Today I received some dreadful news. Chris Hatton, one of my oldest and best friends from back home in Swaziland, took his own life last night. My heart is broken in so many ways I can't count them all. On Facebook, his profile and memory-group has been flooded with heartfelt messages from literally hundreds of people. And it breaks my heart to see how someone who was loved by so many spent a life suffering so much that he could not find a reason to continue living. Someone who was so passionate and genuine, who cared for and was cared for by so incredibly many people around him. Chris, you were always a ray of sunshine in my day-to-day life in Swaziland. I will always remember sharing ear-phones as we listened to music on the bus-rides to school, writing fantastic and morbid stories to each other during class, not listening to a word the teachers said as we amused ourselves with our own random chatter, horse-rides across Hawane, afternoons in your swimming pool, evenings in the gazebo, and you harassing everyone around us with your damn Harry Potter books..! You were a joy to have around and I am truly blessed to have had the honour of having you play such a big role in my life. I never told you times enought that I loved you. Chris, my darling, I hope you've finally found some peace. And I know that, like always, you'll always be around, somewhere, smiling.
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
In loving memory
Today I received some dreadful news. Chris Hatton, one of my oldest and best friends from back home in Swaziland, took his own life last night. My heart is broken in so many ways I can't count them all. On Facebook, his profile and memory-group has been flooded with heartfelt messages from literally hundreds of people. And it breaks my heart to see how someone who was loved by so many spent a life suffering so much that he could not find a reason to continue living. Someone who was so passionate and genuine, who cared for and was cared for by so incredibly many people around him. Chris, you were always a ray of sunshine in my day-to-day life in Swaziland. I will always remember sharing ear-phones as we listened to music on the bus-rides to school, writing fantastic and morbid stories to each other during class, not listening to a word the teachers said as we amused ourselves with our own random chatter, horse-rides across Hawane, afternoons in your swimming pool, evenings in the gazebo, and you harassing everyone around us with your damn Harry Potter books..! You were a joy to have around and I am truly blessed to have had the honour of having you play such a big role in my life. I never told you times enought that I loved you. Chris, my darling, I hope you've finally found some peace. And I know that, like always, you'll always be around, somewhere, smiling.
Friday, 25 June 2010
WK Reunion 2010
Off to Swaziland for the Waterford Kamhlaba reunion. Will be fun to see all the oldies again.. :)
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Life in perspective
As I woke up this morning I was struck by an incredible thankfulness. Wow - I live a blessed life. I have never needed anything that I couldn't get. Of course there have been things I may have wanted, shallow things I may have desired, but there has never been a point in my life when I needed to be fed. When I needed to be clothed. When I needed anything.
When I look out over Maputo I see people who have to fight for all those things I have always taken for granted. Shoes? I've got hundreds. School? I'm sick of it. Food? Nah, not hungry. Computer? Yeah, I want a Mac - the one that costs 2000€. Holiday? I want to go to the World Cup before I go to Australia. And when I go down to the market here in Maputo I still have the nerve to barter with the ladies over whether I should pay 30c or 40c for her tomatoes, because that's just how it's done here. What difference does 10c make me? Whereas for her, getting 10c more for every tomato she sells today will mean that she's able to afford rent at the month. Our lack of perspective sometimes is frightening.
So my thought for today is thankfulness. Nothing I ever did gave me more of a right to have received the more fortunate life. Still, I wake up every morning to a beautiful home, loving parents who would take down the stars for me, Swedish citizenship that gives me free education and money every month, and a life that has never left anything to be desired.
I am thankful.
When I look out over Maputo I see people who have to fight for all those things I have always taken for granted. Shoes? I've got hundreds. School? I'm sick of it. Food? Nah, not hungry. Computer? Yeah, I want a Mac - the one that costs 2000€. Holiday? I want to go to the World Cup before I go to Australia. And when I go down to the market here in Maputo I still have the nerve to barter with the ladies over whether I should pay 30c or 40c for her tomatoes, because that's just how it's done here. What difference does 10c make me? Whereas for her, getting 10c more for every tomato she sells today will mean that she's able to afford rent at the month. Our lack of perspective sometimes is frightening.
So my thought for today is thankfulness. Nothing I ever did gave me more of a right to have received the more fortunate life. Still, I wake up every morning to a beautiful home, loving parents who would take down the stars for me, Swedish citizenship that gives me free education and money every month, and a life that has never left anything to be desired.
I am thankful.
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Mozambican winter
Sitting on the veranda and enjoying the "winter". Haha everyone here is complaining that it's cold - but it's 24 degrees! This winter is warmer than the summer I left behind in Sweden, it's ridiculous. I'm running around in a tshirt and getting strange looks from the others who are wearing polo-sweaters.
Damn Swede.. ;)
Damn Swede.. ;)
Monday, 21 June 2010
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Farewell party
Had the most awesome farewell party yesterday - was so nice to have so many people show up! After a looong afternoon in the park, some of us went on to Tröls, then Debaser, and then the final 3 champions had a grand finale down at the beach and watched the sunrise.. :) Beaches and beer.. Thank you everyone for a fantastic evening!
x
x
Monday, 24 May 2010
Confirmation of Enrolment
The eCOE came about 24 hours after I sent the Acceptance of Offer form. Fantastic. The courses I will be reading are:
On the down-side, when I applied for my visa I was asked if I had lived in any other countries during the last 5 years - which I have, I lived in Swaziland until 3 years ago. So I was told that I was required to undergo a chest x-ray as well as a medical examination as part of my application. GAH!
The x-ray cost 500 kr, the examination cost 1500 kr, the blood-test cost 200 kr, and shipping the whole package to Berlin cost 150 kr. And then the visa itself cost a whopping 3600 kr..
So now I'm broke.
- KIB338: Print Media
- KVB104: Photomedia And Artistic Practice
- KIB104: Digital Media
- KIB101: Visual Communication
On the down-side, when I applied for my visa I was asked if I had lived in any other countries during the last 5 years - which I have, I lived in Swaziland until 3 years ago. So I was told that I was required to undergo a chest x-ray as well as a medical examination as part of my application. GAH!
The x-ray cost 500 kr, the examination cost 1500 kr, the blood-test cost 200 kr, and shipping the whole package to Berlin cost 150 kr. And then the visa itself cost a whopping 3600 kr..So now I'm broke.
Friday, 7 May 2010
Letter of acceptance!
Dear Anna,Congratulations! You have been successful in your application for admission to QUT. Please find attached your official letter of offer and Acceptance of Offer form.
Awesome! Have filled in the Acceptance of Offer form.. now anxiously waiting for the Confirmation of Enrolment :)
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Google Maps
Google Maps is golden. Have already taken a street-view tour of Brisbane, my university campus and have even checked out the house of the guy who will be hosting us the first few days when we arrive! Seeing everything in an interactive map is way fun.. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
