Rebecca

Let´s get creative again!

2009-12-10T12:16:00.000-08:00

Yup!

I was gone - I know!

But, now I am back....or at least going to make an attempt at comming back.

It is all thanks to my sweet Martha, who with a passing comment reminded me that I used to have a blog.

And I used to love to blog and add pics....but somewhere along the line this job of mine has squeezed all my energy, time and creativity out of me....

Question is...why did I let it do that to me? Ahhh...whatever - I am back!

This time I am bringing someone special with me. Dedicating todays entry to my sweetheart Robert, who accepts all of me for who I am and who shows me daily how much a person can appreciate, love and care for you. Thanks baby!

Day 10 - Munkedal & Stockholm

2008-05-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

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.

Day 9 - Munkedal

2008-05-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Monday
0630 Wake up, shower, check out the entire group. Reception confused - I need two receipts, one for the 7 thai visitors and another for us that my job pays for (this has been the case everyday, wether it is meals, hotel or anything else – two groups, two receipts and two credit cards).

0800 Breakfast meeting with contact person from Vara municipality, who would like to be hostcommunity next year.

0930 Reception still not done checking my groups out!
0945 Leave the hotel and drive 10 min to a main road, where i meet up with the rest of the group who have had a meeting with the muncipality of Götene. Some come to my van and we begin our 2 hour journey by car to Munkedal, a small town close to the westcoast of Sweden.

1150 Arrive to Munkedal, welcoming by the municipality, gifts and words are exchanged. Followed by lunch all together, which again turns into a logistic challenge of explaining the menu of a local pizzeria/lunch place to the thai. Too much food is again ordered, they start laughing in surprise when the huge pizza arrives. Discuss the future of the exchange with head of municipality.

1400 Visit a workplacement, Stone mason company with a twist! Run by a creative female entrepreneur. Two of the participants have this as their workplacement and they are there to show us around. Listen and talk to them about their exchange.

1530 Check in at Munkedal Herrgård, a mansion turned into a hotel! Very nice, located on a green slope, butting against the dense oak forest. Carry heavy pieces of luggage as our guests are in need of assistance with this. Make sure everyone has a room, park the minivans and drop my own luggage in my room.

1600 Pick up at the mansion by same group of municipal staff from lunch and a few others, including 2 hostfamilies. A bus takes us all, in total 19 people, far into the forest – where they have arranged an adventure event in the wilderness for us to experience. Divided into teams, mix swedish and thai, we do various tasks – chopping wood, logging machinery, transporting logs from one island to another etc. One of our esteemed guests from Thailands experiences an unvoluntary swim in the swedish lake! Brrrrr!! We enjoy deer meet bbq at the indoor fire lodge by our camp and we love it! We sing thai and swedish traditional songs, tell stories, jokes, laugh and eat together! Give a speach about the greatness of our exchange, with our group as an example of the extended exchange experience, and the importance of developing our young people!

2200 Arrive back to our mansion for the night, do some work on the computer, manage some finance issues.

2345 Lights off!

Day 8 - Götene

2008-05-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

Sunday
0700 Wake up, lovely breakfast in a dining hall full of people there for mothers day celebration.

0830 Depart for Kunskapscentrum, where we meet all the participants! Excited to see them and I make sure everybody is greeted personally! They have prepared a presentation for us about their time so far in Sweden. Time is given for me to talk one hour just with the swedish participants, the thai visitors spend the time with the thai participants. Talk more in depth about their experiences, what has been good and what has been challenging. The group is happy, they have a really good energy and they enjoy Götene! Homesick of course, but at the same time dont want the exchange to end..

1100 Depart for Falkängen, an old, traditional crafts village. The youth are given a task by their project fascilitator, to do a SWOT analysis on the craftsvilage! I love it as I watch their keen interest and engagement. Walk around and look at the arts and crafts, shop some gifts and talk to the participants. Director General of CDD wants to see the lake so I make a quick drive with them to the lakeshore – take some pictures and return back to the group. Gifts are given to the youth and we go for lunch! It has been good to see the participants!

1300 After lunch at local asian restaurant, with 15 dishes at least, we visit three hostfamilies – all very different! Love seeing how other people live and the people of Götene are very warm and friendly. It is a beautiful sunny day and at one of the families we are served rhubarb pie and coffee!! Highly recommended! The final hostfamily takes us to the mink farm the father works at, a request from DG. Here I come to fully understand what this is all about and decide that I am not for this kind of thing. Feel very sad for the animals! Not to mention the stench!!

1800 Return to the hotel and take care of some things, freshen up and then take the group to the local pizzeria where we have booked a table. Finding anything open in this area on a Sunday was almost an impossible task. The Lebanese owner takes good care of us and we are full and satisfied when we return back to our rooms at 2130. Take care of few things...

0000 Lights off!

Day 7 - Götene

2008-05-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

0600 Wake up, get ready, breakfast, depart house and take subway to centralstation.
0830 Pick up my colleague, Mr Nimit, from Nordic Sea Hotel
0845 Meet up with entire group of 7 visitors from Thai Ministry, they landed 2 hours earlier in Stockholm
0915 Get on a train to Skövde, 2 hour train ride

Making sure everybody is all right, feel welcome, try to be hospitable and accommodating!
Some of the guest are tired from the flight, they sleep on the train and this gives me an opportunity to make a few phonecalls to my friends - who by now think I am dead and gone!

1115 Arrival in Skövde, Martin (my assistant trip arrangor) and I hurry to get two rental minivans to transport all 10 people and their 20+++ pieces of luggage! I am travelling light, camera and one large handbag.

Somehow we find our way out of this small town I have never driven in before and head for Götene municipality, about 1 hour away. It is a beautiful sunshine day, blue sky, green grass and spring blossoms everywhere....I love this part of Sweden!

Arrive at Lundsbrunn, where we will stay for the night. Lovely lunch which culminates in one of the guests from thailand wanting to play golf rather than join the sightseeing arranged. Fine, make everybody happy! Golf it is, while the rest of us get back in a minivan and head for a historic church, stone carvings and a stunning view of the area from a lovely hillpoint! Ice cream is then consumed, happily!

Guests are jetlagged, return to the hotel, only to find that there is no hot water there for them to shower - in addition to that we have been accomodated in a house with only one shower for all 10 to share! Cant stand by any longer, step in and make some moves at the receptionist - whom, with my help, now can see clearly that she has other rooms we can move to, each room having their own shower - and I also help her to see that this will not cost us more due to the small fact that it is not our fault nor responsibility that there is no hot water. She agrees we should have the new, better rooms at the same rate as the initial booking. Now I am happier...but still not satisfied with some food arrangements. Sort this out, food is provided and I make sure all drinks are served, all guests are tended to and the bills paid in an orderly fashion.

Scratch my leg and blood gushes all over my foot - just what I need!

2200 Finally get everybody moved into their new rooms. Withdraw to my own in order to write up some receipts and documents, answer urgent emails in my work inbox. Sms:es and phonecalls incomming until midnight, when I decide to download the days pictures from camera to computer - and realize I want to make a record of this hectic schedule these days to come....

So, welcome and hope you have the guts to join my adventure!

....and if you are wondering - yeah...I am tired...beyond tired....but today I am happy!

A record of a hectic schedule - Day 1 to 6

2008-05-24T14:44:00.000-07:00

Just for fun, I want to make a record of my days of work at present!

Today - first day of the official visit from our collaborators in Thailand - Ministry of Interior, Community Development Departement.

But wait...I have to rewind as this visit sort of began last sunday, when my thai collegue, Mr Nimit arrived to Sweden. His flight was scheduled to arrive 06.50 sunday morning, 18th may. 8 hours later he arrived, exhausted from a seriously delayed flight from Bangkok. Took care of him that evening, accomodated him in a hotel and spent my evening packing and preparing for the comming days.

Mon - wednesday we had a training camp for our project fascilitators, the ones that take care of the groups of youth in the exchange - in the field. Nimit and I were in charge of 6 facilitators, but the training took place for a total of 12 people at the same location. All from Sweden, Costa Rica, India and Thailand. Early morning until late at night we were coaching, mentoring and having various workshops to assist them in their work and in their collaboration. Their work is tough, challenging and time consuming. To say the least, I was exhausted after managing their training.

Then, thursday - friday, followed a conference together with all our collaborating organizations form the above mentioned countries, as well as Cambodia and Zambia. From early morning until late at night we were in an LFA process, working with the goals of the exchange and improving our collaboration. All I can say is...it was a challenge!

Looking at the past 6 nights, i was lucky if I got 5 hours of sleep per night.

Friday night I slept at my home, finally! The following morning the adventure of the official visit REALLY began...and here I end part one of this record!

Spring has arrived!

2008-04-24T12:17:00.001-07:00

Clean
Originally uploaded by Beckis

After 6 months of winter and darkness the days have grown longer, brighter and easier to enjoy! Biked to Kungsträdgården today with the sole purpose of taking pictures of the japanese cherry blossoms. In Sweden on days like this everybody leaves work and heads for the parks, icecream in hand!

Warm spring sun, blue skies, clean air and a billion bees buzzing intoxicatingly from blossom to blossom! Life is sweet in moments like this...

click on the pic if you want to see more images!

Young Love, Petchaburi

2008-04-13T02:03:00.001-07:00

Young Love, Petchaburi
Originally uploaded by Beckis

This was taken on my last trip to Thailand, february and march of 2008. They were so cute, with matching t-shirts and braces!!! Click on the pic to see more from this worktrip to Thailand.

Back in Thailand

2008-03-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

Ok ok I know...it has been ages since I last posted ANYTHING! But you know, I do have a life....
Anyways, here I am again in Thailand and I figured I should do some blogging and add some pics, but this visit is very official in characther and I am not getting more than few hours sleep per night....thus no time for neither blogging nor pics - which means this one will be short!

In brief - being programme director of the exchange programme between Thailand and Sweden means I make an official visit to the groups of youth at present in Thailand. Together with officials fromthe Ministry of interior I have been to Cha Am and trained our fascilitators, visited the youth in Ratchaburi and in Chiang Mai. Ratchaburi is very close to Pathum Thani, where I was last year, and thus also similar in its environment. Chiang Mai was very different, I love the hills and the people in the village of Maewin!

Visiting the youth has been very inspiring, i feel such joy seeing them in their experience like this and feel very proud of their efforts! They are amazing, putting themselves into this for 6 months and there are several inspiring projects being created on the theme of sustainable entrepreneurship...

Well, I have more stories but they will have to wait until the weekend when I am back from Loei! Now I have a few hours to sleep - they come pick me up from the hotel at 7 to go to the airport to fly to Loei, where we stay for 2 nights. If you cant find it on the map look for Udon Thani and then it is close to there....

A walk with Nadi

2007-11-03T02:10:00.001-07:00

In the window
Originally uploaded by Beckis

This september I took a photo-walk in Stockholm with Nadi, who was in Cambodia at the time. Here are my pictures..... his are yet to be seen! To view all photos, click on this one

A few of my Favourite sites on the Net at the moment

2007-10-20T15:10:00.000-07:00

http://flickr.com/
http://www.wikipedia.org/
http://www.youtube.com/
http://www.joost.com/
http://www.last.fm/
http://www.facebook.com/
http://digg.com/
http://www.imageloop.com/en/index.htm

Stockholm Highlights

2007-09-01T05:56:00.000-07:00

Have had this idea for some time now and finally this summer I got it going. Basically it is a blog on my favourite sites in Stockholm. For english speaking it might not work too well as it is all in swedish, but click on the pictures and you will get something out of it.

Check out this link to see what I am talking about:

http://stockholmhighlights.blogspot.com/

Recovering.... I hope!

2007-07-03T05:54:00.000-07:00

People are asking me what I am doing these days....geez....I just got out of an intense job, can I do some recovering before I have to make plans? :) The past days I have been sleeping, watching 24, eating, going for walks, the gym at least 1 hour a day and just being alone. Have met some friends, which has been real nice - but I am yet again reminded of how busy people are here in this city....it is borderline ridiculous!

My plan right now is this; recover, go to the norwegian summerschool on sunday, return to Stockholm a few days before I fly to the US on july 17th. Visit family and friends there until end of august - recover some more! Throughout all of this time, regain some energy and inspiration to work with my creative ideas, do some job research and make some decisions. Maybe.... all I know is I will be back in Stockholm througout the month of september...after that I have no clue....which is what will be figured out over the next few months.

The Simpsons? Oh yeah...Borna took that one the other evening when a few of us got together and went to the movies. The rest of them were too chicken to sit next to Homer! Sweden man.....it does something to people an they dont know how to have fun! Hahahaha....

Past memories

2007-07-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

Bicycle ride with my girls!
Trying to hide from the sun, Jao wears a rainjacket on this beautiful spring day! ;)

Another dedication is over....

2007-07-01T12:17:00.000-07:00

It has been 10 days since the youth group I worked with parted and returned to their original homes in Sweden and Thailand. After submitting my reports and taking care of loose ends, I have been trying to recover from the extreme fatigue and exhaustion this job left me with. Have worked in the past with all kinds of 24-7 jobs, but this one took it´s toll. Yet I do not regret taking this job, it has been an awesome experience and I have met wonderful people! You should take a look at the group blog (link on the top right of this page) to get glimpses of the time we spent in the project. Here are just some faces!

Budapest for the weekend

2007-06-02T15:39:00.000-07:00

While in Budapest we visited Hotell Gellert, which Abdul Baha visited in the past. An amazing city with awesome buildings and great places to eat!

May the force be with you!

2007-06-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

While in Thailand I had my first encounter with Mr Niran, director general of Community Departement Development. Then he qoted Star Wars to all of us. See any resemblance? He came to visit Sweden recently and fell in love with the fields of Raps...and I absolutely adore his positive thinking and inspiring words!

Exhibit

2007-05-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

During the Spring weekend in Götene we set up a table in the sunshine and did our best to impress the locals....

Honey with chocolate and mint...

2007-05-23T13:57:00.001-07:00

....sold by these children along a dirt road in the outskirts of our village in Götene. Local, organic and sooooo sweet!

Moments at work

2007-05-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

In honour of Juan

2007-05-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

Thank you for providing me with my beloved Heroes, Lost & Prisonbreak! We adore you!!!

This one is for Ola & Malin

2007-05-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Co-workers

2007-05-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

My partners in crime! These are all the Project Fascilitators for the Thai - Sweden exchange 2007, together with our coordinators Stefan & Mr Nimit.

Guess Who?

2007-05-12T15:23:00.000-07:00

This is how much fun you can have with a Mac and Photobooth!!!

Le Artist

2007-05-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

During the midcamp I organized for my youthgroup, a "local" artist showed up with a bunch of art supplies.

2007-05-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

Last sunday Götene had their spring weekend festival and all kinds of artist and craftsmen opened up their little shops and studios. I took a bikeride about 25 - 30 km in beautiful sunshine and blue skies! Visiting inspiring artists, enjoying waffles at a quaint café, talking to the locals and taking photos.

My job is in Götene for another 5 weeks now, time flies. This past week we had project fascilitator training in Stockholm, at a convent in Djursholm. It was cool to meet fascilitators from the exchange with India and Costa Rica as well as our own with Thailand. Personally I was even more thrilled about being back in Stockholm, having a great Latte, good Food, city People and just being in my home environment. Used the oportunity to visit my favourite clothes shop Turquoise (www.turquoise.se) and found something for Helene & Godfreys wedding next weekend. I am a little nervous, they have asked me to be toastmaster together with a friend of Godfrey. Not quite sure what to make of that....hehehe....

Present Status

2007-05-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

Since I have been sort of out of touch for a while I felt it might be apropriate to update you on the status of things around here. After 11 weeks of working in Thailand my group is now in Sweden, Götene. We live here until june 17th, when we will go to Stockholm for the final days there before the thai go back home. My job with CIU ends June 30th, not quite sure what awaits after that. Planning to attend the Norwegian summer school early july and then visit family in US until mid september...or so....

Basically my days consist of tending to one thing or another that has to do with my group of youth in their exchange. Working with people like this you sort of never can turn work off, if you know what I mean. Their lives go beyond an 8 hour working day, so my working hours are flexible, and plenty!

This evening the entire group attended a lovely spring consert with swedish singer songwrite Uno Svenningsson, it was great! Sunshine and blue skies all day, nice voncert together in the evening, all dressed up. After the concert I went up to the artist, explained what our group is etc and arranged for a group photo. Here we are!

Spring in Sweden

2007-05-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

You know, being here in Sweden right now is the absolute best time! After long winter everything comes alive with such enthusiasm - you cannot help but feel inspired! The birds sing until late at night, it does not get dark until midnight or so, blue skies, green leaves popping out and beautiful blossoms! I often say I cannot live in Sweden, due to the waaaaay too long winter months, but spring time and summer here are just about the best there is.

Work has brought me to Götene the past 4 weeks, since we came from Thailand, and here are some pictures from this area. It is entoxicatingly beautiful in real life! Work is crazy, cant even find the time to book my own ticket to the US this summer. But work is also a source of joy, the youth are transforming and developing and alot is going on!

Visit to Norway

2007-04-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

Finally back in Scandinavia afte many adventures in Thailand. Work keeps me in Götene, a countryside town 3 hours southwest from Stockolm. Visited childhood friends in Norway recently, wanted to see Cecilie & Adams son Elliot, my first time since he was born. What a child! Adorable!

Happy Naw Ruz!

2007-03-21T00:47:00.001-07:00

Inner spaces
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

Hoping the new year will bring you happiness, love, peacefullness and good health! It is always nice to take the time to reflect on the year gone and to think ahead what the future can bring! May it bring inspiration and creativity as well to you all!

Will I ever get enough?

2007-03-03T05:45:00.000-08:00

Food, food, food! I love thai food! And the best part is I live at a restaurant and we also arranged a workplacement for our entrepreneurship theme, at a big restaurant just around the corner from where I live. And I go there now and then to visit the participants and see how they are getting along, and eat with them...ahhh..sweet life!

In Thailand it is a big thing to talk about eachothers weight, this or that person fat or not. If you eat too much, you will get fat. Every day they love to pinch us swedes here and there, to touch our "big" bodies, as they say. I understand their feeling of big, since they sometimes barely reach up to my chest. Little people...Some of the swedes do not appreciate the fixation about weight, fat and so on, sensitive as they are - so this becomes an issue sometimes. The thai do not mean it in a negative way, they are sort of fascinated at the size of people from the west, since they themselves are so small.

So, back to the food! Today I decided to make Som Tam myself here for lunch. Something I will need to make back home as well, although the ingredients are not easy to find. Maybe have to import their green papaya to the west. Then, after dinner this evening I grew hungry for ripe mango, sliced, with some ice cubes crushed on top and the some coconut milk mixed with a little palm sugar poured over the fruit and ice! Yum yum!

Lately...

2007-03-03T05:44:00.001-08:00

Thailand, Thailand...so many sensations to express my words feel sort of inadequate. I think first and foremost Thailand has something for everyone. There is really not much that cannot be found here, perhaps snowfilled landscapes might be difficult to locate...but other than that anything can be found or bought.

The country varies alot in it's scenery and it's people. And also it's actions. According to culture it is impolite to wear anything else but a shirt that covers your shoulders and pants that cover your knees. But then you will walk in Bangkok or other places and see thai people wearing tiny skirts and sleeveless tops. According to culture you cannot have a boyfriend, yet most girls have boyfriends. According to culture, homosexuality is not accepted, yet this country has a large homosexual population and is known for its gay activities. Hence...they also have the saying " Same same, but different!".

Since I last wrote I have been mostly spending my waking hours working. have you checked in on our website lately? www.swythailandgotene2007.blogspot.com

Enjoying a boatride

2007-03-03T05:41:00.001-08:00

If I only had more time to write...

2007-02-10T22:09:00.000-08:00

So Pathum Thani province is not exactly paradise of Thailand. It is a suburb of Bangkok, focused on industri and very polluted, dirty and much influenced by western exploiting companies. Sad to see.

My days consist of working with the group, handling issues that arise, trying to understand what my collegue is saying (even when she speaks english). Learning a little thai, bicycling on a bike the size of western 11 year olds, eating and eating....I have put an end to any sweets now, only food goes down - otherwise I am going to get real fat!

Have put up more pictures on my flickr site...
I miss you, it is lonely without my loved ones and I think of you often!

Action in Ma Bo Pa's Kitchen

2007-02-10T22:03:00.000-08:00

Visiting Bangkok with Jaew

2007-02-10T21:58:00.000-08:00

My home in Thailand

2007-02-10T21:54:00.000-08:00

Pics to below post...Arrival in Thailand

2007-01-31T21:50:00.000-08:00

Reflections from Thailand

2007-01-31T21:40:00.000-08:00

This morning...waking at the normal hour of 6.30 - 7, it was cold. Believe it or not, the past few nigths have been raw, the cold, moist air comming in through cracks in the floorboards, the walls as well as the open space between the roof and walls. Lately the days have been a nice, perfect temperature but the nights cold in comparison to our first two weeks here. Took my fresh pineapple slices to a table with a view of Chao Praya River (the lady we live with runs a restaurant with other family members, right next to our house). Together with a glass of peppermint tea this was my breakfast. Chao Praya River is too deep and murky for any swimming, also you would for sure have the fish nibbling your toes! This river is the largest river in Thailand and it runs from the northern regions all the way south to Bangkok.

Going to the bathroom here is...how shall I say it? Different! Some of the bathrooms consist of a low, ceramic bowl on the floor where you place your feet on each side and squat down to do your business. There is no toilet paper (so I bring my own EVERYTIME) and if you use toilet paper you cannot flush it down the drain, this would plug the pipes and cause disaster. Some of the toilets have seats like we do in the western world, but they must be constructed specificly for asians, because to me they seem really low. There is no sink to wash your hands in, rather you scoop water from a bowl and rinse your hands after lathering soap all over them. Of course, if you go to shoppingmalls, hotels or any toilet made for tourists or large groups of public, you will find normal fascilities.

Living here is definetly different than vacationing. This is the real thai life, with all its current mixes of culture, modern influences, primitive and high tech. Many chinese live here, as well as immigrants from Myanmar (Burma). Alot of korean, chinese and japanese tourists in Bangkok.

Not sure I will get much of a tan as it is not the thai way to walk around outside of your own home with your shoulders uncovered, hence everyone wears some kind of shirt or blouse which covers the shoulders. Pants or skirt to cover the knees. This is considered to be polite, or showing respect. Needless to say I am still white as a ghost, you just don go out and plop down on a towel and sunbathe....not around here anyways! Maybe during my vacation though.....?

Working here you need to have a good deal of patience and flexibility. Definite plans, well-organized days can turn upside down at the whim of changes brought by some person or the other. I dont have a big problem with it, I sort of just go with the flow. One example is yesterday, bot Jaew and I had made plans for what we would be working with during the day and had alot to do. Then a phonecall changes all, we will be picked up within 15 minutes to attend a big meeting with about 100 people, all heads of the various government offices in the province. We are asked to present ourselves and briefly talk about the project. They rush us to the meeting at 9.00 in the morning, and there we wait for about 2 hours until we get 10 minutes to speak. :)

Inspiring is to observe the youth I work with (7 swedish girls, 4 thai boys and 3 thai girls, 18 - 23 years old). How they are struggling to communicate beyond the language barriers, learning thai and english day by day, living together one swede and one thai - in a hostfamily new to them both. Experiencing the differences in culture, working with the theme of the project - entrepreneurship. Seeing them grow on a personal level as well as in the group, it is fascinating. So far no mayor problems, but we have only been in Thailand for 3 weeks

Arrival in Thailand

2007-01-26T21:31:00.000-08:00

After 15 hour flight we arrived in Bangkok and recieved beautiful floral decorations. Today is the 26th of january and I have already been here almost 3 weeks. Time flies...

One of the best moments during our welcome ceremony was when the head of the Community Development Department (a government organization) said the following at the end of his speach.."May the force be with you! Star Wars" He is the guy in the pink shirt, in one of the pics below.

Then there is me with the King of Thailand, the thaid adore him as if he were a God.

Another highlight was eating out while in Bangkok, we went to this place where we ordered like 30 dishes which we cooked or BBQ ourselves right at the table! Yum yum!

Work is going well, so far I have great time with the youth, adjusting to life here is challenging but educating. Trying to learn the language and assisting the group in their endeavours to face their challenges. It is all good! Just wish I had a clean bathroom, at the moment I was by throwing a bowl of water over myself, then lather up, then rinse again by throwing water....woohooo!!

Allright!

2006-12-15T04:15:00.000-08:00

So the below post was my test to figure out how to post YouTube videos on my blog! And I did it! Hahaha....yeah yeah, I know, stop laughing at me. But the reason I am really excited is because you guys are all scattered across the globe and i miss you all and I keep moving around and would like to share some of my experiences. Now that I have figured it out I will most definetly be posting videoclips now and then, so keep checking in!

Love you all!

Crazy Times...Crazy Kids

2006-12-15T04:07:00.000-08:00

Götene

2006-11-24T16:39:00.000-08:00

Some pics from Götene county, the place where I am working right now - preparing for the International Youth Exchange which will take place here in april, may and june next year. These were taken early november....see the potential for beauty?

Have to add that it gets dark at about 4 in the afternoon and stays dark until somewhere around 8 in the morning, if even that early. One reason why I cant take Swedish winters anymore....the many hours of darkness....

Stockholm in early october

2006-11-24T16:37:00.000-08:00

Älskade Gloria!

2006-11-24T16:33:00.000-08:00

Tack för din kärlek, din styrka och din omtanke! Jag beundrar dig av tusen orsaker och är oändligt tacksam att du finns i mitt liv! Love you!

Another congratulation!

2006-11-24T16:26:00.000-08:00

Together with Cecilie at Maria's wedding. Here she was pregnant, expecting her first born who has now actually joined us all! A beautiful baby boy named Elliot O'Toole! Yet again I am auntie to a boy, Mikael being the first and now little Elliot! The weird face to the right....do we know you? Hahaha....the infamous Mr Johnsen!

New Horizons

2006-10-29T01:41:00.000-08:00

As of october 23d I am employed by CIU of Sweden. For more information check out www.ciu.se (and yes, there is an english version as well).

My job runs until July '07 and I will be working as a projectleader for an exchange between Sweden and Thailand. The job is partly in Stockholm, partly in Götene (a tiny area in southwestern Sweden) and partly in Thailand!!!

Beloved Nilo

2006-10-12T23:44:00.000-07:00

Around 10 years ago I moved to Stockholm and became part of Bonian and Kristinas family, with their two daughters Nilo and Gloria. Since then we have been close, sharing our lives. Almost two years ago Nilo fell ill and has fought the cancer growing in her body. When I returned to Sweden this september, the doctor told the family there was no return, the cancer would take our Nilo. Her response was then "vi skall fira den dödliga sorgen" ("we shall celebrate the deadly grief"). Despite her pain she was continously joking, teasing, laughing and always caring for others and sharing her love and generosity, never complaining! She passed away the morning of october 12th, only 19 years old. Photo's are from the pajamas party we had at the hospital last weekend. Thank you Nilo!

Two months later...

2006-10-11T14:40:00.000-07:00

...And I am back in Scandinavia and so much has happend since I last posted to this site. Sorry!
I will be updating with pics soon, but let me just brief you on my activities since beginning of august. Went to ABS conference in San Fransisco, drove the whole way in my little Honda, and had the joy of meeting several friends there! Went to Mendocino with my father and Ayla and Carmen for a few days, also a roadtrip! We stayed in a cute house and did lots of art work and enjoyed this old coastal town. End of august I flew to Sweden to visit my mother, then to Norway to help my best friend Maria organize her wedding on 23d september.

Since I came back to Sweden much of my time has been spent with my sister Nilo who is in the hospital here. Had issues with my tenant, who moved out late, left the place in a total mess and has of yet not paid me. To say the least, it has been a disaster. But I am keeping my calm in all these adversities happening, doing my best to keep my calm and positive outlook on life. But this is a thing I hate about Sweden- people are so negative and cold and it rubs off on you.

Have decided to take a job I was offered, think it will bring me towards my goal of working on an international level. The organisatio is called CIU (www.ciu.se). The job is 8-9 months and I will be partly in Stockholm, partly in a small town southwestern Sweden and 3 months in Thailand. See why I am taking it? :)

I ADORE Thailand! Being my new job 23d of october. So, thats all from me at the moment. Will get back with some new pics real soon.

I miss you all!

Respectfully

2006-08-03T21:44:00.000-07:00

In honour of my mother, with love and respect! At age 5 she took me pioneering to the cold north of Finland and Norway, all on her own, for the sake of the Bahá´'í Faith.

Another year...another day...

2006-08-03T21:31:00.000-07:00

So at beloved friends request I am making an entry in regards to my birthday today. First of all, I want to honour my parents this year, who show me great love! Second,let me also congratulate Harrisson, who's birthday is also today! Third, I appreciate all the attention I have been given from loved ones across the globe, it has warmed me! Without you all, I would be miserable! Thank you!

Here is something which has inspired and assisted me during this year:

"We ought to show something greater than forgiveness in meeting the cruelties and strictures in our lives. To be hurt and forgive is saintly but far beyond this is the power to comprehend and not be hurt. This power we may have...acceptance without complaint and it should be associated with our name. We ought never to be known to complain or lament. It is not that we would "make the best of things," but that we may find in everything, even in calamity, the gems of enduring wisdom. We ought never be impatient. We ought to be as incapable of impatience as one would be of revolt. This not being so much long-suffering as quiet awareness of the forces that operate in the hours of dark or years of waiting and inactivity. Always we ought to move with the larger rhythm, the wider sweep, towards our ultimate goal, in that complete acquiescence, that perfect chord which underlies the spirit of the faith itself." Bahiyyih Khanum Baha'i World, Vol. V, p. 185

Roadtrip to Seattle

2006-08-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I made a roadtrip to Portland and Seattle. Purpose was business and visiting Richard & Rebecca McLaughlin, Farshid & Neda Sedghi. Both lovely couples I served with at the Bahai World Center in Haifa. It was wonderful to see them again! My stay was longer in Seattle, so all pictures are from there. Neda brought me to the famous Pike Market, adoring the flowers and laughing at the fish! What do you think of the random three asian guys on the phone???

My favourite waterhole

2006-08-03T10:58:00.000-07:00

Sharps Creek, or Emerald pool, as me and my sister renamed it years ago, is my absolute favourite spot to go here in Oregon when it gets really hot and I need to cool off. A 15 minute drive out of Cottage Grove, into the forest mountainrange, this creek is surrounded by giant trees, crystal clear water, so clear you can see the fish swimming and smooth rocks and stonebottom...years of rocks poring by in the winter has smoothed it out to the extent where I can lay down in the shallow creek and the clear water cascades around me as I enjoy the smooth surface I lie on and the water cooling me off.

I go as often as I can. Wether alone, or like here with Papa, Carmen and her friend Grace!

University of Oregon

2006-08-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

The campus area in Eugene is well known for its beautiful parks, buildings and just plain cool atmosphere. Sometimes I go there just to feel the international scene, I miss hearing a mix of languages and seeing people from all over the world. Campus provides all that. Just walking around there, taking pictures, having coffee at Café Roma and being inspired in general is a good thing.

My visits to the world so far....

2006-07-22T23:01:00.000-07:00

visited 27 states (12%)
Create your own visited map of The World

Another day in Paradise

2006-07-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

You never know what will happen here in Hickville, Oregon.
Take yesterdays adventure for example...

I am out of Cottage Grove, about 20 min by car, enjoying the sunshine at this beautiful spot on earth called Sharps Creek. After hours of water and sun I head back home, only to run into fierce smoke, a branch has fallen atop the electrical wires and has caught fire. Big fire HAZARD! Forest fires are dangerous around here. So I speed to the next area of houses, brake hard into the driveway of the first house and head for the door. Seeing a young woman on the street nearby, now heading in my direction, I face her asking if she lives there. Her reply is no, something is odd about her, but I am on a mission!

Knock on the door, no answer. I look around, desperate for quick assistance to call 911. I see some people at a house further down, so I walk back to the road and this woman is still looking at me weirdly.

"There is a branch over the electrical wires just up the road, a fire has started!" I say.
"What?" She says, with an odd expression on her face
I repeat what I have just said, real fast this time, have no time for people being weird when I am on a rescue mission. I run to the next house, tell them whats happening, they are on the phone straight away and call it in. People are being dispatched as we end the conversation. All is good, I head back to my car....and this is when the adventure REALLY begins...

"Hey you! Come over here!" The woman calls to me from up the street.
"Whats your name?"
"Rebecca"
"You are not from around here are you?"
"No, I live down in Cottage Grove"
"Uhhuh...really. Do you know Chris?" Suspicious
"Chris Huebner?" I am all questionmarks by now, is she talking about my brother Christen??
"No, Chris, red hair!!" She is all up in my face now, aggressive, short blond hair, black pants, white tank top, tattoos, chains around her neck.
"No" I reply, eyeing her up and down, wondering what the heck is going on
"You didnt come up here looking for Chris? You didnt go up to that house, looking for Chris? Did you??! Agitated, sort of desperate and angry. Eyes all wild, real attitude problem.
"No, serioulsy, there is a fire down the road!"
"Oh there will be a fire allright! If I find out that my old man is fucking around with you!" She shouts
By now I have turned away from her, heading back to my car, thinking I dont have time to deal with this, laughing inside at her rampage right there on the road in the middle of nowhere.
"You better come back here, lets just finnish this here and now! You fucking hore, you cunt you!!" Shouts are echoing off the surrounding houses, neighbours must be watching.
I am laughing, walking to my car and I dont even stop. No time for a freak on meth or better yet, a mental case. Better to get out of there before she jumps me and I will have to seriously injure her.

I figure she was stalking around this place, some issues going on inside her mind about this guy Chris, sees me pull up from nowhere and makes this story in her haid, totally disregarding the issue of a fire happening. It was all about her!

Anyways, I see the firebrigade come around the corner, follow them back to the fire and watch them put it out. Happy to have saved the world once again from evil forces!

Hiking up Mackenzie River

2006-07-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

Hiking up Mackenzie River
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

Some of the best things about summer in Oregon are the amazing hikes we go on! I love the nature here! It is so pure, lush, green and clean...can it get any better? There are more pics from this hike if you click on this pic....

4th of July

2006-07-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

So for 5 days I am at my uncles place in Brookings, right.... at the beach, right...and I have packed accordingly - summer, beach, sunshine, right....and the entire time it is gray, overcast and cold! The sunloving beachperson as I am, it is an understatement to say I was disapointed. With a gigantic garagesale to tend to we were busy enough and come 4th of july invited to the best view in town: Brookings old lighthouse, situated right above where the fireworks are set off. Downside....the party consisted of about 50 people with one foot in this world and one in the next world, all above their 80s, halfdeaf and wabbling around....hahahah...hilarious actually as I became everyones target of curiosity, being a foreigner and a young person. Some old geezer was trying to hook me up with his 45 year old son who wasnt even present! Hah!

Meditation

2006-06-26T23:27:00.000-07:00

Meditation
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

A two day camping/servicing our mine-plot in the Bohemia mines area. An hour or more east of Cottage Grove, way up in the mountains. Check out the rest pf the pics by clicking on this one...

Blooms

2006-06-17T22:13:00.000-07:00

Blooms
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

My favourite time of the year...summer!!
There are roses everywhere in the garden, the bees are happy, the air is heavy with the sweet scent and I am picking them and decorating the bathroom, the kitchen, the livingroom and our bedrooms!

Click on this pic to link to my photoalbums on Flickr...

2006-06-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

Mansion of Bahji
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

Ayla's Birthday

2006-06-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

My wonderful sister Ayla turned 16 years old on June 8th!
In celebration I took her to the Pizza Research Institute for the best slice of pizza in the world, then to the movies and finally finnished the evening off with DDR - Ayla's favourite recreation!

She is growing up to be an amazing young woman, artistic, loving, embracing all kinds of people, full of laughs...but best of all - my sister!

I love you Ayla!

Pilgrimage

2006-06-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

9 day pilgrimage.... It was wonderful to be back!

To visit the places which Bahá'is hold dear to their heart, as sacred and holy historical sites. In addition I was blessed to have many friends still serving at the Bahai World Center and it was a joy to see them all again! Another blessing was being in the same group as close family friends since childhood, the Kragh family from Norway and Joakim and his wife Ellie from Norway/Peru.

What can I say but that it was days of spirituality, friends, love, food, laughter, craziness and an intense schedule!

Thank you to all who made it all happen!
To see the album of photos from pilgrimage go to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25994266@N00/

Moonlight Wisteri

2006-05-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

An evening walk in Eugene ended at McMennamins Grill. Moonlight above, as well as strong, fragrant wisteria!

Random....

2006-05-04T23:12:00.000-07:00

.....shot of my sandals!

With my father

2006-05-04T23:09:00.000-07:00

Breakfast by the River

2006-05-04T22:50:00.000-07:00

So in honour of my brother Jason,
my father and I cooked up a storm last sunday!

Fresh yoghurt with even fresher strawberries and walnuts.
Scrambled eggs with basil and garlic!
Bacon and freshly baked bread from old italian stone-oven-bakery,
with pastrami, swiss cheese, olives, pickles!
Hot brewed tea and peach pastry to top it off!

What a morning! Forget breakfast in bed
when you can have breakfast by the river next to your house!

Carmen

2006-05-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

Needless to say I adore my 10 year old sister!

Sisterly Faces

2006-05-04T22:31:00.000-07:00

Brookings Weekend

2006-04-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

Had a nice roadtrip last weekend. Drove 4 hours south, small town of Brookings - right on the border of Oregon/California. My uncle Michael lives there and my grandmother was over for the weekend. Needed to spend some time with her, and the weekend was a lovely one filled with sunshine, sandy beach, various workers comming to remodel the house, dogs running around and wireless Internet!

My Honda

2006-04-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

After maaaaaany requests I am posting a pic of my wheels, the Honda Civic which has given me my freedom. This past week it has also freed my account of a considerable amount as things are falling apart in the engine....not good!

Since LA...

2006-04-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

So since I have been back in Oregon, after sunny California, it has been a rainy stretch, pouring down at times. Even in California it has poured and Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency due to the rain! Hahahaha...sounds kinda funny, but guess it is not funny if your house goes sliding down the hill...

Continuing to work at Jaspers Deli, yet resigned yesterday and this week is my last week there. Next week i start working with Looking Glass and their at-risk girls. Looking forward to doing something I love! It may or it may not be a good thing, time will tell.

This last weekend we made a trip to Portland to see Cirque Du Soleil. For those of you who have never heard of them you better Google it and take a look at their story! They are AMAZING and their site provides little movieclips from their shows! Awesome! We drove up saturday and stayed in our regular hotel run by indians, cheap but central. Dad as always brings his own sheets and pillow. Wandered around the Pearl District, art galleries, Whole Foods, Italian market, Powells bookstore, for hours! Carmen cried half the night from a sore throat, so not much sleep there. Yet the next day all was good and we met up with Christian and his kids for breakfast at Jake's Grill, connected to the fancy Governor Hotel. We are sooooo posh! :) Then off to the mesmerizing world of Cirque du Soleil! We loved it! Parked close to a bridge while at the Cirque, and found that people were living up under the bridge - right at the top in the corner so to say - nice carbondioxyde scented livingroom!

Leilaaaaaaaaa!!!

2006-03-26T19:13:00.000-08:00

My wonderful friend Leila drove 3 hours to meet me in LA and we spent a day enjoying the sun, shops, boulevard, beach, fun and laughs in Santa Monica! I love you Leila!

Apothia at Fred Segal

2006-03-26T19:05:00.000-08:00

Purpose of whole trip was to do some work at Fred Segal, Apothia, on Melrose Avenue. All about beauty products! Assignment for a swedish business. This place is all about the rich and famous and celebrities! Saw more celebs in 3 days than ever before.

2006-03-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

Bel Air

2006-03-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

My very loving host, Parvin, showing me her garden surrounding her home in Bel Air, where I stayed part of my time in Los Angeles. Of course, with her great love Lulu in her arms....

My second cousin

2006-03-26T18:43:00.000-08:00

Visiting my fathers cousin Wally for the first time I realize I have the coolest character ever in my family! With a passion for bonsai, photography, travelling the world, art and real-estate my second cousin makes a profound impression on me!

On the road

2006-03-26T18:37:00.000-08:00

So much time in LA is spent on the road...

Santa Monica Beach

2006-03-26T18:28:00.000-08:00

With my uncle Ron I venture to Santa Monica during my Los Angeles visit in late march. This is the area where my father was born, as well as my brother Christen. Soooooo nice!!!!

Snow falls

2006-03-26T18:25:00.000-08:00

It is spring and pink blossoms emerge, but then the snow came from the blue!

Carmen the artist

2006-03-26T18:22:00.000-08:00

A sunny weekend in early march, 2006.

Papa's workshop takes shape...

2006-03-26T18:15:00.000-08:00

Details....

2006-02-05T22:08:00.000-08:00

Another Altar (3)
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

Another Altar

2006-02-05T22:01:00.000-08:00

Another Altar (2)
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

Favourite Altar

2006-02-05T21:59:00.002-08:00

Favourite Altar (1)
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

My dad makes these from scratch, all wood! This is one of my favourite!

Close up

2006-02-05T21:59:00.001-08:00

Another Altar (3)
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

Favourite Altar

2006-02-05T21:59:00.000-08:00

Favourite Altar (2)
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

View from the side, notice the details!

The Bus

2006-02-05T21:58:00.000-08:00

The Bus
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

Where I will live once it gets warmer! It has a great view of the river and in the spring folliage and flowers start growing and climbing all over the walls outside, covering all the grey.

Inside the bus

2006-02-05T21:57:00.000-08:00

Inside the bus
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

The front section is set up as an art-workplace, the back is the sleeping quarters with view of the river.

Dad's front yard

2006-02-05T21:55:00.000-08:00

Dad's front yard (1)
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

Notice the peace-flag? The place looks like a shack, but in the summer it is real cool and the inside is full of all kinds of treasures!

With my brother Christen

2006-02-05T21:51:00.001-08:00

With my brother Christen
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

Here we are working together in my dad's workshop. To see more pic's from this adventure, click on any picture and it will take you to my photoalbum on Flickr.

Blue skies

2006-02-05T21:51:00.000-08:00

Blue skies
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

Some of the first sun and blue skies we have seen in about a month!

Contemplation

2006-02-05T21:50:00.000-08:00

Contemplation
Originally uploaded by Beckis.

2006-02-05T21:02:00.000-08:00

Keeping up my blog has not been my strongest side lately. Reasons? Many! But I am not going to bore you all with petty excuses and rather get on with what has been happening lately. As most of you know I am here in Oregon helping my dad out. Having been here for a good two months now, some positive sides as well as less positive sides have revealed themself.

Positive is I am spending more time with my father and siblings than ever before in my life.
Less positive is that I miss the privacy of having my own home! But I am getting used to it by now.

Positive is that I am leaving the doors open for oportunities to enter my life.
Less positive is that for 2 months, no oportunities nor new friends have entered my life! Yet! :)

Positive is that I now have my social security number sorted out, hence I can work.
Less positive is that I still have found no source of income, hence I am broke.

Positive is I am applying for my passport, and it might go well.
Less positive is that for every paper I get ready, there is another item to be completed. Right now I am trying to get my drivers license as they have asked me to provide such an ID. Going to have to take written test as well as drivers test again. Hah!

I have put together some pictures which illustrate som aspects of life around here. Somehow the days go by!
Everyone is fed up with the rain, which lasted for a good month. Obviously I hate rain, being the sun- and beach-lover as I am, and so this next forecast promising sun this week looks real good. If not, I might just go out and do something desperate to get some cash together and fly down to LA, warmer and sunnier! Or maybe just elope to New Zeeland, which is where I would love to go! Saw a good travel documentary on NZ last night and it made me even more determined.

Good movies I have seen? Not many, as I have been to only 3 movies since I arrived in US. Best one so far is New World with Colin Farrel. Real good! Calm, slow, full of spirit, beautiful nature and just different. I recommend it!

Good books? Well, at my fathers insistance I am reading the book "End of Faith" by Sam Harris, which turns out to be pretty interesting and a good historic perspective of the largest religions in the world today, except bahai of course. Another book which is waiting for me to get into is "Crescent" by Diana Abu-Jaber.

So what have I otherwise been doing to get time to pass? Apart from trying to get my life sorted out, I have joined the YMCA here which has a good pool and gym, taking pictures of the altars my dad has made over the past 10 years (he is not a business man, so not many have been sold, just laying around waiting for me to do something about it) and I want to put together a site for them and a portfolio to show potential buyers. Also, despite my fathers condition, he is insisting my brother and I help him remodel his workshop, which has been an ongoing process. He also got me to help him work for one of his clients (my dad is real stubborn and works some days despite his recovery), so for the first time in my life I have learned how to replace new drainage in a garden. This means alot of digging and hauling dirt! In this case, all done in pouring rain!

Have also helped my grandmother move into her new home, after 40 years in her old house. Her husband passed away last summer and so she is all alone except for my uncle who lives here in Oregon as well. She moved into a gated community in Medford, and while i was there we were invited to several of her senior friends in the area for dinner. No lack of old people for me to hang out with! :)

So, with this I close a very long blog entry this time! Looking ahead at the fact that it can only get better and there is lots of room for possibilities! If anybody is in the neighbourhood you are welcome to visit, I can sure need the company!

Another rainy day in Oregon

2006-01-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

With Grandma

.

Having spent the past weeks of Holiday's with mothers family things seem like they can go back to normal now. Being in Medford & Brookings with mother, grandmother and uncle over the holidays for the first time ever, prooved to be an interesting challenge! Rainy days, family tension - but good food and memories of us together like this for the first time.

Back in Cottage Grove now, hoping to find a social life, a gym and things to inspire my future. The rain is still pouring down, as it has for 3 weeks. Yesterday, while working with my dad to clean out his workshop, a huge possum was revealed from beneath a pile of leaves and insolation! My dad got more scared then the possum! Lots of laughs as we chased it out of the property!

Memories

2006-01-04T11:34:00.000-08:00

Night at Shrine II

I miss walking this path at night, seeing all the colors and emotions the Shrine offers!

Beginning

2005-12-30T00:18:00.000-08:00

So...here it goes....the beginning of my Blogging!
I am hoping to bring it all together to keep you up to date on my whereabouts, pictures, people, happenings, moments and laughs in life!

At present time I am in Cottage Grove, Oregon, USA. Missing my beloved friends all over the world...

Welcome to my beginning!