‘Semester in Sweden’ CategoryPage 5
The Calm Before the Market.
Feb. 2 On this most auspicious morning we had the pleasure to attend the esteemed Winter Conference. We mingled quickly before filing in and sitting down and giving our full attention to the speakers. The first was a learned scientist who lectured on the current international politics in the Arctic. With record amounts of ice […]
The Night Train and Hot, Balmy Mora
The night train brought us to Gävle station at 6:49 in the morning, where we were hurriedly roused to lug our suitcases through the snow and up and down the station stairs, half asleep. For many of us, it was our first time riding or sleeping on a train. I had never taken a night […]
A much needed day of rest and relaxation
February 9, 2013 Saturday was our last full day in Jokkmokk and many of us spent it relaxing and recovering from the previous two days at the market. It’s surprising how much energy gets taken out of you by being out in the cold and crowds! I think we all enjoyed the market but by […]
Thursday 2/7 — The Jokkmokk Winter Market in Full Swing
The morning was rather slow and sleepy, at least for those in my room, but outside the Winter Market had begun. A few of the most eager of our group had set out to explore the various shops and activities by mid-morning, but some of us didn’t start looking around until the early afternoon. I […]
Rudolph the White-Nosed Reindeer
January 25th, Jokkmokk Lars-Anders Baer was our last speaker of the week, and he was full of interesting information. He is a lawyer and Sami politician, and he is heavily involved with various UN committees concerning indigenous people. He appeared to be a very important person as he was on the phone when he came […]
Class discussions: Using what we’ve learned.
January 28 Our first day of Swedish classes and class discussions went very well, I would and do say. In Swedish 202, we spent the class reviewing material and discussing what areas would be most useful to focus on. Chelsea also used this time to see where we were in our mastery of the Swedish language. After […]
Tuesday’s Thoughts
Settling into our second week in Jokkmokk, we find it easy to navigate. We hold classes in the same classroom (follow the ‘Gustavus’ arrow) and eat in the cafeteria for lunch. The grocery store, which I’m sure I visit almost daily, is within walking distance. The public library and other shops are even closer. I […]
Just above the Arctic Circle: Reindeer husbandry with the Sami
(Wednesday, January 23, 2013) Many of us were sore this morning from playing Innebandy (similar to floor hockey) yesterday afternoon. After our group introduction to the Sámi school (who we were, why we were there, and our different ethnic roots), we had a lecture on Sami language from Anna-Margith Påve. She spoke both North and Luleå Sámi. […]
Blood Pudding and Laundry Adventures in Sverige
24.1.2013 Jokkmokk Cami Andersen We started out the day with a little breakfast—I had müsli (granola with raisins) and yogurt, a new concoction of mine that I am certainly taking back to the States. Yogurt, along with many other products here in Sweden, comes in a cardboard carton rather than a plastic container. The largest […]
Bread Baking at Vasterbotten
In the early morning of January 18th many of us were hit with jetlag. We were lying awake half of the night not able to sleep. However, our day quickly turned around when we returned to the Västerbotten Museum to bake traditional Sami bread. We went into an unheated cabin with a brick oven which […]