Stockholm, Christmas markets, and Thanksgiving

Hello all,

As I write, most of you are probably fast asleep after all that wonderful turkey, dressing, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. I was able to skype with my entire extended family up in NC, as well as Will´s extended family in Birmingham. It was so cool to take part in two Thanksgivings. I feel like I was there. Though it was just an ordinary day in Germany (remember that Thanksgiving is specifically an American holiday), I was truly blessed to share in the celebration over skype. Thanks to all of you who helped make my day so special. I think it was the only day this whole year I will be able to see so much of family at once. I took time yesterday morning to journal all that I am truly thankful for. Most importantly: all my family and friends (those of you reading this blog!) that are back in the States who are always there for me during this year of discovery and change. I am also so thankful for this opportunity as a Fulbright scholar to have the funds and time available to just soak up all the wonderful places and people in this world- to see, observe, learn, and grow.

And by the way, WAR EAGLE! Today is the Iron Bowl back on the Plains. I will be thinking of my wonderful Auburn family! I cannot believe football season is already coming to an end. Where did the fall go?

Since my last post, not so much interesting had happened until the past weekend. I have found the most of November to be depressing- cold, gray, and wet. It really has an effect on your psyche. I was sick for a few days. It seems the past few weeks everyone is coming down with some type of virus. However, I am no longer feeling so blue. This past weekend I went to Stockholm with three Spanish students and one student from New Zealand. Before I comment on Stockholm, I want to say first that living in Aachen has allowed me not only to experience Germany, but the entire world. What do I mean by that? Of course, I have now been to Holland and Sweden while being in Germany. But what I really mean is that I have had the opportunity to meet people, travel, and have really cool conversations with people from all over the world. There is such a large international population here. The past 2 tuesdays I have visited INCAS, the international organization here. They had a special Chinese evening last week, and African evening this week. They have students from these countries talk about what their culture, food, language, etc is all about. Good food from the area always follows! So far, these are the countries represented by the people I have met during my stay here that I can remember:

Germany

Austria

Holland

France

Sweden

Cameroon

Ghana

England

Poland

New Zealand

Mongolia

China

Japan

Latvia

Serbia

Pakistan

India

Iran

Spain

Italy

Ghana

Greece

Turkey

Mexico

Well, that is all I can remember now. Though I have surely not visited all these countries, I can learn about these cultures here in Aachen just by meeting students like myself. This, I find, is really cool. Now, about Stockholm. As I am in the lab writing this, I cannot update with pictures. As soon as I can, I will upload some pictures:

We flew with Ryan Air. This meant we got on the train from Aachen to Dussseldorf Weeze. Not really Dusseldorf, but out in the middle of nowhere, to this tiny airport. We flew to Stockholm, then took at charter bus to the city center. All together, this was about an 8 hour journey. The flight was 25 euro, but we paid a lot of time instead. Ryan Air is great. You can fly to multiple cities in each European country for sometimes mere euros or cents. Speaking of money, Sweden using the Swedish krona. Though members of the EU, they choose not to use the Euro. Each country of the EU can decide whether they want to adopt the Euro or not. The exchange rate is roughly 10:1. 50 kronas is about 5 euro. When you exchange 100 euros, you get almost 1000 kronas. You feel like you are carrying around a TON of money, but sadly, a 50 is only really 5 euros. Many different types of coins, too. Like, half a cent. I mean, why do you need that? I think we should get rid of the penny in the US. Half a cent?

Saturday evening we were really tired, since our day had begun at 5:30 am on the train. We checked into the hostel, and walked around the city. We had a nice dinner, and a coffee and cake at a really cool Swedish cafe. A lot of the cafes here are underground, and really old. You walk down a set of stone stairs, and then you feel like you are in a cave underground. Very cozy, with candlelight on every table. Speaking of candles, all the cafes and restaurants have large candle sticks on the table. This could have something to do with the fact that it gets dark at 3:15 pm. I imagine they have even less daylight come winter. However, in the summer, they have almost 24 hours of daylight.

Sunday morning we checked our of hostel and checked into the next hostel. We stayed at the af Chapman, a ship converted into a hostel. If you are ever staying in Stockholm, you should consider staying here. I highly recommend it. we payed about 76 Euro total for 2 nights, linens, and a Swedish breakfast buffet (complete with lingonberries and knäckebröt). We ate well there, and packed brötchen for lunch.

We took a guided tour of the City Hall, where the Nobel Prize Banquet takes place each December. They have a 3 course meal and a ball for 1000 guests following the awards. Alfred Nobel had about 300 patents, mostly in chemistry and physics. The guy invented dynamite. The prize money comes from his will. He must have been unbelievably rich! The City Hall is beautiful. That afternoon, we went to the Royal Palace to see the changing of the guard and tour the treasury, state apartments and museum. The royal family lives there time to time, and host guests there. I must say, once you have been to Versailles, nothing can really impress you as far as royal homes go. Nonetheless, it was still neat.

We also went to the church where all the royal weddings occurs. Next year, the princess Victoria of Sweden is marrying here personal trainer, and they will close the church for the next 6 months for renovations. It is a protestant church, and once was connected to the State.

I had a really yummy Swedish meal-moose meatballs, potatoes and lingonberries! Also had a meatball sandwich with some type of beat mayonnaise. Not bad.

Stockholm is essentially spread over 14 islands. Everything is very well connected either by bus, metro, ferry, or by foot. We had a 72 hour transportation pass for 2o euros, and could use all public transportation. We took a ferry to the Vasa museum, which houses the oldest ship in the world, the Vasa. A swedish warship, the Vasa sunk on its maiden voyage before it even got out of the harbor. It was found and brought from the bottom on the sea in the 1950s. It has since been wonderfully restored.

We also saw the Ntl. Library of Sweden, and walked around the christmas market. Ran into a guy from Austria who has lived in Sweden for most of his adult life. Drank Gluhwein for two hours while talking in German about all kinds of places in the world. He rents a summer house north of stockholm and will even give you a car for the time there. Sounds really nice. I want to go back in summer when it is always light and it is warm! Sweden is cold. I cannot imagine what it is like in winter.

Saw the NK department store. I guess it would be like Sweden´s version of Macy´s in NY or Harrod`s in London. Each year they decorate their display windows with whimsical christmas-winter scenes, complete with moving robotic animals. The decorations are new every year, and everyone goes just to see the decor. H and M is also a swedish store. It was right next store, and I think one the largest ones in the world. The biggest IKEA is also just outside the city. IKEA was founded in Sweden. We did not go, but I do not know how Europe would function without IKEA over here. :)

The last night, we cooked dinner with two Swedish guys at their apartment. We had met a German couple at the hostels we stayed out, and they also came. They are from Mainz, and invited me to come and visit. I plan on coming sometime next year after the holidays.

A few factoids: The prevalence of depression and suicide is really high in Sweden. Could have something to do with the lack of daylight. Also, the divorce rate is 75%. Stockholm is booming with babies (guess they do not have the same problem germany has). The country only has 8 million people. How tiny!

Last friday night I went to the Christmas market for the first opening evening. I also went back Wednesday night with friends to drink Glühwein (spiced wine). You can get your fill eggnog (Eierpunsch), hot chocolate, beer, etc., as well as Printen (sort of like gingerbread), bratwurst and other fried goodies.

Well, the next destinations on my list, in no particular order are as follows:

Heidelberg, Prague, Brussels, Bruges, Vienna, Hamburg, Paris (though I was just in Paris, I cannot pass up the opportunity to go again for only 29 euros with the fast train in 2.5 hours).

I hope this has been a small window into my world over here. Pictures coming soon, I promise! Enjoy the official beginning of the holiday season today on this Black Friday! My friend from Marbrug, Lissi, is coming to visit me this weekend! It will be nice to a visitor and a friend to spend the weekend with.

Love to all,

Rebecca