The Hat

Snow

Photograph: Lake Louise Ski Resort

Canada

Today I was fairly busy  at work and working in syndications with energy companies has proven to be a challenging task. But I like to be challenged and I try to take in as much information as I possibly can. Being busy also allows me to think less on being in Europe and more on being in Canada.

Tomorrow I am moving to my new room, and I will finally sleep in a real bed (Thank God). This is hopefully my final destination before I get an apartment of my own (not in Canada). I will update you on the result tomorrow.

So, my mom and dad probably want to hear about the weather. Well, when I arrived on Saturday it was 9 degrees and fairly warm to be wearing a Canada Goose. But, this morning it was fresh -14 degrees and in the evenings it is fairly chilly as well. But I promise you all to let you know when we reach the -40 region (and yes, we are talking Celsius).

Now, back to my Starbucks hot chocolate

Travel nerves…

I am starting to get nervous about this new adventure I am about to embark on. But at the same time I am proud of myself for taking the opportunity

If not now - then when?

I know when I see the sun settle in the Rockies that I will never regret this adventure.  Just like we watched the sunrise in the California desert.

Snapshots From the Desert

25

Celebrated my 25th birthday today with my family. I am so happy to meet everyone again… Thank you so much for coming and for the lovely gifts!

Photograph: Sunset in San Francisco/ Napa Valley

The Treat?

Thinking about rewarding my hard work with this goodie...What do you think?

My God, Amazing That We Got This Far

So only two exams of five to go. This weekend was truly horrible. I slept 10 hours of pure depression, woke up with stomach ache and fever pushing myself to finish my paper in Economic Forecasting and prepare my exam in Financial Accounting (which by the way is one of my favorite subjects).

Although this has been a tough semester I am very grateful for this experience and I am amazed by the nice exchange students I met. Some courses have truly been a pleasure and I know more or less the change I want to lead after being here.

I cannot wait for Saturday to come when I will sit on a plane on my way to Los Angeles to spend one month with the love of my life. Although we spend most of the time apart M is the most supportive and unselfish man I have ever met. I know one day soon we will buy our favorite apartment in Zürich with a big bathtub and an amazing bed that for the first time is standing on legs. But until that day we will support each other dreams and honestly that is the only way to get this far.

Marching On

In moments of desperation there is not much more to do than to break something. I have been trying to throw things around me (mainly my cell phone on my bed), crying, and finally I found a satisfying way to handle my mix feelings; cut a pair of jeans a part.

I can assure you it was jeans that were supposed to be cut apart anyway but I must say it was a very satisfying feeling when your mind is racing.

So now I am back in the library with my 30 page long paper in how to forecast a stock index (or more why you cannot in the end), I am listening to this song thinking which foot I should move in front of the other….

One Republic – Marching On

For those days we felt like a mistake,
Those times when love’s what you hate,
Somehow,
We keep marching on

For those nights when I couldn’t be there,
I’ve made it harder to know that you know,
That somehow,
We’ll keep moving on

There’s so many wars we fought,
There’s so many things we’re not,
But with what we have,
I promise you that,
We’re marching on

For all of the plans we’ve made,
There isn’t a flag I’d wave,
Don’t care if we bend,
I’d sink us to swim,
We’re marching on

For those doubts that swirl all around us,
For those lives that tear at the seams,
We know,
We’re not what we’ve seen

For this dance we’ll move with each other.
There ain’t no other step than one foot,
Right in front of the other.

There’s so many wars we fought,
There’s so many things we’re not,
But with what we have,
I promise you that,
We’re marching on

We’ll have the days we break,
And we’ll have the scars to prove it,
We’ll have the bonds that we save,
But we’ll have the heart not to lose it

For all of the times we’ve stopped,
For all of the things I’m not

We put one foot in front of the other,
We move like we ain’t got no other,
We go when we go,
We’re marching on

Things to Look Forward to

Helena 25 Years

Special thanks for all emails and cards... I hope to answer them soon!

The Problem With.... Bags

So while I am deeply in stressed with my entire 500 project for school I decided to stop for a while and think about something as superficial as bags. The reason is that I need a new bag… and being on travelling feet for some years now I do not carry around just any bag. I need a strong black leather bag that can hold all my books, computers and necessities. I do not want an overpriced designer bag unless someone pays me for doing the marketing. So no bag with an obvious brand and no plastic fantastic… I have no need to purchase my social identity – it’s created with memories and memories can be carried in just any bag.

I am telling you, it is not easy to buy a nice quality bag. If Veja was to produce a nice woman handbag I would be the first in line.

So guys, any suggestions?

Surviving Life

That how my life feels like now. While I am up over my ears in readings, group works and other projects I am trying to take one of the biggest decisions of my life. It’s not easy to cope with all the stress at once… But in three weeks this semester is over; and then I will look back and say I did it.

But right now I just have to do it…

Meet the New Me

New frames!!!

Superwoman

Times like this requires an inspiring song - Superwoman

Everywhere I'm turning
Nothing seems complete
I stand up and I'm searching
For the better part of me
I hang my head from sorrow
state of humanity
I wear it on my shoulders
Gotta find the strength in me

Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I'm a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I'm a Superwoman

For all the mothers fighting
For better days to come
And all my women, all my women sitting here trying
To come home before the sun
And all my sisters
Coming together
Say yes I will
Yes I can

Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I'm a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I'm a Superwoman

When I'm breaking down
And I can't be found
And I start to get weak
Cause no one knows
Me underneath these clothes
But I can fly
We can fly, Oh

Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I'm a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I'm a Superwoman

Traveler's Food

Sitting here eating my noodles I fantasies about the gourmet meal I had in the beginning of the week: pan-fried chicken, rice and sauce… For you probably the most uncomplicated dish ever, but for me changing kitchen every 4 months (together with refrigerator and tools) it was a real accomplishment.

Another classic dish, pasta, tomato sauce and bacon!

The true agony of living in a suitcase. And I do not see an end of it. When will I have stay in one place longer than 4 months? God only knows…

The Moment You All Been Waiting For

The address to my beautiful, brown, over-priced apartment on York University Campus:

Helena Hansson
You should have written this down by now

Toronto, Ontario

Canada

Canadian cell phone: You should have written this down by now (please check if you need additional international prefix before sending a text or giving a call, I believe it is 001)

Please note that my mail box is tiny winy and that I am vacating the apartment on the 17^th of December.

San Diego

The Problem of Entering the US

So after spending two hours on public transportation to Pearson International Airport I was denied entrance to the US due to the fact that I did not have a VISA… Complicated as it is the form you usually fill out on the airplane now needs to be filed electronically before travelling and it costs you 14 $ - probably covering the current deficits in the US budget (=ESTA - and yes I should have know that). Luckily if you manage to fill it out you are granted direct access to the US. Thank god for my computer, visa card and the wireless internet at the airport which made me successfully fill out an application (while my hands were trembling and my eyes filled with tears because of the stress). In between I called M in desperation to make sure I filled in all the questions correctly…

Well, after actually being granted access I was hand-picked in the security zone for having a Swiss army knife (seriously, what was it still doing in my hand bag?). Seems I have inherent some of my mom’s luck when it comes to airports. Anyway, knifeless I am now waiting for my flight which leaves in 45 min. I just wonder what adventure waits for me when returning to Canada again…

Enjoy your weekend!

Btw my blog has now had 1000 page views – congratulations to all readers for choosing this amazing blog!

Second exam done…

And finally I am in almost holiday mood. Tonight we are going down to Kalendar for dinner and then for some drinks. I could really use a glass of wine and a decent meal…

Tomorrow I am going to the US with only hand luggage – try to beat that (Air Canada recently changed the rules and you now have to pay for each bag you check in). Luckily I have a small scale brought by my parents so I can easily monitor the weight of my luggage :-) And honestly - what could you need more in LA than a bikini? (maybe the body for the bikini as well...)