Autumn in Sweden

Hej there!

Well I think the above quote is something I will have to keep in mind to get through the coming winter. It's getting cold! Though I don't mind that so much, it's just all the rain that is frustrating - especially when a bicycle is your main form of transport! But, what can you do?!?! I'm sure I will survive, just need to stock up on the waterproof clothing.

So, it's been a while since I have added to this page. It's not that I haven't got anything to say, but you know, you get in a routine and things start to get normal, so it doesn't seem so interesting. But I am still having a great time!

Have to go back, try and recap the highlights of the last month.... you may be surprised to hear I haven't left Sweden for all that time, and I have only left Linköping for one day in that time as well. So I have well and truly been getting settled down here into life in a Swedish town.

Earlier on in the month, we had a few big student parties at the university. This entailed getting dressed in an overall, picture something a plumber or electrician wears. Yes, it's tradition over here to wear this sort of thing at the student parties, known as kravalls. So we have been at a few kravalls, pretty fun, music is usually okay there. One was called Intervallen, held by the international students. So there were bars from Russia, Germany, Finland, France, Italy and Spain. So from each you buy some local food and drinks. Was a fun night, will put some photos on the photo page.

Have also had some relaxing nights, escaping the cold. Myself and some others have really been trying to improve our Swedish, so we have had a couple of nights where we get together and speak only Swedish, with at least one native speaker, so that has been a good opportunity. We also watched Finding Nemo with Swedish voices and subtitles together, so that was really helpful as well.

Believe it or not, I have been doing a little bit of study as well! For our Nordic Culture class, we had to do a group report about our opinions on the area, that went well. We also had to write individual reports, so that kept me busy for a day or so. Swedish language class is coming along quite good as well.

After a couple of months of only going to the student pub, I have finally made it into the city to experience the nightlife there. There are two main nightclubs here, BK and Platå. Have been at BK for a couple of Saturday nights with one friend Sven, and a big group of us have gone a couple of times to Platå, tonight included. Thursday there is student night, which entails free entry, and half-price drinks. So a good deal. Though the problem with the declining temperature and increasing occurence of rain, is that it makes it harder to ride your bike home after such evenings. We live about 10 minutes cycle away from the city centre, but I think it takes just as long by the time you find a taxi etc., so I usually prefer to ride, as long as it's not absolutely pouring down. But I have had some good nights out, it's usually a lot of fun and decent music. They also have blackjack tables inside BK, but I have managed to resist the temptation.

So, apart from that, it has just been a lot of relaxing and hanging out with friends. I'm usually in the city every day or so for a coffee, and other times a few of us together for a fika (Swedish for a coffee break). Went to play billiards the other night, and I also recently caught up with my Swedish friend Elin, which was nice to see her again. Also been a few parties here in people's corridors, so there is usually always something to do. And the times that there isn't, I'm usually grateful for the night off!!

On Monday, myself and two friends, Astrid and Kristin, took a day trip. It took 4 hours there and 4 hours back on the bus, to spend 6 hours in Göteborg (Gothenburg), but I tried not to think about that. Göteborg is Sweden's second-largest city, and you could clearly tell the difference from here. We spent most of the day wandering around, visited the nice city park which was great, and were able to see some moose and deer which was cool. No particular big landmarks to see, but was surely a nice place to spend the day.

Had a funny time on Tuesday night/ Wednesday morning.... went to the student pub, which closed at 2am, so a few of us went back to one corridor, where we just sat around talking and listening to music... anyway 6 hours later, I finally got to bed at 8am! Lucky for me my lectures are almost non-existent at the moment, and start at 5pm when they are on. But yes, was yet another good night.

In any case, I wanted to write this now, even though it's 3am, cause I leave to Paris in the morning. Will be there for 6 days or so, to catch up on what I missed last time. So will have something more to talk about soon!

Hope all is well, take care
Scott