akberglund

Summer was back today, should have jumped in the lake. Oh well, maybe tomorrow is just as nice!

Trying to learn how to fly fish in Wyoming. It got better.

Jackson Hole

The Grand Teton

Lander

I cannot only blame it on technology problems, but that is definately one of trhe biggest reasons for the extreem delay on updates. Since I am officialy graduating thses days, I no longer have a NMU laptop, so I am computerless. We also lost internet in our appartment over a week ago, and before that we had a major storm/tornado that resulted in a 4 day power outage.

I had my last day of my internship today. It has been an interesting and motivating summer and I have learned a lot. I have also made some great frineds that I hope I will stay in touch with.

The last few weeks Grace and I helped our Human Rights director with editing of a paper she was writing for UNIFEM. It turned out great, and it was a really cool project to be a part of.

I also did my lobbying in Congress for our FGM project this past tuesday. Matt and I went to the offices of 16 different members of Congress. It was really cool, and we got to speak directly with two members. Bachman from Minnesota (teaparty bachman) and Honda from California. One congresswoman have already decided to cosponsor the bill because of our visit. Great experience!

I have had program events at the state department and World bank, I finished my portfolio.

I did many more cool things, but the trash is right outside of the computer room, and I might throw up if I sit here any longer.

Tomorrow I am heading to Wyoming...

Not this past weeken but the weekend before, 9 people on my moms side of the family completed Vansbrosimmet. This is a 3k (almost 2 mile) swimrace in a river in Sweden, it is sort of the Swedish Swimming version of the Birkie. There are different startgrops but about 6,000 swimmers finished the long race (there are also shorter versions). I was signed up to participate in the race as well, but since I am in the States, that didn't happen. All my relatives, aunt, uncle, inlaw uncle, parents, brother, and cousins did extreemly well and their times differed with as little as 22 minutes. Congrats to cousin Lina who won the family race, next year might be even tighter, and harder competition. I know at least aunt Brita and I are planning to be on the line next year, but I am hoping for a few more additions.



No one would have been more entertained by the Swimming race than mormor. 


Other than that, I visited with staff from congressman Delahaunt's (Massachusets, and chair of the European Subcommittee) office. Very interesting.


Today we listened to a global womens panel, also very interesting.


Thusrday I went biking with the bikegroup from the week before. Turned out I had gotten a little to confident a little too soon. I had no chance when they took off after a red light after just ten minutes. But as I was finishing my ride I saw them again and the size of the group had decreased by over half. That made me feel a little bit better.

I stole this one from mom, my favorite shed has new a color and the windmill now has company by a solarpanel. Maybe the reading litght works more then 5 minutes these days. I would do a lot for a night in the shed, breathing fresh and crispy Swedish summer night air (although I know it is very warm there as well right now)

Before the 4th of July fireworks at the National Mall

 
The fireworks





 Mountainbiking

Sorry its been a while. My days here are just not long enough.

The past week has been HOT and HUMID, like 36'C or 96'F however you prefer it. No matter what scale that is warm. I feel so bad for all guys who wears full suits all day. On the metro a few days ago in I stood next to the sweatiest guy (not working out) I have ever seen, he leaned agains a window and when he left sweat was dripping down the glass, he was so miserable and embarrased, poor thing.


Thursday we visited the Indonesian embassy, that was interesting and fun. The pictures above is from that visit.

Work is good.

This morning I went on a 85km or 53 mile bike ride, much needed and my knee felt good. Maybe a shorter but faster ride tomorrow morning.

Today Grace, my roomates and I explored downtown. We went to a quiet and uneventful folkfestival, then a more successful trip to the National American History Museum. Grace Kayla and I then went on to a bbq festival kind of thingy where there was lots of free sampling food and music.

Dad, biked Vatternrundan today, he did well. I'm gonna have to do it one day, although 180 miles on a bike in one day seems pretty far.



Today, as I believe the whole world might have has seen, the Swedish crown princess got married. I spoke to mom, she and neighboor Karin was eating their traditional Surstromming and watching the wedding reception. I am not necessarily a monarchist, but I like princess Victoria. She is down to earth, working on important issues in her job as a diplomat and is marrying a "normal" guy from Bettans hometown. I kind of wished I would have been in Sweden so I could have wittnessed this crazyness today.



Also, the events I went on on Thursday was really interesting, heartbreaking and inspiring again. As was the second gathering about the FGM issue. It is hard to understand how so many horrible things can go on in the world. I do however belive that everyone is good in nature and none of these things are going on because people are internally cruel, it is traditions and culture who guide much beahvior and in many cases, one would be rejeced from their society if they would not participate (even if the whole society secretely might be agianst whats going on).

The whole appartment went out last night. Coolest thing that happened was the "fit bar" named funxion, all the drinks were supposedly heathly and included only fresh ingredients and the "finest"alcohol. I tried a watermelon, ginger, cinnamon drink. Interestin and refreshing.

Today I spent most of the day trying to summarize some African court cases regarding the inheritance of land by a widow when her husband dies. It was interesting, and the first case and a half went pretty smoothly, it was written on computer, then the challenge started. The judgment that the court had ruled and the basis for it was written by hand and copied. It might have been the worst handwriting I have ever seen (except for the next case that I might try after this one, but that one might be impossible). By the end of the day I was pretty good and, I think I have figured out about 75% of the words, but in order to fully understand I need all of them. Its like a crossword/wordfind.


Yesterday I attended a conference on Islamic femenism, it was represenattives from many Islamic countries (Morcco, Iran, Tunis, Egypt and Turkey to name a few) who talked about womens loss and gains of status in their respective countries. It was super interesting and I learned a lot. I wish I had time to summarize all notes. One example, before some quite recent reforms in Turkey a man could get away with rape if he married the victim!!!! An important discussion was of the importance of changing the status of women through local governments, through Islam and by supporting Islamic/ Arabic women AND men working for equal rights. I learned so much and it was very interesting being at a conference full of scolars/professors and interns.


Tomorrow I am hopefully going to a shorter conference where two Afghani women currently working in the Afghani government are speaking. After work I am attending a lecture held by Amnesty International where a woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo is speaking about victims of sexual violence.


The porch at home in Sweden. I like it here but one thing I miss is having summer dinners with the family on the porch.

I am really struggeling with not having training as my first priority anymore, and I am trying to get at least a short but fast run + some core in most days, however this is a once in a lifetime 10 week experience and I am sure that after 19 years if skiing, I will be back in action quite fast if I want to.

Pappa,  I just realized that I have no idea wheter have you done vatternrundan yet or if it is this coming weekend?

We have to do a civil engagement project while we are in DC. There is a project on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) put on by one of the International Affairs advisors that I have decided to do. Today the practice is illegal in the United States, however, it is still not illegal to transport minor girls abroad and have it done there. We are trying to convince congress to pass a part of The Girls protection act that makes this illegal, an act proposed by two congressmen. We are about 30 students working on this at the moment and I think this will be very interesting and engaging to me. We watch a movie about it last Friday. I volunteered to be one of the organizers for this project.

Yesterday, my whole suit slept in, then Kelli (one of my roommates) and I took the Metro downtown to explore the city. We were tourists for a day and looked at many of the monuments and the White house. Then at night we met up with our roommate Kayla and went to Dupont Circle and watched the pride parade, a very interesting and happy event.

Me in front of the White house




The Washington monument




WW2 memorial looking over the reflection pool towards Lincoln memorial.




I like this picture, it is at the WW2 memorial, water can be pretty.




Lincoln memorial




Lots of people at the pride parade

 Me and roomates Kelli and Kayla out for dinner.

After sleeping in this morning, I went for a 2 hour bike ride in what apperently is the biggest in-city park in the US; it goes by just a 5 minute bike from my apartment. I met a nice biker who showed me the places to go. I went pretty hard, and it felt so good to be moving.  After lunch, Kelli and I relaxed by the pool and worked on out tans for a while before I got into homework mode.