Try and spot Umeå. It's up North, just above the Gulf of Bothnia, and about 300km South of the Arctic Circle... guess who's gonna be cold this winter. Don't throw out your long johns!
Here is an article about the city: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ume%C3%A5.
Monday 22 June 2009
Sweden
0 commentsSunday 14 June 2009
This is where the journey starts
1 comments
Studying abroad... I guess it has become a common phenomenon. Everybody goes everywhere. These are not times of singularity between individuals.
Luckily, the excitement remains untouched, especially when you are planning a year-long journey in a country you've set foot in!
Sweden. Well, not an exotic place people would usually remark. Quite the contrary I'd say! Scandinavian countries are very often regarded as socially developped and are usually set as examples of social welfare states. It is true figures show the governmental emphasis on health care, minimum subsistence income and so on.
The fact is, I know absolutely nobody having set sails up North to check what it was really like being a Swedish citizen. So I might as well check this myself!
What appeals to me is the colossal collection of clichés which are attributed to the Swedes and their home country.
I suppose I've always liked the Viking Sagas and historical events occuring during the premises of the so-called Dark Ages. And well, they were the maritime kind of folk, with the same bad taste for dragon and interlaced decorations I happen to adore. I can't just ignore that!
I also suppose I've always wondered whether people are really blond up there, or if I would be the only one!
And these are just some of the few illustrations that occur to me... I'm deliberaty omitting things such as folk and metal music, auroras borealis, which are another part of my philosophical questionnings.
Anyway, I wish to share my investigations and adventures with you thanks to this wonderful blog. I'll be sharing random information, photos, links and anything more or less relevant to this journey.
Well, must go before old Speedy really eats my Swedish manual - that's my pet rabbit for those of you that may not have met him yet - and as they say "up there": VI SES!
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