Irene Klaver

Introduction

Arrival in Uppsala

Hotspots of Uppsala

Fika

Since I arrived in Uppsala I got to learn a lot about the Swedish people and their culture. For example, Swedish people love to fika! Fika is a kind of a coffee break, in the Netherlands we can do such things in a rush, but the Swedish people really take the time for that kind of stuff. In Sweden you can find really cozy coffee shops to go for a fika. When you enter those coffee shops it’s like you walk into your grandparents living room. It’s amazing to see how many pies and different kinds of muffins they have. You feel like a child in a candy store!! Since I have been here, I go for fika almost every week (if it is not twice a week :P), and it is a very nice thing to do with your friends, you can just sit and talk, and enjoy your pie and coffee.

The exams are coming up

We are almost at the end of the first period and heading to the exams. This period I followed two courses: 1. Ethological methods and experimental design, and 2. Applied animal behaviour. The first course is really focused on how to observe animals, how to make an ethogram, which is the best way to observe animals and to get the best results. The second course is about why animals perform some kind of behaviours, and how these behaviours can help the animals to survive.

Darkness

It is half way trough November and it is getting dark really early in Sweden: around three o’clock. The weird thing about the early darkness is that you think you have to eat dinner at four o’clock. I noticed this when my parents were visiting me last weekend.

Julgask

Last weekend a really good friend of my visit me in Uppsala. And to give her the optimal Swedish student experience we went to a Christmas gasque, or as they would say in Swedish; Julgask, at one of the thirteen nations here in Uppsala.

Lapland

From 9th till 14th of December I went on the most amazing trip of my life; Lapland!!! Before I went to Sweden I said that I would be amazing if I could do a dog sledding tour and see the Northern lights, so when there was an opportunity to go to Lapland, I took it immediately.

Next stops

The day after the dog sledding we left Kiruna and drove further north. First we made a stop at a traditional Sami family who are herding reindeers. When we arrived we went into a tippi and a Sami women told us some traditions about their culture. We also got some kind of broth, which was made of the bones and meat of the reindeer they herd. They usually drink this to get some energy really quickly and to warm up when they are herding the reindeers.

My last story about Lapland

This will be my last blog about my amazing trip to Lapland.

Goodbye!

After four months of studying in Uppsala, it was time to go home. It was an amazing experience, which I would recommend to everybody! During my stay in Uppsala, I made some amazing friends from all over the world and I learned a lot about Sweden and its culture.