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Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Day light savings and two decades back in fashion
Time for an update on a few things that have been going on in Östersund.
Firstly, the most notable thing that changes daily is the weather. On average, since August, the sun has been setting about 20 minutes a week earler. Some days it loses up to 6 minutes in time that it shines. Its the most bizarre sensation. the sun starts setting at 15h30 and by 16h30, its dark, and I mean DONKER! Makes you want to start cooking supper.
It also explains another aspect of fika. The midafternoon slump, and to fool yourself that you dont need to make supper at 4 PM, you have a fika, it works wonders.
But not so much for the waisteline!
To combat this lose of daylight, most European countries (and Namibia, strangely enough) introduces Daylight Savings Time. As from the 31st of October, all watches move back one hour. No its not a halloween prank, its serious.
So come Sunday morning, i set my alarm clock...wake up, get ready for church, and realise I am one hour ahead...DOH! I can almost assure you that I was not the only one who was an hour early.
When summer comes and I have to move it foreward an hour its going to be fun explaining that.
So, Sweden, who was GMT +2, is now GMT +1. Takes a bit of getting used to:)
And to coincide with the first Day Light Savings time, I have started a movement here, a fashion movement that is a few decades back in time, not one hour.
"Mo"-vember. Growing a Moustache for the Month of November, hence: MOVEMBER. Its actually an australian concept (trust them to come up with it), but its actually for a good cause. Check out www.za.movember.co.za for the laugh.
So a clean shaven look persists for this week and a moustache will follow suit, I will post a picture for sure.
So, a preview for the next post: LONDON BABY!!
Firstly, the most notable thing that changes daily is the weather. On average, since August, the sun has been setting about 20 minutes a week earler. Some days it loses up to 6 minutes in time that it shines. Its the most bizarre sensation. the sun starts setting at 15h30 and by 16h30, its dark, and I mean DONKER! Makes you want to start cooking supper.
It also explains another aspect of fika. The midafternoon slump, and to fool yourself that you dont need to make supper at 4 PM, you have a fika, it works wonders.
But not so much for the waisteline!
To combat this lose of daylight, most European countries (and Namibia, strangely enough) introduces Daylight Savings Time. As from the 31st of October, all watches move back one hour. No its not a halloween prank, its serious.
So come Sunday morning, i set my alarm clock...wake up, get ready for church, and realise I am one hour ahead...DOH! I can almost assure you that I was not the only one who was an hour early.
When summer comes and I have to move it foreward an hour its going to be fun explaining that.
So, Sweden, who was GMT +2, is now GMT +1. Takes a bit of getting used to:)
And to coincide with the first Day Light Savings time, I have started a movement here, a fashion movement that is a few decades back in time, not one hour.
"Mo"-vember. Growing a Moustache for the Month of November, hence: MOVEMBER. Its actually an australian concept (trust them to come up with it), but its actually for a good cause. Check out www.za.movember.co.za for the laugh.
So a clean shaven look persists for this week and a moustache will follow suit, I will post a picture for sure.
So, a preview for the next post: LONDON BABY!!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Taste the wilderness
Bear Grills never made it to the Swedish wilderness...the skog or whatever you want to call it...so in lieu of his absence, I have come up with a few video clips to keep all the fans of Bear Grills happy till he makes something in Sweden...
So the theme of today's episode "Taste of the wild". It basically involves some culinary delights that you need to survive in this barren place.
Location: Fröson Island, somewhere in the centre of Sweden, in a nature reserve.
Weather: 2 degree's, cloudy, snowing at some point.
Present: Uh..,the presenter, yours truly.
Mission: To waste a few hours of the day away and have a good time doing it.
Outcome: You decide...
It was an impromptu decision to go out hiking, was miles away to get too, mostly uphills, but was a great find.
Scene 1:
Familiarisation, getting your bearings right, working on the terrible accent, taking inventory of what you have (a stick and knife and you are set) and getting something to drink. Hydration is key.
Scene 2:
Scene 2 is actually finding water, making sure its safe to drink and utilising your survival techniques.
Scene 3 was eating what I had scavenged from the nearby environment.
The following image is the "going out" scene. It was supposed to be for a different travel program I want to create, but the lower half of my body was cut off in the self timed picture, so naturally I cant use it for "that" show...
THE END
And now, is a scene from the next episode: What-a-lot-of-water
 |
| Always need an adventurous pose |
So the theme of today's episode "Taste of the wild". It basically involves some culinary delights that you need to survive in this barren place.
Location: Fröson Island, somewhere in the centre of Sweden, in a nature reserve.
Weather: 2 degree's, cloudy, snowing at some point.
Present: Uh..,the presenter, yours truly.
Mission: To waste a few hours of the day away and have a good time doing it.
Outcome: You decide...
 |
| Action pic...it was actually snowing at the time |
Scene 1:
Familiarisation, getting your bearings right, working on the terrible accent, taking inventory of what you have (a stick and knife and you are set) and getting something to drink. Hydration is key.
Scene 2:
Scene 2 is actually finding water, making sure its safe to drink and utilising your survival techniques.
Scene 3 was eating what I had scavenged from the nearby environment.
The following image is the "going out" scene. It was supposed to be for a different travel program I want to create, but the lower half of my body was cut off in the self timed picture, so naturally I cant use it for "that" show...
 | ||
| This is the "going out" image |
THE END
And now, is a scene from the next episode: What-a-lot-of-water
Monday, October 4, 2010
Åre awesome-ness
Great weekends are often never planned, leaving you open to any experience, having no expectations of whats to come, which means the chances of you having a mind blowing experience are very good. This first weekend in October was no exception.
After a hectic week at university, we decided as a group of friends to take time out. I had seen that Åre, the popular ski town (http://www.are360.com/en-gb.aspx) was having a autumn market this weekend. So we decided to check it out for a day. Student tickets were booked on the train and we decided to meet up on Saturday morning to go to Åre, departure time, 07h18, prefect.
I must just mention at this point, that we had also decided that Friday night we’d meet up, maybe watch a home movie, or just enjoy each other company as a group of friends. This happened, we ended up going out, having a great party and getting home at 02h30. Let me just say that when the alarm went off at 06h00 on Saturday, the realisation of what we had done to ourselves with 3 hours sleep was a grim reminder that this was going to be a long day. I wasn't the only one who felt this way, thankfully, and the train left with us all catching up on a brief hour of power.
Arriving in Åre, the drop in temperature was a great way to wake us up. We arrived a few hours before anything opens (everything opens at 11 in a small town), so a simple breakfast bought from ICA, a local supermarket has to suffice for the time being. We decided that the guys and girls would split up and we could explore and enjoy the market to our own wills.
Åre is a stunning looking town, focussed on skiing, but trying hard to keep its self popular throughout the year. With a backdrop of mountains and a lake, it certainly wins a prize for a good looking town.
The market was a collection of traditional food, delicacies, sweets, hats, crafts, plants...blah blah you get the idea. There is only so much traditional spicy sausage, Elk heart and fresh bread you can eat in a day. Nonetheless, it was really good to just get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of the place. Lunch was traditional raggmunk, (potato pancakes, served with bacon and lingon).
With most of the town explored by lunch time, the girls suggested that we take the gondola (cable car) up to the top of the mountain, Åreskutan. Great idea it turned out to be. The cable car is approximately 2.9kms long, goes up over 853meters in height to near the top of the mountain, which there remains 800 metres to climb to the very top, a height of 1420 metres. Once up, it was freezing! The temperature was probably 6 or 7 degree’s, but the wind was thumping, with wind chill, it was probably 2 or 3 degree’s.
The climb up started really slowly, there was snow up on the top, which was a great distraction to most of us up there. First snow in Sweden since arriving here...
Climbing over rocks, ice and snow is not a strong point for our two Asian friends, so the going started really slow. They eventually decided to walk back to the warmth of the station on the mountain, which left Kai, Sonia (a German girl which this was first time to hike a mountain) and myself to climb to the top of the Åreskutan.
In short, it was amazing. The view was incredible, the wind was whipping like mad, it was a feeling of total elation being on the top.
Once down, we enjoyed some more traditional food, ever tasty glass (ice cream) and just chilled out till the train arrived to take us back. Happy faces all around from a full day out...
Well back to routine this week, another test and more academia awaits...
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Its been almost two weeks since my last post, its about time to update on whats been the buzz up in Norland. Things are really starting to settle down and routine's are forming. Its easy to get like that, so a good shaking up is always good for keeping things interesting.
Its finally great to have internet in the apartment, its taken ages for them to install the line, but now that its installed it really rockets, an average of 1Mb/s. (For those who, like me are not that familiar with tech speak, it means that its a pretty fast connection). This new addition really makes it easier to keep connected with family...and waste great time surfing the net and all other things associated with the internet.
University is in full swing, with normal classes happening twice a week, much much reading and preparing of work in the rest of the time. Already, we have two assessments due in this last week of September, with a written test the week after.
On top of this, Swedish language courses have also started, and I have decided to take two separate courses, both part time, to learn as much as possible, as fast as possible. :) Let see how it goes...
Autimn (Höst) has set in and temperatures are cooling quickly. Last night, the 25th of september we finally recorded the first frost (The huge lake nearby keeps things regulated to an extent, hence the late frost), with the night time average dipping to -0.7 degree's. The day time high's are also around 7 or 8. But the sun shines and when it does it makes it much much easier to handle.
This is really a great place to keep fit and be outdoors, and many many people here in Östersund take advantage of the outdoors. Once again, Östersund this year is hosting the Swedish Biathlon Championships in December, this is the kick ass sport of skiing and shooting...very very cool. And all over in the forests and off road tracks, people are practising on roller ski's till it snows...
And on that note of snow, I have finally seen the first snow's. The fjall's (mountain ranges) around here were covered in snow today on the run, its so beautiful, I will post a photo as soon as possible on this...
The 24th of September was National Braai Day in SA...it was one of the days that I really missed being back home. It was 7 degree's and raining here in Östersund, while in SA, people were in shortsleeves and having braai's...gosh I missed it tons.
So I celebrated, by making a Malay curry, drinking an SA wine and enjoying an eve with a few friends...wasnt the same, but in my heart I was with all you in SA...
So, all in all, autumn greetings from a cooling Norland...
Its finally great to have internet in the apartment, its taken ages for them to install the line, but now that its installed it really rockets, an average of 1Mb/s. (For those who, like me are not that familiar with tech speak, it means that its a pretty fast connection). This new addition really makes it easier to keep connected with family...and waste great time surfing the net and all other things associated with the internet.
University is in full swing, with normal classes happening twice a week, much much reading and preparing of work in the rest of the time. Already, we have two assessments due in this last week of September, with a written test the week after.
On top of this, Swedish language courses have also started, and I have decided to take two separate courses, both part time, to learn as much as possible, as fast as possible. :) Let see how it goes...
Autimn (Höst) has set in and temperatures are cooling quickly. Last night, the 25th of september we finally recorded the first frost (The huge lake nearby keeps things regulated to an extent, hence the late frost), with the night time average dipping to -0.7 degree's. The day time high's are also around 7 or 8. But the sun shines and when it does it makes it much much easier to handle.
This is really a great place to keep fit and be outdoors, and many many people here in Östersund take advantage of the outdoors. Once again, Östersund this year is hosting the Swedish Biathlon Championships in December, this is the kick ass sport of skiing and shooting...very very cool. And all over in the forests and off road tracks, people are practising on roller ski's till it snows...
And on that note of snow, I have finally seen the first snow's. The fjall's (mountain ranges) around here were covered in snow today on the run, its so beautiful, I will post a photo as soon as possible on this...
The 24th of September was National Braai Day in SA...it was one of the days that I really missed being back home. It was 7 degree's and raining here in Östersund, while in SA, people were in shortsleeves and having braai's...gosh I missed it tons.
So I celebrated, by making a Malay curry, drinking an SA wine and enjoying an eve with a few friends...wasnt the same, but in my heart I was with all you in SA...
So, all in all, autumn greetings from a cooling Norland...
Monday, September 13, 2010
One month down...
August 13 2010 I landed in Sweden. Lots of planning, preperation…and prayers had gone into it, and it was about to start.
Today, the 13th of September 2010 I have been in sweden for a whole month…and wow life can change in a month…so one month down, and lets recap on a few changes.
1-Countries-worlds apart from SA to Sweden
2-Attitudes towards family and friends. Family’s you cant choose, and thanks God for that, because I like my family. And friends. guess life’d be very boring and lonely without them.
3-Climate-gosh what happened to spring in SA from what I hear? Its getting chilly here, leaves are turning gold and orange…and winter’s fast approaching. Global warming eh?
4-There are places in the world where people still are trusting, filling in a form actually gets things to work properly…and yet, an internet connection no matter where you are in the world can still take over a month to be connected and working…
5-Students are students, no matter where they are in the world or what language is spoken.
6-Friends can be friends, no matter the language and where they are from.
7-English truely is a worldwide language, and having it as your first language can be a very, very helpful asset. And yet, even dodgy swedish can help you in tough situations, particularly in Istanbul…
8-Skype, Facebook, emails and telephones are wonderful inventions to keep you in touch no matter where you are in the world.
9-Sweden is a beautiful country.
10-South Africa is a beautiful country.
11-Swedish girls are prettier though...
12-South Africa=synonemous with the FIFA World cup…and yes the vuvuzela is really hated by all countries except South Africa.
13-Proper braai’s can actually be made if South African’s are present.
This picture is actually in Sweden, not Asia...
So all in all, Month one has been a great, God sent month...lets see what the next has to offer...
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Mitt Universitetet
Ok so university has officially started, and I hopefully have a picture attached of the place. Wowza, it was on old military barrack, and when Sweden de-militarised, they had to figure out something to do with the buildings...so the airforce base was converted into an airport, most buildings became business's, and a university was formed in the town centre...pretty well masked I must say.
The classes have officially started too. The academia started with a group meeting of roughly 70-80 people gathering in a hall, all "Freemovers" as we are called, internationals with a right to study here. And international we are indeed. I think the only continent that was skipped was South America...but seriously, there are people from all over. And since last week thursday, its been getting to grips with the place since then...
Classes itself started on Tuesday the 31st of August. There are approximately 30-35 people studying Masters in Tourism...three are swedish....interesting indeed.
Classes are different to South Africa, with much self study required, in a short space of time. There are two lectures a week, two, which in a space of three weeks, we would have basically self read two books and a journal, in which we are to be tested...in groups, like group work...Alrightey then...
Besides from Academia, I am so greatfull to God for His guidance in this move. There is a drastic shortage of accommodation in this town, and people have been moved from pillar to post, and have struggled to find a place to stay. Those getting accommodation now are paying crazy prices, for very little indeed...
There is also a new addition to my life, a movable asset, that I have named Norman...a decrepit beat up, needs some attention mountain bike. But at 350:- what could you have expected. It has one gear, (the hardest), so uphills are exactly that, uphills, and the brakes are...well, need a little work...but it looks good and it gets from A to B quicker than walking...so its a winner...
One thing I have had a laugh about, is what the Swedes call a Grill, some other nations call a BBQ, and we know it as a braai...They have no idea. They light about 9 coals in a foil pan and try slow roast a sausage, in weather that is about 9 degree's and cloudy...oh how I miss a proper braai! Please see pictures attached. I will secretly humour these people for now...but one day the braai instinct will take over...
And that for now is signing off...more to follow in time...
Cheers
The classes have officially started too. The academia started with a group meeting of roughly 70-80 people gathering in a hall, all "Freemovers" as we are called, internationals with a right to study here. And international we are indeed. I think the only continent that was skipped was South America...but seriously, there are people from all over. And since last week thursday, its been getting to grips with the place since then...
Classes itself started on Tuesday the 31st of August. There are approximately 30-35 people studying Masters in Tourism...three are swedish....interesting indeed.
Classes are different to South Africa, with much self study required, in a short space of time. There are two lectures a week, two, which in a space of three weeks, we would have basically self read two books and a journal, in which we are to be tested...in groups, like group work...Alrightey then...
Besides from Academia, I am so greatfull to God for His guidance in this move. There is a drastic shortage of accommodation in this town, and people have been moved from pillar to post, and have struggled to find a place to stay. Those getting accommodation now are paying crazy prices, for very little indeed...
There is also a new addition to my life, a movable asset, that I have named Norman...a decrepit beat up, needs some attention mountain bike. But at 350:- what could you have expected. It has one gear, (the hardest), so uphills are exactly that, uphills, and the brakes are...well, need a little work...but it looks good and it gets from A to B quicker than walking...so its a winner...
And that for now is signing off...more to follow in time...
Cheers
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