Hej allesammans! A rather scary thought to begin with: this is my 70th day in Uppsala, which not only means I've been here for effectively 10 weeks, but also means that I've reached the half-way point of my time abroad. Needless to say, this has all gone very quickly, but time has a way of doing that when you're enjoying yourself, and I like to think that I am.
However, it has not been 100% sweetness and light this week: on Wednesday, I had to deal with something rather irritating: the theft of my phone. I say theft, because it doesn't seem as if there was any possible way for me to have lost my phone, which means that, presumably, it was stolen from the changing rooms whilst I was playing indoor football. Needless to say, I shall not be taking anything of value there next time!
In some ways, the loss of the phone is very, VERY annoying. Firstly, it was a Christmas present; secondly, it was a pretty good phone; and thirdly, it meant I had to spend about 400 SEK on a new one. However, considering what could have been lost or stolen, the phone is perhaps not as high on the list as say, my passport, my laptop, my keys or my wallet/credit card, so it is not all bad. And to be fair, the new phone was quite cheap, and in some ways is better than the old one, if only because you can compose your own ringtones! The alarm clock also seems to be a bit more effective in getting me up, which is no mean feat.
Other things happening really are an increase in my workload: unlike the last week or so, I've actually had quite a lot of lectures and seminars this week, with a few more to follow tomorrow, as well as an assignment for Friday, so I am being kept busy for once! This has helped to take my mind off a sore throat I picked up after singing along to one too many songs at a party: sore throats, for the record, are more trouble than they're worth!
So yes, 10 weeks down, 9 and a bit weeks to go. And of course, the clocks went back on Sunday, so it's now getting darker a LOT quicker, meaning that I'm going to have to get used to 6 hours of daylight! And the new President, whoever that may be... but that's a topic for next week, of course! Until then, this has been...
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sweden (But Were Afraid To Ask)
Chris Stanley
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Week 18: Immigration, Accommodation, and Transportation
Hej allesammans! This week, I've been tackling three rather major obstacles: writing an essay on immigration, getting the accommodation sorted, and planning the logistics of transportation to England.
The first obstacle, writing an essay on immigration, is part of my second module. Basically, I had to write part of a big group essay: it was 32 pages and there were eight of us, so I wrote about 4-5 pages. Immigration is of course, a major issue in the world today, and being an immigrant in Sweden myself (if only temporarily), it's interesting to look at various trends in immigration to the Nordic Countries, because you get to learn more about international relations: the Swedes like the Brits and the Yanks, the Danes don't always get on with the Germans, and all the Scandinavian countries are a bit scared of Russia, especially Finland. All four Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) are also seen as being top places to go if you want to re-settle: after being here two months, I would have to agree.
The second obstacle: accommodation. Basically, I've chosen a rather lousy time to move out; I have to leave my accommodation between the 31st December and the 1st January. Naturally, the accommodation office is shut on both these days, so today I had to go in and basically thrash out when I could leave, and how I could hand my key back to them. Fortunately, the Swedes are flexible enough to allow a friend to hand in the key for you, and even though I wouldn't be paying the rent for January, they're fine with me staying there overnight on the 31st. Indeed, the only problem with the Accommodation people was their stupid opening hours: 8:30am - 11:30am on Mondays, but 2:30pm-5:30pm today and tomorrow. Silly Swedes!
Lastly, transportation. Getting to Uppsala was relatively easy, but getting back to the UK has proved to be extremely tricky. Flying out on the 2nd/3rd was WAY too expensive (£100 at least, and £150 when at a convenient time), so I've had to alter my mode of transport and go with the train. Naturally, train travel is not as quick: it takes 7 hours to get to Copenhagen, another 5 to get to Hamburg, and 13 hours to get from Hamburg to Paris (though fortunately that's because it's a sleeper train). From there, you get another train to Calais Ville, which takes an hour or so, then walk 15 minutes to the ferry, which takes 90 minutes to get to Dover (though of course you save an hour). And after that, it's another 2 hours to London. Suffice to say, you're travelling for the best part of two days! But I'll probably split that lot up a bit by staying overnight in Paris, which would be rather cool.
So, three problems, all hopefully tackled. I'm almost half-way through my time in Sweden, which seems quite incredible, but there is still a LONG way to go. And just as well, as I need to finish all my modules first! Until next week then, this has been...
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sweden (But Were Afraid To Ask)
Chris Stanley
The first obstacle, writing an essay on immigration, is part of my second module. Basically, I had to write part of a big group essay: it was 32 pages and there were eight of us, so I wrote about 4-5 pages. Immigration is of course, a major issue in the world today, and being an immigrant in Sweden myself (if only temporarily), it's interesting to look at various trends in immigration to the Nordic Countries, because you get to learn more about international relations: the Swedes like the Brits and the Yanks, the Danes don't always get on with the Germans, and all the Scandinavian countries are a bit scared of Russia, especially Finland. All four Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) are also seen as being top places to go if you want to re-settle: after being here two months, I would have to agree.
The second obstacle: accommodation. Basically, I've chosen a rather lousy time to move out; I have to leave my accommodation between the 31st December and the 1st January. Naturally, the accommodation office is shut on both these days, so today I had to go in and basically thrash out when I could leave, and how I could hand my key back to them. Fortunately, the Swedes are flexible enough to allow a friend to hand in the key for you, and even though I wouldn't be paying the rent for January, they're fine with me staying there overnight on the 31st. Indeed, the only problem with the Accommodation people was their stupid opening hours: 8:30am - 11:30am on Mondays, but 2:30pm-5:30pm today and tomorrow. Silly Swedes!
Lastly, transportation. Getting to Uppsala was relatively easy, but getting back to the UK has proved to be extremely tricky. Flying out on the 2nd/3rd was WAY too expensive (£100 at least, and £150 when at a convenient time), so I've had to alter my mode of transport and go with the train. Naturally, train travel is not as quick: it takes 7 hours to get to Copenhagen, another 5 to get to Hamburg, and 13 hours to get from Hamburg to Paris (though fortunately that's because it's a sleeper train). From there, you get another train to Calais Ville, which takes an hour or so, then walk 15 minutes to the ferry, which takes 90 minutes to get to Dover (though of course you save an hour). And after that, it's another 2 hours to London. Suffice to say, you're travelling for the best part of two days! But I'll probably split that lot up a bit by staying overnight in Paris, which would be rather cool.
So, three problems, all hopefully tackled. I'm almost half-way through my time in Sweden, which seems quite incredible, but there is still a LONG way to go. And just as well, as I need to finish all my modules first! Until next week then, this has been...
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sweden (But Were Afraid To Ask)
Chris Stanley
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Week 17: Why did the Swede go the Gasque?
Hej allesammans! I'm guessing the first question you have after seeing that title is: "What the heck is a gasque?" This was also my first thought when I was asked if I would like to go to one, so it is clearly a natural reaction.
Well, a gasque is like a big formal meal. You have a few speeches from the organisers, a starter, quite a lot of drinking songs, a main dish, more drinking songs and speeches, a choir, dessert, and an orchestra. And then a drinking song. And then a big party afterwards. All sounds a bit hectic, doesn't it?
Still, these gasques are, on the whole, immensely enjoyable (as long as you hold back on the schnaps, which are shots of vodka). The choir (with their rendition of La Marseilleise) and the orchestra (who played bits of Star Wars among other things) were both excellent, as was the Swedish punch. I even had the oppurtunity to sample some Swedish coffee: I usually avoid coffee like the plague, but felt it impolite to turn it down at a gasque. It was surprisingly good! However, I still prefer tea anyday.
The food is also good (although if the speeches are too long it can get a bit cold): for example, we had a mushroom quiche for starters, elk and potatoes for the main, and chocolate cake for dessert. Incidentally, the elk was extremely tasty: like beef, only better (in my view). Indeed, the only thing that let the evening down a bit was the speeches: the first one was great, the second one so-so, and they got worse as it went on (though that might have been due to alcohol).
Overall then, gasques are a right old laugh, and should not be missed, especially if they're Swedish gasques: this one was an International Gasque, and therefore was not quite of the same standard. But it didn't disappoint! So then, until next week, this has been:
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sweden (But Were Afraid To Ask)
Chris Stanley
Well, a gasque is like a big formal meal. You have a few speeches from the organisers, a starter, quite a lot of drinking songs, a main dish, more drinking songs and speeches, a choir, dessert, and an orchestra. And then a drinking song. And then a big party afterwards. All sounds a bit hectic, doesn't it?
Still, these gasques are, on the whole, immensely enjoyable (as long as you hold back on the schnaps, which are shots of vodka). The choir (with their rendition of La Marseilleise) and the orchestra (who played bits of Star Wars among other things) were both excellent, as was the Swedish punch. I even had the oppurtunity to sample some Swedish coffee: I usually avoid coffee like the plague, but felt it impolite to turn it down at a gasque. It was surprisingly good! However, I still prefer tea anyday.
The food is also good (although if the speeches are too long it can get a bit cold): for example, we had a mushroom quiche for starters, elk and potatoes for the main, and chocolate cake for dessert. Incidentally, the elk was extremely tasty: like beef, only better (in my view). Indeed, the only thing that let the evening down a bit was the speeches: the first one was great, the second one so-so, and they got worse as it went on (though that might have been due to alcohol).
Overall then, gasques are a right old laugh, and should not be missed, especially if they're Swedish gasques: this one was an International Gasque, and therefore was not quite of the same standard. But it didn't disappoint! So then, until next week, this has been:
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sweden (But Were Afraid To Ask)
Chris Stanley
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Week 16: Birthday Boy!
Hej allesammans! So then, 20. Hmm. Does this mean I can't act like a teenager anymore? Well, probably not, but a lot has changed since my last birthday. This time last year I was in Devon, now I'm in Sweden. ECCLES had yet to be founded, now it's FECCLES and is becoming a ridiculously huge society. Gordon Brown was quite popular, now he's had to bring back Peter Mandelson to try and save his skin (good luck with that one). Steve McClaren was in charge of the England team, now it's Fabio Capello.
So, a fair few changes. Sadly, the perennial powerful idiot George W. Bush is still in the White House (if not for long), Labour are still in power, and stockbrokers are still idiots with money. But that won't get me down today! For one thing, the weather has been gorgeous here. Really sunny and no rain whatsoever! It's even rather mild, though I expect come November it will be freezing.
I also had a lecture today, which I was expecting to be three hours (they're not actually three hours, we have breaks), but was instead only two. So that was good! And I've received lots of lovely birthday messages on Facebook. So, overall, a very good way to adapt to being 20! Now I just need to work out how to deal with turning 21...
Until next week then, this has been...
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sweden (But Were Afraid To Ask)
Chris Stanley
So, a fair few changes. Sadly, the perennial powerful idiot George W. Bush is still in the White House (if not for long), Labour are still in power, and stockbrokers are still idiots with money. But that won't get me down today! For one thing, the weather has been gorgeous here. Really sunny and no rain whatsoever! It's even rather mild, though I expect come November it will be freezing.
I also had a lecture today, which I was expecting to be three hours (they're not actually three hours, we have breaks), but was instead only two. So that was good! And I've received lots of lovely birthday messages on Facebook. So, overall, a very good way to adapt to being 20! Now I just need to work out how to deal with turning 21...
Until next week then, this has been...
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sweden (But Were Afraid To Ask)
Chris Stanley
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