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