Am at the Chisinau airport. After five intensive days here in Moldova, I was hoping to be asleep on a flight back to Stockholm via Riga right now. However, there seem to be something wrong with the plane and it is now so delayed that the chances of me arriving in Riga in time for my connection to Stockholm are non-existent. But despite the fact that the Chisinau airport always is extremely cold in the winter, I can think of worse airports to be have to spend a few hours on. I am of course bit disappointed about not catching my flight to Stockholm, but I also remember last time this happened, when I was on my way back to Stockholm for Daniel’s and Maria’s wedding, and my flight was cancelled and I didn’t arrive in time. So things could be worse! And now it seems like they opened the check-in, so got to go…
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Yes, I Am Still Alive!
I just got a text from my mom, who was wondering if I was OK. And yes, I am alive an well. I just have had people visiting me and quite a lot to do in the past weeks. I am now in Montenegro since Tuesday and in this moment sitting in the hotel lobby, waiting for a taxi to take me to the airport for my flight to (F.Y.R.) Macedonia. I will try to write more soon….
There is an ap. – I mean rep. for that!
I found this on a Swedish blog a while ago and I think it is quite funny. Not sure if i-phone has the same commercial in other countries but it is based one of their commercials where they show all the applications for the i-phone. And though the U.S. seem to have its fair share of loony opinion makers, I am not trying to spread leftist propaganda here. I am sure one could do an equally funny commercial about Democrats, or the red-green cooperation in Sweden. But it is funny, so just watch and laugh!
Reason for Joy in High Income Countries
A few years ago, there was a Swedish comedy show that in every program had “the high-income country problem of the week”. It would include problems such as the ATM being out of 100 SEK bills and only giving out 500 SEK bills (the equivalence of approximately EUR 50), or that the post-it notes wouldn’t stick properly. When Mikael and I were in Alexandria the other weekend, I found myself being truly happy about the fact that Starbucks had introduced what they called a “Short Latte”. Even the smallest Caffe Latte here in the U.S. normally contains about half a liter of milk (not really but almost) and is like a whole meal, so I was really happy to have found a smaller alternative. I guess that just like the weekly high-income country problem, this does say something about the shift in focus areas in my life after almost a years here in the U.S.. But I hear the warning bells ringing, so hopefully, I will be able to do something about it before all my attention is absorbed by non-problems!
“Short Latte” next to a “Tall Latte”
Dollar Bill Trivia
Read in Time Magazine a while ago that 90% of the US $1 bills bare trace amounts of cocaine. While most of it can probably be explained by contamination from other bills, it is still quite amazing. Apparently, bills from DC carry the most and those from Salt Lake city the least. I wonder what the percentage is for $100 bills and if the geographical distribution would change?
Finally some news… or maybe not.
Long overdue, I finally installed cable TV in my apartment the other day. I hesitated for a long time since I wasn’t convince that I would really get any value for money. Anyway, in the end, my craving for news from outside my immediate surrounding took over the cheap side of me and I ordered an expanded package with some European channels too, though BBC World was unfortunately not included. Yesterday evening, I was looking forward to getting updated on world news, and turned on the TV. And what is the topic on every channel this evening? David Letterman being blackmailed by a CBS producer for having had relationships with his co-workers. I understand if there might be enough public interest for it to deserve a minute or two of air on the news, but to analyze the topic on every news channel for hours??? Some of my best spent US$ 45 per months apparently…
SvD, DN, Aftonbladet
Encouraging View
As most of you know, I am not exactly a fan of churches (except for the art inside of some of them, and occasionally as concert halls), and especially not here in this country where I think that religious institutions play a way too large role in the political and public sphere. But this sight the other day on my way to Georgetown still made me kind of happy.
Below the rainbow flag over the entrance is a text saying that everyone is welcome.
Visit to a National Research Institute in Brasov
I promised that I would write something about our field trip to Brasov so here it is. Tuesday last week, our team went up to Brasov to visit a the National Institute for Potato and Sugar beet and a couple of other government agencies. Though Transylvania is one of my favorite regions in Europe, I had never been to Brasov and so I was really excited just to go there. Visiting the Institute was great. One of the projects that I work with in Romania is among other things financing the reorganization and investments in new equipment for a number of agricultural research institutes. One of the intended outcomes is for the institutes to better disseminate their research results to farmers and processors in order for them to better benefit from new varieties and methods developed domestically.
Seeing the operation of this institute and listening to the staff in the laboratories as well as those out in the fields telling us about their work was great. They have a lot of interesting projects going on and a lot of emphasis is put on the development of varieties suitable for organic production. We also visited a testing kitchen for potato products where offered us chips testing. It was kind of fun!
While much is similar to a lab anywhere else in Europe, there are reminders now and then of why the financing in part come from the International Finance Institutes, like when we were walking through the long corridors that were completely dark because all the lights were out to save energy. Or seeing the a couple of the laboratory staff wearing lab coats from the Stockholm Country Hospitals. Researchers are the same everywhere though – always super enthusiastic about their work – and so it was really inspiring to meet them!
Potato chips tasting: There was actually quite a difference in taste depending on variety.
Potato Field
On our way to the next meeting in central Brasov
Why Does the Summer Always Seem Too Short?
I know it is only August, but I can’t help but feeling a bit disappointed that the summer is approaching its end. It passed too quickly and I have had little time to enjoy it. Will try to make the most of these last weeks.
Two weekends ago, I did however go up to New York again to visit Jenny-O, who was still there for the project she worked on in New Jersey. We did not do very much, except hanging out in parks and at bars, but it was a very relaxing weekend, and it was nice to see Jenny again before she went back to Sweden.
Spent all Saturday in Central Park
And Sunday in Brooklyn
So Much to Do and So Little Time
I have of course very few real problems in my life. But if there would be one, it is that there is so much fun to do, so much interesting to read, so many great places to see, so many new things to try, and not nearly enough time. Any solution to this problem? If so, please let me know!!
The Sakhalin Island – one of the places I really want to visit!