carina's blog

Tyler and I ventured down to the bank only to find a police line around it and a news crew about to broadcast. Apparently there had been a robbery. I am glad I waited until the kids got home to go to the bank because it had happened only an hour before!

It's a rainy Wednesday, and I was supposed to walk down to the bank. I think I will wait a few hours and see how the weather is.

It's not too far, but I think I would be soaked by the time I got there anyway. In this weather it wouldn't be a bad thing, but I'd like my purse to stay dry since I am going to the bank!

I have a little bit of money I want to put into an account, and get a check card.

I got a bite on a job yesterday, but the pay was too low. That's ok, because I also got an invitation to interview from another job.

Right now I am so tired from being up late that I could go back to bed. Especially on a rainy day like today.

Helena had friends over for a bachelorette party for Pernilla tonight. (Pernilla's daughter goes to school with Linnea, and Jesper, Micke, Pernilla, and Helena are all friends.)

I was fine when everyone was here. I had a good time, and everyone was very nice and fun to be around.

But when everyone left, I realized how much it hurt that my marriage is over. I mean, I knew it hurt, but when you have someone else's marriage coming up and someone else's bachelorette party in your face like this was, well, it left me sad.

I see a lot of things in a different light now, but mostly I remember the happy things that I want to share, but then I realize that they were happy. Right now they are sad. Maybe someday I will come to see them the way I saw them before.

Right now I am still mourning.

Reba sent this to me. Kind of tells you where I am at, I suppose.

I got to get faster at answering Gizmo calls, I keep missing them!

I feel SO much better after budgeting and hearing from my friends about the job market, environment, and what I can expect in terms of "benefits."

If you know me, you know that I like work. That almost sounds sick, but in general, I am happier when I am working.

So far, things are encouraging here. As I said yesterday, I applied for 20+ jobs yesterday. I got a few responses, and a call today. For Sweden this is exceptional, as they are very cautious about hiring people. This is because when someone is hired it is much harder to let them go than it is in the U.S. - you must give 3 months notice as I understand it. So no wonder they are cautious! If you hire someone and they turn out to be terrible, you have to have them around for 3 more months before you can see them out the door.

Similarly, if you are leaving a position, you must give notice for 3 months (can't recall and Micke is picking up Linnea from school right now).

I can't really wrap my mind around that right now. It's just so much time.

I can see it working very well for both employer and employee if the right match is found.

So, that is bringing my spirits up a bit, and I have been invited to join a group of Americans in Sweden that meets monthly. They meet tonight, but I won't be able to attend as I am going to Helena's friend Pernilla's bachelorette party. I'm relieved there will be no strippers involved, although we all joked that Micke could deliver the pizza we are ordering in a police uniform and take this role.

This morning after applying for all of the jobs Micke found online, Micke and I went over to pick Jesper to take with us to the grocery store. I think I've never had such a good time at a grocery store (sober that is). Micke and Jesper are really funny.

Then we received word that school ended a little earlier than we thought. 2. I was anxious to see how it went. Oh, you won't believe it!

I picked up the twins and they were a little angry because I was a little late, but Tyler said school was excellent. Tayler loved it as well.

They are in prep class before beginning regular class to get caught up on Swedish and Swedish history. They get to work at their own pace.

Tyler got frustrated during the beginning of class, and the teacher came over and asked her what was up. Tyler said she couldn't get it, would never get it (whatever IT was), and the teacher said yes you will, because I will help you/explain it to you until you get it.

Call 614-654-4821 (Gizmo) or if calling international from the U.S. 011 +46 040-219923 (home). Remember we are 6 hours ahead so don't call the home number after 5pm!

I dropped the kids off at school today. I almost walked in with my shoes on. (That's right they take off their shoes at the door.) The twins seemed nervous but excited. They rode their new bikes.

Now I am looking for jobs. There are 24 jobs so far that fit my experience. And that's just in Malmö. Lund is very close, and so is Copenhagen. Both are close enough to drive to or take the train to.

Last night I was up very late on CommunityofSweden.com trying to find people in my area to meet. Although I have been introduced to a few of Helena and Micke's friends, I need more, because if you know me, you know I am an extrovert who LOVES people.

Right now I feel pretty lonely. The hardest part about coming to Sweden is that it is hard to find friends because people are a bit shy or cautious about meeting new people.