Markus i Sverige

Now it is almost a week ago since I moved into the living room. On Thursday we had valentine party in Kårhuset. Heineken was 19 SEK cheap, so I had to take the Friday off to prepare for the weekend. On Saturday we went to Kåren again. The DJ was not really talented, but at least they played some music you listen and dance to. It were several times the same songs and several times ABBA. But still better than the usual crap. The night was great and after we discovered that even Becks cost only 19SEK, we bought every bottle they could sell. At 2 we went to Norrmalms for the afterparty. Except of Doris and Marlies and some drunken Swedish people, Nacksta was dominating in the Norrmalms kitchen. At 4am I finally into my bed, skipping the after-after parties that started at Nacksta. But instead of sleeping long, I head to get up two hours later. I even woke up before my alarm, because at half past 6 we wanted to drive to Östersund watching the finals of Biathlon world championship. I ate qui...

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 ...

The week was not so successful for studies. My diploma thesis stucks in bureaucracy. Now my home university claims that I would not have done my semester abroad yet. Funny guys. It's not the first time they forget me. And I really do not get it. All they have to do is to check their computer system or a folder. Or phone the coordinator for semester abroads. He knows me. This whole stuff is so annoying. German service. That's one of those things why I do not want to go back. I think, a German civil servant is a person you can easiest replace with a machine. Yesterday was the 5th of December. That's one day before St.Nikolaus in Germany. But it is exactly the day for the Dutch equivalent called Sinterklaas. The Dutch version equals the German " Wichteln " or Secret Santa . But it has some specialities. The present must be packed in a "surprise". I thought, a present itself would be a surprise. Tuesday night I learned that it is a selfmade package for the p...

The week was not so interesting. On monday I've been a little bit sick and did not go to badminton. The preperations for our Kårhuset party went well until we heard that Kåren is unhappy about our topic. That was an accident. For attracting at least some Swedish for our party we announced our erasmus-party as a Black&White party which accidentely is also the topic of an incredible huge and famous Kårhuset-party in spring. Announcing a small Black&White-party in Kårhuset would violate the reputation of the big party in spring, so Kåren. I guess, all of you, who have been in Kåren in the last 10 months how big partys are. Esspecially those in spring. I remember "huge and famous" Apre Ski party, Reeperbahn party and Pyjama-party. But maybe this party is really huge. But however, it is too late anyway. We tried to fix the advertisments on Wednesday. So cool that some of the "old" students attend "in mind". In the evening was a goodbye-party for our...

It is constantly cold here. Actually -5 degress at 8am. Sometimes it snows a little bit, but usually it is not worth to mention. Snow on the sidewalks is by now that compressed that you might be able to skate to university without a problem. Looking back at the past three days nothing specific has happened. From monday I remember badminton and sauna. Tuesday was a staying-home day. Yesterday I got my first feedback about my thesis. In 3 months. But it seems things are rolling now. The thesis is "method vodoo" but not a hopeless case. That's more than I have expected. Todays tasks: writing CV, writing applications , and writing thesis, of course. At the weekend there is a vodka-party announced at Norrmalms. We all shall share vodka. To "get wasted like one big family". Yeah, right... seems like I've been to long away from home. Yesterday the skiweek has also been booked. We are one week too late for getting the accomodation I prefered. Damnit. But at least w...

Old sins always come back, they say. One of them caught me now. My own course. Today started the new quarter for me with a new course: decision analysis 1, a course that I visited myself last year. At least from time to time. I remember the laborations were pretty cool, because I worked with Basti. But the lessons I can hardly remember. I think, I remember slides I did not really understand, but the satisfaction always followed during the laborations when a given problem brought sense to theories. But now I have to hold those lessons by myself. Hardly content to tell. As far as I remember, the first 10 minutes in the last year courses (not only decision analysis) were necessary for getting a projector working with a laptop. Because I am annoyed by wasting time with computer problems, I am using the whiteboard since the first lecture. The students have to suffer from my handwriting, but at least they only get what's necessary - I think. So today started a power-course with 3 student...

Just found something funny on WebCT (webplatform of Miun): For all non-Swedish speakers: Finska = finnish Spara alla = save all One of those words does not fit ;)

Work goes quite well these days. Every day my thesis gets more text. I start now every morning at 9. Effectively at 10 or later, because before I do everything else than working: getting tea, checking mails, reading news and stuff like that. On Tuesday my students wrote my exam. Pretty cool thing. Yesterday I corrected it. Strange to see them in my situation from one year ago. These days are more serious than the days before. Not only because of workload. Since my future in Sweden depends on the result of my thesis there is a uncertain timespan after February. Even if they accept me as PhD I cannot imagine that bureaucracy (even in Sweden) can let me start immediately in March. Therefore I should check for some B-plans. I already canceled my room at Nacksta, because in case I stay here it is no problem to take the cancellation back. May thoughts about plans in spring are quite vague. There is still the master thesis that needs to be written. I could bridge the time between diploma thes...

Again Wednesday. Again thesis, again salsa. Tomorrow again Thursday, again salsa. Afterwards again Friday, again weekend. And all the time those moments "Damn, is it already one week ago?" Everything feels like yesterday. And if it does not feel like yesterday, it feels like eternity. But in all the routine are always specialties. Saturday to Sunday was Christians birthday party . The longest party so far and I even made it until the end (6am). Yesterday I was eating at the pizzeria since a long long time (I guess, last time was with Phil and Ulrich when they had their last day at university beginning of June). On Friday Ella and I will try to have lunch. Surprisingly, by now there are no plans for the weekend. Well, next weeks are exams' weeks. Last week I set up a schedule for my thesis. And it is already not valid anymore. Yesterday I was only busy with my lesson and language learning (I am looking forward to the next Non-English post on this blog). Another restraint f...

One of those days that turn everything around. The thesis is not as bad as I thought this morning, I had my last lecture today, surprsingly I will go to Kiruna in December (thanks to a personal hero), the first snow fall (three weeks earlier than last year !), I got postmail for the first time since weeks (and most lovely) and salsa was the an awesome lesson today. Almost everything went well. And somehow I was able to speak Swedish most of the time. And tomorrow we will go to Stockholm with the International Committee. So amazing. After Kiruna I did everything I missed the last year: Hiking, Norway, Stockholm, Kiruna. Only the Helsinki/Talin-Tour is missing by now. Small things like (cross-country-)skiing in Sundsvall and Hassalar are missing, too. But since the first snow fall today, we should be able to fix that before christmas.

One of those days when you fight alone. One of those days when you think that nobody listens. One of those days when all enthusiasm is blown away. One of those days when you are tired to motivate yourself again. One of those days when you think "Why didn't I learn something useful?". One of those days when thesis just sucks. One of those days when the intersection of wish and rationality is an empty set. Maybe I can hand in the thesis at the media&communictation department. Right at the moment a parody is the best thing that it can become. I wanted to write books in earlier days anyway. Reminds me of something. Has somebody seen L'Auberge Espagnole?

After the great weekend returning to ordinary life - as far as you can call erasmus ordinary life - can be quite hard. Tuesday I had a lesson. Afterwards I saw my thesis starting at zero. Everything I planned so far based on the assumptions that users exist who I can interview. But there are none. That I know now. After almost two months. I was quite fed up with work. At 4pm was a Swedish movie in L-Huset. Ella is in Poland for two weeks, so she asked me, if I could help out, because I have keys and access to the same rooms. We watched "Jalla, Jalla". I did not understand everything, but much more than last year during the EILC. In the evening was an international dinner. Something like the pot-look-party from last November where everybody brings food. It was a great party. Pictures by Annika , Maritha , Marta , Ward . At the next morning I had the deserved headache. But also an idea for my thesis. I think, I can please every supervisor with the new solution and I still do n...

I can hardly believe that it is already Thursday. I did almost nothing at my thesis! But I was not lazy, too. Time passes so fast at the moment. Almost every morning I get up 6am for write english abstracts about articles from Swedish, English or German newspapers. Don't ask me, what I did Monday and Tuesday. I think I did something on my thesis, for it has 2 more pages now. Yesterday was my first day at university again. But this time I was not anymore a student, but an employeer. I think this one of those first days, you forget after a short while. Climbing stairs the first time, running from one office to another, fixing papers etc. Until now the course consists of one Swedish boy and my friend Marco from Italy. But I think, I assume a 50/50 chance that Marco will remain as only student, for the Swedish boy did not look to enthusiastic when I realized, the lecture would be held in English. But some erasmus students showed interest as well. Probably we can hold the lecture in my ...

Listening to Swedish webradio (good documentations, good music and besides it has the serioust news I could find in Swedish): Sveriges Radio International Reading news about Sweden (to be sure, to understand everything right, it is in English): TheLocal.se Checking sience news for if something has been discovered that interests you: Science Daily Reading articles about computer science for getting closer to the domain I should think about: IEEE Computer Society Read artciles about Usability Engineering, Managers dealing with Decision Tools and Extrem Engineering Drinking Tea ... Any additional advise? Comment it!

Sunday, I went to Alnö again. This time we were Basti, Inga, Phil, Ulrich and me joining Ulrike, Lars-Peter and Petter. Thanks to Basti and Inga who gave us a lift in their car. We have been to the beach next to Tranviken which we have been at the day before. But the second beach is not as nice as Tranviken. The sand is not as soft, you have a lot of insects there and small black sandstones stick later all over your skin. After sunbathing Petter invited us to his brother who leaves in a house on the seaside of the mountain next to the beach. The view is incredible and the house is still under construction but you already now it is a dream. Idyllic. We also ate fish. Fresh, but smoked, "strömming". It was the first time I ate a fish like this. You had to brake off the head with your fingers and to extract everything you does not want to eat (for me: organs and bones). Not my favorite snack, but eatable. And much better than surströmming, for sure. And our tour on Alnö was not ...

Nacksta is quite empty now. Wednesday was goodbye meeting in Liquid bar, Thursday GoodBye-Party at 20b, Friday GoodBye Party at 16e and Saturday last Kårhuset. But my week did not only consist of parties. On Thursday I sent in my article and hoped for being done with it. The surprise came today: the article is crap. I am not really surprised that it is not good, since it is my first one. But I thought it would be at least enough for passing. It probably is, but they want an awesome piece of work if I want to stay PhD candidate. I have time until 30th of June. Good thing I did not start with the paper they gave me before (a few of you know the Bangkok story). For sure I would have screwed it up in my naive style of writing. At least, I know what I have to do during my last three weeks of Sweden before I'll go home for vacations. "Luckily" I did not plan any trips during that time :( Vacations is a good topic. Since the weather is so great in Sweden, I took some sunbaths du...

Swedes never have problems with their flag. The swedish flag is pretty and they know it with pride. Therefore it is no surprise that you see every day swedish flags everywhere. When I came to Sweden I learned that there are some days known as "flag days". As the name implies at these days you hoist the Swedish flag. I wondered, how such a day could differ from other days, because they did not seem to run down the flags on usual days. But today is the Swedish national holiday. And since today I know how a flag day looks like. The difference is that one flag on each building is not enough. Not even sufficient. It feels like at the top of every single little corner has to stand a flag. During this so called " Nationaldagen " I've been with Benjamin, Cedric, Celine, Nawelle and Selene in the town center. A lot of people have been there as well and it was the biggest convention I've seen in Sweden by now. But with this amazing weather which we have since at least...

I did it. Now everything is determined. At the 26th of June I will go home for a few weeks. That's earlier than initially planned, but I am looking forward to it. I avoided this time the Ybuss and Ryanair. The bus because of its exhausting way of traveling. More than 5 hours traveling just to wait another couple of hours in Stockholm. And Ryanair, because Ryanair just sucks. Ok, they are cheap. But who (except of those who travel for a weekend) can travel just with 15 kg? And the airports are so far away from everything. In Stockholm you need 80 minutes with the Nonstop-bus to the airport. And once you arrive at Weeze (which they proclaim to be "Düsseldorf") you have to drive additional 3 hours to my home. But not this time. My train will leave in the morning and will stop at the Arlanda airport, where I will have to wait for 3 hours until I can enter the plane. And from Köln/Bonn-airport in Germany it's probably less than one hour home. That makes at least 7 hours fa...

I stayed at home on wednesday. It was my tactic to respond to the weather I mentioned before. At home I could read and see the sun at the same time. I read a part of the second article which I have to criticize. According to the feedback from Love who is the professor of this course I shall focus more on the content. The last time I criticized mainly the structure. In the evening I went out with Solene and Sebastian, again. After we walked to the lower lake on Monday and Tuesday we headed this time to Norra Berget. We climbed up the rocks, made a small fire and enjoyed the view. Afterwards we went to the museum and Solene and Sebastian played at the play yard. Our walk took again 5 hours and it was fun as always. Today I began to clean the flat. Our vacuum cleaner needed a new bag for the dust, so I went to StuBo, because I hoped they would offer the bags of their vacuum cleaners. But it turned out, that the vacuum cleaner belong to a different organization which also provides the furn...

Weather in Sundsvall is very strange. Since 2am you have a bright blue sky. At 5am you wake up because the sun shines directly on your bed you you feel far to warm. During the day it is sunny so you can lie next to the river and enjoy it during your lunch break. After lunch more and more clouds appear and when you finish work at university in the afternoon the clouds are heavy, dark and deep und you have to fear rain. And it is colder than the cosy 20 degrees during the day. Plans like barbecues or picnics become less attractive although you were looking forward to it all the day long. During the early night hours the clouds disappear and around midnight to 2am you have a blue sky again and everything starts from the beginning. On Monday I've been to university to fix some bureaucracy stuff. Since the printer did not work it took a while. In the evening I had a walk with Solene and Sebastian to the small lake (I know, it is not that small, but now everybody knows what I mean). We s...