Not much to do when the sky is partly covered with clouds...

So I am just googling some stuff for the winter, which Frida and I (and hopefully Marianne) are going to spend in Argentiere or Chamonix! I skied for the first time this spring and it was such a great experience that I can't wait to go back! Just talked to Frida and planned some jobsearching. If anyone has any ideas about finding jobs or a place to live, please let me know!

I learned a lot about the telescope and observing last week when an american scientist was here. Since the support astronomer is on vacation, we had to solve all the problems on our own and hat was very educative. Now an irish group is here, but the weather has to improve before we can take any useful data!

My mom is probably coming here for a couple of days in September! It's going to be so much fun and I'm sure she's going to love the island! Unlike some of the other Canary Islands, La Palma hasn't yet been exploited to the mass tourism.

The days I had off las week were filled with a walk in the volcano desert, beaches and a visit to a bodega with delicious wine! I also went to dinner with my new found friend, Maria Nela, who lives near the hotel where I usually stay. I met some of her friends and her parents. They are so cute! We spent one afternoon at the Aero Club, a pool area where she and her friends are members. It was nice to barbeque and meet some new people!

The best class in the world!

This is a photo from the graduation party we had this spring! What a party! =) Right now a lot of us are spreading out all over the world to go to grdschool, work or travel. I wish all of you good luck and an amazing time whatever you do! Without you guys I wouldn't make it through my studies! See you in Göteborg eventually!

Karaoke vein is pumping

Thursday night in the tower. I should sleep but I'm wide awake. Today has been a very relaxed day. Some observing until lunch. Then I watched the last two episodes of "Upp till kamp" from svt-play. An amazing show about the Swedish society in the 70s- watch it! That was followed by dinner at the observer hotel here on the mountain which was alright. A really good routine I got into here in the observatory is to drink (at least) one glass of red wine a day. That's supposed to be really healthy, right?

So, since I kind of miss the states  and especially the Thursday nights, I'm going to give you a glance of me and my friends at the karaoke night in WO's! Sofia, Alvaro, Max, Niklas and Claudia... I miss you so!

Trip to la Zarza

When I was a child my dreamjob was 1. detective and 2. archeologist. That spirit arose today! Since it was a bit cloudy today (cloudy up here means that there's a couple of thin and small clouds in the sky) Dick and I decided to go to an archeologic park with leavings from the aborigines of La Palma. They carved some interesting figures on the mountains around the island. Unfortunately the aborigines were killed immediately in the 15th century as the Spaniards conquered the island, so nobody really knows what they stand for. The one in the picture probably means water. Looking at remains from an ancient civilization sure makes you think about our existence in the world.

So, I just downloaded some programs from the Swedish radio. Time to go for a walk and listen to Christer! =)

Mouse alarm!

I found the place to be on this island! Swimming pools in the ocean on the north of La Palma= Badeschiff vibes... Time to visit Berlin soon, it's been too long!

This morning as I went into the kitchen to make some morning tea, there was a dead mouse in the trap! I screamed and ran out of there... I don't understand why I am so afraid of a little mouse. It can't do anything to me- especially not when it's dead... At least the mouse season is over in October, according to my co-worker!

Today the seeing was bad because of so called kalima, that is sand from the Sahara desert in the air! But we still got some useful data probably. So when the seeing is bad and the sun is still shining there is only one thing up here to do: HIKE! The view is really awesome... After that some working out on the roof terrace! Thanks to my distant personal trainer Nils-Petter, aka Muscle-Mountain I am not running out of exercises!

Brown, white-brown, orange, green, white-green, white-orange, blue, white-blue

Just learned how to make an internet cable! This job is rewarding on so many levels!

Under the sun

So my summer in Ohio ended abruptely... In just three days I went from the states to Stockholm, Madrid, Tenerife before I finally arrived in La Palma. My 24 hours in Stockholm was great. I am always in the mood for some quality time with my number one poodle; Caroline. Just after a couple of days on almost 2500 meters above sealevel, I felt very at home here. Sun, beautiful view, interesting work, time... The only thing missing is my friends. I miss you! I don't get homesick very often, but yesterday when I came back from 3 days in Santa Cruz all I wanted was to be home (for a couple of hours or so).

This island really is amazing. It's deffinitely worth a visit (not only to meet me). I'm gonna tell you all about it later, have to check if the seeing has improved...

Last day at work

Trying to summarize the amazing months I have had at Wright State University is not easy. I am an Engineering Physics undergraduate student from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. This summer I have been interning for the Terahertz Research Lab at Wright State University. Together with a group of students I have been working on a project on detecting vehicle signatures with various sensors. Collaborating with a team of creative students with diverse background has been very rewarding.

Even though I was interning over the summer quarter, the campus was full of life and there was always something going on. I am sure there is going to be even more activities during the semester.

To have a car here definitely makes things easier, but thanks to my friends and great coworkers who gladly gave me a ride I made it through my time here without one. Overall the people I met have been extremely helpful and open! An example is when I at work mentioned my thoughts of buying a bike. The next day my coworker brought one that I borrowed over the summer. Whether looking for directions to the lecture hall or finding the Swedish crisp bread (knäckebröd) in the supermarket, don’t hesitate to ask for help! By the way, I really recommend getting a bike. There are bike paths; you just really have to look for them!

As I am going back to Sweden, I am bringing a lot of nice memories from my summer quarter! I have an awesome stay and I feel that I have made friends for life! I wish all of you international students the best time here!