So I thought I'd write about this because it has happened twice and each time it makes me laugh.
This is me having a conversation with a foreign friend (ff):
FF: Hey want to get Fika with me today?
Me: Ya, I'm down.
FF: Oh, why? Are you okay?
Hahahaha makes me laugh every time. I always forget and keep saying it. Where a California would interpret "I'm down" to "I'm down to do that" a foreigner would interpret it as "I'm feeling down." TWICE. Australian and German friend. Hahaha.
I then have to say explain to them that I mean, 'yes, I would like to go, it sounds good.'
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
pumpkin
I am done with chemistry courses for the rest of the semester!! It is a fantastic feeling. My exam was on Saturday. I think it was okay...there were definitely some things I wasn't sure about, but I think overall it went okay. This is a pass/fail class (all the classes here are pass/fail) so...I think I passed? It only took me three hours to complete the final. I thought for sure I forgot a problem or something, but I went through it at least four times making sure I didn't miss anything.
Now I have a whole week off before my next course starts. I'm still not sure if I want to take Media Analysis or Development Economics, but I am just going to enroll in both and see which I like most. Until then I am going to focus on Swedish class and making plans for travel! So far on the list I have: Oslo/Bergen, Norway- Nov 6-9, Coppenhagen, Denmark-Nov 27-29, and then Northern Sweden (to hopefully see the Northern Lights) December 4th-7th...then back to Cali for Christmas!
Today me and Claire carved pumpkins. I didn't even carve a pumpkin last year. It's something about being away from your country that makes you really patriotic! I want to celebrate everything the way we do at home! Here's my pumpkin, I need to think of a good Swedish name for it.
I was trying to make the same face as it. Turns out my teeth aren't pointy enough.
We also made pumpkin seeds. Soooo good.
annnd thats that for now
Now I have a whole week off before my next course starts. I'm still not sure if I want to take Media Analysis or Development Economics, but I am just going to enroll in both and see which I like most. Until then I am going to focus on Swedish class and making plans for travel! So far on the list I have: Oslo/Bergen, Norway- Nov 6-9, Coppenhagen, Denmark-Nov 27-29, and then Northern Sweden (to hopefully see the Northern Lights) December 4th-7th...then back to Cali for Christmas!
Today me and Claire carved pumpkins. I didn't even carve a pumpkin last year. It's something about being away from your country that makes you really patriotic! I want to celebrate everything the way we do at home! Here's my pumpkin, I need to think of a good Swedish name for it.
I was trying to make the same face as it. Turns out my teeth aren't pointy enough.
We also made pumpkin seeds. Soooo good.
annnd thats that for now
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Classes
Hardest decision I've ever made in my life:
Should I take Synthetic Organic Chemistry or Media Analysis/Development Economics?
Good things about taking Synthetic Organic Chemistry:
I am at Uppsala University which is a University renowned for its science programs. I should be taking advantage of the chemistry classes here. Although there is an Organic Synthesis course at Cal Poly, this course is much more extensive with a lot more lab work and A LOT more class time. Having this class in my background could give me a solid background in Organic Chemistry which will could possibly help me in my future as a chemist (although if I end up as an Organic Chemist when I grow I will be miserable).
Bad things about taking Synthetic Organic Chemistry:
8-5 every single day. I've done this for my last two classes, and it's hard now when it's not that cold or dark. November is coming and so will the snow and the dark. All the students have told me that I will be biking to class in the dark and biking home from class in the dark, the hours of sunlight will be missed since we'll be in class. I know I can do it, I just don't know how happy I'll be while I am in the course. I have only taken chemistry courses and it has taken up a lot of my free time. Although I have made good friends in my chemistry courses, I have also missed out on meeting a lot of the international students that will be leaving after this semester. If I take this course, I will become better friends with my classmates, but will not get to know a lot of the international students that will be leaving (and thus have less places to travel when I get the opportunity). Also since I am missing one day of this course due to a trip Oslo, it will be very difficult to organize a make-up day. I already emailed the professor about it and all she said was that it was mandatory that I go to it (but I talked to another professor that said it was not mandatory).
Good things about taking Media Analysis/Development Economics:
A BREAK FROM CHEMISTRY! Chemistry I love you, but I think we need some space from eachother. I will have more time to get to know my international friends before they leave (so I can visit them whenever I have spare time next semester) and possibly get a little job! I will be more relaxed and (hopefully) happier...not that I'm unhappy now, I'm just sick of being in class all day everyday. I know I shouldn't complain because it will be like this when I'm in "the real world," but I'm not in the real world yet and I'd like to save these 8-5 days for when I am.
Bad things about taking Media Analysis/Development Economics:
Not much. I would have my final around the same time as my Swedish final which my be stressful, but it'll be fine. I will not get to see my chemistry friends and since I will be studying chemistry in a different building as them next semester, I will most likely not see them much. Unless I put a lot of effort into it. Which I could say I will do, but I know I won't.
Pleaaaase give me your opinion on what I should do! Really, anyone that has an opinion let me know! I am so lost and need some guidance. So far I am leaning toward not taking Organic Synthesis, but maybe thats a bad idea???
Should I take Synthetic Organic Chemistry or Media Analysis/Development Economics?
Good things about taking Synthetic Organic Chemistry:
I am at Uppsala University which is a University renowned for its science programs. I should be taking advantage of the chemistry classes here. Although there is an Organic Synthesis course at Cal Poly, this course is much more extensive with a lot more lab work and A LOT more class time. Having this class in my background could give me a solid background in Organic Chemistry which will could possibly help me in my future as a chemist (although if I end up as an Organic Chemist when I grow I will be miserable).
Bad things about taking Synthetic Organic Chemistry:
8-5 every single day. I've done this for my last two classes, and it's hard now when it's not that cold or dark. November is coming and so will the snow and the dark. All the students have told me that I will be biking to class in the dark and biking home from class in the dark, the hours of sunlight will be missed since we'll be in class. I know I can do it, I just don't know how happy I'll be while I am in the course. I have only taken chemistry courses and it has taken up a lot of my free time. Although I have made good friends in my chemistry courses, I have also missed out on meeting a lot of the international students that will be leaving after this semester. If I take this course, I will become better friends with my classmates, but will not get to know a lot of the international students that will be leaving (and thus have less places to travel when I get the opportunity). Also since I am missing one day of this course due to a trip Oslo, it will be very difficult to organize a make-up day. I already emailed the professor about it and all she said was that it was mandatory that I go to it (but I talked to another professor that said it was not mandatory).
Good things about taking Media Analysis/Development Economics:
A BREAK FROM CHEMISTRY! Chemistry I love you, but I think we need some space from eachother. I will have more time to get to know my international friends before they leave (so I can visit them whenever I have spare time next semester) and possibly get a little job! I will be more relaxed and (hopefully) happier...not that I'm unhappy now, I'm just sick of being in class all day everyday. I know I shouldn't complain because it will be like this when I'm in "the real world," but I'm not in the real world yet and I'd like to save these 8-5 days for when I am.
Bad things about taking Media Analysis/Development Economics:
Not much. I would have my final around the same time as my Swedish final which my be stressful, but it'll be fine. I will not get to see my chemistry friends and since I will be studying chemistry in a different building as them next semester, I will most likely not see them much. Unless I put a lot of effort into it. Which I could say I will do, but I know I won't.
Pleaaaase give me your opinion on what I should do! Really, anyone that has an opinion let me know! I am so lost and need some guidance. So far I am leaning toward not taking Organic Synthesis, but maybe thats a bad idea???
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The tragic life of a Swedish bike.
HOLY HELL
I know I've been talking about my bike a lot, but there has been a lot of drama surrounding Red Safety. Let's go over all my bike drama thus far:
1. Bike stolen at train station
2. Tire popped
3. BIKE RUN OVER BY CAR
Yes.
Thursday night I got home at 9pm after 12 hours of class and class work. The bike rack was full so I parked my bike the the side of the rack (people do this all the time). Woke up at 7, out of the house at 7:30 am to ride to school, couldn't find my bike, finally found it laying on the grass (looked like someone threw it on the grass), picked it up and realized that it was completely totaled. It looked like a car had run over the back tire. This is really strange for many reasons. First, how do you run over a standing bike? Well how do you not notice it? And the place where I parked it is a road for bikes and pedestrians, cars aren't supposed to be on it. But the tire was completely bent, shaped like a U. My back light was completely smashed, the metal around the back tire completely twisted and broken. I don't think it was an accident. Here are some pictures, they aren't very good though.
Hard to see the damage, but the back tire couldn't move at all.
Closer look at the metal.
People suck.
I walked/carried the bottom half to Nestor and just started crying. I'm sure I looked like an idot, but I just have had such bad luck. He was able to fix it, but only by means of new parts. Which of course was expensive (500 kr!). Sooo that was very depressing.
On a good note, I'm almost done with my NMR class! The final is going to be brutal, but I'm ready to buckle down and study (so I hope you're not hoping many blog updates in the next week). My next class is Organic Synthesis. I think it's going to be pretty difficult. Especially the whole waking up at 6 am every morning. It's getting darker and darker every morning. It makes it infinitly harder to wake up when it looks like you should be sleeping.
Last night I went over to Flogsta to see my friends from Illinois. It's been raining a lot here (just like in California!!! I guess except that the next sunny day isn't 80 degrees....) so by the time I got there I was soaking wet. It was kind of fun though, after I got warmed up from biking. We had sangria and watched a Swedish movie called, "Let The Right One In." It's a vampire movie. It was REALLY good (in my opinion). Not actually very scary though, and it was cool that it was Swedish. I highly reccomend you guys see it (they have subtitles!). Oh and on my way back my chain fell off my bike. The tragic life continues...
But hey, it can't get much worse for Red Safety. Hopefully I'm getting all my bad luck over with now, and the next 7 months will be smooth sailing :)
I know I've been talking about my bike a lot, but there has been a lot of drama surrounding Red Safety. Let's go over all my bike drama thus far:
1. Bike stolen at train station
2. Tire popped
3. BIKE RUN OVER BY CAR
Yes.
Thursday night I got home at 9pm after 12 hours of class and class work. The bike rack was full so I parked my bike the the side of the rack (people do this all the time). Woke up at 7, out of the house at 7:30 am to ride to school, couldn't find my bike, finally found it laying on the grass (looked like someone threw it on the grass), picked it up and realized that it was completely totaled. It looked like a car had run over the back tire. This is really strange for many reasons. First, how do you run over a standing bike? Well how do you not notice it? And the place where I parked it is a road for bikes and pedestrians, cars aren't supposed to be on it. But the tire was completely bent, shaped like a U. My back light was completely smashed, the metal around the back tire completely twisted and broken. I don't think it was an accident. Here are some pictures, they aren't very good though.
Hard to see the damage, but the back tire couldn't move at all.
Closer look at the metal.People suck.
I walked/carried the bottom half to Nestor and just started crying. I'm sure I looked like an idot, but I just have had such bad luck. He was able to fix it, but only by means of new parts. Which of course was expensive (500 kr!). Sooo that was very depressing.
On a good note, I'm almost done with my NMR class! The final is going to be brutal, but I'm ready to buckle down and study (so I hope you're not hoping many blog updates in the next week). My next class is Organic Synthesis. I think it's going to be pretty difficult. Especially the whole waking up at 6 am every morning. It's getting darker and darker every morning. It makes it infinitly harder to wake up when it looks like you should be sleeping.
Last night I went over to Flogsta to see my friends from Illinois. It's been raining a lot here (just like in California!!! I guess except that the next sunny day isn't 80 degrees....) so by the time I got there I was soaking wet. It was kind of fun though, after I got warmed up from biking. We had sangria and watched a Swedish movie called, "Let The Right One In." It's a vampire movie. It was REALLY good (in my opinion). Not actually very scary though, and it was cool that it was Swedish. I highly reccomend you guys see it (they have subtitles!). Oh and on my way back my chain fell off my bike. The tragic life continues...
But hey, it can't get much worse for Red Safety. Hopefully I'm getting all my bad luck over with now, and the next 7 months will be smooth sailing :)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
tsk tsk
Red Safety did not live up to her name today. I have been warned many times of the icy roads in the mornings, but until today the roads have only been wet. Maybe I was riding Red Safety a little too fast, turned a corner a little to sharply. But as I was (un)happily riding my bike in the wee hours of this dark morning, the road was covered in transparent ice and it got the best of me. It was a tragic moment (that I pretended didn't happen) as I got back up onto my bike as soon as I possibly could.
From now on I'll be more careful, but Red Safety really needs to live up to her name.
Other than that, I was in class today from 8am to 8pm. Yeah, I'm pretty hardcore.
From now on I'll be more careful, but Red Safety really needs to live up to her name.
Other than that, I was in class today from 8am to 8pm. Yeah, I'm pretty hardcore.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Det snöade idag!
That's right, it snowed today!
Only in the morning. Lots of mixed feelings associated with that too...firstly a happy-go-lucky oh-em-gee-its-snowing feeling then a depressed its-cold-and-i-should-be-in-my-bed feeling.
Today wasn't too bad though, just extremely busy with class, fixed Red Safety's tire, (I decided to go to a closer place so I didn't get to see Nicaraguan Nestor), swedish class, groceries (I always end up spending more than I want to) and now homework! (well ... I probably won't do homework...)
Apparently there is a guitar festival in Uppsala this weekend. Pretty awesome. I really want to see this guy Andy McKee that's going to be there (click on his name to see a youtube video of him). It's 350 kroner....worth it? That's pretty expensive but he's so awesome. I can't decide.
Other than that I actually have to study this weekend because my exam is next Friday EEEK. And I have a big project to do right before that, I hate when teachers do that.
Well I'm going to go pretend like I'm studying but really watch the new season of Dexter!
Only in the morning. Lots of mixed feelings associated with that too...firstly a happy-go-lucky oh-em-gee-its-snowing feeling then a depressed its-cold-and-i-should-be-in-my-bed feeling.
Today wasn't too bad though, just extremely busy with class, fixed Red Safety's tire, (I decided to go to a closer place so I didn't get to see Nicaraguan Nestor), swedish class, groceries (I always end up spending more than I want to) and now homework! (well ... I probably won't do homework...)
Apparently there is a guitar festival in Uppsala this weekend. Pretty awesome. I really want to see this guy Andy McKee that's going to be there (click on his name to see a youtube video of him). It's 350 kroner....worth it? That's pretty expensive but he's so awesome. I can't decide.
Other than that I actually have to study this weekend because my exam is next Friday EEEK. And I have a big project to do right before that, I hate when teachers do that.
Well I'm going to go pretend like I'm studying but really watch the new season of Dexter!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Popped tire
Today Red Safety popped her tire. I must have popped it on my way to school, but I didn't notice until after class when I was about to ride home. Unfortunately class went until 5 so all the bike shops were closed. It took me 2 hours to walk home (with 30 minutes of distractions while walking through downtown). Now I'll have to take the bus to school since no shops open until 10 and I have class at 8 (the bus is expensive which is why I usually don't take it... it's about $3 for one ride and the transfer lasts for an hour...$70 for a month pass).
When I get back to The States I'm never riding a bike again.
When I get back to The States I'm never riding a bike again.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Sick in Sweden
Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. Not too much has been going on.
I have been ridiculously lazy lately and I have no idea why. Maybe I can blame the cold weather? Which just makes me want to be in bed and watch Dexter all day. I still go to class, but I almost never do a school work outside of class. Terrible. My final exam is Friday the 21st ... so hopefully I'll pick up my act before then.
Other than that I've been sick and cold. I'm already wearing my winter jacket...I am so nervous for Winter to actually come. It's usually 45 degrees during the day here and 30 at night and in the mornings. Hopefully I'll get over this cold soon, I need to take it easy (like by not straining myself with homework...).
But...fun things are coming up. November 6th I'm going to Oslo/Bergun for the weekend, November 27th I'm going to Copenhagen, and December 4th I'm going to Abisko (north of Sweden) to hopefully see the Northern lights and hang out with some huskies.
Please let me know if there is anything you would like to hear about!
I have been ridiculously lazy lately and I have no idea why. Maybe I can blame the cold weather? Which just makes me want to be in bed and watch Dexter all day. I still go to class, but I almost never do a school work outside of class. Terrible. My final exam is Friday the 21st ... so hopefully I'll pick up my act before then.
Other than that I've been sick and cold. I'm already wearing my winter jacket...I am so nervous for Winter to actually come. It's usually 45 degrees during the day here and 30 at night and in the mornings. Hopefully I'll get over this cold soon, I need to take it easy (like by not straining myself with homework...).
But...fun things are coming up. November 6th I'm going to Oslo/Bergun for the weekend, November 27th I'm going to Copenhagen, and December 4th I'm going to Abisko (north of Sweden) to hopefully see the Northern lights and hang out with some huskies.
Please let me know if there is anything you would like to hear about!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Red Danger
The most amazing thing happened today!!!
I called this bike shop near my place today (called "Cykel Nestor's") to find a new bike. He said he had one, but it wasn't very nice. Only 500 kroner (which is like $70). I didn't want to look around more and I needed to get to class so I just decided to go for it.
I got there a little after they opened and Nestor showed me the bike. It definitely was a crappy bike, no gears (there is a nasty hill I bike up to get to class every morning), rusty, no lights, no basket, kind of looked like it was going to collapse once I got o it, etc. But I just wanted to get a cheap bike to last me the rest of the year. So we started talking as he was attaching lights and a lock (an extra 100 kroner for the lights and 150 kroner for the lock). I told him I was from California and then he told me he was from...NICARAGUA!!!
I was sooooo super excited. The one other time I've ever been out of the country was when I went to Nicaragua (I haven't even been to Canada or Mexico...) and I lived in Chinandega for six weeks. He's from another part, but it was so crazy! Then I found out he moved from Nicaragua in the 80's. He had fought as a Sandanista against the Contra. SO AWESOME! My whole town I lived in Nicaragua was Sandanista so I have like Sandanista bracelets and a scarf thing. I never got to why he is in Sweden of all places, but he's been here for 7 years...I think.
We talked more about Nicaragua and then about how much I hate Kantorsgatan (where I live). I told him my classes were at the BMC building which is far away from Kantorsgatan. Then he said I needed a bike with gears. So he showed me this bike which was REALLY nice. I knew I couldn't afford it when he showed me. But he told me that because of the Nicaragua thing, he would give me a deal. So the suuuuper nice bike (with gears) came with a basket, lights, and a lock (nicer than my last bike), and all for 900 kroner! That really crappy one would have almost been 800 kroner. Ahhhh I'm sooo happy and excited about it.
So I absolutely love my new bike. It sucks that I had to get a new bike in the first place, but it's awesome. And from Nestor from Nicaragua. It's bright red and one of my Swedish friends thinks I should call it, "Red Danger." I still can't believe I met a Nicaraguan in Sweden. That is just so crazy. What are the odds. He has a big family here I guess and he said I should come over for gallopinto (rice and beans) soon. This is also ironic because mother dearest just asked me if I would rather eat what I eat now in Sweden (a lot of frozen meatballs and pasta) or all the rice and beans I had in Nicaragua. I picked rice and beans.
I've been full of energy since this happened today. It's just so crazy. And I love Red Danger. Unfortunately I have absolutely no idea whats going on in my class. So now I get to study. Hoorah. I'll post a picture of Red Danger soon!
I called this bike shop near my place today (called "Cykel Nestor's") to find a new bike. He said he had one, but it wasn't very nice. Only 500 kroner (which is like $70). I didn't want to look around more and I needed to get to class so I just decided to go for it.
I got there a little after they opened and Nestor showed me the bike. It definitely was a crappy bike, no gears (there is a nasty hill I bike up to get to class every morning), rusty, no lights, no basket, kind of looked like it was going to collapse once I got o it, etc. But I just wanted to get a cheap bike to last me the rest of the year. So we started talking as he was attaching lights and a lock (an extra 100 kroner for the lights and 150 kroner for the lock). I told him I was from California and then he told me he was from...NICARAGUA!!!
I was sooooo super excited. The one other time I've ever been out of the country was when I went to Nicaragua (I haven't even been to Canada or Mexico...) and I lived in Chinandega for six weeks. He's from another part, but it was so crazy! Then I found out he moved from Nicaragua in the 80's. He had fought as a Sandanista against the Contra. SO AWESOME! My whole town I lived in Nicaragua was Sandanista so I have like Sandanista bracelets and a scarf thing. I never got to why he is in Sweden of all places, but he's been here for 7 years...I think.
We talked more about Nicaragua and then about how much I hate Kantorsgatan (where I live). I told him my classes were at the BMC building which is far away from Kantorsgatan. Then he said I needed a bike with gears. So he showed me this bike which was REALLY nice. I knew I couldn't afford it when he showed me. But he told me that because of the Nicaragua thing, he would give me a deal. So the suuuuper nice bike (with gears) came with a basket, lights, and a lock (nicer than my last bike), and all for 900 kroner! That really crappy one would have almost been 800 kroner. Ahhhh I'm sooo happy and excited about it.
So I absolutely love my new bike. It sucks that I had to get a new bike in the first place, but it's awesome. And from Nestor from Nicaragua. It's bright red and one of my Swedish friends thinks I should call it, "Red Danger." I still can't believe I met a Nicaraguan in Sweden. That is just so crazy. What are the odds. He has a big family here I guess and he said I should come over for gallopinto (rice and beans) soon. This is also ironic because mother dearest just asked me if I would rather eat what I eat now in Sweden (a lot of frozen meatballs and pasta) or all the rice and beans I had in Nicaragua. I picked rice and beans.
I've been full of energy since this happened today. It's just so crazy. And I love Red Danger. Unfortunately I have absolutely no idea whats going on in my class. So now I get to study. Hoorah. I'll post a picture of Red Danger soon!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
I miss my bike
Well things aren't too great right now.
My roommates are weird and I don't feel comfortable living with them (and they are messy...the kitchen is so gross). I called to try to change housing and it only might possibly be able to happen at the end of the semester (yay for 3 months of awkward). School is hard (NMR is boring and difficult...worst combination). And to top everything off, my bike was stolen today. Went to Stockholm for the day, got off the train when I got back to see my cut lock laying where my bike was. Oh and then it started raining. It was a perfect "bad-moment" scene. Walking home in the rain and all.
So that was just fantastic. I have to get a new bike now (only way to get to school/around anywhere efficiently), which means $$$, which means by the next time I have to pay rent I'm going to have to transfer more money into my Swedish bank account...which sucks because the exchange rate is down. Also, it is cold. And now I'm done complaining.
I got a few things for winter in Stockholm today, it was a nice trip with my Australian friend Christina. I had McDonalds for lunch...I haven't had it in a really long time, but I think its the same as it tastes in the U.S.
Things can't get too much worse from here, so I assume they'll be looking up soon. Although its only going to get colder and darker. Yay for Scandinavian winters!
My roommates are weird and I don't feel comfortable living with them (and they are messy...the kitchen is so gross). I called to try to change housing and it only might possibly be able to happen at the end of the semester (yay for 3 months of awkward). School is hard (NMR is boring and difficult...worst combination). And to top everything off, my bike was stolen today. Went to Stockholm for the day, got off the train when I got back to see my cut lock laying where my bike was. Oh and then it started raining. It was a perfect "bad-moment" scene. Walking home in the rain and all.
So that was just fantastic. I have to get a new bike now (only way to get to school/around anywhere efficiently), which means $$$, which means by the next time I have to pay rent I'm going to have to transfer more money into my Swedish bank account...which sucks because the exchange rate is down. Also, it is cold. And now I'm done complaining.
I got a few things for winter in Stockholm today, it was a nice trip with my Australian friend Christina. I had McDonalds for lunch...I haven't had it in a really long time, but I think its the same as it tastes in the U.S.
Things can't get too much worse from here, so I assume they'll be looking up soon. Although its only going to get colder and darker. Yay for Scandinavian winters!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
It's going to be a long winter
It's already cold! 30 degrees this morning! BRRRRR. My bike seat was frozen (which then froze my bum by the time I got to school)! Time to buy some warm hats and gloves and sweaters! It's going to be a loooong winter (they say it lasts until March).
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