May days

Things have been pretty relaxed and lovely around here. Summertime has struck with no warning - there wasn't a spring at all. It went straight from 50 degrees to 70+ degrees (I'm still trying to get faster at accurately converting to Centigrade in my head). I've been getting lots of chances to lie outside in the sunshine and I got my first mild Swedish sunburn. Which prompted me to go out today and find sunscreen, which was ridiculously expensive! But what can you do. If you need sunscreen, you need sunscreen. I like how SPF 30 is the highest I could find in the stores and it's marked as "very high" SPF. They also sell SPF 6. Like that'll do anything, you crazy Swedes!

Last night our corridor had a barbecue which was lots of fun. There's a wall in our hall (pending pictures) with people's hands on it and the date they moved in. I think there are handprints going back to 2002. But last night all the rest of the newer members of the corridor and I got to put our handprints up there. Of course I chose a lovely green! Even though the wall will be torn down when the renovate the corridor over the summer, it's still really nice. I like this corridor a lot.

We also played Swedish Trivial Pursuit! And I answered some questions and got two pie-wedges for our team! I also was completely useless on many questions having to do with Swedish geography and history and all of that. It got to a point where they'd translate half of the question and then just say "uh...you won't know this" and then take it in Swedish. Also, did you know that Adam was apparently created on March 25? I had no idea. But we were pretty darn close with March 21. I was impressed by that guess.

Saturday I'm learning how to make chinese dumplings with Giselle, which should be a lot of fun. It's apparently an all-day event because the dough needs to rest and blah blah blah I'm impatient. I just want to eat them ;-) There, also, are only 3 more baking sessions left. Oh goodness. Ashley Forest girls, get ready for lots of baking next year! I need to get my fix somehow.

Apparently Saturday is also some sort of carnival in Delphi (where I live) but I'm not quite sure what it entails. Rumor has it that some Rock Band will be played. But I'm not sure.

Tomorrow I think I'll go for a walk and take some pictures of Sweden in bloom to balance out the cold and rainy galleries that represent the first 3.5 months of my time here. Sweden is quite beautiful in the summer.