My Drop of Sweden

Din Culisele Admiteri Online 2010

2010-08-24T12:45:00.000+03:00

Revenita pe meleaguri mioritice, mi-am reintrat in ritmul meu de voluntar voios si am coordonat unul din cele mai mari proiecte ASLS cu traditie-Admiterea Online 2010.

In articolul postat pe site-ul ASLS am scos la lumina cateva detalii din culise.

The first European Green Capital

2010-07-06T17:57:00.000+03:00

Traditionally known as "The Venice of the North", in 2010 Stockholm added more fame to its name, by becoming the first European Green Capital.

95% of the population living less than 300 metres from green areas
an innovative integrated waste system
a protection plan stating new standards to cleaner water
effective measures for reducing air pollution
all trains and inner city busses run on renewable fuel

Long Live Sweden!

2010-07-05T11:42:00.000+03:00

At a closer look at these excentric sun glasses one can see the Swedish flag, the yellow cross surrounded by blue.

Well, my conclusion: the Swedish people are extremely nationalistic. This was one of the "myths" that I had heard before going to Sweden. It proved to be reality. Swedish people are very patriotic. Apart from the fact that they speak a lot about how wonderful their country is, or about how beautiful (debatable I would say) the Swedish blond girls are, their flag is hanged at the entrance of every house. Now it looks like that the place of the flag is on sun glasses as well.

But paradoxically, their national day is not a great celebration. There is a joke in Scandinavia that states the fact that Swedish people know better the national day of Norway (celebrated on the 17th of May as the day when Norway became independent from Sweden) than they own National day (6th of June).

Freedom for Iran!

2010-07-05T10:36:00.001+03:00

During my last visit in Stockholm, on the 12th of June I was given the chance to see a protest of the Iranian people living in Sweden. They were protesting, as expected, against the harsh regime from Teheran. It was more than impressive: they were singing the anthem of their Green Revolution, holding the Iranian flag and revolutionary messages in their hands.

They all had tears in they eyes. I immediately thought about my Iranian friends. Melika was a bit afraid to go back home in Iran just because she had posted revolutionary messages on Facebook, Mahgol and Afshin missed their country, and Sahar could not return in Iran just because she wrote an article against women wearing veil, which would take her back to prison. I remembered that some collegues from my Swedish university, including my friends Clover and Constance went to Iran in May,a bit fearful that they might be accused of being spies.

I hope that soon enough my friends will no longer be afraid to go back home.

Stockholm Seen from Above

2010-07-04T19:38:00.000+03:00

Stockholm is beautiful in every season. I used to hear his all the time during my staying in Sweden. I would complete that it is even more beautiful if seen from above.

There is a place in Stockholm called Katarinahissen that can be reached either by climbing a lot of old wooden stairs or by using the elevator. The last time I was in Stockholm, I used the stairs. A bit tiring, but worthy.

And so is how Stockholm looks like from above. Amazing!

The Show Must Go On! So Does the Drop!

2010-07-04T19:13:00.000+03:00

I have ignored My Drop of Sweden lately. Well, I have to admit. I've been lazy. But that is not the main reason.

I left Sweden on the 12th of June, on a clowdy, but pleasant Saturday. I wondered around Stockholm for about 6 hours. I took a lot of pictures while my mind was rememorating the wonderful or less pleasant moments that I had gone through for the past five months. Therefore, I had plenty of things to write about and pictures to post.

But, when I arrived, I saved the pictures in my laptop, did not even look at them and decided to post them when I will miss Sweden too much. Well, that moment is here. I miss Sweden, but most of all, I miss the people I met there, those from whom I've learnt so many things and that became my friends without noticing when and how. But life goes on and the world is smaller than we think.

Therefore, even though I am no longer in Sweden, this blog will keep on existing (cause in the end I wll be back in Sweden). So here we go...

Svensk Musik...

2010-05-31T00:12:00.000+03:00

11 12. I take one of the many breaks from studying today. Swedish music. My favorite Swedish songs. The order is random.
Thousands thanks to Sara for telling me about many of them.
Here we go... Enjoy!

Lars Winnerbäck...My favorite Swedish masculine voice... and I associate him with, probably, the one that has the smallest connection with Lars. I bet he does not even know about him. I cannot even remember when I made the connection...

Melissa Horn... I will always associate her with drawing for the simple reason that every time I went to the Scribling Society http://vscribbling.blogspot.com/ I could hear her singing slowly...

Joakim Thåström...A Swedish friend considers him the best Swedish voice. He is almost right...I see myself in the lyrics of this song...

Lisa Ekdahl... The first Swedish singer I listened to during Swedish classes in Romania. This song obsessed me for a long time. My room mates last year loved it, even if they had no idea what the lyrics expressed...

Kent...A successful Swedish band from Eskilstuna, the city I go to every week for my Literature courses. The members of the band were students of my Swedish University. My favorite Swedish band...

Thorleifs...According to Sara this is typical Swedish music for parties...

Ted Göderstad... Swedish girls love him... I see the entire Sweden in this song...and I imagine myself at the seaside...

Robert Broberg... His song reminds me of my wandering in the wonderful city of Stockholm...

Sommartider... I my opinion one of the most loved song by Swedish people... Just because they adore summer and the sun...

Kung för en dag... I will finish the list in a happy mood. This song makes me think of a Dutch friend. Long live Spotify. this song was in his Party Playlist. Indeed party!
Jag vill vara drottning i baren!

8 o'clock Evening Walk

2010-05-29T12:15:00.000+03:00

During the winter I did not expect to see such a beautiful spring in Sweden. The mountains of snow prevented me from imagining everything green and colourful. But the miracle came and this is how Sweden looks like in may at 8 in the evening!

Countryside Tools ...

2010-05-26T12:42:00.000+03:00

I used to see all these things when I was a child and I was spending my summer holidays in the countryside with my grandparents.

Now, years later, I came to Sweden and I see them again. Time flies and so does my mind... Back to the past...

Hen at the Museum

2010-05-26T12:35:00.001+03:00

Since the day when we went to the museum it was raining heavily the only animals we could see were hen. So proud of themselves I would say!

Friluftsmuseum in Västerås

2010-05-26T12:12:00.000+03:00

The museum was built in 1921 in order to show how people used to live in the Västmansland in the past. One can see different types of houses, animals, tools that were used during those times.

Skolfängelsen i Västerås

2010-05-23T20:58:00.000+03:00

This used to be a prison for students and teachers that disrespected the school laws in the 18 th century. Now it is just an open garden..

Stadsvandring i Västerås...

2010-05-23T20:48:00.000+03:00

This is our beloved Västerås during spring time... extremely colourful, lively and lovely...

Kanelbullar...

2010-05-13T17:33:00.000+03:00

They look extremely complicated but in fact they are very easy to make. They are typical Swedish.

A Swedish girl, Sara Fard showed me how to do them and I succeeded both the first and the second time. They are delicious! And after I baked them, the house smelled like Christmas thanks to the cinnamon...

What I find interesting is that after you bake them, it is advisable to keep them in the refrigerator and heat them whenever you want to eat them.

Here you have the recipe http://www.recepten.se/recept/kanelbullar.html (for those of you that know Swedish) or http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Food-drink/Swedish-culinary-classics/Kanelbullar-/ (for those not knowing Swedish).

Marry Him!

2010-05-13T14:09:00.000+03:00

A tiring night on the rhythms of a Swedish band concert. As usually, at 2 sharp in the night the music suddenly stops and we are asked to leave the club. We are heading towards the garderobe. As expected, almost everyone was more or less drunk. I felt so weird in my soberness. One cider made me happy!

Near the exit I meet a French guy and, as I usually do, I told him Bonsoir! And we start speaking in French. Suddenly, he takes my hand and kisses it. I was shocked, but in an extremely good sense. The response of another French girl, friend of him was "Marry him". We all laughed.

We all leave to have an after party in the nearby student accommodation. The discussion was about whether our faces indicated our nationalities. No wonder many of them said I look like a French girl. And then the French guy says, in his drunkness, that he accepts me as a French because my French is so good. Really? He asks me for a glass of water, I give it to him, he says "Merci" and I answer naturally "Med plaisir". His answer... "It is admirable that you speak such a good French!". No really! And I was thinking... This is Swefrench... But the alcohol prevented him from noticing. And in his eyes I have a great French. Not. I start to mix it with Swedish.

My conclusions

French guys are indeed gentlemen
the alcohol sometimes saves you from embarrassing situations, otherwise it can cause them
I am thinking seriously about getting a French lover
I have to do something with my French before I forget it all

I wish I were Swedish

2010-05-08T13:04:00.000+03:00

7 May 2010, Västerås, Sweden. My last month in Sweden as an Erasmus student... e

10 o'clock at night. I ride the bike from my quiet student accommodation to the city center to go to a concert. The ride is less than 10 minutes. But I was freezing on the bike.

4 o'clock in the morning, next day. On my way back with the same friend: the bike. This time, FREEZING COLD. The 10 minutes were like an eternity...

My question: how can the Swedish people ride the bike during winter time, when there are -20 degrees and also snowing and I caught a cold for having a 10 minutes bike ride in MAY?

I wish I were Swedish for this reason...

My First Swedish Rainbow/ Min Första Svenska Regnbåge...

2010-05-05T22:05:00.000+03:00

5 May 2010. My last month in Sweden!

The nature is more that kind with me. When I left home, more than 3 months ago, I had a list of the things I wanted to do and see in Sweden. A rainbow was on the list. The "miracle" happened today!

Svensk Vår är slutligen här...Swedish Spring is finally here...

2010-05-04T18:40:00.000+03:00

Svenska Tulpaner

2010-05-04T18:32:00.000+03:00

View from the HighwayE 18

2010-05-04T18:26:00.000+03:00

E 18

the river crossing Västerås...

panoramic view over the city...

the nicest neighborhood in Västerås

Västerås Domkyrka 2

2010-05-04T00:15:00.000+03:00

Västerås Domkyrka

2010-05-03T23:32:00.000+03:00

The Domkyrka i Västerås was built in the 12th century

It is probably most famous because Gustav Vasa's (the Swedish king that liberated Sweden from Denmark) oldest son, Eric XIV is buried in this church

Johannes Rudbeckius is also buried in here. he is the founder of the first high school in Sweden, which was in Västerås as well

The tower has 102,5 metres

It is one of the third churches in Sweden that received 3 stars from Guide Michelin

In the 19th century it was resturated in a Neogothic style

The River Crossing Västerås on a Sunny Spring Day...

2010-05-03T19:56:00.000+03:00

Västerås Sky...

2010-05-03T19:50:00.000+03:00

Sweden, Västerås, Petersberg, 3 May 2010. A wonderful spring day. The Nordic sky was more beautiful than ever... Or maybe it was the same but I saw it differently... Maybe because I started counting down my days in Scandinavia...I will miss this sky...

She Made My Day...

2010-05-03T19:38:00.000+03:00

On my way back from the city center today decided to walk across the river, thus passing near the old cemetery...

and there she was, watching me with her loving eyes. At first, she did not react to my "pis pis" calling (this is how we call cats in Romanian)...

then she would not let me go, she wanted to follow me home...
but she already had an owner.Too bad...

Having Fun in Buss 804 Uppsala-Västerås

2010-05-01T16:10:00.000+03:00

1 April 2010, the bus 804 Uppsala-Västerås. The night after Valborg. We were all extremely tired after a full day, but luckily we managed to buy buss tickets to go to our homes in Västerås.

As you can very clearly see, the bus was quite large but, unexpectedly, they sold more tickets than the available seats. Remember, THIS is Sweden. This is something normal in Romania, not in Sweden. Some of us were lucky enough to have a more or less comfortable seat. Others had no other choice but to sleep on the floor. Painful I would say.

I got a seat at the back of the bus. Next to me was a sleepy German guy going his best in order to sleep. On the seat in front of me, Tamay. Near him 2 Sweds, in an extremely good mood and really communicative. Every time they saw the German guy seating next to me falling asleep they started singing. The German's answer: "I have nothing to comment" and he went back to sleep. And the story began again every 5 minutes.

In such cases we have a very suggestive saying in Romania: facem haz de necaz (we are making fun of troubles).

The Romanian Stereo Love and Valborg

2010-05-01T14:39:00.000+03:00

Romanian electro music is even on Valborg! This made me feel even more at home...

Official Meaning of Valborg....

2010-05-01T13:46:00.000+03:00

The English name is Walpurgis Night and it is celebrated on the 30th April, especially in Northern Europe

It has pre-christian origins. People used to set up bonfires to keep the evil spirits away. This custom is still preserved and nowadays people lit fires in the center of cities of villages

In the past, this was the day when the Vikings were celebrating the biginning of the spring

Modern Valborg celebrations, particularly in Uppsala, consist of having a light breakfast including champagne and strawberries

During the day people gather in parks, drink, sing spring songs, dance or just have fun in any possible way

What Valborg meant to me...

2010-05-01T13:33:00.000+03:00

a celebration that made me feel at home and among friends

happy shinny people all over, either because they were drunk or just happy

dancing on the tables, like I used to to in my good old times in Vama Veche

several kinds of alcohol, offered by everyone I met. Wanna try this, Adina? And this? And this?the star of the day among alcohol, Martin's Jägermeister

lying in the sun in the park, which made me remember of the seaside

words like "All the girls are wonderful", confessed by a sober man (you made my day, Florian)

wondering around Uppsala, a wonderful Nordic city

foam fight at the Central Station

crowdedness in the buss, too many tickets, just a few seats

Swedish guys singing at the back of the buss

my older brother took care of me and made me feel happy by offering me vodka, connecting people

Västerååååååååååååååååååås picture

The Hippie Car in Valborg...

2010-05-01T13:30:00.000+03:00

The Park after Valborg...

2010-05-01T13:26:00.000+03:00

Ekonomicum Park during Valborg, 30 april 2010, Uppsala

2010-05-01T13:16:00.000+03:00

Thousands of people all together...

drinking...

dancing...

wondering around more or less drunk...

therefore, having fun!

Valborg Atmosphere in Uppsala

2010-05-01T13:03:00.000+03:00

Ekonomicum Park, the city center of Uppsala, 30 april 2010 on the occasion of the famouus Valborg...It is a a rare occasion to see to many Swedish people all together, drinking, dancing and having a lot of fun!

Svenska Hus i Petersberg

2010-04-26T17:53:00.001+03:00

A Spring Walk in Västerås

2010-04-26T17:42:00.001+03:00

The river crossing the city

The park behind the Domkyrka

Spring Flowers

La Multi Ani, Irina!

2010-04-24T12:36:00.001+03:00

Irina mea ...se scălâmba mereu cand eu fac pe serioasa in poze

...se ascunde de poze ca de lipitori

se bucura enorm de lucrurile marunte...

rade cand vede vacute...

...e şugubeaţa...e si ea o buburuza in felul ei...........

... adora marea

Pentru ca anul asta nu mai pot sa-ti fac serenada sub balcon de ziua ta, nu mai am cum sa te trag de urechi, nici cum sa-ti mananc eternul si fascinantul tort diplomat facut de Rodi (dar am baut o bere in cinstea ta aseara).... te fac vedeta de blog! La multi ani, Irina! Mi-e dor tare....

The Most Weird Statue I Have Ever Seen! THE HOWLING BITCH!

2010-04-23T20:06:00.001+03:00

The Howling Bitch, located very close to the city center in Västerås...
Its significance? Unknown to me and to almost everyone in the Swedish city!

The Market in Stora Torget in Västerås

2010-04-23T19:45:00.001+03:00

Souvenirs...

Fruits and vegetables...

Spring Flowers....

Flowers...

All in the city center of Västerås

22 april 2010: Snow Storm in Sweden....

2010-04-23T19:30:00.001+03:00

23 april 2010... The Winter's Shadow

2010-04-23T19:24:00.001+03:00

Yes! That is SNOW! And it is 23 April 2010. Sweden!

What Adina sees from her window..........

2010-04-18T20:15:00.001+03:00

During winter time, about one month ago...

This morning, an unusual spring day, but still, green enough to call it spring...

Bamse! My Swedish Childhood Hero!

2010-04-11T13:34:00.000+03:00

Spring Flowers in Sweden, the 7th of April...

2010-04-07T22:37:00.000+03:00

Colourful Easter Trees in Sweden

2010-04-07T22:21:00.000+03:00

A tree in Stora Torget (The Big Square) from Västerås...
...colourful feathers hang over the braches of the tree...
...this is a typical Swedish custom from Easter......bringing smiles on children faces:)
...did I say children? not only children:)...

My Easter in Sweden

2010-04-06T21:24:00.001+03:00

Kumla Easter Eggs

We coloured the eggs in the Swedish village Kumla, in Tärna Folkhögskola with Romanian colours...

Vallby Easter Eggs

Coloured in Västerås, Vallby neighbourhood...

Un zambet? O lacrima?

2010-04-06T16:34:00.000+03:00

Si am plans azi...am plans cu lacrimi de copil...din cauza (sau mai bine zis DATORITA??? unui copil)...un zambet sfios mi-a adus o lacrima, si cu cat zambetul era mai larg, eu cu atat plangeam mai tare. Cu cat chipul se indeparta, cu atat eram purtata mai in trecut.Nu ma mai simteam in Suedia, ci undeva in Romania, in Baraganul aspru, pe un drum de tara...

Povestea?

Veneam vesela de la facultate intr-o zi de maxima socializare cu suedezii, presupusi reci. Si mergeam eu vesela pe potecuta acum uscata si fara zapada inspre casa mea suedeza. Aud din spate mersul grabit al unei biciclete. Trec grabite rotile pe langa mine si in spate, pe portbagaj intr-un cosulet o fetita mica mica cu manusi imense rosii.Chipul abia i se vedea de casca din cap, dar i se vedeau manusile. Un prim zambet si mi-a zburat mintea departe, si ca distanta si ca timp. Eram mica si eu si bunicul meu ne lua pe mine si pe sora mea si ne ducea, zicea el "la sectie", adica acolo unde lucra el. Si conducea bicicleta pe un drum de tara prafuit si plin de pietre.Dar eu eram fericita pe bicicleta bunicului cu nasul in vant, zburand ca vantul si ca gandul.

Azi, copila de pe bicicleta, trecand pe langa mine a intors privirea si ma tot urmarea. Si i-am facut cu mana. Ea, tot un zambet, imi facea cand cu o manuta, cand cu alta, in ambele cu manusile rosii ca focul. Eu, tot o lacrima, imi aminteam de Radu al meu, de buni. Si plangeam...plangeam de dor....

Fishing in Stockholm...

2010-04-01T16:06:00.001+03:00

Center of Stockholm, sunny happy day, perfect environment for fishing...

System Bolaget in Gamla Stan...

2010-04-01T16:01:00.001+03:00

The alcohol shop in the famous Gamla Stan...

Cornelis Veeswijk i Stockholm

2010-04-01T15:56:00.001+03:00

Reclama e Mama Comertului!

2010-03-28T12:46:00.000+03:00

No comment!

Are You Afraid?

2010-03-28T11:29:00.001+03:00

This is painted on the window from a Swedish bar...

Sveriges Riksdag- The Swedish Parliament

2010-03-28T11:15:00.001+03:00

Buddhists at Kungliga Slottet- The Swedish Royal Palace

2010-03-28T01:24:00.001+02:00

Snow Drops in Sweden, 26 March 2010

2010-03-28T01:19:00.001+02:00

Stockholm i Vatten...

2010-03-28T01:16:00.001+02:00

Tyska Kyrkan i Stockholm

2010-03-28T01:08:00.001+02:00

Svenska Blommor Affärer

2010-03-28T01:05:00.000+02:00

Svenska Affärer- Mycket Guld och Blå...

2010-03-28T00:56:00.001+02:00

Svenska Skyltfönster

2010-03-28T00:35:00.001+02:00

The famous träskorna, red and white and the typical Dalarna Häst

So interbelic!

Chocolate!

Winter Wool clothes

Vikingar, Trollar och Häxor...

2010-03-28T00:28:00.000+02:00

Romania?Bucharest? Ciucas? NO! Sweden! Stockholm! Spendrups!

2010-03-28T00:01:00.000+02:00

At the entrance of the subway station Gamla Stan, this man was happily enjoying the sun after a good Swedish beer.

For a few seconds I felt at home. No matter how sad that sounds, that man made me feel at home.

My conclusions:

drunk people like resting in the sun everywhere

they can be found everywhere, inclusively in the city center of the seventh most recommended city to live

never judge people at first sight: they can make you happy even if they do not seem to

Crowd in Sweden.Waw!

2010-03-27T21:49:00.000+02:00

This is something that you do not see very often in Sweden. A lot of people in the same place! Another reason to love Stockholm!

Modern Stockholm

2010-03-27T21:37:00.000+02:00

Sergels Torg

Åhlens

StadsTeatern

Drottningsgatan

Swans in Stockholm...

2010-03-27T21:30:00.001+02:00

The Swedish Soldier...

2010-03-27T18:34:00.000+02:00

The only relaxing moment for a student in the Swedish Military Academy, as a former student told me...

Kungliga Slottet (The Royal Palace) in Stockholm

2010-03-27T18:18:00.001+02:00

The Narrowest Street in Stockholm...

2010-03-27T18:12:00.001+02:00

Gamla Stan

2010-03-27T17:53:00.001+02:00

ICR in Stockholm, in Gamla Stan...

2010-03-27T17:50:00.001+02:00

Institutul Cultural Roman- The Romanian Cultural Institute

Beautiful Scandinavian Buildings in Stockholm...

2010-03-27T16:35:00.000+02:00

Svensk Akademin andNobel Museum

The Office of the Famous Swedish tabloid

St Clara Kyrkan, Stockholm

2010-03-27T16:23:00.000+02:00

Mon Amour, Stockholm...

2010-03-27T15:42:00.000+02:00

Stadshuset- The Town hall...

These are views from different corners of Stockholm. I do not know what each building is, if anyone can help me, he/she is more than welcome. But I think that they give an overall view of Stockholm..

Greek or Swedish? Iranian or Swedish?

2010-03-21T20:32:00.000+02:00

Does the name "Antique"- "Opa Opa" ring a bell? You might associate it with Greece, Mediterranean Sea, sun, warm. No way with Scandinavia, snow, cold.

But...Surprise! According to Spotify Antique is a Greek duo originating from Sweden which combines Greek popular music and lyrics with a Nordic dance/pop beat.It was the first group ever to be nominated for a Swedish Grammy in the category Modern Dance (with a Greek song).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stJcQKJaAb0

"Arash". It sounds Arabic right? It is. Half Arabic. According to the same multitasking Spotify Arash is a popular singer, producer and dancer based in Sweden. Born Arash Labash in Iran, his family moved in Sweden when he was 10.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfdAX8n6UbA

The Updated Swedish Shoes

2010-03-21T20:19:00.000+02:00

This is a sport shoe. A usual one.

The question is what does such a show do on a blog about Sweden. Well, this kind of shoes are very popular among Swedes.

But the unusual fact is that they wear them inclusively on snowy winter days as if it were normal.

I wanted to be brave today (such a snowy day here in Sweden) and I went out for a short walk wearing such shoes. I got wet of course and my feet were freezing even if I was out for only ten minutes. Am I the freak in here?

Marble Sculptures in Eskilstuna

2010-03-20T21:47:00.001+02:00

Träskorna...

2010-03-20T21:43:00.001+02:00

These are the famous Swedish TRÄSKORNA- wood shoes- still very popular among old Swedish people during the summer. In Skåne, the southern part of Sweden they are called svart tofflor-black slippers.

They resemble the willow wood Dutch clogs.

Similar shoes can be found in the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, among the people in the countryside.

Chinese Food in Sweden

2010-03-13T22:50:00.001+02:00

Chinese New Year

Swedish (or not really Swedish) food

2010-03-13T22:35:00.000+02:00

Kannel Bullar

Sandwich

Salad with sauce and lingon saft

Kebab with knäckebröd

Weird Facts (to me) about Sweden and the Sweds

2010-03-10T10:45:00.000+02:00

Culinary curious facts:

the Swedish bread is sweet (it tastes and like some sort of cookie)

they eat far more pizzor, kebaber, pasta and salader than I expected

they would add sauces in everything

Drinking habits:

girls drink as much as boys

you can buy alcohol only from SystemBolaget (exception is beer, which has only at most 3,5 alcohol)

you can only enter bars where they sell alcohol by showing ID

you can only buy alcohol with ID, including the beer

Services:

the supermarkets function as post offices as well

in banks, System Bolaget or exchange offices you stay in the line according to some tickets that show the order

In the trafic:

Swedish people do not drive with high speed
they stop when people want to cross the street, in every corner of the street

A Column of the Infinit in Eskilstuna?

2010-03-10T03:57:00.000+02:00

A statue in Eskilstuna, Sweden. Optical illusion: either glasses one above the other or faces nose to nose...

Constantin Brancusi's "Column of the Infinit" in Targu Jiu, Romania

Eskilstuna Domkyrka

2010-03-10T03:52:00.001+02:00

Artistic Statues in Eskilstuna...

2010-03-10T03:48:00.001+02:00

Different Feminine Hypostasis

2010-03-10T03:45:00.001+02:00

Scandiavian Buildings in Eskilstuna

2010-03-10T03:29:00.000+02:00

Eskilstuna, den Stolta Fristaden...

2010-03-10T03:25:00.001+02:00

The motto and the ad of the beautiful city of Eskilstuna

The White Queen's Land...

2010-03-10T03:10:00.000+02:00

Weird Statues in Västerås

2010-03-09T23:27:00.000+02:00

Apparently birds...
A spring gate maybe...
Flowers...
A heart...love is in the air...

Swedish Snow Men

2010-03-09T23:18:00.001+02:00

Different people, different snow men...

Special thanks to my apartment mate for the pictures...

Hippie Flower Power Vallby

2010-03-09T18:44:00.001+02:00

At the entrance from my student accommodation in Vallby is a very colorful wall, the only piece of color on the never-ending snowy days in Sweden
Apart from being so colouful, it is also Flower power.

So, don't worry, be hippie!

Mithbusting Swedish Myths

2010-03-06T11:02:00.000+02:00

As in the case of every country, there are national myths crossing the Earth regarding Sweden as well. Since I am here for almost 2 months I can confirm or bust some of them.

Real myths:

they drink a lot, both women and men, since one of the strongest Swedish policies is "jämlighet" (equality)

they are very cold people and it is quite hard to establish a close relationship with them

they are very nationalistic: they speak a lot about how wonderful their country is and they adopt foreign borrowed words according to their own phonetic rules; for instance, OK is OKEJ

they speak even more about the whether and how different the weather in their country is comparison with other countries

it is an expensive, but very civilized and evolved country

they do eat meatballs with jam

False myths:

not all the people are blond
most Swedish girls are not terribly beautiful

most Swedish boys are not excruciatingly handsome

it is not freezing cold all year long

they are not a nation of heavy-rockers but they listen to a lot of commercial music

Sweden Has Its Own Snow Mountains

2010-02-26T18:48:00.000+02:00

As high as the first floor

Snow is melting on the streets... finally

Swedish Beer

2010-02-26T14:45:00.000+02:00

Heineken, among the very few international brands you can find in supermarkets

National beer

Their pride- Falcon beer

As you cand see, low degree of alcohol, like all beers in here

Interesting bottle, interesting taste

Now Dianora is probably a more cultivated person since I let her know what kinds of beer Swedish people drink.

This post is for The Ungureanus:))

My School

2010-02-26T13:37:00.000+02:00

Mälardalen Högskola, my school for another 3 months and a half
Grupprum, always busy, very hard to find an empty one in the afternoon

We usually study in here

The University Map, very useful especially fost those unable to make the difference left-right

These relaxing corners are all over the university, for students to study, work in groups, talk or just enjoy their morning coffe

Mälardalen Universitet

2010-02-26T13:28:00.000+02:00

Hus T
A Lighty Corridor

A Staggering Stair

Another Modern Hall

Biblioteket

12 or 92 or Both? Vuxen eller Barn?

2010-02-18T11:14:00.000+02:00

This is a machine from which you can buy bus tickets in Sweden. You either put the coins and then choose the ticket ( 22 Kronor if you are vuxen- adult or 11 if you are ung- child) or you use your credit card. For me the second did not work all the time. Romaian cards do not get along well with Swedish machines:)) and for ths reason I received twice bussbiljeter from 2 nice ladies.

You probably guess that I am supposed to buy the vuxen ticket, but considering my childish face, I always use the barn one:P and everything is fine.

But the really weird thing comes now: on the very same route, during the day I use the buss 12 and during the night I use buss 92:))))

Iarna lui Rodi a Mea...

2010-02-15T21:26:00.000+02:00

Pentru ca Rodi e MAMA mea...

Pentru ca o iubesc...

Pentru ca ea ma iubeste cel mai mult...

Pentru ca pe ea o iubesc cel mai mult...

Pentru ca... pentru ca e MAMA, pentru ca nu am nevoie de motive sa o iubesc si sa-mi fie dor, pentru ca e Rodi a mea, e mamis, doamna mami, e doamna pifisoara...

Pentru ca asa arata o iarna frumoasa, ca in povesti pentru Rodi a mea...
Te iubesc, mami si mi-e dor de mor...

Ge Kärlek! Ge Tulpaner! Or Lalele, Lalele, Frumoasele Mele Lalele…

2010-02-14T16:14:00.000+02:00

It is Valentine's Day or Alla Hjärtans Dag or Ziua Indraostitilor or however else you want to call it. Usually, in Romania it is very popular among boys and men to offer to their special ones RED ROSES. But here in Sweden, things are a bit different. The most popular flowers in this "special" day are (preferably red) TULLIPS.

I will not wish you Happy Valentin's Day, since I do not believe in this celebration, but I will wish you "Happy Winter Sports Day!"

Din dor de SCUFAS a mea

2010-02-13T16:25:00.000+02:00

Chiar daca imi spune ca nu are incredere in mine fiindca sunt iresponsabila si cu capul in nori si mereu pe graba si ca seman cu Dedu

Chiar daca imi spune ca am ochi numai pentru baietii cu ochi albastri si cu plete si o sa le fac un mare pocinog alor nostri

Chiar daca ma cicaleste zi si noapte

Chiar daca ma linguseste zicand ca o sa gatesc eu pentru copii ei

Chiar daca glumeste zicand ca o sa se faca ea proprietareasa pe averea bunicilor nostri (fermierita caut barbat)

Chiar daca ii zic ca e cam caţă si imi face capul mare

Chiar daca o dezamagesc si isi cam pierde increderea in mine

Chiar daca uit sa fac unele lucrui pe care i le promit, pentru ca deh, sunt hectica

Chiar daca ea acum mananca Sara+Ilie= Sarailie

Mi-e dor de mor de SCUFAS, adica de sora mea, de Irinuca mea…

The Summary of the Trip in Words

2010-02-09T00:42:00.000+02:00

12 happy people were supposed to leave from Vasteras to Mariehamn-Finland by ferry

4 of us( the writer, Florian, Constance and Gleb) more " special" than the others got out of the Customs building to walk around Stockholm for 2 hours (when one of us, aka Florian was almost killed by snow) and could no longer get on the boat since we were not 23

we changed destination: Turku!

party on board: salami, chips, vodka, orange juice, salami, salami

hard to wake up in the morning for me and Florian, so the others went out the boat before us

we left the boat for 2 hours (this is how much we thought the beat would be in Turku) to take picures

we came back, no boat, nobody around and the answer of a smiling blonde lady: "You MISSED the ferry"....silence...."WHAT?"

extra money ant other (the third ) tickets to Stockholm and 11 hours to spend in Turku

low batery single phone

zombie breakfast

streets, shops, church, museum, restaurant, park, sledging, market, info center, river

back in harbour after 11 hours and at least 20 km of walk

The essence: FUN, HECTIC, IRRESPONSIBLE

I Found My Secret Lover In Finland

2010-02-07T22:17:00.000+02:00

My favourite flower...

He left it in the snow for me to find it