Exchange Student Update

 

Where to start....

 

On February 6 - 12, the other exchange students and myself met in Bollnäs for an intense language camp.

I was to catch the bus from my home city, Nyköping, to Stockholm and then change to another bus and go on to Bollnäs. However, I wasn't aware that the buses would be upstairs (Stockholm's station is quite big and I've never been in one as large before) so when the time came for my bus to arrive, I was waiting in the area my bus from Nyköping had dropped us off. And I waited. And waited. 5 minutes past the time it was supposed to arrive I went to the information desk and the lady told me it had left already but I could see if I could catch it upstairs. 

 

I could not.

 

So I had to buy a train ticket, 640 SEK which I payed for in AUS Dollars as I didn't have that insane amount of money on me in cash.

 

I got the ticket and headed straight down to the platform to wait, there I met another exchange student, Emily from Australia, who had also missed her train because the one she was one had been delayed 45 minutes. Sticking together, we finally made it to Bollnäs around 6pm.

 

We met the other exchange students, of which there were 10 of us all up. 7 from Australia: Samantha, Emily, Gabby, Nathan, Soma, Phillipe, and I. 1 from Brasil: Julia, 1 from New Zealand: Jess, and 1 from Thailand: Non.

After we had a brief meeting about what this week was going to be like we had free time until 10pm. We all decided to take a walk to a nearby grocery store (similar to Woolies), called ICA. We figured we would stock up on lollies and chocolate, especially Oreo Marabou (Marabou being the best Swedish chocolate ever), so we all rugged up and walked 30 minutes to the store (it took so long because we had to figure out how to get there) spent 20 minutes getting and choosing junk and then another 30 minutes back to the school we were staying at.

 

We get to our common room and dump all the goodies on the table, skittles, mnms, lollies, chocolate - no Oreo Marabou.

 

Turns out, the only thing we went for was the only thing we didn't get! So we would have to go all the way again the next night.

 

Then it was Tuesday, we had our first Swedish lesson, got some booklets and learnt some songs. Then after lunch we went to a spa and sauna. It was the nicest thing ever - there was a spa that overlooked a frozen lake there was a salt spa inside, those two were the ones we spent the most time in. 

 

We also went in the sauna but it wasn't one of those ones with the water, it was just really hot - Jess and I went in after the shower to dry off.

 

Then we had a fancy expensive dinner, you know the type - the ones where they ration out the food because they didn't order enough in and have to make it last.

The others complained about the meat but I thought it was fine, perhaps they were just used to fancy food, or maybe they're super picky, I don't know but I really enjoyed it.

 

Then on Wednesday, after lessons, we went to a movie in a Swedish cinema, which was super comfy because the chairs are tilted so you can recline, rather than sitting straight up like in Australia. I could have fallen asleep. We saw The Light Between Oceans which was okay but I thought it lacked a plotline - it was really just kissing and crying - the photography was cool though, really picturesque.

 

On Thursday we had Swedish lessons and some history and religion lessons and afterwards went to a rubbish plant to see how they recycle and turn rubbish into heat. It was interesting but I would recommend you take nose plugs. We went for a walk to get more chocolate afterwards and we triple checked we had the Oreo Marabou, and then we went and got burgers at MAX, which is like Maccas but it only sells burgers.

 

On Saturday we had a farewell party and we were given a type of Swedish cake which is just like a large sandwich with stuff in the middle and prawns, tomatoes, ham, zucchini and egg on the top. Everyone was saying it was bad so I didn't have any at that time.

 

Then I got home by bus, through Stockholm, thankfully without incident as I went straight to the info desk and asked where I should wait.

 

The other highlights of February would be me learning to knit and finishing a whole bundle of yarn in one night! I'm going to make a scarf that's super super long but I'll give it to my sister because she can't decide on whether to dye her hair red or pink and this scarf is both so it's perfect for her.

I'm also improving on my ice skating and hoping in three more days on the ice I'll be pretty much a pro.

 

I went to a birthday party of a good friend of Helena's (my host mother) and she had the Sandwich cake as her birthday cake so I had some then and it wasn't as bad as the others had said it was, it was actually okay and I would have it again. I'm going to learn how to make it.

 

Then on the Monday after the party I went with the woman's daughter to an intense spinning class, we rode on machine bikes for 30 minutes while a scary lady yelled swedish at me. It was terrifying but it made me go. I definitely will go back to that, as a way to keep off the weight I might put on while I'm here.

 

I have lost my wallet - in it was my VISA, my Australian Debit Card, my Swedish Debit Card, my travellers card, my bus card and my school's library card. It also had like 40 SEK, $30 AUS, and Ł15.

I'm getting a new Visa and a new Swedish Card next week though, which will be nice.

 

Last night we had some friends over and we knitted and had a fika and I played with their super cute dogs which was really nice.

 

Next month, March, I will have some things on such as: My first Swedish party with people from my school; a glitter fest, a trip to Stockholm, giving my presentation at Rotary, a trip to Kiruna to see the Northern Lights and the ice hotel, and then Spin of Hope, to raise money for cancer I will ride on a bike for an hour, then after that I will have a trip to Vemdalen to learn how to ski.

 

I am terrified of skiing. But I'll do it, my dad always says: Go out and do something and something will happen.

Of course recently, that something was me losing my wallet so...

 

Having a lovely time! Starting to miss home a little,

 

Nelly Shephard

 

.....and the response from President Geoff.

 

Hi Nelly,
 
Thank you so much for your entertaining and detailed report on your activities over February. Apart from losing your wallet you seem to be having a great time and learning a lot, especially trying new things which is what the exchange is all about.
 
You will find Stockholm a beautiful place – built around the river with many islands. The old city is very interesting – very Viking – and if you get a chance, visit the museum which exhibits an ancient ship – the Vasa – which capsized and sank in the early 1600s. It lay on the sea bed until it was salvaged only recently. It is quite incredible.  
 
I note you are in Nykoping which is out of Stockholm – have not been there but I have been to Linkoping which is further south from Stockholm and where the SAAB aircraft that Rex flies were manufactured along with the fighter jets built for the Swedish Air Force. Much of the factory is underground.
 
Thanks again for your report and continue to have a great time.
 
Best wishes,
 
Geoff