Welcome to Östersund, the vinterstaden (Winter City)...a place where the wind is so cold it gives you brain freeze...
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
New year, new experiences
An so February dawns and yet time for another update from the land of the nordic sunshine, which co-incidently shines for more than 2 minutes a day here this time of year.
Its been a while since the last update on every day life, to which the cliche' can be thrown about; that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
So bearing that in mind, there are new experiences that one needs to constantly seek out to keep the mind and body sharp and eager.
January 2011's second week started with and exam back at university and a new module of work, Research Methods. The exam was passed and the new module, research methods is in full swing trying to come to grapple vague understandings of epsilons and standardised F-tests, taught by a genius Austrian lecturer, but one who I cant help stifle a laugh every time he talks about the "Thrid (pronounced: turd) variable".
In the midst of the standard academia, I have had some changes to the way of living, with my apartment having a few nips and tucks, in the process becoming more of a place to really enjoy staying in, additions including a microwave (thanks folks for the great Christmas present), a Persian knock of carpet, new bedding and additional mattress that can in a jiffy look like a couch and a few pictures put up. I am now proud to call it a place to rest my head. It has though in the last two or so weeks, also been residence to a mysterious few creatures that think my blood tastes great. After exterminators have been in, declared that they cant find or have no idea what it is, its still a mysterious new addition to the home, I think I need to give it a name...like Abadddon or something.
On that note, please dont ever think that by moving to a first world country, that you escape the "roughness" of Africa. One still cant drink the tap water without boiling it due to a parasite in the water, mysterious bugs in the entire apartment block and healthcare system thats up to bollocks. Sweden can always provide some sort of entertainment.
Escapes from this town are always a highlight; and one highlight of every students calendar in this part of the world is Skiweek. Four days, supposedly sometime in the coldest weeks of the year, of an escape to a skiresort, by a few thousand students, for skiing and all other fun and games that students get up to. Now, students in South Africa and students in Sweden are exactly the same, the only differences being the language spoken and the beer way more expensive.
My experience was a great one though, we rented a cosy cottage approximately 2 kms from where the main parties are at and created a "safehouse" for ourselves and anyone else wanting to escape the debauchery of Skiweek...and a safehouse it was. Log cabin, fireplace, sauna, huge flat screen tv, surround sound and an xbox. The best idea of skiweek was this safe house, frequented by a few souls who needed to escape. Fond memories were formed there.
But enough of the house, the main purpose, contrary to what some may argue being beer, woman or parties, was actually skiing, and what a great sport it is! Its not a cheap activity but hells bells its worth every penny! Gliding down mountain, faintly in control overlooking magical scenery wind rushing past your ears is an experience that every person needs to try experience. Even Africans can learn to ski, granted many tumbles, snow in the face and facing-near-death moments later, but it can happen, it did happen and oh my greatness its great fun when it does happen.
So, with January out the way, February half way done and the year slipping by, things tick along nicely, cross country skiing still goes on well, the "vinterparken" has opened up, with beach chairs in the snow and crazy swedes to go sunbathing in -14, academia continues, as does life back home.
From a city of ever increasing hours of sunlight, farewell.
Its been a while since the last update on every day life, to which the cliche' can be thrown about; that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
So bearing that in mind, there are new experiences that one needs to constantly seek out to keep the mind and body sharp and eager.
January 2011's second week started with and exam back at university and a new module of work, Research Methods. The exam was passed and the new module, research methods is in full swing trying to come to grapple vague understandings of epsilons and standardised F-tests, taught by a genius Austrian lecturer, but one who I cant help stifle a laugh every time he talks about the "Thrid (pronounced: turd) variable".
In the midst of the standard academia, I have had some changes to the way of living, with my apartment having a few nips and tucks, in the process becoming more of a place to really enjoy staying in, additions including a microwave (thanks folks for the great Christmas present), a Persian knock of carpet, new bedding and additional mattress that can in a jiffy look like a couch and a few pictures put up. I am now proud to call it a place to rest my head. It has though in the last two or so weeks, also been residence to a mysterious few creatures that think my blood tastes great. After exterminators have been in, declared that they cant find or have no idea what it is, its still a mysterious new addition to the home, I think I need to give it a name...like Abadddon or something.
On that note, please dont ever think that by moving to a first world country, that you escape the "roughness" of Africa. One still cant drink the tap water without boiling it due to a parasite in the water, mysterious bugs in the entire apartment block and healthcare system thats up to bollocks. Sweden can always provide some sort of entertainment.
Escapes from this town are always a highlight; and one highlight of every students calendar in this part of the world is Skiweek. Four days, supposedly sometime in the coldest weeks of the year, of an escape to a skiresort, by a few thousand students, for skiing and all other fun and games that students get up to. Now, students in South Africa and students in Sweden are exactly the same, the only differences being the language spoken and the beer way more expensive.
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| Friend Kai and I enjoying a snowbeer |
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| Its the best pic I could find of skiclothes and helmet |
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| Super good looking car |
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| "My" Honda, in the snow!! |
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| Ski pic..."yust like Sveden" |
So, with January out the way, February half way done and the year slipping by, things tick along nicely, cross country skiing still goes on well, the "vinterparken" has opened up, with beach chairs in the snow and crazy swedes to go sunbathing in -14, academia continues, as does life back home.
From a city of ever increasing hours of sunlight, farewell.
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