Schedule:
Today the plan was to head to the Swedish Migration Agency in Malmo to finalise getting my residence permit, but that completely fell through (I massively messed up). Here's what happened...
Originally my appointment was booked at 10:10. I was advised by my mentors to catch the single yellow bus to Malmo (as trains apparently aren't actually that reliable in Sweden...).
The bus timetable schedule?
Via the Skanetrafiken App
So... being safe, I decided to try to catch the bus at 08:59. Now here's where I messed up: instead of following the map on the App, I used Google Maps, which directed me to the bus stop below:
Lund Professorsgatan B bus stop - going towards Lund Centre
The correct bus stop (Lund Professorsgatan A) going towards Malmo
I think the lesson here is don't freak out and trust your gut - I originally arrived at the correct bus stop but due to the discrepancies between Google Maps and trusting myself to be right (the word Malmo was right there on the sign!!!) I then missed the early bus. No big deal, right? I can just catch the next one, even though it's due in half an hour and it's like 0 degrees out.
Well... then it started snowing. And I mean snowing.
View of the beginnings of the snow from the covered side of the bus stop
The snow started falling pretty heavily real quick and when the time hit 09:28 I decided to bail because there's no way I'd make it to my appointment in time with the bus being delayed. Thankfully it's really easy to reschedule appointments via the website, so that wasn't a huge fuss.
My ticket that I purchased through the Skanetrafiken App cost SEK75 (24-hr ticket, student fare). From what I gather that ticket is non-refundable once you "activate" the ticket which I had done before leaving my accommodation this morning. Handy hint for next time: activate the ticket ONLY when you're just about to board your bus!
Walking home - it's not the best picture of the snow but imagine a fluffy torrential rain!
After I got home I made some tea immediately and once my hands had warmed up got started on my course readings. And at the very least, I know with 100% certainty which bus and which bus stop I need to be at the next time I head over. So all in all after that rocky beginning it was a good morning!
Get the best tips from the Academic Support Center on how to succeed with your studies at Lund University.
Tip: the building is a little difficult to locate the correct entrance of even though you might be in the right location. It's a bit small but they'll have these familiar blue signs up:
The session was useful to attend but really it was a reasonable way to kill time before the dinner and the concert. I did learn a few study tips and quirks about the Swedish academic system/culture
Some basics of the Swedish academic system - I'll find out the grading system when I have my first set of classes on Wednesday! Sweden is notoriously known for collaborative assignments and group learning, so I definitely expected a note on group work.
A technique for effective, focused studying!
Ending the seminar with a note about plagiarism (which is taken very seriously by Lund University and any student suspected of plagiarism has to attend a meeting with the Board).
The Academic Study Centre at Lund University also offers several events to help students study, including "Write Nights" - these are held at the library where students congregate together with fika and the staff help and motivate you to write or study productively.
Tip: Sign up as soon as you can! All spots for the session on 1 April 2019 were already filled out by the time I got to them (on the 27-01-2019).
Book your session here, although you will get an email reminder of the different study lectures and sessions available about a week or so after the seminar!
Post-Academic Study Skills Seminar:
I've been looking and negotiating around to find a bike but that also means (since I don't have a Swedish bank account and cannot use Swish) that I need to find an ATM to get some cash out - the easiest ATM to find is the one near Lund C. It's pretty well lit, close to the grocery store ICA Malmborgs and opposite the restaurant Hummus Bar Lund and accepts all debit cards with clear instructions in English.
Note: you'll be asked to remove your card before the ATM will give you the cash you want to withdraw! You can withdraw in SEK100, 200, 400, 500 and 600 increments.
Dinner @ The Herbivore 18:00 - 18:45
The first recommendation out of my out-and-proud vegan mentor was the restaurant The Herbivore. Located in the centre of Lund just a three-minute walk from Lund Cathedral, it was an ideal choice to reward myself with a decent meal.
The main waitstaff spoke English (she's from Scotland), wears the funkiest hand and home-made vests and is super friendly! Find my review here.
Concert in Lund Cathedral 19:15 - 20:30
Welcome concert for new international students and mentors. A selection of traditional, modern and popular Swedish songs.
- Brass Sextet - with members from Lund University's Brass Band
- Organ Music - organist Robert Bennesh
- VOS - Voices of Scandinavia, conductor Robert Bennesh
I think my favourite was VOS - I loved hearing the different choral sounds and songs reverberating through the church. It felt very spiritual, like I could visualise what the composers must have felt when writing the music and the effect they wanted to have upon their audience listening in church.
Lund Cathedral Concert! This is what greets you when you enter and take a seat
The program!
Included inside the program is a leaflet with some information about the Cathedral and what it offers!
I'm very keen to join in on the organ concerts held every week!
The Lund Cathedral Organ - this organ is the largest organ in Sweden!
View exiting the Cathedral from the Main Entrance (right side)
Views from my standing vantage point
Wow. It's been an intensely packed first week and I can't believe I've already been in Sweden a week either! My highlight of today was a combination between dinner, enjoying the concert music and the mentor hangout! So many good things at once.
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