Dear readers,
I wish you all a great Easter Vacation and lots of fun times with your friends and families or by yourselves, whatever you choose to do over the break.
SLU campus is totally dead. Almost all people have left. That IS another thing to mention about living on campus. Around holidays seemingly everyone leaves campus to go home or on vacation for this Easter weekend. People already started to leave at the beginning of this week and now after a week of people leaving, the place is more or less completely desolate. (Over the Easter weekend people have several days off, or they take several days off from work, so it's a real vacation for everyone!)
While everyone leaving campus can mean that SLU campus becomes incredibly boring, I sort of like the lack of people and most of all DOGS!!!! There are dogs everywhere here!!!! Besides this, the dogs have hairdos!!!! This is the first country I've ever been in where I've seen many dogs with different hairdos. I mean that's unique to say the least!!!! Anyway, back to the point, there's no one here. I like the emptiness. I can play loud music whenever I want and hang out in the yard without being distracted by some people walking by.
During the past few days I've been working on my Master's degree and calculating things in R and enjoying the nicer weather that's starting to appear here in Uppsala. The sun has been shining for many hours during the past few days.
I wish everyone a great and relaxing weekend!
Julian
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Studying in Sweden From an American Perspective Part IV - Swedish Culture
Dear readers,
This blog is a continuation of my last blogs on what it's like to study in Sweden from an American perspective. In this blog I will discuss the Swedish culture and in my next blog (the last one of this series) I will write about Swedish food, as I've been requested to do. :-)
So what's Swedish culture like? Very interesting and unique indeed. There are many things in Swedish culture that revolve around the very extreme weather contrasts that occur on an annual basis here, namely a very cold, long and dark winter, and a short, light and warm summer. The winters generally last from end of October or November to end of March, with December being the darkest months where the sun rises around 8:30 and sets and 14:30. During the summer sunrise may be around 3:30 and sunset around 23:30.
During the winter many Swedes love to go to the saunas. As you probably already know from my previous blogs I also frequently attended sauna sessions during the winter. I think it's a great way to sweat and sit in a warm room where you can forget about the frigid outside winter temperatures.
In addition to going to saunas, many Swedes ski during the winter. There are IDEAL cross-country skiing conditions here during the winter (at least during this winter). There are many cross-country skiing courses close to Uppsala that run along some extremely picturesque winter countryside. Really a great way to get out during the day and get your exercise.
On Lake Mälaren, the lake south of SLU and Uppsala (which also leads all the way down to Stockholm) there are some great ice skating conditions during the winter. During the coldest months the city of Uppsala plows the snow on the ice from south of Uppsala all the way to Stockholm. So there's plenty of distance to go on ice skates. It's free to ice skate on the lake and a wonderful way to experience the sunny but cold Swedish winter days.
During the summer months Swedes are OUTSIDE all the time. As you will also experience, as soon as the warm sun re-emerges after a cold and long winter you will want to be outside and in the sun all the time. Swedes love to be outside and have barbecues. Now as the weather is warming up here more and more people are going out to eat, read, relax, party and barbecue. Lots of fun!
Finally, Swedes are always up for a beer or a nice Koskenkorva vodka with a pine branch in it in the saunas. This is one of the Swedish cultural facets that I love most. A great way to pre-game before a party: do some physical activity or play sports (for example soccer), head into the sauna after that and enjoy some beer and vodka. The night will surely be a fun one! :-)
The northern people- the Swedes' culture resembles our usual impression of the "western" culture, with a few quirks. Swedish people are very, very friendly and helpful. I've never had a problem with rude or unfriendly Swedish people. Finally, Swedish people have a very special sense of humour that I've not fully grasped either and I can't explain. It's strange, that's all I have to say. Strange in a positive way. Quirky is maybe the right word. You'll have to figure that one out for yourselves! :-D
As usual, take it easy my readers and stay tuned for my next blog on Swedish food!
Julian
This blog is a continuation of my last blogs on what it's like to study in Sweden from an American perspective. In this blog I will discuss the Swedish culture and in my next blog (the last one of this series) I will write about Swedish food, as I've been requested to do. :-)
So what's Swedish culture like? Very interesting and unique indeed. There are many things in Swedish culture that revolve around the very extreme weather contrasts that occur on an annual basis here, namely a very cold, long and dark winter, and a short, light and warm summer. The winters generally last from end of October or November to end of March, with December being the darkest months where the sun rises around 8:30 and sets and 14:30. During the summer sunrise may be around 3:30 and sunset around 23:30.
During the winter many Swedes love to go to the saunas. As you probably already know from my previous blogs I also frequently attended sauna sessions during the winter. I think it's a great way to sweat and sit in a warm room where you can forget about the frigid outside winter temperatures.
In addition to going to saunas, many Swedes ski during the winter. There are IDEAL cross-country skiing conditions here during the winter (at least during this winter). There are many cross-country skiing courses close to Uppsala that run along some extremely picturesque winter countryside. Really a great way to get out during the day and get your exercise.
On Lake Mälaren, the lake south of SLU and Uppsala (which also leads all the way down to Stockholm) there are some great ice skating conditions during the winter. During the coldest months the city of Uppsala plows the snow on the ice from south of Uppsala all the way to Stockholm. So there's plenty of distance to go on ice skates. It's free to ice skate on the lake and a wonderful way to experience the sunny but cold Swedish winter days.
During the summer months Swedes are OUTSIDE all the time. As you will also experience, as soon as the warm sun re-emerges after a cold and long winter you will want to be outside and in the sun all the time. Swedes love to be outside and have barbecues. Now as the weather is warming up here more and more people are going out to eat, read, relax, party and barbecue. Lots of fun!
Finally, Swedes are always up for a beer or a nice Koskenkorva vodka with a pine branch in it in the saunas. This is one of the Swedish cultural facets that I love most. A great way to pre-game before a party: do some physical activity or play sports (for example soccer), head into the sauna after that and enjoy some beer and vodka. The night will surely be a fun one! :-)
The northern people- the Swedes' culture resembles our usual impression of the "western" culture, with a few quirks. Swedish people are very, very friendly and helpful. I've never had a problem with rude or unfriendly Swedish people. Finally, Swedish people have a very special sense of humour that I've not fully grasped either and I can't explain. It's strange, that's all I have to say. Strange in a positive way. Quirky is maybe the right word. You'll have to figure that one out for yourselves! :-D
As usual, take it easy my readers and stay tuned for my next blog on Swedish food!
Julian
Monday, April 11, 2011
Studying in Sweden From an American Perspective Part IV
Dear Readers,
Welcome back to my blog! You haven't seen very much activity from me over the past week. I've been really busy with my Master's Thesis. Currently I'm doing a wide range of statistical tests in the statistics computer program "R". All is going well and my first draft is due this coming Friday! So lots going on!
I've also started working. I coach kids aged between 12 and 18 rowing at a private boarding school 30 kilometres from here. I love working with the kids and it's really alot of fun training and coaching them!
The time has come for my next blog on Sweden from an American perspective.
This time I will write about something that all of you are surely interested in: PARTYING!!! Uppsala's night life is uniquely Uppsala and I guess I could put it, Uniquely Swedish. I'll explain what I mean! :-)
To begin. It is obvious that in a city with around 30,000 students there will be some hardcore partying going on. That's the case! On almost every day of the week you can find parties. If they're not at the Student Nations, the parties are at private student residencies or in corridors (dorms). There are no shortages of parties here in Uppsala. At the parties you meet many new people and can (if you want) get plenty of phone numbers, depending on your ambitions and goals. :-)
I enjoy going to the Student Nations, but after a year of living in Uppsala I feel that the parties at the Nations become somewhat monotonous. Instead I prefer going to house parties. After living in Uppsala for more than six months I have made some good friends here and always enjoy having a beer with them and hanging out. I'm sure it will be the same for you once you're studying in Uppsala.
Despite all the positive points about Uppsala's night life, there are a few minor points that I personally criticise. First of all, alcohol is REALLY expensive here in Sweden. Drinks are affordable at the nations (around $3-5 for a beer, more for cocktails and other fancy drinks), but not at all at "normal" bars where you'll end up paying around $8-10 for a beer. I think that's a little pricey. Also, when you go to the liquor store called the "Systembolaget" (the Swedish version of a massive tax revenue source; alcohol is taxed around 300% here in Sweden), I recommend to buy beer and wine and drink that. If you would like to go a little fancier, say with vodka, be prepared to shell out around $40 for a 1 litre bottle of vodka!!!! Yeah, not cool! Furthermore, parties generally end excessively early. I have also mentioned this in my earlier blogs. Most Student Nations' parties end around 2 AM and bars close around 1 AM. Additionally, when all the bars and nations close, there are only two options: 1. find an after party or 2. go to bed.
I'm a city person and am used to going out late and having countless choices of affordable and ritzy places to go to. In my opinion you can enjoy a fun night life in Uppsala, but don't expect the parties of your lives. Uppsala night life is cool but not great in my opinion. Of course I've had my fun and great times here too. Partying in Uppsala bears the Swedish restrictions: very early start and finishes to parties, limited number of places to go and expensive alcohol.
Either way, it's a nice experience here in Uppsala and despite the few negative points with partying I always have a good time here!
Take care everyone and stay tuned for my next blog which I'll post towards the end of this week!
Julian
Welcome back to my blog! You haven't seen very much activity from me over the past week. I've been really busy with my Master's Thesis. Currently I'm doing a wide range of statistical tests in the statistics computer program "R". All is going well and my first draft is due this coming Friday! So lots going on!
I've also started working. I coach kids aged between 12 and 18 rowing at a private boarding school 30 kilometres from here. I love working with the kids and it's really alot of fun training and coaching them!
The time has come for my next blog on Sweden from an American perspective.
This time I will write about something that all of you are surely interested in: PARTYING!!! Uppsala's night life is uniquely Uppsala and I guess I could put it, Uniquely Swedish. I'll explain what I mean! :-)
To begin. It is obvious that in a city with around 30,000 students there will be some hardcore partying going on. That's the case! On almost every day of the week you can find parties. If they're not at the Student Nations, the parties are at private student residencies or in corridors (dorms). There are no shortages of parties here in Uppsala. At the parties you meet many new people and can (if you want) get plenty of phone numbers, depending on your ambitions and goals. :-)
I enjoy going to the Student Nations, but after a year of living in Uppsala I feel that the parties at the Nations become somewhat monotonous. Instead I prefer going to house parties. After living in Uppsala for more than six months I have made some good friends here and always enjoy having a beer with them and hanging out. I'm sure it will be the same for you once you're studying in Uppsala.
Despite all the positive points about Uppsala's night life, there are a few minor points that I personally criticise. First of all, alcohol is REALLY expensive here in Sweden. Drinks are affordable at the nations (around $3-5 for a beer, more for cocktails and other fancy drinks), but not at all at "normal" bars where you'll end up paying around $8-10 for a beer. I think that's a little pricey. Also, when you go to the liquor store called the "Systembolaget" (the Swedish version of a massive tax revenue source; alcohol is taxed around 300% here in Sweden), I recommend to buy beer and wine and drink that. If you would like to go a little fancier, say with vodka, be prepared to shell out around $40 for a 1 litre bottle of vodka!!!! Yeah, not cool! Furthermore, parties generally end excessively early. I have also mentioned this in my earlier blogs. Most Student Nations' parties end around 2 AM and bars close around 1 AM. Additionally, when all the bars and nations close, there are only two options: 1. find an after party or 2. go to bed.
I'm a city person and am used to going out late and having countless choices of affordable and ritzy places to go to. In my opinion you can enjoy a fun night life in Uppsala, but don't expect the parties of your lives. Uppsala night life is cool but not great in my opinion. Of course I've had my fun and great times here too. Partying in Uppsala bears the Swedish restrictions: very early start and finishes to parties, limited number of places to go and expensive alcohol.
Either way, it's a nice experience here in Uppsala and despite the few negative points with partying I always have a good time here!
Take care everyone and stay tuned for my next blog which I'll post towards the end of this week!
Julian
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