Welcome back. As you may have guessed, the subject that's been the focus of attention for most people in Uppsala this week has been: SNOW! And we're not talking about it just settling, we're talking about me finding my bike half-submerged in the stuff. As I type, the snow is just about starting to thaw, but we've had so much of it that I doubt it will be all gone until at least Thursday.
Most of you back in Blighty are probably a bit jealous that I've got all this snow to myself. But let me tell you, snow is only awesome up to a point. When it started snowing (Wednesday), it was just a light settling, and that was pretty cool: Sweden looks so much nicer in the snow, after all. By Saturday, there was plenty of it, and the high point was undoubtedly me sledging down a rather steep hill: I haven't gone sledging in years, so naturally I got a bit nostalgic.
However, by Sunday, it started to get a bit ridiculous. Snow in itself is not a bad thing, but snow combined with wind soon becomes horrendous. On Sunday the wind was positively howling, and on Monday it wasn't much better. Cycling through the snow was not much fun, mainly because it was a) snowing again and b) windy, meaning that for much of my journey I couldn't see where I was going! So after about a week of the stuff, I shall be quite glad to see the back of these small-scale blizzards.
Still, it has on the whole been fantastic, and at least the Swedes are prepared for this sort of thing: Britain always seems to go into a state of shock at the sight of a snowflake, and Gloucestershire schools shut down after one day of snow, so heaven knows how they'd cope with five days of it! But now, back to my book review, which is the last thing I have to do on my third module: after this, it's just one module, and then I'm all done! Hurrah!
Until next week 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, November 25, 2008
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