Last hours

It is 3.52 am and I am awake. Is anyone surprised?

Have very little packing left though so after three blissful hours of sleep (four last night, argh) I will hopefully be able to make it on time.

Yesterday we went to an NHL game! Washington Capitals vs Detroit Red Wings, which finished 3-2 to the Caps. This morning we (three interns and no other people other than the guide!) got a tour of the heart of American defense - the Pentagon. I am too tired to write coherent sentences, will sleep now.

Inside the Capitol

John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts

One of the things I regret here, having three days left in Washington, is that I have not gone to more free concerts in the Kennedy Center (especially since I have a perfect view of it from my window). Every day at 18, there is a free performance at the so-called Milennium Stage. So far I have only seen a Rockabillyish band, a Swedish child performance artist, a Ukrainian/Russian folk music band, and today some men from the Airforce orchestra (I was a bit disappointed by the lack of uniforms though). Shame.



Bonus info: We discovered today that the glass chandeliers were donated by Swedish Orrefors in the 60's, in honour of JFK.

Julian Casblancas

Yesterday we went to a concert with the Strokes member gone solo, Julian Casablancas. Must be the coolest name in the world.

Some photos from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

New Year's Eve

Happy New Year!

I just wanted to wish you all (or you few, to be more accurate) a happy new year!

2009 has been a kick-ass year for me. Usually, if one half of a year is great, the other half tends to be bad or so-so. 2009 however has been great from start to finish. I had a fantastic, fun and crazy time in Groningen, soaking up what was probably the very last sip of my irresponsible (well, not really) student life. I somehow managed to land an internship in DC and didn't know at all what to expect, but things have been great here as well - my friends, the work (ok, "great" might be to push it a bit, but fun most of the time), the city, and more.

Ok, this is turning way too ego, so I will continue my day. The plan for tonight is to have 10 or so people here for dinner, then hit a club. I hope you all are as happy with 2009 as I am.

I don't really heart NY

I just got back from spending two days in New York City, have a look at the photos below. It’s the second time I’ve been there during my time in Washington, and I have to say that I’m still wondering what all the hype and fuss is about. Yes, it’s a cool city filled with places you recognize from television, but it definitely doesn’t get me the way that for example Paris, Madrid or Berlin do. Obviously I have just scratched the surface so far though.




This time I went there with two other interns and a friend of one of them who are visiting from Sweden. We managed to visit the Met, see the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island ferry, do some bargain shopping (on that note - does anyone know where I might have seen the shop Uniqlo before? Do we have it in Sweden? Was there a shop in Groningen? I can’t remember), eat Mexican food by Times Square and Persian food on some random street, see that flat iron building you all recognize, and visit SoHo way too late.

Merry Christmas from a Snowy DC

Snowstorm!

Washington DC is experiencing the powerful forces of mother nature. It has snowed since yesterday! There are now a few decimeters on the ground! The almost non-existing traffic is in slow motion! Supermarkets are closed! All museums are closed! Taxis refuse to pick up people or drive during the night. The inhabitants of Washington DC is now figuring out how to best deal with the horror.


(I used my laptop camera to take the photos, don't panic about the lack of quality.)

Busy, again

Another week is over, can't believe how fast time passes here in DC. My department has hosted many events recently (Friday: exhibition opening, yesterday: Lucia ball, tomorrow: closing reception of Sweden's EU Presidency) so I have worked a lot, and haven't had time at all to answer my pile of emails and fb wallposts, sorry!

A Typical DC Week

After some time with not a lot happening, this week has been great. Just look at my after-work activities:

Monday: Closing reception of the Kids Euro Festival for everyone who worked with it (that is, including me and fellow intern Daniella), at the residence of the Ambassador of France (which, surprise surprise, looks like a castle).

Tuesday: Welcoming and ticking off guests at the fancy annual dinner for the American (- Obama, unfortunately) Nobel laureates, before they go off to Sweden to accept their prize. Everything took place at the residence of the Ambassador of Sweden, and we eventually got to eat the same food as them.

Wednesday: Opening of a Globalized Museum Conference (which my supervisor helped organized) at the Smithsonian castle, including speeches, a jazz band, lovely food and mingling with museum directors from various European countries.

Thursday: Taking part in a Lucia procession at the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce's annual Swedish christmas dinner, for which we also got to eat of their buffet. I might have overdosed on salmon and meatballs.

Friday: Taking the elevator up to the fifth floor of House of Sweden and the Embassy of Iceland for a christmas After Work. I might have overdosed on glögg and fingerfood.

Soon: Off to the House of Sweden to work a shift at the annual Swedish christmas bazaar. Will be wearing a Swedish folk costume, again.

My NY State weekend in images

Real America

Yesterday: Pizza for breakfast in Baltimore airport. Lunch at McDonald's and 25 cents beers in one of Geneseo's biggest bars. Pizza again.

Today: Headache. Soon taking the car to Binghamton and somebody's 21st birthday party. Sleeping on their couch.

Tomorrow: Early Thanksgiving dinner with Meaghan's family. Back to Geneseo, maybe a bar crawl in the evening.

Monday: Rochester Airport > Baltimore Airport > DC. Hopefully in time to catch "Citizen Havel" at the European Film Showcase.

On the Road Again

I love airports, I love leaving somewhere. Right now I'm sitting in the cafeteria at Baltimore airport, boarding a plane to Rochester, NY in 15 minutes and enjoying free(!) wi-fi. I'm on my way to see Meaghan, one of my best friends from my spring semester in Groningen, Holland. I finally had the time to take three days off, which means I will only work two days next week before thanksgiving! I've been so irritated and stressed lately for no reason other than lack of sleep, which usually doesn't bother me that much. Thus, a vacation is just what I need. I should also have time to update this poor neglected blog more often.

Sudden Death

I apologize for this blog being completely dead at the moment, but I'm just too busy! This week and most of the last one have literally only involved me going to work, speeding home or straight out, showering and not having time to eat, going off to some event, shopping with friends, drinks or whatever, and then coming home and going straight to bed. But I like it! I will try to update soon and add some photos.

Sunday, sunny Sunday

I apologize for my completely blog-free week (plus a link in the last post that didn't seem to work - it's fixed now), I have been so busy lately that I have barely had time to be on the internet (I have finally managed to upload photos on facebook though, so take a look there if you are lucky enough to be my friend :). It's been a good week, containing margaritas with visiting Swedish politicians, drinks with various European DC interns (organised by me and two friends who are now admins of a big facebook group), shopping, a visit to a seedy but lovely gay bar, a night of dancing to fantasic music (The Sign! Take me Out! Roxette's Dangerous!), and today a trip to nearby town and upper-classy suburb Alexandria, where the sun was shining and we ate ice-cream in the harbour.

Sunday

It's been a busy and fun week. The highlight was when I was sent to a congress (àt Capitol Hill, that white cupola building on all DC souvenirs) hearing to take photos for the embassy website. See the result here.

New York, New York

I desperately need to sleep right now, but here is at least a picture from New York, taken at Brooklyn Bridge. My first impression of the city is mixed, from the very little I managed to see during two days I don't think it lives up to the hype, but that's just me. Good night DC, Good morning Europe.

Start Spreading the News...

In two hours I am (hopefully, the so-called "China Bus" we have booked doesn't seem too reliable) on a bus to New York! It seems that everyone (especially Swedes) who goes there get completely knocked over and absolutely love the city. Somehow I don't think I will.