Hallå allesammans! Now, don’t panic, this blog post is most certainly NOT dedicated to that song by Europe, that’s just a handy title. Anyway, with all my stuff being packed, I leave the UK tomorrow, and I will be arriving in Uppsala within 24 hours: and of course, I won’t be seeing any of you for at least four months, probably five.
So, with this in mind, it’s probably a good idea to make this a “goodbye and tributes” blog. Naturally, I start with saying goodbye to relatives. My family have been an eternal source of support and inspiration: Rose, Al and Mum the language-speaking and country-trekking pioneers who actually got me interested in studying abroad, Dad usually there with his trademark “Good luck; we’re all counting on you!” and of course, the Stevester, with his own unique brand of manic optimism. The self-confessed Crazy Gang are to be thanked for their untiring efforts in making me as mad as the rest of them, and seeing as I’m now going off to a foreign country on my own for several months, it appears they’ve well and truly succeeded! A special mention should also be made to my Uncle Denis and my late grandfather, Ross Grey, whose recollections of their times abroad have done nothing to put me off going on this epic journey, and everything to make me consider the benefits of travelling to new destinations.
Moving onwards, there are several groups of people or individuals that have generally been very supportive at crucial points. Sam White, trumpeting legend and cricketer extraordinaire, is well worth a mention; Sam accompanied me on my last two ventures abroad and studied French and German with me at A-Level, and it has to be said that having a mate with you when you’re in a foreign country, or having difficulty learning gobble-de-gook, is something that I’m undoubtedly going to miss in Sweden. Indeed, it will feel a bit odd going to a foreign country without him lauding various culinary masterpieces! I should probably mention Tom Murphy, Julia Townend and Ali Glossop (i.e. the French Exchange Gang) as well, as they made staying in a country suffering from violent riots bizarrely enjoyable.
In terms of making this last year so enjoyable that I’m going to miss them all ridiculously, I would never be able to forgive myself without mentioning the joyous people of FECCLES! Abi Brady, Sue Curtis, Alice Drury, Kate Hagan, Edd Insley, Ellie Osborne, Joe Perring, Elliott Sutcliffe, James Watts, Rob Young and of course Dan Scholes (the new President of FECCLES), take a bow. I’m obviously a tad miffed with myself that I’ll be missing all your mad antics next semester, but on the evidence of what we’ve done so far I’m confident that the society will be consistently “all right” on the night. Oh, and a note to Joe if you’re reading this, change that damn answer phone message: for those not in the know, Joe Perring currently has the longest answer phone message on record, at “Why-on-earth-hasn’t-it-beeped-yet?” minutes and “Gah!” seconds. The “History Massive” also deserves a creditable mention, as does everyone at Falmouth CU, Emmanuel Baptist Church, everyone who had to put up with me as a flatmate in Block O Flat 7, all the people from Exeter Orchestra/Music Week, people I’ve met whilst I’ve been up on the Streatham Campus, and last but not least, all my friends at Tremough Campus and Glasney Parc who I haven’t already mentioned: my sincere thanks for what has been an absolutely mad, insane and above all fantastic year.
A brief mention should also go to the STRS gang, who have had to endure my company longer than most, and who have done their best to keep in touch over the past three years: Pigott, Pazzer, Davies, Towers, the Hartleys, Ed, Hards, Ben, Simon, Middy and of course, the Göttingen “crew”, who accompanied me on my first proper trip abroad. I suppose I should also quickly mention Jon Chappell, who not only went to STRS, but is also doing History at Exeter/Cornwall through sheer coincidence!
Anyhoo, tomorrow I’ll be taking the coach down to Heathrow, catching a flight to Arlanda Airport (near Stockholm) just after lunch, then taking the bus to Uppsala, arriving some time in the evening : I’ll let you know when I’ve arrived and stuff via Facebook. But now, to the unquestionable joy that is packing: and for the last time for a while on British soil, this has been...
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sweden (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Chris Stanley
Welcome!
Hello! If you happen to know a random loon called Christopher Julian Stanley, and you're wondering why on earth he's going to Sweden for five months, then you've come to the right place. As Edmund Blackadder once said, "Pull up a muffin" and "Sit yourself down", and feel free to ask me some questions about my impending voyage to Uppsala, or comment on my blogs.
Signing off,
The Intrepid Explorer
Signing off,
The Intrepid Explorer
Frequently Asked Questions
Chris, I hear you're going abroad for five months?
That's correct. From August the 20th 2008 until January 16th 2009 I will be studying abroad on the Erasmus programme for the first half of my second year at University, residing in the delightful city of Uppsala.
Uppsala? Where's that?
Uppsala is in Sweden, and is approximately 50 miles north of Stockholm. It's also about 1200 miles from London.
So why Uppsala, then?
Uppsala University is one of the Universities that is linked with my uni, the University of Exeter, through the Erasmus programme. Exeter students can study abroad in places like Uppsala for the first semester of their second year, then return to Exeter for the second semester.
Studying abroad - but wouldn't you have to be fluent in the language of the nation you're visiting?
Nope, that's only if you're studying in France, Germany, Italy or Spain. I'll be doing an English speaking course - mind you, that won't stop me learning a bit of Swedish in order to get by!
Wouldn't it be easier just to do all of your degree in the UK?
It would, but it would also be less challenging, and I like a challenge. It's also a great oppurtunity to see how history is studied outside of the English education system, and let's not forget it's going to look great on my CV!
When will you be blogging?
I'll be doing a major blog every Tuesday, from the 20th June 2008 until at least the 27th January 2009. If anything exciting happens I'll do a mini-blog on that too.
That's correct. From August the 20th 2008 until January 16th 2009 I will be studying abroad on the Erasmus programme for the first half of my second year at University, residing in the delightful city of Uppsala.
Uppsala? Where's that?
Uppsala is in Sweden, and is approximately 50 miles north of Stockholm. It's also about 1200 miles from London.
So why Uppsala, then?
Uppsala University is one of the Universities that is linked with my uni, the University of Exeter, through the Erasmus programme. Exeter students can study abroad in places like Uppsala for the first semester of their second year, then return to Exeter for the second semester.
Studying abroad - but wouldn't you have to be fluent in the language of the nation you're visiting?
Nope, that's only if you're studying in France, Germany, Italy or Spain. I'll be doing an English speaking course - mind you, that won't stop me learning a bit of Swedish in order to get by!
Wouldn't it be easier just to do all of your degree in the UK?
It would, but it would also be less challenging, and I like a challenge. It's also a great oppurtunity to see how history is studied outside of the English education system, and let's not forget it's going to look great on my CV!
When will you be blogging?
I'll be doing a major blog every Tuesday, from the 20th June 2008 until at least the 27th January 2009. If anything exciting happens I'll do a mini-blog on that too.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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