My first full weekend in Stockholm was full of exploration. I went to the Nobel Museum and learned all about the prize that Stockholm is famous for - the Nobel Prize. This little museum in the heart of Gamla Stan is home to facts about the prize creator, Alfred Nobel, and many of the prize's recipients. It was really neat! There were videos about some of the winners so I learned about Marie Curie and others. There were also figures to help illustrate the winning achievement. Linus Pauling (winner of 2 Nobel prizes) was showcased by a model of a chemical he discovered the structure for. Marie Curie had an "air-free balance" to accurately weigh out her compounds. Another winner whose name I can't remember was represented by a camera for x-ray crystallography and there was a ball and stick model of hemoglobin, the blood protein, above it. I was really excited about this because I was remembering all I learned about hemoglobin from biochem last semester! There was, of course, a ball and stick model of Watson and Crick's DNA and, last but not least, a petri dish with penecillin on it! It was a scientist's (or Nobel prize lover's) dream! Of course they all aren't scienctists. The Nobel Prize is also awarded in the categories of Peace, Literature, and Economics along with the sciences of Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine. It was really neat! I am looking forward to going to more museums around Stockholm and I have decided I will probably spend most of my money going to museums. That is just fine by me!
I then spent some time wandering around Horgoret. This is in the heart of Stockholm and has lots of nice looking buildings as well as nice shopping! I just wandered from store to store to see what was there. Of course I went to H&M and saw some amazing cute clothes! My favorite find was a small second hand store (kind of like Goodwill) that had a wonderful selection of clothes at reasonable prices. I was having a hard time knowing what size I was since everything is European sizes so I didn't buy anything. I think I will be going back though! After my wanderings and arriving home safely, I decided that wandering was the best way to see the town. With no destination, anything is possible!
I guess I should also say that I went to see Narnia with Emelie and cried a little at how much movies are over here. I paid 125 kr for the ticket. That is about $20 for a movie. Yikes! However, I love Narnia and I got to spend time with my host sister so it was just fine in the end. I don't think I'll be seeing very many movies here though. Unless I am sitting comfortably in my apartment! :)
On Sunday, I found 2 wonderful things. The first was a place called the "Student Palace" which is a building for students at the university dedicated to studying. That's right. Studying. It's not a library but a building with tables! It was so cool! I spent a few hours reading my books for class. I will probably go there often especially since it's close to the Hard Rock Cafe in Stockholm! I also found a small church a lot like Richwoods back home. I was greeted warmly and really enjoyed worship with others in Stockholm. One of my favorite parts of the service was that I got to show all 40 people there how to do the twist! :) I was really surprised that I was the only one who knew how to do it (or at least volunteered to share that I did) but then I remembered that I am in Sweden and not everyone knows what I know!
That's all for now. I am off to do some swing dancing with some students on campus! I'll let you all know how that goes!
Swedish word of the day: "Jag" which means I. This is (of course) a very common word in Swedish. I find it really interesting that I is very close to yes (Ja).
Swedish fact of the day: Sweden is most known for being a welfare state. All the citizens receive health care, a pension, and many other benefits for life from the state. This comes out of the idea that the government sees itself as a protector for its people. It seems to be working out pretty well for the Swedes who are able to care very well for all of their citizens. My host sister said that the universal health care was her favorite part of Sweden!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Hello from Stockholm!
I have arrived and have spent a whole 4 days here. It's hard to believe it's only been 4 days. I've done so much! Where to begin...at the beginning I guess.
My flight here was uneventful. I shed a few tears before I went through security and then was on my way to lovely Scandinavia. I couldn't sleep much on the plane but the food was delicious so that was ok! I then rode to my new home away from home and met my host family. (pictures below) We went on a walk as the sun was shining and it was only -5C (that's like 20F). My host sister, Emelie, and I ended up taking pictures all day and watching One Tree Hill. Yes that wonderful CW show that all American's love. I'm always so surprised at how much American media is in Europe! My host brother, Kevin, loves to watch The Simpsons and Family Guy so I get a taste of America almost everyday. :) Annica, my host mom, is a wonderful cook and has made me things like Swedish meatballs and a traditional Swedish fish (I can't remember the name). She always makes too much food but it is so delicious! I even get to help cook dinner some nights which is awesome!
The next day was the first day of orientation. I meet more program students (there are 45 of us total) as well as all of the staff. It was a lot of information AND I even learned some Swedish! The hardest part of my day was finding my way around town. I have to take a bus and then the subway (tunnelbana) to get to the university and it takes me about an hour from door to classroom. That is plenty of time to do some people watching! All types of people ride the public transportation so it's really nice!
I have also gotten to do some touristy things. We went to Gamla Stan and then to Sandhamn (an island in the archipelago). Both were beautiful and I learned a lot about Stockholm. Gamla Stan is the old town and it wonderful The royal palace is there and we toured the inside of the church. My favorite was the statue of St. George and the Dragon (seen below). It tells the story of how St. George saved Stockholm from the dragon...it might be a fairy tale but it still means a lot to the Swedes!
My flight here was uneventful. I shed a few tears before I went through security and then was on my way to lovely Scandinavia. I couldn't sleep much on the plane but the food was delicious so that was ok! I then rode to my new home away from home and met my host family. (pictures below) We went on a walk as the sun was shining and it was only -5C (that's like 20F). My host sister, Emelie, and I ended up taking pictures all day and watching One Tree Hill. Yes that wonderful CW show that all American's love. I'm always so surprised at how much American media is in Europe! My host brother, Kevin, loves to watch The Simpsons and Family Guy so I get a taste of America almost everyday. :) Annica, my host mom, is a wonderful cook and has made me things like Swedish meatballs and a traditional Swedish fish (I can't remember the name). She always makes too much food but it is so delicious! I even get to help cook dinner some nights which is awesome!
The next day was the first day of orientation. I meet more program students (there are 45 of us total) as well as all of the staff. It was a lot of information AND I even learned some Swedish! The hardest part of my day was finding my way around town. I have to take a bus and then the subway (tunnelbana) to get to the university and it takes me about an hour from door to classroom. That is plenty of time to do some people watching! All types of people ride the public transportation so it's really nice!
I have also gotten to do some touristy things. We went to Gamla Stan and then to Sandhamn (an island in the archipelago). Both were beautiful and I learned a lot about Stockholm. Gamla Stan is the old town and it wonderful The royal palace is there and we toured the inside of the church. My favorite was the statue of St. George and the Dragon (seen below). It tells the story of how St. George saved Stockholm from the dragon...it might be a fairy tale but it still means a lot to the Swedes!
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| St. George defeats the Dragon (photo credit Marie A.) Classes start up on Monday but first is a fun filled weekend of adventure around town. We will see what the weekend holds! Swedish word of the day: bor. It means live. I might tell someone “Jag bor i Bromma.” Meaning I live in Bromma! Swedish fact of the day: The Royal palace in Gamla Stan has a king’s side (complete with cannons – seen below) and a queen’s side with gardens and water. To each his/her own view!  |
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
I just had to share
I was looking up weather facts for Sweden and came across this wonderful fact.
The Celsius temperature scale was named after Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius who lived in the early 1700s. Without this inventive Swedish man, all of science would be measuring temperature very differently! Let's all take a moment to thank Sweden for their scientific contributions....
Thank you all for sharing in this. And for those of you who are dying to know all about Sweden's weather here is the low down. Average temp in Stockholm during January is 27F and in July is 63F. They do experience all 4 seasons. It shouldn't be too cold while I am there but cold enough to keep me bundled up. Stockholm is farther south and is right on the water (next to a warm water current) which helps keep it warm. In the far north regions of Sweden, above the Arctic Circle, it gets pretty chilly and day light is constant in the summer and non-existent in the winter. I won't be that far north but I hopefully will still see some of the lovely auroras!
That's all for now. Now on to more packing!
The Celsius temperature scale was named after Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius who lived in the early 1700s. Without this inventive Swedish man, all of science would be measuring temperature very differently! Let's all take a moment to thank Sweden for their scientific contributions....
Thank you all for sharing in this. And for those of you who are dying to know all about Sweden's weather here is the low down. Average temp in Stockholm during January is 27F and in July is 63F. They do experience all 4 seasons. It shouldn't be too cold while I am there but cold enough to keep me bundled up. Stockholm is farther south and is right on the water (next to a warm water current) which helps keep it warm. In the far north regions of Sweden, above the Arctic Circle, it gets pretty chilly and day light is constant in the summer and non-existent in the winter. I won't be that far north but I hopefully will still see some of the lovely auroras!
That's all for now. Now on to more packing!
Monday, January 17, 2011
It's getting closer
I am getting really excited! My departure is 5 days away!!!! I can't believe it. It seems really surreal. I will be spending a semester in Stockholm. Away from the familiar but in the middle of excitement! And for those of you who are wondering. Haven't packed anything...I have only made a list! :)
I got some exciting news a few days ago. I found out about my host family. I am living with a single mom and her two kids who are 15 and 12 (a boy and a girl). They seem really awesome and we already have a lot in common. They like to speak English (hooray!) and cook and bake and hang out. I know they like to travel as well so I am excited to hear all of their stories. I was really excited about being assigned this family because I feel like they are a lot like my family back home. A single parent raising two kids. It will be so cool to see how they live their lives compared to what I have experienced her at home. I don't have any idea what they look like but they are Swedish so I am sure they are wonderful looking!
My plans before I go include a lot of packing, hanging out with friends, and eating American food. I might also watch some of my favorite movies. Even though this doesn't seem like a lot my schedule has filled up quite quickly! :)
Swedish Word of the Day: tunnelbana. This is the subway system in Stockholm. I will become very familiar with this while I'm there (hopefully). Right now it looks utterly confusing and I feel like I'll never get it! oh well....
Random Swedish Fact of the Day: Carl Linnaeus is a famous natural scientist from Sweden. He is most known for classificiation of flora and fauna but most Swedes know him as an explorer and traveler. He lived from 1707 to 1778. Carl was recently put on the 10 kronor bill. (kronors are Swedish money...it's kind of a complicated system and I don't quite understand the conversion yet..)
That's all for now. I hope you enjoyed!
I got some exciting news a few days ago. I found out about my host family. I am living with a single mom and her two kids who are 15 and 12 (a boy and a girl). They seem really awesome and we already have a lot in common. They like to speak English (hooray!) and cook and bake and hang out. I know they like to travel as well so I am excited to hear all of their stories. I was really excited about being assigned this family because I feel like they are a lot like my family back home. A single parent raising two kids. It will be so cool to see how they live their lives compared to what I have experienced her at home. I don't have any idea what they look like but they are Swedish so I am sure they are wonderful looking!
My plans before I go include a lot of packing, hanging out with friends, and eating American food. I might also watch some of my favorite movies. Even though this doesn't seem like a lot my schedule has filled up quite quickly! :)
Swedish Word of the Day: tunnelbana. This is the subway system in Stockholm. I will become very familiar with this while I'm there (hopefully). Right now it looks utterly confusing and I feel like I'll never get it! oh well....
Random Swedish Fact of the Day: Carl Linnaeus is a famous natural scientist from Sweden. He is most known for classificiation of flora and fauna but most Swedes know him as an explorer and traveler. He lived from 1707 to 1778. Carl was recently put on the 10 kronor bill. (kronors are Swedish money...it's kind of a complicated system and I don't quite understand the conversion yet..)
That's all for now. I hope you enjoyed!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Preparations
Hi all and welcome to my blog about my semester in Sweden!
I am 16 days away from departure and I am getting really excited! I can't wait to experience what Stockholm has for me this semester. I'm also excited for you to all experience it with me. That's why I have this blog. I want you to know what cool things happen in Sweden and what I'm up to. I will be updating this at least once a week if not more! :) I hope you enjoy it.
To get us all acclimated to Sweden I thought I would have a few things to provide us some Swedish culture!
First, the Swedish Word of the day: Hej (the j is pronounced like the y in yellow) and this means hello. If you want to know some other basic Swedish greetings look here. These will be the words I use all the time while I am there. And who knows, I might pick up an accent while I am there!
Second, the random Swedish Fact of the day: there are 9.4 million people in Sweden. I thought we would start off simple since most of us know nothing about Sweden! There are almost 13 million people in Illinois so Sweden is smaller than Illinois! That's always weird to think about a country being smaller than the state I live in, but that is Europe for you!
If you, my dear readers, ever want to know something about Sweden just let me know and I'll look it up for you. I'm sure someone else wants to know about it too!
That's all for today. I'll give you more updates soon!
I am 16 days away from departure and I am getting really excited! I can't wait to experience what Stockholm has for me this semester. I'm also excited for you to all experience it with me. That's why I have this blog. I want you to know what cool things happen in Sweden and what I'm up to. I will be updating this at least once a week if not more! :) I hope you enjoy it.
To get us all acclimated to Sweden I thought I would have a few things to provide us some Swedish culture!
First, the Swedish Word of the day: Hej (the j is pronounced like the y in yellow) and this means hello. If you want to know some other basic Swedish greetings look here. These will be the words I use all the time while I am there. And who knows, I might pick up an accent while I am there!
Second, the random Swedish Fact of the day: there are 9.4 million people in Sweden. I thought we would start off simple since most of us know nothing about Sweden! There are almost 13 million people in Illinois so Sweden is smaller than Illinois! That's always weird to think about a country being smaller than the state I live in, but that is Europe for you!
If you, my dear readers, ever want to know something about Sweden just let me know and I'll look it up for you. I'm sure someone else wants to know about it too!
That's all for today. I'll give you more updates soon!
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