I thought I should tell you all that I am back in Sweden, safe and sound, despite everything. We had a lovely trip on the Zambezi and the flight back went... well we got home on time anyway. Here in Gagnef it is now freezing cold (not really, but it feels like it) and one percent of Bulawayo's sun-amount. But all is well, and I am keeping relatively busy. Will give you a summarey of the year I think. But not right now. Skype time!
Toodles.
Friday 11 January 2013
Saturday 29 December 2012
Zambezi
Dear all, writing on my phone in Kariba. Everyone is alive, although I have terribleear pain. Samma som du hade Mathias i Spanien... In an hour we leave for our canoe trip down the Zambezi. Should be interesting. Will be back to civilization on the second. Love from all! Toodles!
Sunday 9 December 2012
Less than a month left
I am freeeeeeeee!! No more lessons or concerts. I would give you a story of the last two weeks events, but it has been crazy busy, so it would probably end up fifteen pages long. Plus after all this playing my elbow is not happy and therefore I won't write that much.
I think I've counted to seven concerts in nine days, plus HECTIC rehearsals. I held the conducting stick in six of the concerts, and the violin in all of them. Student concert, fundraiser, opening ceremony, busking, carol concert, christmas showcases. Phew.
It is a strange feeling now, when it's all over. My whole year of what I've been doing here. I can't believe how much has happened, how much I've learnt, how much I've seen and grown. I came a spoilt, naive Swede and leve a little less so I hope.
I now have a few days to spend with Sam, before the Swedish invasion. It is hot and cold like a roller coaster, but after the rains we've had everything is now turning green, which is so so so nice. I have gone from being a Swedish rain- and grey-clouds-hater to being a Zimbabwean rain- and grey-clouds-lover.
This morning Line, Stephen, Maria and I went to the bendover a quickie. The backseat of the car (Stephen and I) were not happy with the time of day and kept up the yawning and mumbling. Getting up at seven on a Sunday is just wrong. We did find a few things though, while some of the stalls were still being put up. Now I feel like going back to bed. I think I might.
Toodles.
I think I've counted to seven concerts in nine days, plus HECTIC rehearsals. I held the conducting stick in six of the concerts, and the violin in all of them. Student concert, fundraiser, opening ceremony, busking, carol concert, christmas showcases. Phew.
It is a strange feeling now, when it's all over. My whole year of what I've been doing here. I can't believe how much has happened, how much I've learnt, how much I've seen and grown. I came a spoilt, naive Swede and leve a little less so I hope.
I now have a few days to spend with Sam, before the Swedish invasion. It is hot and cold like a roller coaster, but after the rains we've had everything is now turning green, which is so so so nice. I have gone from being a Swedish rain- and grey-clouds-hater to being a Zimbabwean rain- and grey-clouds-lover.
This morning Line, Stephen, Maria and I went to the bendover a quickie. The backseat of the car (Stephen and I) were not happy with the time of day and kept up the yawning and mumbling. Getting up at seven on a Sunday is just wrong. We did find a few things though, while some of the stalls were still being put up. Now I feel like going back to bed. I think I might.
Toodles.
Thursday 22 November 2012
Harare weekend
Today is Stressful Thursday. As always. I am at Girls' College fixing for all the concerts that are happening soon soon. In an hour we have music group practice, since we are then playing at the Form 1 orientation day, then more practice, then hopefully three lessons, then a get together with all my students, to get ready for the student concert on Tuesday. We are playing Twinkle Twinkle in three different variations. Exciting. I am so terribly proud of all of them, thay have learnt so much in a year and are all enjoying it, which makes me even happier. Yesterday little Jamie-Lee brought both her mum and gran to the lesson, because she likes it so much. Made me really happy.
So on Monday I came back from three days in Harare. Took the frightfully early bus up on Satur`ay mopnin( `fter @ri``y nhdhpr Rapiapy So`w thph$pur`r%fdh`p%w`lu`d'ano`a d'd`w&`a#bgradas`d!fcifgn`(!Lf`a.`h'ebpr%fobeph!Barepg%pg%repm%d`r)`q.`i.cberile`b!yn`c,oed|`'(ych`f/lloget`e){s all the way in to town, where I was picked up by Frank Rae. He and his wife Elisabeth live in Gran and Grandad's old house on Mount Pleasant Dr. It was fascinating to see the place I slightly remember from last time I was in the country, 13 years ago. In my memories things were a whole lot bigger! I spent the night fighting a pack of mozzies that kept me awake too long, then eventually gave up. Sunday morning we went for brunch with their homegroup, which was interesting and very tasty. I met people who knew both gran and dad. Amongst them were Ingrid and Ron Marks.
After another nap (I saw this trip as a little holiday) Frank and I headed off to see Elisabeth sing in Handel's Messiah in Arundel School Chapel. Very nice. During the wine and cheese afterwards I met Francis Podmore and his wife, who wanted alot of updates on the family. Sunday night I drenched myself in mozziespray (by then I already had around 25 evil bites) and tricked the horrible mozzies into the bathroom, away from my sleep.
Monday I headed off to Emirates to buy a ticket, and then we visited an orphanage that got some help before enjoying a wonderful lunch at The Cottage. A little oasis in town. After all this I jumped on the afternoon bus back and arrived in the dark evening in town to be picked up by Maria.
With us now we have Joe and Maria's son Stephen with girlfriend Line, and Joe's brother Dan. So once again we fill up the house. We are lucky we have borehole water or there would be problems. Apparently the city of Bulawayo now only has water left for 38 days. Then the dams are dry. The rain situation here is absolutely terrible and there are many rain-prayer meetings being held because of it. I really hope we get some soon. The heat has been stupid the last few days and this morning we got a little bit, but we need the big drenching rains, not the little dainty ones. Sigh. Anyhow. I better print out all the music I just arranged, so the girls have something to play. Toodeloo!
So on Monday I came back from three days in Harare. Took the frightfully early bus up on Satur`ay mopnin( `fter @ri``y nhdhpr Rapiapy So`w thph$pur`r%fdh`p%w`lu`d'ano`a d'd`w&`a#bgradas`d!fcifgn`(!Lf`a.`h'ebpr%fobeph!Barepg%pg%repm%d`r)`q.`i.cberile`b!yn`c,oed|`'(ych`f/lloget`e){s all the way in to town, where I was picked up by Frank Rae. He and his wife Elisabeth live in Gran and Grandad's old house on Mount Pleasant Dr. It was fascinating to see the place I slightly remember from last time I was in the country, 13 years ago. In my memories things were a whole lot bigger! I spent the night fighting a pack of mozzies that kept me awake too long, then eventually gave up. Sunday morning we went for brunch with their homegroup, which was interesting and very tasty. I met people who knew both gran and dad. Amongst them were Ingrid and Ron Marks.
After another nap (I saw this trip as a little holiday) Frank and I headed off to see Elisabeth sing in Handel's Messiah in Arundel School Chapel. Very nice. During the wine and cheese afterwards I met Francis Podmore and his wife, who wanted alot of updates on the family. Sunday night I drenched myself in mozziespray (by then I already had around 25 evil bites) and tricked the horrible mozzies into the bathroom, away from my sleep.
Monday I headed off to Emirates to buy a ticket, and then we visited an orphanage that got some help before enjoying a wonderful lunch at The Cottage. A little oasis in town. After all this I jumped on the afternoon bus back and arrived in the dark evening in town to be picked up by Maria.
With us now we have Joe and Maria's son Stephen with girlfriend Line, and Joe's brother Dan. So once again we fill up the house. We are lucky we have borehole water or there would be problems. Apparently the city of Bulawayo now only has water left for 38 days. Then the dams are dry. The rain situation here is absolutely terrible and there are many rain-prayer meetings being held because of it. I really hope we get some soon. The heat has been stupid the last few days and this morning we got a little bit, but we need the big drenching rains, not the little dainty ones. Sigh. Anyhow. I better print out all the music I just arranged, so the girls have something to play. Toodeloo!
Monday 5 November 2012
Ten months into the game
Right. So. After quite an extreme blog pause, I am back. Not back from anywhere special (except a long day at work), but none the less back.
I can hardly think of what to write about what has happened in the time that has elapsed since last time I wrote. You know, it's weird but somehow I've forgotten a lot of it. I think everyday life does that to you. It blends together and makes a mush of lessons, planning, chats, papers, lessons, papers, notes, pens, driving, lunch, frustration and laughter. All in all; not boring, but very busy. And today I found out I am to be even more busy the last week of November and first week of December, due to concerts, that I now for the first time am on the teacher-side of. Phew, so much work to be done. And so much music to be written and arranged. Mostly Christmas carols.
Otherwise, more unusual things I have done are:
Gone to CBC leaver's dance with a fascinator in my hair.
Experienced more lightning than I have ever before.
Danced in the rain til I was soaked through and through.
Spent my last night as a teenager being violently sick.
Turned Twenty!
Had Birthday Dinner and Birthday Lunch. (on different days)
Got lovely presents.
Played with glow sticks for the first time in my life.
Skyped a lot.
Taken care of a choir consisting of 80 teenage girls by myself.
Participated in Girls' College Speech Day (typ skolavslutning fast Mycket mer formellt.), which demanded twelve hours of work.
Built blanket forts.
Etc.
Really, a lot has happened and even more lies ahead. I now definitely understand the necessity of weekends, although some of them make me more tired than the week days.
The weather has been interesting, first stupidly hot, then rain and really cold and cloudy (for being here), and now it's getting hotter again. I now appreciate clouds much more than when I first came here. The midday sun can be so very harsh. Not to say that I long for the dreary yucky autumn I imagine they have in Sweden now. I am very happy to be here right now.
People keep on asking me if I am really leaving, and then why. Sometimes I do wonder, but mostly I know that my time here soon is up, more places need to be found. Right now I can think of one special place that needs deep exploring and that is my pillow. It has been a long day (my statement that I don't work on Mondays is a big fat lie, I have realised). So night night people!
I can hardly think of what to write about what has happened in the time that has elapsed since last time I wrote. You know, it's weird but somehow I've forgotten a lot of it. I think everyday life does that to you. It blends together and makes a mush of lessons, planning, chats, papers, lessons, papers, notes, pens, driving, lunch, frustration and laughter. All in all; not boring, but very busy. And today I found out I am to be even more busy the last week of November and first week of December, due to concerts, that I now for the first time am on the teacher-side of. Phew, so much work to be done. And so much music to be written and arranged. Mostly Christmas carols.
Otherwise, more unusual things I have done are:
Gone to CBC leaver's dance with a fascinator in my hair.
Experienced more lightning than I have ever before.
Danced in the rain til I was soaked through and through.
Spent my last night as a teenager being violently sick.
Turned Twenty!
Had Birthday Dinner and Birthday Lunch. (on different days)
Got lovely presents.
Played with glow sticks for the first time in my life.
Skyped a lot.
Taken care of a choir consisting of 80 teenage girls by myself.
Participated in Girls' College Speech Day (typ skolavslutning fast Mycket mer formellt.), which demanded twelve hours of work.
Built blanket forts.
Etc.
Really, a lot has happened and even more lies ahead. I now definitely understand the necessity of weekends, although some of them make me more tired than the week days.
The weather has been interesting, first stupidly hot, then rain and really cold and cloudy (for being here), and now it's getting hotter again. I now appreciate clouds much more than when I first came here. The midday sun can be so very harsh. Not to say that I long for the dreary yucky autumn I imagine they have in Sweden now. I am very happy to be here right now.
People keep on asking me if I am really leaving, and then why. Sometimes I do wonder, but mostly I know that my time here soon is up, more places need to be found. Right now I can think of one special place that needs deep exploring and that is my pillow. It has been a long day (my statement that I don't work on Mondays is a big fat lie, I have realised). So night night people!
Wednesday 10 October 2012
The first rain in over half a year!!
I seem to have made blogging a Wednesday thing. Well, three in a row now right? I must say, it is much easier posting pictures on nellieinafrica.tumblr.com. I have fallen in love with tumblr, I really have. It is a whole world. Anyhow. I have started taking photos with my phone camera now, which means I can take of things anytime anywhere, since my phone is with me all the time. But of course, quality wise it can never ever compete with my sweet Nikon D90. Which now has four different lenses. Amazing, how on earth did that happen?
Yesterday it rained!!!!!! For maybe five minutes, but at least it rained. I was in the office at the academy, so I jumped up and ran outside to feel the drops. It was glorious. So I walked around the building hearing the rain fall hard on the corrugated roofs next door and seeing the the dusty reddish brown ground turning spotty. So so nice.
Obviously my tactic worked. You see every week my students have to paint one thing each time they practice, and every week has a different theme. For a few weeks now my kids have got rain clouds, where they have had to draw a raindrop each time they practice. I told them it was wishful thinking, since we wanted rain. And TADA it came! Yeha!
Today I am first off to GC to start arranging all our christmas songs that we are going to play, then I have lessons at the academy in the afternoon. And I today had my alarm set for six o'clock. ... I am honestly telling the truth. I volountarily did so, because otherwise I die by the end of my morning walks. It is quite fun now, walking this time in the morning. It is before the real rush of cars for CBC and Petra, but just in time to meet all the kids walking to Hillside Junior School. And they are sooo sweet. By now they reckognise me and since I always say good morning to everybody I meet, they now even sometimes say good morning to me before I've had time to open my mouth. There were two small girls today who looked so happy when they said it, I couldn't stop smiling for another twenty five meters. Cute! I love kids.
Right, sore elbow. Must be a sign, saying I should be off. Which I should. We have a few whispy clouds today, so perhaps we won't die of heat. Like we did yesterday. Sweating in my room ten o'clock at night. Africa. Anywho. Toodles!
Yesterday it rained!!!!!! For maybe five minutes, but at least it rained. I was in the office at the academy, so I jumped up and ran outside to feel the drops. It was glorious. So I walked around the building hearing the rain fall hard on the corrugated roofs next door and seeing the the dusty reddish brown ground turning spotty. So so nice.
Obviously my tactic worked. You see every week my students have to paint one thing each time they practice, and every week has a different theme. For a few weeks now my kids have got rain clouds, where they have had to draw a raindrop each time they practice. I told them it was wishful thinking, since we wanted rain. And TADA it came! Yeha!
Today I am first off to GC to start arranging all our christmas songs that we are going to play, then I have lessons at the academy in the afternoon. And I today had my alarm set for six o'clock. ... I am honestly telling the truth. I volountarily did so, because otherwise I die by the end of my morning walks. It is quite fun now, walking this time in the morning. It is before the real rush of cars for CBC and Petra, but just in time to meet all the kids walking to Hillside Junior School. And they are sooo sweet. By now they reckognise me and since I always say good morning to everybody I meet, they now even sometimes say good morning to me before I've had time to open my mouth. There were two small girls today who looked so happy when they said it, I couldn't stop smiling for another twenty five meters. Cute! I love kids.
Right, sore elbow. Must be a sign, saying I should be off. Which I should. We have a few whispy clouds today, so perhaps we won't die of heat. Like we did yesterday. Sweating in my room ten o'clock at night. Africa. Anywho. Toodles!
Wednesday 3 October 2012
A longer update
A week of blog pause. Well at least it wasn't longer.
Life is a bit hectic during the days. I am working so hard on Sibelius arranging stuff for GC that I feel totally square eyed. We are playing in two weeks on Speech Day and we haven't started with all the stuff yet. I'm still getting it ready!! But by tomorrow lunch time it should all be done and I can relax when the weekend comes. Again. I definitely understand why we have weekends now. How on earth would we survive otherwise?! Last weekend was wonderfully chilled. I made a feeble attempt at filling up my 2TB external harddrive with music and movies from Sam, but it hardly made a differenc in this black box. I slept and wrote a lot. I'm doing a thirty day writing challenge which is such fun! Most often I end up writing bleary eyed just before bed though, so when I read it in the morning I have to try and decipher what I've written and what I actually meant...
I've been getting up so early the last two weeks, trying to get my walk in before it gets too hot, so now I meet all the school people when they go to school, which is amusing at times. Both Petra Primary and High and CBC go past our house on their way to school, so there are a lot of them. It becomes one long line of cars at the busiest of times. Anyway, so I get up early, but unfortunately I don't go to bed earlier. Too much of a night owl.
I read the other day of how science had shown that there were big differences in the brain and genes between early birds and night owls. At last. Proof. Early birds are most productive and efficient at 9 am, and then during the day they slowly get worse, while night owls are the exact opposite, with their peak at 9 pm. Ha!! There you go, I'm not lazy, just not made for society. Tonight though I am going to bed early, since I have so much to get done tomorrow morning.
Yesterday I had a new student, first in many months. Her gran had bought her a violin, and when I opened the case I got quite a shock. An electric violin!! Obviously it wasn't possible for her to have that, what with zesa-cuts and so on, so I tried to explain the difference between it and my violin and how she needed to get one with a box, not an S shape. But my insides were all the time screaming "I WANT IT!!" It actually didn't look to bad, she had paid quite a bit for it, so it wouldn't be a rubbish one either. Anyhow, I put it away reluctantly and today she came with a wooden one (honestly, if it has headphones, do you not think it needs power...?) and I am now to assemble what will be something like my twentieth violin since I got here.
Right, writing time, before I spend some quality time with my pillow.
Night!
Life is a bit hectic during the days. I am working so hard on Sibelius arranging stuff for GC that I feel totally square eyed. We are playing in two weeks on Speech Day and we haven't started with all the stuff yet. I'm still getting it ready!! But by tomorrow lunch time it should all be done and I can relax when the weekend comes. Again. I definitely understand why we have weekends now. How on earth would we survive otherwise?! Last weekend was wonderfully chilled. I made a feeble attempt at filling up my 2TB external harddrive with music and movies from Sam, but it hardly made a differenc in this black box. I slept and wrote a lot. I'm doing a thirty day writing challenge which is such fun! Most often I end up writing bleary eyed just before bed though, so when I read it in the morning I have to try and decipher what I've written and what I actually meant...
I've been getting up so early the last two weeks, trying to get my walk in before it gets too hot, so now I meet all the school people when they go to school, which is amusing at times. Both Petra Primary and High and CBC go past our house on their way to school, so there are a lot of them. It becomes one long line of cars at the busiest of times. Anyway, so I get up early, but unfortunately I don't go to bed earlier. Too much of a night owl.
I read the other day of how science had shown that there were big differences in the brain and genes between early birds and night owls. At last. Proof. Early birds are most productive and efficient at 9 am, and then during the day they slowly get worse, while night owls are the exact opposite, with their peak at 9 pm. Ha!! There you go, I'm not lazy, just not made for society. Tonight though I am going to bed early, since I have so much to get done tomorrow morning.
Yesterday I had a new student, first in many months. Her gran had bought her a violin, and when I opened the case I got quite a shock. An electric violin!! Obviously it wasn't possible for her to have that, what with zesa-cuts and so on, so I tried to explain the difference between it and my violin and how she needed to get one with a box, not an S shape. But my insides were all the time screaming "I WANT IT!!" It actually didn't look to bad, she had paid quite a bit for it, so it wouldn't be a rubbish one either. Anyhow, I put it away reluctantly and today she came with a wooden one (honestly, if it has headphones, do you not think it needs power...?) and I am now to assemble what will be something like my twentieth violin since I got here.
Right, writing time, before I spend some quality time with my pillow.
Night!
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