Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Ensam och lite värd

Jag är snart 40 år och har fortfarande inte någon fast punkt. Det känns så tråkigt. Mitt resande i min ungdom och vuxen ålder har varit väldigt dåligt för min karriär, och mitt självförtroende. Jag känner mig så lite värd. 

Jag bor i Hongkong i en liten lägenhet som vi betalar hutlös hyra för. Inget ingår, inget alls. Sen har vi bara råd att bo långt utanför allt för vi tjänar inte tillräckligt för att få bo sådär riktigt bekvämt, som man egentligen ska göra i Hongkong, tycker jag iallafall. 

Mitt resande och bohoppande har gjort mig ensam. Jag har många bekanta, men inga nära vänner kvar. Även om jag inte ångrar mina landshoppningar så saknar jag vänner, det är väldigt jobbigt. 

Jag är gift med en underbar man, han är långt ifrån perfekt (det är inte jag heller), men det är vi, på gott och ont. Vi har en dotter som var väldigt efterlängtad och på den fronten känns det såklart bra. Men ibland bråkar vi, som alla par gör, och då saknar jag att ha någon att kunna gå till, ringa, träffa eller bara finnas där som stöd. 

Jag börjar mer och mer sakna en fast punkt. Vi vet så här långt att den fasta punkten inte ser ut att vara Hongkong. Jag hatar det här stället, massor. Det är komplicerat att bo här, omständigt och dyrt som fan. Visst, vi betalar nästan ingen skatt, men jag som tjänar lika lite idag som jag gjorde när jag en gång i tiden började jobba, tycker inte det är värt det. 

Det har tagit hårt på mitt självförtroende. Det är ett tufft liv att bo i Hongkong, och jag är väl inte så härdad som jag trodde. Jag ser ner på mig själv, känner mig mindre värd och jag är sliten, tjock, lat och trött. Det är inte kul. 

Jag vet att vi kan få ett lättare liv, med bättre boende, bättre socialt familjestöd, något enklare liv, någon annanstans. Jag vet, för jag har bott på andra ställen. Och det ÄR bättre än här. Men med min man som enda barn, och hans mamma som återhämtar sig från cancer, så blir vi kvar här ett tag till. Men jag känner mig fast. Det är inte kul. Jag är väldigt glad att svärmor för tillfället är frisk, självklart. Men jag vill att vår familj också ska bestämma vart vi ska ta vägen. Kommer vi någonsin få äga ett hus, eller lägenhet? Bli en fast punkt för våra barn, existerande och eventuella framtida. Jag hoppas det. 

Men det här var inte poängen med mitt skrivande. Det är att det kan bli ett väldigt ensamt liv att flytta runt, och det kan skada karriären istället för tvärtom. Eller så har jag bara haft väldigt otur... 

 

Friday, March 11, 2016

Stupid stubborn fat...

Since I arrived in Hong Kong I lost my confidence, my career and any belief in myself. The only thing I haven’t lost is my weight. After 6 weeks with mammafitness there is still nothing happening. How can that be? It’s supposed to be what I needed, but it doesn’t seem to work on me. I feel lost, I feel beat.
I like my job, but it’s not what I want to do. I don’t like living in Hong Kong, but that’s nothing new. I love when I get to work out in the gym, but getting there requires a lot of planning, and it doesn’t always work. I have to get better to get there. I may be the fattest person in the room, but I just love being there. There is a physically fit person under all my layers of fat.

This fat is sooo stubborn, I haven’t seen anything like it. It’s making me depressed. 

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Sveriges Radio utlandskorre!

I was talking on the radio for the first time in my life, but hopefully not the last :))). I spoke about what's going on in Hong Kong during the night radio show Vaken. It's in Swedish, but anyone interested in listening, here's the link: http://t.sr.se/1mU6f7F

It has been a long life dream for me to work with radio. I know I'm old school like that, who listens to the radio anymore? Well, I do. And now perhaps you do too!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

I hate Hong Kong

I hate Hong Kong. I hate that the housing and rental prices are outrageous. I hate that there are not enough parking and I hate that there is no city planning in the villages, (parking and getting deliveries are a pain). I hate that it takes a lifetime to go to work. I hate that the apartments are so small that people are using windows as storage, or just close the curtain so you can’t see anything. Wherever you look, windows and the occasional balconies are just storage. IF one of the windows are nicely decorated with curtains, perhaps some plants and other nice decorations, you bet it’s an expat, rich one too… I hate that the apartments are NOT isolated at all! Too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.

I hate that you have to fold the stroller when entering public transportation. I hate that there are stairs EVERYWHERE! I mean, seriously?? Carrying a stroller, bags and a wiggly toddler is not that easy! I hate that it is cheaper for us to go out and eat local food than cook fresh at home. I hate that milk cost 25-30HKD per liter.

I hate that the whole society in Hong Kong is built up around having a domestic helper at home (freaking modern slavery in my eyes). I hate that the apartments are so small, and NO STORAGE! I hate that Starbucks only sell ½ lb coffee bean bags, too small! I hate that kids are expected to start preschool at 2 years, and the little toddlers need to be interviewed to get approved!! My daughter will not be drawn in to that part.

I hate that gyms here don’t have day care. I really hate the housing market is so f-cked up. It’s just insane, absolutely insane. I make a tiny 15 000HKD per month, our rent for a ground floor apartment, not that big, 700sqf, out in nowhere cost 12 500HKD per month. On top of that we pay water, electricity, gas, TV and internet. It pisses me off so immensely. When looking at renting apartments around where my husband’s parents live, Tin Hau, we would not get ANYTHING for that price. Standard price for a rental place, 600sqf, cost around 30 000HKD per month, plus utilities. INSANE!

Some days are worse than others. And I know I shouldn’t complain, we have a roof, job, a lovely daughter, family, and I have a few people I can call friends. But I’m still not happy. When it’s time, we will leave Hong Kong, but now is not the time. 

Monday, December 7, 2015

The frustration

I want my daughter to have a sibling. I really really want her to be a big sister. 
It's almost been a year since we started trying for real again. The frustration and disappointment every month my period comes again... It's like stabbing a piece of my heart out. 

I'm wondering why I can't get pregnant again. I see all these preggo moms running around chasing their kid. I want that... Yes I get jealous. It's not pretty, I know. 

Of course I'm very grateful for my daughter. She's the best thing in the world. 

And honestly, I'm old. I may not have more eggs to fertilize. That would be very sad, but normal pregnancy or none is the deal, since honey isn't as keen as me to have another. I guess he forgot how lonely he was as an only child. At least that's what he told me. I wouldn't know, as the oldest of four siblings. 

So, we will just keep trying, and trying, and trying. Perhaps one day God thinks it's our turn to get blessed again. And of course I have a request to have a healthy child too. Perhaps I'm asking too much. 


Friday, November 27, 2015

Losing My Religion

R.E.M posted a video clip on Facebook. It’s a half hour program from the Swedish Television about R.E.M’s song Losing my Religion. That song meant so much to me that I got tears in my eyes listening to it. R.E.M had a huge impact on me.

During the 1980s, music was just music. It wasn’t until Losing my Religion, indie and grunge came that I felt right at home in my music. It brought me to a new world, one that I absolutely loved. I felt connected, I felt right, and it created my passion for music.

I remember when I first saw the music video to Losing my Religion. My friend Sandra had MTV, and during 1991 they still played mostly music videos. As always, we were watching MTV, and the song came on. I was captured immediately. I knew this was for me. And this was in the era of New Kids on the Block, which I never cared for. But R.E.M. hit the spot. I didn’t know you could make music that good before. The video was weird, Michael Stipe’s voice was so emotional, so true. The music was happy and sad at the same time. I paid attention to the lyrics, I tried to understand, I tried to take in what he sang. I didn’t understand but I knew I was listening to something utterly beautiful.
The feeling of completeness was real. R.E.M became one of my most favorite bands. I just wish I knew about them before. But they started my journey to more music that made me feel special, that connected to the teenage me. I’m 38 years old now, but I can still remember exactly that feeling. It was so strong, and so real. Something of a religious experience I assume.

I had tickets to go see R.E.M in concert in 1994 or 1995 in Gothenburg. Unfortunately I couldn’t go because it clashed with a performance abroad with the orchestra I was with. I was heartbroken, sad, upset and angry. I never had the chance to see them live again, and now they’ve split… But I am still grateful for finding R.E.M. and the impact they had on me and my life.


R.E.M. Thank You from the bottom of my heart. You made me more complete.  

Friday, May 22, 2015

Free time?

All of a sudden today I had a couple of hours to myself. I was done with a small job of recording and Ella was playing happily at her grandparents. I didn't have to be back for another couple of hours. How nice, right? 

Instead of enjoying my time off I felt the stress of not using that time to work on the magazine that I volunteer for and that is due next week. I felt the areas of not being able to work on my resume and send out job applications. I need to set up a website as a portfolio of what I've done if I want to work with layout. I haven't even started. I felt the stress of not being able to applying to an online course to be able to teach English (as a back up plan if I don't get a job that I actually want). My gosh, I felt stress because I hadn't foreseen this gap and planned for this. Or at least bring work out clothes...

The stress! It's there. What did I end up doing? I ate an early lunch and had a cup of coffee all to myself. I took the tram and ended up walking back to my in-laws. There was nothing I could do so I tried to enjoy the time. It's precious... 

Ella playing happily at her grand parents ❤️. 


Wednesday, May 6, 2015

When will it be my turn?

I got a phone call today. It was from the job I have applied for. I really really wanted this job. It is perfect for me! But I found out I was the runner up. No, I didn't get the job. I was soooooo disappointed that I cried a little. I tried to stay positive, and I really tried to keep my hopes down. But I just felt like I was going to make it. I didn't...

This rejection triggered something in me. I am waiting for my life to get on track. I feel like I'm still struggling to find a balance. This job was my way to get started doing just that. I know I put a lot of emphasis in a job, and it wasn't that big of a deal, just a part time customer service job, but still...

When I realized I wanted to tell someone about my disappointment I noticed something else. I don't have any close friends left. I have moved so many times that I have many friends, just no close friends. I have my family, they are my closest friends now, but outside that, no one. It made me feel lonelier and even more like a failure.

I've been in Hong Kong for three years and I still feel like I'm looking for my place. I've gotten married, gave birth to a wonderful daughter, but I'm still not where I'm supposed to be. When am I going to find my place? When will I get the job I want and that will make me thrive? I'm still looking, I'm still hoping and working towards my lucky break. I know I will get there, and I know it requires work. I'm not afraid of that, I just want to get there. I deserve it, I do, I do...

Friday, April 24, 2015

Clever little thing

Going to the bathroom when you're out and about by yourself and the little one can be pretty tricky. Usually I just let Ella hang on me while I balance and try to pee. It works. But she's pretty darn heavy to be carried now. 

Yesterday I ran in to his clever little thing in a bathroom stall in one of Hong Kong's many shopping malls. It's like a high chair by the toilet. Soon easy and genius! Then I don't have to carry her, or have to put her on the floor worrying about all the grossness she can touch in there while I'm immobilized doing my business. 

So simple, and exactly what we moms need. I hope there is such thing in the men's room as well :). 

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Baby hostile

I'm not done whining... Hong Kong must be among the world's most UNfriendliest baby city in the world. Previously when it wasn't so hot and Ella wasn't so heavy I carried her everywhere in the Baby Bjorn carrier. Super convenient and easy. Now it's a bit too hot so I started using the stroller more. But my goodness the problems I run in to... There are stairs everywhere!!! First you have to go up stairs, to then go down stairs, like a stair hill... And finding elevators isn't an easy task. Honey told me it's just a few years ago when the government decided that all new buildings must have wheelchair access, which means most buildings in Hong Kong aren't built to be accessed by stroller or wheelchair.

It pisses me off that it has to be so complicated just to get somewhere with a stroller in Hong Kong. It's almost like you get punished for bringing your baby out and about. Yup, that's Hong Kong.

Okay, I'm going to try something new, instead of whine, think about something positive, like I have a wonderful daughter!

Peace out bitches...


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Trapped

Living in Hong Kong during the summer months are absolutely awful. It's too hot to go outside and the apartments are so small that you feel trapped, at least I feel that way. I hate it. 

I can't even go outside for a wall with Ella without nearly fainting of overheating after just a few minutes. And yes, I am unusually sensitive to heat. Going for a walk is supposed to be easy, it's not easy in Hong Kong during summer. I'm miserable... 

We had to give up one of our lovely rabbits for adoption, so Liam is currently living at our vet office. The office is a leisurely 20 mins walk from home, but in this heat it becomes impossible to get there without sweat soaked through my clothes and a pounding headache from overheating so I won't do it. It really sucks. 

People tell me; walk around in one of the many malls! Sure that's a good idea and obviously the only way right now, but then it becomes a project, taking public transportation, planning for diaper changes, feeding, and usually end up buying something I didn't really need etc. Just leaving from home for a walk doesn't require much planning since I'll be close to home, and there aren't much for sale in the parks. 

And you know, sometimes it's nice to go outside, I feel bad for Ella for not being able to take her to the park, see trees and flowers... but that just won't happen in the summer in Hong Kong. 

I had to vent, I wish things were different... Sigh...


Tuesday, June 10, 2014

The dream house (I wish)

I have a Facebook-friend with a house they made their own. They modified the house to their needs and wants with a pretty big garden. To me it sounds perfect and made me think of my dream home. 

I wish I found that house for our family, you know that one house that felt just right, and you knew it would mold in to your needs. Preferably the house should be outside the city, but not too far. I would want to be able to take the car or ride a bike in to town. I want the grocery store fairly close, a bonus would be a farmers market each week to buy fresh veggies and fruit that are in season. 

The house is free standing, with character. It doesn't have to be new, or old, but it must feel right. Perhaps there is a playground close by, where the kids can go play. 

Although I don't like cooking, I want the kitchen to be a big open space, with view and access to the living room, and a patio. I want a dish washer, big drawers and cupboards to easily fit all our kitchen utensils. There are a lot of working surfaces, and I can display our beautiful red Kitchen Aid and coffee maker (French press). I imagine that even I would enjoy cooking in such a beautiful kitchen. 

I haven't quite worked out the other rooms, but I know I want the kitchen and living room to be the heart of the house. Yes, there will be a big screen tv. 

I see white walls with bright colored paintings and accessories. I see white airy curtains hanging in front of the door to the patio, moving in the fresh breeze. 

Outdoors I see a storage room in the yard, and a nice big garage, and a shaded outdoor seating area. 

I'm sure I just described a typical modern house in Sweden, and perhaps what I described is a bit 2000-and-late, but it is what I want. I wonder if we ever get there, and where in the world it would be, eventually... 


Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Why don't I pay more attention?

I have never before been riding so much taxi in Hong Kong since Ella was born. We were just not comfortable taking her on the public transport. Of course, having our own car would be great, but at the same time it's not that convenient to drive and park in this city.

As I was sitting in a taxi I was wondering if I ever been driven by the same taxi driver twice? With many thousands of taxis in Hong Kong I don't think it is very likely. Although I cannot say I have ever really paid attention to what the driver looks like, except that it is a man. So far I have never had a female taxi driver, but I know they exist.

Even if I have been in the same taxi twice I wouldn't have noticed. On the other hand, does the taxi driver recognize his clients?




Saturday, May 17, 2014

The new mommy life

It's just amazing how life changes after a baby enters. I know, people told me all the time, but you really don't understand until it's your turn. Not only life and habits change, priorities change too. All of a sudden it's more about baby Ella than myself. Naturally her needs are put first. Next week she turns three months, time flies.

I always thought of myself as a city person, I need to be where things happen. With baby Ella in my life my previous priorities and preferences of where to live seem to have changed. The thought of Ella not being able to grow up in a house, with a yard and the possibility to play with neighboring kids scares me. Is Hong Kong really the right place to raise kids? I would be very unfair if I say you can't raise kids here, people do it all the time. But when you grew up in a boring but very safe environment of a small town it seems cruel to have to grow up in a tiny, cramped apartment on the 16th floor with only scheduled playdates. However, as long as we live in Hong Kong I don't think there will be any possibilities of a house. Let's see if the compromise of a floor in a three-storey village house outside the city works as a substitute.

Also, after my 10 weeks of maternity leave I realized there is no way I can leave this precious girl in the arms of a stranger and I quit my job. It did feel a bit sad as I did enjoy it a lot. Money-wise will be a bit scarce, but it must be worth it. If we can live on one salary for awhile so I can stay home with Ella, then that is the best solution. I feel blessed to be able to do that.

Life changes, and that is a good thing. As my dad always say, "Kids are the reason to live" (or something like that), and he's absolutely right!



Saturday, December 7, 2013

Hospital

Last Monday I woke up right before the alarm. It felt like I peed myself. Only half awake I went to the bathroom. As I look down I see my underwear filled with blood and water. I woke up immediately and got scared as hell. So did Honey. 

We packed a bag to stay in the hospital and took a taxi. The procedure here is to go straight to the hospital if something like this happen. I was admitted right away. 

By the time I got to the hospital, the bleeding had stopped. But they did still do all kinds of checks. They made me stay one night for observation. As they found nothing wrong and all the tests came back normal they let me go the next day, with bed rest at home. My goodness...

This was the second bleeding incident so I got extra worried. But everything was fine. They don't even know what caused it. My placenta is very low and the bleeding could be it moving. Which works for me as I prefer a natural birth. But that's only possible if there isn't a placenta laying covering the exit. 

But staying in the hospital is boring, ultra boring. We are not allowed to charge the phones or computers in the outlets, and no tv. I also forgot to bring a book in the stress to get to the hospital. 

I don't see myself as a person who worry too much, but apparently pregnancy comes with paranoia. Now I'm getting worried about everything, constantly feeling and looking. Don't want anything to go wrong of course. 

I am now in  week 28, so if there is something serious and she must come out prematurely, it's a big chance she survives. Feels good. 

When the doctor discharged me she said if the bleeding happens again they may admit me until the baby is born. That would be horrible. I plan on staying healthy and not bleeding until it's time to deliver. I hope my body agrees to that. 

View from the hospital bed. 



Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Tuesday in November

Tuesday November 12… Could there be another more boring day than this? It’s Tuesday, the worst day of the week to start with, and then November, middle of November even. It’s grey and raining in Hong Kong. It’s the kind of day that never really wakes up. The sun never made it through the thick clouds. Everyone in the office look a bit worn out, I’m no exception, I probably look even worse after a really bad night’s sleep with dreams about our baby, and about dolls. It was a bit freaky, that’s all I remember.

 

To brighten it up, here is a sunshine picture of my wittle girl, my hairy baby, my Miss Poo, Gunvor, Ding Ding… I’m so glad she’s in my life :). 



 

Friday, November 1, 2013

I'm fat

I’m pregnant, and I’m getting fat, I know I am supposed to get fat, I have something wonderful growing inside me. But I cannot stop obsessing over my body… When I read online it’s apparently common that pregnant women are obsessing over their bodies. But friends with babies… HOW COME I have NEVER HEARD any one of you complain about getting fat? I feel very self-absorbed for even thinking about my well-being (of being fat or not) instead of just focus on having a healthy baby… But I wanted to write this to let you know that we exist!

Yes, I have been obsessed about my body for many years, why do you think I work out so hard? Now with the pregnancy I don’t have the strength left to work out after all my hours at work. It’s sad. I tried to go to the gym once a week, just for some easy weight-lifting and end up being completely exhausted, and cardio is not even on the table, unless it’s a walk in moderate tempo. Apparently my body needs to focus 100% on producing our baby, and not for me to even try to stay fit right now. I see it as a defeat. Being a strong and independent woman I thought I would handle being pregnant while still going on with my life as nothing happened. How stupid of me... I have pelvis pain, heartburn, headaches, skin irritation, fatigue, dizziness, difficult to breathe, swollen feet, cannot drink coffee (it tastes bad!) or eat sushi but at least I'm healthy :). And I haven't gone through the worst part yet! 

One thing is for sure, I cannot wait to meet our girl (two different doctors confirmed it's a girl). I know it will be worth all the suffering I go through, I just do. :) ❤️

 


Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Connected equals stress?

I really like facebook, whatsapp, text messages, instagram and all the other fantastic ways we have to connect to people. These devices have been especially good since I have moved around a lot and met many interesting people on the way that I want to have in my life, even if they are not close physically. And of course being able to reach my beloved family with just a sentence in our whatsapp group, that is very encouraging. I get pictures of my beautiful nieces sent to me in an instant, I get to see how they grow, even if I am not there.

 

But I also have to say that sometimes being constantly connected drains my energy. To always be expected to be reached, to be expected to answer within the hour, or at least the same day... Someone is always expecting a reply. It’s usually no problem, there is always a moment over for replies while you wait for the bus, or while on the bus, the subway, or during a commercial break on TV.

 

To be able to be reached all the time has put some kind of extra stress on life, at least my life, even if it also made it easier. I have started to turn off my data plan so I cannot be reached when I’m not hooked up to a WiFi, it feels pretty good to know that I can ignore anyone trying to reach me. The replies have to wait.

 

I remember when I lived in Long Beach, CA, the first time, in 1997, for the first time far away from family and friends. I was still calling my family every two weeks or so on a landline, I wrote long handwritten letters, and expected a handwritten letter back in a month or so, if I was lucky. I am probably romanticizing it all, but life felt a little less stressed back then. Perhaps because I was 20 years old and had my whole life ahead of me helped, but still… I don’t consider myself too old now, but a lot has changed in 16 years. Connected or not, I always know my family loves me, and that is strength in itself :).

 


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Draining energy

 Right now Hong Kong is draining my energy; we don’t get along at all. I find the city too crowded, too noisy, too dirty, too polluted, too hot. Today I really miss country roads, I miss fresh produce (all food in Hong Kong is imported), I miss nature, and I miss silence… I miss normal rent prices and salaries you can actually live on. It’s just that kind of a day…

 

I still claim to be a city girl. I love the city pulse, when I don’t have to live right in it. I need it at a distance, but at a very reachable distance. I loved living in Sundbyberg when I lived in Stockholm. I got the loud, smelly and crowded city of Stockholm just 12 mins away on the subway. And I got the tranquility of a sleepy small town with excellent public transports and nature just around the corner where I lived. For me this was the best of two worlds. Of course there are pros and cons with everything, but I wish we could find that balance somewhere in Hong Kong too. My ears are tired, my eyes are itchy and my clothes are shrinking.

 

Not all days are a bed of roses, and there are good and bad days. That’s life, right? Let’s hope tomorrow is a good day again…

 

 


Friday, September 27, 2013

Usagi

Last Sunday Hong Kong was supposed to get hit by a severe typhoon called Usagi, which means white rabbit. It didn't happen. Although the whole city was prepared, and Hong Kong with all its concrete is strong to take such hit. Unfortunately (or fortunately) HK is also so hot due to the hot air trapped between all these tall buildings, which usually pushes away the bad weather. But we need that bad weather to clear the air a bit. The air in the city is so stale. 

Anyway, we got to sleep in a little last Monday, as work is cancelled when there is a typhoon signal 8 or stronger in force. 

Either way, HK got lucky.