First 2 Weeks

Hey Everybody,

Well I have now had 2 weeks in my new life in Sweden. So far I have had two days at school. One day last week before my language camp and one today. I made it very clear that I am not at all interested in participating in a science program this year which I was assured was all hunky dory and so you can imagine my suprise when, come my first day I am given a timetable which includes stage four chem, bio and physics! I thought I can cope with that for a day untill I get the chance to fix it all up. My classmates fought all day and had a huge blowup in the girls changing room after sport. Not the class for me I decided. A bit unfortunate really because the girls were really nice to me and when they saw me today said hello and let me pretend they were my friends during my break.
Today I had my first day with my true class, which I am staying in all year. Two girls spoke to me while the only other 3 in the class didnt say anything allthough it wasnt in a snobbish manner just shy. The boys didnt speak to me, so Mum I think you can safely tell Opa I wont be returning engaged! It was quite funny at the end of the day when one boy asked me if I could find my way home ok. I was so surprised he spoke to me I didnt really realise what he said! It sounds horrible and it sort of is but I know that once I can speak swedish to them they will warm up and that swedes are generally quite shy.
So I just have to keep it together for a month or two and they will come right. Although the girls who spoke to me today did tell me that the canadien exchange student last year that was in their class had to go home after 6 months because she wasnt happy! But they told their classmates they had to be nice to me this year and not exclude me like the last student. Which is promising? She'll be right.

Im yet to experiance the infamous communal showers so no comment there so far.

School aside, I spent 5 days in Ronneby with 9 fellow exchange students from the southern hemisphere to learn some swedish. There were 2 brazillian girls who were quite quiet as they felt they knew little english, and we didnt know any portuguese, another kiwi alana and I from NZ and then too many aussies! 6 to be exact, However after much banter between poor outnumbered Alana and I with them we all became friends which is lovely as none of us had any in Sweden yet! We visited about 10 classes throughout the week to talk to them about our countries, however when we got there very little wanted to talk to us and those who did only wanted to talk of Australia. Nobody cared about NZ or got confused about the fact that we were not aussies. In every class we were introduced as australiens and 2 brazilians. goodness!

Anywho Camp was fun so that was the main thing. So now I have had the chance to see and experiance the many differences between NZ and Sweden although I havn't felt any big culture shock, so adapting isn't really a difficulty at all although it is challanging at times for example the cold. I have been keep a basic record of all the differences really so I do not forget anything or simply not notice things because its so different.

Obviously number one is the language difference. But standing in the city near my little tribal village ( haha!) you can see Denmark. You can stand in one country and another is visible! incredibile!
The schools are incredibly different. The students can be dressed however they like and I can tell you that anybody no matter how bogen or emo or sporty or geeky will all fit in. There are many weirdos! Anywho you may get up and walk out of class should you feel like it. Address your teacher by their first names and of course should you be unhappy with their style swear at them. You can pop out for a smoko etc. They all look at me in horror when I describe school at home. and I didnt even mention the no walking on the grass rule!

A big change is they drive on the right side and not the left side of the road. This doesnt sound too major I know, but when you go to cross the road it can be a bit hazardous! And sitting in the front seat while driving somewhere, while I have gotten used to being on the right side of the road however when we go onto a roundabout or go to turn into a road I still freak out when I see my host Dad looking the wrong way! I forget the cars are coming from the other direction!

Also, cyclists ( and there a many, it is a very popular method of transportation to school and work) have their bike lane but it is on the footpath which of course being a kiwi I had no idea of this and so yes I have been 'run over' ( well run into anyhow) by a cyclist who continued to ride while yelling goodness knows what in swedish at me. I learnt quickly how to walk on the footpath.
Another traffic difference is the lights go red orange green rather than straight to green which I found weird but another difference that I find really cool is that on the highways etc they have signs informing drivers which carparks have spaces available and how many!

In shops you must put all the clothes you dont wish to buy back on the shelves yourself rather than give it to the shop assitants which I think is silly.
Cafes etc close at night.

Trains, central heating.
Toilets. They dont have nice toilet paper like we have in NZ. Its like the paper used in public places that they have in their homes. You can imagine the standard in the public toilets. Well actually I wouldn't know because its $1 to use public toilets, and in some cafes where you are dining. I refuse to pay.
When one flushes the toilet it empties and refills at the same time! Well worth a mention!
Walking along roads etc you find puddles have frozen over. It is very entertaining to jump on them and break the ice!
Sparkling water is hugely popular here. I tried to buy a bottle of water on my way to school one day but there were no bottles of still water in the shop! There were however all the flavours of the world in bubbly water!

You flick the light switches the opposite way. Im sure there are many more but thats all I can remember now and this email its pretty long already so I will leave you all to continue sunbathing while I sit by the fire rubbing my toes!

LOVE
xx