RoadTrip

Hejhej :)

Well, after I've recovered from my muscle ache from thursday, I went to a Roadtrip to Örebro. Harry, Claudia and Elisabeth, the other Austrian guys, took me with them (thank u :) ).
We drove to Örebro, watched the sights there and went strolling through the city. Örebro is a really nice town with a very beautiful castle. I guess it's really romantic in springtime, because the river that surrounds the castle has a lot of water lilies. Obviously, they weren't in flower anymore.
In Örebro there's also a mushroom-shaped water tower. When I first saw the pics I thought that it's not really beautiful and nothing special, but as soon as I stood next to it, I changed my mind. Still, is certainly not the most beautiful building in the world, but it's quite nice. And you have a great view from top of it.
Afterwards we drove to a hill a few miles south of Örebro. There was an exhibition called "Konst på hög" and there were some really strange, but somehow good-looking things to look at. (check the pictures here to see the obscure objects).
In Karlskoga we went to the Alfred Nobel Museum, which was quite interesting, but you didn't really learn much about his live. Basically you just saw his house and the rooms he used to work in. However, it was quite interesting and especially the area around the house is really beautiful.
Kristinehamn was the last station of our Road Trip. It's a small town near Karlstad and there's a Picasso statue. It's nice, but nothing too special. I was more interested in the cool looking tree opposite the statue ;)
We came home around 7 o'clok and I was really exhausted...but there was a Theme-Party going on (Dress up as your favourite movie star) and since I told everybody that I'll be there, I had no other chance than going. But I didn't dress up, because I had a) no idea and b) nothing funny to wear. Some people were really dressed up which was really funny ;) I met Superman, 2 pretty women and hang out with Madonna (see pic). Probably I'll dress up on the next party, depending on the theme ;) Although I was tired, it was a funny party.
I'm already looking forward to the next weekend - on Friday there's Sofia's Birthdayparty (the finnish girl on my corridor) and on Saturday I want to go the Nöjesfabriken.
But before the weekend I have to study...I must write an essay about the differences of the Swedish anti-discrimination laws compared to the Austrian ones *yuck* I'm so glad when this course (Aspects of Sweden) is over...
Well, that's it so far... I'll write again as soon as something spectacular, important, unbelievable, whatever thing happens. Meanwhile, you can check the Örebropictures and the new Partypics...
Manuel

Working out...

Well, yesterday I had my first working out-training. Basically I just got instructions, how to do what and which stuff is good for me etc. Today I went there again, working out by myself. And I have to admit - I like it. It feels really good and honestly, I can't wait to go there again ;)
I even bought some special Protein-Drink, because I don't want to lose weight (I'm already too thin).
Well, in order to have a good work-out, music is very important, in my opinion...and Róisín Murphy (former Moloko) definitely has the style... Enjoy the video ;)
cu, your sporty Spice...äh...Manuel

Sunset always seems sweeter...

after you've traveled far (by Rufus Wainwright - he's a genius). How right you are, Mr. Wainwright. I love sunsets and I've seen many beautiful ones (and I'll never forget the one in Ibiza...) - but here the sunsets are really beautiful, as you can see in the picture. The whole sky gets orange/red and then turns to blue...beautiful.
Well, right now I sound really cheesy and "oh I wish I could have someone to share those very special moments with..." but no, I just felt like talking about it ;)

The weekend was really calm - I decided to take it easy and NOT to go on a party - although there were several parties going on around the campus (as almost everyday). I watched some movies instead and did a lot of work for the web design course.
This weekend I'd like to go somewhere. Some people might go to Örebro and I'd like to join them. Although I don't have much money left now because - and this is sooo strange, I still can't believe I did it - I subscribed for the local gym. How weird is that?! Me - lazy bastard Manuel - going to the gym. But I decided to start doing some more sports.
In Salzburg I tried with jogging, which is fun sometimes, but most of the times I really had to force myself to go out and run. And in winter I don't like running at all.
Here I wanted to try Capoeira (Martial Arts), but after watching some videos of it, I thought that this might be a bad idea (standing on one foot, twisting around, jumping up and landing on the other foot,...come on, I can't even do a handstand right, how on earth should I manage to do something like that?!).
So I decided to go to the fitness center - I can do whatever I'd like to do, listen to some music and feel really sophisticated ("yeah, look at me, I'm so trendy with my hip NIKE sport clothes and my stylish MP3 Player"). On Wednesday I have my first try - someone will give me instructions and advises me what things to do. It's quite expensive to go to the gym, but I hope this gives a reason to go there frequently (it was expensive...so I want to use it as often as possible...even if it's just for sitting at the bar, watching people and drinking some disgusting carrot-broccoli -whatever drink).
However, I'll let you know how I experienced my introduction to the sweaty gym-world.
Vi Ses!

Partying...and Ikea ;)

Hej!

Another week has passed...it was quite a busy week, lots of courses and quite a lot of work - but it was fun doing it. On Wednesday I went shopping - Swedish style - IKEA - yeah ;)
But I can tell you - Swedish Ikeas don't look different than the ones in Austria. Except that you don't understand anything and you don't know if that strange thing in your hand is supposed to be a carpet or a blanket. You just know that it's called "Ludde" and that it could work as a carpet but also as a blanket...well, those are the huge problems you have to cope with when you're in Ikea ;) Nevertheless, I found some nice things for my room - for example "Lykta", my beautiful "70s-like-retro" lamp. Or my new "I cost just 50 kr, so buy me and throw me away after 1 year" carpet called "Agger"...Finally my room is more comfortable and cosier than before.

On Thursday we had a big "Welcome Dinner" - it was the last part of the Orientation Days. A big dinner at K6 - it was funny and I met quite a lot new people, because you couldn't choose were to sit (you got a number for the seat and you had to sit there). So you couldn't stay with your friends, which was - of course - a bit sad, but also quite good, because so you had to talk to new people. The Host Students planned the whole evening and sang various songs, which was quite funny. Afterwards every nation had to go on stage and perform one song from their home countries. It was really funny when all the Germans (it must have been at least 60 people) entered the stage and sang a Sportfreunde Stiller song...and of course Austria had to sing too. We were just 6 people and sang "I am from Austria"...well, or at least we pretended to sing it, because only a few people knew the lyrics to it...I was just humming along, singing some words I knew. I guess I'm a bad bad Austrian for not knowing the lyrics of the unofficial Austrian hymn...

Afterwards most of the exchange students went to a nightclub nearby (ARENA) and of course I joined them ;) It was quite cool there, although the music was really really strange. People who know me know that I like dancing to almost every type of music, as long as the DJ is good and knows which songs go well together... But I think the DJ at the Arena was on drugs, because he played songs like "I'm a gummibear" and other Aprés Ski Hits, followed by Rhianna's "Umbrella" (in a cool Umbrella/Cinderella version [I found it (free&LEGAL) on last.fm (I [Right click - save target as...]) and some Techno and Rock stuff...My musical brain was really confused by all this style-jumping. Still, I had quite a lot of fun there, danced and laughed a lot.
On Saturday I went to the Nöjesfabriken ("Fun Fabric") - another big Nightclub in Kalrstad.

Before I tell you how I liked it, I'll tell something about Karlstad's Nightlife.
There are several bars and 3 Nightclubs - "Arena" (for people 18+), Nöjesfabriken (entrance for people 20+) and BlueMoon (23+). And - that's the most disturbing thing here in Sweden - ALL the Bars & Clubs close at 2 o'clock a.m. It's really strange compared to other countries (especially Spain/Ibiza, because there the party starts at 2...*g*). Of course this doesn't mean that the party is over after 2 o'clock,because a lot of people go to private parties afterwards...

The Nöjesfabriken - it's huge - really huge. There are 3 dancefloors (House/R'n'B, Rock/Alternative[with live bands], Swedish Schlager), a bowling alley, several Bars, Go-Kart, and a Restaurant - all in one building. It's massive...almost too big. Of course I had most fun in the House/R'n'B room - the dancefloor was really big and crowded, everybody was dancing and having fun. The "Schlager Room" was strange - I think you can compare it to the Aprés Ski Rooms in Discos like "Nachtschicht" or A14 - just without the kitschy plastic cottages.
Although the Nöjesfabriken is so huge, it was quite crowded - it seems as if everyone between 18 and 40 goes there to have fun. And of course all the fun costs something...80 Krones (about 8 €) for the entrance. One beer costs 50 krones (~5 €) - but thank god, I only drink coke (20 krones = ~2 €).
So, it was really cool and I think I'll go there again soon...

That's it for now...I've added a new gallery (click here )with some beautiful pictures from the Värmland-trip & some other party pictures...Enjoy :)

First week @ University

Well, I survived the first week at University. As I wrote on Monday - it was really crowded and I have a lot of lessons. So far I really like it.

Web Design is good, although I already know most of the stuff we're doing right now - but I think this will change as soon as we start working with Photoshop CS 3 and Java Script. This is my main course and I have it 4 days a week...which is quite much, compared to the other courses. But I hope we won't get many assignments to do at home...
Swedish as a foreign language - well, we didn't learn much yet, because we were split into 4 different groups - that's all we did. Tomorrow I have my first real Swedish class.
Aspects of Sweden - hm, well...what shall I say...we talked about politics in Sweden, which is quite interesting, but it was a bit too long and I was too tired to follow every word the teacher said...But this course will be finished in 4 weeks, so it won't be that long...

The University is cool - a lot of buildings, a huge library and 3 cafeterias that serve delicious coffee and good food. You can also bring your own food and put it in the fridge and warm it in the microwave - I've never seen this before in a university, but I think it's a cool idea. All in all the food there is quite healthy, compared to other universities I know.

On Wednesday my "Survival Package" from Austria arrived - When I packed my suitcase, I went out of space (obviously) so I bought a big cardboard box where I put all the things in, that I need in Sweden, but didn't fit in the suitcase. After I've arrived in Sweden I told my father to send it to me. It contains all the important stuff I need to survive, like winter jacket, a second blanket, a flat iron(!!), pictures...and my running shoes (I have some resolutions to become more sportive...).


Jonathan (the canadian guy, remember?) moved into his new apartment on Wednesday and invited Elisabeth, me and a friend over for dinner. We ate Köttbullar & Potatis (meat balls with potatoes), a typical swedish dish. It was really tasty :) Afterwards we went to a small party at a host student's apartment, where we met some other exchange students. Some people went to a nightclub later, but I decided to go home, because I was tired and had classes the next day. Nevertheless, it was a really nice evening...
The rest of the week was quite calm - except for Saturday:
We went to the "Värmland Trip" - it's part of the Orientation week. We drove to a beautiful lake in Hagfors. There we were able to make some activities like Mountainbiking, Canoeing, walking...or just sitting there and relax. In the morning I went canoeing - it was really funny and exhausting (who would have thought that it is so hard to move a small boat through the water?!). The weather was just perfect for this... In the afternoon it started to rain (thank god Eva helped me out with a shelter*g*), nevertheless I joined some people on a "GPS Tour" - we got a small GPS device and had to search coordinates. It was like a scavenger hunt - if we found a coordinate, there was a paper telling us the next coordinate and so on... Absolutely no sense, but it was fun, though.
Back home I was so tired that I wanted to go to bed immediately. Since it was too early to go to bed I joined Sophia and some other guys from my corridor in the kitchen, where we watched Oceans 13 and Dirty Dancing (*lol*)...

Well, that's it, this was my week...thanks for reading ;) some pics will follow soon.
Manuel