What is "fika"?

I've already told you that I had "fika" without explaining what it is... First of all, it's one of the most used words here in Sweden (and also in Finnland). But what is it? It's what the Swedes love very much: drinking coffee. When you go "fika" it means you go for a coffee break. And they do that quite often here. Which makes Sweden one of the heavy-coffee-drinking-nations. I don't really contribute to this statistic but what I really can contribute is to the sweets-statistics. Often they take something sweet with the coffee.

The best day is Sunday - then it's Sunday Fika time! You can go to a coffee shop and have a cheap and good cake, muffin, ... with tea or coffee. Aaaaaaah, sunday fika is great... :)

Northern Lights!!!

I've seen the Northern Lights! I had just prepared a cup of tea when a friend who was sitting at the lake called me to tell me that there were Northern Lights on the sky. I have to admit it was a bit scary riding alone through the dark forest (I could barely see the path) to where they were but it was really worth ist. It's awesome!!!
My camera is not good enough but that's how it can look (it was not that green today.)

Lapland

New pictures are online! (http://franziska.luthiger.googlepages.com/pictureoftheday-overview)

The trip to Hemavan was great. Unfortunately the weather was not that good, but good enough for hiking and partying. And on Sunday we even had a bit of sun. The wet land was a real challenge for hiking shoes - every step a new chance to soak the shoes! My shoes failed but there were really people who had after the hike still dry feet. But wet or not - it was heaps of fun anyway.
Lapland is very nice, couldn't sleep in the bus because I had to watch out of the window all the way. There was even a moose (Elch) near the street but unfortunately I missed it... So I keep watching! I can't come home before I have seen one!

Today we had a lovely an relatively warm day so I decided to go jogging. I ran around the lake in my area. It was awesome! I was running during sunset which is meanwhile at 18.45.

Link to Pictures

The picture of the day findet ihr jeweils auf http://franziska.luthiger.googlepages.com/pictureoftheday-overview

Time for an update...

Hej!

I guess it's time for an update once in a while. In order that you don't stop commenting on my posts I should answer your questions first... So, how is partying here? As everything else - it starts early! Usually the pre-party at someone's korridor (the "flat" where we live) or even in someone's room (quite cosy with fifteen people in a sleeping room :D) starts at around eight. Around ten it's time to go to the "party" which ends already at 2am (they are not allowed to open longer). After that either go home or to an after-party at someone's home. And one should not forget to buy alcohol on Saturday before 3pm - that's when Systembolaget (alcohol shop) closes. Partying is quite fun here!!

But what have I been doing since the last time I wrote? On Thursday we had the first meeting with our mentors. We are about 15 international students and around 8 Swedish mentors (two are finnish in my group) in each group. Needless to say that there are quite a lot of Germans in my group as over hundred of the three hundred exchange students are from Germany.
The mentors organize quite a lot of fun stuff - it's really cool and definitely never boring here. So we went to have a BBQ on Friday, had team building day (lot's of funny games) and partying on Saturday, "Fika" (tell you more about Fika another time) and dinner yesterday. It's really cool and everybody is so nice!

This weekend I'm going to Hemavan in Lapland!!!! The weather forecast is pretty bad but I'm looking forward anyway.

It's quite cold already but often sunny. But I really wonder when they start heating here... Please... I'm freezing in the evenings in my room. Some of my korridor mate's are only wearing t-shirts - so it's probably me! :)

Puss och kram!

Pictures

Finally, pictures from week one are online! http://franziska.luthiger.googlepages.com/pictureoftheday

Hejsan!

I still have no internet - after calling them four times… (not every customer service is as good as *starticket :D) It’s time you get some news!! Luckily I have a friend next door who let me use her internet.

I’ve already been here for one week now. Last week was introduction week for the international students. They organized program for us every day from Tuesday till Friday ending with a fun game in the city. One task was to sing a song in the teams. As my team was so good singing (…) we won tickets for a women soccer game in umea. Boring you think? Well it is soccer so yes but apparently the women soccer team from umea is one of the best in the world!

That having a bicycle is crucial I already found out the second day. After just missing the bus I checked the timetable – only two buses per hour and so I had to wait 30min (and again later the same day). But as the city is so small you can get everywhere easily by bike. So I bought a second hand bike one the third day. Umea is very nice lots of trees in the center and a lot of forest around. A good place to go jogging!

My room is alright (after I got rid of the very bad smell). Still a bit empty though. The area is very nice – I live near an awesome lake. It’s probably one of the nicest areas to live – near university and a lot of nature around.

Yesterday we (other international students and me) wanted to go berry picking which is one of the Swedes hobbies. Unfortunately the weather was not too good so we took a walk along the lake instead.

It’s already quite cold here but I heard it’s not so much different from Switzerland. I had a bit of a shock when I arrived on Monday. It was raining all afternoon and night and Tuesday morning – what a welcome! But that rain was unusual so I’m still optimistic. We’ve had a bit of sunshine but I’ve never been outside without a jumper. I’m hoping for a warm autumn (summer here was not better than in Switzerland).

Enough for today. As soon I have my own internet I put some pictures here. Hope to hear you soon!