The near 24 hours of flying to Gothenburg, from Sydney, via Abu Dhabi and London was atoned for by such a densely filled few days.
After queueing in Customs for 2 hours at Heathrow Airport, the officer did not like the fact that I didn't know where my home-providing sister and brother-in-law lived, or a contact number for either. Nonetheless, I squeezed out the doors and into the tube bound for British cottages wrapped with large trees and squirrels, with dormer rooms that are strictly capped to fit into what seemed like a well managed building height zoning.
Kat & Pete showed me the cafes, pubs, public transport, and streets, before taking me through a sublimely wooded reserve, with wildly delicious blackberries, massive swans that nibbled on my fingers for kicks and vast floral fields that provided much of a running and jumping platform, ala the sound of music.
That night we went to see West Bromich Albion play Chelsea FC in and English Premier League game, which was, in the end, a great experience of atmosphere and cheering. We'd had a few ticket retrieval problems beforehand (which I'd booked by phone in Australia), having us think we would not actually see the game. Then, when I inadvertently queried the king pin of the WBA supporters while he tunnelled his entrance, he helped us out, and we ended up getting our tickets.
The following day Katrina very kindly devoted to guiding me round the tourist hotspots. We saw Big Ben (above), before walking to Westminster Abbey, and then through St. James' Park to Buckingham Palace. I'd not realised they were all so close. Then we found one of many 'Barclays (Boris) Bike' stalls, which allow cheap day bike hire. So we spent the rest of the early afternoon tearing through the streets, seeing the Gherkin, and St. Pauls Cathedral, before the Fort and eventually Tower Bridge and the scenery that goes with it. As if that were not enough, Katrina's uni friends had some kind of discount offer to go roller blading in some sports centre somewhere. Long story short, we went, and ended up in a 70s style disco hall, with predominantly young children packed around us. It was definitely a novel experience. After that we decided to pitch a baseball in the Mayor's Park before going into what I can only describe as Indiatown, where we were incessantly beckoned to dine for ever reducing prices.
The 2 days had gone so fast before I had to leave that 3rd day to Gothenburg. So I said my goodbyes to Kat, Pete and London, and transitioned a couple of hours north-east.
Next to me on the flight was a guy called Frank, who I befriended, who had lived in Gothenberg for most of his life, and had been studying Naval Engineering. I'd arrived at about 6pm, and Frank helped me get a SIM for my phone, and also offered for his brother to drop me into the city, near where I was to stay (in a student hostel that I didn't yet know the address of). So they dropped me off at Chalmers Uni (where I am studying), so I could use the library's internet to find the hostel I was staying at. I was given internet access despite not being supposed to (possibly because I was carrying 30 kgs of luggage and sweating). Because I could not print, I hand-drew a map of where I was to walk, and a few details, and started walking. I arrived at about 8:00pm, and found that the reception had closed at 7pm. This was the reception that was to provide me a key to a room that night. I sat on a bench outside, thinking for a while that I would be sleeping on it, before inquiring at a nearby Pizza shop. Kindly, one of the workers, read the security instructions in Swedish, and called security. Eventually, I was able to speak with them, and they gave me a code which sent a key in a toilet paper roll down a pvc chute into my hands. It was quite a nice surprise, and I couldn't believe how friendly the Swede's had been until now.
The first week I lived at this hostel, and also attended all of the many reception events at university. The Chalmers Student Union is quite amazing. The image to the right is the main entrance to the Student Union Building. It is compulsory for all students to be a member, and they offer so many discounts on food and things to do, as well as running parties and games, and events. They definitely make you feel like you're a part of a community. They had what I would have guessed to be about 500-600 exchange students attending these briefings and tours and events, most from around Europe. The below image is a just a small scattering of the students amongst the volunteer leaders (in yellow shirts) atop Skansen Kronan, a 17th Century fortification, which afforded wonderful views across Gothenburg.
A number of football playing students have created a facebook group 40/50 strong which now organises regular games on a free local pitch, which I've been a part of, and is great for exercise. I spent much of this first week walking around the city, and the main avenue of shops and lifestyle. Most things in Gothenburg can be reached by walking, or at least riding.
I've been quite fond of the amount of greenery, soft landscapes, old cottages, the lack of rubbish, and the lack of powerlines. The air is fresh, and the smell is soothing. The photo on the right is of a small park I passed while walking into the city, and I thought is quite beautiful. I did go back there one overcast day to sketch just that view. I know of many more parks which I can and will discover, and I've heard of there being many deer in the park, which is exciting.
I did have a bad experience in the grocery shopping, but only one. I thought 'Filmjölk' meant 'full milk' (to compliment my muesli), but it is more 'fermented milk', and was very thick, very sour, and destroyed my appetite. I discovered later, that this product is quite commonly used by Nordic folk with muesli, although, I will use my new photo method to steer clear of this mistake again. My photo method has quite necessarily been to take photos of things I like or dislike, to create a visual shopping list, as I can't read as yet.
After a week or so, I had an opportunity to meet with a couple looking for a good English-speaking student to rent a room in their apartment. The place is right next to university, and considering the circumstances of difficulty finding housing here, this was quite promising. The male, Pontus, in his early 30s, is Swedish and is in the later stage of studying law. Shirin is originally Iranian, but moved with her family to Sweden when she was 4 or 5. She is also studying Law, and is 29 I think. They've been together for 2 years, and met, funnily enough, in the context of law. Yes, they did write a 5 page contract for me to sign, but it did make some good agreements. So it was that simple. I am now living there with them, and have done the last 4 weeks. Here they are (above), after having taken me to a Swedish ice-cream shop, and we sit ashore the main river running through Gothenburg, Göta älv.
The university itself is fantastic. They treat everyone like a human, and are very relaxed. They also have a great system where they run one subject at a time. So for instance, I might have Course A, B and C to complete in one semester. In Sydney, you spend 13 weeks doing all 3 simultaneously. In Chalmers, you do 4 weeks just Course A, 4 weeks just Course B, and 8 weeks just Course C. It helps you very much focus and recall on the work you are doing, and forces assessment times to be spread out. I've already finished Course A, and Course B is just beginning. Chalmers also offers many guest lectures. The architecture students were offered one by the visiting Peter Cook, from Great Britain. Peter Cook founded 'Archigram' (a controversially futuristic group of architects) in the 1960s and has also designed many quirky and crazy buildings. He gave a presentation, which, for a 74 year old, was very youthful and witty. He was certainly a strange character. He also talked about some recent buildings he's commissioned to build in Brisbane.
The last 9 or 10 days, I have been quite unwell. I originally became quite weak, and then accompanied that with nausea, headaches, fever, coughing, back pain, lack of appetite. I went to the doctors a week ago, and received antibiotics (for what they described as possibly pneumonia or influenza), which I've been taking, and feel quite much better now. However, the fever still remains, and a irritating cough, as well as still having no appetite, and since been in bed for 9 days, I have little energy to go outside. I am not sure if I was given the correct antibiotics, or whether they just didn't properly work. I may have to go back in for a re-prescription. Either way, this sickness has been quite debilitating, and it caused me to miss the end of Course A, and threatens the beginning of Course B. So my current focus now is on killing this bacteria or infection.
As a summary however, as a whole, I am very much enjoying Gothenburg and look forward to the more it has to offer.
