First over-night guest

We have had our first over-night guest and our first dinner at the dining table. Chaia who I worked with in Sydney stopped by on her tour d'US. She decided to make a detour on her way from New York to Delaware and stay the night with us. Much appreciated!
I cooked dinner on the scary cooker - especially so, as I used all burners at once to create a meal consisting of: Mango chicken, chili and garlic chicken and fish with creamed spinach, cheese and chili. It seemed to work - perhaps I will get used to it at some point.
Friday we did a whistle-stop tour of DC and Virginia, exploring some touristy part of DC then having lunch at Founding Farmers. A really nice place in the business district which we tend to go to when we can get a table. We had to compromise and show up for a very early 11:15 - but it is almost impossible to get a table at a decent time there without booking weeks in advance.

However, eating early had one advantage, I had time to giver her an extra state before she extra fast tourist had to move on. We hopped on the metro to Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia and had a quick beer at Murphy's Pub.

Chaia rushed off after that towards the next state on the list. Visit was highly appreciated though. Below today's tracks (bus into tourist area, short walk around the white house, lunch and after-lunch trip to Alexandria).

Launching job search

Today I attended World Bank Global Mobility team's workshop for spouses - Ready to launch!
Amazing what a mixed team of followers. We were 25 all professional spouses from 24 different countries covering 5 continents. All of us looking for a job - because our spouse got a job with the World Bank. As the Bank wants to make sure spouses are happy (as their employees are happier if they do not have to worry about unhappy spouses) they are sponsoring this event hosted by a professional team.
Although several spouses had a background within environment or similar issues the majority had a completely different career history. There was a journalist, a dentist, an accountant, several project managers etc. About 30% men. I met some really interesting people. Eliana, from Bolivia, who sat opposite me had lived in Sweden for 3 years and we shared some experiences. When she told us about herself, she finished with "as soon as I manage to get used to a country - we move again!"
The seminar focused on various exercises and information sessions and is part of a 4-workshop program to land us each a decent job. They covered specifically the DC job-market, DC and US culture, how to manage a dual-career relationship, where both of the couple wants to have a good career but still move around. There were specifics about attitude in interview and how to make your sometimes patchy moving around come to your advantage. They also told us some extremely useful inside information about jobs at the Bank, job grades and career possibilities.
This was very good timing as I have my first job interview tomorrow. I am not that hopeful, but give it my best shot and at least take it as a great learning opportunity. I will be interviewed by three people regarding a job for Amtrak (US railways), responsible for Project Management of passenger systems, mainly WiFi. They must like me a little bit as they want to see me though - but there were many interview slots to choose between, so seems like they are interviewing lots of people.
Now sitting at the Elephant & Castle pub on the corner of 19th and I-street. Lovely evening, currently 33 degrees C. It is supposed to cool down later in the week though.

Last day in Stockholm for a while. I had to come back for my last project meeting with the customer and Alastair to attend World Water Week. It has been two busy weeks but very nice being able to meet up with everyone a final time, as well as enjoying the social events at WWW. Now we do not plan to return until well into 2014.
Last week was hectic catching up with work and packing up the last in the apartment. New tenant moved in as planned. A few dinners as well was great.
Saturday, we decided to go and have dinner at the restaurant where we had our wedding dinner. As soon as we walked in one of the waiters from the dinner walked up and welcomed us back. We got a complimentary drink and he took really good care of us all evening. He also asked for some photos from the dinner and thanked us for the card which the manager had passed around the staff.
This week followed the usual WWW program. Monday evening Mayors welcome and reception at the Stockholm Town Hall. It was nice to be invited and meet some interesting people. Tuesday was Dinner&Dance at Entertainment establishment Hamburger Börs. Very good show. Then I lost Alastair and his mobile had discharged. It took an hour to regroup. How did we manage before mobile phones? Wednesday had drains in apartment fixed, at least on my free evening. Thursday Royal Banquet with the King & Queen of Sweden. We got really nice seats this year.

Now I am sitting at reception at the office waiting for my car battery to charge so that car will start and we can get bags for Washington loaded. This afternoon lunch with ex-neighbors and their dog and tonight dinner in Märsta! Looking forward to both!

Taking some time off - should I learn Spanish?

When I first approached local HR about taking a few months off I was informed that this was only allowed if I was studying. I did not plan to study during my time off - just actually take time off and relax - but jokingly said that perhaps I could sign up for a Spanish course or something as a lot of people in DC only speak Spanish. Then my request for leave suddenly for approved without the study-requirement so I thought that was great!.
However, the house cleaners speak Spanish, the painters speak Spanish and the gardeners speak Spanish. Whenever I will need any services - I will need to know Spanish. I saw some guys working in the garden across the road the other day and decided to ask them if they wanted some more work - and do mine too. They did not understand me at all - not even simplest basic English. I thought - maybe I should ring up Alastair at work and he can speak with them, but that is not really an option for a supposedly independent Sissi, so I resorted to Google Translate. I typed in my message and asked for it to be translated to Spanish and printed it out. I then took the printout across the road and gave it to them. Then worried - perhaps they can't read? But the message made some kind of sense to them and they indicated I had to call the boss and gave me his number.
So, perhaps I do need to learn Spanish anyway. I really don't want to. I would much rather learn better Mandarin, or perhaps Korean? Let's see what I get up to over the next few months.
I have been granted leave from work from 9/9 for three months, which I will spend exploring DC and looking for local work, as well as getting the house in order. Visitors are Welcome!

Code-share annoyance

I hate flying United Airlines. I had the worst flight ever a couple of months ago going back to Washington from London. Rude staff and non-existing service. When I realized I have to change the return date (as the container was late) I went out of my way to try to ensure I ended up on a partner airline instead.  United's website clearly listed my options. Change to another United flight - or change to a partner airline flight. I picked a Swiss flight under the heading partner airlines. Swiss because I have not flown them yet - and I have done most airlines on this route by now and also because I had some good feedback about them. Now, this flight is listed as a United flight and with Swiss as a partner airline grrrr.
So - I am making the most of it by drinking as much free wine as I can in the United lounge.

The hunt for an offset screwdriver

Today I learnt what an offset screwdriver is and how to take the bus!
Well I knew what an offset screwdriver looked like - as I needed one - but I did not know it was called that. It is a screwdriver with a 90-degree bend at the end so you can unscrew things from the back in tight places. I found out that we had a highly rated hardware store near where we live - so I set off to get one, as I had managed to get the kitchen drawer with all utility thingys stuck - so I can't cook or eat. Unfortunately they did not have one, but understood what I meant and found out what it was called. Then they checked all the other stores and found one that had one in stock and reserved it for me. When they realized I was on foot they also told me how to take the bus there and where to get off. Not bad service.
The screwdriver place was in Glover Park and the bus took around 10 minutes. Buses are underrated. They only cost $1 wherever you are going, they have air conditioning and are nice and clean and you get a seat. Glower Park is great, between Tenleytown and Georgetown. There are lots of bars and restaurants. If you come to visit we might take you there.
Now let's see if the screwdriver make my problem a fixable problem.

A Walk not to - no in - but around the park

I was told there was a nice park a couple of blocks from the house so decided after daily chores (work, apply for jobs and prepare for the arrival of all the Sweden stuff), I go over there. However, I could not find the entrance so ended up with a walk around the park instead. Then I got lost but thought I knew roughly how to get back. Unfortunately all the streets are intersected by avenues that goes diagonally across the numbered roads (and alphabet streets downtown). I had borrowed Alastair's GPS so I could keep a track of where I had been and if I learn how to use it properly I can add where I started so that I find my way back. This is where I went: