Author: Guestblogger (Page 13 of 18)

Unless you wish to spend the whole semester in your student corridor, you will need to familiarize yourself with your transportation options in Uppsala. The city center is relatively walkable and easy to navigate but other places are less realistic to reach by foot.

Cycling is likely the most popular form of student transportation. An easy way to get an affordable bicycle is to buy one secondhand from another student. Be sure to think through the logistics of your bike transaction. My first week here, I had to walk a fixer-upper bike from Flogsta all the way back to Kantorsgatan! A set of lights for your bike is a must as is a working lock. Bicycle theft is not a huge phenomenon here, but if your bike is unlocked, it is fair game. Revelers have been even been known to throw bicycles in the river come Valborg! Uppsala is otherwise a cyclist-friendly city covered by an extensive network of bicycle paths. A map of these paths is included in your orientation materials.

Another option is to travel by bus on UL, Uppsala County’s public transit system. UL offers both green city buses and yellow regional (county-wide) buses. Bus travel offers less flexibility than cycling but is still a very safe and convenient option. Buses in Uppsala are clean, punctual, and wheelchair-accessible. Some are even powered by bio-fuel from food waste! The biggest drawback of the bus system is that buying tickets really adds up. Tickets are sold on the bus itself but are less expensive if purchased beforehand. This can be done at kiosks at larger bus stops or on the UL mobile app although the latter requires a Swedish phone number.  This app is a good resource even without a Swedish phone number because of its trip planning feature. If you envision yourself taking the bus frequently, the best option is to buy a UL card. These cards are sold at the central station. You can add money to a card or you can buy one that is valid for a set amount of time.

Personally, I own a bike but relied on the bus system during the winter months. I bought bus passes that were valid for thirty days at a time so I could judge how comfortable I felt with the roads as time went on. I hope to cycle more now that the paths are less icy! It will take some time to discover what form of transportation is best for you, but rest assured that even in the worst-case scenario Uppsala is a very safe and navigable city with ample lighting and signage.

/Lauren

Aurora Borealis is Latin for “The dawn of the north”.
Aurora was a Roman goddess of dawn and Borealis in Greek means the north wind.

Moving out from your home to another country is such an enriching experience. You get to know about different types of cultures, food, diversity and scenic beauty. So to begin my expedition pursuing my masters at Uppsala University, as any teenager would do, I started creating a bucket list. Always being fascinated by what nature has to offer, the top of that list had to be witnessing the rare and one of the surreal Northern Lights. Being so passionate about this, the great chance to strike the thing off that I always wished for from the top of my bucket list came to a reality. Such a view is so mesmerizing and surreal that after viewing the lights, I couldn’t stop before going for it again and again this winter until the count was close to 10. So, if you are an outdoor enthusiast like me but don’t know where to start, you might find this post quite interesting.

This strange but beautiful phenomenon happens when the solar flares from the sun enters the earth’s magnetic field and collides with the atoms and molecules in our atmosphere and results in photos which we call “Aurora Borealis” (Northern Lights). There are different colours associated with Northern Lights, it depends upon the type of gas involved in the process and also the energy in the solar flares. The most common being Green is associate with the excitation of Oxygen molecules and also Yellow and Red however, Blue and Purplish are caused by the excitation of Nitrogen.

Northern Lights need a clear sky in the night and a dark surrounding in order for one to clearly see it. Starting from September, one can hope to see them all the way till the end of April during the night.

There are various tours which one can take up north in order to see the Norther Lights. Scanbalt Experience is the most famous one with their Lapland Tour in the winters. It takes you up across the Arctic circle, Kiruna, Abisko and the famous Ice Hotel. To check out more about the Lapland Tour, here is the link to the blog post from Audra: https://tagged4.uu.se/2018/03/02/the-lapland-trip/

Here are my picks for the 5 best places to see the northern lights:

1. Tromsø, Norway
2. Abisko, Sweden
3. Luosto, Finland
4. Kulusuk, Greenland
5. Anchorage, Alaska

Don’t be disappointed if you can’t visit those places, your quest to see the Northern Lights can also end at Uppsala. The best place in Uppsala to see the Northern Lights is Gamla Uppsala followed by Uppsala Slott (Uppsala Castle). I was also lucky enough to see them from my window at Klostergatan 16.

In Gamla Uppsala. Credits: Pushkar

To get started:

1. Download the “Aurora Forecast” or “My Aurora Forecast & Alerts” app. Its available in both App Store in iOS and Play Store in Android. I like the “My Aurora Forecast & Alerts” app more.

From this app, you can check for the KP index which is the global geomagnetic storm index and the higher it is, the better chance you have to see the lights. There is also an option to select your location and the app will automatically show the results for the viewing probability at your location.
Here is the link for both the apps:
Aurora Forecast for iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/aurora-forecast/id539875792?mt=8
Aurora Forecast for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tinacinc.auroraforecast&hl=en
My Aurora Forecast & Alerts for iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-aurora-forecast-alerts/id1073082439?mt=8
My Aurora Forecast & Alerts for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrustonapps.myauroraforecast

2. There are some groups on Facebook if you’re in Uppsala where people post if there is high probability to see the lights and it is also a great way to meet the people who share the same enthusiasm.
   Here is the link to the page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/294845537550812/
3. Take a look for the KP index for the next few days in advance so you’re prepared to leave in case there is no cloud cover (the biggest enemy). KP level above 4 is a good time to go out and chase the lights.

The App shows the KP level for 45 minutes accurately and also for the coming hours.

4. Get some hot coffee with you because the conditions outside will be really cold and it’s better to be prepared for that.

Taking Pictures:

Cameras that can take pictures of Northern Lights need to have a manual mode and a high ISO (sensitivity of the image sensor). The lens should be a wide angle, focus indicator is also needed because autofocus is not your friend here and does not work in this situation.

To set everything up,

1. Mount the camera on a good tripod (there must be no shake whatsoever).
2. Put the ISO to 800-3200 (trial and error is the best option and also the situation plays an important role).
3. The diaphragm of the lens should be as big as the lens can support.
4. Shutter speed should be 4-10 seconds depending on the intensity of Northern Lights.
5. For white balance, you can put it to auto.
6. Batteries tend to discharge quickly in the cold winters, so take some spare ones with you.

There are some people on Instagram who live in the Aurora Zone and take some mesmerising shots. Here is the link to the profile of Mia Stålnacke, she lives in Kiruna and has a great guide on how to shoot Aurora: https://www.instagram.com/angrytheinch

Northern Lights dancing in the sky. Credits: Mariya and me

Witnessing the Northern Lights dancing in front of your eyes is truly a magical feeling. Feeling such an event with your friends and loved ones by your side is like icing on the cake. It is said that when you witness the lights dancing in front of you in the Sami culture means your ancestors are looking out for you with a strong connection.

After reading all this, and if you have not experienced the same yet, then please don’t miss the moment and opportunity for the same. I can bet you won’t regret it.

Have you seen the Northern Lights, and if so where? and if not, is it the one on your bucket list? Share your experience below in the comments. Thanks !!

/Kanishk

I’ve been in Sweden for almost three months now. I consider myself pretty familiarized with how daily life in Sweden works: I’ve got a routine, I know what and where to buy the things I need, I know how to dress according to the weather… But it is in the most unexpected moment when you can still get surprised or even go through a funny incident. This happened to me last weekend.

It was Sunday evening, and my friend and I were very tired of a long day of studying, so we decided to bake a pizza for dinner. We went to ICA, and while we were buying all the ingredients, I got the crazy idea of telling her about this dessert they started to sell quite recently, and that I really wanted to taste it since it looked yummy. Here is a picture:

Cool, right? A muddy chocolate cake! With such a cute yellow box decorated with a bird. We bought one and headed to prepare dinner. When it was time for dessert, we opened the box and we were quite confused: It looked terrible (like poop, to be honest), and didn’t smell like chocolate AT ALL. Only until that point we thought of googling what was this “Memma”. Turns out it was a traditional Finnish dessert consumed during Easter period, and its main ingredient was rye! It just didn’t sound logical for neither of us. We also learned that Memma is eaten with milk, cream or ice cream and sugar, but first I tasted it by itself.

The reaction? Let’s put it like this, now I have a box of Memma in the fridge, which I do not look forward to eat, but luckily, I have a Finn roommate who can eat the rest. We learned our lesson: Never buy this ever again! This was such an unexpected cultural shock for both of us, but also a funny story, and an advice for all of you who are (just like me) not familiarized with Finnish customs!

I should also warn you about Swedish candies, especially Djungelvrål. I don’t even understand how they can be considered as candy when they are so salty! You may start suspecting something weird by its appearance: They are small black gummies covered in salt. The first time I tasted one, I was not even able to finish it, and I had to spit it out in the garbage bin. I consider them disgusting and I do not like them at all, but I guess it is just a matter of getting used to the flavor.

So next time you are at the supermarket and you think of buying something new for you, remember that nothing is what it seems! Life is full of surprises, and these incidents are the ones that make your exchange much funnier, and by which you learn the most.

/Paulina

“What are you doing in the UK?” the border patrol officer asked me as I handed him my passport. “I’m on a fieldtrip with my Paleobiology class from Uppsala University,” I replied. The officer dully and sarcastically chuckled “thrilling” in response before stamping my passport, handing it back, and yelling “next!” to the long line of people behind me. I quickly grabbed my passport and shuffled on my way. I couldn’t help but ponder the officer’s less-than-enthusiastic response. Before coming to Uppsala, I signed up for the “Principles of Palaeobiology” course solely because of the fieldtrip to Dorset, UK. Being a neurobiology and pre-medical student from the United States, fossils and rocks were an entirely new territory for me, and as the fieldtrip quickly approached, I became skeptical as to how thrilling a weeklong trip focused on fossils could really be. As I continued through the airport, I apprehensively hoped that the trip would be more exciting than the tone of the border patrol officer.

There were 13 people total on the trip: 8 Uppsala students (3 Swedes, 3 Brits, and 2 exchange students), 1 professor (Graham Budd), 2 postdocs (one at Uppsala, the other at Cambridge) and 2 Uppsala Ph.D. students (both from Greece). Once we retrieved our luggage, we split up into two rental vans, with both of the Ph.D. students driving. On the day we arrived, we drove from the Gatwick airport to our accommodation at Whitechurch Farm in Dorset, stopping at an English pub and to see Stonehenge and Jane Austen’s house along the way. From the enthusiasm of Graham as he explained the history behind each stop, to the quaint and cozy feel of the pub and the amusing mix of classic rock and Greek rap music in the car, I already knew that the patrol officer could not have been more wrong.

Jane Austen’s House

Each day started with a group debriefing of what to expect that day at 9:00 am, after which we all piled into the vans with our backpacks full of hammers, hardhats, notebooks, pencils, and plastic bags for collecting fossils. In one day, we would visit 2-3 outcrops, or areas of beach with rocky cliffs. Here, we would draw the rocks, identify their characteristics, look for fossils, and try to recreate the prehistoric environment. We often ate a packed lunch on the beach, with the occasional pub lunch where you had the opportunity try the infamous British fish and chips. After lunch we visited more outcrops and then headed home around 6 pm to cook dinner and end the day.

Left: Example of an ammonite fossil
Right: Example of an outcrop

My favorite outcrop of the trip was one known as Durdle Door. In addition to its fun name, we got lucky with the weather at this outcrop, as the sun was shining, and it was a comfortable 15 degrees Celsius, making the beach and landscape quite lovely. Here, we did mapping, which entailed drawing a detailed map of the rocks that depicted their characteristics and their transition between time periods. Often the beaches we visited entailed more than a casual stroll down a boardwalk. They required climbing down steep slopes, maneuvering along rocky edges to avoid wet boots, and tiptoeing through mud. Yet, these adventures were rewarding because it meant that we were visiting non-touristy beaches whose natural beauty was still untouched by man. At Durdle Door, we ate lunch on the shore of a small coastal inlet with still blue water and flat stones, the perfect combination for skipping rocks. Since the sun was out this day, we all tried to make up for our vitamin D deficiency that developed in the Swedish winter months. At the end of this outcrop, we hiked up a large hill where we experienced breathtaking views of the coast – the kind of views that make you realize how incredible it is to be alive.

Panorama of Durdle Door arch and the beach

Left: Coastal inlet where we ate lunch
Middle: Rock bedding at Durdle Door
Right: View for the top of the hill

It is impossible to capture the essence of the entire trip in just one blog post. The endless laughs in the car, the shared experiences at dinner, the cozy dinners in the pub are all memories that will last a life time. While I may not be pursuing a career in paleobiology, I have a new appreciation of rock formations, authentic British lingo in my vocabulary, and, most importantly, twelve new friends who shared the same Dorset adventure!

/Halie

March 8, 2018. International Women’s Day. A day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women of the past, present, and future.

How did I spend the day?

Well, it all began back in January. I saw a Facebook event for something I never heard of before – WIT Stockholm. Women in Tech Stockholm, #WITsthlm2018, was a conference to be held in Stockholm on International Women’s Day. There were to be panel discussions, speakers, and breakout sessions – all led by women in technology.

Over 4,000 people said they were interested in attending the free event, but there were only 1,500 available tickets. Yikes. Tickets were to be released on a first-come-first-served basis on February 1 at 12.00. I was one of the lucky ones. Within 120 seconds, the tickets were all claimed. I got one!

The Day of the Conference
It was about 09.30 when I arrived to the conference hall in Stockholm (had to take the SJ train, y’know?). The conference was set to begin at 10.00. Upon arrival, I received a nametag and program. I had the opportunity to grab coffee and breakfast snacks, and wander around to mingle with different companies (Google, SEB, EY, and more). How cool!!

There were speakers from all different areas of tech. Topics covered robotics, virtual reality, sustainability, augmented reality, and more. Joy Buolamwini, the first speaker of the event, spoke about her work studying the dangers of supremely white data and dominantly male analysis in face recognition algorithms. Helena Samsioe, one of the last speakers, spoke about her work in using drones and AI to transport medical supplies in third world countries. You can read more about the speakers here.

There were nine breakout tracks that the audience could choose from – a difficult decision. I ended up going to the one titled, “Using Frontier Technology as a Catalyst for Ideas and Innovation,” led by employees of Doberman.

In this breakout track, we explored the idea of considering technology first in the design process. We explored different types of technologies, like machine learning, virtual reality, and wearables. Then, we were tasked at designing a better public transport system in Stockholm with this in mind. We were given a technology to base the design off of, and a few minutes to create a design. Below you can see me preparing to tackle this challenge with the help of my little Android stress ball.

I left the conference inspired and empowered. I heard from over 43 women, from professors to refugees to PhD candidates to CEOs, about their work and experiences in the technology sector. I can’t think of a better way I could have spent International Women’s Day 2018.

/Audra

I have never been a fan of going outdoors and doing activities like hiking and camping. Nevertheless, it seemed ridiculous for me to keep this mentality when I arrived to Uppsala (it has been almost two months now!) and discovered that it is surrounded by beautiful forests. I decided that I should step out of my comfort zone and start exploring and doing things I have never done before, or never thought I would do. And there is no better place to do that than Fjällnora! In this recreational park, located approximately half an hour away from the city, you can do plenty of activities such as ice-skating in a frozen lake, skiing, grilling and just enjoying nature.

The first time I went there, I tried sauna for the first time in my life, only because my friend from France convinced me. A Swedish guy (her roomie) also joined us. I don’t know if it was just me, but the idea of spending time just sweating in a small room with people seemed awkward. At least it was not a naked sauna! (hehe) I tried not to think too much, bought a swimming suit in a hurry (that is exactly the last thing I thought I would need in Sweden, especially during winter) and hoped for the best.

Our adventure started early on a Saturday morning, involving taking the bus 809 in the Central Station and then walking through the forest for about 20 minutes before reaching the cabin with the sauna. The price was very reasonable! 90 Swedish crowns between three people, and we could stay for quite a long time. The process is simple: You start with a freezing cold shower, then enter the hot sauna, stay there for some minutes until you sweat the get out again to the cold shower, and repeat!

I was surprised about how hot the room can get! According to my friend, a proper sauna must reach 90 degrees (Celsius), but only with half of that temperature I already felt like burning. During the time I spent inside the sauna, I got to know these friends better, and I also got a grasp of the Swedish culture. Apparently, going to the sauna is a common activity in this country, but not as popular as in Finland.

The second time I went there, I tried ice-skating in the frozen lake. It costed 60 Swedish crowns for one hour. Many aspects shocked me, starting with the ice skates: They were not the regular ones (or at least not like the ones you might use in an artificial ice-skating rink, for example for figure skating or hockey), but they consisted on some boots in which you had to tie a very long skating blade. I thought this would made skating extremely difficult, but in the end, it was not. It is just a matter of getting used to the size of the blades, but I also believe that my previous experience in skating helped me a lot.

If this is your first time skating and you feel that you are just looking ridiculous while even kids as young as 3 years old can at least keep the balance, my advice is just have fun! Laugh a lot, even about yourself, and enjoy the nature surrounding you! Also think about the delicious fika you can get after all your effort, since the park has a canteen in which you can purchase snacks, coffee and sweets. I recommend the waffles with jam and whipped cream, yum! If you prefer to stick to the typical Swedish pastries, you can also find kanellbullar and chockladbollar.

The greatest lesson I learned after these two amazing trips is: Don’t be afraid to try new things! Especially when you are an exchange student here in Uppsala, because you know you won’t stay there forever. I can guarantee you will have lots of fun 😀 What are you waiting for booking yourself a day off to this magical place?

/Paulina

From 17 February – 22 February, I traveled with Scanbalt Experience on their Lapland Express trip. With about 70 other people (mostly students from Uppsala and Stockholm), we ventured north via a coach bus.

Bright and early on 18 February, we arrived in Kiruna, Sweden. The day was dedicated to exploring the city and participating in optional activities. After enjoying a big breakfast, I went onward to go dog sledding and snowmobile riding! We had a chance to meet the dogs and puppies before and after the excursion.

There were 12 dogs pulling the sled I was on. It was particularly fun when we would go downhill! After a short coffee and tea break around a fire, I switched over to the snowmobiles. Never having rode one before, I was quite nervous and scared. I didn’t crash though! I made it through in one piece – woo!

On 19 February, the team departed for the Ice Hotel and a Sami village. It was very cold out, maybe -21°C. Even with my many layers and snowpants I was freezing. I ended up putting on sunglasses because it was so sunny – it still blows my mind how cold it can be while the sun is shining! It was surprising much warmer inside the Ice Hotel (but still very cold)! We saw Ice Hotel #28 (because they melt and are rebuilt each year).

After the Ice Hotel, we went onward to Rensjön to visit Sami people and reindeer! The reindeer were quite smaller than I imagined. It was fun to feed them though! As the sun was setting, we gathered around a fire in a Sami tent and learned more about the Sami ways.

Later that evening, we arrived at our hostel in Abisko National Park. We gathered around a fire in a huge tent to roast marshmallows and enjoy mulled wine. Some of us went out searching for the Northern Lights, but had no luck.

Bright and early on 20 February, we departed for the fjords and Narvik, Norway. The fjords are beautiful! The town on Narvik is unique in that it is built around and within the mountains.

Later that evening, we did as the Swedish do and enjoyed some time in a sauna. It was a bit of a trek away from where we were staying, but it was worth it! We saw the Northern Lights on our way over!

On 21 February, we prepared to head back to Uppsala. Most people spent the morning exploring the national park and snowshoeing. I, however, decided to spend the morning indoors. Naturally, I developed a cold during the trip, despite my efforts to stay warm and wear a ton of layers.

Around 08.00 on 22 February, we arrived back in Uppsala! I made a quick trip home to drop off my luggage and grab breakfast before heading back to campus for a full day of classes.

In conclusion, if you have the opportunity to travel to Lapland, DO IT!! Bring layers and dress warm!

/Audra

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light– Aristotle.

Sweden is a special place – Snow, nature, clean air. But In the depths of winter, the days get shorter, the nights get longer and for those students who don’t get up until 1400, daylight is a luxury you don’t get much of. It can become dark, dreary and depressing. Like the dementors from Harry Potter, the darkness drains your happiness and leaves you feeling a little lost and empty inside. Now, I want to stress this isn’t true for everyone – but, for most of us (especially those from very sunny countries) it is a serious problem.

Picture – Nick Meny

When it snows though, your surroundings get brighter, lighter and you feel happier, hopeful and filled with good vibes. This is why the University has provided a light room available to all students at Uppsala University, a place to sit, study or relax. In the student health centre on the top floor of Studentkår, the light room is open weekdays before 15. Before entering the room, you’re instructed to take of your shoes and replace them with slippers which, I noticed, were white. As you enter the light room, the first thing you notice is the white. It’s astonishingly white. The kind of white you wish your sheets could be if you ever knew how to wash them correctly. Hanging on coat racks were crisp white dressing gowns which we had to don over our regular clothes (presumably to mask any non-white colours we chose to wear that day). On the white floor sit white IKEA tables for your personal use. You can bring in laptops, books, friends, phones, whatever you like to keep you entertained. Around the room sit (shocker) white chairs and in the corners are fake white flowers.

My friend and I had originally decided to spend half an hour in the light room to feel whatever effects we could. We ended up spending an hour there and afterwards felt lighter and happier. I attempted to research the science behind light rooms, I had heard from people it helped with vitamin D, but couldn’t understand how. The reality seems to be that there are no real scientific reasons behind it. But I don’t want to diminish any real positive effects that people feel after going – placebo or not.

It’s worth going at least once to see if you feel anything 🙂

/Rhianna

Growing up, one of my weekend rituals was to sit in front of the television to watch Steve Urkel in ABC/CBS sitcom, Family Matters. Frankly, when Steve entered my home, his clumsiness and misfortune were both unrealistic and humorous. I would synchronize with Quincy (His middle name) and ‘say- along’ his catch phrases: “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up” or “Whoa, Mama!”. I was a fan!

Little did I know that I will channel in my inner Urkel on a cold winter night in Uppsala. This time, I found myself asking in Steve’s voice, “did I do that?” Oops! In my apartment building, one thing is for certain, the utrymningslarm (I call her Georgina) goes off often. It is certainly not because of any fire scare. Since I came to Sweden 5 months ago, construction has been going on in my building. Wires trip and the alarm goes off. It had become a regular thing for us to hear the alarm and be unmoved by its shrieks.

Alas, when it went off this morning, I just took my precious time, dressed up for Swedish Class and headed for the iron clad front door. No one came out of their rooms just to buttress the point that we had had one too many false alarms to be moved by music from the alarm system in Building 4A.

As I strolled out, I checked my mail box first like a badass, I spotted the only person I have been able to meet and become friends with in the building (her name in English means Grace) and we had a discussion about how the alarm goes off at will, the unacceptability of it all, especially when we never get informed of the reason for the unnecessary fire drills. We both made a video where we jokingly mocked the situation taunting us.

Fast forward to night time and I was home watching Netflix and chilling. When I suddenly had the urge to make noodles and chicken. One of the discoveries I made as a student here in Uppsala is this American seasoned Barbeque Buffalo Wings called Guld Fageln. I love them because I only need to heat it up in the microwave or oven and voila! You should try it! Disclaimer, they didn’t pay me to advertise for them but when a product is good, I feel obliged. Do you?

Back from the brief commercial, still on the ten O’clock news, a curious case of Unfortunate events began to occur. I heard a strange frying sound in my room. I knew I wasn’t frying anything. I curiously checked my wings and discovered they had stirred up a smoky storm. Before I could say Peter Piper, Georgina went on rampage. She woke everyone up! My neighbours were out and I was too. Thirty minutes later, it could have been an hour with the way I felt, the fire truck came flying by, screeching to a stop. Firemen jumped out of the truck and headed our way.

As I walked to them humbly, I was morbid with fear, anxiety and embarrassment. I told them it was my fault and went on to explain the preceding events. Well, they entered the building with me and laughed saying, “smells like chicken alright!” I want to explain my emotions at this time. Fear because I had lived my entire life without having to meet a fireman. The first time I heard the fire alarm go off was here in Sweden. I just never witnessed it other than what I had seen on TV. Anxiety, for the sole reason that I had heard from friends at Kloster Student housing that every time the alarm goes off you get charged for their visit. I don’t know if that statement was true or not but it felt so real to me and it haunted me (would this eat into my budget for next month, like I even had a budget…lol). I just kept thinking to myself, why me, Lord! Embarrassment because I had never met my neighbours in all the five months I had been living in my apartment building. I never imagined that their first impression of me would be the girl who set off the alarm by burning two buffalo wings in the microwave. So yes, I was embarrassed. Most of all, I was sorry they were dragged into this Urkel misfortune. I said sorry twice to those who I could say it to (covering my face emoji).

The firemen made the music go away and checked the premises. Not to butter them up but they were very professional. As one went to confirm my story and make sure it wasn’t something else that caused the alarm to go off, the other stayed to make small talk. He must have noticed how petrified I was and tried to calm me down. I applaud them. As they bid me farewell and said to get a good night sleep, I wondered at whether I would pay 1,000kr or 2,000kr. I sincerely hope and pray not!

As they drove away, I couldn’t help but wonder how my nuisance would be the core of midnight stories. My misfortune, a sort of humorous relief for my neighbours and the firemen. I pulled an Urkel on them alright. I did, I did, I did!

Well, the 8^th of February, 2018 will go down in history in my book of many tales. I had on my winter jacket for 3 more hours before I finally put it off. I couldn’t sleep, I could still smell the after effect of the smoky session in my room. My neighbours may still smell it too. One good thing did come out of this though, I was able to write again. And for those who were wondering, I didn’t end up eating my noodles and chicken.

/Fifi

I previously wrote a blog for my first gasque, but one question new students always seem to have when they reach Uppsala is “What is a Kavaj dress-code?”. As gasques and dress-codes are such a large part of Uppsala’s traditions and culture, here’s a short guide for what to wear.

You may have already seen these 4 in a facebook event or invitation you received for a gasque:

• Udda kavaj
• Kavaj
• Frack
• Themed dress

These are the 4 most common dress-codes. Although not usually that strict, people often stick to and are quite meticulous about their dress. Let me run through a guide and a couple of dos and don’ts in your guide to gasque-wear.

The KLÄDKODER or DRESS CODE guide:

Udda kavaj : Smart Casual.
This applies to gasques or dinners that are nice, but not too nice. Generally, for an unofficial dinner or lunch, not too much pressure is on the guests to dress in a suit or full-length dress. They can wear a non-matching suit if they wish with, for example, a dark jacket and light trousers. Dresses shouldn’t be too short, but they can go above the knee.

• Semi-smart
• Mid to long dress
• Suit – doesn’t have to match

Kavaj: Smart / Jacket.
This is the most common dress code in Uppsala. For most dinners more formal dinners, kavaj (pronounced kav-ai) is desirable. Traditionally it would have meant at least a knee length dress or dark suit in the same material, these days there’s less pressure to wear a dark suit, but it should still be smart. Equally, there is also less focus on the length of the dress, but most people will wear a dress down to above the knee.

• Dark suit with the same material
• Mid-length dress

Frack / Högtidsdräkt : Evening dress / white tie.
The most official dress code usually implored at balls, jubilee events or very official dinners.

Dresses should reach the floor and should not be strapless (although again, not necessarily a must). If you wear a suit, the formal dark suit is worn and this can include cufflinks and tailcoats. The coloured nation / academic discipline bands are usually allowed at these events and if the dress-code says m.a.o that means medals can be worn as well.

• a.o – medals
• Ballgown (not strapless)
• Coloured bands and pins

Themed dress code

This is fairly self-explanatory. If there’s a theme (Harry Potter, Disney, Halloween etc.) you dress to match the theme – easy!

Do’s and Don’ts

DO’S

• Wear pins to all gasques
• Wear black shoes

DON’T’S

• Ever wear jeans as pants or jacket
• Wear boots
• Wear brown shoes
• Wear sneakers unless you’re a famous rap artist or comedian

In my first month, someone told me that you should always aim to dress a little smarter than the dress code specified to ensure you don’t dress incorrectly. Another tip from a fellow nation member was to look back at pictures from previous events and always pay attention to the inspectors as they’ve been around a long time! I found this sage advice whenever I was in doubt about what to wear. And, if you wear dresses, buying to the knee is always a safe option!

Some further words you may see:

Kostym: Suit

Mörk kostym: Dark suit

Smoking: Smart/Casual suit

Good luck and happy gasque-ing!

/Rhianna