Paddling the Canoe

I played Floorball tonight with a bunch of Swedes (and Geoff, my American sustainability compatriot). It's basically like street hockey, but with a much lighter ball and tiny little nets. It'll take me a few tries to get my stickhandling down, but I'm already a force to be reckoned with on defense and forechecking in the offensive zone. It was pretty funny, because Swedish people are quite reserved, so no one was celebrating after a goal. They'd just get back into position. I started questioning this, and when I scored on a sweet wrap-around (they call it 'the kitchen' here???) I did the airplane all the way back to my end. I told my team that I was proud of our play, but that we needed to work on our celebrations. They laughed!

I'm doing my best to get outside of the MSLS bubble that has so inevitably formed. I guess my days in FYP at King's has taught me that only hanging out with people from your own program will lead to insanity. The people in my program are all amazing, intelligent, conscious, and engaging, but it's nice to not talk shop and to get to know Swedish culture. I've started volunteering one night a month at the campus pub (just when I thought I was done herding drunk people....they pull me back in). I worked my first shift this past Thursday, and met some really kind locals. They've made me promise that I'll come out drinking this week, which might pose a problem as I have a group presentation Friday morning. Oh well!

Speaking of presentations, this week is chalk-full of them! Besides our group one on Friday, I'm also preparing for an individual one this Wednesday. I'm expected to explain (in 15 min) just what the hell sustainability IS, and how to utilize the Strategic Sustainable Development Framework that's been drilled into my head. Since the idea is that I'm supposed to be presenting to friends & family, expect an outline to appear on this blog shortly. I figure it will be a good way to inform everyone about what I'm studying, while helping me to prepare for the prez.

Otherwise, all is well in my world. I'm finding a delicate balance within all the craziness, and I'm feeling happy & healthy. My apartment is great, and I have 2 cool roommates. I'm skating to class while the weather is still nice, and I'm constantly stimulated by my schoolwork and the people that surround me.

Life is good.