an introduction to the nations... Timber

The student nations are a huge part of the student community at Uppsala and are described by the student union as,

"...a place where you can feel at home with hundreds of other students – you will work there, you will party there, you will definitely make friends there! It is much more like a family than a pub or a restaurant or anything like that, and as such you should treat your nation with respect."

In the first week of the semester every student is given a temporary student nation card to try out each of the 13 nations. I've been told that you get a feel for one that suits you but I'm still undecided on which one to join! It costs roughly £30 to join a nation - you want to choose one that you'll reap the most benefits from. For example I fancy joining Stockholm meaning I would get free entry to their club on a Thursday night and save £6 every week. However, one of the other nations, Smalands, has a flea market and a craft & fika night which I think sounds perfect. I'll hopefully make a decision by Sunday!

As I said I have been given a temporary nation card. During this week, orientation week, my friends and I have tried to attend events at as many nations as we can. So on Monday night we went along to a pub quiz. Although we didn't exactly score high, it gave me the chance to see what the pub was like and also to try the apple cider - it's delicious! It might even be better than peach lambrini... After the pub quiz we headed to another nation for 'traditional swedish dancing'. We were told that these dances would be useful for attending gasques (basically a fancy party) but what I saw didn't really add up. We arrived a little late and so just kind of joined in. After teaching a couple of dance moves the girl organising the event started playing Timber by Pitbull and Kesha... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHUbLv4ThOo) 

I think the organisers were just trying to get a laugh out of a hundred international students making fools of themselves. The moves included pretending to ski and pointing at my bingo wing guns ..not exactly traditional. Either way I have to admit I did bring out the Timber moves when we went to the club. Cringey I know but luckily I wasn't the only one.

Although we left early we weren't exactly ready to go home. About an hour later we had wormed our way into an initiation party for the Swedish Law students. I wish I had my camera! There were heaps of them running about, dressed as Ash for Pokemon, Princess Peach, Ghostbusters, Vikings and some costumes I couldn't work out. Being in the club was kind of surreal. They played all the songs you'd expect to hear in a club in Aberdeen but then I'd look out the window and see everything covered in snow, or look up at the wall and see giant portraits of who I'm assuming are pretty important students from the past. It one of the strangest and funniest nights I've ever had. From what I've seen I would definitely recommend an exchange trip to anyone!!!!

Instagram

Some of you might be aware that I have broken the camera on my phone and so can only take 'selfie' photos. One of my friends took a picture which I uploaded on Instagram and my instagram username is "clairejm13". However you can look at professional photos of Uppsala through the account "meetjulian". The account is from an local man who uploads beautiful photos of this snow covered city! 

when in Rome

Saturday was a stereotypical tourist day. My buddy, Julia, arranged for me to meet some other new students and we did a walking tour of the city and she showed me where I will be studying (Bläusenhus). We had our first fika (an excuse to eat cake every afternoon) and went to the wonder that is IKEA. Although it was pretty much identical to every other IKEA store it was pretty exciting to be sitting in Sweden having Swedish meatballs. I didn’t need to buy much as my HUMUNGOUS suitcases held nearly everything I could need. I did, however, spend about half an hour deciding which pillow to buy. At this point I thought I had broken the family camera, but according to Sarah and dad I hadn't taken the photography course... basically the battery is too small for the charger. I'm sure I'll be back to IKEA photos soon though!

After traipsing back to my accommodation we went to the local shop intending to cook a meal for dinner… salad and cookies. The plan was to go to a party afterwards but we spent so long speaking and chucking hot water into the cold air that it was too late to go anywhere but bed. Although I've barely been here I am still amazed at the cultural differences. Also no one seems to believe that I'm scottish. So far everything seems to think I'm american, one brazilian guy asked if I was estonian and a girl from Australia asked if english was my second language... Slightly worrying when I spent so much of last semester studying communication

catching up

Although I haven't posted anything since I arrived here, I have been keeping a note of everything. It's actually hard to not write everything because so much seems to happen in one day!

Anyway, this was my first day...

First impressions

My journey to Uppsala was pretty smooth and everyone I spoke to was so friendly and helpful. When I arrived in Copenhagen I could tell the temperature was below freezing and I was slightly disappointed to see what looked like left over snow. However as I sat down at the gate, waiting for my flight to Stockholm, it began to snow!!! Flying into Stockholm was like a movie. Beneath the clouds all I could see was trees and land covered in snow, they looked like Christmas trees! I decided that if this is what to expect in Uppsala, I had definitely chosen the right place. I made it Uppsala no bother but obviously screamed newbie as the taxi driver charged me the equivalent of £15 for a 2 minute taxi ride… #muggedoff

My first stop was the Vastgota Nation, which I still can’t pronounce correctly. Here I picked up my welcome pack and the keys to my room. At this point I realised that losing my earmuffs on the way and packing my gloves in my case was verrry stupid. I was waiting for the transport to Flogsta (my accommodation) for almost an hour. Although this was a great time to meet people I thought my toes were going to fall off. NOTE:- currently -7c.

P.S. I'm not sure how to change the time stamp on my posts but it is 16:10 just now so 15:10 at home J

my last week in Aberdeen

The past seven days have been absolutely perfect! On Saturday morning I went for a hand and arm massage with my family followed by lunch and macarons from Almondine. That night I had my last night out with my friends. For anyone who hasn't been to Club Vogue in Aberdeen - it is definitely worth a visit! It couldn't get much better with the dj playing the Spice Girls and the Backstreet Boys all night long. Anyway the rest of the week went just as fabulously - my 20th birthday (as always my family and friends were far too generous), a trip to Edinburgh to visit the Zoo, do some shopping and see the Lion King Musical, finished off with final bits and bobs and lunch at the lovely Rustico on Union Row. 

Tonight, however, is a different story. As mentioned in my last post I have been watching far too much Modern Family in the last 24hrs (in which time I should have been packing). I am now left with 8hrs before my flight, a room covered in 'stuff' and two suitcases that are already full to the brim...

If I'm being honest I don't think it is likely I will be going to sleep tonight. 

1. I can't quite believe I am actually getting on the plane to Sweden tomorrow

2. I have so many things to find and pack before I have any hope of leaving the house

3. And finally, I can't even see my bed sheets right now, let alone have space to get under the duvet

Fortunately though, I did manage to purchase my most important items for embarking on a 5month trip to Scandinavia... (NOTE: I'm sure you will soon notice that I can't help myself when it comes to anything turquoise)

...Probably time to get back to packing and figure out what is most important for travelling to a country that is currently -11c. Wish me luck! X

my first post

Sooo I've never used or even really looked at a blog before but I figured moving to Sweden would be the right time to start. I applied for the ERASMUS programme about a year ago and now it's only 36hrs until I follow it through! I will be studying at Uppsala University, the oldest University in Sweden and is ranked in the top 100 universities in the world.

At the moment I should probably be packing but instead I'm watching my 5th episode of Modern Family tonight. I'm hoping to learn lots of new things while I'm away but unfortunately I don't think being organised will be one of those things...