Exchange Life in Sweden

Brussel and Brugge

2009-06-28T16:03:00.011+02:00

2009-05-02 After Holland, we came to Begium! We stopped in Brussel. We were shocked when we had our first meal in a kebab restaurant, because the clerk said "bonjour" to us. And we realized in Brussel thay speak French!
We met our CS host, Jean Christophe (obviously, it's very French), a guy in a very confusing relationship with two girls then. So he didn't spend a lot of time with us, yet he was still a nice person and he even showed us around Brussel. It was a nice city. Especially never miss the Grand Place in Brussel.
This was a building in Grand Place. People said the designer killed himself by jumping off from the top of the building, because of the mistake that the upper side of the gate isn't in the middle.

The city tour was quite pleasant and very quick. We spent only 1 or 2 hours to finish the center of the city.

After the host left us there and went to his "special meeting". My high school friends ,Wendy and Vivi, came from Leuven to see us. They studied in Leuven now. We visited the peeing broze boy. It was just a very small statue.
Before I thought my friends could introduce the city for us, yet just the opposite! It was me to introduce the city to them. I repeated all the things that I heard from my host. They should be ashamed! However, at least they knew where we could have very good french fries. And we went to a bar the host recommaded. I ordered "Hoegaarden", white beer. I liked it a lot and I could really say Belgium beer is one of world's best.

In the evening, we tried mussels with fries. It was my favorite in Belgium. Especially with some white wine, one couldn't resist much. Thanks to Wendy and Vivi for taking us around (though not really a good guide).
2009-05-03 The next day we went to Brugge and met Yu, Yen PonPon again (we met in Holland before). They were doing couch surfing in Brugge, so thier host (a Canadian) took us around to see the city. I liked Brugge a lot. It was an old city with traditional houses, which were built with very funny stair-like roof.
As we climbed up the Belfort (a tower at Brugge square), the view fo the whole Brugge was so nice! Typical European red roof filled up the picture.We had a nice dinner (and the finest Belgium beer) with the Canadian host and met a Chinese girl who had some problem with her sleeping place for the night. So after the dinner we suggested the Chinese girl to go to our host's place in Brussel. Our host was so kind. He siad ok to the abrupt request. So I wrote "thank you" in Chinese on his wall!

2009-05-04The last day of the trip we spent a morning at Atomium. It was built for Expo'58, Brussels World’s Fair. It was hard to imagine that the building was finished 50 yeard ago. It looked very fashionable.A cooooool building!

After that we hurried up to the airport (almost late for the flight), back to Sweden.
Fianlly we finished our journey of 9 days in London, Holland and Belgium.
I learned a lot and enjoyed it actually!!

(fin)

The Queen's Night And Day

2009-06-27T17:32:00.007+02:00

After London, we continued our trip to Holland!
2009-04-29~2009-05-01
2009-04-29 First we got to Den Haag for the Queen's Night, the eve before the real Queen's Day. Since we got to Den Haag on the 28th, we did a small city tour under the little rain and surfed at a Holland guy's place with another surfer from Canada. They cooked nice pasta with Crème fraîche.
In the next noon we went to Keukenhof, the world's famous tulip garden, yet we didn't go in. We rented bikes and started an easy-going bike tour in the tulip fields.
We were kind of lost on the map, so it took quite a long time to get to the way to the coast. The coast was not so beautiful though... We "did" rode a longlong way to the destination! But it was sad that we missed the very Holland way pancake dinner with all the couch surfers. Afterwards, we visited Leiden University-a student city like Linköping. My senior has been here as an exchange for a year. Leiden was also a unicersity with river like Cambridge. So it wins, definately!

Night, the street in Den Haag was full of people and music. The music was nice, but not so familiar-hearing. It made me expect the Queen's day more!
I like Holland flag, because it's like French flag.

2009-04-30 The last day of April and the Queen's day! We moved to Amsterdam early in the morning. The whole street was ORANGE! People were waring orange hats, orange galsses, orange T-shirts.
On the canal, people had parties on the boats!
Henikens were everywhere in crazy people's hands and on the street, or in the toilet! The whole city was just going as crazy, crowded as possible. It was so fun there. JP, Kris, Ali, Yu, Yen, Ponpon were all there! So nice to see them, so we went to a "coffee shop", smoking special grass and eating special cakes like every tourist did there.

To be honest, we didn't spend much time city touring. The day was such an event that we just joined everyone.

The day after on 1st on May, the party was over and the street was better not to take any look on it :D We visited a windmill village near Amsterdam. Around five or six windmills lined up beside the canal. Though it was not so efficient nowadays, it showed that how the people in the old time took some advantages of the nature wind, very clever. We also tried some good cheese there...the smoked cheese was my taste!

Good morning, Amsterdam on 1st May

to be continued...

Ayo Technology / Milow

2009-06-25T16:24:00.003+02:00

Ayo Technology

Milow

She work it girl, she work the pole
She break it down, she take it low
She fine as hell, she about the dough
She doing her thing out on the floor
Her money money, she makin' makin'
Got the way she shakin'
Make you want to touch it, make you want to taste it
Have you lustin' for her,
go crazy face it

She's so much more than you're used to
She know's just how to move to seduce you
She gone do the right thing and touch the right spot
Dance in you're lap till you're ready to pop

She always ready, when you want it she want it
Like a nympho, the info
I show you where to meet her
On the late night, till daylight the club jumpin'
If you want a good time, she gone give you what you want

Baby It's a new age,
You like my new craze
Let's get together
Maybe we can start a new phase
The smokes got the club all hazy,
Spotlights don't do you justice baby
Why don't you come over here,
you got me saying

Aayooh
I'm tired of using technology,
Why don't you sit down on top of me
Aayooh
I'm tired of using technology
I need you right in front-- of me

In her fantasy, there's plain to see
Just how it be, on me, backstrokin',
Sweat soaking
All into my set sheets
When she ready to ride, I'm ready to roll
I'll be in this bitch till the club close
What should I do, on all fours
Now that that shit should be against the law
Different style, different move,
Damn I like the way you move
Girl you got me thinking about,
All the things I'd do to you
Let's get it poppin' shorty
We can switch positions
From the couch to the counters in my kitchen

Baby It's a new age,
You like my new craze
Let's get together
Maybe we can start a new phase
The smokes got the club all hazy,
Spotlights don't do you justice baby
Why don't you come over here, you got me saying

Aayooh
I'm tired of using technology,
Why don't you sit down on top of me
Aayooh
I'm tired of using technology
I need you right in front of me
Ooh she wants it, Ooh she wants it
Hmm she wants it, I got to give it to her
She wants it, Hmm she wants it
Hmm she wants it, I got to give it to her
I got to give it to her

Baby It's a new age,
You like my new craze
Let's get together
Maybe we can start a new phase
The smokes got the club all hazy,
Spotlights don't do you justice baby
Why don't you come over here, you got me saying

Aayooh
I'm tired of using technology
Why don't you sit down on top of me
Aayooh
I'm tired of using technology
I need you right in front of me

>>First heard at JP's place in Toulouse. Good song! with lots lots of desire :P
I'm tired of using technology~
here's the music on youtube
enjoy!

London, Cambridge

2009-05-31T13:17:00.012+02:00

Keep left! I was kinda in an oppasite world. Other than the European counrties, U.K. chose to be always left. I totally have no idea and think it very stupid. The only familiar thing there was "ENGLISH". Thanks to Ian, my travel partner for helping me a lot (I always follow other's trip. That makes my trip easier and enjoy more things rather than worrying where to live, the flight...barabarabara)
Double deck bus, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, our first stop was decided in the heart of London. We took the well-known London underground to "Westminster". While walking in Westminster station, I stopped suddenly and made a sharp right turn up the stairs. The Big Ben was standing there welcoming us, so so stunning.
Why not took a flight in London? Try once "London Eye" and you might find it worth 17 pounds (still, it's quite expensive). First, you will be put in a transparent, capsule-shaped cabin. Then the huge cabin goes up and up. You can just feel your feet floating in the air. For people with seriously acrophobia, they have seats. However I was always standing. It was so amazing to have a whole view of London in my eyes.
After London Eye, the sun set and bars appeared. We went to "George Inn" :) which is named after me (haha). It was an old inn with bars, a restaurant and some rooms. I could feel an antique and quaint atmosphere there. We had some fine Greene King beer there, and of course, visited the "Tower Bridge" near by. It appeared so beautifully in the night with its reflection in the black river mirror.
That evening, I tried to get into platform 9 and 3/4, yet in vain. It showed that I was a totally muggle. What a pity... Otherwise, I'd like to take Hogwarts Express and become a great wizard! That maybe easier than my electrical engineering :)
The second day started from Buckingham Palace. There happened to be a marathon in London and the goal laid in the end of the big road in front of the palace. People were everywhere around The Victoria Memorial. I had a perfect view of the first runner winning the goal! By the way the guards changing was nothing special to see. I suggest that follow some free English guides there and probably you will have a decent outdoor class.
British Museum exhibited all the foreign treasures taken from the wars while the Great British was a big power in the world (kinda sad). It was quite big so that we just took a quick look of the exhibits. I like the sculptures of any kinds of the animals, such as the Egypt Cat, or the loyal dog sculpture in the Age of Greek. Oh! And there's one thing worth to mention: the entrance fee is free for British Museum.
The evening, we had some Cantonese cuisines in China Town. I thought my Cantonese was good enough to order a dish, but not... I was expecting a roasted duck with rice. However, I got a roasted pork with rice instead. Hmmmm...roasted pork was also great! (and I need practice anyway)

Afterwards, we went to the musical in Broadway, London. I was excited about it! Narmally, people can usually get a ticket from the half price counter. We chose "Les Misérables" to see. The stage was like a round plate that could turn around, so that the whole play was so fluent without any long blackout period. The plots were dramatical and the music was really really great! "I dreamed a dream" (Susan Boyle has just sung it in "Britains Got Talent"), "Stars", "Castle on A Cloud" and "On My Own" were all good to appreciate. It was a nice evening for me!

The day after, we took the train from King's Cross to Cambridge. There was a little rain that day. Otherwise the view would have become better. Cambridge was such a place with a study atmosphere. Students got off the class and had some coffee in the shop. I wish I could have a chance to be there for study. In Cambridge, I prefered a relaxing walk nearby the river. As Ian said, the university wins with the river!! It's so sad that there are three lakes in my home university, but not a river :(
The trip in London was fabulous!! We took an early flight in the morning to Netherlands. That means the journey didn't go to an end.

to be continued......

Let me tell you a story

2009-05-31T13:08:00.002+02:00

Summer, to me, is a story-telling season.
To be a good story teller, I will tell a story of a year.

This year, 2008-summer to 2009-summer, lots lots of things happened, and especially they were all the first time in my life; new experiences, new adventures.

Let the story go on, I will go on documenting my journeys.

Foot prints will follow every step I take.

Hello!Milano & Verona

2009-05-10T17:11:00.016+02:00

20090418-20090421
Rain started as I arrived at the city. My feet were wet but passion was still. So glad to meet Yuri a nd Giacomo and surely we had a perfect time in the two days despite of the rain!

the next afternoon, we went to Duomo Platz for Giacomo and our couch surfing host
"Duomo Platz", first I thought it was a PIZZERIA named DUOMO. I was wrong.
Duomo Platz = Cathedral Square ≠ Duomo Pizza Shop
(I know it's so stupid, but it's not a Taiwan student's fualt!)
The pigoens there are incredibly many.We were waiting for only 10 mins and it came our host "Stefano" in Milano
As you could see till now, Italiano people love an "o" after a word!! I have an italian friend named Georgi-o and we also have Stefan-o and Giacom-o
That's PERFECTO

Then we had two great city tour guide, so that we didn't miss good salami

and gelato (Italian icecream)

Oh and there was cery popular in Milano that in pub they had "happy hour". It means if you go to the pub during happy hour, it's all you can eat by a perchase of a 7-euro drink. We did it, and I have to say "Italians really have amazingly delicious food, buono buono :P"
Milan may be a shopping paradise (or hell)
on the street, "Via Montenapoleone", Here we found a bag from Georgio Armani and...
it says "Porsa (Bag in English) Euro 16.705,00"
If one day I am rich and become a psycho by the way, I would like one in my hand.

The day after we went to Verona (First we were planning to go to como lake or Venice, but one is too far and the other was not good with the rain)

This small city impressed me a lot with all the street views. I consider one of my living place when I get old!
Such a peaceful place, and it's famous of Romeo and Juliet (Romeo and Giulietta).
Balcony!!
Romeo
"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East and Juliet is the sun!"
OH! my love :D

I found it a perfect place for couples after the trip!

After all, thanks for my friends in the trip
and especially Stefano! Grazie mille!

My Life Would Suck Without You / Kelly Clarkson

2009-04-16T22:36:00.003+02:00

My Life Would Suck Without You

Kelly Clarkson

Guess this means you’re sorry
You’re standing at my door
Guess this means you take back
What you said before
Like how much you wanted
Anyone but me
Said you’d never come back
But here you are again

Cuz we belong together now
Forever united here somehow
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you

Maybe I was stupid for telling you goodbye
Maybe I was wrong for tryin’ to pick a fight
I know that I’ve got issues
But you’re pretty messed up too
Anyway, I found out I’m nothing without you

Cuz we belong together now
Forever united here somehow
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you

Being with you is so dysfunctional
I really shouldn’t miss you, but I can’t let go
Oh yeah

Cuz we belong together now
Forever united here somehow
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you

>>After a sucked up train, here comes a good song with "suck". This song let me learn the fist champion of American Idol. I even tried to watch a few clips on Youtube, comparing to Taiwanese version, American is huge and with so much more passian!! And the singers are so great. It seems that they're all really talented (and I want it, too QQ) However, enjoy the song!

ESNtrain X Vienna

2009-04-12T19:14:00.009+02:00

First of all, I have to say "ESNtrain sucks hard!!"
The information was released just 4 hours before the trip started and said that there was some misunderstanding between ÖBB (Austrianrail, taking charge of the whole trip) and ESN group.
How stupid they prepared beers and music bands on the train already yet didn't solve the biggest problem?!
The trip that we can't miss in our life?! bullshit

"HOWEVER" our lovely host >>
and her sister >>

let us stay in their place for 2 more nights, so that we didin't have to sleep in the bus stop
"Wuk" was a nice place to have a party!! I enjoyed the After-demo party there.
So, surely there're lots of things to see in Vienna...
>>Schloß Schönbrunn: One of the world's biggest castles. Pick up a easy sunshine afternoon and take a small walk up to the hill. You could appreciate Vienna city all in your sight.
>>How about an opera night in Folksoper. It took me only 19 euros to have a nice seat and enjoy Le Mariage de Figaro ( Maybe sometimes enjoy my sleep)
>>or, a walk in Naschmarkt. You will find some goods there: Cheese filled in sweet peppers, or kebab (I had KEBAB almost every meal in Vienna!). Oh!! and you could not miss Autrian "Schnizel" (We had a Schnizel dinner from our hosts). Thin, crunchy Schnizel is the difference with German one. Worth a try!!
>>or check out what there are in Schwedenplatz (Sweden Plaza). Honestly, nothing special :), but the name made me go there.

Overall, don't forget to bring some Mozart Chocolate Balls with you. Either for yourself or as a present is ok.

It was a nice trip!! Though Vienna was not so "musical" as I expected before, it was an impressive city.

*I really enjoyed sleeping in the Vienna old apartment. Esp. the high ceiling and big door, it was my favorite.

Musik i Sverige

2009-04-02T00:09:00.003+02:00

Do you know Britney's "Baby One More Time" was written by a Swedish guy called Max Martin?
Do you know besides America and U.K. , Sweden is the third most music-exporting country?

Right! It was amazing that I just knew Swedish music was not only ABBA, but so many other good melodies are from Sweden.

And half of Swedish people here are crazy about ESC (Eurovision Song Contest)
It's an event every year since 1950s...long long ago

So a lot of Swedish good songs were from the contest.
e.x. Främling by Carolais quite famous among all the Swedish people. Everytime when we sing Karaoke with Swedish friends, they always choose this song~
and this year "La Voix"(now idea why they have a French name for the song representing Sweden) takes the place. It was performed by Malena Ernman with a way of opra singing! It sounds huge, gorgeous!!

However, try some Swedish taste, no matter folk or popular:)

Iranian Party

2009-03-22T15:44:00.006+01:00

نوروز (Noruz) means Iranian New Year and it also represents the first of spring.

Here in Linköping, the Iranians had a big party on the last Tuesday night (17.03.09) of Iranian year.

Though we're not Iranian, Ali still invited us to this party. It was totally a different culture that I've never seen before.

e.x. we did a special "fire crossing" action:
Once you jump above the fire, you get purified. Every bad thing left all behind burned up by the fire!! So if you've farted and didn't admit that it was you, and even pointed somebody else the "farter", please go jump the fire.

And for Iranian New Year, they have lots of things symboling, just like the Chinese people: we'd like to say that everything has a good meaning of it.

These plants mean "reborn" in Iranian. I hope when spring comes, here in Sweden will be sunny days for BBQ and beach volleyball!

yet it snows today! I believe I'm in Sweden :)

ESN Train

2009-03-17T00:27:00.004+01:00

ESN train is a super fun train that goes around Europe for 3 weeks
I plan to get on the train next week......EXCITED!

Here's my plan:

28.03.09 Sat. Departure in Vienna
Get to Europe's highest IC train station, Mallnitz
Go through Austria till Switzerland!
29.03.09 Sun. Visit Zurich
ond the day after the train will go through one of the most beautiful rails from Lausanne to Kandersteg
31.03.09 Tue. Finally it goes to Italy, and I will stop in Pisa and try to catch the flight back to Sweden soon after a photo with Torre di Pisa.

Only in 4 days, I travel 3 countries and "pass by" so many cities (that's a pity), but it could be fun with lots of Erasmus students and parties!!

Let's go! Sure be back with hundreds' pictures (hehe...)

Save Tonight / Eagle-Eye Cherry

2009-03-16T00:45:00.003+01:00

Save Tonight

Eagle-Eye Cherry

go on and close the curtains
'cause all we need is candlelight
you and me ... and the bottle of wine
and hold you tonight [ ohh ]

well we know i'm going away
and how i wish - i wish it weren't so
so take this wine and drink with me
let's delay our misery

save tonight and fight the break of dawn
come tomorrow - tomorrow i'll be gone
save tonight and fight the break of dawn
come tomorrow - tomorrow i'll be gone

there's a log on the fire
and it burns like me for you
tomorrow comes with one desire
to take me away [ ohh it's true ]

it ain't easy to say good bye
darling please - don't start to cry
'cause girl you know i've got to go [ohh ]
and Lord i wish it wasn't so

save tonight and fight the break of dawn
come tomorrow - tomorrow i'll be gone
save tonight and fight the break of dawn
come tomorrow - tomorrow i'll be gone

tomorrow comes to take me away
i wish that i - that i could stay
but girl you know i've got to go [ohh ]
and Lord i wish wasn't so

save tonight and fight the break of dawn
come tomorrow - tomorrow i'll be gone [ 4x ]

tomorrow i'll be gone [ 4x ]

save tonight [ 4x ]
oh thats right
save tonight - save tonight

>>This song was introdced by my French coridormate, Cyril, and I didn't know it's so popular in Sweden. This song came out in 1997 by a American-Swedish "Eagle-Eye". Last time in Platå I was even wondering how come so many people can sing with this song?! Haha, however a good song, "save tonight".

more info, see wiki : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle-Eye_Cherry

VAKNA!

2009-03-15T21:43:00.004+01:00

Imorgen har jag en tenta. Jag hoppas att jag inte blir sent den här gången......
1-Så igen öl idag!
2-Ställ väckarklockan och stiga upp vid 6 am!

och efter kan jag åka på resa till ESN-train. hehehe

Lucka till alla som har tentor :D

Way to Shooting Master

2009-03-03T00:05:00.008+01:00

HoHoHo
If you feel so bored in the weekends, try this!
Laserdome in Linköping
90kr / 30 mins play (30 mins are really enough)
Be prepared...and SHOOT!

Here're my results from last year till this year

Fisrt Chapter: Novice Shooter

9th of 13, hm...not bad for a beginner
of coursem, it's not good either.

This time JP got the first place.
I think it's because he's mastered in CS.

Second Chapter: Advanced Archer

Now I got some techniques to play.
Somtimes it's good to ambush in the tower, but watch out the mine explosion every 2 min!!

Ali (also good at CS, but sometimes has some excuse of his failure) killed so many times then. He's always hiding and waiting for somebody coming, such an assassin!!

Third Chapter: Master Hunter

HeHeHe
3rd of 16!!
Wanna kill me? You'd better try!
We played with some Swedish this time. Though there're 3 teams in the field, it came out to be international students v.s. Swedish.

And we got the final champion XD

advice: Why not go to Mc'donalds or BurgerKing to have a good meal and talk about your game!!

Fettisdagen

2009-02-24T22:49:00.006+01:00

Get you a fat semla today :)

Name:Semla
Contents:Bun, Mashed Sötmandel (Apricots), Whipped Cream

Opinion:
One bite fills up your mouth with all the cream. Suggest that to eat semla with some hot milk. It'll be perfect! But remember don't treat yourself too much. King Adolf Frederick (A Swedish king) died for eating too much semlas.

For more information about Swedish Fat Tuesday,
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semla
How to do yourself a homemade semla?
http://www.recepten.se/recept/semlor.html

Spring Course

2009-02-17T18:07:00.002+01:00

One course just canceled...let me so free on Monday and Friday!!

I'm now a incredibly free student in Sweden, and that's not so good. If you're ever free at daytime, you'd find it out so boring here. Ryds? Downtown? Gamla Linköping? or Campus?(NO~) They are all and only the places I can go to. So......

But better not complaining on it, I still can find lots of jobs to do here. Japanese and Swedish study, Guitar, that can fill up my empty life, instead of the confusing lectures and lab that makes me helpless every time.

Set up new goal (s, kanske:) and I will get all of them!!

For this period, I started Swedish Level Four, yet still suck in Swedish...... This is my last time to learn it in Sweden! Seize the change, George!

I'm expecting "Nordic Culture" in vt2. It must be cool.

White Experience

2008-12-21T00:40:00.017+01:00

The first snow in my life took place in Sweden, here I 'm studying now in 2008.

White, Tranquil, and Peaceful, the world seems sleeping away (or dead?!)

I feel so small in the white world. It's like you're facing the ocean or taking a walk in the woods.

Inspite what ever you think of snow, please be careful of sleppery icy ground, especially after a few drink riding a bike......You can surely do a lot of drifting skills!!

Overall, Snow is very very nice.

In the time, people feel lonely and boring, so they make snowmen. For ex.

Outside McDonald's
so the word is "cheeseb..."
, you know.

A snow......animal!!
Where's the santa clause?

A sweet couple?
So sorry for them that they have problem to look into each other...

wish you a Merry Christmas!!
and Happy New Year~♪

Never Late for Tenta in Sweden

2008-12-18T12:24:00.000+01:00

"Tenta" means "exam" in Swedish. Today I had a tenta (probabilities and statistics) at 8:00 AM. For the exam, I studied late at night till 3:00 AM just before it started. I thought why not take a nap. Then the alarm clock was set but didn't work on me. When I woke up, it was 9:00!!

runrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrun(putain!! bike's lock was broken)

But every student here knows the exam rules are so strict.

I was stopped outside and had two choices:

1.stay doing nothing

2.leave

A mistake is a lesson: this lesson tells me that never drink beer, play on-line games, stay up too late before the exam.

There's a Chinese saying: "I reflect to myself three times a day"

I sould do it from now on...

Newly Open

2008-12-17T11:56:00.000+01:00

!!Congratulations!!woo~woo~woo~~

This blog is for writing down things happening in Sweden, the place where I am now studying in. It'a kinda exchange life. Everything's different. But I like it!!

Now I'm in the exam week...(QQ)
After the exam, winter vacation comes!

so here's my plan:
2008-12-25 Christmas in Sweden: On Chtistmas most European students go back to see the families, so I'm lonely trying to find some friends left here and have a bigbig dinner.
2008-12-27 to 2009-1-1 Count down in Stockholm: Remember to bring your Champange :)
2008-1-5 to 2009-1-12 Three-city Trip: Malmo >> Copenhagen >> Oslo (gatta spend a million $ in Oslo...)
2000-1-12 to 2009-1-19 Northen Light in Kiruna: I can't wait to experience to live at a place under -20℃ outside without water and electricity!!