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
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, October 28, 2008
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