Hannah

It's Valentine's Day and I'm single. So I decided to write this. All you single people out there. This is for you!

I'm not waiting around for a man to save me, because I'm happy where I am. I don't depend on a guy to validate me and I don't need to be anyone's baby. Is that so hard to understand? No, I don't need another half to make me whole.

Kisses and hugs and hearts on my nails

Hi!

As usual, the busier I get the more frequently I blog. So because I have five midterms next week I am obviously going to update my blog. Today I'm going to write about hugs.

But first I need to share this amazing song. Absolutely obsessed with it at the moment.

Hello there.

For those who don't know me, my name is Hannah. Originally from Sweden but now living in Vancouver, beautiful British Columbia. I moved across the world to be a student at University of British Columbia (UBC).

When I started this blog, my purpose was to share a bit of my life and my experiences with friends all over the world. 1 year, 4 months and 25 days ago I attended Imagine Day. I had a great time and now, I want to give back to the UBC community and make it possible for new UBC students to have just as a good time as I did. But we need you to make this happen... (Keep reading for more info).


At UBC, we have North America's biggest one-day orientation for incoming first-year, transfer and exchange students. We call it Imagine Day. By saying that it's big we really aren't exaggerating. There are approximately 7 000 students who attend Imagine Day.

A sunny UBC

"That's a lot of people," you may say to yourself. "How does an event of this size run smoothly?" Well, this day is made possible thanks to all the volunteering UBC students. There are more than 1 000 volunteers involved in Imagine Day!

I see what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Oh wow, that sounds absolutely amazing. I wish I could be a part of this day!" Guess what... you can!

Pep rally at Imagine Day

With this many students involved, you might wonder how Imagine Day works. All new UBC students are welcomed to Imagine Day, where they are divided into smaller groups of about 10 people. These people are led by a MUG leader. MUG simply means My Undergraduate Group. There are faculty specific MUG leaders, as well as International Welcome MUG leaders. Then there are a whole bunch of other people that are a vital part of this day running smoothly. They are the Squad Managers, EcoTeam and Welcome Team (description here).


"But Hannah... Why should I apply to be a MUG leader? Like, what does it mean? What's in it for me? What's the meaning of life? Why do some people not like pie?". Great questions, you! I'm going to attempt to answer them.

Why YOU should apply
Being a MUG leader is great. At least, this is what I've heard from everyone I know who has ever been one. Confession: I was never a MUG leader. So, in this section I've gotten some help from some friends that have shared their personal experiences with being involved during Imagine Day.

"I think the best part of my whole experience was the connection I made bringing people and places together. (...) I got to introduce students to new people, a new campus, and the many opportunities that they have here. Seeing the enthusiasm that these students had for UBC reminded me of how lucky I am to be here, and challenged me to do more in order to make the most of what time I have left"

"I have had the please of being a MUG leader 3 times now, each time even more exciting than the last! Getting to connect with the students prior to their arrival at UBC allows me to ease their minds a little before they arrive on campus in an absolutely frightened state (...) Being able to nudge these new-to-UBC students in the right direction is a pleasure and a feel-good experience. Especially when the day is capped off with the pep-rally (my favourite!)  

Some of the best moments I have had as a MUG leader are working with the other MUG leaders, reconnecting with my Muggies post-Imagine Day and seeing how well they have settled in (...) You don't have to be loud and crazy, just love UBC and be passionate about sharing your own experience."

"MUG Leading is amazing for several reasons:

1. Screaming.
2. The Pep Rally.
3. You feel very knowledgable.
4. You can tell your first years all the little-known cool things about campus that nobody knows about, and so they feel like they're in on something.
5. Face paint and you get a T-shirt
6. You have a lot of flexibility to make the role your own.
7. Screaming
8. Some of your first-years will think you're God-like."

2002? Us being adorable

2002 My sister was hipster before hipsters even existed

France 2002 Sister love. And mom. We love her too

                                                                               

2002 An early shot from her acting career. She's a tree

Pretty much the coolest person I know 2008

We have taken pictures together/of each other 2009

We sent each other roses on Valentine's Day 2010

We've been sad together 2010

We've been intellectual together 2011

We went to prom together 2011 (Photo belongs to Sofie Lärkhammar. Sorry for not asking if I could use it)

We graduated 2011

Allt fint i världen önskar jag dig på din tjugoårsdag. Det förtjänar du.

hi

Today is my 20th birthday. Which is exciting.

At first I thought that maybe I'd feel like that guy in The Metamorphosis. The guy that wakes up as a cockroach or something. That this morning when I'd wake up I would feel different. Like a changed person. I haven't transform from a human into vermin (thankfully), but I have transformed from a teenager to an... adult?

Truth to be told, just as all my other birthdays I feel exactly the same as the day before. I guess that change is more gradual.

Me and little sister, ca 2002

Me and little sister 2012

Look how much has changed in 10 years!

Anyway. I just want to take this chance to get really sappy and sentimental. I'm so thankful and grateful that I have such great family and friends. Big thank you to everyone who told me happy birthday (on Facebook, by text, in person, on Skype, etc). I adore you all and honestly don't know what I would do without so many wonderful friends and such a supporting family.

I'm just the luckiest person ever.

PS. To all of you freaking out about "getting old". Even if 20 is two decades, it's really not that old.

Just ending this post with one of my favorite songs

<3

Please patiently wait for me to get my act together and tell you all about my Italy trip. Actually. I will go and write that update right now. While I do that, please enjoy my four favorite songs of the week. 

Hey everyone!

A while since I last updated my blog, as usual. What has happened in my life since last time? I can't remember but probably a lot of exciting things. I took a walk last week I think, I might post some pictures of the pretty cherry blossoms in the future.

This post basically exists just to tell everyone that I, Hannah, is almost done with her first year at university! What?! A whole year? Yes. First year. Done. Finished. Gone. Of course there's still finals but... still!

I think I deserve a pat on the back, a big hug and maybe a pinched cheek or two.

Not one to come with empty promises, I will not promise you another update in the future. But that doesn't mean there won't be one. So keep an eye out if you want to read more of whatever is going on in my life.

(Happening right now: A freaking huge insect flying into my window multiple times. Exciting. And now, back to the post...)

I will leave you with a song I'm currently obsessed with.

Hey!

Today it's Valentine's Day! If you've met me you know that I absolutely love Valentine's Day.


It's just such a lovely day. I like that it's cheesy and tacky and commercialized. I like that people either love their darling or hate everyone (it's Single Awareness Day!) or hate everyone hating on Valentine's day or just being totally neutral. I like that people get so obsessed with this during this one particular day during the year. All in all, I think Valentine's Day is hilarious.

O maybe it's just because I love spreading love and liking other people and that is why this day makes me happy.


As you see I've done heart-themed nails in honour of this wonderful day. I was also wearing heart shaped earrings, a heart bracelet, pink socks and cardigan and lastly my "All you need is love" shirt.

So, summarizing: lots of kisses to all my friends and to my family who I miss very much on this particular day!

Much love,
Hannah

Hi!

Today's update has a Swedish theme. Below are some examples of Swedish things I miss/like

Hello!

What might have happened in the exciting life of Hannah you may ask? Well, not much. Most of the week I spent studying like the good student I am. But Friday afternoon, after we had taken our first Psychology midterm of the semester I decided to take a break.


So me and Kiki decided to go on an adventure, just as we always do when we hang out. Off we went, into the unknown wilderness. Emphasis on unknown because it was not exactly what would be considered wilderness. However, we did find a quaint little cluster of houses known as Fairview Residence, explored the posh Hampton Place (complete with a stroll through private property looking for Grandma Anita, she does make the most wonderful cookies) and finally ending up in Westbrook Village.

I had never visited Westbrook Village before Friday and I found it quite delightful (I'm writing in such a strange manner today). Me and Kiki inspected the whole "village" and when we saw something called Sail we were intrigued. So we went inside, and turned out it was a presentation something or another. Either way, we ended up looking at how future apartments will look like. We kinda wanted to get one.

My Friday night incredibly exciting since I started baking my sour dough. Making sour dough bread is a very long process. First you make the pre-dough. And then you let it rest for 12 - 20 hours.

Bread yummy yummy. No not done yet!

and may it be a good one.


Love to you all, thank you for being a part of my life.

(A summary/review of 2011 may be in process)

Much love,
Hannah

Hello!

What has life offered since the last update? The answer is "a lot"!

First of all, there were Finals. They were... there. And that is about all. They were not particularly fun but they still had to be done. My last Final was a Saturday at 8.30 am so I decided to stay the night on campus with my friend Kiki.

The next morning, at 7 am we thought it would be a good time to get breakfast. Unfortunately the world did not seem to think it was a good time for us. The cafeteria was closed so we headed to SUB. But when we got there it seemed like everything was closed too. So walked towards the Village we finally ended up at the Boulevard Café (which was where we were we chilled together last time). We had the most amazing breakfast there. It was a good day.

After the Final my love Becca picked me up. We made grilled cheese sandwiches and I learnt what these were. Then I hung around until dinner time and it was decided that I'd stay for dinner. Lucky that, since it was Becca and I that made the dinner. It was pretty yummy if I may say so myself.

After dinner (and dessert) I headed back to campus to celebrate my dear friend Natasha who was turning 18 the next day. Good times were had by all and then I slept over in Laura's room.


The next day, which was Sunday I first went to cousin Sarah's dance recital. It was awesome! After that I went home and waited for my fav girls Tung and Laura for a sleepover. We ate some delicious tomato soup and then we made gingerbread cookies. Cuddly times were had by all.

On Monday I went with Uncle Chris to my first Canucks game! It was super exciting and there were tons and tons of people there. Because I was there watching them play, they (of course) won! Go Canucks! 


Tuesday was another great day because I got to see my beloved Becca again. This time with the rest of her lovely crew of girls.

Wednesday night is a good night to go clubbing. So Laura, Claudia and I put on our fancy dresses and shoes, drank a glass (or so) of wine and headed downtown to Crystallize. We danced all night and had a great time. The night gets two thumbs up even though there were too many old creepy men and the guy to girl ration was not balanced.

Today, which is Thursday, was the day I started my shopping for the holidays. After some intense shopping I found Tung and Laura and together with their friends M and J we went for dinner at Café D'Lite. Yumyum.

Currently I'm sitting in Tung's living room chilling with my fav girls in our most relaxed outfits. Life is good. Tomorrow my family's arriving in Vancouver and I could not be more excited.

(Note: Amount of sleepovers in one week - 5. Pretty impressive I must say)

All in all, it's good to be back. Love to all. Happy holidays!

3 down. 2 to go.

there's no stopping us right now


5 days

Hi!

I had a really ambitious plan for this post. It was going to be grand and spectacular. But as Robert Burns so nicely put it,


A Tuesday: A birthday party

A Sunday: A celebration of the first of Advent with family and a friend. We made a traditional Swedish meal (meatballs, mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam) and glögg. It was a nice evening indeed.

A Thursday: One Acts Vanier. Good theatre

A Friday: Last day of classes. Time went unbelievably fast, it feels like I've barely been here. I was a part of the Lucia performance at UBC. After that: One Acts Totem. Also this night there was some amazing acting and directing. Then it was the last party (before finals).

Hi!

Gold CVC bananas