I’m excited because things are getting quite ready for the summer. Like, I actually managed to get my passport back in time. Like, I managed to get my suitcase packed. Like I managed to squeeze in a picnic with friends for lunch and a big dinner with another set of friends in the evening. Like, I managed to get spare keys and give instructions for those who’ll take over my place for the summer. Like, I managed to finish my last load of laundry, and make sure my place is somewhat clean for those who’ll be here this summer. Oh, and like I managed to even clean my bike so I can have it stored in my apartment for while I’m gone. And after all the late night visits and so, now I’m actually ready for a summer at home!

 Today I learned that fruit salad can be a very fascinating thing. You don’t think so? Well, I didn’t either. But my visitors (for whom I had made the salad) were thinking quite along those lines, because as soon as the salad was ready they all snatched their cameras, gathered around the bowl with the salad, and snapped away. And I? I grabbed my camera as well. Not because of the fruit salad. But to take a picture of them taking pictures. So, you see, fruit salad can be a very fascinating thing indeed!

I made an exciting discovery the other day. There’s actually something like an ant farm you can buy to watch ants. Sounds boring to you? Trust me, I thought the same before I knew of this, but after I laid eyes on the “Ants Working Place” (yes, they use the literal translation for this, although they should’ve actually translated it into “ant factory”), I was captivated in no time. You see, their job is to dig tunnels into the pink jelly, and you’re supposed to be able to watch them do this. And, I mean, what is there more exciting than watching a couple of non-digging ants running all over the place, kissing each other (or was that biting?), eating up the sugar we fed them, and, well …, not digging holes? I was fascinated. But I also have a theory. After discovering that these ants were not in the least inclined to dig at all, and taking into consideration that these ants were plucked from a tree, I developed the theory that tree-inhabiting ants …

It’s raining again. And that is always good news. Why? Because when it rains, I can actually open my window and keep it open for a while. Not that I couldn’t do that on sunny days as well. But you see, with all the dust and pollution in the air, opening your windows usually comes with a risk. Yes, you may actually be able to get some of the bad smells coming from the bathroom under control, but at the same time you’re opening the flood gates for a dust invasion. And with the poor air quality we’ve been having around here, others might consider opening a window flat out dangerous. And in any case it’s a rather sketchy exchange, switching one for the other, I mean. And that’s why rainy days come in handy. Because on rainy days the rain gives the air a bath so to speak, washing it clean (that’s my theory) and what actually will come in through your window is, in fact, fresh air. Sounds like a deal, right? Off …

Something exciting happened today. Well, something like this isn’t usually exciting. Actually usually it’s rather boring. But if you’ve seen my recent post “Some Dreadful News” you know that having to go get our visas processed is some really exciting news, because there’s hope that I might actually be able to travel home this summer as planned. That is, if I can get my passport (including residence permit) back on time. But today we got to take the first step at least, and with that, at least one part of this huge hurdle has been taken. And now, another wait begins …   By the way, you must forgive the bad quality of this photo. I wasn’t going to draw the attention of any of the guards when trying to take this pic (you don’t want to get into trouble with that department when you depend on them getting you your passport back on time). So, I tried to be as sneaky about it as I could, hence a really quick snapshot!

Here’s what should never happen to you: receiving an urgent email telling you you can’t leave before July 15th when you just bought your plane ticket two days ago, booking a flight which leaves some time mid June. That’s bad news. But guess what. Exactly this is happening to me. Why? Because we just found out that our residential permits won’t allow us to leave any earlier. And well, I’m curious how we are going to get out of this mess. And I’m definitely curious when I’m going to be leaving for home this year!

  Picture this scene: I’m in the lobby having a meeting with a visitor when my phone rings. Thinking to myself how impolite it is  to answer, I still pick up the phone, and it’s my friend, panic stricken: Sula! Your home is on fire! Me (turning around to look out of the glass front of the lobby): What are you talking about? Then I see a big black cloud of smoke rising from the front of the building. I’m starting to feel a little concern for the family living above me and whatever construction work is going on on the roof of the building. So, I turn to my friend on the phone and say: No, that’s not my home. Looks like something on the roof is on fire. Friend: No! It’s your home! Your home is on fire! And as people start to panic, and workers begin to yell – Fire! Everyone out! Everyone out! – I begin to realize that … maybe my friend is right. Maybe I should go and check …