Cykeln

Bicycles are very important in Uppsala. They're the main way to get around the city. They're how you get to class, go grocery shopping, get your mail... There are even nice bike paths on most roads. And major intersections have a light for the cars, pedestrians, and bicycles.

When I'm biking I like to keep both hands on my handlebars (except when signalling to turn.) However, I've seen a lot of people not doing this. So I've compiled a list of interesting things I've seen other people doing while cycling. (I have no pictures of any of them because I'm almost always on my bike when I see these.)

• Smoking


• Carrying a box or bag


• Holding an umbrella


• Talking on the phone (not hands-free)


• Warming their hands in their pockets or just crossing their arms


• Texting


• Pushing a stroller


• Pushing another bike


• Taking their dog for a walk

An attempt at describing the Student Nations

I believe I've mentioned the Student Nations a few times. Here is my attempt at an explanation.

First, here is what the Uppsala University website has to say:

The thirteen Student Nations are clubs dating back to the 17th century. Each nation bears the name of a certain region in Sweden and historically it was a club for students from that region.

The various nations arrange similar activities for their members. These include cafés (with fika, meaning a cup of coffee or so) and pubs with discos. Some nations also offer lunches. Formal three-course dinners (gasques) or balls are arranged at certain intervals... Other activities at most nations are a number of musical events with various kinds of orchestras and bands including jazz and classical music, choirs, theatre groups, sports and athletic clubs... plus photo labs, art clubs and perhaps a wine- and whiskey-testing club. Guest lectures, guided tours, excursions and recreational trips to interesting sites may be offered as well. The sports and other activities vary somewhat between different nations. There are good opportunities for students to work at these events. Many students earn some extra money by working in the pub or at the fika.

(http://www.uu.se/en/education/study_in_uppsala/the_student_nations/)

I would describe each nation as more of an organization or society for students than a club. Now, you are free to join whichever Nation you like. I joined Kalmar Nation because I liked to atmosphere and it has a nice theatre club. You are also allowed to go to other nations' clubs and pubs. Normally, you get a discount at your own Nation. The only other university in Sweden with Nations is Lund. There is also a Student Union which deals purely with the academic aspects of the university.

Uppsala is a university town and the Nations help to create the student life. Personally, I really like the idea of the Nations. They are a great place to meet other students with similar interests and help to assert the universities presence in the city.

Hopefully, that explains the Nations a bit for you so you know what I'm talking about the next time that I mention them.

Kräftskiva!

I went to a kräftskiva (crayfish party) at the end of August with another girl where I'm living. It's a Swedish tradition to get together sometime in August and eat crayfish with friends. Instead of doing it at someone's house we went to Gästrike-Hälsinge Nation for their kräftskiva. I was one of two people there who didn't speak Swedish. The entire evening was in Swedish but luckily the Swedes next to us were very friendly and translated for us.



The night started in the Nations library. Each nation has a building where they hold events and you can go and study.



There were three different pre-drinks (plus their equivalent without alcohol.) There was pear, strawberry, and blackberry.



While enjoying our pre-drinks we chatted and made silly hats.



During dinner parties an important tradition is singing drinking songs and drinking snaps. The dinner was frequently interrupted to stop and sing a drinking song. After the song, as a girl, you toast (no clinking of your glass) the person to your left, then your right, and then across from you before taking a drink. And then you reverse the toasting process. (Ideally you are seated with alternating guy/girl so that you always toast someone. Guys start to their right.) To me the snaps tastes like cough-syrup. I later found out that the type I was recommended to take was considered the "girly" snaps. It was only 38% alcohol.



The opening course was some type of cheese pie with mushrooms.



Then the food came out. This dinner was done as a buffet.



Lots of crayfish.



Crayfish are kind of like very small lobsters and very difficult to eat.



There was crayfish, boiled potatoes, watermelon and feta, bread, quiche, some salad thing with chickpeas, and couscous.



Desert was apple pie.



To end the evening, you sing the last drinking song while standing on your chair (no one was so drunk that they fell) and then it is bad luck if you sit back down in your chair again. Afterwards, many people went downstairs where there was a club. My friend and I sat outside with the Swedes that we were sitting by for the dinner. We sat, talked, tried some ice wine, and learned about another tradition where you write in people's songbooks (each Nation has their own songbook of drinking songs). Preferably, you write in poetry and then you wait until the next morning to read what people wrote.



Overall, it was a very fun evening. Swedes open up a lot after they've had a few drinks. One Swede told my friend and I that he had several snaps during the evening; however, he didn't seem particularly drunk, just very friendly.

A Picture Tour of Uppsala

Some pictures taken around Uppsala.

One of many rune stones found in Sweden.



The park near one of the campus buildings.



One of the many bridges that crosses the river which flows through the city.



Some people like to fish in the river.



In case you need to get to the water.



Or someone falls in.



Some ducks near a pond.



Another duck.



And a bird.



And a swan.



Lastly a rainbow.

Swedish Food

As well as learning Swedish this past month, I took part in a Swedish culture class. On of the themes was food.

The first dish we tried was baked potato (yummy), smoked salmon (just like in Canada), some sort of strange cheese cream sauce on hard bread (wasn't a fan), and pickled herring (definitely didn't like.) To drink there was some beer.



Next up was meatballs with lingonberries  jam (very yummy), smoked reindeer (I would never have known it was reindeer if I hadn't been told), and cheese on bread. The drink is called julmust which is a soft drink that you can only find in the stores around Christmas. The recipe is said to be known only by two people. I didn't particularly like it.



And dessert. There were three cookies that I liked: a rice cookie, an oatmeal cookie, and a shortbread cookie. The final item was chocolate and marzipan which I didn't like. It's called a dammsugare which literally translates to vacuum cleaner.



And that was it for the event. Another post will cover some of the other strange food I've come across.