Another few days have sure flown by! Except for noticing how early everything closes around here on the weekends, I really didn't do much this last weekend. Come Monday, I was ready to do some more hunting! Found the tram station, which was right "underneath" Frölunda Torg this whole time and I had no idea it was there. Truly wasn't under, just down some steps that was underneath a walkway. Got on Tram 8 and headed to downtown Göteborg. 10 stops later and I was off at Chalmers. This was really neat because there is a stop right at Chalmers entrance! So convenient!
There was a ton going on on campus! Students everywhere, some radio station was sitting right in front of the union door blasting music. Definitely know school is going to start! There's this organization called CIRC (Chalmers International Reception Committee) that helps out international students by throwing parties, organize tours of campus and the libraries. I was trying to find their office to sign up for the tours in particular and I still have no idea where it's at. I asked many people, so either I'm blind, or totally in the wrong place. I'm sure it is much easier than I'm making it to be!
Thought about trying to find Panne, or at least where his office is for the time being. (Panne is the contact at Sweden that I have had since I first applied.) Not only did I find his office but I found Panne as well! Very, very nice and I spent about an hour in his office discussing classes and he answered about all the random questions I had about how stuff works around the city.
After checking out the campus a little more (in the rain because it seems to rain at random), I hopped back on a tram to Frölunda Torg. When I got up to my apartment I had a very nice surprise! My roommates were finally here! Two boys, Dane and Brennan, from Cal Poly in California, also in mechanical engineering. Hmmm....maybe they planned to put people from the states and in the same major together?!? They must have because the 3rd roommate arrived, Niklas, also from Cal Poly and also in mechanical engineering. Was great to chat with someone finally!
Mostly discussed each other's lives for the rest of the evening. Found out Dane and Brennan had been traveling around Europe for the past 2 weeks, and Niklas was taking summer classes in Germany, but also was traveling a bit too. Niklas also has a mother born and raised in Stockholm, so he has dual-citizenship in Sweden and the US and can understand a lot of Swedish! Great for all us Americans!
Now for Tuesday: Had to be at Chalmers by 11am for an introduction meeting and to set up times to meet with Panne or the other two exchange organizers. After the meeting ended, all four of us hung out on campus, grabbed some lunch and then hit up a campus tour put on by CIRC. Got a lot of info from the tour, definitely a tiny campus compared to what I'm used to! With around 10,000 people, it is very simple to find your way around.
Funny story too: while I was buying my sandwich at the little coffee shop inside the student union, a woman probably in her 60's from Australia came up and started talking to me. She said she came to Sweden about 30 years ago for a vacation and she fell in love! Now she's living there! Has been for the last 30 years and now speaks fluent Swedish! She told me to watch out!! She's also housing a student from India for the time being, so we were of course introduced!
Met a lot of people from many different countries: Russia, India, Pakistan, Spain, England, Nigeria, Germany. Very interesting to speak with all of these students! This was just in a group of 25, too, so to think of the whole university! Pretty crazy if you ask me! The girl from Russia sounds like a lot of fun and we exchanged numbers, so I'm sure we'll be catching up at a later point. She was telling us how she'd been living in Florida for the summer and has also been to many states in the US.
After signing up for a "Pub Quiz" that CIRC is putting on, we found a bus for IKEA. Bought a 3 month bus pass that should last for most of our time here. Got to IKEA and bought some more pans, all got some bedding, such as a duvet and cover and I also bought a rug for the floor next to my bed. Got on the bus back to Frölunda Torg and this is where I'm sitting at this moment.
Absolutely ecstatic that I finally can talk to people my own age and I know they are students! All of the international students seem to be very outgoing and easy to talk to! I am very excited about the rest of this week and all the people I will be able to meet! Already have met a ton, so I'm sure there will be sooooo many more!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
The findings thus far!
Well...here we go again! Many, many things have happened since I last posted. I even made a list while riding the buss, yes, I did attempt public transportation! Had to at some point, right?
The last 2 days are sort of a blur, but I did venture out and I did figure out a few things! Yesterday (23rd) I pretty much just stayed in the area and did a little more shopping for necessities. Today, however, I was rarin' to go and headed out with an agenda: cell phone, bus pass, IKEA.
Bought a cell phone - - currently it's charging, so I'll find out later if it even works! Got a buss pass for 100kr and for each ride it's about 15kr, but it lasts for 90 minutes. So you can switch buses as much as you want within those 90 minutes. I think it also works for trams, but haven't tried that out yet.
After asking many people, I finally figured out how to get to IKEA. That's where the adventure begins. So....I asked this online tourist chat site the best routes to take to IKEA by buss. The lady gave me a couple options, and the one that was the fastest, also ended at 6:30pm. By that time it was already 4pm and I had yet to get on the buss and then do all my shopping. Decided to take that route without knowing what I'd do coming back to Frölunda.
Got on the "Orange Express" and headed to the stop I had to get off to switch buses. Got on the next buss, route 360 and continued to enjoy the ride and the scenery. All of a sudden I noticed we were going back into the main part of the city of Gothenburg and I kind of thought it was strange. Then we came to the end of the route! I had no idea what happened! I followed the directions from the tourist office, so we should've passed and IKEA somewhere, but I never saw it go by!
I asked the bus driver, who spoke little English, and he tried to explain what happened. Found a younger girl who spoke really good English and she told me I had gotten on the right bus, but was headed in the wrong direction; 45 minutes in the wrong direction! They pointed me to the correct buss and I was headed off in the RIGHT direction to IKEA. 50 minutes later, pulled up at the familiar gold and blue building and was ready to start shopping!
Bought a set for six of everything: plates (big and small), bowls, glasses, and silverware. Got a few pans so we can actually cook and bought some slippers for myself! The IKEA is very similar to those in the US aside for the fact that I could read only half of the stuff, so I really had no idea where anything was at, but of course, all of the same items! Even the Billy shelf for my bro!
Got out of the store and figured I'd just go with it and figure out the bus system on my own. I knew I had to be going in the opposite direction that I came, so that was a start. Well....to make this long story short, I did get the 2 routes I was on figured out, so next time I need to make a trip to IKEA, it won't be a 3 hour buss ride!
I did really enjoy the views as I was riding. Definitely very tiny roads for all of the buses, lots of hills and round-a-bouts! Totally was not expecting hills! Don't know why I thought that, but I thought because of all the bikers, there wouldn't be any hills! Dream world I guess! Speaking of bikes, the bike paths here are amazing! They are EVERYWHERE and so convenient! Might just have to get a bike myself!
Couple more things and then I'm done for today! I do notice a difference between the older and younger generations, as with most countries I suppose. A lot of times when I try to ask someone for help, it mostly winds up that I am talking to someone my own age. Sitting at the bus stop at IKEA, an old woman came up to me speaking in Swedish and I flat out said, I'm sorry, I only speak English. I said hej, and then she kept talking. Smile and nod I guess, but I did really want to understand what she was saying, so maybe in 5 months, I will! The kids my age are all very friendly and all speak English very well! Even those that reply "a little" when I ask if they speak English.
I also thought that most signs and directions would be in English. Not at all actually! It's very hard at times to figure out some stuff, but other words are similar to English or I can figure out what it is. For example: mineralvatten, restaurang, telefonnummer, etc. (Let me know if you need help figuring those out!)
Anywho....guess that's it for today! Feels like it's been a long week, but then again, I haven't even been here for a week! Might be off to explore the campus tomorrow! Added a few pics, so check those out too! Same link as before.
Oh! I also tried out the McDonald's. Had to at some point, right? Not too bad, quite the same as everywhere else, so nothing too special. Still have yet to try the delicacies of Sweden!
The last 2 days are sort of a blur, but I did venture out and I did figure out a few things! Yesterday (23rd) I pretty much just stayed in the area and did a little more shopping for necessities. Today, however, I was rarin' to go and headed out with an agenda: cell phone, bus pass, IKEA.
Bought a cell phone - - currently it's charging, so I'll find out later if it even works! Got a buss pass for 100kr and for each ride it's about 15kr, but it lasts for 90 minutes. So you can switch buses as much as you want within those 90 minutes. I think it also works for trams, but haven't tried that out yet.
After asking many people, I finally figured out how to get to IKEA. That's where the adventure begins. So....I asked this online tourist chat site the best routes to take to IKEA by buss. The lady gave me a couple options, and the one that was the fastest, also ended at 6:30pm. By that time it was already 4pm and I had yet to get on the buss and then do all my shopping. Decided to take that route without knowing what I'd do coming back to Frölunda.
Got on the "Orange Express" and headed to the stop I had to get off to switch buses. Got on the next buss, route 360 and continued to enjoy the ride and the scenery. All of a sudden I noticed we were going back into the main part of the city of Gothenburg and I kind of thought it was strange. Then we came to the end of the route! I had no idea what happened! I followed the directions from the tourist office, so we should've passed and IKEA somewhere, but I never saw it go by!
I asked the bus driver, who spoke little English, and he tried to explain what happened. Found a younger girl who spoke really good English and she told me I had gotten on the right bus, but was headed in the wrong direction; 45 minutes in the wrong direction! They pointed me to the correct buss and I was headed off in the RIGHT direction to IKEA. 50 minutes later, pulled up at the familiar gold and blue building and was ready to start shopping!
Bought a set for six of everything: plates (big and small), bowls, glasses, and silverware. Got a few pans so we can actually cook and bought some slippers for myself! The IKEA is very similar to those in the US aside for the fact that I could read only half of the stuff, so I really had no idea where anything was at, but of course, all of the same items! Even the Billy shelf for my bro!
Got out of the store and figured I'd just go with it and figure out the bus system on my own. I knew I had to be going in the opposite direction that I came, so that was a start. Well....to make this long story short, I did get the 2 routes I was on figured out, so next time I need to make a trip to IKEA, it won't be a 3 hour buss ride!
I did really enjoy the views as I was riding. Definitely very tiny roads for all of the buses, lots of hills and round-a-bouts! Totally was not expecting hills! Don't know why I thought that, but I thought because of all the bikers, there wouldn't be any hills! Dream world I guess! Speaking of bikes, the bike paths here are amazing! They are EVERYWHERE and so convenient! Might just have to get a bike myself!
Couple more things and then I'm done for today! I do notice a difference between the older and younger generations, as with most countries I suppose. A lot of times when I try to ask someone for help, it mostly winds up that I am talking to someone my own age. Sitting at the bus stop at IKEA, an old woman came up to me speaking in Swedish and I flat out said, I'm sorry, I only speak English. I said hej, and then she kept talking. Smile and nod I guess, but I did really want to understand what she was saying, so maybe in 5 months, I will! The kids my age are all very friendly and all speak English very well! Even those that reply "a little" when I ask if they speak English.
I also thought that most signs and directions would be in English. Not at all actually! It's very hard at times to figure out some stuff, but other words are similar to English or I can figure out what it is. For example: mineralvatten, restaurang, telefonnummer, etc. (Let me know if you need help figuring those out!)
Anywho....guess that's it for today! Feels like it's been a long week, but then again, I haven't even been here for a week! Might be off to explore the campus tomorrow! Added a few pics, so check those out too! Same link as before.
Oh! I also tried out the McDonald's. Had to at some point, right? Not too bad, quite the same as everywhere else, so nothing too special. Still have yet to try the delicacies of Sweden!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Pics & address
Pics link for now: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11804214@N03/sets/
I have my address now, let me know if you would like it! I would love to receive letters!
I have my address now, let me know if you would like it! I would love to receive letters!
Finally here!!!
Well....after attempting to figure out this website as it is now all in SWEDISH, I can at least remember exactly where to click to get to a new post! Maybe I'll have it all memorized at some point here.... Whew!!
What a long couple of days! I don't even know where Tuesday went as I passed out at the wonderful City Hotel that my mom set up for me at 7pm. Since I arrived late on Tuesday (at least late enough for the housing office to close before I arrived) I needed to find other accommodations for the night. Took at taxi from the airport to the City Hotel, where I was greeted very nicely! Thankfully the City Hotel is close enough to the housing office at Utlandagaten ( ;-) ) for a 20 minute walk. My mom, who already made friends with the hotel office, mainly Ann, were extremely helpful in assisting me with where I needed to go! Thankfully, the hotel kept my bags locked away in a closet until I returned.
After Ann called the housing office to see if they were open, we realized that they opened at 12pm instead of 9am, like we thought. So, I still took the hike at 10am to find it and then hung out for the 2 hours around the area. Actually, it was more like I got terribly lost in the neighborhood because I thought Ganglaten (my residence) was supposed to be in that area. I figured my way out eventually looking like the stupid tourist walking around with the map. At least I did not have all my bags with me!
Got into the office and got all 7 of my keys and hiked it back to the hotel. After letting Ann in on the news that my apartment was quite a ways from campus, she said that there might be a possibility that she and her husband could drive me to the place. Until then, I wandered down to the Chalmers University campus. I was looking to see if there were any student rate passes for the tram or bus like the U Pass at the U. With no luck, I went back to the hotel. I must say, though, that the campus is amazing! This whole city is amazing! So fun, people are so nice and most all speak English! Very simple for any American who would travel here!
Got to my apartment around 5pm. Was not what I expected it to be at all! Absolutely terrific! All items in the rooms are from IKEA! None of my roommates have arrived, yet, but I hope they come soon so I will have someone to go out shopping with! We have our own kitchen with a stove top and oven, 1 bathroom w/ a shower downstairs along with one bedroom, then upstairs there are 3 bedrooms and another bathroom w/ a shower. Aside from being so far from campus, this place is so cool!
Just went out to check out the area and found this huge shopping center called Frölunda Torg. Groceries, H&M, and many other neat stores, including a cell phone place, which I'll have to check out tomorrow! Bought some necessities for now, along with dinner from the 7 Eleven.
The apartment complex that I am in along with the whole area has many families of different ethnicity's, which I find fascinating because they all speak Swedish! There are always children playing in the many parks and I'm sure I'll have fun playing with them eventually!
Well, all for now, gotta eat my food! No herring for me yet, but I'm sure I'll come around!
Laura
PS. There are pics coming!
What a long couple of days! I don't even know where Tuesday went as I passed out at the wonderful City Hotel that my mom set up for me at 7pm. Since I arrived late on Tuesday (at least late enough for the housing office to close before I arrived) I needed to find other accommodations for the night. Took at taxi from the airport to the City Hotel, where I was greeted very nicely! Thankfully the City Hotel is close enough to the housing office at Utlandagaten ( ;-) ) for a 20 minute walk. My mom, who already made friends with the hotel office, mainly Ann, were extremely helpful in assisting me with where I needed to go! Thankfully, the hotel kept my bags locked away in a closet until I returned.
After Ann called the housing office to see if they were open, we realized that they opened at 12pm instead of 9am, like we thought. So, I still took the hike at 10am to find it and then hung out for the 2 hours around the area. Actually, it was more like I got terribly lost in the neighborhood because I thought Ganglaten (my residence) was supposed to be in that area. I figured my way out eventually looking like the stupid tourist walking around with the map. At least I did not have all my bags with me!
Got into the office and got all 7 of my keys and hiked it back to the hotel. After letting Ann in on the news that my apartment was quite a ways from campus, she said that there might be a possibility that she and her husband could drive me to the place. Until then, I wandered down to the Chalmers University campus. I was looking to see if there were any student rate passes for the tram or bus like the U Pass at the U. With no luck, I went back to the hotel. I must say, though, that the campus is amazing! This whole city is amazing! So fun, people are so nice and most all speak English! Very simple for any American who would travel here!
Got to my apartment around 5pm. Was not what I expected it to be at all! Absolutely terrific! All items in the rooms are from IKEA! None of my roommates have arrived, yet, but I hope they come soon so I will have someone to go out shopping with! We have our own kitchen with a stove top and oven, 1 bathroom w/ a shower downstairs along with one bedroom, then upstairs there are 3 bedrooms and another bathroom w/ a shower. Aside from being so far from campus, this place is so cool!
Just went out to check out the area and found this huge shopping center called Frölunda Torg. Groceries, H&M, and many other neat stores, including a cell phone place, which I'll have to check out tomorrow! Bought some necessities for now, along with dinner from the 7 Eleven.
The apartment complex that I am in along with the whole area has many families of different ethnicity's, which I find fascinating because they all speak Swedish! There are always children playing in the many parks and I'm sure I'll have fun playing with them eventually!
Well, all for now, gotta eat my food! No herring for me yet, but I'm sure I'll come around!
Laura
PS. There are pics coming!
Friday, August 10, 2007
All aboard?
Hey all - just sort of testing this out for right now as I am still in the US and have a little over a week to go. Anxious, but slowly getting ready to go! Leave August 20th - coming up too fast! Anyways...look for more posts later!
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