I've been tagged a few times but Typepad just changed and I can't search comments! So if you kindly tagged me in the past months please don't be shy to remind me or say in the comments so I can link a thank you!! But you're always a bit stuck when you have to suddenly say ten things about yourself so I thought I'd sum up the best things I've learnt about here, and then some of the less great things!
The good...
1) The shops of course! It's just nice to have access to some new places. Also the British high street is quite common but Swedish style is plainer, so if you pass someone in the street wearing the same item, it won't necessarily look the same. Things are very ethical so people don't seem to go crazy and splurge on loads of stuff.
2) I'm certainly not a nature girl, but things are so clean and beautiful. I live in the 'ghetto' apparently, or at least the nice, Swedish version. And there's even the forest with the lakes right next door, and the other day a deer ran in front of my bus!
3) Swedish people. Everyone is perfectly lovely. I read in a few places that Swedes can be a bit cold and silent, but I've only found they are more than helpful and will always speak English with no hesitation. I can speak a bit of Swedish now and can aaalmost go through a shopping transaction.
4) It's still great to live in International halls. A Chinese guy on our floor made a shrimp and vegetable stir fry the other day and ate it on toast with Nutella?! Aww he's only 19 and we made him borrow a friend's passport to come to the (only) club here. There was this beer pong and sauna party too, but I didn't go in the sauna as I have no swimming costume or anything like that here. When I bring one back though I am totally going in the lake, even if it will be freezing!!
5) Swedish living is very cool. You are encouraged to stay really long in cafes and restaurants and just chill and drink coffee. Swedes drink a LOT of alcohol though despite it being so extortionate, so you can guarantee everyone in the club is seriously hammered. The girls will push you because they are dancing so crazy, but are very friendly and will offer you drinks and little cigarette parcels that you put in your gum?? My friend and I acted enthusiastic to be polite, then took them out straight away!
6) The uni is very student friendly. You don't even need to open doors, they're all mechanical!! Maybe it's because it's a small uni, but life is made very easy for students and it's so calm.
7) It happens to be next to some pretty cool countries. Where to shop first?!
8) It's strange not to be around so much western language or culture. Like watching TV means you don't understand any adverts or if the bus driver stops and shouts something, you don't know what's going on. You get used to it but when I went back to England last week, it's so much easier to know all that's going on around you. But it's a good thing because I guess it makes you stronger, more adaptable, and you are more appreciative of other cultures and where you come from. Also you're not affected by advertising!
9) The girls. The fashion is more subtle too, so the girls can be totally stylish but don't stick out. Then again, to me Swedish style is always insanely fashionable and inspiring but maybe it's just normal to the Swedes! I think 'omg, a hair bun!' about ten times a day.
10) The boys. There are many stylish guys here, but again it's not so showy. I have met a Swedish boy but it's OK, I won't start filling this blog up with that :)
The bad...
1) Of course living away from home is the worst thing. Home being your family, friends, language, cultures, customs, everything! Sometimes it's so frustrating if you need to get something from home or say if you have to contact someone or do something important like with banks, but you simply can't.
2) The post is incredibly slow for packages. It takes two weeks for a slip to arrive saying you have a package. This might not seem that long, but by the time you are able to walk the mile to the post office, half a month has already gone by. You know when you buy clothes and things online and you want them straight away, but say if I wanted or needed something from home, by the time someone in my family can post it, it's about three weeks later, nearly a month!
3) As I found last week, the plane is the easiest part of the journey home. I'm scared of flying but it's even tolerant when you have to travel to the airport, which means an extensive journey. There's all the stress of what to pack and what to bring back and leaving everything in Sweden OK but making sure you're fine when you get to England, and then getting home from the airport. Ryan Air might be cheap but if you ever travel through them, book priority boarding as people just about run to the plane to squish into a seat after forming a standing queue about 30 minutes early in departures. It makes home seem that much further away. If you're having an off day, you kind of feel quite trapped.
4) I'm really independent so it's weird to feel so helpless if you want to buy or do the simplest thing. Like if I need even some eye-makeup remover or to find a card shop for example, I have no clue where to go. You're kind of trapped only to what you know so life is a little more closed. The shops here are very few and it was EXTREMELY apparent why England is famed for shops because there, if you need a card, you go to a shop absolutely brimming with any type of card you would ever need. Or if you need makeup remover, guaranteed you'll have a shop dedicated to cosmetics and toiletries right nearby. Here maybe they'll have the supermarkets and malls, but there's no huge retail chains with flashy discounts and endless products.
5) I've lived in Birmingham and Manchester, so coming to a tiny town is the biggest shock. There's just not a lot to do or see. But the only reason to leave the city is to shop maybe in Gothenburg, but you can't justify a shopping trip every week! I live in somewhere similar to estates, and it's not a town crammed with houses and streets, it's mainly motorway-like roads or forests. There's no corner shop to pop to or little high street to pick up a few things at.
6) This is kind of related to fashion to where it's a problem that you don't understand things around you. It's a shame to hear of all the blogger events and promos in England, because obviously they have huge fashion blogs here, but I don't know anything to do with them! There's fliers and advertisements everywhere but you don't know what any of them say. Maybe someone will say they've heard a party might be going on, or the student pub will be open, but you never really know what's going on so it always ends up to be bad haha! It's like you're outside of the loop. In Manchester, everyone knew everything that was going on. Also the headquarters of Gina Tricot are in this town and (while I was in England, so it's OK) there was apparently a MASSIVE sale there, where all the only stock was heavily reduced and people were just stripping in the middle of the shop and throwing clothes on big piles and it was insane. My friend only found out because the chef at her work happened to mention it a few days later.
7) It's weird too that I'm here for a whole year, so only need to do 15 credits a term, whereas almost everyone else is here for their whole degree or are doing 30credits in one term, so are leaving at Christmas. This means I will be graduating a year later, which means all the people that were in my year at university in Manchester and all my friends and people on my course will have graduated, so I will never see them again! Looking at photos now of my friends going out to the clubs we used to go to is so strange, almost like I should be there. It seems so far away!
8) It could be said for every nationality or culture, but you don't really know what the difference of being English is. Some people, especially guys from certain places, are overly friends and sometimes quite creepy, which makes you suspicious of everyone deep down and you wonder if they're just so keen to be your friend because you're an English girl? You started here with an open mind but a few guys have just proved steriotypes right and it's not always pleasant. Also say if an Italian or French boy joined your class, naturally everyone would want to be friend's with them mainly because of the novelty and uniqueness. So can you be sure someone likes you for you, and not because you're from somewhere else?
9) Magazines! Argh!! The problem isn't the lack of them, it's the huge supply of them! In the newsagents, they have ALL the Vogues and even Jalouse, 10, and a huge selection of men's magazines. Maybe like me, you have your monthly magazines that you always buy, but you tend to get others on impulse if you fancy one or have a flick and they look good? Well at £10-15 a magazine, I can't afford any at all! Elle UK didn't show for three weeks though so I had to order it online for £12 and it came two weeks later!
10) I miss English shops!! You might think I'm mental because of Weekday, Monki and Gina Tricot but really, the town I'm in only has some Gina's, and they're basically like a small, small New Look. Weekday and Monki have very small ranges too and don't have fresh stock coming in. I can totally appreciate how amazing the British high street is. When I went home last week I went to the Bullring and couldn't even shop! Imagine if one day you were taken to a shopping centre with all the shops you know, but also Forever 21, all the Swedish shops, every designer you could want,etc. Just imagine all the shops you've ever wished to shop in. That's how I felt. Like going from H&M and Gina to about a million amazing high street stores jam packed with the latest season's stuff, all of which I'd never seen before and it's all fresh for Autumn and lovely. And of course if someone gave you anything in Topshop for free, you would love it because everything in that store is lovely. I couldn't shop because I liked everything. It was so overwhelming. I used to high street shop at least every week but now I had no idea where to start! I went into Miss Selfridge first and could of picked up almost everything to try on because it was all just great. I forgot that on the British high street, it is quite painful to shop but you have to hold back for thing you really love and know what works in your wardrobe.
Hmm the cons seem much longer then the pros! But really the bad things are just little niggles that you think about if you're having a bad day. It all makes you stronger!
p.s. You are tagged! If you have a blog and do this tag and tell me, you will be entered into a contest to celebrate the new design of my favourite online jewellery shop, Love Hearts and Crosses! You can win this sweet Alice in Wonderland pin. If you don't have a blog, you can comment ten things about you, ten favourite things, ten things you hate, ten anything! Or get 10% off anyway by putting FLYINGSAUCER in at the checkout. A little present from me to you to say sorry for the absence :)
On "7) It happens to be next to some pretty cool countries. Where to shop first?!"
If you need tips on Denmark, Copenhagen. Feel free to write. I'll be more than happy to give you some advices. :)
Posted by: I heart Milk | October 24, 2009 at 10:57 PM
I made the comment above (sign in with my old id "I heart Milk"). But if you need tips or more on Denmark, write or leave a note. :)
Posted by: Ida | October 24, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Great post as always, I might do this kind of post when I move to New York. It's so weird how cultures can differ, especially in Europe (in Italy I got so many weird looks, and the barman poured me a really alcoholic drink because i was 'beautiful'), but I think it's still a great experience to have. Plus, I guess we don't appreciate the British High Street enough when we're here, with all our brands that seem to suit everyone (like I'm more of a Topshop than an Oasis girl). Perhaps there isn't the choice there, but people are forced to be more creative.
Posted by: KB | October 24, 2009 at 11:57 PM
I don't blog but that pin is my most favourite thing on LHC soooooo here's 10 things about me!
1. The LHC Alice pin rocks my world.
2. I'm writing a book and I'm going to be famous.
3. I constantly need a cup of tea to survive.
4. I have leopard print wallpaper in my kitchen.
5. I tamed my pet cat who was a wild kitten.
6. I wish I had a blog but BF would kill me if I spent anymore time online than I already do!
7. I have maintained my perfect town on Animal Crossing for approx. 3 months now.
8. I hate it when people clap along when bands/singers are on stage.
9. I love Toffifee.
10. I like making lists.
Thanks for listening and great post, I love an excuse to make a list :o)
Posted by: twitter.com/Girlyougotstyle | October 25, 2009 at 12:36 AM
Oh so glad you posted again, it sounds really nice over there and that bracelet thing is so cute :) PLZ comment on my blog.
Posted by: Author in the making | October 25, 2009 at 06:29 AM
No blog sorry but I love reading yours. It's how i avoid doing study. I am in love with that pin! I just finished reading Alice in wonderland. Here's ten things i do to avoid studying for my year 11 exams/year 12 exam:
1. Read blogs frequently (espescially yours)
2. Look up exotic places I could travel too once I finish high school
3. Watch hours of YouTube (espescially the community channel)
4. Listen to the Academy is... over and over and over again (I have all of their songs)
5. Try on my entire wardrobe and watch as the piles of clothes grow on my floor
6. Read like crazy (as I said I just finished Alice in Wonderland and Through the looking glass, starting a new book called Possible Side effects-hilarious introduction)
7. Stare out my window at the newly sunny skies (summer is just starting to hit)
8. Eat spicey noodles and drink litres of orange juice
9. Write my future novel for when I become a writer (hopefully it'll get published)
10. Wish for the beach, swimming, coffee, V, bueno bars, text book free days and various other things
Thanx so much for your posts. This one was espescially good. Lists are always the best types of posts to read.
Posted by: Norad | October 25, 2009 at 06:51 AM
After reading this post...even with the slightly longer cons, I still feel that your pros outweigh the latter because you're right, all the cons are things you miss about home and I think in time, it will get slightly better...which I am sure it has done already!
Culture shock is a strange thing because I get that when I go back to HK...I can't read Chinese which can make things a little awkward sometimes!
I completely agree that nothing compares to the British High Street. I think sometimes when we're in other countries we forget how much choice we have here and just how on-trend it is.
Also....ooooh Swedish boy eh??
Posted by: Winnie | October 25, 2009 at 11:02 AM
I love sweedish style! Although i could never imagine living in a place where i don't speak the language. I'm really liking all your blog posts on sweeden :) <3
Posted by: Martha | October 25, 2009 at 12:31 PM
10 utterly and completely random things about me, ok here goes
1) I've never left the UK - sadly :(
2) I can recite practically the entire script of the movie mean girls
3) The 2nd most listened to song on my iPod is rock me amadeus by Falco - it's an 80s austrian pop song in german
4) The 1st most listened to is Zero to Hero from Hercules
5)I only ever write in black ink as i can't stand blue ink
6) I think cheese is the ultimate snack
7) I wish my name was Daisy
8) I want to own a farm one day
9) I love the smell of polish and under my sink because it smells of cleaning products and indoor plumbing :)
10) I'd love to illustrate childrens book when i'm older
that's all byee :) xxxxx
Posted by: Daniela | October 25, 2009 at 01:12 PM
I would love to visit Sweden to see their style up close!!
Posted by: Beth | October 25, 2009 at 02:10 PM
10 things about me
1) I have a great sense of humour
2) Laugh at things I find funny if someone makes me laugh with what they have said to me or told a funny joke.
3) having a lot of friends to chat with on Twitter and other websites
4) I like to win competitions and enjoy entering,my philosophy is if you dont win,dont give up,keep trying and that win is just around the corner.
5) chat to my friends in real life and enjoy what they have to say to me.
6) I absolutely love my music eg Kylie Minogue,Will Young,Westlife,Take That,Robbie Williams
7) Seeing my family as that is so important to me
8) going to church on a Thursday morning for a mug of coffee and chat to friends
9) to watch a film of my choice and laugh so much until tears run down my face.
10) to hope that people will respect me and not judge me for the things I do and to accept me as I am.
Posted by: Katie | October 25, 2009 at 10:31 PM
I hope the exams went well lovely :)
Ooooh even though I'm not allowed to win my own pin, I thought I would do my own 10 Things About Me post too - just for fun.
http://loveheartsandcrosses.blogspot.com/
Posted by: twitter.com/LHC_Jewellery | October 25, 2009 at 11:04 PM
That pin is so beautiful! It is so good to see posts from you - your style is so great! I also love hearing about your experiences in Sweden! Sounds so neat!
I blogged 10 things! Thanks for such an awesome giveaway!
( http://www.mirandagabriela.blogspot.com )
Posted by: Zola | October 26, 2009 at 02:59 AM
great post! i've been waiting to hear from you. anyway, it would be so nice to live in a foreign country whether it is a good or a bad thing.
Anyway, i have added your new URL in my blog. :) great blog. well done.
http://missheadoverheels.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Miss Head Over Heels | October 26, 2009 at 04:39 AM
"don't be a pussy" lolol
ugh i love your blog selina, i always want to start one when i stop by!
ohohoh love is in the air ;)
i can understand how perplexing it would be to be going around your daily business but not understanding the language, or where to find specific things... like no boots, i don't know how i'd get by!
Posted by: Zoe | October 26, 2009 at 10:06 PM
So funny! I sometimes read your blog, but didn't know that you went on exchange in Sweden! I recognize so many things in what you say, because I was in Växjö last year, during an Erasmus program. It's true that it's absolutely annoying not to know what to do, because things don't always work the same way in a different country. I also hated not to be able to fully understand people and make them understand me. But the more you learn Swedish, the easier it gets. And ha this picture of the magazines reminds me of Pressbyrån ;)
Where exactly is Borås? Well I hope you'll enjoy it!
Posted by: Kelig | October 27, 2009 at 09:14 AM
does the good outweigh the bad lol xoxox
Posted by: kirsty | October 29, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Living abroad makes you appreciate what it is that you like about your home country, while at the same time appreciating aspects of your new home. If only someone would invent a teleport device so that you could easily flit between the two. I'm sure your Svensk romance will make life sparkle!...
Posted by: Barkfoot | October 31, 2009 at 04:29 AM
Great post! Living in Sweden must be so cool...
Posted by: Marta | October 31, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Hi
My Blog “The Stiletto Effect” and CHANEL are GIVINGAWAY one "Chanel Le Vernis # 479 Kaleidoscope (Limited Edition)".
Being a Limited Edition this colour is already out of stock, so maybe this will be the only way to get one!
To enter just visit www.thestilettoeffect.com
Good Luck!
Kisses
Susana R.
Posted by: The Stiletto Effect | October 31, 2009 at 03:34 PM
I love this post!
Thank you.
Posted by: Acaislim | October 31, 2009 at 06:47 PM
It sounds like you're having a really fun time! I love the thought of hair buns...definitely chic. :)
Posted by: The Clothes Horse | October 31, 2009 at 07:13 PM
Hi again! I totally agree with some of the negatives about sweden - the mail for example, haha! Today I was'nt really kean on the weather either but I guess you're kind of use to that if you live in GB!
If you visit Malmö or Lund write to me if you like and maybe I can show you some nice second hands or something. There aren't som may in Lund but a few better in Malmö. I have to give you a tip about beyond retro in stockholm if you haven't been there ( id onät remember) - it's really nice!
Posted by: Moa | November 02, 2009 at 09:02 PM
Whoa I can't believe that you're living in Sweden? How did I miss that? Sounds like you're having a wonderful adventure though!
Posted by: Lady Smaggle | November 02, 2009 at 10:32 PM
great blog :)
Posted by: buffalo parade | November 03, 2009 at 12:14 PM