Almost exactly three years ago I was working at MARCO (Museo de Arte Contemporaneo) in Monterrey, Mexico for a few months. My supervisor was a very strict woman and she was also the head of education in the museum. I must admit that from the very first day she scared me a little bit. She was tall and had a strong voice. Standing beside her I felt like a 12 year old girl.
I think it must have been at the same moment as I read her dreamday that I saw another side of her. And I started to like it. In that sense this dreamdayproject has become a tool for me to change my opinion about people by getting a glimpse of what is beneath their thick shell. My supervisor´s dreamday was simple and direct: Her only wish in that moment was to stay at home all alone and walk around in her pyjamas.
After reading that I could not help thinking about it whenever I would see her stressing to some meeting being dressed in an uncomfortable suit. It was so bizarre to see her doing all that when I knew that the only thing she really wanted to do was to stay at home in her pyjamas...
I thought about that story when I recorded another dreamday today. It was in the car back from lunch with some of my colleagues at Riksutställningar. The man that I am interviewing is the project manager of two projects that I have been working in. When hearing his dreamday I was struck by the similarities with my supervisor in Mexico. I was also once again thankful for the dreamday question making me discover another side of someone I realized I hardly knew.
Continue Reading
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
A Dreamday Worker´s Day
This is what the view from my desk at work looks like in the late afternoon.
But this is not where I do my dreamdaywork. At 5 pm I leave to go to my other "office"; Hedbergs Bok och Musik Café...
A dreamday worker also needs something sweet after lunch to keep the dreams flowing...
It is a tough job being a dreamday worker! Continue Reading
But this is not where I do my dreamdaywork. At 5 pm I leave to go to my other "office"; Hedbergs Bok och Musik Café...
A dreamday worker also needs something sweet after lunch to keep the dreams flowing...
It is a tough job being a dreamday worker! Continue Reading
Thursday, November 13, 2008
A Chapell + An Auction + A Nun = My Dreamday
Often when I ask someone about their Dreamday I get a question back about what my own dreamday would look like. It is a fair enough question I guess, since I have asked it myself quite a few times by now...
However the question is not an easy one to answer. And it is not because I haven´t given it any thought over these last seven years. As a matter of fact it is quite the opposite. Throughout the years I have thought about the question almost every day and I have seen my dreamdays change over and over. That is why I can´t really pick one. I guess my conclusion is that dreamdays vary. They depend on the day before and the one after. They depend on your expectations and your needs in that particular moment.
This dreamday of mine took place on a Sunday almost two weeks ago. The night before I had received a message from a friend from work asking me if I wanted to join her and a friend on a short road trip. I didn´t see the message until early Sunday morning. My first thought was NO! I had not slept very well and had woken up way too early for a Sunday morning. I was in a sad an melancholic mood and just felt like staying at home in my pyjamas all day. Besides it was grey and rainy outside, not a perfect day for a road trip either.
But I guess it is in those moments that you actually choose what you want to make of your life. I texted my friend back and said: Sure thing, I will come along...
A couple of hours later we were on our way towards the south west part of Gotland. Alessa and her friend Didi had read something about an auction in this place called Tofta. We headed in that direction and made a few stops along the way. Slowly my mood was getting lighter.
We looked out for the Tofta sign that would lead us to the auction but nothing came up. Eventually we saw a church called Tofta Church on the left hand side but a couple of meters later there was a sign saying we had just drived through Tofta. We got in a short moment of crisis. Should we turn back or just keep going? We decided to make a U-turn and go back...
Then just around the corner, next to the church, we noticed a big sign saying CAFÉ. We wouldn´t have seen it if we hadn´t turned back. We got an impuls to wait with the auction and go for coffee instead. The auction could wait! We drove over to the parking lot and parked the car. For a second we got worried it might not be open, but false alarm. The door was open and we stepped inside a warm and cosy place. It looked like a small church which I guess explains the name of the place: Kapellet, ( The chapell) In that moment I knew this would be the beginning of my dreamday.
The room was empty and quiet and on every table there was a candle burning. We passed on to the next room and spotted a plate with freshly baked buns. I got so excited! We ordered coffee from the woman just peeking out from the kitchen and then we sat down. I felt like a child jumping up and down from excitement.
Then something magic happened. While drinking our coffee we started telling each other these odd stories about our grandparents. Didi told us about his grandmother and that she would have been a hundred years old today. Alessa told us about her grandmother who spoke to her after her death. She had travelled all her life around Sweden with her children and one day she came to Gotland, where Alessa just now happened to be living for a few months. I told them about my grandparents in Greece. About my grandfather who fought in the first World War and died during the second. How his foster parents died from grief when it was reveiled he was adopted and he left home to fight in the war. We spoke about how stories keep repeating themselves and patterns start forming.
After finishing our coffees we went over to look at the small things that were for sale. We saw some candle holders that were white and fragile. They looked like old broideries but made out of ceramic. They were like frozen memories of a grandmother. When we saw them I think we all started to shiver. Then one sign after the other came to us. There was an old picture of a grandmother and her grandchild. There was a poem on the wall that spoke of the memories of your grandparents.
Suddenly the woman came up to us. We could not keep all these coincidences to ourselves and so we started to tell her about the stories that had just come to us. As if the spirit of the house had given them to us.
When we left we felt excited and joyful. Eventually we got to the auction. We looked around and it was nice. We looked at the people and the things, took a few pictured and left.
After that the day went on with this really comfortable flow. We took a walk by the sea in the cold and grey weather. It was windy and cold. But we felt alive and touched by the moment.
Then we got hungry. We saw a pizza place out in nowhere and they just happened to be open for a few hours in the late afternoon. We bought three of them to go and drove off to a small fishing cottage that Alessa and I had seen some other time a couple of months ago. It was getting dark and inside the abandoned cottage we found a couple of candles. We lit them and ate our pizzas.
In this house other stories came to us. They were all about houses and I told them about a house that I have dreamt of all my life. This house is in Greece, on a small island. We spoke about our dreams and what we feel is our destiny and mission in life. Once again I was reminded about my dream to fix that house. How I felt it is my only mission on this earth.
One candle after the other went out, when the last one was almost dead it was completely dark outside. We packed our stuff and went back to the car.
I thought the day was over there. And I was happy and content. We drove back to Visby listening to some songs on the radio and I went through the day and the stories in my head.
When we got back to Visby we rested a little bit at Alessa´s place. I was almost on my way home, starting to get tired. But then we got hungry for dessert and an hour later the three of us were walking down the dark and narrow streets of Visby towards our new goal.
We got to the main square and noticed a sign saying "Jam session-tonight". The place was called The Nun. We stepped inside and were immidiately welcomed by a warm and cosy atmosphere. A couple of people were sitting and playing together. On the wall behind them I noticed a greek flag and the name Vasilis written in Greek. I asked the young waiter if he was Greek and he replied that he was and that his dad is called Vasilis and he is the owner of the place. He pointed towards one of the guys playing the guitar in the corner of the room. Vasilis waved to us to say hello.
We ordered saffran pancakes and beer. A strange combination but it was nice. Then we were slowly drawn into the atmosphere. Wasn´t in fact this a dreamday to all of us? I could not prevent myself from asking my same old dreamday question...
After that the night continued and all of a sudden I was sitting with a guitar in my hand and Alessa was singing a song from Tyrolen. Everyone was in a really heartly and friendly mood. We clapped our hands and sang along. I remember thinking that when life is like this I don´t care about the day before or after. I was living and existing in the moment and felt no worries or anguish. I wanted to seize the clock. To be in the middle of something where no past or future exists.
When buying another beer in the bar the young waiter shows me a book. It was about people living in Gotland and he showed me the page about his dad. I started reading and I shivered for the second time that day. This man was born in Athens in the old town, just a block away from where my grandmother used to live and where my dad was born.
I continued reading. His story was dramatic and romantic. When he was 28 he wanted to travel and experience the world. He jumped on a truck and aimed for Vienna. ( Where Alessa and Didi are from) But he never came to Vienna. Instead he travelled every where else in the World. With the dream of Vienna he finally found the love of his life on Gotland. I was touched by the story and felt how every detail during this day was mysteriously connected. I got back home at about 1 am and I fell asleep with a smile on my face. How beautiful isn´t life after all? Continue Reading
However the question is not an easy one to answer. And it is not because I haven´t given it any thought over these last seven years. As a matter of fact it is quite the opposite. Throughout the years I have thought about the question almost every day and I have seen my dreamdays change over and over. That is why I can´t really pick one. I guess my conclusion is that dreamdays vary. They depend on the day before and the one after. They depend on your expectations and your needs in that particular moment.
This dreamday of mine took place on a Sunday almost two weeks ago. The night before I had received a message from a friend from work asking me if I wanted to join her and a friend on a short road trip. I didn´t see the message until early Sunday morning. My first thought was NO! I had not slept very well and had woken up way too early for a Sunday morning. I was in a sad an melancholic mood and just felt like staying at home in my pyjamas all day. Besides it was grey and rainy outside, not a perfect day for a road trip either.
But I guess it is in those moments that you actually choose what you want to make of your life. I texted my friend back and said: Sure thing, I will come along...
A couple of hours later we were on our way towards the south west part of Gotland. Alessa and her friend Didi had read something about an auction in this place called Tofta. We headed in that direction and made a few stops along the way. Slowly my mood was getting lighter.
We looked out for the Tofta sign that would lead us to the auction but nothing came up. Eventually we saw a church called Tofta Church on the left hand side but a couple of meters later there was a sign saying we had just drived through Tofta. We got in a short moment of crisis. Should we turn back or just keep going? We decided to make a U-turn and go back...
Then just around the corner, next to the church, we noticed a big sign saying CAFÉ. We wouldn´t have seen it if we hadn´t turned back. We got an impuls to wait with the auction and go for coffee instead. The auction could wait! We drove over to the parking lot and parked the car. For a second we got worried it might not be open, but false alarm. The door was open and we stepped inside a warm and cosy place. It looked like a small church which I guess explains the name of the place: Kapellet, ( The chapell) In that moment I knew this would be the beginning of my dreamday.
The room was empty and quiet and on every table there was a candle burning. We passed on to the next room and spotted a plate with freshly baked buns. I got so excited! We ordered coffee from the woman just peeking out from the kitchen and then we sat down. I felt like a child jumping up and down from excitement.
Then something magic happened. While drinking our coffee we started telling each other these odd stories about our grandparents. Didi told us about his grandmother and that she would have been a hundred years old today. Alessa told us about her grandmother who spoke to her after her death. She had travelled all her life around Sweden with her children and one day she came to Gotland, where Alessa just now happened to be living for a few months. I told them about my grandparents in Greece. About my grandfather who fought in the first World War and died during the second. How his foster parents died from grief when it was reveiled he was adopted and he left home to fight in the war. We spoke about how stories keep repeating themselves and patterns start forming.
After finishing our coffees we went over to look at the small things that were for sale. We saw some candle holders that were white and fragile. They looked like old broideries but made out of ceramic. They were like frozen memories of a grandmother. When we saw them I think we all started to shiver. Then one sign after the other came to us. There was an old picture of a grandmother and her grandchild. There was a poem on the wall that spoke of the memories of your grandparents.
Suddenly the woman came up to us. We could not keep all these coincidences to ourselves and so we started to tell her about the stories that had just come to us. As if the spirit of the house had given them to us.
When we left we felt excited and joyful. Eventually we got to the auction. We looked around and it was nice. We looked at the people and the things, took a few pictured and left.
After that the day went on with this really comfortable flow. We took a walk by the sea in the cold and grey weather. It was windy and cold. But we felt alive and touched by the moment.
Then we got hungry. We saw a pizza place out in nowhere and they just happened to be open for a few hours in the late afternoon. We bought three of them to go and drove off to a small fishing cottage that Alessa and I had seen some other time a couple of months ago. It was getting dark and inside the abandoned cottage we found a couple of candles. We lit them and ate our pizzas.
In this house other stories came to us. They were all about houses and I told them about a house that I have dreamt of all my life. This house is in Greece, on a small island. We spoke about our dreams and what we feel is our destiny and mission in life. Once again I was reminded about my dream to fix that house. How I felt it is my only mission on this earth.
One candle after the other went out, when the last one was almost dead it was completely dark outside. We packed our stuff and went back to the car.
I thought the day was over there. And I was happy and content. We drove back to Visby listening to some songs on the radio and I went through the day and the stories in my head.
When we got back to Visby we rested a little bit at Alessa´s place. I was almost on my way home, starting to get tired. But then we got hungry for dessert and an hour later the three of us were walking down the dark and narrow streets of Visby towards our new goal.
We got to the main square and noticed a sign saying "Jam session-tonight". The place was called The Nun. We stepped inside and were immidiately welcomed by a warm and cosy atmosphere. A couple of people were sitting and playing together. On the wall behind them I noticed a greek flag and the name Vasilis written in Greek. I asked the young waiter if he was Greek and he replied that he was and that his dad is called Vasilis and he is the owner of the place. He pointed towards one of the guys playing the guitar in the corner of the room. Vasilis waved to us to say hello.
We ordered saffran pancakes and beer. A strange combination but it was nice. Then we were slowly drawn into the atmosphere. Wasn´t in fact this a dreamday to all of us? I could not prevent myself from asking my same old dreamday question...
After that the night continued and all of a sudden I was sitting with a guitar in my hand and Alessa was singing a song from Tyrolen. Everyone was in a really heartly and friendly mood. We clapped our hands and sang along. I remember thinking that when life is like this I don´t care about the day before or after. I was living and existing in the moment and felt no worries or anguish. I wanted to seize the clock. To be in the middle of something where no past or future exists.
When buying another beer in the bar the young waiter shows me a book. It was about people living in Gotland and he showed me the page about his dad. I started reading and I shivered for the second time that day. This man was born in Athens in the old town, just a block away from where my grandmother used to live and where my dad was born.
I continued reading. His story was dramatic and romantic. When he was 28 he wanted to travel and experience the world. He jumped on a truck and aimed for Vienna. ( Where Alessa and Didi are from) But he never came to Vienna. Instead he travelled every where else in the World. With the dream of Vienna he finally found the love of his life on Gotland. I was touched by the story and felt how every detail during this day was mysteriously connected. I got back home at about 1 am and I fell asleep with a smile on my face. How beautiful isn´t life after all? Continue Reading
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