So. I’m in Stockholm. It’s not often. I don’t find my way here. But I don’t find my why anywhere on the other hand. One can say that I have a poor sense of direction. I am not exaggerating. Actually I’m constant disoriented. I’m a dyscalculian. As I told Franscesca in this interview. Diagnosed.
But I’m doing better these days. The GPS in the phone helps a lot. Helped me find my way here for example. I’m staying at Scandic Hotel, Grand Central. Via Blogger’s Inn.
What a neat hotel. Look at the wall art above for example. Made by Andreas Braun. Hoping to get a glimpse of him tomorrow (he is having a vernissage at the hotel). I’ll tell if I find out if he has a web page.
(Frida at Trendeser is one of the brains behind the “blogg room” I’m staying at here.)
Visited Fotografiska today. I always enjoy Christer Strömholm‘s photos. But the most remarkable part was Sally Mann‘s project What remains of course. Very scary. Beautiful and strong.
Sally Mann: The naked and the dead
Wow! What a cool place! Love the artwork – that top pic is divine! Is that a poster advertising something? Also loving those floor tiles! :) Kx
Really neat hotel!
Hope you have a wonderful time!!
Hoppas du får en fin helg…mycket att se i den där stan och väldigt mycket folk…kompass behövs, säger en annan som har tomt i vänster hjärnhalva…
I dream Of visiting Scandinavia I’m saving my pennies so this hotel will definitely be on my list. I saw the Sally Mann exhibition at the Photographers Gallery in London and was just amazed at her work as you say challenging but I like that she goes where others don’t.
I have no sense of direction either I have to leave to go anywhere really early as I always get lost I try and embrace it as I’ve found some great places that way but sometimes its just hard work!
Enjoy the rest of your stay.
Did you have the training for dyscalculia?
Stockholm is a wonderful city. I lived almost four years there and loved it. Have a nice time!
Hi Laura. No didin’t have any training.
I like your paintings!
That’s such a lovely and interesting looking hotel. And it looks like you’ve had a lot of fun exploring it! :)
that hostel looks for sure like a place to feel comfortable.
What a beautiful hotel, E!
Hope you are having a lovely time. :)
p.s. Ohh, and I looooooveee Sally Mann’s “The naked and the dead”. Tack for sharing! :)
Love that batman illustration.
vaa… blir man sämre på att hitta om man är dålig på matte? jag går vilse jämt men är riktigt bra på matte…
Inte alls. Men om man är dyskalkyliker kan det hänga ihop.
Dear Elisabeth:
I find a kind of relax reading about the desorientation you feel sometimes… that is me also!!! I can perfectly understand you. The thing is that sensible people who feel touched by their sorrounding area or things, or people, sometimes can get lost… Probably it is 2012 also… the air can be a little confused. But, after the disorder and the directions that pull you in many different ways, finally we can arrive to a place we can stay longer and feel that we can really concentrate in that. I am exactly in that process now. I enjoy a lot your blog. I am trying to concentrate in a proyect about the city and the kids for an architectural urban study. Actualy I thought about this theme because in some places in the north of europe you have so good furniture and spaces for kids to have urban life in the city -something that is not common in latin america, where I am from-.
Beste regards for you and thanks for youre thougts, pictures, comments etc… they are a good inspiration!
Magda.
best regards,
Magdalena
Hi Magdalena, thank you for your comment :)
oh god how many years i thought i was stupid, just because i couldn’t count, substract, remember the multiplication table, have some kind of an orientation, or basic knowledge for math formulas. or even following the rhythm in music!
it’s sad we don’t have dyscalculia testing centers here in Bulgaria but still. after long years living like that i have my own special and strange systems. but my visual memory for example is close to extraordinary..
i was telling this to a friend and she said “it’s always the dys-. the disability, not the ability to do things your own way”… and i agree, of course, so just to balance things a bit, now i am thinking of myself as somebody with a disability in the math field and abilities in the visual world..:)
I realized that I was dyscalculic when I heard another dyscalculic person talk about her “symptoms” in a radio program a couple of years ago. This woman worked as a mathematics teacher (!). For me it was a relief to put words to my disability. It kind of gave me a tool to handle different difficult situations. It also gave me better understanding and acceptance of my disability, especially from my own point of view.
Hi,
I have read your Blog for a few years now and love it visually it has inspired me a lot. I also suffer from what I believe is dyscalculia although I have not been diagnosed. it has contributed to a lot of stress and anxiety in my life and a lack of self esteem. There are professions I would have liked to have entered but have been unable to because of a lack of maths ability. I would be interested to hear more about how you have coped and how it has affected your day to day life. It is comforting to know Iam not the only one as it has been a source of shame for me in the past.
Hi Claire, the dyscalulia sure affects me in my daily life. I don’t know how many times I’ve been learned how to calculate percentage of a sum for example. Some days I can cope, others (often) I don’t know how to at all. The most obvious to me, however, is that I often get lost. All the time, ha. I obviously have absolutely no sense of direction. The diagnosis helped me to accept my disability. And the realization that I’m not alone was comforting somehow.
Thanks Elizabeth,
I really have felt like the only person the ‘whole world’ who has this problem particularly growing up. It is really nice to have someone to talk to about it!
I don’t have a blog but I take great inspiration from all the blogs out there. Why did you decide to have the diagnosis? I live in Australia and I have never heard of being able to be diagnosed here. I always have a feeling that people would not believe me and would just think I was being lazy or stupid but it is very real for me. I am not great with direction either and do not like to drive long distances for fear of getting lost. It would be great to be able to talk about this over coffee I have so many questions! Maybe one day…
I got the diagnose because I began my education which I knew would require knowledge that I was missing. That’s typical, to think that people are unwilling or “stupid”. Sad. Hope that things will become more enlightened in the future. Keep it up Claire.