Nation work: Gotlands and Upplands!

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Okay, well my lifestyle here has had to rapidly change. I am poor as shit and need to do the mystical things called ‘budgeting’ and ‘work’. Two things I thought didn’t even exist. So now, I’m gonna be working at nations (for just over 2 quid-3 quid an hour, to compare to you Brits) to try and at least put food on the table, and (optimistically) beer in my hand.

So I started last Sunday; fika at Gotlands. This resulted in me pre-maturely ending my party-times at Flogsta at about 2:30 so I could get some sleep. I woke up at 7, needing to get there for 8am. From then until 12 it was all about sandwich preparation, and trying my best to cutting my fingers off. After that the rest of the afternoon (till about 4) was spent rushing around, refilling coffee pots, collecting dishes, washing, then sending them back up. Wasn’t too bad.

Then Monday rolled round, and I was working at Upplands. This place is great. It has a habit of having things break at just the wrong time. Rumoured, to be due to a ghost of some 16 year old swedish lad who died there or something. However, my first day wasn’t too bad! Starting at 5, moving kegs of beer and racks of bottles, cleaning tables etc.

After the place opened at 6, we had the joy of being told that there were 15 pub crawls coming by tonight. Tack sa mycket economics school -.-

I was first put of the door for a bit (checking id and nation card) before letting people in, and it definitely felt like the start of a new semester; drunk swedes going on about how ‘British’ I should while waiting in line. Definitely made the job fly by quicker! After a while I ended up running round the place serving people their food orders, before finishing the night up in my favourite place: The Bar. Successful night!

Last night however, shizzle hit the fan. Whist working the jazz bar there, while closing, a pipe decided to burst, flooding a room with boiling hot water. Most inte bra. Never a boring night there.

-Chris

It’s been a while since I posted; an explanation

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Since I’ve returned, life has been fairly hectic and I’ve not had the chance to really write anything! After catching up with everyone, and saying some hard goodbyes to what was a shockingly larger number of people than I’d expected and hoped, I am now free and able to get a post (or two) up here.

For the start of this semester, I’ve had to pick two classes, rather than the standard one here. This has made my time table much more packed, and for both courses, I’m missing classes for the sake of the other. Passing these will definitely prove a challenge. The bright side however, the second half of the semester, I’ll get my loans, and have too much free time, that not even the internet can take up! That means one thing: travelling to see the people who left, to see them for one more time during this year before I head back home for good.

One of the two courses I’m taking is about something I’ve never done before: Climate Change: Politics, Leadership and Power. I’m so glad I picked it, I’ve been (un)fortunate enough to have only studied the hard sciences since 17. So this is a massive change of pace, interesting and the type of person you meet in these classes are different! It’s refreshing and I’m glad I’m doing it :D

Anyway I’ve been working in nations over the past few weeks to try and scrape a little more money so I’m not living on bread this entire year. I’ll write about it in my next post.

-Chris

My Return

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It’s currently Tuesday the 10th of January at 6:42 in the morning. This is pretty much still the beginning of what will either be an incredibly awesome day, or the worst one ever. After catching up with friends and family, recording my EP and just simply enjoying being back in England… All that is getting put upon the shelf again for my second semester. I left Nottingham at 2am… I’m finally in Gatwick airport next to some passed out chap who decided that it’d be better to sleep on the hard waiting chairs than commute as early as I have. I’d provide a picture, as it’s a funny sight, but I can’t help but feel taking pictures of strangers that are sleeping in airports will be the start of a slippery slope of weirdness, not even I could overcome.

6:46. I’m waiting for the Norwegian air flight check ins to open. My flight is at 9:40 so I’ve only got less than an hour. Whilst writing this to entertain you ever-so-faithful readers, I’m also half revising. ‘Oh Chris, but why are you revising?’ I hear you all ask. That’s because as soon as I get into Uppsala I’m going to be taking an exam that I am not truly prepared for. Whilst timing may be my forte, my organisation and preparation are sorely lacking.

After the exam I imagine that I’ll be wanting to catch up on some lost sleep, but I know I’ll more than likely be going out for a pint or two with my coursemates. Maybe after that I’ll get an hour worth of kip, but then I’ll be out again sharply to start saying my goodbyes (again). Another batch of people are going this week. It’s definitely gonna suck, but it’s something that seems to happen far more frequently in Uppsala than back home. Ash is having a birthday get-together for Spencer and then it’s full steam ahead for a night of mayhem at Franz’s leaving do!

Anyway, I should probably start revising. So at 6:51… Chris, signing out.

Recording Part II

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We finally finished up the EP today! After an exhausting (but bloody brilliant) time with Nish and Riley, I think we’ve made something that’s worth showing to people :D It’ll hopefully be mixed and ready to be put on disc for all you lovely people in the next couple of months, so watch this space!

Final Tracklisting

1. Codeine
2. All You Know Is Distance
3. Scorpion

Recording! Part 1

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Hey guys, as some of you know, I’m recording my debut EP with the help of an old bandmate (Supernish!) and Riley who kindy travelled from Uppsala to join us. Just gotten back from the recording studio, and bloody hell, I’m exhausted.

Today we got up at about 7am (the earliest I’ve gotten up in about a month) to get ready, called a taxi to transport our gear to the studio… and in true British fashion. The driver didn’t show up on time, we call the company:

‘Hey mate, we called a taxi for <insert Nish’s address here>, where is it?’

‘He said he’s there waiting, this number right?’

‘You’re about 300 doors away.’

The driver is then apparently on his way, and another 20 mins later we call and he’d given up. Brilliant. We call another and arrive late.

However, recording went pretty well! My left hand is absolutely shredded due to playing guitar for the best part of 6 hours. But we got the rythmn guitar and bass finished for the tracks, which is exactly what we hoped to do. We’re also gonna try and make the lead track ‘Scorpion’ sound as epic as possible. The ideas we have will hopefully be stuff you all wanna hear :D

I was gonna do a VLog, but me, Riley, Nish and his housemates are about to watch a film before getting an early night. Ain’t no rest for the wicked, and we’ve got a busy day tomorrow.

Catch you guys later and I’ll provide updates tomorrow!

Way Back Home

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As I write this I’m sitting in the airport coffee shop, as I’m gonna be waiting here for another 2+ hours for my coach to arrive. Despite the popular opinion of a certain American girl *cough* ALLIE *cough* a coach in England is not a horse-drawn carriage. It is a bus. A smelly, horrible bus that’s always just that bit too hot and is full of some of the most ‘interesting’ (putting it nicely, they are freaks) people that you’ll meet. While I’m here typing away I’ve noticed a couple of looks, I can’t help but feel like one of those broody authors that only writes in a Costa or a Starbucks whilst having a strong, black coffee. Sadly as much effort as I’ve been putting into this blog, I sincerely doubt I’m the next J.K. Rowling.

So where do I begin; this week (particularly Friday and Saturday) has been pretty intense, both emotionally and physically. Who’d have thought that I wouldn’t want to be going back this early (no offense to my mates back here in merry old England of course, cheggo times will be sick!) but I’m leaving behind (temporarily) what has pretty much become another family, where everyone is from a totally different place; geographically, and as a person, each with their own story that has been brought to the table. It’s hard to imagine that when I finally come back to Sweden that I’ll only have as few as 3 days to say goodbye to some of these lads and ladies.

Anyway to recap this week. I’ve spent it (SHOCK HORROR) partying with everyone I’ve possibly been able to; I hit Sneirkes and Stocken (two of the nations) and over the weekend I’ve had a collective 25+ kilometers. Yes, 25+ KILOMETERS of cycling between parties at Flogsta and Ultuna; with half of that being through snow, which although it looks lovely with the bike tracks being left. It’s a total ***** to ride through. Much more effort is involved. Effort for most part, is something I sorely lack. Dinner with my Dutch minx (I’m not being offensive; she loves being called that… Honest!) Was a great change of pace in the middle of the week too, casually having casadias (I sure know I spelt that wrong) in a student pub in Sweden, over a really dry white wine (i.e. the only white wine they had) and the finest (yet cheapest) beer available. It sounds incredibly fitting to be honest. We’re classy.

The flight was okay, it was delayed by about 30 mins but no biggie. Just meant that I’d be waiting in this coffee shop for not as long to be honest. As long as it got me home I was happy. I had the window seat (without a window, ironically) and I was next to this mother and her daughter. I fell asleep pretty quickly, thanks to the exhaustive efforts of last night, only to be woken up by the daughter getting told off for doing something. I hope this isn’t a sign of things to come for this coach trip. Coaches tend to make me despise children. (I am a nice guy though; really… although it is starting to worry me how much I feel I have to reassure the readers of these posts).

Anyway, it’s 21:05 here and I’m not getting back to Nottingham until 4:00. FUN TIMES. It’ll most definitely be worth it though. I’m already getting a weird fuzzy feeling just hearing English accents everywhere, although I’m still a hell of a long way from home I’m feeling the progress being made. I’ve got 3 weeks to see my family and friends, tear Nottingham a new one with our antics on NYE and if you didn’t know, I’m recording my first EP; I’ll probably make 200 copies when it’s done. If you’re special you may get one ;)

23:15 and the coach finally arrives. Words cannot describe how much I’m looking forward to pass out. It seems that I won’t have the standard issues of coach travel that I explained earlier; I’m the only passenger on this bus. Not really surprising considering how late it is. Just before it arrived I met this girl from Brighton, who seemed pretty down on her luck with accommodation in Bristol. From what she said her old flatmates were right kukhuvuds. For my first proper conversation since I’ve gotten back in England, I salute her and wish her the best. Not literally a salute though, because that would be odd. The coach is finally moving and the driver is nice enough to wake me up at 4:05. Winning.

Incidentally, at around 3am I dropped my iPod, which caused me to wake up when a chirpy Argentinean man asked what I’d dropped and was helping me find it in the near pitch black coach. After finding it I had a nice chat with him and his girlfriend; the former a biologist and the latter also being a biochemist. So with her aversion to speaking English with a complete stranger we had a translated science conversation about what kind of stuff we’re both working on. They were both going to Nottingham too so the standard questions about where to go around also came up. Maybe I’ll catch them again at some point before I head back to Uppsala!

So now it’s around 4:30 and I’m starting the trek from the bus station to home where a kind bloke offered me a ride to nearby my area; saving me another 30 mins walking. Good ol’ English hospitality right there.

I’ll end it here, I reckon you’d have gotten tired of reading my drivel for now (but you better keep coming back for more!) and I’m currently finishing typing this up whilst catching up with my dad over whiskey.  I’m sure I’ll contact most of the Uppsala people whilst I’m a few hundred miles away. Don’t miss me too much ;) As I said in that final round of phone calls before I ran out of credit; Merry Christmas and a happy new year, and I’ll see you when I see you.

-Chris

The worst part about being an international student…

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…are the goodbyes.

I endured my first one today. A lovely Irish girl I’d met in my first week here outside Ekonomikum (no idea if I spelt that right, and it’s too late to spell check). She’s heading off to Strasbourg next semester to continue her studies.

After working on the ever-growing list of deadlines that are approaching, I desided to take some time off to have one last cup of tea (as you do) but as the typical student, she was running late so the time was spent helping her clean up before she was getting picked up. It was still a fun time, but it kinda just put things into perspective.

As awesome as this year has been (and hopefully will continue to be!), I hate saying goodbye, and the list of people leaving after this semester is pretty damn big. The odds of me seeing a lot of these great guys and gals outside of Uppsala, being realistic, is pretty slim. But hopefully with some effort we’ll keep in touch!

This instance has just made me appreciate everyone that’s here that little bit much more. Gotta make everyday count, in spite of my course (the teacher already thinks I’m a bit of a waster anyway haha). I’m heading back to England for Christmas on Sunday, and I won’t get back until the 10th, which will leave 2-3 days before most of the other people leave for their home countries or another place. I’ll do my damnedest to see all of you that I can.

I’ll do one of the first mega lame things I’ve done on this blog, and end on a quote:

Don’t be dismayed at goodbyes.  A farewell is necessary before you can meet again.  And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends.  ~Richard Bach

The Nordic Games (Part I)

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Fortunately for me, the Nordic games were held in Uppsala this year, which meant another thing to try get stuck into and note into the memories I’ll have here.

Nordiska Landskampen

The Nordic games consist of a 5 days of athletics and other sports competitions. Couple that with some insane nights out and that’s the Noric games to a T.

Simon (who will for the purpose of these entries about the games, will be known as ‘The traitor’) had already participated in the games last year for Denmark and he kept going on about how great it was and how I should take part. I sadly missed out on the registration. Aino also left her native country of Finland to join the team!

On the Wednesday night Louise and I hit the Ultuna union bar just before the teams arrived from the swimming events. Simon was competing and I believe he picked up a gold or two for Sweden! Grattis to him! After about 30 mins of casual chat and drinking, it began.

The teams gradually started flooding in. Sweden in white, Denmark in red, Norway in blue and Finland in purple. This was where my first folly had began, I wanted to avoid wearing any of the team colours and I never would have thought any of the countries would wear purple, put on a purple shirt before going out and now I looked like one of the Fins.

This was highlighted to be first when it was my round at the bar. As I’m waiting to get served a Danish girl started talking to me in either Danish or Finnish, but then when she saw the puzzled look on my face and heard me say ‘sorry, excuse me?’ it clicked that I was English.

So after passing the round out to our table I go back up to Lea and just start chatting, apart from Simon, I’d never met another Danish person before so the contrast of personalities (and gender) were pretty appealing!

After a while when the union was starting to dry up we went back to Danish camp (my home away from home during the games) and they had a party until about 4 in the morning. I’m not gonna lie. The Danes are mental. Pretty much all of them just brought alcohol with them from Denmark and maybe 2 or 3 changes of clothes. That night I also met more of the team; (Simon and Lea introduced me around) honourable mentions go to Marcus, Sara, Streaker Dane and The Beast. The night continued for a couple more hours with more alcohol fuelled dancing and drinking games, among other things.

Eventually I headed home, drunk as a skunk, with a presentation to do in class with Fredrik on Friday. I hadn’t even started work on it at this point. I thought ‘I’ll get on it tomorrow, plenty of time’… How wrong I was.

Part II coming up soon!