Long time...

So it has been a little while since I wrote. Sorry!!!

Things have been going well here. I have 2 more weeks of ethics (gulp) so I am trying to get the Norwegian done. I have also started an online class at Luther: Gospel and Global Media. It should be a good course.

I have some great news.

1. I will be here the whole school year because

2. I get to do my CPE my 4th year after

3. I go on internship next year. Those were all three iffy questions when I left and they are now resolved. Woot woot.

As many of you know, I love Sweden. The culture, the people, and the food. But, I do have another part of me too. Antonio Lorenzo Spargo, lover of spicy foods. Well, I finally decided that I had eaten enough meatballs and falukorv. So I decided to make cajun style red beans and rice. I went to the ICA grocery store that is 300 feet from school and tried to find the ingredients. Because this ICA is not very big, I had to punt on some spices. It ended up being weak in my opinion, even with fresh peppers, but almost too spicy for the Swedes I shared it with. But it was good. So good that I ate it for four days straight. mmmmm

When I am not making cajun food or baking banana bread (yes, I did that too), I have been getting very good at bureaucratic Swedish interactions. SInce I got here, I have been trying to open a bank account. The first time I went to the bank, they said I had to study in Sweden for 10 months. But since I am able to work in Sweden with my visa, that did not make sense. I went back a second time and to which I was informed I could have a bank account, but that I needed a letter of admission from the school. I had one that I sent to the Swedish Government to get my visa so I thought I would use that.

On my 3rd visit, I was told that it wasn't signed and stamped by the school so I needed a new one. So after returning to school, requesting a letter that was signed and stamped I went a 4th time. Finally we started the process of opening an account until they said my person number (SSN) was not active and that I needed to go to the Skateverket office to get that taken care of. When I walked there, they were closed. So I went in to town for a 5th time and was told there that I would be entered into the system in 4 weeks. Eish.

Then yesterday, I was trying to get my insurance figured out here in Sweden. After talking to the American Embasy, Swedish INS, some office I don't remember in Uppsala, and försäkrings kassan (insurance) I found I needed to go to the Försäkrings Kassan office in Uppsala to fill out some papers. I did that today! Finally done with my running. Except when she copies my residence permit, she asked for my other INS papers, which I never received. So now I have to go to that office to request them. Yipee.

But I now have a bike (Thanks Wes!!!) that makes getting around Uppsala a lot easier. And very soon I will be joining Norrlands Nation, which is one of the student organizations at the University, that will get me discounts and various things around town.

That is about it and I have class in 7.5 hours. So I am going to turn in. I hope you are doing well!!! As I said before, please do add me on skype or send emails or chocolate chip cookies. Well that probably won't work but I would love to hear from you.

Antonio

p.s. Enjoy this link of a Ukranian band. If you recognize the song, it is funny. If you don't, then lace up your polka shoes. (Note there is a swear word) Heather C., this should be added to your list.