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by PAM
It's been a very busy (joyfully busy, that is) few days, preparing for this-and-that holiday-related stuff. Good to slow down a bit and just chill with some relaxing (pop) music. For some reason, the first song that comes to mind is the first song I heard when I played that little radio I had in Lund, Sweden, as a visiting scholar in Lund University, Autumn of 1999 to Summer 2000...
"Sunshine through my window, that's what you are - my shining star.
Making me feel I'm on top of the world,
telling me that I'd go far."
---"Sunshine" by Gabrielle. It was my first time to live in the Scandinavia... and I chose the best time to go: autumn, which was actually the beginning of more than six months of biting-cold winter! It was my first time to live in a place where English is not the native language... and it was surprisingly manageable. People were nice, accommodating and efficient. They seem quiet and aloof compared with us, Filipinos, and it was not easy in the beginning, especially in the middle of all that winter gloom where the predominant color is grey against virgin white snow. Coming from a colorful tropical country that is gaily a-buzz-buzzing from overpopulation all year round, that was a major change for me. As soon as I get to speak with my research adviser though, every thing changed! She was incredibly nice... and it was because of her and all the people I worked with in the University, including the friends I made in the Catholic Church there, that Sweden will always be one of the nicest places on earth for me. Come to think of it, Sweden was beautiful... especially, Stockholm, whatever time of year! :)
Aside from Academics, I did many things while in Sweden... I went hiking many times, running in all sorts of terrain, met many, many very interesting personalities, made many great friends, and went traveling, shopping and bar-hopping with some of them in various places in Scandinavia... most of all, I think I first learned the meaning of the word "innovation" from the Swedes! Yeah, I'd love to go back to Sweden... hopefully, sooner than later! :)
Speaking of Sweden, this old ABBA song comes to mind, too...
"Tonight the Super Trouper,
beams are gonna blind me, but I won't feel blue like I always do
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you."
..."Super Trouper", one of the least known songs by the Swedish quartet, but for some reason, it's one of my biggest favorite ABBA songs. The emotions expressed in the song seemed honest and real, and yet, it didn't lack the 'ABBA quality' that's easy to listen to.
Of course, the theme from my favorite teleserye these days comes to mind, too...
"Tell me how two people find each other in a world that's full of strangers.
Got to believe in magic...'cause it's magic when two people fall in love."
"Got to believe in magic" performed by Juris (originally from David Pomeranz) - the theme of ABS-CBN's teleserye, "Got to Believe" starring the cute duo, "Kathniel" (Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla). I swear, if I had kids, they would be as adorable as Kathryn or Daniel! :) I hope that these two would stay as nice and good influence to young people... and I hope that "Got to Believe" would continue to mirror Filipino traits and values: family-oriented, loving, polite, honest, humble, God-fearing, resilient and persevering, fun-loving and service-oriented.
Oy, Music Day is a good day... and "me time" is awesome time!
