Speaking about surprises

So what about last weekend? Well, life never stops surprising. Some crazy Swede called me on Friday night, fiddling about that she had found me on the Internet community of SVIV ("Swedish dudes in the World"), which is a stupid community by the way. After a while, I realized that this crazy one was my old friend Emma from uni, who randomly disappeared from her studies without saying goodbye. She is now living in Bad Säckingen in Germany, 20 minutes away from me, and is spending every weekend in Zurich! I actually think we are living closer to each other now than as we were living in Jönköping.

So Emma and I met on Saturday and it was just lovely to see her again. A good old Swede with German knowledge and no life is just exactly what I need right now. Sometimes people just tend to walk out of your life, not because you want to, but because of coincidences. It is a true blessing when you end up on the same train again.

Talking about surprises - or trains: spent Sunday afternoon in Zurich again and when I jumped on the train back at night and who wasn't on the same one - but Emma!

Vackert land

I love surprises. And the best surprises are the ones that you are making up yourself for others. Like travelling 4000 kilometres just to see someone who is not expecting you to come. So that is just what I did two weekends ago: took off to Sweden to meet some good old friends, lazy (surprised) parents and goofy neighbours. Just perfect.

Ida likes Tuttmemos and meet balls

February 28th is Maria-day in Sweden. No, they do not have name days in Switzerland (= assholes) but still; for those who would like to acknoweldge me, my name day wish number one is:

Tuttmemo.

Yes. I like. And you will support brest cancer research as well.

Coming up next: Meet balls with my boss at IKEA. I like too.

Have a wonderful weekend! /I.

Recept på Morotsbröd (SWE)

Ingredienser:

• 5 dl lättmjölk
• 1 jäst
• 25 gr rumstempererat smör
• 2 krm salt
• 2 msk honung
• 3 dl finrivna morötter
• 13-14 dl vetemjöl och/eller ragsikt
• 1 ägg
• solroskärnor
• örtsalt

Gör så här:

• Värm mjölken till 37°
• Smula jästen i en bunke och häll över mjölken. Rör om tills jästen har löst sig
• Tillsätt smör, salt, honung, morötter och det mesta av mjölet.
• Arbeta degen kraftigt tills den känns smidig
• Jäs i 30 minuter under bakduk
• sätt ugnen på 200°
• Arbeta degen smidig på mjölat bakbord och dela den i tre delar
• Forma dem till runda bröd
• Lägg dem på en plat med bakplåtspapper
• Låt jäsa i ytterligare 20 minuter
• Pensla med ett uppvispat ägg och strö över solroskärnor och örtsalt
• Grädda i mitten av ugnen i ungefär 20 minuter
• Låt bröden svalna på galler under bakduk
• ät!

Destination Luzern

Two years ago, when I applied for my study abroad semester Lucerne (Luzern) was on my top list of places where I wanted to go. Accordingly, my first Swiss "expotition" was to this city and I am pretty sure I would have loved to study there (eventhough I prefer South African weather). Lucerne, with its 50 000 inhabitants, is small and cosy but has everything you request from a Swiss city cliché: beauty, lake, towers and pinnacles. Don't forget to try the sandwiches at the world café at the Art museum just by the train station; it is so worth it.

Next time I go there I will also visit Pilatus, a mountain where you have one of the most beautiful views of Switzerland.

Total grade for Lucerne: Favourite European city? = YES!

Zurich last weekend: Just another stupid photo for my dad. He and I have the random hobby to take pictures of weird gas stations from all over the world; this is downtown Zurich, just right on the street and a grocery store next door.

Zurich last weekend: My friend Helena took a short break from her uni life and smelly dorm in Nancy and came to visit me. On Saturday we went hiking on Uetliberg and ended up on Ida-strasse! I guess I'm on the right way...