So I know I'm normally writing
amazing blogs about things people at home really want to know about like ice,
prostitutes or canned fish. However, I have to take a moment to be typical and
mention what an AMAZING experience I am having.
I just got back from spending
3 days in Sweden studying integration and immigration with my class and it was
phenomenal.
Adventures began at 6:30am
where my housemate Chandler and I woke up to stock up on croissants from 7-11
before heading to the square to wait for our bus. Our class is big enough that
we get a double decker bus and we were committed to getting the front row in
the top. We were 45 minutes early. Worth it.
We then had the best view
possible to experience the bridge from Copenhagen into Malmö. It’s a crazy
piece of engineering that involves an epic tunnel that you come out of in the middle of the ocean and then
drive on for something like 12 minutes to get into Sweden.
We spent the day in Malmö
walking around town and doing interviews for our class project. I also saw a
real Swedish IKEA and ate knockoff Swedish fish (ironically not as good).
On our way up to Gothenburg,
we watched this thing that I literally cannot even put into words what it is.
It’s this show with puppets and for the Christmas season there is a short
episode of this show each day leading up to Christmas. So just keep in mind
that this is a show that aired during normal primetime TV and is aimed at everyone. I cant even begin to warn you
of what’s coming.
The best part is, if you can
speak Danish, this is basically a PSA about integration. Integration. I also had the pleasure of my professor narrating this
to us over loudspeaker saying “I'm a fully integrated woman” in his best creepy
lady voice. People actually cried from shock. Upon arriving in our hostel we made some new
friends from Germany, Italy and Australia
which was pretty cool to hang out with some non DIS/American people.
The next morning we went to
the world cultural museum, took a boat tour and listened to some lectures at
the local university. Our dinner was also amazing. Any school that provides for
its students a multi course steak dinner with wine pairings will make me a
happy camper. (Seriously dad, so
worth the money). Next we went to a bar where I drank Swedish beer with my
professor and watched some 20-year-old classmates challenge grown-up Swedish
men to outdrink them. Surprisingly, they did not succeed in this venture. I
joined Stephan, the giggliest man I have ever met, in watching these boys take
dips and then spit them into their gin and tonics.
Saturday was the best day
ever. We had to be up super early (extra early for me and Chandler, who made
sure to get the same seats for the ride home) but it was absolutely worth it. We
went to Åkulla Bokskogar for kayaking, nature hikes and team building
activities. I happen to love kayaking
and had a wonderful time paddling around the lake despite less than ideal
conditions. However, my team was the worst at things and our consolation prize
were promotional toothbrushes Notice that the name on the toothbrush is
different than the lodge we were at, and also please take time to notice the
emoticon printed on the toothbrush. I know Danes love to text emoticons, but
this was a whole new level.
Finally, to top of my Swedish
experience, we had lunch. Our lunch consisted of none other than SWEDISH
MEATBALLS. I can now say I have eaten actual Swedish meatballs in Sweden. I literally had to stop and
revel in both this fact and the most delicious gravy of my life.
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