First Entry (2 weeks after arrival)

I've been in the great country of Sweden for 2 weeks now and have loved every bit of it (except perhaps some of the colder moments). I am still getting settled in, but feel very comfortable in my new home. 

Uppsala Cathedral

A rundown of what I have done in the past two weeks:


The parents spent the night at our house in Boulder and then drove me to DIA for my flight. We had to rearrange my bags because my large suitcase was overweight and would have cost $200! Flew to O'Hare and found that two girls also from CU going to Sweden were on the same flights as me. We worked our way to the international terminal in Chicago and boarded a very nice Scandinavian Airlines plane around 4pm. I was in the second to last row on the plane. Every seat had its own TV, blanket, pillow, and we were served two meals on the 8.5 hour flight overnight to Stockholm. I talked to the one person sitting next to me, Josie, and she turned out to be a student at Uppsala and an international officer at one of the nations so she was great to talk to for almost half the flight as neither of us could sleep very well. Once we arrived in Stockholm at 8am and still mostly dark I was told one of my bags did not make the plane to Stockholm (a nice thing in hindsight, as it was the huge heavy suitcase that was eventually deliver right to my room in Uppsala instead of me dragging it around Stockholm and Uppsala). Josie helped the 2 girls from CU and me around the Stockholm airport and the 3 of them caught a bus up to Uppsala, while I caught a bus to downtown, Old Town Stockholm. After wandering around a little lost I found my way to my hostel and checked in around 11am. Having not slept on the plane I was exhausted and slept for 3-4 hours in the hostel. I wandered around the shopping area of Stockholm, got a panini, purchased a Swedish cell phone and some toiletries. Hung out in the common area of the hostel and starting talking to a group from Switzerland as well as others from Spain. We eventually went out to a near by Irish pub which had an awesome live band. Beer and everything else here is very expensive! I also gambled for the first time with two hands of blackjack at the pub. (Only lost about 5 dollars). 


The next morning (Saturday) I caught the train to Uppsala. By chance I met two more girls from CU going to Uppsala and also met two Australian girls also headed there. We were all very weighed down with luggage. The two Aussies Laura and Catherine joined me in meeting my buddy Ava in Uppsala and she guided us two the housing office to get our keys. Then we went to the international office to check in with our advisor and then two my new residence: 

Rackarbergsgatan 24, 433

SE-752 32 Uppsala
Sweden 

My room

I slept that afternoon until the next morning after arriving in my room.

Met one of my Swedish corridor mates Nils and later met Louisa and John also from Sweden. The other room belongs to Nick who is also from CU (although we never knew each other before). Nick and I went on a guided tour of Uppsala for new International Students. It was raining! Meet some more international students including a group of girls from Minnesota. Had fika (afternoon coffee/tea and pastries, a Swedish tradition) with a large group after the tour. Had a brunch and smorgasbord at two nations for lunch and dinner. 

Nations are like student groups/fraternities/social groups with their own pubs, cafes, study areas, and some even their own clubs normally once a week. There are 13 nations in Uppsala and they date from the 1600s when students from the different regions or nations of Sweden would be part of their nation while in Uppsala. We as international students can choose any nation to join.

Monday 

went to a MAX burger place (Swedish equivalent of McDonalds) then to IKEA for some room essentials. Registered for my classes and then attended and international students welcome talk and an introduction talk to all of my Sustainable Development classes. The met up with other internationals for fika and then the pubs. 

Proof I'm actually in Sweden, dressing very European, and shooting cannons

Tuesday 

had my first class Climate Change Leadership. Very interesting talk by one of the many guest lecturers we will have. It is a very diverse group of students. At least are masters students and there are only 3 Americans and maybe 6 native english speakers in a class of 40. Learned more about the different nations at the international student fair. That night Nick and I went to the first club night of the year at Snierkes Nation. The queue was extremely long and not moving so we went to two different nation pubs with some internationals from Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy before finally getting into the club around 11:30. There are coat checks at all the nations and once in we had our choice of about 4 bars and 3 dancefloors. Very fun time.

Wednesday

had CCL again and then that evening had Sustainable Design. SD should be interesting because I've never really focused on the design side of problems. Really focuses on a very creative approach. Went out to V-Dala and then Norrlands pub with many international students. Met a friend of a friend, Max, from CU who has been studying in Uppsala since August. We went to Norrlands club night after the pub too, but Snierkes was much better.

Thursday

didn't have any class so I slept in still not quite on Sweden time. Took it very easy for the afternoon. Went to the grocery store for some basic food and also the Systembolaget, the Swedish state monopoly on liquor sales. At night went out to another nation club, Stockholms Nation. Had to wait in line for an hour+ but meet and talked to 4 Swedish girls waiting to get in. Once in I met up with the Aussies and some Canadians I had met earlier in the week as well meeting up again with the Swedes from the line. 

Scenes around Uppsala

Friday 

also don't have class. Nick and I finally went out, toured around the city some more, went into the cathedral and walked by the castle, and used our cameras around town which I will try to post or set up a link too. Also got a scarf, which has been a great purchase in this rather chilly town! Friday night we were back out again going to Varmlands Nation club. We had dinner early at the Varmlands pub and stayed there until the club started in order to avoid standing outside in line again. 

Things get very crowded in the clubs and the Swedes are very pushy! I have met some very nice people here, but it is easier to meet internationals than Swedes at least initially because the internationals are also very eager to meet new people and the Swedes are more reserved so you have to be the one to initiate a conversation.

At Varmlands

Saturday

Took it easy until catching a bus to Flogsta with Nick, an area of 10 high rise buildings where many students, particularly internationals live. We got food at the local supermarket and made burritos in our friend Laurie's corridor with two other new friends too. With this group of 5 we are trying to plan a trip to the North of Sweden above the Arctic Circle. Later we went to a crazy and packed corridor party in Flogsta. It was a blue party so everyone was to wear blue. The corridor was packed with maybe 100 people and a DJ! I walked the 20 minutes home in the cold later at night and luckily made all of the right turns to get back to my accommodation!

Blue for the party

Sunday
Finally a day of rest and not going out at night. Took it easy and attempted to watch some of the NFL playoff games streamed online as well as watching some TV shows online. Watched How I Met Your Mother episodes with the Minnesota girls who live nearby.

So there is the summary for the first week. I will try to post more often so I can remember more and keep you all up to date.

Jesse