Turismbloggen

I am almost ashamed do admit that this post also will turn the exciting subject “weather” to a topic. But when you are to stubborn to accept the fact that my own choice of moving to England sooner or later would pay its price in cats and dogs from the sky I have now turned it into a challenge. When ever the weather gods spare us a break there is only so much time to be outside, it is all about perfect timing; when to take the 40 minutes walk to the university, going for a run and set a route that at any time can turn into a sprint home, shopping the right amount of minutes for the rain to pass over (if it does) etc. Of course, this (un) fortunately leaves tons of time for essay writing, the trick here is to save, save, save as the computer might be closed in a hurry when a glimpse of the sun is caught. If it was unclear to anybody what part of the world I am from my guess is that this very typical and slightly exaggerated behaviour made it clear.

Best friends you can get

During my soon to be five month here I have found the people quite similar to Swedes in their behaviour;

• Talking to people you don’t know unless you are drunk is a no- no,
• Wearing anything out of the ordinary is a little bit of a needle in the eye
• Expressing your opinions directly to a person is not to prefer

With this brilliant observation I was quite chocked to within one hour outside the house, not taking the initiative myself, have talked to three random people. Maybe the cashier was just bored; the woman outside just needed change for the trolley and the guys in the car was initiating something else than conversation. I am instead just going to consider these very exotic and rare experiences. Reminds me of the odd type at the Greg Holden concert in St Pancras Old Church that me and my friend Camilla went to last week. This man belonged to the kind of person that is not afraid of expressing an opinion. In between the songs he interrupted the singer to create awareness to everyone that we were in a church, he was standing on a grave and it was not appropriate to sing that he did not believe (as the lyrics went). Although he did have a can of beer in is hand, so he still do not break the pattern.

Small audience, great sound

My roommate has now spread the news that I will be performing on the next “acoustic night” at the university, which is on next Tuesday. I have only myself to blame as I in the beginning of the term expressed that it would be fun to do something before we left, so I guess it is up to proof. A shame I am not blonde and look typical Scandinavian as I in case of disaster would be able to lean on our reputation. Regardless, I am leaving in a month or so- so why not do it wearing psychedelic rubber boots and expressing all negative opinions regarding England, rain and the fact that they do not celebrate “Valborg” (Walpurgis Night).

Agreed.

Turns out my experiences with lectures including belly dancing, wine tasting and visiting old prisons is not as unusual as I thought. Taking part of a class together with my two friends I went to Slovenia to visit, we tried to figure out from taste and smell what kind of spices was put on the table, served in old aspirin packages. With all the garlic stuffed food the dinner the day before was composed by (but oh so delicious!) my sense of taste felt a little..Clouded. Although I did not seem to be the only one who had troubles not only with identifying the spices, but also how it was connected to the course itself- but I think we all expanded our vocabulary as google translate was frequently used providing more or less accurate interpretations.

Before Ryan Air provided me with another thrilling flight – experience to the country mentioned above, four days were spent together with the closest ones from Kalmar on their visit in London. Days comprised by some very well – needed Swedish speaking, attacks of laughter causing tears, Big Ben, Notting Hill and Primark. Before my beloved Swedes went back I sneaked off in the morning to find my Pegasus taking me to Trieste, , were my hosts for a week waited to pick me up. First thing they do is to start mocking me for the British accent! Landing in one country, driving for 40 minutes to cross the border of Slovenia and a few days later driving 20 minutes further south to be located in Croatia was a strange experience. Never have I so unplanned managed to visit three different countries within a week. Here is a summery of an amazing week in Slovenia:

• Great food and drinks mainly comprised by mussels and garlic, wine and snaps of all kinds. I also got to experience the excitement, as a true Swede, of finding caviar and herring (sill) in the fridge.
  

  IKEA, no mistakes

• Visit to Italy, Trieste and IKEA- lets not go crazy on cultural experiences now..!
• Rafting in mountain- rivers, although the water was absolutely freezing and the weather was not on our side the scenery was making up for it.
• A trip to the capital Ljubljana with the mighty population of approximately 250 thousand inhabitants. The hostel we stayed at is a former prison, were today each cell (room) is individually designed. My room was designed like… A hostel room with two beds. Maybe the artist had a bad day, or my imagination is failing.
• Day trip to Croatia with great sights and a collection of cheeses, hams, olives and asparagus found on our way constituting yet another amazing dinner.
  

  Slovenia delivers!

I felt sorry to admit my limited knowledge about Slovenia before I went there, finding that it is so underestimated as a destination!

At the moment I am taking a break in my essay writing back to uni in High Wycombe, England and everything else, as usual, seems more fun. But making the most out of the time here, I am together with a friend going to see a British singer- song writer at one of the many venues in London tonight and tomorrow awaits a “Jack the Ripper tour”. The nice weather we had a month ago seemed to be nothing but a hiccup now going back to good old British gray n’ rain. It feels so strange to see the essays due in dates within a soon future and most students planned and booked their trips home. While I on the other hand am in no rush to go back to “reality” and still have Wales to check on the map before I can even consider going back!

Cricket in disguise

Waiting for the next episode of Top Gear. Have at least three cuppers (cups of tea) a day. Now reading about cricket.

I have no idea why, as I have no urge to learn the sport, maybe I am subconsciously transforming myself into all assumptions one had about British. Or maybe I was just easily fooled by the title referring to penguins and the funny illustrations on the cover…

Demanding tree in the part

Sun is surprisingly still shining showing that it is not only Swedes that goes crazy; strip and lay flat down on any piece of grass available / engage in sports such as freesbee, football, or anything else involving throwing things, that people normally wouldn’t care about. Of course I am not late to join activities like these- and as soon as my second test in “English for Acedemic Purposes” was over, a picnic including grapes, freesbee and running around without shoes was enjoyed. Following day it became visible that several of us also enjoyed a slightly red tone on their skin, which luckily is nothing unusual in England…

It is said that university offers more equal terms for men and women where discrimination is not as common as in a working environment. And as far as my studies have proceeded I am willing to agree, which probably is the reason for my surprise when the situation actually occurred. One of the courses I am in is heavily over- represented by guys, discussions leaving little space for those who won’t fight to be heard. Having your ideas presented as someone else’s with the ending: “mademoiselle, you said something before…” was a little annoying. Next time I will wear a warning sign; “Be aware, female who speaks”. And a megaphone.

My attempts to turn this week into a particularly productive one did not completely fail, and what ever school work been put aside has at least been replaced by another activity. Such as throwing things. And tomorrow a journey to Ireland awaits, so my next update will most likely be based on that.

Have a happy Easter all!

England is bathing in sunshine, one explanation, maybe not undertaken by scientists, is that the warm weather Australia normally is provided with has swopped continent together with my Australian friend Jade who came to visit. It is occasions like these when it really strikes you how small the world is and what possibilities are given those (us) who have the possibility and can afford to travel…

"Oxford and the quest for the Tourist Information"

So, two lucky people went to the city of knowledge, Oxford, thinking that the tourist information would have the best answers of how to spend a few hours there. We tried to follow the signs, leading to another sign pointing in another direction or towards a building looking like something from a Harry Potter movie (many scenes were recorded there). So the trip ended up a quest for the non – existing tourist information as well as the bus station. Summing the day up we learned that Oxford is a pretty city and have many nice schools although the city planner probably did not make it through and that I must be wearing a wig, as I am not blonde.

Last Thursday we went on a trip to Nottingham, about three hours north from here, to visit the Court of Justice, a museum and exhibition of court halls, prisons and executions. Comparing some of the topics discussed and presented earlier in the course, for example belly dancing and how you slice a plank with a Karate punch, this was one of the more interesting experiences.

Court Hall

We were given manuscripts to stage the prosecution of public executions, on the picture you can see the prop used; I wore a lovely hat acting a 15- year old girl, unfortunately missing out on the wigs.

Where the bats strike

One more hour of daylight should be used wisely- outside. Although spring does not only drag humans out of their nests as I on my way home was surprised by a mild, but accurate attack by a bat, just close to the water on the picture. High Wycombe as a city might not offer so many sights, but the scenery around makes up for it.

I guess an apologise for my written absence is something even I as a poor student can afford. Actually, it has not so much to do because of the lack of time, although I have spent more hours than usual (measured in English studies time) on school work- it is more due to the fact that not much worth reporting has occurred in the last week or so. I just came back form university and first exam in academic English, so if you would find my language particularly uptight- you know the reason!

So, trying to summarise some of the fun things that an Erasmus students everyday- life can offer in England;

In my strive to really get under the skin of culture and manors here, or asput by a Brit himself, “all that cultural bollocks” I went to see the finals in rugby, Wales- France, in a local pub. I am actually a little disappointed that not a single glass broke and barely any curses were heard. Worth mentioning is that Wales won, that might be a factor to the friendly atmosphere. Maybe I will dress up as the enemy next time I get a chance, just to try and get some more action…

"Fika" = "Have a coffee" is the most important verb in Swedish.

Another thing I found very handy in terms of being a foreign student is how you are more excused to “not fully socially acceptable behaviours” such astalking to strangers and inviting yourself to their homes. This might be interpreted wrong, so let me give an example; the other day I was talking to a girl taking the same class, she asked me of my plans for Easter and I answered. Turned out she is from the same town I originally made plans to visit, but had to change, and where then invited to come visit her and her family! This was the longest conversation we have had and afterwards we became friends on facebook- the friendship was official in terms of the modern society.

One of the main reasons anyone should consider going to England for en exchange term is the massive Easter break starting on the last weekend of March and going on three weeks in April. This means NO lectures and NO expected hand- ins right after. Most people in my little group of Erasmuses are going home for some time at least while I, as mentioned above might use my invitation for the north of England, booked flights to Ireland and Slovenia to visit other Swedish students. So I am expecting an Easter egg for summer when I come home again instead!

Everyday... I walk this way.

I will do my best to announce my next social experiment within… A reasonable amount of time.

// Sara