Almost half way

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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) so I must be doing something right.

Generally, I've been living the life of a monk in comparison to the boozy British lifestyle. Alcohol is confined to the weekends (almost). The party scene is a bit diffeent here. Swedish people tend to have house parties and then possibly go to a club if they can be othered or if not too drunk.

There are some students who volunteer to welcome the exchange students, I thought they would be Sweden's biggest nerds but they are all sound. One is called Axel and he invited me to a pizza party at his flat. He made all the bases and everyone had to take a topping (I took pineapple chunks). Great idea I thought. Axel and his sister were actual Sandinistas - they were born there when their parents were volunteering for the revolution. Some of us went on to a club later. It was a bit of a dive, dance floor covered in glass etc. Kind of like Jubblys but it cost £6 a pint. And no Spielberg, obviously.

All the pubs charge about the same except for student bars which charge 2 / 2.50. The first one I went to was way to trendy for me (Pazzy would have liked it) but I have a bar underneath my room where it costs 1.50 a pint and we get free entry and burger for putting up with the noise at weekends - Dewch i mewn.

I've had some more cultural experiences too. I went to a talk by Hans Blix at the university (does that count as cultural). Hans who? Remember the weapons inspector from Iraq. He talked about the future of nuclear arms but mainly said 'I told you so' about Iraq, playing to the seething anti-americanism of most Swedes. I asked my roommate why Britain escapes from this attitude even thogh our government also bombed Irag, Afghanistan etc. and he said its because the Brits are just the followers so not as bad. I don't know which is worse! Its funny tho, because some of the Swedes who speak the best English have American accents from watching the sitcoms on TV.

Last weekend I went on a hiking trip to lake Sommen a couple of hours away with Illona, my friend fro Cardiff uni, and a coupe of friends from my corridor. There was a peninsula that goes out into the lake so we walked round that then stayed in a youth hostel for the night. It would have been better to see it frozen over in January but still a nice time of year - see photos.

I had my first baking experience last week. Swedes are always having tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes. Its called Fika (The auld Swedes - they love their fika!). They have it twice a week at the hospital and once a week in my corridor on a Sunday night. Thats when we meet for fika and discuss any corridor issues (there never are any - its just an excuse). But every week someone has to bake so for my turn I broke the record for the longest time taken and most mess made to make Welsh cakes. Everyone was happy tho. So all in all, I feel like I'm catching up in the sophistication stakes. Now I just have to learn a second language and make real coffee instead of instant. (I find myself getting defensive though and thinking its not my fault our education is dictated by big business. And there's nothing wrong with instant coffee anyway. Its the Swedes that need to have night up Jersey Park with a couple of bottles of Mad Dog or 20 / 20 - rant over).

I had my first little pang of home sickness this week as I can't find any branston for my sandwiches and I'm starting to miss reading the newspaper on the toilet. (and my wonderful family and friends too)

Thats it for now. I'm out for my first proper Linkoping club night tonight. Its called 'Din Mammas' which means 'your mothers'. So the joke is, 'Im going to your mothers again tonight'. Bit Windsor I know but there we go.

Hej Da.

ps. I've just re-read the blog and remembered the time I said I wouldn't become one of those old men who love talking about the price of a pint but i've left a couple in because I know thats what everyone wants to known and you have to give the peole want they want

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