Buzzyboy
Patrick Burrows Joined: September 17th 2009
Logged in: November 14th 2009
Logged in: November 14th 2009
Travel Blog Posts
Norrkoping
Tjena bloggers, I have now started work at the hospital and am really enjoying. I am working on the stroke and neurology wards so lots of learning to do, it seems never ending. I went to listen to a neurology lecture a couple of weeks ago by a top researcher from America. As I guessed it all went way over my head but it was worth going if only because his name was 'Bud'- nice. Its a bit challenge trying to communiate with patients but I haven't killed anyone so thats a positive. We mainly try and find english speaking patients for me, which tend to be the younger ones so it works out ok. I was chuffed yesterday because one of the patients gave me a present (mug and tea for the British tea addict) ... read more
I arrived in Stockholm airport at about 3pm in the afternoon still reeling from a hangover and feeling woefully underprepared. Discovering that duty-free within the EU was a thing of the past only worsened my mood to the point where I considered getting my head down for the night at the airport. Things began to pick up when my mobile phone magically came to life long enough to contact my 'peer student' Pontus. He picked up my flat keys and arranged to pick me up at the trainstation in Linkoping. My train arrived bang on time as expected. I wasn't expecting it to have 2 decks though (as in floors, not turntables) - my horizons were expanding only an hour into the trip. Pontus took me by bus to my room. Not what I was expecting ... read more
Skogen
I have just returned from my first trip to Systembolaget. This is the state run off-license chain that is the only shop allowed to sell alcohol above 3.5% (apart from pubs and restaraunts). It is the only one in the city and closes at 3pm so when I got there at 2pm there was a massive queue outside. ONce I'd got nside and found my conservative 4 cans of Kopperberg and started queing at the till, I had my first meeting with a genuine Swedish alcoholic. He started to tell me how his generation weren't like the youth of today when it came to drinking. By the smell of his breath, he drinks enough for his whole school class. He continued by pointing out to me the irony of the government paying out generous payments to ... read more
