The new year is here again

Another year has gone and a new year is here.

Years just pass. Yesterday, I was doing some mathematic questions and the last time I learnt them, I was 17. It has been 24 years since I touched a mathematic question. I could not remember the formulas. Time goes and I was 20, then 30 and now 40.

In 2024, I did not do anything special. I did not learn how to ski. I did not learn how to swim in the open sea. I don't think I will be pursuing any of those. I decided that I will study again instead for a change in my career. I wanted to do something totally different. I took night classes and studied Society Knowledge, a compulsory subject that all students here need to study and pass. I passed with an A. It was in Swedish too. I was damn proud of myself. I learnt a lot from this subject, but unfortunately, I could not apply for my desired program because the university parked me in a category where they have never weighed in the applicants - Other applicants. What a joke. The next alternative is to take the high school exam where students here take if they don't get sufficient points after school. Hence, my need to learn mathematics again. Thankfully, I love maths but the language in Swedish does not make it easier for me. Heck, I learnt maths in Malay Language! Not even English. The high school exam includes language questions. My Swedish comprehension is nowhere near advanced level. When I tried some of the questions, I was dumbfounded by the words that I have never seen before.

Oh boy, studying is going to be challenging. But I am going to do it. Because I am not going to live in 'what-ifs'. Because I want to do something different and relevant, where AI cannot replace. I am not going to give up. 

2025 will be the year if I make a change in my career. To study instead. When I moved here, I was keen to find a job. I learnt Swedish and dammit, I got a job. I became financially independent, my goal achieved. I am now ready to get out of my comfort zone again. I am not afraid to start again because that is what I did when I moved to Sweden. I know how it felt. I went through it and I know I am ready to start from bottom again. 

Tastebud : Lindbergs Stenugnsbageri

30 December 2024

We went on a short getaway somewhere in the middle of Sweden. It was a 2-hours' drive from Stockholm. Along the way, we stopped at Östhammar town where we had lunch at Lindbergs Stenugnsbageri (stone oven bakery). They had affordable and delicious lunch! So happy as lunch prices in Stockholm are crazy high!

We were at this place twice - first time on the way to our getaway and the second time on the way back from our getaway. I had ceasar salad for SEK149 the first time and peppar-spiced salmon with potato gratin for SEK115. Also, all meals include brewed coffee (and refill!) and bread. SO GOOD, right?!

Ceasar salad

Peppar-spiced salmon with warm potato gratin. What a huge portion for SEK115!

Tastebud : Indochine

20 December 2024

Lunch with colleagues today. Lunch deal at Indochine in Hagastaden. SEK145 for my pokebowl salmon. Tasty and I was full, so I am satisfied. Lunch prices are so expensive. Once upon a time, lunch was SEK99 when I moved here in 2017. This is 7 years later and 50% higher. Wow. My lunch includes a bowl of miso soup without seaweed and a cup of green tea. Not the green matcha tea, though.

Tastebud : Shere Khan

19 December 2024

Indian food for dinner at Shere Khan. We decided to have different cuisine before the Christmas food. I booked through The Fork app and I got 30% discount for the ala carte dishes but excluding bread. The discount is not applicable to drinks or set menu. We had water only. I don't order drinks during my meals as I am not accustomed to drinking while eating. I grew up drinking water after meals.

We shared chicken biryani for SEK215 (paid SEK150,50) and a vegetarian curry (Nirmisha) for SEK199 (paid SEK139,30). We were unsure of the amount of rice but each of us got a rice portion with our meals. Since we did not know beforehand, we ordered a naan bread for SEK30 and a garlic naan bread for SEK35. I enjoyed the bread the most. It woud have been great to have more curry sauce in the dishes. There was nothing exceptional in the food as the taste is familiar to me. 

The vegetable curry.

The chicken biryani.

Musical play - A Christmas Carol

15 December 2024

Today, I did a volunteer activity for a musical play, A Christmas Carol at Folkopera for Kompis Sverige. I loved the play! All the Christmas songs that were joyful, the colourful costumes, the scenes as read in the book and watched on television - and it was performed in English. I enjoyed myself so much! Definitely a perfect way to welcome Christmas and to end the year. My heart was filled with joy after the show. So grateful for the opportunity to get to see this live.