Blogs from Östergötland County, Sweden, Europe - page 2

So this post will be a bit of a different one from the norm. I haven't done much poetry writing since I've been here but for some reason walking to school the other day I looked around and truly came to appreciate how gorgeous it is here in the fall. Next thing I know- POOF- I was writing again. I don't normally share my poems with anyone but since this one was written here about the things I see around me, experiences I'm having and how they make me feel, I thought I would post it as part of the catalogue of my journey. Summer's Passing, Winter's Glory Gold and crimson silk Patchworks of quilted time. Laces of silvery threaded frost, Tempestuous winter's crime. Muddied waters of frozen moonbeams, Heaven's skyward glare. Innocent yearning for tepid ... read more

Hej Hej!! So glad the server is finally up and working because I've been dying to talk about the excursion I went on! I went as part of a class I'm taking about Swedish history and culture. It was fantastic! We left at 9am and stopped first at Rök where we gathered around an ancient rune stone. It is the oldest known runic inscription in stone. Pretty cool. The inscription is pre-Christian and about 760 characters. Our teacher can read the old Viking language and translated the words for us. Rune stones are built in memory of those who died and this 4 ton solid granite masterpiece is no exception. Just amazing! Next we toured the countryside and our teachers pointed out important landmarks along the way but our final destination were the ruins of Alvastra ... read more

Hello All!! So I've been really incredibly lame updating this blog lately. I even had to read over the last entry to even remember what I haven't written about yet...poor neglected travel blog. Well I guess since then I experienced the joys of a student bar/pub. It was great! A few of us hung out on the patio and drank the cheapest thing they had to offer- vodka and redbull. Although cheap and wonderful I won't think I slept at all that night. I'm starting to really enjoy the black licorice shots (called something in the area of Turkish Pepper) and mintu alcohol. Not that all I'm doing is getting drunk but they certainly make it taste better than we do in Canada. After the bar we went over to a concert offered free by the ... read more

Gamla Linkoping was fabulous! Of course the moment we arrived it started to absolutely pour but we tried to navigate our way around regardless. It really is funny that once it starts raining everyone takes cover here- hiding in the little shops and things. I think it's funny because it rains so often here you would be stuck inside constantly if you tried to hide from the rain. Umbrellas aren't even really all that helpful as I find it often blows sideways so you're soaked regardless. I've learned to embrace my bad hair. I have also discovered the secret to why so many Swedish people are as thin as they are! First of all I've done so much walking since I've been here it's insane. Also, while we walked around Gamla Linkoping we came across this ... read more

So I'm pretty sure the people I live with must think I'm absolutely insane! haha Last night Daniel and Uma were in my room helping me set something up on my computer and Uma commented that it was awfully dark in here. When I moved in, Aunt G and I also thought it seemed dark but we thought it was the bulbs and we purchased a lamp. Thank goodness Uma is extremely tall because he informed me that two of my three lightbulbs were actually burnt out. When I asked where to buy new ones Daniel pointed and said to walk "250 meters that way". I gave him a look. Apparently you can buy just about anything at the grocery store just like at home. I'm so pre-programmed to assume everything is different that I sometimes ... read more