There and Back Again

Read any good books lately?

2012-02-11T17:48:00.001-05:00

[Updated February 11, 2012]

I am historically terrible at writing down what I read. Then when people ask me if I have any book recommendations I ramble on and on about some book I was reading recently, but I can't remember the title and/or the author. So, I'm starting a little list here of what I've been reading since approximately August 2010.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon
The Climate War, by Eric Pooley
Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen
Assassination Vacation, by Sarah Vowell
Ms. Hempel Chronicles, by Sarah Shun-lien Bynum
The Bomb, by Howard Zinn
The Wordy Shipmates, by Sarah Vowell
Salt: A World History, by Mark Kurlansky
Enrique's Journey, by Sonia Nazario
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Current of Electricity and Hope, by William Kamkwamba
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
Plan B 4.0, by Lester Russell Brown
36 Arguments for the Existence of God, by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
Mandela's Way, by Richard Stengel
We Are All the Same: A story of a boy's courage and a mother's love, by James T. Wooten
Jayber Crow, by Wendell Berry
The Dante Club, by Matthew Pearl
Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel, by Judith and Neil Morgan
Cracking the Carbon Code, by Terry Tamminen
A Little Piece of Earth: How to Grow Your Own Food in Small Spaces, by Maria Finn
Tao Te Ching: A new English version with foreward/notes by Stephen Mitchell
American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food (and What We Can Do About It), by Jonathan Bloom
Farewell, My Subaru, by Doug Fine
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Unfamiliar Fishes, by Sarah Vowell
Bossypants, by Tina Fey
Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland, by Christopher Browning
Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools, by Jonathan Kozol
Looking Backward: 2000 - 1887, by Edward Bellamy
American Short Story Masterpieces, edited by Raymond Carver and Tom Jenks
Varieties of Disturbance: Stories, by Lydia Davis
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns), by Mindy Kaling
Coming of Age in Mississippi, by Anne Moody

Note 1: I am not going to write "reviews" of these books. However, if it's on the list, it means I thought it was good enough to read the whole book. Not everyone will like every book on this list -- but you never know until you start reading. If you want to know what I think of any one in particular, feel free to ask me.

Note 2: I am currently reading through the Clinton School of Public Service Class 6 book list, so you'll see a lot of those titles on the list.

Note 3: I read most of these because they are recommended by others. Please send me recommendations (via comment, email, Facebook, etc.).

Garden: Day 54

2011-06-22T20:55:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry loyal readers, it's been awhile. Life got busy and I just got back from being on the road for a few days. Luckily, I found that this guy was watching over the plants while I was gone. Thank you, weird looking, possibly winged friend:

Success #1: Bushels of Cherry Tomatoes! (I don't care if they are not measured in bushels.)

Harold is loving life and taking advantage of the summer. His first harvest yielded 6 delicious cherry tomatoes that I ate on my salads. He is well on his way to a healthy second harvest.

Success #2: Roma Tomato Sighting!

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come. Unfortunately, Kumar is just not looking very happy overall. Maybe one is all he's got in him this year.

Success #3: Parsley released from Emergency Room!

The parsley recovered after the caterpillar decided to gorge himself a few weeks ago. Thank you, Kelly, for rescuing the parsley from a fate worse than/equal to death.

Tentative Hope on the Horizon #1 (and only): Lettuce?

The greens are finally potentially big enough to eat. Maybe? I don't know.

Failure #1: Black Death 2011.

The basil is suffering from some sort of plague characterized by black spots on the leaves. It is looking slightly better than it was a week ago, so hopefully this is a sign of recovery.

Failure #2: Flowers in all the wrong places.

The basil also decided it wanted to flower already...probably because of the Black Death. Still, not cool, basil.

Garden: Day 41

2011-06-09T20:57:00.000-04:00

The Great Harvest of 2011

(This might be as good as it gets, so I'm going to fully document it.)

After a few days of sitting on the vine, it looks like Harold's first crop is ready to be harvested!

The great bounty:

I'll give you two guesses as to what in this picture was grown in my backyard, but you're only going to need one:

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Kumar is taking his sweet little time. I know he wouldn't want to rush it, but come on! I can't wait for caprese salad forever.

Garden: Day 37

2011-06-05T20:07:00.001-04:00

One of the cherry tomatoes is RED! This is very exciting news in the garden world. Now if only I knew when to pick the cherry tomato to achieve optimum ripeness and flavor. I am also somewhat worried that this may be my only tomato crop this year. Harold has put a lot of energy into growing the tomatoes that are on the vine and I don't know how much more he'll produce. Fingers crossed!

In other news, my only non-food plant is flowering, which proves that it is not dead! Success! I got it so that it would attract some nice bees to my plants. We'll see if that happens.

Caterpillar Update: By last week he had become quite a fatty and had eaten about half of my parsley plant. Thus, Kelly was nice enough to move him to another area of the yard. I wish him the best in his new home.

John did some research and it turns out he will become a Black Swallowtail Butterfly, which is the state butterfly of Oklahoma. According to all-knowing Wikipedia, "The Black Swallowtail caterpillar has an orange "forked gland", called the osmeterium. When in danger the osmeterium, which looks like a snake's tongue, everts and releases a foul smell to repel predators." We definitely saw (but luckily did not smell) these little orange antennae when Kelly moved him off the parsley.

Garden: Day 25

2011-05-24T19:24:00.001-04:00

It appears that someone else has taken a certain liking to my plants, specifically the parsley:

I'm not sure if he is a fellow plant killer because he has actually been hanging out with the parsley for a few days now and he has become quite fat and happy from eating something. However, from appearance, the parsley doesn't seem to have taken a direct hit.

He also apparently hasn't attacked the basil because it is growing like a tree. I smell pesto in my future...probably tomorrow.

Garden: Day 23

2011-05-22T20:21:00.001-04:00

The plants have been on auto-pilot for a week because it has rained every day since two Fridays ago (literally). I am happy to report that while the plants have survived both me and my squirrel friend trying to kill them, they have now also survived Mother Nature's attempt at murder. Her preferred method was a large hail storm last Wednesday night. While I pulled Marsha (my car) to the side of the road atop high ground to wait it out and avoid floating down the Rappahannock, my plants were fighting on the front lines and surprisingly came out with very little damage. Well done, team.

Mother Nature's attempt at murder did not hamper the battle of the tomato plants (Harold vs. Kumar). In this fight, Harold has come out of the gate strong. He grows flowers as fast as I pick them off. He's also got several little tomatoes growing at the moment:

Kumar, on the other hand, is playing tortoise in this scenario. At least "Hare"-old is living up to his name. Hopefully Kumar is in this for the marathon because right now he is not doing much of anything:

Finally, it appears that the salad pot is attempting to recover from last week's sandbox extravaganza. Hopefully it will get much taller and ready to eat soon...I am getting impatient.

Garden: Day 16

2011-05-15T19:15:00.001-04:00

Intruder!

It appears that someone besides myself is working on killing my plants. I suspect the intruder looks like this except less cute, unable to fly, and without a moose friend:

The intruder has decided to play sandbox in my lettuce pot:

I have alerted the local authorities and they have assured me that they are on it. Clearly a repeat offender.

Garden: Day 9

2011-05-08T21:55:00.000-04:00

Stop the presses -- Potential food has appeared in the form of a small cherry tomato in progress!

In other news, I braved Home Depot on Mother's Day and somehow made it out alive and unharmed.

The Mission: Staking 2011.

I got some bamboo and string. Since the bamboo comes in packages of 6, I also bought two single stakes which I believe are plastic. This was unfortunate since I try to avoid unnecessary plastic purchases as much as possible.

I followed the advice of a quick Google search for "how to stake tomato plants" and got the soil all wet, stuck the stakes in, and used a "figure 8" tying technique. Hopefully they will grow upwards and straight now.

Harold (Cherry Tomato Plant) seems pretty happy with his staking:

He also has a bunch of these yellow flowers. Are these a good thing? Should I pick them off? I don't know...

Kumar (Roma Tomato Plant) also seemed rather happy with having four stakes join his pot:

Garden: Day 8

2011-05-07T14:58:00.001-04:00

As you may have been able to tell, I am not the most patient person in the world...especially when it comes to food. As I told Becky, the main themes of this blog (assuming I don't lose interest soon) will be:

Where is the food? I'm hungry.
Are the plants dead yet? If not, how have they survived?
I don't really like tomatoes very much, but I feel obligated to grow them.
Building on Theme 3, why doesn't cheese grow in pots?

Today, I got impatient and decided I wanted some pesto NOW. After watching a bunch of semi-helpful videos on YouTube about how to pick basil, I went out and attempted not to kill my basil plant. We'll see how successful I was in the coming weeks I'm sure. If the basil turns out to be a goner, at least it will have provided some delicious pesto:

Since these leaves were on the plant when I bought it, I'm not sure I can call this pesto made directly from things I have grown. However, it is pesto made out of basil leaves picked from a plant that is currently residing in a pot in my backyard. So, it's journey from picking to my plate was approximately 50 feet.

Lunchtime!

YUM.

Garden: Day 6

2011-05-05T19:00:00.000-04:00

It's alive!

That, my friends, is the beginning of my lettuce! Now I just have to keep it alive until it gets big enough to eat...

...

Is it ready yet? No? I might be too impatient for this gardening thing.

Along that same line, where are my cherry tomatoes?! All they seem to be doing is growing sideways.

Looks like the next project is staking...

Garden: Day 3

2011-05-02T20:07:00.000-04:00

Happy Summer 2011!

This year, I have decided to ~~kill~~ grow things. Things that I can eat. Since this isn't my house and you never know how stationary I am, they are ~~dying~~ growing in pots.

It was really quite easy. I John picked out healthy looking plants. I John found appropriate sized pots and the right soil type. I scooped a bunch of soil into the pots (I actually did that) and John put the plants in. Then I watered them a lot (I did that too). Now, we wait.

That was Saturday (Day 1). So far, they have survived for three whole days!

Hopefully this becomes something more than soil in a pot...

I can taste the pesto now!

Green Associate

2010-10-26T10:22:00.002-04:00

Swedish Breakfast

2010-06-04T03:58:00.004-04:00

This is the deliciousness that keeps the Project Team going all day (and night) long. Thank you Hotel Korstappan!

Pictures from Rework the World: Wednesday

2010-06-03T05:26:00.002-04:00

Life got a little crazy around here, so no time for an actual update, although the opening plenary was amazing.

The arena went from this:
To this:

Stage Close Up:

Rework the World: Tuesday

2010-06-01T15:22:00.003-04:00

It's Tuesday already! (And soon I will be saying, "It's Sunday already!" Time always flies once these things get going.) The arena is almost ready to go. The tables and chairs were added today (see above).

We had our first team meeting this morning bright and early at 7:00 am. I was my usual, cheery self at that time of day. We reviewed the Day-by-Day schedule and got excited for the first participants to arrive! Here is what the walk from the hotel to the venue looks like, so no complaints from me (or any other project team member):
This morning the volunteers finished up their training and 75 nature guides arrived. A key part of the Tallberg experience is the connection with nature and the outdoors. The team really does an amazing job of making sure everyone has a chance to experience beautiful Sweden and nearby Lake Siljan. On Thursday morning, all 1500 participants will depart on a morning nature walk to start the day.

For my part, I've been emersed in the workshop program and catching up on all of the fantastic work that Karin, Joanna, and Pim have done. It's both exciting and daunting to see how many sessions are planned over the coming days.

Carly also got my cell phone sorted, which I promptly had Pim change into English for me. I learned all of the Swedish words and functions last year, but now is not the time for mistakes due to my poor Swedish skills. (See previous blog posts about my favorite Swedish words. It's a great language and I am actually quite surprised at how much I remember. Tack! Precis!)

Rework the World: Monday

2010-05-31T15:47:00.005-04:00

Last year I spent Memorial Day in Sweden and this year is no exception. (I may try to make this a permanent trend.) It's been a busy day finishing up preparations for Rework the World. Having worked on the Forum during the run up to the event last year, it is an odd feeling to have arrived so close to its beginning this year. I know how much hard work and many late nights have gone into planning this and I am just here to help with the odds and ends that the team needs.

The volunteers arrived today for their orientation (as did the Survival Guides, pictured above). They received an overview of the schedule, a tour of the facilities and venue, and an introduction to their responsibilities. They are from a variety of nationalities, backgrounds, and ages (much like the Rework participants). These much-appreciated volunteers will be the face of Rework, helping all 1500 participants find their way during the weekend. I joined in the tour to get the lay of the land myself (since we are not in the village of Tallberg this year and I've never been to Leksand). Gathering next to the Dala Horse in front of Ejendals Arena:

(Apparently Leksand's Dala Horse is actually blue, but this one was painted pink a few years ago. Tallberg's is white, I think.)

Taking a walking tour of the surrounding village:

Rework the World 2010

2010-05-31T04:42:00.005-04:00

Since I'm back in Sweden, it is only fitting for the return of There and Back Again! The Tallberg Foundation has kindly brought me back for this year's gathering: Rework the World. For those who followed along last year, this year's event is a whole new animal! Last year we were in Tallberg with 500 participants. This year, we are in nearby Leksand with over 1500 participants from 120 countries! A partnership between the Tallberg Foundation and YES, Rework the World will be focusing on our most pressing challenges, all through the lens of youth employment. I can't wait to get started!

The team has been working hard all year long and now they are going to see all of their work come to fruition. Scenic pictures of Sweden will come, but for now all the work is happening in the back office:

I'm Graduating!

2010-03-09T09:34:00.004-05:00

Clinton School Volunteer Bob Gee and Class 4 Students

As many of you know, I have spent the past two years at the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, Arkansas completing a Master of Public Service degree. The experiences I have had while a student here have been absolutely amazing and I have grown both personally and professionally as a result of my time in this program. If you’ve been following my mass emails or blog, some highlights include:

· Working with Heifer International on developing their new public education center.

· Being part of the Novice League Champion Clinton School kickball team.

· Living in Sweden last summer and working with the Tallberg Forum on their annual globalization conference for 450 global leaders.

· Attending Clinton Global Initiative – University in Austin, TX.

· Starting a new energy efficiency program with the Clinton Foundation for low-income Arkansans.

The Clinton School is truly a home to me. I have found invaluable friendship, advice, and teaching all in one place with my classmates, faculty and staff, and our dedicated volunteers. In our class of 30, I am surrounded by passionate and devoted people who have pledged their lives to public service. Today, I ask you to support us as we get close to graduation!

The Clinton School volunteers have been a special addition to my time as a student here. They welcome us to School each day, provide support and advice where we need it, and staff the School’s extensive public program series throughout the year. As we approach graduation, my class has decided to donate to the Clinton School Volunteers’ Hope Fund as our graduation present to the School.

The volunteers started the Hope Fund to provide financial support to student projects. These may be either School-related field service projects (Practicum, International Public Service Project, or Capstone) or other work with organizations in the community. For example, a student might request resources from the Hope Fund to finance school supplies for a classroom that they volunteer in at a local public school.

I hope you will consider contributing to our gift in honor of my graduation from the Clinton School. I have donated $100 of my own money in honor of my classmates, who challenge and support me every day. Any amount you are able to contribute (as little as $25) will be extremely appreciated. Instructions for giving online are below.

Thank you in advance for your generosity. I am constantly humbled and amazed by the support network I am lucky to have in this world.

Best,

Ashley

How to Give

1. Visit http://clintonschool.uasys.edu/donation/donate.asp

2. Select Category: Class 4 Gift and the amount you would like to give. (THIS IS IMPORTANT!)

3. Click Submit, then Confirm and Enter Info, and then enter your payment information on the following page.

4. THANK YOU!

Bonjour from Paris!

2009-08-02T11:34:00.002-04:00

Hello! Long time, no blog. Josh and I have been making our way through Europe and we have arrived in Paris. Josh is a bit under the weather at the moment, but so far Paris has been a beautiful city! Our hotels and hostels after Madrid haven’t had great internet access, so pictures and further thoughts will have to wait until we return to the States I think.

In the meantime, I wanted to share just a few sentences before we head to London tomorrow. One thing both of us have been experiencing during the past few months is new languages that we have little to no knowledge of. Since April, neither of us has lived in a country where English is the first language. Josh and most of my classmates have had an even more drastic experience than I have in countries including India, Belize, Ghana, Rwanda, and Bolivia, just to name a few. I was lucky that in Sweden almost everyone speaks at least a little English and most speak English amazingly well.

Just in the past 12 days, I have been in four different countries that speak four different languages: Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and France. In Switzerland, there are four official languages: French, Italian, a native language that is only spoke by about 4% of the population, and Swiss German, which is what they spoke in Zurich. We have not always been able to understand everyone, but we have gotten by with the basic travelers phrases that we have learned plus the huge advantage that many Europeans speak some English.

Still, it will be odd to arrive in London tomorrow where I know that I will be able to read all of the signs, ask for directions, understand the menus, etc. I often take for granted the power of a shared language and the ease with which I am able to communicate with the people around me. It has become routine to assume that people won’t understand me and it should be an interesting transition to return to a place where I can expect that they will.

On Wednesday, I am heading back to the US. I can’t believe it’s already here. I have had such an amazing journey this summer with the Tallberg Foundation and during the past two weeks with Josh. I am so grateful to the Clinton School for giving me this amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to meet the next class of students that want to change the world in a few weeks.

I’ll be posting pictures and video from the trip here in the coming days and weeks, so stay tuned.

A few picture highlights

2009-08-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

Bike tour in Barcelona:

With Antonio, who cooked an AMAZING meal for us in Lago d Como, Italy:

Day trip to Lago d Como. It is hard to explain how beautiful it was:

Josh navigating the trecherous seas of the lake in Zurich:

Hola from Madrid! - Day 2

2009-07-23T13:00:00.000-04:00

Hola! We are still in Madrid and since our hostel has an awesome internet connection, we have been able to upload more pictures and even a video! Don't get too excited though because I'm not sure this hyper-connectedness will continue after we leave here tomorrow.

For now, here is a little video update from Josh and me:

And here are the additional pictures from today. Click here and enjoy! Skip to page 2 for the new photos!

Hola from Madrid!

2009-07-22T12:22:00.003-04:00

Hola blog readers! I have successfully met up with Joshua here in Madrid. We had a lovely first day of site seeing, including a self-guided walking tour of the city, a visit to Museo del Prado, and the Royal Palace. The pictures (with commentary!) are posted online.

Click here and enjoy!

Thank You!

2009-07-20T17:07:00.003-04:00

While I have technically been done with my project for two weeks now, I have been considering tomorrow, July 21, as my final end date for a while. I've blogged about my adventures in Berlin and Barcelona, both of which have been fantastic stays and some much needed time for reflection.

I've spent the last week and a half chipping away at my final report for the Clinton School since I wanted the experience to be fresh in my mind. Writing the report, which details exactly what I did and what I learned, has made it unbelievably obvious how lucky I have been to be able to have this experience. Some sincere thanks are in order as I put the lid on this chapter.

First, the Clinton School of Public Service. It has been such a fantastic experience being at the School this past year and I am very much looking forward to the fall. As during the entire year, the School faculty and staff provide amazing amounts support and encouragement and I would not have been able to have this opportunity if it weren't for the School. Special thanks go out to Joe Ballard and Dean Rutherford.

Second, the Tallberg Foundation. I have said it before, but I will say it again: The Tallberg Foundation team is really special. They support each other in a great way and because they work so well together, they are able to do things that usually require twice the amount of people. No office is perfect as there are always politics involved, but the Tallberg Foundation team is really one of a kind. It was amazing to be welcomed into the fold. After a few weeks I felt like I had been there forever. Special thanks go to Rebecca Oliver, Alexander Crawford, Jim Wine, Sara Ersson, Sara Eckman, Joanna Garbalinska, and Cecilia Nordstrom.

Finally, many thanks to my Clinton School classmates. They inspire me every day with their commitment to making the world a better place and it has been so lovely to watch all of their projects from afar as they address urgent issues from public health to climate change to water access around the world. We are a well bonded group and every email, Skype call, and chat has been greatly appreciated this summer. I can't wait to see you all in the fall as we welcome Class 5 to the School.

There are many more thanks to go around, but I will end there. Tomorrow, I get to see the first classmate I have seen since April 13 and begin the journey home. I am meeting Joshua Stokes in Madrid and we will be heading through Europe during the next two weeks, visiting Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Milan, Zurich, Paris, and London. It's an ambitious itinerary, but if you've met us, you know that I'm capable of organizing a whirlwind adventure to match Joshua's attention span.

Stay tuned as we will try to blog as often as possible both here and on Josh's blog, Positive Stuff.

Harry Potter Premiere in Barcelona

2009-07-16T16:14:00.004-04:00

Like several of my classmates, I saw the new Harry Potter movie on Wednesday. I found a movie theatre that shows films in English near the touristy area by the beach and promptly bought my ticket on Tuesday just to make sure it wouldn't be sold out the next day.

Best part about seeing Harry Potter in Barcelona (besides the spanish subtitles of course)? They assign seats here! It was the most orderly movie premiere I have ever been to. When I bought the ticket, she asked if I "wanted the middle". I answered in the affirmative since I really had no idea what she was talking about, but I know that I do in fact like to sit in the middle for movies. Sure enough, my ticket had a row and seat number on it. Genius!

Barcelona's Red Bikes: All the cool kids are doing it

2009-07-14T15:27:00.007-04:00

I admit it. I have completely geeked out on Barcelona's red bike system. I had read the articles about it and I was looking forward to seeing the system in action. So far it has not disappointed.

They are everywhere! And there are pick up/drop off points everywhere! And there are vans that redistribute the bikes and repair them! It is amazing and I am totally jealous because I can't use it because you have to live here to register.

Here are some links if you're interested in reading about it:

New York Times, Nov 2008: European Support for Bicycles Promotes Sharing of the Wheels
New York Times, July 2007: In This Case, It’s O.K. to Take a Bike That’s Not Yours
Bicing Website: http://www.bicing.com/ (In Spanish or Catalan)
C40 Cities: Best Practices

Some pictures of people on the bikes (I told you I had geeked out):

We need get one of these going in Little Rock. We just need some bike lanes and a few pick up/drop off stations and we're in business!

A Little Bit of Home in Berlin

2009-07-12T16:02:00.007-04:00

I tend to find that I run into things that remind me of home whenever I am travelling and Berlin was no exception.

First, to match Little Rock's landmark Flying Fish, Berlin had "Flying Fisch":

Next, a bike with a little shout out to the capital of good ol' Arkansas:

Then, Helen and Ference's dog is a carbon copy (except black and male) of Moxie and Bristol:

Note: I am so lucky to have friends like Marie and Helen! They both welcomed me into their lives for a few days, which is more than anyone can ask for. Marie's sister is studying for her big exams and still let us crash at her apartment and Helen's parents were visiting their recently moved into flat and they warmly brought me along for the ride. I love having people like this in my life.

And finally, Flat Stanley made an appearance in Berlin as well! Here he is under the iconic TV Tower, which was constructed under the Soviets:

Berlin Observations

2009-07-12T14:37:00.012-04:00

I enjoyed writing my "Swede Observations" series while in Sweden, so I will continue a bit here with some Berlin Observations from my recent stay in Germany. This might be a bit long, so I've split it up into sections in case you're interested in specific parts.

Atmosphere

The "feel" of Berlin was really my favorite thing about the city. I've never been to a city that reminded me of New York City until arriving in Berlin. It is certainly not NYC in many respects, but it does have a certain "edgy" quality about it that reminds me of parts of Brooklyn. It was really nice to feel like I was in one of my "homes" again!

Berlin doesn't really have a "downtown" or city centre like most big cities. Rather, it is a very large and spread out city made up of a bunch of different neighborhoods. They all have different vibes about them. Marie and I stayed with Marie's sister, who is a medic student in the city, and she lives in a neighborhood with a lot of Turkish immigrants. (The food was AMAZING.) Helen, a friend I met at the Tallberg Forum, and her boyfriend Ference live in a more "young professional type" area, which reminded me of Prospect Heights/Park Slope in Brooklyn as well.

I managed to see a lot of the city on foot and public transit throughout the week and it is a very diverse place. People from all over the world live and work in the city. You can hear several different languages in a matter of minutes - and from residents, not just tourists!

The other great thing about the atmosphere of the city was the historical nature of it all. Everywhere you turn there is something of significance, whether it is a museum, cathedral, gate, or just one of the many pieces of the wall that are scattered about the city. As a history major who focused on World War II, I was fascinated the entire week. (More in "Tourist Attractions" below.)

Public Transportation

The Berlin public transport system is amazing! There is a combination of underground trains (U-bahn), above ground trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses and you can ride all of them with an unlimited day pass for 6.10 Euro. Since there are many different modes of transport and it is an extensive system to cover the whole city, it is a bit confusing at the beginning. However, as with the New York City or London subway systems, it just takes a bit of getting used to.

Also, the map is extremely well designed and logical and the stations are well-signed. The system runs well into the night and begins early in the morning. I took the train and bus to the airport for my flight to Barcelona this morning at 4:15 am and the seats in the train were close to full with people heading home from the night's festivities.

Food and Drink

You can eat out in Berlin for about 10 Euros at a variety of restaurants, which is excellent for those of us on a budget! There are tons of independent neighborhood restaurants that serve food from all over the world. Over the week I had Indian, Turkish, German (of course), Vietnamese, and Greek food just to name a few. I ate with Helen and her family at an excellent vegan restaurant as well.

Berlin also has a great cocktail bar scene. There are many of these establishments with different themes and all with happy hour of course! Marie, Doerthe, and I went to one particularly good one (Bar X), where I provided entertainment by ordering the "Scrubs Drink" (an apple martini).

Berliner Kindl Weisse is also a Berlin staple. It is beer with either red or green flavoring in the form of syrup or fizzy juice. It is fruity and delicious and served with a straw.

Responsible Living

I didn't have time to do too much investigating into the "green" systems in place in Germany, but I should note two things. First, apartment buildings have at least five trash cans: paper, plastic, glass, compost organic matter, and regular trash. It makes me realize how far behind we are sometimes where we have to fight just to get people to recycle paper and plastic.

Second, I looked out the window as we flew over the country this morning on my way to Barcelona and watched as fields of wind turbines passed underneath. Good job, Germany. Now we just need a power grid that can effectively harness and distribute all of that energy!

Tourist Attractions

For more pictures, please see the photo album: Click here.

I did lots of tourist-y things while in the city with my lovely host, Marie. We met at Oxford when I was studying abroad at St. Anne's College and played on the ultimate frisbee team together. (Marie is significantly better than me, but we had a lot of fun!) I will mention a few things here, but not an exhaustive list!

We took a long walk around the city and hit some of the main buildings, including the Chancellor's House, the Reichstag, and the Brandenburg Gate. On Tuesday we went to the beach! Actually, it was a lake, but it was real beach sand and a beautiful day for relaxing and catching some rays. Once again, the public transport system pays off as we simply took a train out there and walked about ten minutes to the lake.

We went to the German History Museum on Wednesday, which I highly enjoyed. It is a bit like the Met in NYC. It's so big that you have to just pick one section to do, otherwise it's too much! We went through the 20th century section which detailed the lead up to the wars and the aftermath. It was very well done and well presented. Additionally, the explanations were in English as well as German which is very helpful for travellers like myself!

We went to the East Side Gallery, which is a long section of the wall that is still standing. After the fall of the wall, it contained many politically charged messages. It is still a space for expression and art. Berlin has a ton of graffiti everywhere and this is no exception.

We also visited the Holocaust Memorial. This apparently caused a lot of controversy over design, concept, money, time, space, etc. Many of the same issues that the 9/11 memorial is facing in NYC. It is built as kind of a maze and when you get in the middle, you can't see or hear most things going on around you. From the artist: "The stelae are designed to produce an uneasy, confusing atmosphere, and the whole sculpture aims to represent a supposedly ordered system that has lost touch with human reason."

I went to the Kennedy Museum on Friday, which is a small collection of photographs of the Kennedy family and details his trip to Berlin in 1963. And on Saturday I visited the Kaiser William Memorial Church, which was badly damaged during a bomibing raid in WWII and still stands today as a reminder.

Overall, I LOVE Berlin.

Berlin!

2009-07-11T06:20:00.004-04:00

I will write some more thorough impressions from Berlin soon I hope, but for those that want immediate gratification, here are some pictures (with a bit of commentary!): Click here to view.

Enjoy! Also, if we aren't yet friends on Facebook, you can add me here: http://www.facebook.com/davisashley

"Until Next Time" Sweden!

2009-07-05T15:25:00.002-04:00

I have been in complete denial about leaving the Tallberg Foundation, Stockholm, and Sweden in general since the Forum ended, but apparently the time has actually come for me to get on a plane tomorrow. I will be traveling for the next month before returning to the States in early August. First stop, Berlin!

I have packed everything up, cleaned out my desk at the office, returned my office key, and shipped a few boxes of stuff back to Arkansas. I have had such a great time here in Sweden working with the Tallberg Foundation that I find it hard to believe that I will never return, whether that is soon or some time further in future, who knows! But for now, I say "until next time" to all of my lovely colleagues, to Tallberg, and to Sweden. Let the adventures continue!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T08:34:00.004-04:00

I was not feeling very into the 4th of July this year. I am busy packing up and pulling things together before I leave on Monday. Thus, I was content to spend today out shopping for some summer-y clothes and a new water bottle. I found the one store in Stockholm that carries Sigg bottles and also got some good finds at the thrift store in Mariatorget.

This is the first 4th of July that I have not been somewhere in the United States and just as I was starting to feel like this was just another Saturday, I was reminded of how much I love the Swedes.

I went to check out at one shop and, as usual, greeted the cashier in Swedish and even said yes and no to her questions about if I wanted a bag and if I had found what I was looking for. (I have gotten pretty good at pretending I'm Swedish until they ask me hard questions that I don't understand or until I need to say something more than yes or no or "How much does this cost" or a number.) Then I handed her my credit card and Colorado ID (you have to have ID if you don't have a pin code here, which American credit cards don't have). She quickly looked up, smiled, and said, "Ah! Happy 4th of July!"

She wasn't American, had never been to America, and spoke little English, but she was very happy to meet an American on 4th of July and I was happy to be that American.

Happy 4th to all of my Clinton School classmates around the world!

Sweden in Mourning

2009-07-02T16:21:00.004-04:00

Got out of the tunnelbana this morning to see these plastered everywhere:

The Swedes love their Michael Jackson as much as anyone else. While I too have been singing "Man in the Mirror" since last week, I feel compelled to write just a little something here about my feelings on the media coverage of this. (Sorry to my friends who already got this in email form and to Rebecca who had to hear me rant and rave about it in person in Tallberg last week.)

Do you know what took up the entire front page of the GLOBAL NY Times website (not the normal one, the global one) last Friday? Michael Jackson, including 8 stories, three major headlines and a gallery of 15 pictures. The only thing "above the fold", which is today's world means what you can see without scrolling down, was Michael Jackson.

Do you know what ALSO happened all day on Friday? Major climate change legislation was in Congress and was voted on by the House. The first time either house of Congress passed a bill meant to address green house gases. Also, issues in Iran continued. And other stories on and on. Then, I woke up on Saturday to find that Michael Jackson was STILL the entire front of the global NY Times website. Then there is a link to the legislation story below it hidden in small print. (By the way, you can read the story about the bill here.)

We have serious problems when the NY Times is carrying the story in this manner and not even putting another story alongside it at the top. What if something like this happened during Copenhagen in December? Probably the best chance we have to get the world on board with addressing climate change and all of the time and work that has gone into raising awareness could go to waste with a story like this.

I'm not saying his death is not a major news story. It is. But irreversible damage to our planet that will affect all of mankind should probably rank up there as well.

From Tällberg to Denver and back

2009-07-02T15:40:00.001-04:00

In 1888, a man bought a ticket from Leksand (the city near Tällberg) to Denver. No, there is no Denver in Sweden (that I know of). He was headed all the way to Denver, Colorado to follow the gold rush. When he made it out west to the great square state, he set to work in the burgeoning economy built on the riches of gold and silver and soon amassed enough money to return to his home - Tällberg, Sweden. With the money from that adventure, he built a house in Tällberg:

Today, his great-granddaughter still lives in Tällberg. She and her husband are one of several gracious host families that invite a few Forum participants to stay with them instead of staying in the hotels. This year, they had two of the new leaders staying with them and I went to visit on Sunday afternoon after the Forum had concluded.

The house that was built with the Denver money is now used as a small gathering space with a table and chairs as well as a storage area. The main house is full of amazing art and each piece has a story. Additionally, they have several clocks, some of which date back to the 18th century. In particular, we got an in depth explanation as to how the heaters work:

You find these heaters in many Swedish buildings, although many of them aren't used anymore. You light a fire in the bottom, and the heat circulates throughout the heater before the smoke escapes through the chimney. Very neat!

They also have a great view of the lake:

It is so lovely to feel welcomed by the villagers at Tällberg. They do a lot to make the Forum a success and these host families in particular go out of their way to make Tällberg home for a few days.

Flat Stanley at the Tällberg Forum

2009-07-02T15:38:00.000-04:00

You can follow Flat Stanley's travels with Clinton School students on the "Flat Stanley Travels" blog: Please click here. Flat showed up at the Tällberg Forum of course!

Tällberg Forum, in case you missed it

2009-07-02T11:09:00.001-04:00

I bet you didn't know I was an on-camera personality, did you? Well, now you know. For some video of me interviewing Tällberg participants, CLICK HERE.

Also, you can get all of the Tällberg Forum footage on demand HERE. (Keep in mind that this is only the plenary footage -- we don't have the resources to record all 56 workshops.)

A recommendation, if you want some provocative thinking:

"The diverging interests" with Jan Eliasson, former UN Special Envoy to Darfur, Angela Cropper, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director, UN Envíronment Programme, and Jose Maria Figueres-Olson, CEO, Concordia 21 and former President of Costa Rica - Listen especially to Jose Maria about halfway through this video.

Enjoy!

Tällberg Forum, by the numbers

2009-07-02T11:05:00.000-04:00

465 Participants
125 Workshop Producers and Contributors
72 Nationalities
56 Workshops
20 New Leaders
8 Plenaries
4 Days
3 Nights of Bar Tällberg with 3 different musical acts
2 Rework Basecamps
1 Amazing "a peace"

Wake Up, Freak Out

2009-07-01T08:05:00.004-04:00

If you aren't sure you understand the climate change situation and its consequences for humanity, this video does a pretty good job of summarizing:

Wake Up, Freak Out - then Get a Grip from Leo Murray on Vimeo.

Tällberg Forum - Sunday

2009-06-29T05:06:00.005-04:00

We did it!

The final day of the Forum was fantastic, despite completely overheating in the tent due to the heat we are experiencing here in Sweden. The day started off with a sunrise ceremony, which I unfortunately missed due to my inability to go to bed before 3:30 am (again, no one's fault but my own!). Nevertheless, I was up and at 'em for the 7:00 am staff meeting.

After the first plenary, the final workshops took place. I attended a fantastic conversation hosted by my dear colleague, Jim Wine with Martin Frick of tck tck tck, Bill McKibben and Jeremy Olson of 350 and Paul Gilding. The 2 hour conversation centered around "creating climate-conscious citizens" and explored how it's being done, the challenges these campaigns face, their relevancy, etc. One of the most interesting points to me was the discussion on how to engage people in developing countries. Many of these campaigns rely on the power of the internet to involve and mobilize people, but that is not possible in many developing nations. Bill talked a bit about how they are using mobile phones to start to bridge this divide.

Then I had lunch with my mentor, Nayan Chanda. We had a great conversation about how the Forum was, the questions we thought were being asked or not asked, and new insights gained. It has been really nice to have Nayan around and to be able to sit and reflect with a Forum participant. I hope to keep in touch with him following this event.

The Forum then concluded with the final plenary, which included a panel of five Forum participants that had been assigned the job of surveying the Forum. They went to various workshop sessions, lunches, etc. and gave their reflections on the Forum as a whole. I think it was Ged Davis who said something to the effect of, "Well, I'm still confused, but at a higher level." Bo concluded with an important message: 350. We are already at 387 ppm, so the task is urgent and will require massive change to achieve, but it is what is necessary.

Later that evening we went swimming in Siljan, the lake that Tällberg sits on. It has been hot all week, so the water was lovely and refreshing. At Bar Tällberg later last night we celebrated and danced with Magnus Lindgren and his band who were amazing!

A lot of hard work has gone into this Forum and it is so inspiring to be part of a team of people who are so committed to making it a success. Many late nights and far too little sleep paid off this week as we watched the participants go through the program, make new contacts and partnerships, and spur ideas and innovation. Well done to all of my colleagues and the volunteers, who made this event a success!

Flat Stanley enjoyed his week in Tällberg as well. Here he is in front of the tent:

Tällberg Forum - Saturday

2009-06-27T11:19:00.005-04:00

What a great day! I started bright and early after only a few hours of sleep (which was entirely my own doing by the way).

After the staff meeting at 7:00 am, Alexander and I met with some of the plenary participants in the tent to get ready for the session as well as one of the workshops taking place tomorrow. The plenary, entitled "Copenhagen, five months to go", included many interesting presentations. Moderated by Anders Wijkman, Member of the EU Parliament and Tällberg Foundation Board Member, the panel included an overview of a Copenhagen simulator that illustrates the difficulty of reaching an agreement and the actions that are necessary to do so, a presentation on the technology involved by Amory Lovins, and overviews of several campaigns running in the months still to go.

A few links if you're interested:

C-ROADS Simulator
350 Campaign
tck tck tck, Campaign for Climate Justice, Global Humanitarium Forum

Here are some of the climate campaigns on stage. From left: Anders Wijkman, Bill McKibben of 350.org, Martin Frick of tck tck tck, and Grace Akumu of Climate Network Africa:

After the plenary, it was time for the workshops! Initial feedback is that they went quite well. I couldn't attend a session during the morning because I was organizing the Lunch for African Participants as well as the Sunday workshop tickets.

However, I did get to attend an afternoon workshop: "Copenhagen, the day after". It was also hosted by Anders Wijkman with contributions by Luis Gomez-Echeverri, Associate Director, Global Energy Assessment at IIASA, Austria and Benito Mueller, Director Energy and Environment, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, United Kingdom. With 25 people sitting in a circle discussing the text currently on the table for the negotiations, good discussion followed about the reality of the proposed mechanisms and ideas. Some probing questions and observations came up, which I will share when I have a minute to take a look at my notes!

The final plenary today encapsulated "Worlds to Dream About" and was hosted by Charles Handy. A few of my fellow NLPs were featured, which was great! I went to the dock for a bit with some of the (AMAZING!) volunteers. Without these guys, the Forum really wouldn't function. It was a beautiful evening on the water, followed by Bar Tällberg with Faela, an awesome band! Some pictures:

Tällberg Forum - Friday

2009-06-26T16:38:00.004-04:00

The Forum is in full swing! I can't believe it's already Friday, but alas it has arrived. I spent most of the day running around trying to make sure the first break out sessions went well. We had nine parallel sessions running this morning dealing with the converging crises: climate, energy, global environmental governance, water, oceans, finance, poverty and inequality, entrepreneurship and scale, and land use and food production. Each one examined the knowledge we have now about the issue, framing the current state in which we find ourselves in preparation for the rest of the Forum.

After running around to the different hotels for the morning, putting up tickets for the Saturday sessions, and then collapsing into lunch, I spent the afternoon listening to the plenaries and preparing for the workshops tomorrow and Sunday. It has been an unbelievably busy day, but a day that has been made worth it after hearing some of the stories from the sessions, insights gained, lessons learned, and partnerships formed. Additionally, the plenaries were quite good. Again, reflections and reports to come later when I have a minute! For the moment, I am trying to immerse myself as much in the moment as possible!

You can watch the Forum LIVE: Click here.

You can also catch on-demand videos from the Forum: Click here.

Magnus Lindgren provided some beautiful music during tonight's closing session, looping bass guitar, saxophone, tamborine, and flute. And now I am retiring to Bar Tällberg for the evening for some music and dancing!

Tällberg Forum - Thursday

2009-06-25T17:34:00.004-04:00

Ok, this is going to be a short update because I am exhausted and sleep deprived, but having a great time here at the Tällberg Forum.

I started this morning off with a staff meeting at 7:00 am, followed by a few solid hours of focused work, which I haven't been able to have for the last few days. This meant that I missed out on the New Leader Program this morning, but at least I got a few important things taken care of.

After lunch, I headed up to Långbers to meet up with the New Leaders and completed the Still Lives exercise with Charles Handy. I will post a full upate on that at a later time when I can share the experience fully with the picture that was taken. For now, I will leave it with the reflection that I got some very much needed feedback, insight, and support from my fellow program participants.

I headed back down the hill and went immediately into the Workshop Preparatory meeting for our workshop producers and moderators. It was so nice to meet many people in person for the first time who I have been communicating with over the past few months. I really felt the energy that is present at Tällberg in the room. I am excited for the many interesting projects that these people bring to the Forum. There is a lot of potential there for some great partnerships and collaborations to be born over the next few days.

After the meeting, it was time (finally!) for the official opening of the Tällberg Forum! The highlight here for me was the final panel that took place, moderated by Tom Cummings. It included Ged R. Davis, Co-President, Global Energy Assessment, IIASA, Austria, Jan Eliasson, Former UN Special Envoy to Darfur, Sweden, José Maria Figueres-Olsen, CEO, Concordia 21, Spain, and former President of Costa Rica, Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director, European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, and Christine Loh, CEO, Civic Exchange, China.

Some really great ideas were presented here which I will reflect on following the Forum, but there is one I want to mention here. Jan Eliasson was given the task of tackling the dimension of governance. He said, "Good international cooperation must be in the national interest." How true. We must make it beneficial for countries to operate on an international scale.

Finally, Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, received the Tällberg Foundation Leadership Award for Principled Pragmatism. She will be contributing the prize money (500 000 SEK) to the IPCCC Foundation. The award ceremony in the tent:

Following the plenary, we headed up to Martinagården (Bo's House) for a drink and then again up the hill to Långbers for the Gästabudet. Here is everyone on their way up:

I should have taken more pictures of the Gästabudet, which is a feast of welcoming with locally produced foods and crafts. We watched as local townspeople displayed some of the traditional skills and crafts including embroidery on sheepskin, wood carvings, knackebröd, and black smithing. The fiddlers played all evening and good conversations abounded.

It turned a bit chilly as the sun started to fade and they brought out the blankets, which is one of my favorite parts about Sweden. Instead of heading inside when it gets cold, they just put on a blanket. Restaurants and bars have them out and available so people can sit outside even if it is cold. Here is Rebecca, Tom Cummings, and me looking stylish in our blankets:

Busy day tomorrow and it's already midnight. Off to bed!

Tällberg Forum - Wednesday

2009-06-24T18:01:00.007-04:00

What a day! It's currently 12:08 am and I am sitting in the back office with Rebecca who is abandoning ship for bed. I will be doing the same shortly, but first a short recap of the day. I am coming to realize that I simply do not have the time or energy to adequately reflect here on the amazing experiences and conversations that are going on as they happen. I am, however, taking copious amounts of notes and will decompress and report more in depth on my experiences after the Forum is over.

This morning I started off with the daily staff meeting, which has now been moved up to 7:00 am from 8:00 am earlier in the week. Afterwards, Alexander, Pim, and I hiked up to what is quickly becoming my favorite place in Tällberg: a beautiful space overlooking the lake. I captured some of its beauty with Flat Stanley the last time we were here.

Here we met up with the New Leaders Program for the first activity of the day. Chief Oren Lyons, an indigenous leader from North America, gave some very poignant reflections on the nature of leadership. He echoed one of my core beliefs: What we are doing - trying to change the world - is about responsibility, not leadership. Leadership is simply a word, which can be used for good, but is also often used in a power-grabbing, ego-serving manner. Show me someone who takes responsibility for a problem and I will show you a leader. Oren articulated this idea amazingly and it was quite nice to reflect on these thoughts in such a beautiful setting. Here is a picture of Tom Cummings, Oren Lyons, Bodhi Garrett (one of the other NLPs), and myself:

Afterwards, we walked back to Långbers, where we had a lovely conversation about conversations with Charles Handy. I don't think I have ever met anyone that is so genuinely interested in other people and shows it so well. When you're talking to him, he makes you feel like what you're saying is important and that is a rare gift. It has been a real pleasure getting to interact with him these past few days.

He did an exercise in practicing conversations, where we each got to come up and have a conversation with him in front of the group. As he says, "If you are genuinely interested in humanity, humanity will respond." Here he is in conversation with Pim:

Following this we had a conversation with the former Prime Minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland. What an experience! I will hopefully have time to elaborate more on some things she said later, but she was the quintessential strong leader. She was intelligent, well-spoken, concise, and clear and she also came across as honest, which is always nice coming from a former politician! The conversation covered everything from her professional background, including how she is a doctor by training, but became Minister for the Environment, to her relationship with her husband and the sacrifices she and her family had to make, to her being the first female Prime Minister of Norway. I will not forget it.

Then it was down the hill again to do a few hours of work, including a trip over the Dalecarlia to confirm room bookings there. Rebecca and I headed back up the hill, where I got a few tosses of the frisbee in with Bodhi and Leif before we continued the NLP programme, including some theatre by the participants that highlighted some really great projects that are brewing. One includes a software platform that would allow climate groups around the US and the world to connect and share information among several different groups. Another is a seed of an idea to create a political accountability mechanism in Bangladesh.

After a group photo and some reflection time with Tom Cummings, we were visited by Anders Wijkman, a member of the European Parliament from Sweden and a Tällberg Foundation Board Member. I have met Anders a few times now through working with Tällberg and I am inspired by him each time. I am intrigued by his ability to function in politics while at the same time taking a systems perspective. He is the first to admit that this is not always popular or effective, but I truly admire him for his efforts. It was another great conversation, with many interesting ideas thrown around. Again, I hope to be able to include this in my reflections later on.

After a nice dinner with Tällberg team members and families at Tällbergsgården and a bit more work, it was time for the opening concert! Mattias Klum, National Geographic photographer, made a lovely presentation with his photographs illustrating our connection to nature, to animals, and to the environment. I have always loved photography and his images and narrative were inspiring. That was followed by "a Peace" by Jim and Charles Wine, which is a composition featuring music, poetry, and images. I think it is fantastic and thoroughly enjoyed the chance to sit back and enjoy my surroundings for an hour. There are not adequate words to explain what "a Peace" does to you, but my favorite lines are:

WHY

IS THERE ALWAYS

A PEACE MISSING?

I love Jim and his spirit, and I was so proud to have been able to share that experience with the Tällberg crowd. Here is a picture of Tällberg Foundation founder, Bo Ekman, introducing the evening:

Finally, I saw Bob and Alice Evans of the Plowshares Institute who had just arrived for the Forum. They are the ones that told me about the Forum in the first place when they conducted a workshop on conflict transformation at the Clinton School last fall. I felt like things had come full circle.

After enjoying some amazing stories from my mentor for the weekend, Nayan Chanda of YaleGlobal, I took care of a few more loose ends in the office. Can't wait for tomorrow!

Tällberg Forum - Tuesday

2009-06-23T16:52:00.006-04:00

The official start of the Forum is getting ever closer and the excitement is mounting as more delegates begin arriving in Tällberg. The kick off concert will be tomorrow night and then a full program of Forum activites fills the rest of the week through Sunday.

This morning I attended the beginning of the staff meeting at Tällbergsgården and then headed up the hill to Långbers for the New Leaders Program. Långbers is at the top of a hill, and so has a fantastic view:We started the day off with a discussion lead by Tom Cummings on a variety of topics. Some things we explored were the core assumptions of the system that we live in and why it can be incredibly hard to break out of those assumptions. We talked about the often slow pace of change, what defines "slow" and whether it is possible to break out of the system. In true Tällberg style, there are no answers, only more questions. I am very impressed with the group of young leaders that are gathered here in Tällberg. It is a very diverse group with people coming from around the world and with different backgrounds. Putting all of these intelligent minds in one place inevitably leads to great conversations.

The second half of the morning was spent with Christine Loh, CEO, Civic Exchange, Hong Kong, China and Board Member, Tällberg Foundation, Sweden. Christine spoke a bit about how to understand systems and posed the essential question, Are the systems we have still relevant? She also touched on some key points regarding the nature of the political system that make it nearly impossible to operate positively in. Once I have had time to reflect, I will hopefully be able to post some of my thoughts on this issue.

However, after Christine's discussion, I headed back down the hill for a few hours of work. I met the volunteers and gave a brief presentation to the group on the workshop program. We have a great group of volunteers here and I can already see that they will make an immense contribution to the success of the event. Many of them have been to the Forum before, so they know more than I do! Afterwards, I visited a few of the hotels to confirm arrangements for Saturday and Sunday before heading back up the hill to Långbers to do the Still Lives exercise with Charles and Elizabeth Handy. There is a lot to explain here and I will save that for when we conclude the exercise later in the week.

Walking up and down the hill to Långbers is keeping me in shape and also providing some needed time to clear my head and enjoy Tällberg. The road is lined with many beautiful flowers. I won't put too many here, but this is one of my favorites:An essential part of the Forum is making time for reflection and to that end, many villagers have opened their gardens for Forum participants to sit in and enjoy some quiet moments. They are marked with pieces of cloth, like so:

This house had a beautifully painted chair out front:

I sat for a minute or two and signed the guestbook before moving on.

After returning to the office, I ate dinner with colleagues and volunteers and then have been working for the rest of the evening: preparing signs, drafting hotel briefs, and writing meeting agendas, among other things. Now it's off to bed, but tomorrow I will be participating in more of the New Leaders Program, which I am very much looking forward to!

Tällberg Forum - Monday

2009-06-22T17:18:00.006-04:00

It's Monday here in Tällberg and that means that we are in full swing, putting the final details on everything and even starting to welcome our first delegates to the Forum!

The Tällberg Forum made it into Financial Times' "Week Ahead"! Click here to see it. (Check out Wednesday.)

Also, there is a project update by yours truly on the Clinton School Blog.

The crew has continued working on the Forum tent, which serves as the main stage for the event. The plenaries will be held in there as well as two of the workshops and various cultural aspects of the program. It is a huge tent that is actually based here in Dalarna (this region of Sweden), though it travels to various places in Sweden and Europe for different events. Here it is from the window of the Secretariat:

We had a team meeting this morning to go over the day to day program. There is a lot going on outside of the formal program such as informal meetings and meals, for example a lunch for African participants. After the team meeting it was time for knuts and bolts tasks, including designing and printing signs for the workshops and getting a briefing on the Pre-Forum program. It's a busy place behind the scenes here in Tällberg. Staff Only!

470 Welcome Envelopes waiting for the participants to arrive!

Also, the printed materials arrived today! This may not seem like a big deal to most, but we got over 500 copies of the Companion Supplement, which is what I've been working on over the last few weeks. Rebecca and I worked many long hours and an entire weekend making sure that it was ready to print and now to see it in actual material form is great! I also have my "Project Team" credentials, which will be accompanying me for the rest of the week.

And finally, I headed up to Långbers for the start of the New Leaders Program. This program brings together about 25 young leaders three days before the Forum for a special program focused on understanding the complexity of global systems. My colleague, Rebecca Oliver, coordinated it and it is facilitated by Tom Cummings, Founding Partner, Executive Learning Partnership, Belgium. We had a lovely first session. The group is comprised of an outstanding group of young people from all over the world, including Nigeria, The Netherlands, South Africa, China, and even a few other Americans. I am very much looking forward to participating in this program and will report more over the next few days. For now, it's time for bed! I will leave you with a picture that I took on the way down from Långbers. Please note the amount of light and then also note that I took this at 10:45 pm.

Arriving in Tällberg

2009-06-21T15:44:00.005-04:00

Well, it's finally here! I'm up in Tällberg and getting ready for the Forum to begin!

This morning I woke up bright and early and finished packing for the week. Here I am with Flat Stanley. Packed and ready to go:

Then I headed to the office to pack up the remaining items there. After that we loaded into the vans and started the 3 ½ hour drive to Tällberg. I am happy to report that my van won the driving contest, which was good for my colleague Niclas' ego after he managed to come in second during the drive both to and from Tällberg in May.

I will be living at Tällbergsgården for the week, which is one of seven hotels in Tällberg. There are over 470 people attending the Forum, so we are using every room available. Here is a picture of the hotel entrance:

Coincidentally, we arrived as they were setting up the tent, which serves as the "main stage" for the Forum. It was in its beginning stages when we arrived:

And then we got to see it as it was being raised. Here it is as it was almost finished (not quite)!

We then had a staff "kick off" dinner in a boat house by the lake, which was an amazing setting in which to share a good meal and good conversation with my colleagues. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week!

Swedes in Sports: Winter Olympics and the NHL Comes to Sweden

2009-06-21T15:34:00.003-04:00

It's time for another Swedes in Sports update! First, There and Back Again guest blogger Alex Thomas, Director of Admissions and Alumni Services at the Clinton School, weighs in on the news that Mats Sundin will not play for Sweden in the Vancouver Olympics in February:

Sad news, but Mats is right -- Sweden has a ton of talent for the Winter Olympics, and could likely win the gold again. But I do love Mats Sundin, he's getting older now, but is one of the greatest players in hockey over the last 10+ years.

Thanks Alex! Second, the NHL is coming to Sweden in October. The following ad has been popping up all over Stockholm:

It's the Detroit Red Wings vs. the St. Louis Blues in the Globe in Stockholm in October. Reserve your seats now!

Less than 3 months and my picture is in Swedish newspapers

2009-06-19T09:37:00.005-04:00

There will be an insert about the Forum published on Tuesday in SvD and GP, two Swedish newspapers! You can see me with the rest of the Tallberg Foundation team on page 3. Most of it is in Swedish, but a few Forum participants have written about why they are coming to the Forum on page 12 in English.

Click here to download the insert!

Also, more information on the Workshop Programme that I talk about all the time is now on the web! Click here to see the overview and download the Companion Supplement with all the details. A lot of hard work has gone into this and I can't wait to actually see it all happen next week!

Swedes in Sports: Stanley Cup Final

2009-06-16T15:04:00.002-04:00

The NHL season finale, the Stanley Cup, took place a few nights ago. Luckily, There and Back Again guest blogger Alex Thomas, Director of Admissions and Alumni Services at the Clinton School, is on top of the news! Here is his report:

The Swedes…well, THEY had a decent game, but the Wings lost a very exciting Game 7 series finale 2-1. But the Swedes had a solid game for Detroit, as Jonathan Ericsson scored the only Detroit goal (with fellow Swede Nicklas Lidstrom getting the assist). And with only minutes to go in the game, Niklas Kronwall sent a blistering slapshot onto the net, that zipped by Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s shoulder and clanged off the crossbar (had the shot been about an inch lower, Kronwall would have tied the game…so close.). Then, with only 6.5 seconds remaining in the Red Wings’ season (and the Detroit crowd in a complete frenzy), the teams battled for control of the puck mere feet from the Pittsburgh goal, and Red Wing captain Nicklas Lidstrom came away with the puck, and sent a pin-point last second shot on net that Penguins goalie Fleury lunged out to block as the final seconds ticked off…this epic Stanley Cup finals was over after a remarkably frenzied battle of shots/saves in the final 6.5 seconds.

So the Wings couldn’t repeat as Stanley Cup champions. But, with the very elite talent of Swedish players like Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom, Mikael Samuelsson, Jonathan Ericsson, Nicklas Kronwall, Andreas Lilja, and team captain Nicklas Lidstrom, the Swedish towns of Njurunda, Vetlanda, Pieta, Mariefred, Stockholm, Vasteras and Helsingborg have a lot of which to be proud.

Thanks, Alex! There and Back Again is a much better blog because of your contributions!

Yea, I hang with the Royals

2009-06-15T12:37:00.009-04:00

As we are in the final days and weeks before the Forum, my colleagues and I have been working around the clock on getting everything ready to welcome over 450 people to Tallberg on June 24!

However, two weekends ago, Marianne was kind enough to show me around Drottningholm Palace and gardens. It was a beautiful day to be outside and after horseback riding, as reported on in a previous post, we went to look at the palace, where the Swedish royal family has been living since 1981. It was built in 1662.

Also on the grounds is the Chinese Pavilion, which was built in secrecy by King Adolf Frederick as a surprise present for his wife's birthday in 1753.

The gardens are absolutely stunning. There are sections of "French Baroque" gardens and "English Picturesque" gardens.

We also walked along Canton Village, which is a row of houses that was erected between 1753 and 1765 to build a small homecraft community with silk manufacture. Today they are private residences, one of which Marianne lived in for several years.

Finally, the movie version of Pippi Longstocking was filmed here (significant for those of us with freckles and dreams of red hair and having a horse that lived on the porch). The house in the picture can be seen at the end of these credits:

See all of the pictures from the trip here!

Dear Joe: Missing Person Case Solved!

2009-06-15T12:15:00.007-04:00

Joseph Ballard
IPSP Coordinator
Clinton School of Public Service
Little Rock, AR

Dear Joe,

I am thinking about making "Dear Joe" a semi-often feature on this blog. I hope you like open letters!

Today I am writing to tell you that I single handedly solved a missing person case here in Sweden. (I know this wasn't one of my original deliverables, but you can just add it to the list.)

Two weekends ago, I headed out to the country with one of my colleagues who had graciously offered to take me along to one of her friends' houses and do some sight seeing for the day. I'm sure you read about my horse riding adventures in the post here. As I headed out, I customarily looked in on Flat Stanley to see if he wanted to accompany me as this trip sounded right up his alley. (He hasn't said no yet.)

But when I opened his house (my book - a perfect house if you're flat), he was nowhere to be found! I paniced briefly, but was sure I would find him when I returned. However, as you know from reading my recent work log, I have hardly been home at all during the past two weeks and my short searches for him did not manage to produce him.

As I was about to write you a letter shamefully asking if you would be so kind as to see if Flat Stanley's brother would like to join me in Sweden via the next available mail delivery (a perfect way to travel if you're flat), I discovered Flat Stanley stashed away in a folder where he had accompanied me to the LSU Global Conference a few weeks ago.

Crisis averted!

I hope you're enjoying Little Rock during the summer. I've watched some of the recent excellent public programs on http://www.clintonschoolspeakers.com/. As you can see in Flat's picture, the sun has FINALLY returned here in Stockholm. It has been cold and rainy for at least a week. Hopefully this means that nice weather will return for the Tallberg Forum on June 24-28!

Best regards,

Ashley

European Parliament Elections

2009-06-13T05:40:00.001-04:00

The European Parliament elections were held on Sunday in Sweden. While all of the people I talked to were going to vote, I think this is because I work with a group of people engaged in civic society! Estimates were that 1 in 4 Swedes didn't even know the elections were happening.

As I wrote about a while ago, the Pirate Party was mounting a campaign to make their voices heard. See my earlier blog post here. As it turns out, that campaign was rather successful, and they actually won a seat. Who knew Pirates were such a draw?

On a more serious note, what does it say about the pull or influence of the European Parliament that a party that was founded on the basis of opposing a file sharing law rather quickly gains enough of a following, and enough votes on election day, to actually win a seat in the European Parliament? There seems to be a significant section of the citizenry here that is not being engaged by one of the existing political parties to the extent that they would vote for a completely new party to represent them in the European Parliament. It should be interesting to see how this develops and how the existing political establishment in Sweden reacts.

Unrelated to the Pirate Party, I've been intrigued by political advertising here. Since I am a bit of a political advertising nerd even in the States (I watched most of the Presidential campaign videos that I could find last year), I was interested to see how political advertising is done in Sweden.

From my personal observations, I saw lots of posters. Posters everywhere. On street poles, on sidewalks, on bridges, etc. They all generally had pictures of the candidates, portrayed as "every day" people. They aren't dressed in super sharp suits and ties, but generally have much more casual attire on. Additionally, they are all smiling and looking like they have just been told a good joke. This contrasts interestingly with some other political campaigns that aim much more for the "We need serious people to deal with serious problems" approach. I could go on, but I will leave it at that for now.

Here is a short video of some of the advertising I saw in the weeks leading up to the election:

In case you were wondering, this is how they change the ads in subway stations

2009-06-13T03:29:00.005-04:00

I've lived in several cities with subway systems now and in every one there are advertisements on the wall opposite the platform, across the tracks. You look at them every day (usually twice), so you get quite used to them. And then after a few weeks or so you show up and there are new advertisements for you to gradually memorize over the next few weeks before they change again.

I often wonder when and how they change these advertisements. I always figured it was late at night, but I've ridden tons of subways at odd hours and never managed to see them changing the ads. I've often voiced this wonder to friends as we stand on subway platforms in various cities. Thus, I figured it was my duty to report to said friends, and anyone who might be wondering, that I have now seen them changing the ads!

I was going home after a lovely dinner at my colleague's house on Tuesday night at about 11:00 pm and in Mariatorget tunnelbana station they were changing the ads. The process went like this: one guy stood at the tunnel entrance with a blow horn and a flashlight. Two other guys used a little ladder to climb down into the tracks. A fourth guy was set up with a little table on the platform. The ads are actually cut up into squares and the guy at the table applies the glue and then hands it to the guys in the tracks.

After a train passes, the two guys climb down into the tracks with their pieces of the ads and essentially put them up like wall paper, making the whole thing look like a puzzle with quite a funny outcome if the pieces were in the wrong order. The guy at the tunnel entrance sounds the blow horn when a train is approaching and the guys on the tracks go back up the little ladder with their materials. Then the guy at the tunnel entrance uses the flashlight to signal to the train that it can come into the station.

I snapped a picture to prove that I actually saw this happening:

Swedes in Sports: Stanley Cup and French Open

2009-06-12T17:00:00.004-04:00

It's time for Swedes in Sports from There and Back Again guest blogger, Alex Thomas, Director of Admissions and Alumni Services at the Clinton School. My brain has been entirely committed to the Tallberg Forum from now until the end of the month, so many thanks to Alex for keeping us all up to date:

Tonight is the night: GAME 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, back in Detroit (aka Sweden-West, for the hockey lovers out there). The Detroit Swedish Red Wings were up 3 games to 2 games, but lost on the road @ Pitt in Game 6. The teams are now tied 3-3, and play tonight in the series finale Game 7, winner take all. So yes, Lidstrom, Franzen, Zetterberg, Erikkson, Kronwall, Holmstrom and the gang will all have their work cut out for them. BUT, Joe Louis Arena is a tough place to play for visitors (pictured below), and the Wings haven’t lost at home in more than a month (in these Finals, the home team has won every game). So in about 12 hours, we should have our 2009 National Hockey League Champions…stay tuned, we’ll see if the Swedes (arguably Detroit’s best players) can step up and win the Cup again (they won it last year).

In addition to the Stanley Cup, the Swedes had another countryman in a big time sporting event. Robin Soderling beat Rafael Nadal in a huge upset in the French Open and made it to the Final. Unfortunately, Alex informs me that he lost in straight sets to Roger Federer in the Final.

And that is all for this episode of Swedes in Sports!

Short Trip to Tällberg

2009-06-09T03:04:00.005-04:00

A few colleagues and I went up to Tällberg Monday afternoon. There was a volunteer meeting for Forum volunteers and host families, plus I needed to survey the conference rooms available at the various hotels to decide which ones would be best for the workshops.

We stayed at Sara's parents' house for the night and enjoyed some excellent Swedish hospitality. Every family I have visited since being here has been unbelievably nice and hospitable. The Swedes seem to have an endless supply of tea, cakes, cheese, sandwiches, etc. waiting for guests to come over and eat them. I love the simplicity of just visiting over a cup of tea and a cake (fika!). We need to do more of that in the States.

Also, you don't wear shoes in Swedish houses. I'm pretty bad about forgetting that rule, but I am getting better!

Horsing Around

2009-06-07T17:12:00.003-04:00

You've never seen me completely, blissfully happy until you've seen me on a horse. I spent most of my childhood at a barn, riding, cleaning stables, and when I got older teaching riding lessons, competing in local dressage competitions, and training horses.

I had a horse, Morning Glory, who was my companion and best friend for many years and I miss her terribly. However, my life of moving every few years (if not every few months) is not conducive to owning a large four-legged animal at this time!

My colleague, Marianne, invited me to visit her friends in the countryside a while ago and I had marked the day out on my calendar. Little did I know exactly how much I would need some fresh air. And when I heard there might be an opportunity to ride, I was ecstatic!

And Flip Cam was there...enjoy!

Do you look good in Blue and Yellow?

2009-06-07T16:51:00.007-04:00

It's Swedish National Day!

Several of my colleagues and I spent Swedish National Day (Saturday, June 6) in the office working away. The Forum is coming up in a very short amount of time and there is a lot to do, so long hours and weekends are the norm. I did, however, manage to sneak out for a few minutes to check out the festivities at Kungstragarden, where there was a food festival going on.

Swedish National Day actually isn't a very big deal around here. It is an excuse to be outside and such, but it's not like the 4th of July in the US. Saturday, however, was also the World Cup Qualifier match between Sweden and Denmark, so I think there were more people out in their blue and yellow. Go Sweden Go! (They lost the soccer game 1-0.)

My favorite part of any patriotic celebration is the attire, especially the hats. Never in your life would you wear a crazy looking blue and yellow hat, except on Swedish National Day.

This picture is like a "Where's Waldo". Find the greatest Swedish hats I saw all day:

And here they are:

And what would a Swedish National Day be without random marching bands in the streets?

Google got in on the action too:

LSU Global Conference

2009-06-07T16:26:00.005-04:00

Above: Madeleine and I at the LSU Global Conference.

Last weekend I attended the LSU Global Conference at Örebro University, about 2 hours west of Stockholm. LSU is the association of Swedish youth organizations and the theme of this year's conference was social entrepreneurship. There were several plenary panel discussions and four workshop spaces during the weekend.

My favorite workshop was "Misquito Tactics" produced by CISV, in which we talked about power in society. They split us into groups, handed out pictures of various every day individuals (not celebrities) and had us place them in a line on the floor from most powerful person in society to least powerful, based solely on the picture.

These types of activities always spark good conversation, but this was an especially good one. One of the pictures was of a middle aged white man who appeared to be a factory worker. The people that were in charge of placing him (non-Swedes) put him in the bottom quarter of people with power in society, meaning that some younger people with less concrete pictures of jobs were ahead of him in the societal power structure. Several of the Swedes objected to this placement and thought that he should be much higher on the scale of people in society with power. They argued that if he was a factory worker with a stable job, he would actually be quite powerful. And in Sweden, that is true. But in other countries, it is exactly the opposite. Factory workers make little money, work in terrible conditions, often don't have health insurance, etc. etc. I thought this was a good example of Swedish societal structure!

Overall, it was a great conference and I met a lot of really interesting and motivated young people. It was nice to have such an international group -- Egypt, Russia, South Africa, Canada, and the Phillipines were represented among several other countries. I was one of only two Americans. This international mix automatically produces more interesting conversations that tend to look at problems from different points of view. (Hint: This is what's coming up at the Forum in a few short weeks!)

Many thanks to the Tallberg Foundation for funding my trip to the conference!

Swedes in Sports: NHL

2009-06-04T17:41:00.006-04:00

A quick note to say that I am currently in crunch time here at the Tallberg Foundation. With only a short time to go before the Forum and lots of things to do, we have been working long hours and a crazy schedule this week that I think is likely to continue until the Forum.

As a result, I am behind on my blogging! Posts will come soon (hopefully) about the LSU Global Conference I attended last weekend in Orebro as well as the two people we hosted at the Tallberg Foundation today from the Middle East as part of the Swedish Institute Young Leaders Visitors Program.

But, for now, I will let Alex Thomas, Director of Admissions and Alumni Services at the Clinton School, write my blog for me. As I mentioned in a previous post, the sports player I've been asked about most so far is Peter Forsberg, hockey player for the Colorado Avalanche. He doesn't play anymore, but apparently there are still many Swedes holding down the fort in the NHL.

I now present to you There and Back Again's first guest blogger, Alex Thomas:

While the Pittsburgh Penguins currently do not have any Swedes on their roster, the Detroit Red Wings are LOADED with Swedes, including some of their very best players: Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzén, Tomas Holmström, Mikael Samuelsson, and their team captain Nicklas Lidström, who last year became the first European to captain a team that won the Stanley Cup.

The Red Wings’ Swedes are the new breed of force in the NHL: their captain Nicklas Lidstrom is regarded as one of the greatest defenseman to ever play the game, Franzen & Zetterberg are considered 2 of the best players in the league right now – they’re amazing to watch, and defenseman Niklas Kronwall is considered to be one of the most devastating hitters in the NHL, he just levels people who try to enter the offensive zone. So yes, the Swedes have a lot to be proud of, and they are all playing well in the Finals right now (Franzen & Zetterberg are currently 3rd & 5th in playoff scoring right now).

Thanks, Alex! And as you suggested, I will be dropping these names into conversation to impress my new homeland!

Ashley's America: The Background: 2004 Presidential Election

2009-06-01T17:59:00.004-04:00

In this series of short essays, entitled “Ashley’s America”, I hope to present some views of America from where I stand. Please click here for the introduction to this series as well as an archive of past pieces.

The Background: 2004 Presidential Election

In 2004, I was 19 years old. In the fall of that year, I would be able to vote in my first presidential election and it is an understatement to say that I was excited about it. I was registered for my absentee ballot and committed to making my voice heard.

I have always believed in the American democratic system, mostly because of my grandfather’s involvement in local politics and his belief in the value of not only casting your ballot, but in being involved as well. I cannot remember a family event growing up where politics was not one of the topics. While looking through old family albums I discovered that he had actually run for office when he was younger, but made a life as a high school principal instead. He remained involved in politics throughout his life, campaigning for local candidates and being involved in a large variety of community organizations. He lived in an apartment building for senior citizens and proudly displayed his “Kerry ‘04” sign on the outside of his apartment door, starting similar displays of party loyalty from other residents, many of them with “W” signs instead. He always told that story with a slight smile of satisfaction on his face, seeing himself as a little bit provocative to his fellow residents; possibly starting a political revolution among the senior citizens. Stories about my grandfather and his life could easily fill a book.

In 2004, I had finished my first year of my undergraduate studies at Boston University and was living in Boston for the summer working at the Office of Orientation. Politics were often a topic of conversation and debate, especially since the Democratic Convention was held in Boston that year. Dean Elmore and I got into several heated debates about the election, the Kerry campaign, and the issues surrounding the political discourse of the summer. When the convention came to town, one of my colleagues and I were fortunate enough to be able to go to the concert being held the evening of Kerry’s speech. (It had actually been delayed one day due to rain.) John Williams conducted the Boston Pops with James Taylor singing and they showed Kerry’s speech to applause from the audience. After the concert, Kerry, Edwards, and both of their families made a surprise appearance on stage to watch as fireworks went off behind them. It was the first time I had seen a potential president in person and I was completely swept up in the experience of the music, confetti, and fireworks. Seeing Kerry and Edwards in person, such a short distance from me, immediately transferred the world of presidential politics from the abstract to reality.

(Side Note: Following the convention, my friend Becky wrote a blog posting that I didn’t forget then and certainly won’t forget now. She wrote, “I don’t care who is running in 2008, I am voting for this man: Link to Senator Barack Obama’s breakout DNC speech.” Talk about foresight!)

When election night came I was on top of a roof in Boston with a saxophone in my hands. As a member of the Boston University marching band, I had practice on that Tuesday evening. I remember following the election coverage closely all day and being slightly upset that I had to miss even a few hours for band practice. However, it was probably for the better because I might have seen what was coming earlier if I had been glued to the television that evening. At 9:00 pm, we packed our things in record time, ran home, and headed down to the Boston Public Library for the Kerry rally. (Somehow, I was extremely lucky that year with both the Democratic National Convention being held in Boston and John Kerry being from Massachusetts!)

The mood that evening went from high hope to uncertainty to sorrow. Musicians including Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, and the Black Eyed Peas tried to keep the crowd’s hopes up, but it became increasingly clear as the results were reported on the large screens around the park that this was going to be a much closer election than anyone was comfortable with. We stayed at the rally for several hours, hoping for words from Kerry (and for better news as polling places closed across the country), but to no avail. Edwards would make remarks about 2:00 am that morning, but was unable to say anything concrete.

I went to bed hoping against hope that I would wake up to news that somehow Kerry had pulled off a victory. However, I found that the next morning brought the beginning of another four years of George W. Bush as president of my country.

I was sad. I was upset. I was frustrated that I had not done enough to get more people to add their votes to my vote to ensure a different outcome. While I had spent Bush’s first term with the happy excuse that I had not been able to vote in the 2000 election, I now felt a definite sense of responsibility for the election result. I had been responsible for electing a leader that I believed in, and I had failed.

Over the next four years, I would often say the words, “I didn’t vote for him.” This was always an easy way to make myself feel better, but every time I said it, it felt more inadequate. At the time, I didn’t know how many times I would have to try to separate my country and my fellow citizens from the actions, image and ideology of Bush, Cheney, and their supporters.

I also promised myself that I would be actively involved in the 2008 election. If I had only known then what an election it would be!

Up Next: An American in Oxford: 2005 - 2006.

Ashley's America: Introduction

2009-06-01T17:36:00.001-04:00

The last time I lived abroad was during my final year of my undergraduate studies. Boston University has an excellent study abroad program, including a program in collaboration with Oxford University in the United Kingdom. This program was part of the reason that I decided to go to Boston University in the first place. I had visited Oxford briefly when I was on a trip with my grandfather during high school and I was completely awed by it. So, to see the dream of living and studying in Oxford become a reality was quite an accomplishment for me. I had travelled outside of the United States approximately four times prior to moving to England – two family vacations to Mexico, one to the Bahamas, and one to London with my grandfather. Living in another country would be an entirely new experience for me.

While my experiences in England, my observations of British culture, British people, higher education in the United Kingdom, and Oxford’s unique teaching style could fill a book (or maybe several books!), one experience is particularly relevant to my current experiences in Sweden: George W. Bush was the President of the United States.

In this series of short essays, entitled “Ashley’s America”, I will reflect on my experiences from the 2004 presidential election, my time living in Oxford, the 2008 campaign and election, and my current experiences living in Sweden, among other observations.

I hope to both record my experiences as pieces of my personal history to share with future generations and hopefully offer some insights into where my views come from, how my current view of America has been shaped, and the vast differences between my experience living abroad in 2005-2006 and my experience now living in Sweden.

I have started to write at least ten blog entries about what it is like living abroad with Obama as president, but I always reach the same conclusion. My observations need to be framed with more in depth background information to truly have meaning. Each person stands on a ledge overlooking America and even though they may stand on the same ledge, they can see entirely different things. Thus, in this ongoing series on There and Back Again, I will present how I have seen things from where I stand.

I always welcome ideas on topics and themes to write on, so if there are any specific ideas or questions that you would like to hear about (or hear more about), please comment and I will do my best to address them.

Enjoy!

The Background: 2004 Presidential Election

Current Events in Sweden: Swine Flu, Power Outage, and Tennis

2009-06-01T01:30:00.001-04:00

I have not reported too much on current events in Sweden except for mentioning the upcoming European Parliament elections and the issues with invasion of privacy and the new file sharing laws. However, I keep up as much as I can with the news here, mostly through the website that is in English: The Local. Plus, I follow them on Twitter @TheLocalSweden. I have found it to be a good news source with a variety of stories and since it's the only one I can easily understand, it's usually my first stop each day in my internet news routine. (Subsequent stops listed below!)

Additionally, they have the Metro here, which any city dweller and mass transit user in the US is familiar with. It's a free newspaper distributed at subway stops with everything from news (local and national AP stories) to sports to culture. I read it often when I lived in Washington, DC and New York City. Here, I pick up a copy every few days and try to see how my Swedish is progressing. I can recognize some words now thanks to my daily vocabulary study and I can get the basic idea of some articles, but I'm still a long way from being able to actually read them with confidence.

So, what's happening in Sweden you ask? Well, they've confirmed two more cases of Swine Flu. No one panic -- I am washing my hands often and avoiding anyone that looks like they've been to Mexico. Since I'm not sure how to do the later, and since I probably would rather hear their Mexico stories than run from them, washing my hands is currently my only defense.

There was a fire at a transformer plant last night that left 100,000 people in Stockholm without power. Luckily, I was not one of them. Or if I was, I would not have known because it's always light here anyway. The sun rises at 3:45 AM and sets around 10:00 PM and it stays lighter longer every day. Even when the sun has technically "set" around 10:00 PM, it's still twilight outside until at least 11:00 PM. The days will be even longer when we head to Tällberg in a few weeks, which is about 3 hours north of Stockholm.

In sports news, Swedish tennis player Robin Söderling beat Rafael Nadal in a huge upset at the French Open. Football is always in the news, especially with the World Cup qualifier match coming up on Saturday (which is also Swedish national day). I really wanted to go, but tickets sold out in 30 minutes apparently. Also, I get lots of hockey news here because there are some Swedes in the NHL. Peter Forsberg is probably the one I get asked about most often, which is a great coincidence since he played for the Colorado Avalanche -- my home team!

Now you have a brief look at current events in Sweden. I often get asked what websites I read on a regular basis, so I figured I would list them here in case anyone is interested. I also love to hear what other people read, so please comment with news blogs or sites that you read as well!

My morning news routine looks like this:

If I have time throughout the day, I also read:

And finally, I get a lot of news via Twitter. I have a seperate group column on Tweetdeck that allows me to just browse the news tweets from the media orgs and people that I follow without having them mixed in with my friends. You can see who I follow on Twitter by clicking here.

Project Update: Halfway Point!

2009-05-27T14:24:00.005-04:00

I've made it! Today is the official halfway point of my project with the Tällberg Foundation. I have been here for five and a half weeks, which is really quite hard to believe.

In some ways, it feels like I just got here -- I learn new things every day, about Tällberg, about Stockholm, about the Swedes, about the many people that live here that aren't Swedish, and about how to ask for directions when you're lost.

And in some ways it feels like I've been here forever -- I can understand more Swedish words and am starting to recognize some phrases, I feel like I am part of the team at the Tällberg office, and when a guy asked me if I lived here on the train yesterday, I answered "yes" without hesitating. (I've given tourists directions too, so that has to count for something!)

In terms of work, I feel like the Forum has taken over my life, as it should with only 4 weeks left before opening day! (Really, there are only about three and a half weeks until we head up to Tallberg to get started with Pre-Forum activities.) While there is a lot left to do in terms of planning, I feel like we are on track to produce a really high quality series of workshops. Rebecca and I are working on over 50 workshops to take place during three spaces in the program on the Saturday morning, afternoon, and Sunday morning.

These workshops cover everything from regional governance of resources to China and the global economic crisis to sustainable urban planning and everything in between. Not only are they great topics, but they've also got top people producing them and contributing to the sessions. With groups of 20-30 Forum participants in each one, these workshops will provide an opportunity to approach some immensely important ideas, projects, and questions from a systems-based perspective, the hallmark of the Tällberg way of thinking.

In addition to the workshops, we are also putting together a series of parallel sessions on the converging crises, including climate, water, land use and food production, and energy, among others. Experts on these crises will be presenting the knowledge as it stands today -- what we know, where we are, and more importantly, what we don't know.

If all that sounds like a lot of work, it is only a small part of it. In addition to all of these things, there is a series of plenary sessions being planned, a culture program (including sunrise ceremony and several concerts and poetry readings), a nature program, pre-forum workshops, children's program, New Leaders Program, and on and on.

We are a busy team at this point in time, but I am also VERY excited to see all of this come together in just four short weeks up in Tällberg. The entire team's hard work will pay off in an event that brings leaders from around the world together to look at the world from a systems perspective, to realize that the various issues that we are dealing with are interrelated, and that they must be dealt with not in isolation, but rather with the other parts of the whole in mind.

If there is anything that has the potential to make wide-spread change, it is the realization that we must work together across the often artifical boundaries we have created between the different parts of this global society, economy, citizenry, and planet. Overcoming the division of the problems is essential to connecting the solutions.

Vår Ruset 5K

2009-05-27T14:00:00.001-04:00

Erika, one of my co-workers, organized the ladies of the office for a women's 5K in Stockholm. Unfortunately on race day, yesterday, Erika was under the weather. The rest of us, however, carried the banner and valiantly completed the race. I heard that there were between 20 and 30 thousand people there and I believe it. The crowd was quite sizeable!

After a light dinner of sandwiches, delicious bread with walnuts, cheese, and yogurt, put together by Ann-Mari and Åsa (I am quite grateful to my excellent colleagues), we headed out to Stockholm University. (Left: Sara and Ann-Mari in the Tunnelbana station.)

As an eternal nerd, I took pictures of the recycling station (right). They had composting and people to help you sort your trash correctly, which I always appreciate. I have volunteered as one of those people before and it is an eye opening experience. My friend Kumiko and I did a 3-hour shift at Farm Aid in NYC and it is absolutely amazing what people will try to throw away that is easily recyclable. And many people have never even heard of composting before, so having people around to help sort makes a big difference at the event, but is also a great educational tool.

Caroline, Lina, and Joanna were more ambitious than us and got there for the early groups, i.e. the running groups. Rebecca, Ann-Mari, Åsa, Cecilia, Sara, Nicole, and I braved the masses and finished the race at a brisk walk.

Here I am trucking along...almost to the finish line.

It did not take us 1 hour, 27 minutes. We didn't start until about the 5th group, so it took us about an hour.

The award ceremony. Medals were handed out.

And we finished with the all-important gift bag review as we waited for the transport back home. Favorites included:

Åsa: Wrist Pocket
Sara: Miniature Olive Oil
Cecilia: Face plumping cream (What woman doesn't need to have her face plumped?)
Nicole: Bananas
Rebecca and Ashley: Chocolate Soy Milk

Åsa shows off her Write Pocket and Sara explains that this olive oil would come in especially handy to bring salad dressing on a picnic.

The real question with the gift bag, to me, was which would win in a fight: Chocolate Soy Milk or Cranberry Juice? I vote Chocolate Soy Milk every time.

And lest we forget how the last 5K I ran turned out, here is a little visual reminder:

Class 4 Care Package Contest

2009-05-25T15:49:00.007-04:00

Dear Clinton School Parents and other variously related beings,

The following conversation just took place between my mother and me. (Thank you Skype!)

Scene opens on a lovely Swedish sunset and a rainy day in Colorado. My computer rings.

Mom: I'm making homemade chocolate chip cookies from scratch on Memorial Day. What are you doing?

Me (VERY bitterly): Not eating chocolate chip cookies.

Mom: What's the problem? You don't have an oven? Or you don't have a mother? (Note: My Mom is witty. Like me.)

Me: Clearly the latter. Hey, Josh's Mom mailed him popsicles in India.

Mom: Wait a minute, is this some sort of competition? Because I may have to step up my game.

Me (sensing opportunity): Indeed. I think homemade cookies and Peanut Butter M&Ms would up the ante. In fact, I'm going to blog about it right now. (Note: As my classmates can attest, I have no idea what ante means, but I know it has to do with poker. In fact, I had to look up how to spell it. I think that's a bad sign.)

Mom (with competitive desperation): Well, be sure to mention that my first package contained a homemade hat to keep you warm in the last cold days of Swedish winter. Did your other classmates get homemade items?

End Scene

Thus, I am announcing the Class 4 Care Package Contest. Clinton School Parents, Guardians, Grandparents, Spouses, Siblings, and Pets (Moxie and Bristol, I'm looking at you!), do you feel you have what it takes to send your Clinton Schooler the greatest care package known to man?

This competition has nothing to do with size, amount of money spent, or quantity. It is solely judged on how much your Clinton Schooler needs the item(s) that you send and the thought that went into them.

Rating Scale

Care packages meet one or more of the following conditions to receive the rating:

5 (highest) - Absolutely essential item. Cannot be found in the Clinton Schooler's current location. Is homemade. Not necessarily asked for.
4 - Definitely needed/wanted item. Could possibly have been found in Clinton Schooler's current location, but would require effort. Makes Clinton Schooler feel "at home" in current far away location. Is accompanied by a card.
3 - Item was begged for over the phone and/or email. For three weeks.
2 - Non-essential item. (ie sending soy sauce to Japan)
1 - Ramen Noodles. Sent to the wrong address. And your Clinton Schooler is allergic to Ramen Noodles.

Clinton School parents and other variously related beings, let the competition begin!

Best regards,
Ashley

PS Classmates and other blog readers: I know many of you are in hot places, but if you have knitting requests, please submit them to me via comment and/or email and I'll add them to my Mom's queue. She may even send them to you in your current country of residence. Seriously, she is an awesome knitter.

PPS Those participating in the competition: Just so you know what you're getting yourselves into, my Mom is a care package master since I haven't lived at home since Spring 2003. She is not kidding around. First package (actually an envelope) that I received about a week and a half ago contained the following:

Card from my Mom with a hand written note in it, plus Garfield and Marmaduke cartoons printed off from the computer with comments about how these are like our animals.
Knitted hat (pictured below)
2 Bite-size Kit Kat bars, one white chocolate and one milk chocolate
1 package of chocolate Skittles (Disclaimer: My Mom can be forgiven here because she has not yet been subjected to the failure that is chocolate Skittles and she knows that I generally like all things chocolate. However, in this case, do NOT buy them. I repeat, do NOT buy chocolate Skittles.)

See? She is the queen of relatively low-cost, high-emotional importance care packages. Love you, Mom!

Flat Stanley Visits the Nordiska Museet

2009-05-24T04:25:00.011-04:00

Yesterday was another rainy day in Stockholm, so Flat Stanley and I did what any normal people do on a rainy day: Go to a museum! We visited the Nordiska Museet, which is all about Swedish culture and heritage.

It is housed in a beautiful building near the Vasa Museet, which Flat Stanley and I visited a few weeks ago.

The Nordiska Museet has a wide variety of exhibitions about Sweden, including the traditional handicrafts of the Swedes and explanations of the various national holidays. According to my colleagues, midsommars celebrations in June are second only to Christmas. I am looking forward to those, happening right before the Forum! The museum also had exhibitions on the evolution of Swedish interior design and marriage in Sweden. (Factoid: Same-sex unions have been legal in Sweden since 1995.)

However, the most interesting exhibition in the museum was about the Sami. The Sami people are an indigenous people that live in the north of Sweden and span across the borders of Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Russia. There are approximately 20,000 Sami in Sweden. As with many indigenous peoples, the Sami have suffered discrimination. The Sami language, which has 9 different dialects, was heavily suppressed in the 20th century in favor of uniformity.

The Sami people were traditionally nomadic reindeer herders. The exhibition had a few pairs of their winter shoes, made out of reindeer leg skin, on display. They are beautiful!

After we were finished at the Nordiska Museet, we took the Cafe tram back into town. We had fika onboard and enjoyed the views as we rode back into downtown!

Flat Stanley tried to see "Fleet Week" in Stockholm

2009-05-22T13:36:00.005-04:00

I have a sneaking suspicion that it is the Swedish equivalent of Fleet Week here in Stockholm. Why else would there be a bunch of navy ships parked in the harbor?

Today, before I went to the office, I took Flat Stanley to see the ships that I've noticed stationed in Stockholm Harbor this week. However, the rain forced Flat Stanley to stay safely stationed in my bag because he does not have rain gear and the rain drops could have quickly caused some extensive damage to his sensitive skin and clothing. I tried to let him peak out of my bag though, so I think he got to see the ships anyway.

He very much enjoyed this one because it was the biggest:

He wished that he could be as cool looking as this soldier. Plus, he liked to see the Swedish flag flying:

Are we being dishonest about climate change?

2009-05-22T04:22:00.003-04:00

I meant to blog this a while ago, but I must have forgot. And all the talk of European Parliament elections in the last post reminded me.

One of the things I love about working at the Tallberg Foundation is that no conversation is off the table. We talk a lot about a wide variety of topics and it is extremely intellectually stimulating to be surrounded by smart people every day that care about global issues and are thinking on a global scale. As many of you know, I talk often about being a global citizen and how to make people global citizens. Being at Tallberg means that I am around people that share that vision every day and it is extremely refreshing.

On my first day at work (almost 5 weeks ago now...where did the time go?!), I was in a meeting with Anders Wijkman, Member of the European Parliament and vicechairman of the Tällberg Foundation Board, to discuss how we could possibly address Copenhagen at the Forum in June. I will not recount the entire meeting, but one of the topics was simply, "Are we being dishonest about climate change?"

And I believe the answer is, fundamentally, yes. We, as a global society, are dishonest with ourselves about the issues, the science, the technology, the awareness level, etc. The truth is that we don't know the answers, we don't know entirely how to fix it, it is becoming increasingly obvious that 2 degrees is not safe and yet we don't really know what safe means, and on and on. I've been thinking a lot about that question (Are we being dishonest about climate change?), and I am looking forward to continuing the discussion both in the coming weeks and at the Forum.

If the answer is overwhelmingly "Yes", as I believe it is, the next questions is, "How do we start being honest with ourselves about the problem?" How do we communicate the scientific facts to the masses, how do we make people fully realize and internalize the scale of the crisis, how do we connect our own and other people's thinking in order to look at the problem in the frame of the whole system? Climate change is not the only problem. It is just one issue within a system that has already failed in some places and is showing signs of failure in others. The various crises that are underway are connected and must be dealt with in a holistic way rather than in pieces.

I shall stop my thinking there for the moment, but I HIGHLY recommend reading "Grasping the Climate Crisis - A Provocation from the Tallberg Foundation". You can download it here.

The authors are Bo Ekman, chairman of the Tällberg Foundation, Johan Rockström, executive director of the Stockholm Environment Institute and member of the Tällberg Foundation Board and Anders Wijkman, Member of the European Parliament and vicechairman of the Tällberg Foundation Board. It was co-ordinated and edited by Rebecca Oliver, one of my colleagues.

Pirates Taking Over Sweden

2009-05-22T03:51:00.005-04:00

Do you like Pirates? Do you like the Pirate Bay file sharing website? Do you wish you could vote for someone who wants to "fundamentally reform copyright law, get rid of the patent system and ensure that citizens' rights to privacy are respected"? Do you have European Union citizenship?

Well, you are in luck! The Pirate Party is now in third place in the run up to the European Parliament elections, taking place on June 7, according to this article from The Local.

Interestingly, Nicole and I were out about two weekends ago around Medborgarplatsen and had stopped for an ice cream and some people watching. First there was what appeared to be a women's rights group advocating for more women in government. (I think they were talking about the EU, but couldn't be sure because of my very limited Swedish.)

When they were finished and had departed, a few men dressed as pirates (not over the top, but just with bandanas and baggy pirate-looking pants) showed up. They also had big pirate flags. They set up in the middle of the square and started handing out fliers. I thought for sure it was a joke and proceeded to simply be amused by people dressed as pirates advocating for the Pirate Party. Apparently I underestimated their pull since they are now in third place.

When I arrived here in April, the headlines were all about a law that had come into effect on April 1 based on the EU's Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED). It would allow courts to force ISPs to release information about users. This would, of course, aid in the investigation of copyright violations. Thus, people here were mostly protesting the invasion of privacy. (Library records in Patriot Act, anyone?) If you're interested, click here for another article about the clash.

In any case, European Parliament elections are coming up and signs and posters have started popping up around Stockholm. I will try to get some pictures of them to share. European Parliament elections have notoriously low voter turn out. According to one poll, "almost half (44 percent) of Sweden’s young people aged between 18 and 28 are not aware that elections to the European Parliament will be held this year."

A poll taken in April found that 52% of Swedes surveyed said they would not vote and 64% said they had no interest or little interest in the elections. In the 2004 European parliament elections, voter turnout in Sweden was only 37.8%. However, for elections in Sweden, voter turnout is around 80%.

UPDATE: Another article saying turn-out was higher than expected for early voting in Gothenburg.

Have you ever seen a few hundred Swedes sing Beyonce? You have now!

2009-05-18T17:09:00.003-04:00

Went to my colleague, Åsa's, concert tonight! It was a huge choir and they sang lots of fun songs that got us grooving and clapping along. (Some of us may have sang along to the annoyance of their companions. Self, I'm looking at you!)

I recorded one of the hits of the evening, a little tune you may have heard of called Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It). Considering that this song was essentially the theme of finals week in December, I thought it appropriate to post here for all to view and enjoy.

Seriously. A few hundred Swedes singing Beyonce? Classic.

Also, I should note that several of my colleagues are involved in community organizations outside of work and it has been fun going to their events! We are running (read: most likely walking unless I can find a jogging buddy) a 5K next week. Stay tuned!

Clinton School of Public Service Blog: Update from Sweden

2009-05-17T02:36:00.002-04:00

Update posted on the Clinton School of Public Service Blog! Click here to view.

Also, have you checked out my classmates' blogs recently? They are in the list on the right of this page, organized with the most recently updated at the top. Enjoy!

Flat Stanley in Tällberg

2009-05-16T04:28:00.001-04:00

Flat Stanley visited Tällberg with me and the Tällberg Foundation on Thursday and Friday. He woke me up at 6:00 am to go outside and have a morning walk before the day started. I was reluctant, but Flat Stanley gets what Flat Stanley wants. He is very persistent.

There isn't any music in this one (sorry, Dimas!), but enjoy the nature sounds as Flat Stanley and I did on our morning trek through the forest.

First Trip to Tällberg!

2009-05-15T16:16:00.012-04:00

As you probably know, I am working with the Tällberg Foundation this summer on an event called the Tällberg Forum. What is this "Tällberg", you ask?

Well, I found out for myself during the last two days. Tällberg is a village in Sweden, about 3.5 hours north of Stockholm. The first large Tällberg Forum was held here in 2005, though smaller conversations were held here for many years prior. This year we are again gathering 450 leaders from around the world for a few days of serious reflection, productive and provocative discussions, and informative presentations, all with the intention of addressing the serious issues we face from a systems perspective and generating new partnerships and innovative solutions. It's going to be exciting and I can't wait for everyone's hard work to pay off.

There is a lot of talk about the "Tällberg Spirit" and after visiting Tällberg and getting to experience the last few days there, I can say that it is very real. There are certain places that are just special, often for unexplainable or indescribable reasons. They make you feel calm and inspired at the same time, and encourage explorative thinking and actions. Tällberg is one of those places. I can't think of a better place to hold a gathering such as the Forum!

A few pictures below to share some of the beautiful scenes. Please click here to see a few more pictures.

The Most Expensive Street in Stockholm

2009-05-11T14:57:00.007-04:00

This is Strandvagen, the most expensive street in Stockholm. From what I hear, it is the equivalent of an apartment in New York City overlooking Central Park...with a doorman.

Despite starting out pouring rain on Sunday, it was a lovely day to talk a walk or a bike ride.

You can do either because there are lanes dedicated to both here in Stockholm. If I should die or get seriously injured in Stockholm, it will most likely be because I was unwittingly walking in a (clearly marked) bicycle lane. (Hey, pictures are hard to read, ok?)

The Circus is Coming to Stockholm

2009-05-11T14:50:00.004-04:00

There are two kinds of Circuses (Circi?) coming to Stockholm. The traditional one:

And the other one, whose ads just started popping up in the last few days, including at my Tunnelbana stop in Hagerstensasen. Oh how sad I am that I will not be here in July.

Dear Joe, Does Our Health Insurance Cover Radiation Poisoning?

2009-05-10T17:14:00.010-04:00

Joseph Ballard
IPSP Coordinator
Clinton School of Public Service
Little Rock, AR

Dear Joe,

I may have radiation poisoning.

"But Ashley," you say, "How could you possibly have radiation poisoning? Didn't I tell you in our safety workshop that you shouldn't willingly put yourself in danger?"

Well, let me tell you how it happened. I went to my colleague's choir concert this evening. That sounds innocent enough, right? The program should have tipped me off:

Then, when I arrived, we got into a large industrial elevator ("Hiss" in Swedish) and were lowered 25 meters into the ground. Before the concert started, there was a presentation by a man in a white lab coat with slides and pictures showing people milling around in the space in the 1940s. Since it was both in Swedish and in an echoey space I can honestly say that I understood absolutely none of it. Check out the scene behind the stage:

However, from what I gleaned through speaking with people around me, the space we were in previously housed a nuclear reactor! In fact, we were sitting right on top of where the reactor used to function. It was dismantled and the space has recently started being used for events and concerts.

All of the walls, including the ceiling (pictured) are covered with squares with numbers in them, like so:
Talking with some of the Swedes afterwards who could actually understand the presentation, these are used to measure the decay of the nuclear waste and its levels in the space.

The old monitoring room was also still there with all of its dials and measurement devices:

Thus, Joe, I am sorry to inform you that I most likely have radiation poisoning. Can you send me instructions how to use my medical insurance please?

Best regards,

Ashley

PS All donations of chocolate chip cookies or Peanut Butter M&Ms to fight this grave illness are welcome. Email me for the address or post a comment and I will send to you.

PPS "Eh, I'm sure you don't have radiation poisoning. How was the concert?!?!" (Thanks for the concern for my health.) It was fantastic! Rebecca did a great job and the acoustics in the nuclear reactor space were awesome because of the high ceilings and cement walls. Plus, I'm sure being 25 meters underground couldn't hurt. There was also absolutely no cell phone reception that far underground, so no need for a "turn off your electronic devices" announcement! The music included Swedish folk songs that had been arranged for chorus. A highly enjoyable evening!

Flat Stanley Visits the Vasa Museet

2009-05-10T17:02:00.006-04:00

Flat Stanley visited Vasa Museet, which is a museum housing a 17th century ship called the Vasa. On August 10, 1628, the Vasa set sail on her maiden voyage and sank in Stockholm harbor. The wreck was salvaged in 1961, after 333 years under the sea. The reconstructed vessel is 95% original.

It’s hard to describe how big the Vasa is in person. It is in the center of the building and there are 6 floors of exhibits built around it. Here is the museum from the outside:

Flat Stanley wanted to be in the picture as well, but photographer error (and technological incapability) failed to get a good picture of him.

As most people know, I LOVE museums, especially when I'm travelling. So, expect more museum updates from me (and Flat Stanley) in the future! The Nordiska Museet (pictured below) is next on the list!

Alert: The 80s Are Back (And High School Musical is in Sweden)

2009-05-09T16:15:00.008-04:00

I had heard that the 80s were back in fashion, but I did not know how seriously that idea was being taken until I went shopping with Nicole and Sara today. I saw much more, but these are the things that disturbed me the most:

MC Hammer Pants
Bleached Denim
Shoulder Pads

Seriously, I knew it was bad when I saw the shoulder pads. Watch out world, according to Sara the Swedes like to be on top of all of the trends, so this may be what's heading your way. I didn't get to take any pictures of the madness, but I certainly will and they will be shared.

The weather was beautiful again! Here is Nicole enjoying it:

Another thing I would like to bring up here is the following:

You probably need a closer look just to make sure that your eyes didn't deceive you:

Yes, High School Musical has come to Sweden. Why do we force bad Disney musicals on the masses? Why aren't Americans just happy to let some things be as they are? Can't we just enjoy the rediculousness of this type of entertainment ourselves? No, we must corrupt the rest of the world as well.

To add to that, there is no shortage of McDonald's, TGI Fridays, Burger King, and Pizza Hut in Stockholm. However, I am happy to report that there is one thing that hasn't made it here yet: Starbucks.

Swede Observations: English and Swedish at the same time? Precis!

2009-05-07T16:54:00.013-04:00

I will try to comment on the Swedes during my time here to chronicle the things that I observe in my daily life. My completely biased, unabashedly unresearched observations can be classified as nothing more than gross overgeneralizations and should be taken as such. Enjoy!

If Americans know anything about Sweden, my experience is that it most likely relates to one or more of the following: Swedish Fish. Swedish Meatballs. Socialism (especially after The Daily Show aired). Tall People. Smorgasbord. Swedish Chef.

That, or it's followed by, "Wait, you're saying that Swiss and Swedish are not the same thing?"

Not to worry! I too fell into this category until approximately 3 weeks ago when I touched down in Stockholm. Now I know how to say hello, goodbye, exactly, excuse me, and sorry. Plus, I know that 8 Swedish Kronor = $1. What can I say, I'm learning.

In any case, one of my favorite things about Sweden is that most people are bilingual. Personally, everyone I have met so far speaks both English and Swedish. And not just a rudimentary knowledge of English. They speak it well.

In fact, several people at Tallberg speak three languages. Alexander speaks English to me, French to Nicole, and Swedish to everyone else. Rebecca speaks English to me (in her lovely British accent) and Swedish to the others, and can speak Italian on top of both of those. Sara falls into the English-Swedish-Italian camp as well. Nicole speaks her native Rwandan language and both French and English! Who knows, these people probably know other languages I'm not even aware of!

Why is this important, besides the fact that it helps me out immensely? In the path toward becoming a global citizen it is becoming harder to deny that knowing English is indispensible. However, knowing other languages opens up other avenues of communication, a connection to people on a different and more personal level, and ways of expressing yourself that are unique to different cultures. It broadens your mind and enhances your ability to communicate with other people.

I was flipping through the newspaper today and came across one of my favorite parts about Sweden: This ad is written in Swedish except for the middle part, where they switch to English. I haven't had time to run this through Google Translate yet, so I'm not sure exactly what it says:

Coincidentally, it also uses one of everyone's favorite words. And answers the question that I would say I've been asked the most so far: Do they really use smörgåsbord? Yes, they do:

Some Relationships Last a Lifetime

2009-05-07T16:13:00.006-04:00

There are certain relationships that last a lifetime. You put effort into them, you check in with them every once in a while, they provide just the right insight at just the right time, and you know that you'll still be talking about them well into your later years. For me, those relationships have titles: Pride and Prejudice and A Brief History of Time.

If you're thinking that those sound an awful lot like books, you would be correct! I love many books, but these two hold special places in my heart. I've read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen at least 8 times, probably closer to 12 if I kept an actual count. I have read it at least once a year since the first time when I was in high school. I haven't read it since last summer, so I will save reflections on the many reasons I love that book for after I crack it open soon.

I just finished reading A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking for the third time. The first time I was seriously exposed to astronomy and the workings of the universe was during two classes I took during the first semester of my freshman year at Boston University: Astronomy 102 and Cosmological Evolution. I took them both simply to get my science requirement done and over with. I had no idea how much I would enjoy them. There were a few times that I was seriously considering changing my major to astronomy -- if only I had one shred of background in science! Having never taken any form of physics and skipped any AP science subject in high school in favor of newspaper, band, and history, I was ill prepared for real science.

Astronomy 101 and Cosmological Evolution opened my mind up to the amazing workings of the universe. This is a world where you talk about things in millions and billions and trillions of years, where the sun is just a single star in one of a seemingly infinite number of galaxies, where you talk seriously about what might happen to you if you walked into a black hole, and where time can move both forward and backward. A Brief History of Time covers all of these ideas and more and does it in a way that is accessible to those of us that don't have the periodic table memorized.

One of my favorite parts:

"[T]he universe could be finite in imaginary time but without boundaries or singularities. The poor astronaut who falls into a black hole will still come to a sticky end; only if he lived in imaginary time would he encounter no singularities.

This might suggest that the so-called imaginary time is really the real time, and that what we call real time is just a figment of our imaginations...So maybe what we call imaginary time is really more basic, and what we call real is just an idea that we invent to help us describe what we think the universe is like."

Whenever I need to get life in perspective, I pick up A Brief History of Time. It reminds you that we are just a small piece of a much larger universe (or even perhaps just one universe among many other universes).

Note: If you have a book or books like this, share them! Always up for book recommendations.

International Public Service Projects

2009-05-07T16:10:00.003-04:00

Wondering where my other classmates are going and what they are doing?

Check out today's press release, which details the 18 different countries being visited and 29 different projects being completed by Clinton School students this summer: Click here.

Also, many of them are keeping blogs of their own! Check out the list on the right side of this page. They are organized with the most recently updated ones at the top!

Flat Stanley Takes a Ride on the Tunnelbana

2009-05-05T17:04:00.005-04:00

Flat Stanley took a ride on the Tunnelbana today! Check out the video of his journey:

Stockholm's subway and bus system has worked magnificently so far. As any New Yorker knows (unless they are regulars on the L), having the wait times posted in the stations is key to a subway rider's happiness and piece of mind.

The Tunnelbana is clean, runs on time and, in combination with the bus system, seems to be able to take me anywhere I want to go. 30 day pass with unlimited rides? 690 Swedish Kronor or about $85.

Who is Flat Stanley? Click here to learn more.

Thanks for re-posting on the Clinton School Blog Ben!

NYT: Going Dutch

2009-05-03T09:39:00.002-04:00

I am waiting to write my own reflections on socialism and the idea of a collective society until I've been here longer and gathered more personal insight. However, this article in the NYT on the subject is quite interesting.

Currently Reading: Team of Rivals

2009-05-03T09:15:00.004-04:00

I am slowly reading Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin. I say "slowly" because it is 754 pages long and too large to carry with me on the Tunnelbana. For that purpose I am currently employing A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking.

In any case, Team of Rivals is one of those books that I don't want to stop reading! It is simply fascinating. So far, my favorite passage is this:

"'Get the books, and read and study them,' [Lincoln] told a law student seeking advice in 1855. It did not matter, he continued, whether the reading be done in a small town or a large city, by oneself or in the company of others. 'The books, and your capacity for understanding them, are just the same in all places...Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.'"

Fika and Gardens in Stockholm

2009-05-02T16:16:00.011-04:00

While I'm hearing nothing but rain and thunderstorms in Little Rock, it is absolutely lovely here in Stockholm. It has been a gorgeous weekend: warm and sunny. By bragging, I am now, of course, cursing myself to two weeks of rain and coldness. We'll see what comes of this! But for now, it's lovely.

I spent today taking a walk around various parts of the city with one of my colleagues and one of her friends. It was a beautiful day for a walk and lots of people were out enjoying the weather. Stockholm is made up of a bunch of islands and I'm slowly making my way to many of them. Today we walked around Lindholmen, a small island off of Sodermalm with lots of greenery, and a beautiful view of Kungsholmen across the water.

It took about an hour to make it around the island at a leisurely pace and after the exercise it was time for my favorite part of the day in Sweden: Fika!

Fika is basically a coffee break with sweets (such as cinnamon bread, coffee cake, etc). However, it is genious because it can happen any time or anywhere. We have Fika during our Friday team meetings at work or on a Saturday afternoon after a walk. Today, we stopped at a lovely cafe called Lasse i Parken, where I got a delicious piece of apple crumble pie, emphasis on the crumble.

After refueling with Fika, it was time for more walking and we headed down one side of Sodermalm, one of the main, larger islands. As on Lindholmen, there were garden areas, which I found quite fascinating.

There are a ton of these little garden houses, most without running water or electricity. And people own them and keep their garden in these little plots of land. They take it quite seriously too and they are all very well kept and maintained. What a great way to grow some of your own food and also have a little place to escape to right in the middle of the city!

I'm seeing the city little by little and getting to know the different areas one piece at a time. I saw several cafes and restaurants that I want to return to, so hopefully the weather will stay nice and I can stumble upon them again!

Cherry Blossoms in Kungsträdgården

2009-04-30T17:40:00.000-04:00

If I get off of the Tunnelbana at T-Centralen, I get to walk through Kungsträdgården on my way to the office...and this is what I get to see!

Now that Flat Stanley is all colored in, he should be popping up with me around Stockholm much more often!

Tällberg Update!

2009-04-30T16:24:00.002-04:00

So, what has been going on with my project you ask?

How nice of you to inquire! Well, I've now completed my second week with the Tällberg Foundation (no work tomorrow - May Day!). As with any new project, there has been a steep learning curve since I started, but I now feel like I am finally getting it all under control.

I am helping to plan and organize the workshops for the Forum with two of the Forum Team members, Rebecca and Alexander. In addition to getting to know everyone at the office and getting up to speed on everything that has been going on with the Forum planning, I have mapped out all of the possible workshops. This includes descriptions, workshop producers, possible speakers, and next action steps that need to be taken for each. Considering that there are ten "long sessions" and about 15-20 "short" sessions to make happen, this is no easy task.

It has been fascinating to learn about all of the great topics that are going to be discussed at the Forum this year, in particular the discussions about the "Road to Copenhagen". There is a lot riding on that conference in December and with the Forum happening just five months prior, it should be an interesting and timely conversation!

In short, it's been busy, but if you know me, you know that I would rather be busy than bored! My colleagues have all been so welcoming that I already feel like a member of the team and I can't wait for all of their (and now my) hard work to pay off in June!

Ski Run in Stockholm

2009-04-25T17:24:00.009-04:00

So I was walking in the park and I happened upon...

Turns out that I actually could get closer after I walked down down through the park further. It looks like they've taken a page out of Hollywood's book with the signage! I actually went to the website, http://www.skistar.com/, and this lift isn't even on there!

Spoiler! After talking to the people at dinner, I found out that the lift has actually only opened for about one day in the last two years! Apparently they have had to bring in fake snow. Still, the fake snow seems to be sticking!

Heifer on the Colbert Report

2009-04-24T16:34:00.002-04:00

Heifer International was on the Colbert Report last night! This is a great organization -- as I knew before I got to Little Rock and came to believe even more firmly after completing my practicum project with them this past year.

Go Heifer!

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Elizabeth Bintliff

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Swede Observations: Boots and Utes

2009-04-24T16:20:00.004-04:00

The Swedes seem to be very fashionable people as far as I can tell, but not very flashy, which I enjoy. They wear lots of layers and scarves and such in nice colors and there is a fair share of interesting outfits, but most people seem rather subdued in their work attire. (Perhaps this will change during the weekend? Who knows!)

In any case, one thing is sure: The women like their boots. I am fully on board with this fashion. First, since it's cold, you need something to keep your legs warm. Second, you need something that is comfortable to walk around in and even ride your bicycle with. (A seperate essay on the proliferation of bikes and public transport coming later.) Third, they are very much like riding boots and as an equestrian, I like anything of that nature.

I think boot season is most likely winding down since it's starting to get a bit warmer (18C/64F today!). However, when it was so cold last week and the beginning of this week, I saw lots of women with these fasionable and yet functional leather boots. They go with anything, are comfortable to walk in, and keep your legs warm! I find that many boots in the states either have rediculous heels that make them impossible to walk in for long distances or are some odd color or style that only goes with certain outfits.

It's not that we don't have these boots in the States - We do! - it's just that the Swedes have figured out how to use a simple boot well...and my ever logical brain appreciates that!

The Youth ("Utes" to some in LR)

So far, my observation of the youth from the many that hang out doing nothing in particular around T-Centralen is that they appear similar to all the teenagers I've seen in the US and UK. You try to look cooler than everyone else by looking like you could care less about what's going on around you and you are WAY too cool to be seen anywhere near your parents. You don't need them!

Plus, like, OMG, why would you want to look like you spent anything less than 3 hours doing your hair and makeup? Hello! You're trying to impress boys that most likely just rolled out of bed and haven't showered in weeks. Wait, did Justin just look over here...hehehe (turn to girlfriends and talk as if you didn't see him). He can come over here if he wants! I'm playing hard to get.

(Ah, to be 14 again! Or, conversely, to be 24 and realize that some things never change, except maybe the sophistication of the language you use!)

Book Review: The Nine

2009-04-24T16:03:00.002-04:00

I just finished The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court, by Jeffrey Toobin. As someone interested in politics and the American political system, this was an interesting read. (Side note: There is nothing I enjoy more than discussing American politics with Europeans.)

The author's argument is quite obviously slanted to the left, which, of course, fits my taste. Toobin traces the shift of the court to the right over the past few decades. He notes the ideological shift among students at law schools around the country, breaks down the challenges to Roe v. Wade and Bush v. Gore among other cases, and chronicles the confirmation of two Justices during George W. Bush's presidency, and the political moves taking place behind the nominations. In the end, his overarching point seems to be that the court is largely a political body, controlled by the people through the election of the president. The weight of just one vote is readily apparent, illustrated by the number of 5-4 decisions and their implications for future generations. Toobin writes in a story-telling style, painting a picture of each justice throughout the book, which gives it a nice flow throughout.

Overall, a very interesting and enjoying read, especially for those of us that haven't closely followed the Supreme Court. Recommended.

Next Up: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

The Daily Show Goes to Stockholm

2009-04-23T17:30:00.000-04:00

I love the Daily Show and so do the Swedes.

The Stockholm Syndrome, Pt. 1

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

The Stockholm Syndrome

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The Stockholm Sydrome, Pt. 2

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

The Stockholm Syndrome Pt. 2

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Swede Observations: Knäckebröd and Being Cold

2009-04-23T14:28:00.006-04:00

(The National Museum. There is a restaurant in there -- highly recommended!)

Being Cold

It is cold here. If it is this temperature in April, I can't imagine what it is like during the heart of winter. Winters in Colorado, Boston, and New York have prepared me for cold weather. They have prepared me for large jackets, scarves, hats, gloves, and walking everywhere as quickly as possible to get to warmth. This past year, Little Rock "winter" has softened me a bit, but I think I have ultimately retained my tolerance and even enjoyment of cold weather.

However, I was not prepared to be bundled up in three layers with my fleece and spring jacket, a scarf wrapped around my head with a hat and gloves on and then to watch other people walking down the street without a jacket, gloves or other form of anything that looks remotely warm enough to be outside in. Even the people that seem have noticed that it's cold outside have a light jacket and scarf on and are probably laughing at my hat and gloves.

It's official, the Swedes never look cold! I swear, as I am shivering and freezing and wondering if I can still feel my fingers without my gloves on, they are jauntily walking down the street seemingly impervious to the cold wind that is blowing and making my nose run.

It's as if they're saying, "Yes, I know it's cold, but I am sick of my winter jacket and I'm not going to wear it anymore." Amazing.

I brought this observation up to one of my colleagues, Åsa, and she said it best, "They are lying."

If that is true, they are excellent liars. Just Monday I saw a man in only a business suit, no jacket or gloves and especially no hat, which was surprising because he had a shaved head. At first I thought he must be only taking a short walk between buildings. However, I walked with him on the way to the Tunnelbana for at least 15 minutes. He never managed to pull any form of further clothing out of midair and never looked the slightest bit chilly.

Supposedly we're getting a heat wave and it might be 60 this weekend. I'm preparing to see shorts and swimsuits on the streets.

Knäckebröd

Sweden has delicious looking breads. They come in all different types, though I've only been able to try a few so far. Knäckebröd is crisp bread and apparently traditionally "poor man's food" because it is cheap and stays good for so long -- The Ramen of the Nordics perhaps. However, it seems that everyone here eats it with various toppings, including butter, cheese, hummus, etc. (According to Wikipedia, the source of all things true and accurate, knäckebröd has enjoyed a renewed interest in recent years.)

As I am a poor student, I am renaming it "poor student's food" because it is indeed delicious, if bland, and able to be spiced up with just about anything you have lying around. Yum!

(Looking across the river from Gamla Stan.)

Kiva: Loans that Change Lives

2009-04-23T14:02:00.001-04:00

This has nothing to do with Sweden or my IPSP. (I can relate it to my IPSP of course, since the Tällberg Forum is just the kind of place that innovative ideas like this are born.)

If you're not invested in Kiva, you should be.

I've been lending to people through Kiva since May 2008 and it is an easy, stressfree experience. You can invest as little as $25 and when it gets paid back you can either withdraw it or re-lend it to another party. Micro-financing allows people to get the small loans they need to start or expand a business. These loans empower people to develop themselves and their communities.

Last year, Kiva made it possible to re-lend money as it is paid back. (So, if you loan $100, you can re-lend it in $25 increments as it is paid back instead of having to wait until all $100 is repaid!)

Here is how it has worked for me:

I made an initial loan in May 2008 of $350. (I used to have a job that paid me real money that I could use to help people!) Since then, through re-lending the money as it was paid back to me, I have loaned $850 to 7 individuals and groups around the world.

As with any loan, there is no guarantee that the money will be paid back. It is possible to default on loans, so any investment should be treated as such. However, my example shows the potential for growth with the micro-finance model.

It's easy. Do it.

You can see the people I've lent to and am currently lending to on my Kiva page: http://www.kiva.org/lender/davisashley

Swedish Words of the Day

2009-04-23T14:00:00.001-04:00

Talar du engleska? - Do you speak English?
Jag är ledsen, jag talar inte svenska. - I'm sorry, I don't speak Swedish.
Allemansrätten - common right of access (go where you want, but do not disturb, do not desroy - VERY different from Americans and our fences and property lines)
snö - snow
stjärna - star
äta - eat
bra - good

Tällberg Breakfast Club: Choices and Morality

2009-04-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

What a great way to start the day! Tällberg staff has organized an optional, informal Breakfast Club that meets to discuss various topics. Tuesday morning was my first time taking part in the discussions. As a think tank (or a re-think tank as they call themselves), Tällberg staff spends a lot of time talking about the challenges that the world faces today, how to address them in new and provocative ways, and what these challenges and their potential solutions mean for the future of the planet.

For this Breakfast Club we read two articles and listened to two podcasts. The articles were:

Kleiner, Art. "Doing the Right Thing: How Organizations Can Help us Make Ethical Decisions" Policy Innovations. Feb 6, 2009.
Sapolsky, Robert. "A Natural History of Peace" Foreign Affairs. Jan/Feb 2006.

The Podcasts were both from WNYC:

RadioLab, Nov 14, 2008: Choice
RadioLab, Feb 9, 2009: Morality

It was so nice to engage with colleagues in a discussion about topics of a substantive nature. What a great way to get to know them a little better and also to have an open forum for thoughts and opinions. I work with some really intelligent people here at Tällberg and I can't wait to continue to learn from them (and hopefully contribute some of my own insights as well!).

Reflections on Choices and Morality

We had a wide ranging discussion, but I wanted to highlight and expand upon one of things that I brought up:

Where is the intersection between corporate action, individual action, and government action? To solve many of today's largest issues, it will take action from all three of these components. Which ones have the most power and in what ways? How do we make the best choices, especially when we are choosing between two bad options?
As a highly simplified example: Eliminating plastic bags from a huge, international chain like Wal-Mart would make a significant difference in reducing waste and changing consumer behavior. This goal could be achieved by each of the three actors. Individuals could choose to stop using plastic bags and instead bring their own to the store. Government could create a policy that, in effect, banned plastic bags through charging Wal-Mart a high enough tax on bags that it became impossible for the chain to continue to provide them. Finally, Wal-Mart could voluntarily cut bags out of its stores.
Each of these actions has the potential to solve the problem individually, but the likelihood of one of these solutions taking place without influence from the other two actors is slim to none.
So the end question becomes, where is the intersection between these actions? At what point do enough individuals stop using plastic bags that Wal-Mart stops carrying them? How many local or state governments could introduce policies regarding plastic bags before enough individuals stopped using them and/or businesses stopped carrying them? How many cheap, reusable bags does Wal-Mart have to sell beside its cash registers before individuals start remembering to bring them back? When does it become feasible for Wal-Mart to eliminate plastic bags altogether?
These are all choices that governments, individuals, and corporations have to make and each of these possible courses of action (plus the infinite other actions, problems, and considerations not mentioned) involves a moral decision. When does saving the planet become more important than simply increasing growth of and profit for your company or more important than the convenience of not bringing your own bags to the store or more important than the political suicide required to take on business interests or individual behavior through policy?

Some other really interesting ideas that were brought up:

How many options (choices) is too many? From one of the podcasts: If you're asked to choose chocolate cake or fruit salad while trying to remember 7 numbers, you will likely choose chocolate cake. If you're only trying to remember 2 numbers, you will likely choose fruit salad. If something this simple is affected by having too many choices, what does this mean when the consequences of the choice are much weightier?
Media and Politicians: Dumbing things down for the public to make choices "easier", though less informed. What are the consequences of having an uneducated or disengaged voter? Is it easier for politicians to encourage disengagement/simplicity in order to make people vote on their morals? (Against gay marriage? Vote Republican. Pro-Choice? Vote Democrat.) Does the media encourage this?
Teaching morality and making good choices: We encourage children to act in a certain way (ie with respect to others) and then family entertainment encourages something completely different through tawdry game shows and competitions. Why do we often tout morals and values within the family and yet so readily accept and even support the opposite behavior from others?

Flat Stanley

2009-04-20T16:53:00.002-04:00

For the past three years, Flat Stanley has accompanied Clinton School students abroad in partnership with First Lady Ginger Beebe's efforts to promote cultural awareness in Arkansas schools.

Click here to learn more about the Flat Stanley Project.

and

Click here to follow Flat Stanley's Travels on our blog!

and

Click here to see Flat Stanley's pictures on Flickr!

Swedish Words of the Day

2009-04-19T17:29:00.004-04:00

Blogg (Blog): Spelled with two g's which I find amusing
Knäckebröd (Crisp Bread): This is almost like a cracker, but comes in big pieces and it is super crunchy. Delicious.
Hur står det till? (How are you?): I will try to use this when I meet people at the office tomorrow.

New Project: Milk Packaging in Sweden

2009-04-19T03:19:00.009-04:00

I have discovered a clear problem here in Sweden: Milk Cartons. I will be re-writing my Project Planning Report to address this problem. Joe, please send me your feedback ASAP so I can tell the Tallberg Foundation that I am addressing a greater need than globalization.

Project Planning Report: Milk Packaging in Sweden

Background: I want milk for my tea.
Problem: Milk is in a box with no clear instructions for opening. It also may not be the right kind of milk as there were many different kinds in the store and I ended up just picking one that looked the most likely to be "normal" milk to me.
Assets: Tea, milk, sugar, and McVitties Milk Chocolate Digestive Biscuits (Greatest. Invention. Ever.)
Stakeholders: Me, my happiness, and my inability to drink tea without milk.
Goal: Milk for Tea
Objective #1: Open one carton of milk in a manner that it can poured into one tea cup and resealed for future use.
Ojective #2: Determine through qualitative methods if the milk is the correct type to be used for drinking.
Best Practices: It seems that this is similar to those individual milk cartons from childhood as well as cardboard milk cartons in the US in which you peel the top apart, fold it backwards, and then voila!, you have a spout which can be resealed by folding it back into itself. Knowledge of these practices *might* be useful here.
Project Activities: Open milk carton, taste milk, hopefully use milk in tea, reseal carton, and evaluate. All activities supervised by me.
Capacities/Resources: High School Diploma, BA in History from Boston University (summa cum, Phi Beta Kappa), Completed First Year of MPS at Clinton School of Public Service, lifetime milk drinker.
Fit: This project fits perfectly with my organization's (ie my) mission of having a cup of tea.
SWOT: Strengths - Ownership of milk, tea, and biscuits, kitchen full of tools, booksmarts (see Capacities)
Weaknesses - Booksmarts (again, see Capacities), Current hunger, lack of caffeine due to lack of tea, booksmarts;
Opportunities - Determine benefits of this packaging, and if there are no benefits, I will be bringing a new kind of milk packaging to this country
Threats - Spilling milk all over the kitchen and then having none for my tea, drinking milk that is either not pasteurized or not the right kind for drinking, ruining my tea with said milk

Evaluation: Semi-Success!

Apparently I purchased the right kind of milk. It tastes normal at least.
I managed to open the carton without spilling it everywhere, but it is not a very effective spout.
The carton does not appear to be resealable, which is somewhat disconcerting. However, I am beginning to believe that it is not meant to be resealed anyway.
I have now had a cup of tea with my biscuits and am ready for the day!

Mobile Phones and Milk: The First Day in Sweden

2009-04-18T16:41:00.015-04:00

I've arrived! I officially landed in Sweden at 12:45 pm this afternoon. My flight went overnight through Iceland and on to Stockholm. I couldn't have had a better welcome to the city. Cecilia, one my new colleagues at the Tallberg Foundation was waiting for me outside of customs. She took me on the train and then the subway to my apartment, got me settled in with bed linens and such, had a cup of tea with me and the landlord, had a week-long subway pass waiting for me as well as my office key, and a mobile phone that I can use to pay as I go while I'm here. I was already excited to start working with Tallberg this week, but now I really can't wait.

But enough with that stuff, what about Sweden you ask?

First off, I already love this city. The people so far have been extra nice and just as everyone says, it's an impeccably clean place. Admittedly, I've only been a few places so far, but those places have been well cared for and maintained. The one thing that really amazes me about the people so far is their truly bi-lingual nature. As I was trying to locate a power adapter this afternoon, I witnessed people in the stores switching seamlessly between Swedish and English without missing a beat. People told me that "everyone" spoke English here and I somewhat believed them, but so far that has been true. I'm highly jealous of them and am once again reminded that this is an area in which the US is severly lacking.

Second, while people generally seem to speak English, that does not mean that products have English on them as well. So, I spent a good amount of time standing in front of the milk section at my neighborhood grocery store with my pocket English-Swedish dictionary (key purchase by the way) trying to decipher the different kinds of milk and which one was just normal milk. I'm still not sure I bought the right one, but I'll know tomorrow when I open it and try to put it in my tea. We'll see how it goes. They also have different cartons here, so I'm not exactly sure how to open it without spilling it everywhere. I'll update on milk progress tomorrow -- clearly there is a lot to say.

Third, as I said, my organization gave me a mobile phone that I can load with pay-as-you go funds this summer which is great because now I don't have to buy the actual handset, I just have to pay a little bit to have credit. However, said phone is in Swedish. At first I was trying to figure out how to change it to English because if you have ever tried to text in T9 in another language, it is one of the most difficult things ever. I've now given that up because I'm intrigued by this language. I bought myself a "Beginner's Swedish" book that I'm studying, so I hope I can at least say a few things by the time I'm done here.

Tomorrow I'm going to explore my neighborhood a bit and then I'm meeting another one of my colleagues in the city for coffee and a tour of the neighborhood that the office is in. Then Monday is Day One!

Swedish Words of the Day:

Tunnelbana (Subway)
Nästa (Next, as in "next stop on the subway")
Tack! (Thanks!)
Hej (Hello. I think this might also mean goodbye as well...still checking on that one!)
Bibliotek (Some words are just about the same in most languages!)

Note: I snapped these pics while walking around Old Town looking for a power adapter this afternoon. Explanations of what those buildings actually are will be coming later when I've gone actual sightseeing and not just walking around hoping that someone wants an American to be able to charge her laptop here!

Good Eats in NYC, Part 2

2009-04-17T19:39:00.005-04:00

Well, Good Eats in NYC, Part 1 only covered Monday lunch through Wednesday dinner. That means that there were plenty more delicious meals to be had to finish out the week! Enjoy!

Bergen Bagels

Bergan Bagels is the greatest bagel place ever. Period. My former roommate has had co-workers request that she bring them bagels from here...daily. It is a few blocks from my old apartment and clearly since I was staying at said apartment with my former roomies, I had to have my staple: Everything Bagel with Plain Cream Cheese. Sometimes I like to spice it up with chive cream cheese, but I find that with an Everything Bagel, plain is better. Bagels from Bergen Bagels was one of my favoriate parts of weekends in NYC!

Max

When I moved to NYC, I knew one person: Steven Rodriguez. We had worked together (rather briefly) during college at BU's Orientation Office. Luckily, we both ended up in NYC at the same time because we became great friends and I got to know his then fiance and now wife, Mindy. During my two years in the City, we ate dinner together most Friday nights. We would mostly go out and we also cooked our own dinners at each other's apartments as well. Those meals are some of my fondest memories of NYC. This time was no different. Steven picked out an Italian place called Max in Tribeca, which I had never been to. It was delicious. The service was somewhat sub-par, but for a restaurant in Tribeca, it was well-priced and well-prepared food. I had the ravioli of the day, which had a great pink sauce and was a good serving size. (I often find that ravioli serving sizes at nice restaurants are not big enough). Recommended for a nice night in Tribeca, a place I hardly went to when I lived there, but love visiting now.

Chiyoda Sushi

There are MANY great sushi places in New York City. However, Chiyoda Sushi was the closest to my office on 42nd Street and 5th Avenue. Therefore, I got their take-out several times while working at the Oxford University North American Office. Fittingly, my former colleagues, Jo Ann and Serina and I went here to catch up and chat about life and Oxford, etc. I didn't know there was a restaurant portion of the back, so I was surprised to find tables and chairs and such. Jo Ann and I ordered several rolls, including Spicy Tuna (delicious), Dragon (one of my favorites), Shrimp Tempura (eh, I've had better), and Boston (could've used more of a kick). Serina got a sushi box, which they apparently gave to another table because Jo Ann and I had our food and Serina was still empty handed except for her miso soup. However, the Dragon and Spicy Tuna rolls were amazing and I would still highly recommend it for take out because all of the items in the front of restaurant are freshly made.

It was great to catch up with Jo Ann and Serina! I had a great time being involved with Oxford and loved working with the alumni around the country!

Song

Thursday was the night to catch up with the Brooklyn/NYU crew. Anne graciously organized everyone for dinner in Park Slope at Song, a yummy, lost cost Thai food joint. Anne (rightfully) loves the chicken spring rolls. We ordered family style and since I was not the one that ordered, I've now forgotten most of what we got. The fried calamari was really good as an appetizer and one of the memorable entrees was a shrimp dish with green beans. The only downer was our mojitos at the beginning of the meal. We all know that Bogota makes the best mojito in Brooklyn and yet we try others to try to satisfy the craving. It never works.

It was SO good to see Liz, Anne, Jeannie, and Sanj. Sanj just got accepted for a joint Executive MBA degree that will see him travelling between New York and London soon (sweet!), Jeannie has a great new Brooklyn apartment (that I unfortunately didn't get to see), Liz is going to France this summer, and Anne spent so much time making my life special this week that it was the most stressfree, relaxing week in NYC ever.

Barn

Well, Song couldn't end the night, so we headed on to another frequented neighborhood spot: Barn. Next to a restaurant called Flatbush Farm, Barn is a dimly lit, bare-bones kind of bar and I love it. They have an interesting selection of drinks, the music is there, but isn't so loud that you have to scream to talk to the person next to you, and it was the sight of my 2007 birthday party, which was one of the best birthdays ever.

Also, Sean and Mariko (friends from BU that moved to NYC after I left) came out to catch up as well so it was a nice melding of Boston friends and New York friends. I was really sad that night had to end.

Caracas Arepa Bar

I saved one of my favorites for last: Caracas Arepa Bar. Liz and Jeannie introduced me to Caracas when I moved to the city and I've been basically any chance I get since. A whole in the wall place, Caracas is the perfect combination: Affordable Prices and Unique Food. I took my dear friend Vibha there for the first time! There are many vegetarian options, so I knew it would be a good choice for her.

I had the De Pabellón, with shredded beef, black beans, white salty cheese and sweet plantains all wrapped in a delicious corn arepa. To wash that down I had to get the Papelón Con Limón, a refreshing natural blend of sugar loaf and lime. I usually get the Guasacaca as well, which is Venezuelan style guacamole. Catching up with Vibha, who is a public school teacher in the NYC Teaching Fellows Program over this delicious food was a great wind-down to the week in food.

Buttercup

No meal is complete without a little bit of a sweet snack and this was no different. Vibha spotted a good looking back shop down the street from Caracas so we stopped in after our meal. Butter Lane Cupcakes was a great find! They have three different kinds of cupcakes (vanilla, chocolate, and banana) and then you choose your frosting and they frost it right there. So simple and so delicious. I had the chocolate with vanilla bean frosting. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

While these posts were about food, what they really capture to me is the great conversations that happen over great meals. There is nothing better than enjoying a meal with friends, chatting about life and plans and the future and enjoying each other's company. No one is on a cell phone, no one is worried about where else they are supposed to be. Everyone is just enjoying the moment with eachother and that's what made each one of these meals special to me. I can't wait to go back to NYC again!

Good Eats in NYC, Part 1

2009-04-15T12:21:00.009-04:00

I have been looking forward to eating in NYC since I booked this flight. Here's the first round up of the places I ate at this week!

Park Slope Chip Shop

The week started off on a good note with lunch with my former roommate, Anne, in our neighborhood in Brooklyn: Park Slope. We went to Park Slope ChipShop to get some British pub fare. I split from my normal dish of fish and chips and went for the Cod and Salmon Fish Cakes with parsley sauce and chips. ChipShop is normally a bit overpriced for simple fish and chips, but the fishcakes were totally worth the $10.50. The parsley sauce was particularly good. Plus, I fully enjoyed my pint of Blackthorn Cider, which is hard to find (at least in my experience) in NYC and in an actual pint glass. At ChipShop, I can at least feel like I'm back in England for a bit!

Mumbles

My brother, Mom, and Chris (Mom's friend) ate dinner at Mumbles, a restaurant with a little bit of everything and some of it mixed together! I got the Pepper Crusted Tuna Salad Niçoise served medium-rare with red bliss potatoes, olives, string beans, capers and balsamic dressing. It was as mouth-watering as it sounds. I had never been to this spot before and it's generally out of my price range. However, they did have a great looking dinner deal before 7:00 pm for around $13, which would be a great way to get a well-prepared meal for less money!

Cuba

Generally, I think my Mom likes my roommates more than me, and vice versa! She makes and sends them Christmas presents and when she is in town, everyone wants to catch up with her! So, Anne, my Mom, her friend, and I went out to lunch on Tuesday afternoon. We ate at a little cuban place just below Washington Square Park aptly named, Cuba. I had the Sandwich Cubano, which is a classic cuban sandwich of roast pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles and mustard.

I love all kinds of cuban food, mostly because of my good friends Steven and Mindy, who are cuban. However, if you offer me a cuban sandwich around lunchtime, there is a slim chance of me eating anything else. Anne and my Mom had mango mojitos and Chris had a coconut mojito, both of which were fantastic! (I know because clearly, as the official taste tester, I had to try!)

Peanut Butter & Co.

Have you ever had white chocolate peanut butter? If not, head to Peanut Butter & Co. I took my Mom and Chris to stop in and they sampled several of the flavors, including White Chocolate Wonderful and The Heat is On. They both bought a jar to take back to their husbands as souvenirs. However, a perhaps little known fact: peanut butter is not allowed through airport security. (Now you know!)

Osso Buco

The whole reason for being in New York in the first place, besides visiting friends, was for my brother's art show. After attending the School of Visual Arts' Mentor Show opening, we headed out to dinner at Osso Buco, an Italian restaurant just south of Union Square. We needed light fare after our lunch at Cuba earlier. We kept it simple with a family side salad for the group and fettucine alfredo. I did get an apple martini as well that was delicious!

This is just the beginning of my food adventures in NYC. The second half will be posted upon arrival in Stockholm! Getting ready to board the plane now!