Lost in Linkoping Woods

Scattered sunlight as the woods grow deeper. I've been walking for a while now and feel as though I've left the city behind. A sheep track pooled with water imprinted in the ground. Tall elegant trees soar into the skyline. Should I sit and sketch, i wonder, no...I couldn't even begin to do it justice. Should I head back yet? I check the time: 16, and it gets dark at 20...I can wait one more hour and enjoy the fresh breeze and the grass brushing cooly against my toes. A blue beetle's belly shines like a sapphire laying in the mud. Onwards still, there are horse tracks and interlacing striations left by mountain bikes. Should I turn now? I wander still further to take a photo through the maze of trees before turning.

The road less travelled is a long one...

Revisiting Flash Mob Day

Oh dear, we have a late start again today. I had gone into town to visit the market stalls and some fabric shops. (and the second hand store once more). The lady at the fabric store was quite nice and very patient as she explained the prices in English for me. I ended up selecting 1 meter of a brilliant purple with bright metallic flowers. I didn't know what to choose in the yarn shops so i made my way to the second-hand shop where I made the rest of my purchases and spent the rest of my time. After deciding no on an expensive vintage french dress I selected an inexpensive belt and a ball of yarn for my sister. I was running late so I biked as fast as I could and out of breath, I knocked on K.'s door only to be greeted by a bleary-eyed-just-woken-up K. and O., her boyfriend, had decided to stay in and work, and K. decided to pick up groceries after taking me to IKEA for the flash-mob, but in the end decided to join me in participating. We had a bit of confusion after we ran to the bus-stop...we had missed the 1st bus, but in the end waited for the free bus. We rode anxiously hoping we would be in time for the Mob. We rushed to find the home-furnishings department when we got there. Luckily we saw some people in the beds and as we looked we saw more and more until finally we found an empty spot and joined in for a short while. Some people chose interesting locations. Tables, bunks, desks even to sleep on and the strangest was a kid who decided to sleep in a bin of panda-bears!!! After this I went with K. to the super-market which was also in this extra large shopping center. She picked out essentials and I picked out things with cute packaging. Some Gevalia coffee, Chocolate filled cookies and swedish crackers. both of us had the hardest time deciding on everything.

While K. went back to her corridor to rest and study I continued to shop. I went EVERYWHERE! eventually cycling back (not literally, i just walked in a big circle) to IKEA and buying a small sized french press to make the coffee I had just bought. I wandered to the other centers and spent quite a bit of time just walking around the enormous center. Eventually I returned "home", ate a bit, and rode the bike out. I tried to find the college, but confused and lost, i turned back and headed downtown. I parked and chained "my" bike and walked about. I thought to go to the park and walked past a procession of tuxedo and formal-wear-clad swede graduates. They noisily proceeded past, leaving a litter of champagne bottles and glasses all the way back to the park. I debated on taking one of the empty glasses, but someone beat me to it, so I walked on and photographed a beautiful array of chandeliers hanging in glass baubles in the park. back and forth and deeper into the park I saw an Idilic greenhouse and happened upon a tower on a rocky hill. I peered inside and it looked to be a cafe. But the times of operation were not displayed. I sat down later in the chair outside the now closed-for the day greenhouse restaurant. Then I received a call from K. to go to dinner at a student bar and restaurant. I hurry back and we get ready, but after choosing a seat we are turned down, the place is closed for dinner, but the bar would be open later. K. was a bit dejected and disappointed, but be ended up finishing the day with a lovely meal that oliver had made and wrapping up the evening.

The Bike Incident

I rode on the back of K's bike that day. We wobbled and laughed until we made it all the way to the downtown after the days shopping we tried again. I thought I had it down. My feet barely touching the frame for balance, one hand on the frame and one hand on K's shoulder. But suddenly the spokes nabbed my shoe and tangled it in...I unwedged it and we tried it again. It wasn't much further before i wedged both my foot and shoe in the spokes. After detaching myself I began to bleed profusely, but I smiled and walked. I couldn't let it get me down and plus it didn't hurt that badly anyway! We walked the rest of the way back for dinner. Little did I know but it was going to hurt much more the next day.

First day in Linkoping

K. woke later in the morning but we still went downtown even though the plan had called for going earlier. Our first stop was the second-hand shop. It was amazing! I tried out a few things and settled on a lacy dress and a small leather satchel.

Though I wanted to keep looking we left for the interest of time.

Next stop--Ice-cream!

Simply the best flavor ever, a Swedish creme chocolate and banana scoop for me and a peppermint and creme/choco-banana for K.

We walked to the Cathedral to eat them and then to the park where we lay out on the fresh green grass. collapsing with joy under the bright blue sky after we finished the ice-cream. A few modelesque guys stood in the distance and I snapped some photos before we wandered into the green house. Flower filled photos ensued. We walked down the main shopping street and got distracted by several home decor shops. And i nearly bought a "poo" plushie keychain but figured I'd wait for stockholm before purchasing any souvenirs.

More wandering and we returned home to eat.

Though it was an absolute downpour, I wanted to get some more sightseeing in so I cycled to the town again, but on my own so K. could get a chance to study. When I reached the downtown the downpour turned to hail and among others I took shelter from the pelting ice under an awning, but i wondered, how long would i have to stay under here? Impatient, I began to move from covering to covering until I found somewhere to go. I missed the closing times for several shops but pressed on. If nothing else I could find the stores I wanted to visit next time and see some architecture. I was quite lost! but I thankfully wandered back to the bike again (after stumbling through two grocery stores) and pedalled back before dark. Dinner with K. (I made baked potatoes in the microwave) and I proceeded to update my facebook photos for the rest of the evening. Though I worked late into the night, some would still have to wait.

I wasn't quite so lucky...

on my LHR>ARL flight. Middle aged man who read Tom Clancy or snored the entire way back...though I was kind of out of it too...I wedged my head into the nook between the seat and window several different ways in order to try and rest a bit. This is the time I'm supposed to be awake!--i thought--but could barely hold my head up to eat my chicken-salad club sandwich and cola.

_ the Bus Driver is Scaring me!!!_

They give the Bus lane the least room on the road here...out of all the lanes...

Arrival in Arlanda

It feels like it's time to reflect now. It feels also very strange yet easy traveling on my own. Everything is quick and fast and there's no one around...it almost feels like I am in the wrong place or there at the wrong time, but I am also deeply confident that things are going ok. For example--customs. A couple quick questions *stamp* and Im on my way again. Baggage was super easy--thanks to my awesome rust-orange hiking bag~! (side note- I saw a guy who looked like a prada model, gorgeous and tall and wtih a metro style like none i'd seen, a heather purple tee and tan walking shorts with sperrys). the bus people and swebus were super super nice! Even when the paper barcode didn't scan, she told me "everything is in order" and just let me on.

Now about my new friend from Costa Rica: I was pleasantly surprised when a stylish handsome guy i had spotted in the airport terminal turned out to be both my seatmate and a genuine and nice person. We talked on and off about our plans, spanish, and traveling in general. He is going back to Helsinki (where he had studied at in the past) to ask his girl a very important question , in other words he will propose!, and i wish him the best of luck. I hope we meet again :)

Keeping true to my Promise of Being Social

I’ve made friends with both my seatmate to Dallas and a personable and friendly Costa Rican guy heading to Helsinki. I liked talking to the woman, Ellen. We talked for the entire flight. We talked about travel—my trip...and hers to visit her son in L.A., Her time as a teacher in the peace core. I told her about my sister wanting to join. Then we talked for quite a while about closed-mindedness...our own and the helpless feeling watching/listening to locals in Springfield who are so content not to wander past the city or state boundaries. In the movie I watched later, the character called these Americans “Freedom Fry Americans.” It made me laugh a little and think. The movie made me think about loving a life without regrets. About the rare chance for things like true love. I don’t have the time nor need to feel regret for myself nor others. I have to go...to see...to hear...to touch...to feel..to love and never let go. Forever love. I think of Colt then for a while.

Time unknown...

Trouble in the Terminal!

I recently recieved a call from priceline.com informing me that my flight was cancelled! Fortunately, and wtih a deep sigh of releif on my part, it was the flight on the 3rd and not today's. I followed a lengthy call process through both Priceline's and British Airway's India call centers to find that no flights were available earlier than 3pm departure which means I would arrive at 5:15, missing the check-in and tours! I called Aleks at AIU. She assured me that it would be OK. I felt releived, but am now debating taking that extra early flight so I will feel more relaxerd in London upon arrival--still to be decided then... I then began to settle down only to find that I had not rememvered my camera uploading cord! I ran through the possibilities in my mind. I could borrow one or buyone later, but my biggest worry wat that I would not be able to take my style photos, let alone anything else as I'd run out of memory space within a day or so! Then I remembered (after much fretting) that I had once switched my sim cards between my camera and video camera and some of the files still pulled up on i-photo. Trying it out once i got back to the seating area (It worked!!!) Situation solved! And what more i didn't have a bulky cord to carry around...

And so it begins...

5/27/10
I'm in the Springfield Airport at the cafe. A Television talkshow plays on the screen in front of me and I've just mixed instant drink powder into my Orange starbucks mug filled at the water fountain. It was the easiest check-in I've ever had. The line for security was so short I could have said that the airport was just opening for the morning. I gave the guard my passport and boarding pass with ease and efficiently processed my carry-ons and laptop through the scanner. "You've done this a few times" the blonde security personelle coments. I thought to myself, 'i guess I have'. A wave of confidence washed through me as I scoped out my terminal and subsequently meandered back to the newstand to browse the magazines. In their glossy pages there are so many textures and treatments i want to store in my memory for my senior collection and I can't wait to see what I'll be able to think of when I have finished my time in Europe.

Introduction

Hi! this is April Whitlow, I am 22 and a 4th year student at Missouri State University. I'm about to embark on a European adventure and hope to keep you guys updated through this blog. My main location will be London, England studying at American Intercontinental University and Internship TBA, but i'll be sure to travel elsewhere, starting with a detour to Sweden and possible side-trips to Madrid, Amsterdam, and Dublin. My passion lies in fashion and you will see street shots of my favorite looks as well as a detailed look into my courses at AIU which include fashion journalism and fashion styling. I plan to go at this full tilt, so get ready!

For more information view:

My Portfolio: www.aprilwhitlow.com

Designs for Sale: www.avrilestrella.etsy.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/aprilwhitlow