Markus i Sverige

After skiweek Philipp arrived in Sundsvall for defending his master thesis. His visit fell right into the time of hard good byes. On Friday night we went out to Norrmalms and to Kårhuset for celebrating a last time with Marco, Marco and Ward. The Marcos left on Saturday morning. Ward, we brought Saturday night to the trainstation. On my way home I thought, if it always had been so hard. It was never easy, but this year it feels special. Because it is. This semester was special. More intense than the two semesters before. We were only a few, but the group fitted. But the most difficult way to the trainstation was definitely this morning when we set Christian and Maritha on their way to Copenhagen. Although we all know we will see each other again, this determinates a lifetime. It has been so special. So close with so many people. So many experiences. So many memories. Although we are still 15 people from the old semester, it feels like my time here already has ended. In 3 weeks I will l

20th - 24th January Short before the last of us leave we had our final trip. On Sunday morning we headed of to Vemdalen. 5 cars started at 7 in the morning in Nacksta. But except of Ole who did not have to refill gasoline 4 of us got already stucked at the gas station behind ICA Nacksta. Johan's car broke down and could not be repaired properly. In between the Corsa of the Marcos ran out of battery. First we planned to go by train to Östersund, but after midday we started with a rented car. In the meanwhile we heard that also Ole's car had some problems on the way to Vemdalen. They came off from the street, but except a spot in the car nothing serious seems to have happened. Since we arrived to late in Vemdalen we skipped the first day skiing. The following days were amazing. I even took a black slope, only during night skiing. But it is still to steep for me. I almost fell every attempt. But I made it to the second mountain this year where the slopes are longer than on the beg

17th January The night I turned 25 we had first a sittin in the italian flat. I left earlier back to my appartment for helping Maritha moving to Jens and me. At midnight Christian, Maritha and Jens surprised me with Jelly shots, a movie about my "thousand faces" and a selfmade accustic song by Jens! I think we were sitting two hours in the living room, watching pictures and telling stories. My birthday party was the biggest birthday party I have ever celebrated. At the same time it was a welcome party for all new students and a good bye to Ralf and Matt. The guests came almost all in half an hour. From the first I remember the names, but after a while it was impossible for me to keep in touch with everybody. Living room, corridor, kitchen and balconey were absolutely crowded. It must have been 50 people at least. Pictures by Ward . The appartment next morning was a mess. After cleaning the statistics showed up three broken glasses, a small hole in a wall and a broken chair. B

Last Friday was a good-bye party at the italian flat. It was the last night were their sculpture made of cans has been fed with additional beer cans. During the night everybody could give a guess how many cans has been collected over the months. The result will be given at the end of this week. But first assumptions show a result slightly more than 1000 as most likely. Almost everybody guessed more than 2000. We are looking forward. The party itself was nice. It really started at around 1am and I stayed until 5 in the morning. Once again we got a good impression what happens if Spanish are in party mood :) Proof by Ward . Saturday was therefor quiet. I wrote further on my thesis. Although it feels more and more like ridiciolous content, I think I can bring this to a formal end in the coming 6 weeks. If I do not sleep too much. I have no clue what's going on with me at the moment. Did I consider a few weeks ago 6 hours of sleep as very long, it is now the total opposite. I sleep so

... news hold some comedy. Sundsvall can be sure for a lot new male free movers and exchange students. Because, believe it or not, Sundsvall is unique in Sweden (until now): http://www.thelocal.se/9599/ If first would not be weird enough, the title of the following news is really misleading: http://www.thelocal.se/9614/20080110/ The Swedish mail service is a topic for its own. Cards to Germany, Spain or Finland need between 2 days and 2 weeks, so you can be sure, that a birthdaycard will never arrive on time. The other way round is even worse. Mail to Sweden can take weeks! Or, if they cooperate with the greek mail service, even a little bit longer: http://www.thelocal.se/9603/20080109/

It is done. Not the thesis. Not yet, I hope. But flight and train were so cheap at the moment that I had to book them now. Therefore, on the 20th of February I will finally leave Sweden. That makes 6 weeks from now on. After more than 18 months.

Nice, nice. So far, 2008 started quite well. But from the beginning. I arrived back in Sundsvall at the 30th December late in the evening. In my appartment I found a mail from my home university: they finally accepted my diploma thesis. Deadline is the 27th of February. Great, an end is finally in sight. The last evening of the year 2007 we spent in the Italian flat with a big dinner and drinking games afterwards. Jonny and Marzena has been there, too!!! Before midnight we drove to Norra Berget to watch the fireworks. Not that we haven't seen some, for at least since two days they shot as many rockets as at midnight itsself. And we were not the only people with the idea to go to Norra Berget. We missed the countdown so congratulations were rather spontanuous, but still sincerely. Afterwards heading back to the Marcos. I do not know when we finally went home. Pictures by Ward . The following days were pure holidays. Sleeping long, having breakfast earliest at 11am, skipping lunch, p