Wednesday 5/20/15
In the afternoon we went to the student union for the university and had fika with the students. They explained to us that each discipline has a color of overalls and each event or group has a patch. Students travel and collect these patches, displaying them on their overalls, which they wear to parties or other gatherings. We saw lots of people walking around in this attire earlier in the week so it was nice for the costumes to be explained.
Thursday 5/21/15
Day trip to the nearby island of Fårö and the Ingmar Bergman museum. He originated in Stockholm and came to the island to film his movies. His movies were often internal or intellectual commentaries, and rarely social commentaries. I need to watch more of his movies to make a judgement whether or not I am a fan but I definitely can appreciate him as a classic film artist. The film Through a Glass Darkly was about a daughter who just came out of a mental hospital. She is on vacation in Fårö with her dad, husband and brother when it all falls apart. The movie has a creepy, unsettling feel but it really made me think about love and human nature when we had a group discussion. I would recommend watching it.
Friday 5/22/15
On one of our last days in Sweden we had a final group discussion about what we learned academically and about life. It was sad to think it was almost over but exciting to realize how much we have experienced and what we learned.
Through one of the students we met at fika I set up a visit to an archeology dig on the island. They were excavating several middle aged houses. They find cultural artifacts such as needles and beads. The land is owned by a man who lives nearby. Our guide told us that this man comes out in the mornings in his boxers with his coffee and looks around the site. Also the students have to clear the site of sheep dung every morning. Sounds glamorous!
In the afternoon we went to the student union for the university and had fika with the students. They explained to us that each discipline has a color of overalls and each event or group has a patch. Students travel and collect these patches, displaying them on their overalls, which they wear to parties or other gatherings. We saw lots of people walking around in this attire earlier in the week so it was nice for the costumes to be explained.
Here are the stamps that this student union has made.
After fika we did some quick grocery shopping and came across this herd of Ducati motorcycles. It was a site, especially with the church ruins in the background.
Hannah, Pat and I spent the afternoon walking the city wall.
Pat and Hannah
There were lots of fun archways in the wall we explored.
Pat and Hannah
The wall with the spires of Santa Maria Church popping over.
Thursday 5/21/15
Day trip to the nearby island of Fårö and the Ingmar Bergman museum. He originated in Stockholm and came to the island to film his movies. His movies were often internal or intellectual commentaries, and rarely social commentaries. I need to watch more of his movies to make a judgement whether or not I am a fan but I definitely can appreciate him as a classic film artist. The film Through a Glass Darkly was about a daughter who just came out of a mental hospital. She is on vacation in Fårö with her dad, husband and brother when it all falls apart. The movie has a creepy, unsettling feel but it really made me think about love and human nature when we had a group discussion. I would recommend watching it.
This is from the opening scene of his film Fanny and Alexander.
After the museum we ate lunch on the shore. It was easy to tell why Bergman fell in love with the landscape.
Me, Erin, Hannah
Hannah
Erin, Britta and Signey hidden in the rocks.
Erin, our little mermaid (she's a swimmer)
Ruby, Sidney, Erin, Zach and Becca
(Goodbye Sweden) Britta wrote this message in the sand which made the looming end of the trip so real.
Ruby, Sidney, Erin, Zach, Becca and Jorgen
Me
Sidney soaking up the sun
We finished the day with a visit to a sheep farm. Behind the UK and Australia, the island of Gotland is known for its sheep. The grey colored sheep is actually called Gotland sheep. We chatted with a farmer who showed us around. His son raises the sheep, he butchers them and his wife runs the meat and wool store. He made it seem that it was a hard life but for some reason he loved it. You could tell he loved his community and really wanted it to survive the changing times.
Swedes eat 2 kilos of lamb a year. 30% of it is homegrown.
Me exploring a thatched roof building as we waited for the ferry. There were everywhere on the island.
Pat "Yoohoo, big summer blowout!" a quote we iterated probably too much from the movie Frozen.
Pat and Erin in a windmill
Friday 5/22/15
On one of our last days in Sweden we had a final group discussion about what we learned academically and about life. It was sad to think it was almost over but exciting to realize how much we have experienced and what we learned.
Through one of the students we met at fika I set up a visit to an archeology dig on the island. They were excavating several middle aged houses. They find cultural artifacts such as needles and beads. The land is owned by a man who lives nearby. Our guide told us that this man comes out in the mornings in his boxers with his coffee and looks around the site. Also the students have to clear the site of sheep dung every morning. Sounds glamorous!
Erik, the archeology masters student who invited us to the site.
The write red Xs on the rocks as they draw them.
Amelia, Pat and Lindsey examining the site.
The largest picture stones on the island.
This Roman coin was found in one of the houses which shows international communication with the island.
At night we had a BBQ and played cards, enjoying one of the last nights together.
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