Swedish Fish and Swedish Friends

I am beginning a new experiment: Swedish Fish and Swedish Friends. The delicious (made in Canada) candy "Swedish Fish" is not a known candy in Sweden. What makes a Swedish fish Swedish? No one knows. But will Swedish people like Swedish fish enough to invite them back into their country? Here are the first results of the test:

Anuja: Swedish Student
Excited to try the strange candy that claim to also be Swedish
The bite....
And the result...
GOOD!

Next up, Kristina: Swedish Student
Diving in...
AND the result........
FANTASTIC

And the last of the Swedes: Elveda
She enjoyed them, Result: tasty!
This is as far as the Swedish Fish Swedish Friends experiment has gotten, but expect more pictures soon.

Here is some bonus material:

French student studying in Sweden:

VERY GOOD!

German Student Studying in Sweden:
Well...thats almost a thumbs up....I guess thats the best I'll get from the German.

Stockholm Syndrome

This Saturday Me, Noemi (from France), and Herman (from Germany) were escorted to Stockholm by our favorite Swedish classmates Elveda, Anuja, and Kristina. (You'll eventually see pictures of everyone).

First we woke up bright and early to take the bus. Herman, me, and Kristina at the bus station excited for our upcoming adventure.
I pretty much owe this whole trip to Kristina. She was kind of our director, we would have been lost the entire time if it wasn't for her!

So first we just went walking around the city looking at all the shops. There is so much I want to get for everybody! But for the most part what you'll see is: wooden horses (classical Swedish toy), blue and yellow flags, shirts, and jerseys, annd a lot of Viking stuff.

Example of wooden horses (they were so small...awwww)
And lots of Viking stuff!
From left to right is: Anuja (Swedish), Noemi (French), Kristina (Swedish), Me (Awesome-American), and Elveda (Swedish).

After looking at all the tourist shops we headed for the royal castle where I took a lot of pictures of gaurds that never move and the gorgeous beautiful church! Pictures don't do it justice. It's beautiful. And everything is so old. They had books there from the 1500's and some of the statues were from the medieval times. It's amazing how they made such beautiful statues with...well what kind of tools did they even have?
We played around more in the streets of Stockholm. There are so many beautiful things there I was taking pictures of everything! We found a small alley and tried to stand in between the two.
The girl behind me is Elveda (she is my favorite but don't tell the others).
I kept taking pictures of buildings and statues and all my friends said it was boring and I needed to be in them...so....
I also Carl Von Linne's old house which was AWESOME because I love science. I tried to go in, but it was locked.


Our next stop was to Skansen which is kind of a zoo, but more like a history museum. It has old houses from old-time Sweden and shows what life was like in different parts of Sweden. It was pretty cool, I definitely learned a lot. We got to take a little boat trip there which was really pretty and fun.
Our boat (or båt in Swedish...pronounced boat) to Skansen.
Me and Kristina trying to look pretty despite the wind
Arrival to Skansen!
After this I got kind of tired of taking pictures. But mostly its all of pretty scenery and animals. We were hoping to go to the Vasa Museum and shopping, but were way too exhausted after all our walking (and the shops were closed by the time we were finished at Skansen). So we headed back to the train station, got some Burger King, almost missed the train after running for our lives to catch it and enjoyed our 40 minute ride reminising on our day. It was definitely a great day. I love Stockholm, I love my Swedish friends.

Now I get to start an even harder course on Monday !!!! Hooray.

So come visit me and I will take you to Stockholm and you will love it like I do :)

Final

Final today 13:00-18:00

Stockholm tomorrow with the Swedes.

Yay Stockholm.

Care Package

THANK YOU MOM AND BRITTANY!!! I should study abroad more often...

so much work!

Today my report was due and I gave my presentation. The report was supposed to be 4-10 pages and mine was 3.5 pages....Sooooo we'll see how that goes. But I felt like in just 3 pages I was already repeating myself so I just couldn't find what else to say about "The Synthesis and Separation of N,N'bis(1-phenylethyl)oxalamides." I just made this compound, separated the isomers and ran tests on it. So there wasn't much to say about it.

The presentation was definitely the most stressful part (the final is on Friday though and that will definitely be the most stressful) of today. I only had hard copies of my spectra and I needed to get them in my powerpoint or on an overhead but I didn't have a scanner or anything. So I went around to all the professors and lab teachers trying to figure this out. Nobody could help me. I found a table of some people in my class and sat down and told them what was going on. Of course I'm a stupid girl and just started crying. Luckily that ended up helping me, even though it was embarrassing. One of my friends felt so bad she took time away from her project to help me makes overheads. My presentation still ended up being really bad, because I was so frazzled and unprepared, but at least I had something! So I came to the conclusion that some Swedish people are nice (but more Americans are nice).

To celebrate the end of this class I'm going to go to Stockholm with some people in my class. I'm really excited about it. I haven't been to the city at all and I hear they have 4 different H&M's! It only takes 40 minutes to get there by bus/train. I'm sure I'll take lots of pictures.

Now I have tonight and tomorrow to study like a maniac! Oh I think I'm going to change up my schedule and take Medicinal Chemistry instead of my NMR class. It doesn't have labs and it sounds way more fun!

värmlands gasque

This Friday was Värmlands Reccegasque, a gasque for all the new students. Here's Wikipedia's definition of a gasque:

"Gask, gasque, a kind of Swedish student party which starts with a more or less formal dinner. The word is believed to originate from the card game vira, popular in the 19th century."

It was really nice and a lot of fun. I enjoyed the people, food, atmosphere, speeches (all in Swedish though), songs and traditions.

We were served a delicious three-course meal. Finally! Good Food (because I usually just eat cereal all day). So of course I had to take a picture of each delicious part

Course #1: I have no idea what it is, but it was so good. Some bread thing with some cream cheese thing on top. There was some kind of meet in the cream cheese thing but I'm not sure what it was...maybe elk? (sorry if I'm being too descriptive for you)


Course #2: Potatoes, green beans, MEAT. Perfection.


Course #3: I was so excited to eat it I forgot to take a before picture. Strawberry deliciousness with some white chocolate something or another


I was sitting next to all international students (I kind of wished I was sitting next to Swedish people...but I still loved all the international kids). This is Herman from Germany. He's in my Chemistry class (one of the only other international students that has 40 hours of class each week instead of the usually 4-6 hours...those lucky students)


And here is the dining room (and later, the downstairs dance floor). I think I was trying to take a picture of the dancers that were performing, but you can't really see them.


Apparently it is tradition there to sing songs throughout the dinner (which got kind of frustrating because I was hungry and just wanted to eat). But it was fun. Almost all the songs are about drinking, here's a link to the most famous one: Helan Går . It's not a very good link, but it's really what it's like. Everybody takes a sip of their "snaps" (shots) when they get to the second to last line, and the song is finished.

There's one song we sing in English (I think they just did it because they new a lot of international students didn't know what was going on)

Here are the lyrics:

My father makes counterfeit money,
my mother brews synthetic gin,
my sister sells kisses to sailors
and that's how the money rolls in.

Rolls in, rolls in, my god how the money
rolls in, rolls in.
Rolls in, rolls in, my god how the money
rolls in, rolls in.

My uncle's a slum missionary
saving young maidens from sin.
He'll save you a blonde for a shilling
and that's how the money rolls in.

Rolls in, rolls in...

My aunt runs a girl seminary
teaching young girls to begin.
She never tells where they're to finish
and that's how the money rolls in.

Rolls in, rolls in...

My brother's a Harley street doctor
with instruments long, sharp and thin.
He only makes one operation
and that's how the money rolls in.

Rolls in, rolls in...

My cousin's an Anglican bishop.
He's writing a book about sin.
He's written five chapter 'bout Sweden,
an that's how the money rolls in.

Rolls in, rolls in...

My father has spent all his money,
my mother has drunk all her gin.
My aunt's with my brother in prison
and so no more money rolls in.

Rolls in, rolls in...

we all put our arms around each other and sway when we sing the "and thats how the money rolls in....roooooollsssss in roooooooollssss in" It's funnnn.

The last song we sang we all had to stand up on our chairs at the end, and that's when the dinner party ends because it's bad luck to sit back down.

OH I ALMOST FORGOT. They do this really confusing thing where when you take a drink you have to tip your glass to your date, then to the person sitting on your other side, then to the person in front of you. You take a sip and do it again, except backwards. So first to the person in front of you then to the person next to you, then your date. It took me awhile to get it. And they say "skol!" instead of cheers, and you are not supposed to clink glasses, it's rude here I guess.

So after that it turned into a night club and I got to dance and get to know all my new friends (I met a lot of Germans that night).

It was definitely nice to learn a little Swedish culture. Now I just need to go to a crayfish party and I'll be set.

Cross-dressing party

There was a Cross-dressing party in Flogsta last weekend. I thought I should share some pictures from this disturbing event.


I was trying to be manly.

disturbing.

because girls often dress like this...? definitely a good one though. Thats my friend Marielle (the one with the beard obvi).


This one really captured a moment. Not sure what that face was about.

I would end this post by saying "Swedish is weird." But it was all international students so....

We live in a strange world.

Light Therapy

Today I found out that the hospital in Uppsala has a "light therapy" program for the winter time. They put you (and others) in a white robe and sit you in a green room. Can't wait for winter time!

It took me 6 hours to run my column today. I am so thankful Dr. Costanzo does not use this technique in research. I talked to a guy from Australia studying political science, he has 4 hours of class a week. I'm just a little jeal. Some of my Swedish class mates are planning a trip to Stockholm for me on the 26th (the day after our final). I'm really excited. Stockholm with actaul Swedes, man I'm lucky.

I started my Swedish class today, start expecting random Swedish words and sayings from now on.

Hej da! (Goodbye!)

Bipolar

I LOVE SWEDEN.
ha...I know.

Thursday I had my "Recce Reception" at Varmlands. It was so much fun! We got to tour the house (which is so beautiful and right by the church), mingle mingle, and then had dinner (finally a good meal). At dinner we did all the fun traditional stuff, sang songs, danced on chairs, etc. All of their songs are drinking songs. It's funny... we got a song book and a Swedish girl was translating for me, all the songs were about drinking and like, not being drunk but being "happy." Good time. It wasn't just students either, it was faculty and staff too.

Friday night they had their first club since their renovation. I went to dinner with some friends (all from France), we ate by the river, then went to the club afterwards. I love that I knew so many people there, and everybody was really friendly. I'm happy I chose to join Varmlands. Next weekend is the Reccegask, which is a big fancy party. Im supposed to wear a nice dress, hopefully one of my friends have one I can borrow.

Despite all the fun, I have a ton of work to do. The class works is piling up! I better get to it.

I miss America

I DO NOT LIKE SWEDEN TODAY.

People are mean. For instance, I am an exchange student and have to tuba-wear. I have one plate, one bowl, one cup, one knife, one fork, one spoon. I made some food and had extra. I opened a cupboard and there were three whole shelves full of tuba-wear. So I put my extra rice in it. Today my roommate says, "did you get that [tuba-wear] from here (points to capboard)? Those are mine...but I guess you can use it for now." He has THREE SHELVES of tuba-wear, but he won't share and let me use one of them?!?!

All my roommates are also disgustingly dirty. I don't know if they've ever really cleaned the place, there are always piles of dirty dishes and the counters are always dirty with food. I am moving. I hate it here.

Swedish people also never get out of your way. They will just step right in front of you when you're walking and just stand there. If you are walking in opposite directions, about to walk into you, NOTHING. They will just run you right over. And when they do bump into you...no sorry or anything. They just move on. THEY ARE SO MEAN.

I wanna go back to America where people are polite and my roommates will let me borrow tuba-wear.

Instead of just complaining about it I figured I should try to apply to live in another place, but all the websites are in Swedish which I have not yet learned. FML. (So now I'm just complaining)

weeeeekend

The weekend was a success! I definitely got to relax like I was hoping to. First night we went to Sneirkes Nation. Mostly dancing and hanging out with people. I have a friend Marielle from France that I spend most of my night with. We were with this Swedish girl (can't remember her name...I am terrible with names), and she kept saying we look like sisters (we do not). Here's a picture from the night. Marielle is on the left, me in the middle, Californian friend Claire on the right.

I met an Australian guy and we had SO much in common. Well he plays hockey (I used to...sorta) his favorite team is the Red Wings, he's right handed but plays with a left-handed hockey stick (me too...I can that my dad for that one)...I think there was more. But eh, it was fun talking about it for a bit. I guess they're going to try to get a hockey team together with their nation, so I hope I can watch a game sometime! Sports here aren't big at all :(

I think the most fun I had all night was biking home with Claire. We were just in a good mood and the air was fresh from rain. We just yelled (Ooooooo OOOOOOOO) and laughed. It was really fun.

Saturday we went to Flogsta, which is housing for students. It holds the most international students and I really wish I lived there! It's SO much closer to my classes and people there are a lot more social. I would still have my own room so alone time wouldn't be a problem. Mostly I'm just sick of biking 30 minutes to class every morning (at 7 am ...and its always a lot colder then, so I bring big jackets...and then I get hot biking and I start my day all sweaty...and then have to bring all my big clothes back when its hot after class, I could complain all day about it). Any ways...we just hung out with some international students, drank some delicious Croation wine that our Croation friend (she is on the right) brought. The girl in the middle is Celine, also from France.


Yum yum yum yum
Then we taught all the Swedes how to play quarters. It was pretty entertaining. Our friends from Illinois invited us over for some light night American food. And we ate SO much. First we made a fluffernutter, then had a hot dog, then a piece of pizza. It was amazing. Claire even wrapped her hot dog in a piece of pizza instead of a hot dog bun. Ahahah I love American food.

And thaaaat was my weekend. Not super exciting, but much better than class all day :/
Now I get to study NMR and figure out how to do flash chromotography! It seems pretty easy though...

BFFFL

I MADE FRIENDS TODAY! Just people in my class. But they talked to me the WHOLE day (even made an effort to speak in English so I could understand their conversations). I ate lunch with them and they all made fun of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I let everyone try a bite. It was really funny. Some loved it. Some kind of liked it but weren't really sure how they felt about it. I want to make some chocolate chip cookies for everybody too. It was definitely a good day. Minus not understanding anything about 2D NMR :( AND ITS FRIDAY! YEEEEEE! Our professor told us before we left, "make sure to drink lots of beer this weekend." Ooooh Sweden. If you were in America you would have a "drinking problem."

PB&S

I have been living off this!

YUMYUMYUM

UU (Uppsala Universitet)

Uppsala is very different than Cal Poly. Although the science building at both are terribly confusing. For one the Professors are much more removed from the students. I'm used to being able to talk to my professors and I always feel comfortable asking them questions. When I try to talk to a professor here, they seem confused as to why I am talking to them. The classes are in English, but you can still tell that English is a second language. They speak more slowly, which is a benefit for me. Sometimes they won't know how to say a word in English though and will just say, "This is how you say it in Swedish _____, I don't know with English though." So thats not really helpful for me.

At Cal Poly you usually take multiple classes at once, here I'm only takine one. I take one class for four weeks and it's 7.5 credits, the next four weeks I will take another class that is 7.5 credits and so on. There are 16 weeks in a semester. There are aslo 15 credit classes that last 8 weeks. I will probably take a 15 credit Biochemistry class next semester.

There are only about 12 people in my class with a total of 4 international students. All the Swedish students are future pharmacists. They are all really nice and speak fluent English. Most of them have also studied abroad before, so they know what it's like to be in my position, and have tried to make it easier on me.

I am learning a lot about spectroscopy in this class. Even about how all the machines work, which is more than I learned about Cal Poly. I have a ridiculous about of class time, so I should be able to master all these techniques here. I am still a little bit jealous of all my international friends who only have 6-10 hours of class/week (for the same amount of credits). But I have also found they are bored a lot during the days.

My last few days have been really calm because of all the class and reading assignments. I have no idea how the tests are formatted here, so I want to make sure I've covered all the material so I can do well. Lab safety test tomorrow! Yay! And then we don't have an exam until the final, which is 50% of our grade. I heard someone talking about how you can retake exams here though? I guess if you don't pass the first time you can take it until you do pass...so that's awesome. They also don't have letter grades. It's just pass, pass with honor, fail. And since I can retake the final...I guess I won't be failing!

I am still learning how to get to class without a map. I have used one of my maps so much that it tore in half. It takes me about 30 minutes to bike to class so hopefully I'll be able to find a route that cuts that time. I'm thinking about moving to another dorm/apartment-thing for the second semester so I can be 1) closer to my chemistry classes (in the biomedical center BMC) and 2) be around more socail people. My corridor-mates are all very unsocial!

Time to study NMR and Mass Spectometry! They are both very difficult for me :(

Class hath begun

Day Two of class was a success! Besides getting slightly lost on my way to class. I kept just following the crowds of bikes, but turns out they weren't all going to the same place I was. Lesson learned. Oh ya, I got a bike finally. It was SO expensive to. 1500 kronar, and I had to buy a lock (70 kronar) and I still need a basket and a bell (I heard you could get a ticket for not having a bell).

Class only went to 3 today, our lab doesn't actually start until Friday, then I'll be puttin in them long 8-5 days. They give us lots of breaks though, like a 5 min break every hour. A SWEDISH PERSON TALKED TO ME TODAY! The first one to initiate a conversation with me. I couldn't believe it. I didn't even get his name though. Not that big of a deal, I most likely would not be able to pronounce it. He asked me if I was an exchanged student and I said yes and he could tell from my English that I was American (Go America!). He told me that they were debating yesterday whether or not I was Swedish (apparently the northface jacket made me look Swedish?).

Anyways I'm excited to go on with my class work. I've never used a Mass Spectrometer before and thats a huge part of this class, so thats really exciting. And I've used a lot of instruments that the Swedes haven't used yet (NMR, IR, etc) so I'm hoping I'll have a little bit of an advantage, but the machines could be completely different than the ones we have at Cal Poly.

Everybody is going out to Sneirkes Nation tonight. Tuesdays are big party nights. Weird huh? I have class every day at 8am sooooo I'll be staying in. Thats fine with me though.

Let me know if there's anything you want to hear about that I haven't talked about! Hope all is well on the North American continent :)