My first semester is done and three more to go! So, how is my Swedish experience so far?! Interesting and sometimes challenging. I didn't go home for Christmas and New Year's Eve, so I've spent the winter holidays in Sweden, to be more precise, in my room. :) 

On Christmas Eve, the family I stay with, celebrated with some friends and me skyping a bit with my parents. On Christmas day I went  to Copenhagen, to celebrate in Tivoli park. The round trip train ticket was 210 sek (one way - 110 sek). When arrived at Copenhagen train station I had to just exit on the right side and literally bumped into Tivoli park. You just have to cross the street and here you go, welcome to the amusement park. The admission ticket is 110 DKK, that was my choice, I thought that it's better and more fun to try the "rides" with my family. Next time, Tivoli! The Christmas in Tivoli was fantastic, with snow and cold weather, full of lights and Christmas decorations, Christmas carols in the background, music & light show on the water, in the evening fireworks festival, hot tasty latte and fish & chips. Yeah....who says that you can't enjoy Christmas alone?! The New Year's Eve I've spent it at home, and around 10:30 I went out in the little park next to my house and watched the fireworks until 12:30. :) I had a great view over the city, surrounded from everywhere by loud noise and colours. :) But I really enjoyed it.

The winter holidays are way gone and my first semester is done. The last course was called Embodied Design. Of course, the main literature was Paul Dourish book "Where the action is". I found it quite interesting, but I have to be admit that I am still unsure about embodiment, as well as with interaction design. All these notions are so profound, and opened, they tend to overlap with other fields. Everyone here was encouraged to develop his/her definition based on the readings, in every course.  I tried and wrote my own definition of embodiment related to our project work on my last paper. While waiting for the teacher's feedback, I kinda start doubting my thinking. Anyway, what is done, is done. In the worst case I have to rewrite the paper.  :)

Final observations & tips, based on my own personal experience:

- get involved in class presentations, even if the teacher says at the beginning that is it ok for just one person to present your group work; if not, make sure to talk  when you receive feedback and questions from teachers and colleagues; communication, here, is very appreciated;

- if you don't feel comfortable with your group and not satisfied with the work & methods, try to speak up; talk and express your concerns, tell them how you see things, how would you like to work together, take control and change the path of your group; after all, you are part of this and want to succeed;

- first thing to do when working in a group, take a couple of minutes to talk about yourselves - who are you, what you like, why are you here, what can you do in this group, how would you like to work - then decide some rules related to working hours, methods, conflicts, taking decisions; after these  you can focus on your task;

- when you receive a task/an assignment for a group project, take time to understand it, discuss about it, research on it, allow time for individual work, after you know for sure what were you asked to do and what are the teacher's expectations, then you can focus on creating a calendar with important deadlines, goals, methods; of course, you can change on the way, but don't disregard planning;

- now, while working, keep in mind to always question an idea - think about it, analyze it from all angles, don't jump to prototyping or to a final concept, without researching very deep; without a proper research, not only of the beginning of your project - do it all the way, you might end up with a concept which is already on the market or with a very banal concept.

After one month in Sweden, today I managed to apply for the Swedish personal number. Because I'm gonna stay here more than one year I have the right to register at the Tax Office, so they know how long I'll remain in Sweden and where I will be staying, the purpose, and as a fact I will be treated as a Swedish citizen regarding health emergencies. Let's hope that this wont be the case. So, as every human being, I looked out for the address on internet and went there. I thought the Tax Office opens at 8, but actually it opens at 10, so being there  with one hour earlier I managed to read a book borrowed a week ago. Anyway, I applied for the Swedish personal number, and the whole thing took less than one hour. Pretty fast, for me, but faster for you if you have the form already completed. As a citizen of EU, I needed an ID, the European health insurance card and the confirmation from University that I was accepted to studies. And that was all. :) Now I have to wait for the letter to come home.

I like the people here, but that doesn't mean they are perfect. Some of my colleagues were talking, they've been here for a long long time, how Swedes in general don't apologize. Personally, I haven't met one yet who doesn't say sorry. But I did meet a person which behaviour was hard to understand. I was climbing the stairs on the right side, already engaged in  the climbing, and at the half at the stairs a big Swedish lady, climbing down the stairs on my side,  says to me with a low voice "Move". I was a bit shocked, for me it's normal to go up on the right, and down on the left (right), I wasn't doing something wrong, but still she could have asked me nicer. In the same day, one colleague went to a meeting at a restaurant, and even the restaurant was empty, one family decides to stay right next to her. Their chairs were so close, obviously they had not enough space. So the lady who came last, tells my colleague to move, without saying please, even if she couldn't move. Difficult people are everywhere, it doesn't matter the colour, the country, only the education counts. But not everything in the garden is rosy.

Hi! :) I'm Esther and I've just moved to Sweden to continue my master studies. I'm introvert, so I think a lot and talk less, that's why I'm gonna share here my thoughts, experienceses and write about what catches my attention.

First time in Sweden was a bit shocking,  I knew it's a multicultural country, but I guess I've seen more arabs and other immigrants than Swedes. And they were speaking Swedish, meaning they were born here and have been living for generations. That's cool actually, it's like you've been born already poliglot, you know Swedish, English and your native language. Aweseome! And the funny thing is to see an asian family selling in a swedish souvenir shop. :)

A few things really impressed me like many bus drivers are women, the buses lays down near the pavement for the elderly and disabled to get on, people are jogging no matter what time of day, bikes are parked almost everywhere, drivers drive their cars in a very calm and relaxed way almost asking you nicely to cross the street, people dress very casual and the elders  keep their natural hair colour. The last one is quietly surprising, because in my country in the cities the elder women are very neat and their hair is lightly purple, blue, blonde, red, and they wear makeup for a walk in the park, but here is different.

The weather is sneaky, now is sunny, and after a few minutes is rainning. But until now it was warm with strong wind. People are friendly, almost all speaks English, willing to help you if you are in need and they smile a lot at their job. For example, in the bus, the driver welcomes you with a smile and after you pay thanks you. How cool is that! Of course this friendly attitude is in my country too, but it's not a lifestyle. Here it's like they are thought to treat all the customers well and tha's a rule which can not be broken. Services are for people, so people are the most important.

Yeahp....so these were my first thoughts about Sweden and more to come...  Cheers! :)