Fundamental experiences

To me, meeting other EVS volunteers is always more than a pleasure. Sharing stories, comparing experiences, complaining about the same annoying things, ... Last night, Léo, Marta, Kristiāna and me went to Florence to meet with a group of EVSs that live and work in Florence. Since we have never gone out in Florence, we decided to meet them there despite a train strike began at 9 p.m., just a bit before our train was supposed to leave. However, we got to Florence nicely, met with the EVSs and spend some great time in two pubs. The second pub where we went was an Irish pub and was full of American students. Kristiāna, Marta and me were having a great time, dancing and singing (I actually have a sore throat today due to all the singing or better said shouting) till 3 a.m. Then, however, the adventure started. We still had an hour and a half till our train, so first we had kebab and then coffee at McDonald's (yes, of course it was disgusting). A bit before our train we sadly discovered that due to the train strike the 4.35 a.m. train was cancelled and with it also more or less or other regional trains to Prato. People waiting at the station were pretty furious, even shouting at the train conductor even though he had nothing to do with the trains being cancelled or not knowing which trains will go and which not. It was actually funny looking at the people running to the trains every time there was a train-is-departing announcement since no one actually knew that these announcement are automatic and not up-to-date. We slept a bit on one of the trains that were open, then we waited outside a bit, we had a breakfast, then we waited a bit more and had another breakfast. I was so tired and cold, all I could see in front of my eyes was a cup of hot tea (real tea, not the tea-bag one) and my bed. Finally, at 8.35 a.m. there was an inter-city train leaving for Milano and, luckily, stopping in Prato. Having come back home, we treated ourselves with another breakfast (and a cup of hot tea) and went to bed. I was so happy to have come back home and when I crawled into bed ... oh dear, all the waiting in the cold was forgotten. All in all, it still was a great night, no regrets, despite all the train chaos. I guess experiencing a train strike in Italy in this way is one of the fundamental experiences of living in Italy. 


There's some great news that made my week, actually. Two important parts of an EVS are also the on-arrival training (at the beginning of an EVS project) and mid-term evaluation (sometime in the middle of an EVS project). With everything being organized very well in Italy (not), we of course haven't had none of those trainings yet and all up till last Monday (or was it Tuesday) we were absolutely sure we'll never be invited. However, we have been called to attend the on-arrival training. In December. Two weeks before our project ends, we're going to attend an on-arrival training. Even though I strongly doubt how I'll benefit from an on-arrival training now, I'm still very very excited about it. I'll be able to share my experiences, meet new people and there'll also be an Italian language course, so I'm sure it's going to be far from a waste of time. So, on December 12th, Marta, Burcu and me are going to Rimini for eight days and we'll be staying in a four-star hotel (I'm sooooo looking forward to the hotel breakfast). Instead of the training giving me a smoother start of the project, it's going to be a lovely end of the project. Some kind of our last adventure together. I guess it is fundamental to attend an on-arrival training at the end of your project. I do live in Italy, after all.

A Cup of Sweden with a Dash of Denmark

Ever since my sister visited Sweden 11 years ago, I have been thinking, man, Sweden must be a fiiine country! Over the years spent abroad I twice had the opportunity to live with a Swede which was more than a pleasure. Then, when also a good friend of mine moved to Sweden last year, it was only the question of time when I'd pack my bags and head to the country of Ingemar Stenmark and Abba.

As many times before, Ryanair again turned out as the cheapest option to visit Sweden and having bought the tickets already in June it seemed like the d(eparture)-day would never come. However, the closer October 18^th was, the more nervous and excited I was. Finally, the day came and I packed my bag, checked 100 times if I had all the documents and the boarding passes and I was off. Arriving to Stockholm in the middle of the night didn't give me the impression of how beautiful the city actually is. In Stockholm I was staying with a friend of mine, Annika, who I lived with last year in Austria. I have to admit, it was so surreal seeing her after more than a year and a half, but I couldn't have asked for a lovelier welcome: a huge smile on her face and a big hug. We quickly got on the bus and when we got to her apartment, I was simply amazed on what a pretty little flat she has! I definitely wouldn't mind having such a flat myself. It took me a while before I fell asleep. I was so excited about everything that was about to come, but eventually tiredness won over the excitement. Having woken up early (early = 8 a.m.) the next day gave me loads of time to discover Stockholm on my own as Annika was busy with a school assignment. Despite bad weather I was determined to make it to the City Hall by foot in the morning and then I spent the afternoon in the city centre. I felt like it'd been my first time in a big city. I was amazed by the most ordinary things, like the trams and the underground, then all the big shops and how everything was lit up in the evening. I had no idea I had missed living in a big city so much. What is more, I immediately felt at home in Stockholm as in a way it reminded me of Dublin and in another way of Graz. It seems I would be pretty happy living in Stockholm. If only …

Over the next days I was walking around the city, I met with one of my ex-flatmates from Graz that I haven't seen for more than three years, I (finally) bought myself a new cell phone (after having the old one for four and a half years it was about time) and I spoilt myself with fika. Fika is a Swedish “thing” and the word basically stands for having coffee and cake. It's not only the cakes, it's all kinds of pastry. I immediately fell in love with the Chocolate Cup, a café in the old town, where they serve a white-chocolate cheesecake. It was pure heaven! Having friends that know where to get good cake is so useful. It makes my life easier.

Fika (top left and right & bottom centre);  reindeer with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam (top centre) and a Swedish candy shop (bottom right corner)

While being in Stockholm I had time to see just two museums, the Nordiska museet and the Skansen (I'm saving the Vasa museum for my next visit). I especially loved Skansen, also because it was such a lovely sunny and blue-sky day and I got some great shots of Stockholm. In the evening I met two lovely Annika's friends that reminded me of two Irish friends of mine. Not only because of their appearance, but also because of their sense of humour. It's amazing how you find similar people on different parts of the world. Anyway, we went to an Italian restaurant and with the menu being written in Italian and Swedish I could play a smart-ass with the Italian pronunciation. Oh, such fun! We finished the evening going to the cinema. Such a lovely evening!

In Skansen, Nordiska museum, view on Stockholm

The next day was already Saturday and, sadly, it was time for me to leave Stockholm. I took the train to Helsingborg with a heavy heart, but as I was on the way to another friend of mine, I was looking forward to visiting the pearl of the Sound. This friends of mine, Sara, who lives in Helsingborg, moved to Sweden last year and we haven't seen each other for more than a year. She and her boyfriend waited for me at the train station with two little flags, a Swedish and a Slovenian one. Another lovely welcome! At their apartment they set up my bed in their living room and they put the Slovenian flag on the bed – so thoughtful! With Sara and her boyfriend being a bit occupied the next few days, I kept myself busy with no problems. One day I was walking the streets of Helsingborg, the other I went to Denmark to see the Kronborg castle, where Hamlet is supposed to take place, then I also went to Malmö and Lund. Luckily, the weather was more or less on my side and it was such a pleasure wandering around.

Helsingborg 

Helsingør and the Kronborg Castle

 

Malmö

They say that time passes quickly when you're having a good time and my holidays in Sweden couldn't confirm this more. So, my last day came and I headed to Göteborg as I was flying to Pisa from Göteborg City Airport. However, my last day started a bit chaotic. Sara, my Helsingborg friend gave me a lift to the bus station as I was supposed to take the 10.15 bus to Göteborg. I arrived to the bus station pretty much on time, maybe a minute or two earlier and I was expecting the bus would already be there or at least it would arrive on time. Oh, how wrong I was! After waiting for the bus for 10 minutes the display at the bus station showed that the 10.15 bus is not coming and that the next bus for Göteborg leaves at 13.15. Oh, dear! Such  a panic! I had no idea what to do. I was 100 % sure I had missed the bus and I'd have to take either the 13.15 bus or a train. The problem was, the ticket for the bus I had, was exactly for the 10.15 bus, so I couldn't take another bus with that ticket and the train costed around € 25, which was, regarding I'm a volunteer at the moment combined with the amount of money I had spent in Sweden, not an option. Then, after texting Sara and scaring the hell out of her, finally the bus arrived. The 10.15 bus with an almost 20-minute delay. I was so relieved! In three hours I was in Göteborg, where I was welcomed with lovely sunny weather. Despite the morning panic I still had a great last day in Sweden and it didn't spoil my idea of coming back. So, yeah, Sweden, see you soon, but not earlier than in summer!

Göteborg