A busy weekend

My second weekend in Lund more than made up for my first one when it comes to pretty much everything. Friday was spent hanging out at my friend's place, drinking tea and discussing Harry Potter and other important things. Saturday morning was dedicated to studies. We are expected to have learned and mastered Hiragana in a few weeks, and I am not planning to be left behind by the others. At two a'clock I met up with my group of "novisches"(we're called Wolf Pack by the way) together with the rest of the groups, both from our institution and institution of natural science, this event often referred to as the HTS vs LUNA battle. We were to compete against each other, and you would not only compete to honor your group but your institution as well. Second only to alcohol, competition might be the best way to get people to open up and become friends. Hours later, when we had carried each other around on our backs, failed to answer who played Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek and truly put our creativity to the test we ended it all with small BBQ.

Speaking of alcohol, later that night we had a few beers at my place and then went to the celebration party of the HTS vs LUNA battle and had a good time. The victor of today's battle was announced at the celebration, Wolf Pack did not win but at least our institution did.

Sunday was spent cleaning, taking care of everything in the kitchen that needed to be recycled, shopping, did some baking (and now my freezer is full of delicious homemade bread) and some studying of course. To wrap it all up I cooked a wonderful curry for dinner and I have enough leftovers to keep me covered for the rest of the week. Then, quite satisfied with myself, I bunkered up in front of the TV and enjoyed the complete series of BBC's Sense and Sensibility. Which is a really good adaption. I am quite overwhelmed by it, always on the verge on crying. But then again, I am always too emotional when I watch movies by myself. 

The New Project

I was just hit by an idea. Since it's incredibly hard to figure out what to have for dinner I will work my way through my cook book, the traditional Swedish "Vår Kokbok", Julie Powell-style. Or, as it is named in English, "Our Cook Book". This book can be found in any Swedish home and the perfect gift to a high school graduate or a house-warming present. I will not do all the recipes, since I'm living on a student budget and some might be a little over-prized for someone like, but I will try to do as many as possible. I have already found several recipes I want to try (and eat). Soups, quiches, salads and anything with potatoes. The book has an entire chapter dedicated to potatoes, and because it costs next to nothing it is perfect for me to experiment with.

Maybe I'll write about my progress and post it on the blog. But if its a complete failure I might skip the writing part.

Friends!

I have been making friends! Yesterday was the "Novisch-BBQ" where we meet in our groups, hang out and just talked while the elders made us food. After several hours of hanging out on the lawn outside school, the chilly night made us look for the closest bar. Here the groups dissolved and we all had a good time over a beer or two. Even though I left early (I had class coming up the following morning) I did have a good time.

Today was the first full day of classes when we actually had both a lecture in the morning and the afternoon and when I actually staid in school and had lunch. The Japanese students occupied the lunch room and I managed to talk to most people of my group. The awkwardness has finally disappeared and people now talk to each other without any reservation and shyness at all. This might be thanks to our teachers, since some of the activities we do in class forces us to talk to each other. Thank you, sensei!

I even had some coffee with a fellow student afterwards! Awesome! Even though that mocha latte might be the last one for a long while, I have to start being more thoughtful of what I spend money on. Beer and coffee are not priorities when you live on a student budget.

Sorry for the boring and very bland post. 

Tuesday, September 4th.

First real day of classes today. One in the morning and one at 5pm. This left me with a 4 hour gap to kill. One could have spent it having lunch at the lunchroom making new friends, but when you forget your lunchbox that doesn't really work. So I biked home, had lunch, watched some Pride and Prejudice and made a chocolate mud cake. Definitely not a waste of time.

First day of school

Today was the first day of school. Not a real school day maybe since there were no lectures but only an introduction meeting and roll call but today I met the teachers and many of my future classmates. They even managed to give us homework. Those bastards. No, but jokes aside, all of the teachers are older japanese ladies, and super adorable. I just want to hug them. And I believe we will call them Sensei, awesome!

Later I attended what we call a Novisch-meeting. A novisch, (alternative spelling for novice) is a freshman who just started uni and needs some introductions into the student life. This meeting was held by the Institution for the humanities and theology, my institution. Met some great people, dishing on Twilight can never go wrong.

September 1st

My gap year is now officially over. At least almost. I start school on Monday, so pretty much over. The year spent drinking fruit shakes in the Lao sun and making lattes to successful european scientists has past. Yesterday me and my dad drove 6 hours south to the city of Lund, one of the two major university cities in Sweden where I am to spend the next 6 months and probably more. Japanese will be my main focus for the rest of the year, then move on to Media and Communication if I don’t change my mind until then. I live in a three-room apartment with my flat-mate and so far my room is not very different from a prison cell with its only furniture being a bed and a book shelf. Except for my flowery sheets and “Keep Calm and Read Jane Austen” poster I guess. My wardrobe look lovely though.

Today I biked round town, got some student supplies, networked and went nuts at the local tea store. Well, at least I get to use my lovely tea pot my mother got me. As long as there is tea there’s hope.

First homemade dinner in the new apartment: Pasta Gratin with bacon and spinach. Like a boss. 

Chapters

A new chapter of my life has begun. More than a month has passed since I wrote my last post and since then my life has taken an entirely new turn. My journey from Luang Prabang too Stockholm included a three day stop in Bangkok hanging out with an old classmate. It was awesome. Then Christmas and New Years passed with no special surprises, except me maybe having the Salmonella disease, without not really being sick but only being a carrier. Working at a restaurant, I was forced to stay at home for two weeks having nothing to do except watching TV and playing Skyrim.

What has changed however, is that I no longer live at home but instead have my own place. A two-room apartment a 20 minutes walk from my mom's place. Not bad. I do not at home home at least once a week (Sarcasm).

I work full time, saving up some money and learning how to live and survive without mommy and daddy.  

My 20th birthday is coming up. Well, its still more than a month left but I think its worth bringing up. When one turns 20 you are no longer a teen, but a real adult. Who can buy booze. And no longer travel on the reduced fare on the metro.

From now on I plan to write about how to survive without the supervision and service of my parents, maybe give some tips on how to live as cheaply as possible and brag about the shenanigans me and my friends are up to when we are not hanging out on my sofa drinking... Tea.