I have been sick this past week so I haven’t been as active as I’ve wanted to be.
However, I was able to briefly enjoy the last bit of snow with some friends I made.
A herd of ducks swarmed me down by the river. What a delight!
I also couldn’t miss a birthday dinner with my international friend from Japan. We decided to give her a taste of home and took her to Yukiko’s Sushi, a popular restaurant here in Uppsala.
When we got home there will still surprises to be had! Look at this beautiful cake adorned by friends.
On the cake is written: Happy birthday Haruna! (in Swedish, of course!)
As a student attending Uppsala University, it is crucial to join at least one.
Nations are made up of students, and the organizations hold events and offer a large variety of clubs so one can get involved with other students.
There are 13 nations, which are named after regions in Sweden. They have been around for centuries, and while previously students were only allowed to join the nation that represented their region, now the rules are much more relaxed.
I joined Södermanlands-Nerikes nation, nicknamed Snerikes. Founded in 1595, it is the oldest nation of Uppsala University.
I attended the Recce Reception where there was a mini fair with tables promoting the activities they offered, followed by an informal dinner.
Shown above is the appetizer provided before our dinner. Some crackers with the option of butter or cheese as a topping! By the candles were some mustard, rosemary, and oregano to have with our yellow pea soup.
During the dinner, they showed us their choir, their improv group, and their band. All three are open to any students, regardless of the nation they chose to join!
Here are two videos of their band because I couldn’t pick between the two:
This song may sound familiar for any Aladdin or Broadway fans!
This is more of a traditional song played by the Swedes. It’s also common to start ball-room dancing while they play!
This week I went to two activities sponsored by the nations.
Kalmar nation holds a mixtape circle every other week. For the mixtape circle, the group picks a theme. For the next meeting, each person has picked a song that they feel goes with that theme. We all share and discuss the music. Because we are all so different, the mixtape circle is a great way to discover other music that maybe you wouldn’t usually listen to.
To the right is a journal that is passed around as each person shares a song. We all write down the name of the song and the artist, and this list is then shared through a Facebook group. The big sound system to the left is the magical box that we hear it from.
I’ve also started attending an improv group hosted by my very own nation. I fell twice during the acting exercises and am currently recovering from the pain.
I have to bounce back quick because there’s so much to do!
Hi! I’m Olivia and I am a junior at University of Richmond. I am majoring in Biology with a minor in Healthcare Studies.
I’ve never been to Europe before and, as the baby of the family, never experienced much independence either. I set out to form new experiences by studying abroad in Uppsala, Sweden. Uppsala University is a leading international research university, and I was anxious to join its numbers.
Postponing the inevitable of being alone in Sweden, I was joined by my mom and aunt in Uppsala on January 11th. This was a sneak peak of my new home from the window of the airplane. Frozen ice and snow never looked so appealing!
Before I could move in, I had to explore Stockholm with my family. On a train, Stockholm is only 40 minutes away.
This is one of the many busy streets of Stockholm. We went on a Hop-On Hop Off, which is an all day bus service that provides tours of cities. My mom and aunt were too tired to explore the royal palace, libraries, and museums of Stockholm, but I imagine since the city is only 40 minutes away, I’ll be back soon to explore properly.
This is a peak into my room. At Uppsala University, the rooms for students are owned by different housing companies. You pay rent each month. It is typical to have a single room with each room having a private bathroom. Each hall shares a kitchen.
Classes started this week, and while many people feel comfortable biking (in icy cold weather!) I prefer the bus. The city buses in Uppsala are extremely punctual. They have an app that provides timetables, and if you enter your location and where you wish to go, there is always a bus ready. While it’s simple enough, I’m still getting used to it as I have fallen victim to being at the wrong bus stop many times!
Posted by oliviainsweden 
urtravelogues.com 