Hej allesammans! I decided to do the blog a bit later this week, as I leave Sweden for manic cross-country travelling shenannigans of WIN next Sunday: due to said shenannigans, I will probably be unable to access t'internet for a while, so by blogging this Saturday and next Saturday, I will be keeping you as up to date as possible. Simple, really.
This week has seen the arrival of December, which has taken me by surprise: November went surprisingly quickly, especially compared to the other months I've been here. As you may have guessed from the title, I am fighting a losing battle with that most elusive of concepts: time. So much of it, and yet so little! Currently, I am spending a lot of time reading Shakespeare for my ridiculously long 15 page essay that I ideally need to finish before Friday. The Bard, surprisingly to some, does not always make a good read: his killing off of Arthur in King John is seriously lame: it is akin to Sirius' death in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Still, on the whole, his reputation as the best writer of the English language is probably justified. Richard III, incidentally, is deliciously evil: I'm writing specifically about how Shakespeare distorts history, and he doesn't half distort Richard!
Naturally, December has brought with it lots of Christmassy stuff: Advent candles, Advent wreaths (the ones I've seen on people's front gates are absolute monsters), and lots of Christmas lights. If there's one place that does Christmas well, and doesn't make it overly tacky, I'd have to go with Sweden. Much better than in England, where the merchandise comes out in July and Woolworths goes into administration! Still, I do miss some aspects of English Christmas: no mince pies are to be found here, and the Swedes are not as familiar with A Christmas Carol, or even The Muppets' Christmas Carol, which in my mind is essential Christmas Eve viewing.
Lastly, my InterRail pass has finally arrived, meaning that I have a definite ticket home for January, hooray! It will have been over 19 weeks since I left England by the time I return, so I'm looking forward to going back.
Until next time 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.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
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1 comment:
i was wondering if you could do me a huge favor and answer a few questions. i go to berkeley and am thinking about studying abroad at a scandinavian country.
my top three choices are: uppsala, goteborg, or copenhagen
i ruled out finland and norway because i heard the weather there sucks
anyways, here are my questions:
* are the classes interesting and challenging at uppsala?
* does uppsala have a good reputation?
* whats the dating scene there like?
* are people open to dating blacks/asians/hispanics?
* are the swedes really cold and shy?
* would you recommend uppsala goteborg or copenhagen?
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