Sverige!

It has been now a few weeks that I am in Sweden, so I think its high time to talk about this singular country. We actually live in the university housing area, the Ryd, where most people live in what is called a "corridor". Basically, this is a big flat shared by up to 8 people, where you have your personal room but share a living room and a kitchen with 7 other people. My room is very convenient, large and practical, with a decent shower. Sharing with many people has a big advantage: a huge kitchen! There is plenty of kitchen furniture and we have toasters and ovens! Unfortunately, it can become a nightmare for some corridors when people are a little dirty, I have seen some really disguting corridors!! But my roommates are very nice and clean.

There are 5 swedes and 1 german in my corridor, and the 5 swede are very close friends cooking and living together. It is sometimes annoying to feel like I am not at home as these swedes have been living there for several years and therefore make the rules, but it was fine and I have a lot of fun so far.

About the swedes, they are usually very nice even if they can seem cold. It is so surprising to see how EVERYONE speaks english... From 8 year-old kids to supermarket's cashiers! It is very frustrating to consider oneself a good english speaker and realize that you just have the average level of another country. Another interesting point is how they are super-organized, you always know how to do, or where to go, there is almost no uncertainty. It is sometimes a bad thing because when you have to take a ticket online to play basketball at the gym two days in advance, it becomes really insane! Queuing is part of the culture... you have to queue, everytime, - horrible!

Anyway, I make my way through, it is a pretty fascinating country and if you get used to the very bad weather then its perfectly fine! (but it is NOT easy). I now have a fancy bike, a swedish one that says "world-best bike" or something like this in Sweden ahah!