Tuesday
0700 Wake up call!
0830 Load all luggage in van and depart hotel. We are late due to complications with check out system. Drive to the municipal building where the project facilitators are waiting together with half of the group of participants! Just seeing them brings joy to my heart, they are smiling and happy to see us and hugs are exchanged!
0900 We arrive at the Plantschool, where we meet the rest of the participants and our guide for the excursion we are doing together this morning. We will visit the Nordic Ark, a group who preserve and take care endagered nordic animal species. Drive another 15 minutes to the location, a huge outdoor zoo-like location in the middle of the oak forest! Everything is emerald green, lilacs are blooming as well as lily of the valley – sunshine and blue skies! In a relaxed fashin we walk through the compund, which gives me the opportunity to talk to each participant individually, listening to their experiences of the exchange, their hostfamilies, workplacements, counterparts and challenges! The group is doing good, only normal, average hardships which come with being in an exchange like this for 6 months. Spending time with them like this gives insight somewhat of wether or not the goals with the exchange are fulfilled, one thing is obvious – individuals have grown stronger as well as having gained knowledge and experience on our theme of sustainable entrepreneurship!
1130 We need to leave the compound but a journalist has showned up and starts to interview the Director General of CDD (highest ranking visitor from Thailand). The participants go ahead to lunch, we follow shortly once I have been able to give time for the interview as well as move our group ahead - we have a TIGHT schedule today!
1200 Leave the compound with the journalist as our guide – I have never driven here before! Arrive at the school and everybody eats lunch while I talk to the journalist to make sure he has the correct facts about the exchange. In the end I have 15 min to down my lunch before everybody gathers in a classroom to listen to the participants present their exchange to a swedish class of hormonal youth. It is inspiring and uplifting and we cheer them on encouragingly! Gifts are exchanged and some words are said to the group from me as well as DG.
1400 Depart hastily, with a 2 hour drive ahead of us. Everbody else is sleeping, and my eyes start drooping after 1 hour – I am tired.
1545 Arrive in Skövde, fill gastanks and ask random individuals on the street for directions to the centralstation. Dump all passangers and 20+++ luggage at the train tracks, drive the rental vans to another parking on the opposite side of the train station and run back, return the keys, make sure we are on the right plattform – and the train rolls in!
1647 Train depart for Stockholm. Dog tired. Make sure everybody is comfortable, then sit down and download the menu of the restaurant for the evening and place an order by phone. No time to waste! Arrange some last minute things with Nathalie who is meeting up with us at the hotel to assist. Martin is working equally as diligently, arranging all kinds of practical things for our group.
1840 Arrive to Stockholm. With luggages and all, and only one elevator it takes us 20 minutes to get to the taxi. Arrive at the hotel, no elevator and the heaviest luggages ends up going to the third floor. No choice but to carry luggage once again! Nathalie assists wonderfully, plus she provides with espresso I have ordered – need some caffeine by now. Call the restaurant and inform we are on our way, they are prepared. We make the 20 minute walk from the hotel to Medborarplatsen, all the way answering questions about Sweden, Stockholm and things we see on the way.
2000 Dinner at thai restaurant! An array of delicious dishes of food are displayed on our table, we taken well care of by the waitresses. Everybody enjoys! Erika is there to keep us company and welcome our guests officially from CIU.
2130 Martin and I excuse ourselves from the company. Nathalie and Erika take care of them the rest of the evening. Head home, wash clothes, repack for going to Storuman in the morning – it is still winter up there! Take care of some important emails for work as well as checking some financial matters. Phonecalls are made and other practical matters taken care of – such as making sure I have enough gifts to give our guests on the final evening.
0030 Lights off! Cannot sleep...4 hours of poor sleep tonight! This is day 10 and physically I am pretty tired.
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