A Party, The Godfather, and the U.N.

I have been wracking my brain for about two weeks trying to remember something about today's part of the story. It isn't important per say but it is hard to start a story about a party when I can't remember how I was invited to said party. Usually memories are lost during or after a party but not before, like hours before, without  alcohol or a head injury. Alas I am who I am and we will have to struggle along without knowing how I was invited or heard about the party.

We will have to then surmise that I in all likelihood bumped into the organizer of the party. This guy, we will call him The Godfather (I will explain in a second, don't worry I know the name is too good not to explain), had decided to "throw a party" on the second or third night there. Somehow I found out or bumped into The Godfather and he told me to come to the party. I asked my awesome friend Lluis if he was going, and he said "yes" and Wobbly Girl roomie was going to come too!

Of course Wobbly Girl and I spent about an hour trying to get ready and I was struggling with finding a perfect "European-party-but not too partyish-new me-I'm awesome-but not trying" outfit. It shouldn't have been hard but it was. Yes I know I am publicizing my awful habits but really they aren't changing and I don't think that wanting to look exactly how I feel is a bad thing. An outfit to suit the mood. That isn't too self-obsessed or girly right? Yeah... OK. I should really get an editor. And a life coach.

So FINALLY we were ready to meet Lluis and Legolas to go to the party. We were all that nervous-excited that makes you slightly awkward and do the breathy laugh. It was the first party of the semester the first party of our study abroad. As we all walked in, prepared for an epic night, we realized we couldn't physically walk in. The dorm room was packed tight with people and we all stared at the gigantic pile of shoes at the door (part of the difficulty of entering) then back up at this relatively bumping party.

"Heyyyyyy guys!" The Godfather shouts at us, "Come in, come in!! Isn't this great?"

I was seriously impressed and slightly astonished at the fact that this guy could round up roughly 30 international students in about 2 days on a foreign campus. I had to admire his skill. And then I had to climb over the pile of shoes, complete an acrobatic feat to navigate around the people, and try and not stand awkwardly in the middle of the crammed room.

To my great surprise I found I didn't have much time to be too awkward. I was introduced to or greeted by nearly everyone in the room within half an hour. Most people gave the two kisses on the cheek as a greeting and a few shook hands but mostly the kisses. Wobbly Girl and I (with whom I shared a slight social anxiety) smiled at each other, pleased that it wasn't as difficult as either of us expected. I met Germans, Spaniards, Italians, Russians, and one Mexican girl... there were more countries represented in that tiny dorm than the U.N. Alright fine I'm just kidding but you get my point. I had never met so many people, so quickly, from such a wide variety of countries and cultures. It sounds completely cliché I know but it is true and it was fascinating. And perfect. What I remember most clearly is how picturesque it all was; thirty students in their twenties from all over the world crammed into a tiny dorm room absolutely ready to experience life in the way we had always imaged it.

The room was full of our anticipation that was finally meeting the something it was so hoping for and everything was perfectly in its place.



P.S. Oh yeah, The Godfather.. I forgot to elaborate. If you didn't pick up on it already this guy knew everyone instantly. He could throw together a party on the second day in a foreign country and actually have people show up. Later you will discover the other reasons we called him that. I should put a disclaimer here that the other reasons never included harming anyone or any violent tendencies.. just to be clear.. 

P.P.S. I do realize that these last few posts are slightly out of order.. The coffee with hottie-tattoo-guy was after this party.. but I think the importance of events has stayed in its true order. Forgive me for being amazingly confusing. 

Yeah I apologize for this..

Alright folks it is post day. And I am at a loss. I've been trying to think of the next story to add in and I'm stuck. But I also don't have any awesome stories to tell from current-day life either. Not unless you count my mother-in-law flashing her bra in a restaurant today. But there isn't much elaborating I can do on that. I mean, a bra flash is a bra flash. Right? Or..wait.. Regardless I think I am being a bit lazy as far as the story goes and I really want to do it justice. But I also don't want to skive off on my post-day duties. Can you imagine if I had some sort of book deal or real job with deadlines? I'd be so beyond screwed.

In light of that, this is what I will do--not that you all care to know but I think today I'll post about some cool shit I've found/been introduced to/discovered/joined in on the bandwagon.. Take it for what it is. Maybe you can discover some cool stuff too. I mean...everyone wants to join in right? I totally just typed and erased a really big BAZINGA on hipsters. But I thought, seeing as though I am not writing a legitimate post for today that I couldn't be too judgmental (AND I can't spell judgmental- furthur proof).

AAAANNNND on to the post-non-post cool stuff list:

1) Did you know that there is a PINTEREST for online stores? Yeah where all the pictures you click on have links to legitimate (well ok I haven't checked HOW legitimate they are but..) online stores where you can buy the awesome shit that you "pin"??? It is like having every cool boutique store you have ever seen all in one spot. True, I still can't afford to buy any of it but such is life. (P.S. Not all of the items are over-priced by any means, a lot of it is reasonable or even cheap; but we're skint so all non-need items are over-priced for us hehe) Find it here: www.keep.com

2) I am unabashedly (hell yes that is a word..it was 50/50 for awhile there..) going to promote a good friend of mine from university. He is a quality guy who does GREAT music. He just released his new EP and you can buy it on iTunes for 2.97$. I am completely excited for him and what a great accomplishment it is! Way to go for it!
        Artist: Tudor Williams
        Album: Guilty Pleasures
And if you want a taste of his awesomeness just watch his music video:


If you can get this without laughing and enjoying it then I'm not sure we can be friends anymore.... Ok I'm kidding, I don't have enough readers to get choosy.


3) The other day my husband asked me if I was reverting back to my teenage years.. I asked what made him ask and he said, "Well honey.. you are posting on a music artist's webpage like a 15 year old fangirl..." Yes I got public about how much I like this next artist: Holly Henry. She is on the new season of "The Voice" and I saw her audition and had to look her up. Wow. Check her audition out:

 
But even better than this are her other covers.. She has a youtube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/hollymaezers) or on soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/hollyhenry-1) If you go to the soundcloud one and just press play you can listen to all her covers continuously..  It might be good office/working music but seeing as though I've never had a real office job I can't say for sure- you tell me.

4) thatsenoughallie.blogspot.com // So an old friend of mine has started a blog about (so far) her 30 day vegan challenge that she is doing with her hubby. Let me be perfectly clear: I am not vegan nor do I need vegan recipes. My hubby and I are practically the opposite of vegan. BUT this blog is a great laugh and the author has told me that she gives out "vegan points" for just reading the blog--so it is an easy way to feel better about that cheeseburger you ate for lunch today. Allie is also a way more diligent blog poster than I am so while you are endlessly waiting for my posts check out hers! [yes, thank you, I do realize that I am a really bad publicist.] 

5) Yeah ok I can't even get up to five things..

In lieu of being extremely self-deprecating I will end the post here. I will do my best to post again this week with something from "The Story" to make up for this..well..whatever this is. I just wanted to let all you awesome people know I hadn't bailed (completely) on you this week. So now you know what's on my mind and I'll get you some more story this week.

Lots of love to all you people who keep coming back. You make me feel good. And P.S. HOW THE HECK DID I GET PAST 1,000 VIEWS!?!?!? I'm ridiculously excited about that, and grateful. Y'all are great people. I think.. [My bad publicist has told me I can't say you are all great because I don't actually know you. So the "I think" is just a disclaimer, not me doubting you. I swear]

A Wallet, A Serial-Killer Bus Stop, And A Friend

It was well into the first week in Sweden and I was feeling pretty good. I had a great new friend (hottie-tattoo-guy) that I was really excited to get to know. I had a cool roommate who was a little slice of home (she was from the other mitten state) and she even let me borrow clothes.

One day, after having settled in a bit, I decided to go to the mall that everyone was talking about. They said it was a little bit out of town on the number 1 bus. So I went to the central bus station in town and looked for the number one bus. And I got on the number one bus. Now is where you can smile and laugh because we all know how my "adventures" seem to go. Yes. I am giving you permission to laugh in anticipation of how awesomely lost I was about to get. Ok now stop, breathe, and let me continue damn it!

On this lovely fall day I had decided that I was going to go out on my own. I had heard several people talking about this mall and I thought instead of dragging Wobbly Girl roomie I would take an afternoon on my own. What was Study Abroad without a little personal adventure right?

So I get on the bus and stared  out of the window quite aware, waiting to see the mall, as we traveled through the town. And then we left the town. And then everything was thick forest. I don't know if you have ever been in the northern parts of the U.S. but that is how it was. Lots of pine trees standing close together. And I waited. And waited. And the trees grew thicker and the bus stops stopped looking like bus stops and began to look like places to pick up a serial killer.

After deciding that we weren't going to turn around and loop back into town I finally decided to ask the bus driver. His English was shotty and he told me to get off the bus and wait for the one going back the opposite direction. Twenty minutes or so. I was already an hour outside the town.

I got of the bus and it was already getting dark. It was about five pm after all.. I waited for the next bus. I got on and went to pay. And then I remembered. On the first bus I had taken out my wallet to see if I had any cash to get something to eat and/or my ticket home. And it stayed on that seat beside me in the first bus. So as I climbed the steps up to the bus I had the panic of being utterly lost, without a wallet, and awfully hungry.

In my panic I tried to explain to the bus driver that I left my wallet on the other bus. He was failing to comprehend (not his fault.. I mean..come on we were in bumblefucknowhere of Sweden and I was speaking English). And then this blonde angel came to the front of the bus and translated. She asked me what happened and I told her, desperately. After a minute discussing with the bus driver and a correspondence on his radio she told me to sit and we'd get the wallet at the next stop.

Milena (her name, which I would learn in a minute) was wearing at least three layers of clothes. The cotton tank top stood out beneath a simple sweater with a sequin-covered word and a leather jacket to top it off. She exuded confidence. Her unassuming manner and heroine-like act had me in awe. I sat on the opposite side of the bus, one row behind her. But it wasn't long before we were talking. I had to thank her.

To my utter surprise at the next stop we intercepted another bus and the driver of that bus stepped onto ours with my awful pink wallet. Not only was it my wallet but it had all my cash, IDs, credit cards... I was one lucky idiot. Let's take a moment here and think about this.Yep there it is, laugh now.

So I had my wallet back thanks to Milena and subsequently a new friend! Or anyway I hoped she would be a friend. I soon explained I was going to the university in the town and she said she was going there too. We talked a little more about where I was from and all the normal stuff. Then Milena explained that she was going to be staying in temporary housing on campus until they placed her in a dorm or apartment. I said "ABSOLUTELY NOT."

And in my wonderful way I invited a stranger (granted a savior of a stranger) into my flat (without asking Wobbly-Girl-Roommate) to stay until she got a place. It only ended up being a few days but they were epic days. Wine, beer, Jager-Bombs, clothes galore... it was a full-on girls flat. But letting her stay with us was not even close to enough of a repayment. I am pretty sure I am still in her debt. She saved me from serial killer bus stops and having to live in the wild of Sweden...

This wasn't even the first "little disaster" of my time in Sweden..but as with most of  my disastrous experiences the result was so weirdly beautiful that I couldn't argue with the price of the journey. I found my first (and only) Swedish friend who turned out to be so much more of a friend than I could have asked for.

This is after the lovely Milena made the life choice to go from blonde to brunette hehe

P.S. Yay for posting on post day!!! Thanks for continuing to read!