Dinner with the Girls

My mum is on the phone talking to my brother. He started university Monday and she is curious how he is progressing. He had to move to another city, leaving girlfriend, dog, cat and a new flat, only coming home during the weekends. If that.

The entire family is thrilled about him going to university, he has applied for several years (his program is tough and only allows a small amount of applicants every year).

I spent my morning at the hospital. Nothing major, just a birthmark that has changed colour and gotten bigger, so my mum – being a nurse and all – was worried and had me look it up. So this morning the doctor said he wants to remove it. I’m not too fond of hospitals, they make me nervous, so I’m not thrilled about the situation, but at least my mum will be happy when it’s gone. I swear, she suspects diseases and evil germs everywhere.

I was at a friend’s place yesterday, having dinner (tacos) with girls (should I say ‘women’ when we have passed 25?) I’ve known since – well – birth, almost.

I went there early to have some alone-time with the hostess – an amazing girl I have known since we were 8 months old. She met a guy – they’ve been together for 5 months – and he makes her so happy. It’s a wonderful thing to see; I think she’s been waiting for this (relationship) for a long time.

We talked and she told me they’re planning on building a house. I don’t know about you, but building a house after 5 months is quite a feat. Very brave and – well – optimistic. You can tell she’s happy; she seems more confident and relaxed, it’s almost as if she has become wiser since I saw her last.

Ah, love.

When the ladies arrived everyone started talking, discussing people we know who are pregnant, in new relationships, ended relationships, people getting houses/flats. Last year I found it difficult at times – we’re five girls and I’m different from the others; I study abroad, don’t plan on living in this country, I’m single, and when we talk about the future the girls want to marry, have houses, kids and pets – all within a 5 year-period. I’m not there yet.

But yesterday was perfect. We talked, laughed, ate good food and had an amazing time. Sitting in my friend’s kitchen, with people I’ve known all my life, I felt lucky and blessed. We may not talk every week, but when we do meet we always have fun, and despite the months passed we never seem to notice it. Instead we hug, laugh and talk about whatever interests us. Since we all come from the same small rural district, there is a lot of gossip, making sure we’re up to speed on what’s going on.

Sports news on TV. My dad watches it every night at 10pm. He can’t miss it. So at the moment he is on the sofa, listening to how the national team in football (soccer) is doing. My mum finished talking to my brother and is now sleeping.

And I am off to bed, I have a book waiting.

Night!

 

Snow, rain & wind

I have been home for almost one month. When leaving Britain I had a list of things to do during Christmas break, and well.. I haven’t exactly started doing any of those things. I just can’t be bothered.

Instead I spend my days reading, watching TV shows (at the moment the TV is playing episode 5 of “Suburgatory”), spending time with friends and family. What I should be doing is re-writing my resumé and applying for jobs all over the planet.

You know, a year ago I didn’t know what ‘procrastination’ meant. I had never heard of it until I went to the States and spent a lot of time with students who all seemed to mention the word in every other sentence. I guess that’s what I am doing – I should be working on my resumé, instead I am re-reading all my books and planning on watching the “Resident Evil” movies.

The weather has been all but fun. A couple of days after I got home it snowed for hours and hours, covering the ground in what looked like soft, fluffy cotton. The temperature dropped and it was so beautiful outside.

Unfortunately it didn’t stay that way. A week later all the snow was gone and we celebrated Christmas with the sun shining from a clear-blue sky. It was so very wrong. Christmas is supposed to be dark, with grey skies and snow. Instead we were sweating in our winter coats when we walked to my grandparents on the morning of December 24th.

Since then we have seen another storm, more snow, rain and wind. When I picked up my friend at the airport we saw flooding everywhere, and when the wind starts howling the trees fall like dominos because the ground is too soft and can’t hold them.

A friend of mine is in India for two months. I am extremely jealous. I too want to go to exotic places – such as India – and experience different cultures, meet new people. Britain is old news now – I have been there almost three years and the thrill is gone.

In two hours I am off to my grandmother. I will stay there until 4 pm – that’s when my dad gets off work – and then we’ll (dad and I) walk his daily walk around town before we get the mail at the post office and return home.

So far today I have composed several cards to friends, made sure I can go to my brother’s place tomorrow for dinner and a movie with him and his girlfriend. Friday will be spent with my sister, I have a birthday party to attend on Saturday and Sunday I am meeting a friend I haven’t seen in 6 months.

My mum cleaned the house Sunday, putting away the Christmas decorations. I don’t mind, the house is still very pretty. When my friend was here she commented on the many lamps (we have one in almost every window) and wondered if it’s only in the winter, when it’s dark most of the day.

Well, no. I guess we don’t think about it, but we have lamps all year round. It makes the house seem brighter, more comfortable. She’s from Germany, and she claimed they don’t do it that way – decorate their houses as we do. I like it though, and I know that wherever I end up, I will make sure to make my home comfortable and pretty.