Shoshin-Zazen

Alright, this is rather atypical of me, so you should be glad that you caught me in a rare moment of human nature.

I was at the farm and green rolling fields near Lappis last weekend. It was very good weather, the sun shinning and lots of good photo taking opportunities. I got my friend out to a bench out on the fields to do some work, with a ice cream in hand, of course (in 5 degree wind chill weather, mind you). There were kids running around on the grass, rolling and jumping, just having a good time. What a minute..we were working on a sunday!? Luckily, it turns out that we got carried by many events that was happening around us, one of which was - are you ready? -

You might have guessed it! Cute and super cute puppies!!!! Zooming using my trusty FZ-18, they look so adorable. Alright, there I have said it.

There were other notables, like a kid trying to fly a kite but somehow didn’t know how to. Hmm, kite flying alright I got another engineering idea.

It was time to go home soon, and we stumbled back into the warm fuzzy cell in stockholm, the place I call home at least for the next 8 months.

Be back with autumn pictures soon.

Oh yes, after 2 weeks in a place so far away from home the truth is finally settling in. One year ago, I contemplated to join NOC (NUS Overseas Colleges), and had to go through interviews, and more interviews. After that long and tedious process, I took a long long flight to stockholm, arrived safetly, settled down, bought alot of groceries and visited some cemetaries and old town and started work. I didn’t feel any different, just a little self-suprised that I made it to this nordic country, and working for a company that is, well a great place to work in.

There are some things that are noteworthy:

1. No ready made breakfast in the morning.
2. Waking up to silence (and the occasional alarm clock).
3. Listening to other people’s conversation and pretend that you know what they are talking about.
4. Learn to present your country well (or rather in a good light).
5. Introducing yourself to your corridor mates one at a time.
6. Having sinus everytime I walk outside.
7. Cooking both lunch and dinner together at one shot.
8. Going to the supermarket to record prices down to compare them in another supermarket.
9. Having to plan your meals one week in advance.
10. Spam the mircowave oven with leftover food.
11. Drinking milo in the cold cold morning is a (huge) luxury.
12. Peope screaming their heads off (Lappis shout) at 10pm for no apparent reason.

All right if I think of more I will post it here. Meanwhile enjoy my homecooked pasta with alaskan pollack with assorted vegetables.

“A City for all Senses” - that is what Stockholm boldly brands itself with. Though my own observations, Stockholm is truly cosmopolitan, even more than Singapore. It attracts a diverse mix of intercontinental visitors to the “capital of Scandinavia”. I arrived on the 13th of August, on a cloudy morning at Arlanda Airport and got to see what the fuss was all about.

Here’s a photo journey of what I saw for the past few days:

At the airport.

Visit to KTH Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan.

KTH Library

Metro at Universitetet, the nearest station from Lappis (Lappkärrsberget) where I stay.

Gamla Stan, was my first stop.

See the difference? Both pictures shows the same area almost 200 years apart. Quite similar!

More impressions here.