I’ve been in stand-by mode in Sweden since the end of March with still about five weeks to go until I pack my bags again… My days here look fairly the same with main focus on university. I’m studying for an exam in economy and researching for the bachelor thesis as well as preparing for another summer in Kosovo. I have planned tons of interesting, challenging and fun things - columns to write, people to meet, places to see, situations to conquer.

I figured, since this blog will be filled with nothing but Kosovo-related topics in a couple of weeks, find below what a young European life can look like inbetween adventures, stuck in a vacuum of time in a nordic country with lots of interesting history and things to see. Here is a glimpse of a highly temporary young existence, not ready to settle down with no patience to stand still.

Spring finally came to the Linnaeus University campus. In the background is the Student Union Building.

I briefly met my little brother for a martini - he is surfing between adventures as well with the “bohemian/homeless person/old Londoner gentleman’s club/business man”-look going on.

The Växjö Cathedral has a very intense red-orange color.

Our common childhood friend came to visit. I’ve known him for 15 years and  I took the best portrait photo I’ve ever managed to take of someone. I absolutely love this shot.

We visited the city of Kalmar located about 1½ hour from where we live. Kalmar fortress, first built in 1280, has played an important role in Swedish history – the Kalmar Union was formed here, established by Queen Margaret of Denmark, uniting Sweden, Norway and Denmark under only one monarch between 1397 and 1523.

Cannons still up and running… or, at least it looks that way.

Jas is inspecting the property. Everything seems under control.

Öland island is located just outside Kalmar. A 6 km long bridge connects the island and the main land. Above is what is left of Borgholm Castle, first built as a fortress in the 12th century but destroyed in a fire on October 14th 1806.

The windmill is the trademark of Öland island.

Genta travelled up north from Malmö to visit me a few days. It was Genta I featured in “The young music and lyrics of Kosovo” in my column Young Kosovo – behind the scenes. Linneaus University is named after Swedish botanist Carl von Linné.

When Genta came into my room she found all my Kosovo-stuff… books, flags, pictures, maps…

More and more convinced each day that it was worth spending half a fortune on a decent camera.

Jas makes sure that no one forgets that he is the baby in the family. Genta is wearing a plis, a traditional Albanian hat, worn by men as part of the traditional Albanian clothing.

We went to an Albanian party. I could count the amount of Swedish people on one hand. We danced valle to Albanian music and after dancing five hours straight and bleeding feet it was time to go home.

Gustaf Adolfs Torg, Malmö.

We strolled around, did some window shopping and drank coffee at a pavement café before heading to the opera house.

The Malmö Opera Orchestra and the Music Academy where Genta studies cooperated to perform a spring concert at the opera house.

May 10th 2010, Malmö, 06:30am. Spring is here.

Photo courtesy: Anna Wiman.

Those of you who have read the annawiman.com personal blog since the start-up in March 2007 also know that I stopped contributing to it in January 2009. Feels like a very long time ago! I stopped for various reasons, I didn’t feel inspired and didn’t have the urge to share at the time.

2009 was  filled with new experiences, new things learned, love, frustration, death, thoughtfullness, self-discovering. It’s amazing how the getting to know oneself never stops. I really don’t know how I would have put 2009 on “paper” if I would have decided to keep the blog alive throughout the year. It is a fact that blogging is sharing. It is also a fact that not all things in life are sharable.

The new annawiman.com blog will still be a personal blog with the huge difference between being personal and being private clearly marked. The site structure might change a bit in the future, but for now it is mainly just a blog set up as a forum for the happenings of my everyday life and my writing.

I don’t have 2010 planned out yet but I am excited about the opportunities and new experiences that I am sure are waiting for me out there. I will try to share some of it here. If somebody asks me to describe my expectations on 2010 with one word, it would be “independence”.

Cartoon courtesy: toothpastefordinner.com.