News from September 29th

I didn't bake the pie. (Flo could relate to this difficulty at finding things to cook abroad!)

Besides there being 9 different types of butter at the store (each labeled "smör"), Malin does not have a pastry cutter, the same temperatures on her oven, or a pie pan (she bakes with tissue paper stuffed into a metal cookie tin). I'm trying to figure out how I can do a test pie. Malin just wanted me to use her recipe this weekend and bake it with an oatmeal crust, but I wanted to try something AMERICAN, that I know how to make. It's not special for them if it's what they eat all the time! Arg. It feels that I am in the way in the kitchen here, but it's just that I don't know that I know how to cook Swedish things.

They do want American pancakes, though. But I don't have any mix or recipes here. Any ideas???

I have Kickboxing tonight and tomorrow, intensiv aerobics Wednesday, and maybe Spinning Thursday. I'll run every day this weekend at Jordö with Malin (we run the island together, and then jump into the sea - it's freezing!!!) or kayaking. Hopefully I will get sick of Malin's food and Start! cereal (with is just like Honey Bunches of Oats Jst Bunches) so I can start to drop some weight again. But probably not.

By law, they use only first names for teachers here, so I am still just LeAnn at school, even at Tae Kwon Do. My supervisor is dumb as a box of rocks! She just sent me a message asking me where I want to teach again. At this rate, it will take me weeks to get my teaching cleared with the university!

Haha, Malin and I cleaned house today and she found a couple hairs in the sink drain. She thought they were Gunnars! They might have been mine. HAHAHA! It was so funny. I didn't correct her. Malin, sorry again, if you are reading this now. I tried really hard to keep things clean.

You want to hear something funny about Sweden? They are really open with nudity. Last week, we were all sitting in front of the TV having coffee, and Gunnar flipped to a channel featuring a nudist festival - they were doing orienteering, yoga, races, and cooking nude - ON TV! Of course, Gunnar pointed out that it was in Finland, but I made sure to note that they were speaking SWEDISH. Oh, and I just learned that they have a nude beach at Jordö. Not like it matters, because Malin and Maria change into their swimsuits right out in the open on the beach anyway. Haha. So funny. Malin suggested that I let them take a 17th-century, mermaid on a rock-type picture at Jordö. Apparently their Japanese student took one home to prove that nude beaches do exist here. I think you can take my word for it.

I can't wait for the package!!! thank you for all your help!!!I have to go to the store now and get some dish soap and milk.

Bye!Love,LeAnn