brief update

so theres about 5 weeks left in this whole exchange experience, and it keeps getting more fun every day. Our floor has been full of visitors (friends, girl's boyfriends, etc.) and mostly they're Italians. Akademien was fun wednesdy night, my birthday is this weekend, we have planned our trip to Kiruna, Tallinn cruise is next tuesday, my 2 classses are actually pretty cool with great professors, talking to girls is going well. And yea, that's pretty much it for now. Have to go back to work, and then we are going to a chocolate factory this afternoon. Yea, a chocolate factory, lol. When we walked home from the free nature hike, we saw a sign that said "chocolate factor tours" so we're going back there today and checking it out. I'm keeping my expectations low for this one. lol Ready for a great weekend!

International Day

Yesterday was International Day at each one of the individual schools, which is basically a huge event where students represent their country. This was done mainly by food from their country, but it was also a means for students intersted in studying there to talk to someone from that country. I should not have eaten anything this day before I got there, because food was everywhere! My favorite was Switzerland, where they had cheese fondue on bread, and it was spectacular.

We represented the USA and UCF by cooking Mac'n'Cheese, playing Beer Pong, and having a powerpoint on my laptop. We couldn't have alcohol, so we used Coca-Cola instead (still American! lol). We had limited space, so we had everyone take 2 steps back and take a shot, and if they made it, then they "won" coke. One guy (from Germany), made a shot from accross the room, which was impressive. Coke Pong was perfect because it was a good way to pass the 3 hours that we were supposed to stand there, and a fun way to interact with everyone....and not be like "hi, where are you from? what have you heard about America?"

Now I'm really busy with school, and need to focus on that.....until the weekend. Also plan the Kiruna Trip.

Kopenhavn

(EDITED)

Copenhagen was a lot of fun, and a GREAT way to spend Halloween. Highlights of the trip include walking around downtown Copenhagen with Viking hats, me getting lost in a staircase, not being able to find Tyler on Sunday, and ending up in a different town Monday morning with Josette. Ask me to tell the story of me getting lost in the staircase, its better if I tell it in person, lol.

I'll always remember this trip for the rest of my life....check out my facebook pictures :)

ready for a great weekend

School is back in session (already?), but my two classes seem to be a lot better than last segment. My Materials and Simulation professor is very helpful, and has a sense of humor (even though the material is kinda boring). I actually recognized my other Swedish professor when I walked in the room, because he was the one who gave us the funny/weird "inspirational speech" at the beginning of welcome week. He teaches "International and Intercultural Communication," which is perfect because I'm essentially learning about what I'm already doing here in Sweden...communicating with different cultures and breaking down the barrier that exists.

In class today, I realized that I was the only person from the United States in the lecture hall. Being surrounded by 100 or so students from all parts of the world was a unique experience. I represented the USA by being loud, obnoxious and clueless about other people's cultures! just kidding, lol. We also split up into groups of 8 or so, and got to know each other. In my group, we have people from India, China, Belgium, Netherlands, and 3 from Sweden.

Anyways, we leave for Copenhagen tomorrow morning at 9! Ready to celebrate halloween in style, as a viking! The trip isn't 100% planned, and we will plan as we go (the best way to do it, lol). Hej då!

1 week off!

Advantage of studying abroad in Sweden: 1 week off in-between segments! Exams are finally over with, and now I can party/do whatever I want for the next week and a half. Copenhagen is in 6 days, and is going to be an awesome way to celebrate Halloween!! Yesterday we went to the local mall, and bought viking hats/weapons at the kids toy store. Vikings in Copenhagen? Sounds like a great combination, lol. Also at the mall I bought a new shirt, which is still a "Marc" shirt, but just a lot better style and better fitting. Going back again today to see what else I can find.

Exams went okay.....Production Logistics took me 4 hours and 40 minutes to finish!! (there was a 5 hour window) Very long, and frustrating...I think every person in the class would agree that our professor was bad, and needs to get out of Sweden. To be optimistic: I know that every person who has done something good in this world has had a bad teacher/class along the way. So I gotta just keep going, and work harder. My Swedish exam went pretty well, after staying up until 3 in the morning studying for it. I actually learned a lot in 1 day, and can now speak basic Swedish sentences mediocrately (spelling?) well. My english is still pretty bad tho, because I just used the word "mediocrately" which I don't think is an English word.

Thursday night it "snowed" again, and in some accommodations outside the city (Raslatt, Villhamsro) there was light snow that stuck on the ground. By Delta in the city, the snow melted pretty much instantly. There should be at least 1cm of snow in Copenhagen, my guess.

Death mix! Last night Tyler introduced to us death mix, which is a bottle of vodka, two energy drinks, 7-up and Kool-Aid! Obviously no one from Europe knew what Kool-Aid was, but they liked it. We all drank from the big container of death, and played Kings, which is our new favorite drinking game (basically like ring of fire, with different rules). And yes, we keep going through phases with our drinking games. Then we went out to Centrum, the other bar. We are all getting to be really close, like a family. Not like a "Jersey Shore" type of family, but a normal one, lol. Our kitchen right now looks like theirs.....its what happens when the girls all go and visit their boyfriends. :)

Also during my break, I am planning a trip to Kiruna, which is a city up in north-north Sweden. I definetely want to rent snow-mobiles, dog-sled, and see the Northern Lights (which isn't guarranteed). Also, the famous Ice Hotel (http://www.icehotel.com/) is nearby, but I'm not sure if it will be open yet. Options for getting there: 20+ hour train ride, or fly there, or fly....I'm leaning towards flying, for obvious reasons. lol

On the same subject of travelling, Visitors are welcome! I James Jarman mentioned that he may come with friends some friends and come visit after finals....which would be awesome. Also, my brother got a new job at a bank in Merritt Island, and said he may "stop by." If you ever wanted to see Sweden, then nows the time! (this is me convincing you to come, lol)

Final thought: should I get my hair cut before Copenhagen? I want it short now, but on the other hand, if I keep it long and grow my beard out, my Viking costume would be awesome! Thoughts on that? let me know

first snowfall

So last night at Akademien, it SNOWED!! Okay, it was just flurries and it melted in the morning.....but really Sweden? Already? Your autumn lasted about 2 weeks, lol. I'm actually ready for the snow, so bring it. Might as well see as much of it while I can, because back in Florida its hopeless.

Finals are approaching quickly, and for the next 5 days I need to be studying quite a bit. I still know as much Swedish as I did at the beginning (plus a couple of swear words, lol). Also, its been around 2 months that I've been in Europe! Time is going by faster now, and I blame it on studying and doing homework. For example, during welcome week time pretty much stood still, because of the craziness and the amount of activity going on. I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, and want the next 2 months to be twice as good as the first. (which it will)

Back to studying....Hello Production Logistics and Materials Management!

Autumn

Went for a walk around Jonkoping today with two of my friends...what a beautful time of year in Sweden! Leaves are changing colors, the sun was out, and we took some great pictures of the city and university (see fb). Actually there are rumors that we will get our first snowfall this saturday, which I hope is wrong because I'm not ready yet! This past saturday we went on a hike to a hilly/foresty area about 7 km away from the university, and was refreshing to see nature and be outdoors with good company. After the hike, we were given the option to walk home and see the Swedish countryside.....had nothing else to do, so why not? At first, it felt like we were lost, because we were by a lot of farms and pastures...but eventually we made our way back after a 2-hour journey. :) below are my favorite 2 pictures...

Copenhagen. I'm going there for Halloween weekend (Friday 10/29 to Monday 11/1) with about 16 other people. 5 people including myself are taking my friend Sebastian's car, which will be cheaper than taking a train. We just booked a hostel for 3 nights that has 14 beds to a room! I'm not sure what to expect from this trip, but I am excited because the people going are fun.

Tyler and I finally found barbeque sauce here in Sweden! We were both really happy, and made BBQ Pork with rice, and vegetables last week and it tasted great!(because it was American). Also, Taco Tuesday was bigger than usual last week: 12 people! I helped cook a little so I wouldn't have to clean afterwords, lol. We're doing it again tomorrow as well. I wonder what our next tradition will be.....maybe snowball fight sunday?? lol

Also, the end of Segment 1 is approaching, which means finals for me are in like 8 days! Time to actually study and learn Swedish. I like only taking 2 classes at a time for 10 weeks...it's much easier than trying to balance 4 or 5 classes for the whole semester. Sweden 1, America 0.

Congratulations to my good friend Jared Masucci for winning the title of Mr. UCF back home! You did amazing, and should try out for American Idol next year for sure. http://sga.ucf.edu/extra/. My fraternity also won first place in KD Shakedown last month, another great accomplishment! I'm proud of all my brothers in what they have done this year, and miss everyone. I am looking forward to meeting the new brothers as well. The best thing I can do now is wear my Beta shirt when I go on cool trips around Europe. Beta's going international! Forever in _Kai_.