then went to see the danish pop singer Medina who then had come up from a tour in Florida and saw her at a place called the District Lounge in Adams Morgan. Thats kind of a bohemic (dangerous) place in north DC. The pizzas we had later that night were heavenly, so big and with lots of pepperoni, and the place broke out into a breakdance pot featuring young and old.

Sunday -

Me, Johan and Joakim went to brunch. But not really. We were 50 min late, it was full, so we had lunch instead. Just ok. I then went home to hang with the embassy trainees, Rikard, Nils and Joakim. My first hangout since 6th grade, made me crazy restless just sitting around watching youtube clips. We (I) decided to go see Paranormal Acitivity 3 in the movies (where you ca eat hot food in the saloon) but Joakim changed our minds (I lost control over the argumentation really), and we saw The Thing instead (just ok, I give it 2/5 SACCs). Here is Joakim coming to brunch.

Monday -

Went to work. I helped my boss organize a seminar for SNS, Studier för Näringsliv och Samhälle, the equivalent of a think tank in the US. It was organized together with the John Hopkins Univeristy and the Center for Transatlantic studies on the subject of Financing Tomorrows Healthcare. Distinguished speakers such as Göran Hägglund, Swedish minister of social affairs, and Harry McPherson, advisor for presidents such as Lyndon B Johnsson, Nixon and Bush, Adbo (something), Chief Healthcare economist at the World Bank (really the smartest and most impressing in the bunch), spoke about the challenges of an aging demography. Look into that issue peops, I smell an opportunity to make money. After the

seminar the three musceteers, me, Johan and Joakim, went to dinner in Dupont Circle.

Tuesday -

Attended a seminar with His Royal Highness Prince Daniel of Sweden, Häggis again, and a panel of doctors. It was on the issue of Partnering providers with Patients and it was held in House of Sweden as part of their project Fabric of Life. I got free breakfast. Went to refill my T-mobile card after that. Dont even went to talk about that frustration peak. Sometimes I just want to beat some service mindedness into the stupid americans. But Im cool now. Here is a picture of the Prince. And before you ask, I didnt say hi.

I just finished the evening of in a vietnamese restaurant in Georgetown. Drank vietnamese coffee for the first time and planed my trip to Chicago with Joakim and Johan.

Btw. My boss told me today that I am going to Boston for a conference next week. Boston cleantech venture days. Yay! Responsibility! Hotel breakfast!

Good chatting with you

Au revoir

Today, i had great plans to write all about my amazing endouvers this past week. But i am too lazy to go find the computer cord. Tomorrow...

You say France and I Whistle

I just came back from a concert in House of Sweden. Took my new bike and rode along the waterfront in the sunset. BEAutiful. A new swedish band called You say France and I whistle, were playing. This was there first US tour - Check them out! They might even deserve a slot in the "going-to-work-playlist".

Also nice - Dean and Deluca. You want to marry rich, become a stay-at-home-wife and drink wine all day, when you walk around in there. I am gonna go tomorrow again, and smell the Macarons.

Can´t wait to get out

Sitting at home, 8 oclock on a saturday night, dressed and ready, waiting for the clock to strike 9.

This past week at work has been great. After a quite monday (Columbus Day), tuesday me and Johan went to Johnny Rockets in Georgetown after work, and had one of there famous burgers.

Thursday was the monthly tenant social in the House of Sweden. All tenants gathered in the IKEA show room on the top floor, on the balcony facing the water front, to have a glass and wine and get to know one-another. I met the ambassador of Iceland and his staff, I met the Chief secretary of the Swedish Embassy, the former President of SACC, now North American Director of Next Level, the event staff and a new friend called Catherine, who is a Swede married to an American banker.

Friday the SACC-trainees and the Swedish embassy trainees met for drinks at Sequoia after work. I had oysters for the first time of my life, 6 for $6. They were ok. Served with horse radish and tabasco. I stole the bottle of tabasco. Great for Bloody Marys. Later we went out all of us.

Tonight Johan and his roommates have gotten a beer keg and invited all of their friends. Saeed, the saudi arabian, is picking me up in couple of minutes and then we are of. Meanwhile I am sipping on a homemade pinacolada and watching Dead mans chest.

It nice to hear from you all at home. Love you and miss you.

Columbus Day

Today was Columbus Day and a national holiday, but as the Viking I was raised to be, I went to work anyway.

My roommates parents are living in the common room since friday. I am amazed by two things. How their an be a demand for all the hundreds of TV channels in the cable packaged. And two, today it was 27 degrees Celsius, I wore a shirt and shorts to work. Last weekend it was 5 degrees Celsius, I wore 3 sweaters, jacket and gloves. Global warming or everyday DC weather?

Check out my articles at http://sacc-usa.org/currents/

Over and out

My Work, My Friends and My New Bike

This past week I have had a lot to do at work, I have met new friends and I have finally moved into my room.

My work

We are planning a long line of organizational development projects; which will do a lot of good for SACC as a whole. I am now member of a communications task force, clean tech industry group, Deals & Discounts program manager, Entrepreneurial Days Evaluation group etc. We are refining the communication within the network and increasing membership value therethrough. At the same time I am Editor in Chief for the online magazine and newsletter Currents Online and eCurrents, respectively, and with the help of Jordan Zaner, our intern from the American University, we keep our network updated. From working with eCurrents I have already learned so much english. Our members and chamber have high demands for formal and accurate reporting and so we proofread everything 3 times and give constant feedback to each other. I have also decided to publicize special editions of the magazine, one CleanTech, one Life Science and one ITC focus industry issue.

My friends

This monday, a fifth trainee, Jessica, joined us. She stayed in my apartment while searching for another apartment, and now she is moved out to somewhere remote in Rosslyn. The same night as Jessica arrived, a couple of neighborhood boys helped to wiggle the couch in my room. Finally! I now have a bed in my own room!

We went to Wacky Wednesday again this week with a bunch of my roommate Jess´friends. Most of the youths in DC work in government related positions; Junior diplomates, PR/communication, lobbyists etc, so I can´t help to learn a lot about gov.issues, the presidential election, and the huge bureaucracy.

Friday we celebrated Jordans birthday. I had bought him a note book and dictionary, I few tools for our new editor… :). We invited the embassy trainees, from the defense, trade, politics, homeland security and press department for a little After Work at our office balcony. After some wine, cake and mingling, I got to know 3 new friends, Joakim, Richard och Karin. We all met up later that night, and went to Madhatter in Dupont Circle, an Alice in Wonderland-pub.

My bike

Yesterday, satuday, I went to buy a bike a had found on craigslist. I got up at 10 and took the metro to Adams Morgan, a new and upcoming bohemian area in northern DC. When I got of the metro I just suddenly didnt feel like buying the bike anymore, too much hazzle with a new seat, wheels aso. I called and cancelled and started walking towards The Mall instead. Me and Therese had a slice of pizza outside the white house and then took the metro all the way out to Alexandria. We walked about three miles along the highway in 25 celsius. Suddenly, an oasis appeared, Walmart, Kohls, Ross, Starbucks, etc etc. We walked around for 4 hours. I bought a bike for $79 (Pics will come later) and we bought clothes for halloween (we are dressing as Pippi och Herr Nilsson). Later that night we walked the three miles back to the metro and I carried my bike through the stairs, elevators and on to the metro. I got home at 1o last night and fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.

This morning I treated myself to a long sleep-in. During sundays I normally think a lot about you friends back home, and you are all welcome to visit me whenever. Maybe a Thanksgiving, Cherry Blossom, or 4th of July in DC?

Men det är klart att jag saknar min Anders.

Ni som undrar, vi har det bra, och får långdistans att fungera så bra det kan gå. Se till att ta hand om Anders där hemma i Göteborg.

Kram på er

Megapost

The past week has been busy, fun and frustrating. I have basically been haunted by 4 big challenges:

1. How to pay my rent - since USA has too many employees in their banking system to go electronical

2. How to get a bike - I have noticed that walking the same route to work every morning already gets boring. Speed and efficiency please.

3. Why my credit card isn´t working?

4. What to wear for Halloween.

Alongside these inquiries I have also been engaged in some social activity, believe it or not.

This Wednesday me and Jessica, my roommate, took the metro to Clarendon and went to Mister Days Wacky Wednesday. Everything was $2 so I had a big burger and two Guinness´for the mere sum of $6. We a

te and watch the Oreols-Red Sox game. Perfect for a rainy wednesday. Im going there again.

Tuesday and Thursday we went to the new. Met a new friend. He works with the defense department at the Swedish Embassy. Other than that, not much action in the gym.

The SWEA crayfish party was very nice. Check it out on swedish scene. A

joyful collection of almost-celebrities attended; Niklas Bäckströms parents, Mona Sahlins daughter, SVTs reporter from DC Stefan Åsberg and so on. And then ofcourse a handful of ladies that moved to the USA and married americans, then spent their lifes in the gym, kitchen and bar. What do you do? My husband works at the nationa

l bank! No, what do YOU do? I usually rest and drink wine. What could you possible have to say to that? SWEA need women who have achievements on their own.

I also met a new friend their, Melissa, she is half american and half norrlänning, and works as a campaign leader for the democratic party. Very outgoing and energetic. She also invited me to play on their kick-ball team. I will consider it. They practice every sunday and then go for beers after.

Yesterday we had Tacos at Johans place, a townhouse with 5 guys. No surprises. Few furniture, big TV and filthy bathroom. Nice roommates though. After the game we went to Marvins again. I met some guys from the American Snowboard association. I met a very nice friend of Johan from Saudi Arabia. He is a chemical systems engineer and looking for job in the oil/energy industry. He also has a car and lives right next to me. Perfect!

Here are some pictures from the past week

Georgetown - On my way home from work

Rosslyn metro station - stairs to go forever into the underground

Therese eating Crayfish at the SWEA crayfish party

Chicken and Waffles with maple syrup at Marvins on U st

Johans 25th birthday - peach pie

I also suspect that my sofa bed does not fit into the door to my room. If not, I have to buy a bed. Cross your fingers.

Until next time

Ciao