Märkt: In English
Of little endings and little celebrations
Something that has particularly surprised me in my time in Göteborg is how quickly seasons pass by. Coming from the land of eternal summer, I could never guess that I’d experience the end of three seasons in only 6 months. It has gone from a sunny city looking like a gigantic garden, to the colors and scent of falling leaves in autumn; almost entire days in darkness brightened by snow in winter… and now the end of winter opening the way for spring!
For me this week encompassed three little endings and accordingly, three little celebrations. As for commemorating the end of winter, walking on the streets is a celebration on its own. They are now coming out of hibernation, filled with music and people walking, seating on the grass or basking in the long hidden sun. Many can be seen eating ice cream and sporting sun glasses. I took the chance to wear mine too, after the ongoing joke to my boyfriend that they were the most useless object I had brought to Sweden. But from all of this, the most enjoyable is witnessing the blossoming flowers. Little spurts are showing up in most trees and on the grass… nothing but cheerful!
This week was also the end of the first study period, which meant taking exams. Apart from all the material learnt for two courses, something that didn’t scape my mind was the Bok Rea. Bok Rea is a yearly book festival which entails most libraries having discounts on their inventory. I of course didn’t want to miss it, so after finishing the exams I had a little trip to Akademibokhandeln, Pocket Shop and, my favorite, the Science Fiction book shop . I ended up leaving the premises with a book about a woman who, in “celebration” of her kids leaving to college, decides she will stay in bed for a year. Let’s see how that turns out for her.
Finally, the last ending was the culmination of the Swedish lessons in Folkuniversitet. This was celebrated with a pleasant evening in a bar, accompanied by some beers, the teacher and friends from class. One of the aims of the teacher was always introducing us to cultural details about Sweden, and as the end of that cycle, he brought each of us a newspaper. We rejoiced in how much of what was written we could now understand.
And with all the little endings come some new challenges. A new quarter with two courses, trying to continue my Swedish learning and, with spring… the challenge will be making time to study instead of spending all day outside! I will tell you how that goes!
Learning ‘Svenska’
When I considered Europe as a possible place to pursue higher studies, and was seeking some advice on the matter, almost every other person pessimistically pointed towards one common hurdle; language. It was not the first time I was hearing that lack of linguistic ability would haunt my chances of having a future there, but somehow I was never convinced this was true. No, it was not because of self-belief, optimism, confidence or any other glittering trait people associate with themselves when they voluntarily run into trouble. It was just that I never pondered over this issue hard enough.
Sweden remains a popular choice for international students
Then I landed in Sweden and I realised instantly that I had a long way to go when it comes to wisdom and thinking things through. Sweden is not exactly “trouble” when it comes to language; almost everybody even the elderly speak perfectly good English. One can even sneak into the job market without knowing Swedish if he is smart and markets his skills well enough. But it was never the thought of ‘my future in Sweden’ that made the idea of learning Swedish daunting, but just the realisation that I was terrible at learning new languages. I could not fathom a reason why I used to think that it was an easy feat to achieve. When the ghost of full time post graduate studies looms round your shoulder, learning Swedish does seem bit of an adventure.
But then as time went by all the negativity started to shun and I started seeing things more clearly. I met people from similar backgrounds like my-self, who had mastered Swedish during their stay here. I started basic Swedish courses and also came across various opportunities to practice and refine my linguistic abilities. I was perplexed to discover how some students were fluent in three or four languages; it was something novel for me and very inspiring to see. This injected a lot more positivity and motivation into me and now I am on course to learning Swedish.
One idea I really admire is that of a language cafe. It is an informal gathering of people who want to polish their speaking skills in a particular language. So, you sit down as groups with each group practising a different language. It takes out the element of shyness and hesitation and you can attempt to speak what-ever you have learnt and feel free to make errors. With every such session you fell you have grown a lot in confidence and your control over the language. Right now, there are language cafes being organised at different times during the week at Chalmers, and one can easily spot them and take a kick-start in any new language. Then, the Swedish government offers free courses as well, but you have to wait for a few months before getting a chance.
Site of one of the language cafes in Gothenburg
I still don’t trust my sense of wisdom and ability to see things through, but hope that if so many other people can do it, then I can also scramble through and learn Swedish. Wether or not I stay in Sweden after my masters is irrelevant since it is more about feeling good about your-self; it would be a proud moment if I can add something more to my arsenal apart from my native language and English. Let us see what time has in store for me!
What’s your next step?
With “Next Step” as the theme for 2014, the CHARM job fair took place last week. Chalmers Studentkår Arbetsmarknadsdagar (CHARM) is a 2 day fair organized every year by voluntary students, who take care of absolutely everything, from contacting companies to carpeting extensive areas of floor (6020 m2, to be exact). This year it took place at the Student Union Building and V building in Chalmers, and had over 160 different companies as exhibitors.
Hundreds (or thousands!) of little red booklets were distributed all throughout the university some weeks before the event, and what a handy guide it was. In it, each exhibitor had a page with a short description, the kind of employment they were able to offer and the business areas they embarked in, as well as contact information in case you missed them at the fair!
However, my favorite parts of the booklet were the letters from Magnus Hallgårde, Project Manager; Johanna Svensson, President of the Student Union and Karin Markides, President of Chalmers University. Each of these, though different in style (and one including a picture with a lightsaber 😉 ), were encouraging the students to the same thing: being mindful about their next step. Even if we might not be sure about the whole panorama of how we want our future to look like, something as simple as deciding what our next immediate action can be is a step towards progress.
“You don’t climb a mountain by looking at the summit – but by identifying the next step”
“Take your next step by acting in the moment!”
There was also a short page giving practical tips on how to prepare yourself for the fair, and how to give a good impression to the companies.
My day at the fair started with a quick scan of the buildings, and trying to locate where the booths I was most interested in were. There was a wide array of companies dedicated to every area in technology, and as a civil engineer the ones on my list were 37! One could think that that could take a whole day, but actually the fair was easy to navigate and the expositors were ready to give immediate answers and information sheets. As a plus, they were also ready to give massive amounts of candy, an offer I couldn’t reject :p
At the same time, there were several lectures going on, and a whole area of the building dedicated to student entrepreneurship.
The best part of having direct contact with business representatives was, for me, the human factor. Talking to actual employees can give you an idea of the working environment in the companies, can lead to important contacts and gives you a more specific idea of the things you can look for in a determined company, as opposed to just reading from a website.
So after talking briefly to 30-something companies, being able to select which of these could offer things I’m interested in, eating some chocolate and actually getting motivation to pursue a summer job, I can say that from my point of view (and I’m sure from many others) the fair was a success. Kudos to the CHARM committee for all the hard work they had to do!
The Chalmers Tradition
For every educational institution, its history and traditions go a long way in forming its reputation and projecting it out to the rest of the world. Chalmers University enjoys the luxury of having both in abundance; rich history and interesting traditions.
This week right outside the union building you could spot the Chalmers Cortege Committee, publicizing this year’s Cortege event and looking for participants. As an international student, I was totally naive about the concept and the history behind it. Out of curiosity I dug in a little deeper and explored what this committee actually did. To my surprise the Cortege had been an annual event since 1911 and since then has been a proud tradition at Chalmers. Infact the word is that a“true” Chalmerist builds the Cortege at least once in his student life.
The Cortege parade
Students register for the event as different teams and each team conjures up a unique idea as to what it wants to build. It can be anything at all, ranging from a dragon that hurls out fire to a massive rat wheel. The scope of putting your imagination into reality is immense; it is just about how well you can pull it off as a team. The Cortege that every team builds is then part of a parade, in which it is showcased in front of the entire city. The building time is ten days, in which you can ask for what-ever raw material you need and have access to free beer! Amazing! I would have never dreamt of a university that gives out beer just like that! The building time is the phase where all the excitement and thrill builds up; around 600 people, working on the cortege out in the pleasant spring weather definitely promises to be a blast. I also came across many students who have made the cortege in the past, and no prizes for guessing that they were all praise for the mesmerising and fun-filled event this is.
Bringing to life, one of the many innovative ideas about building a cortege
This year’s Cortege building week kicks off on the 20th of April. After 10 days of some rigorous building and partying, the parade takes place on the 30th of April. Given all the buzz around it and the true fest that it promises to be, the Cortege automatically tops my list of priorities from now on. The best part is that the ten days of building are during the re-exam period at Chalmers, so for those who are not writing the exams again, it is the ideal time to join in on the grand tradition and be immortalised in the history of Chalmers. I really hope I do not have to write an exam again and can make it to the Cortege this year! Best of luck to everyone who has the same concerns !
Spring 2014 students at Chalmers
Recently Chalmers welcomed a fresh batch of exchange students, for spring 2014. The mix of students was not only from different parts of Europe but from all over the world including China, Hong Kong, Australia, United States and Brazil. Back home, it is not easy to do a semester abroad; the documentation is complex, finance a head-ache and there is not enough collaboration between universities. So, seeing students move so easily across borders for their studies is heartening. Although exchange programmes are a usual “thing” now in this part of the world, but I hope every student understands the core vitality and the unique nature of the opportunity they have. As the event manager of the reception committee, I enjoyed the last couple of weeks making all the new mates feel at home and ensuring that they have a fun-filled start to their life at Chalmers.
Keeping in-line with the traditions, the reception committee (CIRC) organised a series of activities for the new students to help them settle in and get to know Gothenburg. The reception kicked-off with the Welcome day, in which the students toured the Johanneberg campus and got to know the various traditions and interesting facts about their school; the Olga stairs, the train, the climbing arena, the kyrkan, the department logos and many other aspects of Chalmers that are unique to this university, kept the students interested and amused them throughout the tour. The train served as the venue for the party next day, which turned out to be an absolutely amazing mingle event. I shared the same feelings of amazement and joy when I first came to Chalmers and saw that the union not only owns a train carriage but also rents it out for parties! You do not get to see that often in engineering universities around the world.
Spring 2014: Having fun at the Train party
In an effort to acquaint the students with Chalmers, a tram race was organised as well. Contrary to my expectations, majority of the students turned up for the event despite the chilling weather. Each phadder group took off to grab a few clicks of the famous spots around the city and the group returning earliest was graced with a precious prize, symbolising the ‘sweetness’ of their victory. Another aspect of Chalmers Studentkar that leaves new comers bamboozled is the Harryda Sauna. So to sweep them off their feet, we took the students to the Harryda sauna the same week. To get a feel of Sweden and to warm up, every student had to chop wood for a few minutes before his sauna experience kicked-off. Traditional pea soup and pancakes were served, to add more richness to the trip. The last part of trip, and indeed the most thrilling one was to use the sauna and jump into the frozen lake. I don’t blame them for dropping their jaws when they heard they have to break through the ice and dip in the lake to “cool off”. But kudos to Spring 2014 students, since almost all of them achieved the feat of jumping into the lake at least once. I am sure it was a memorable night for them; I still remember my first sauna experience and it will stay with me for a long time.
Spring 2014: Haivng traditional pea soup at the Sauna Trip
Fisk Kyrkan: Tram Race!
I must say that the zeal and enthusiasm of the new students was boundless and very motivating for us as the organisers. The latter half of the reception brought the tastes and cuisines from around the world under one roof with the international dinner. Each student brought a traditional dish from his country and lit the evening up with his contribution to the table. The goal of the event goes beyond the food. Such gatherings initiate discussions about cultures, lifestyles and various customs in different countries, paving way for people to relate to one another and widen their horizon.
International dinner spring 2014
Chalmers makes you work really hard to refine your engineering skills; I am sure all the exchange students have truck loads of academic commitments awaiting them and I hope CIRC provided them the perfect platform to launch into action! Needless to mention, everyone should squeeze time out of their schedules, to have some fun and party hard!
CIRC members with Spring 2014 students at the Student Union Building
Nyårslöften (or New Year’s Resolutions)
As I boarded the train to Sweden while returning from my vacations in the Czech Republic, an overwhelming happiness invaded me. Czech language was beautifully strange to my Dominican eyes and ears: there were barely any words that I can associate to the languages I know, and many sounds and characters were unknown to me. But after appreciating it (and not understanding any of it) for ten days, it was refreshing to sit in that train and hear some Swedish words that I could process. The thought of how cadent Swedish sounds also came to mind: after 5 months of continually hearing it I had taken for granted how much I liked it.
Among these reflections, something that should’ve been obvious popped in my mind. If I like Swedish so much, then I should do a better job at learning it! And thus, my sole and only New Year resolution became mastering Swedish during 2014.
I had started learning by myself long before coming to Gothenburg, and have slowly continued thanks to the classes at Folkuniversitet, which are included in the tuition fee for international students at Chalmers. But considering how effortless it is to swim through life in Sweden by only speaking English, it has been too easy for me to become complacent and abandon my active attempts.
So for this year I resolve:
- Using Swedish as often as I can
- Forcing Swedish friends to avoid English with me.
- Retaking some of my learning habits from before coming to Gothenburg.
I encourage you to join me in this resolution! I promise, Swedish is absolutely gorgeous and not that hard to learn. To get your feet going, I could share some of those habits I intend to retake:
You can start by joining LiveMocha, a social network/learning site where each lesson is divided into reading and listening, testing what you learned with a short quiz, writing a text and recording yourself reading a text. A great thing about this website is that people who are fluent in the language help correct your submissions, and can give you advice to speed your learning. What’s better, it is possible to form friendships with them and eventually organize meet ups.
One of the hardest parts for me was learning to pronounce the new vowels, with which Youtube becomes your best friend. Just search ”ÄÅÖ” and you’ll find plenty to manage.
After grasping the basics, my next step was building up vocabulary. MyLanguages.org, while simple, provided me with most of the Swedish words I actively remember. In some of the lessons it includes audio, which is perfect for working on listening and pronunciation.
When you feel a little confident, you can begin to undertake more practical tasks. An interesting exercise is trying to read online newspapers, while identifying known words, noticing commonly used unknown words and translating them, and finally attempting to get a general sense of the article. 8 Sidor is easy to start with, and GP is appropriate for when you feel like testing your limits! Comprehensive listening is also essential, and still one of my obstacles. To improve it, I used to spend a couple of hours a day listening to Sveriges Radio. Even if you barely understand anything, reading and listening to Swedish often can give you a general sense of how intonation and grammar work.
I’d say the most important thing is to be curious. Look up the words you don’t know. Investigate why the structure of a sentence is the way it is. When you see combined words, try to dissect them. When you see a word that looks like one you know but has a subtle change, learn what that change means. All of these things can teach you concrete things but also help you predict how other words and grammatical structures work. The Swedish Teacher can help satisfy some of that curiosity.
And of course, try to make Swedish friends online. It is fascinating to get to know someone who lives where you intend to move, and they prove to be helpful with practicing the language.
Learning a new language is always challenging, at times frustrating but incredibly rewarding. I still have a lot to learn, but we’ll get there! “Lycka till!” to those of you who decide to take this challenge with me, and I hope you wish me some luck back too!
Noble Week Dialogue 2013 in Gothenburg
This week Gothenburg hosted the prestigious Noble week dialogue. The event brings together noble laureates, world-leading scientists, policy makers and industry leaders to discuss the energy issues and the prospects of wide-range use of sustainable energy sources.
Reception area for the event
All the students in autumn 2013 in-take at Chalmers had the opportunity to sign up for the event and attend it in person. The event was hosted at the Svenska Massan, located at Korsvagen; it is the main exhibition centre and congress hall in Gothenburg. The building itself is mesmerising and aesthetically pleasing, having well lit spacious halls that give an aura of royalty and grandness. The event was divided into three phases; introductory seminars in the morning, lunch time sessions and three parallel streams of discussions in the afternoon. I signed up for the afternoon stream where the panellists were to discuss the promising renewable energy sources and the challenges of providing access to energy to all people across the globe. The panel comprised of six people including distinguished scientists like Steven Chu (Noble prize in physics 1997), David Gross (Noble prize Physics 2004), Alan Heeger (Noble prize Chemistry 2000) and Hartmut Michel (Noble prize Chemistry 1988).
For the younger stream of engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs today, the debate over sustainable energy is not something new; we all have grown up hearing about the promise of wind, solar and other alternate forms of energy. The need of the hour is to implement these ideas, and move the discussions out of the drawing rooms. This is where this event was different; it outlined various efforts where sustainable energy is being provided to under privileged people and the necessity to take these efforts a step ahead. Brazil, for example, is harvesting some of its barren territories to grow crops dedicated specifically to generation of bio-fuels. In a small village in Africa, solar panels have been installed over huts, which generate 3 W of electricity-enough to light a bulb and charge your phone- and function on a pre-paid scratch card system. It is too early to make judgements and dismiss any progress, as being too costly or in efficient. We have to supplement what we have with improved ideas to put brakes on the rapid environmental degradation of our planet. Similarly the baby-steps taken towards making energy more accessible should be appreciated. The catch here is not to set sight on the utopian vision of ‘a European lifestyle for every individual’. As the energy sector evolves it should give a sense of inclusivity to all and not merely make big bulky businessmen more heavy and spoilt!
The stage is set for the discussion to begin
These discussions instilled in me tremendous motivation to focus on energy efficient building solutions. The energy challenges of 21st century are exciting since they offer a tremendous scope for innovation. I feel that there is a dire need to break away from the age old notion of a ‘9 to 5 life’ and make ourselves more useful by working on core issues of our generation. Sitting and waiting for a mind-boggling invention or a million dollar idea is not good enough.
If we always keep the prevailing energy crisis in mind while we practice our professions, then all of us can make a difference and set the wheels rolling in the right direction. And then, along with this, to think of the million dollar idea that I mentioned above is not bad; world coming down crashing to your feet, media, interviews, popularity. Yeah! I love to think of all this too, so do you. Imagination is an amazing gift, takes you to the best places! Just make yourself useful for others while you are aspiring to find Neverland in some part of your head!
Chalmers International Reception Committee (CIRC) 2014
For the past few weeks the International Reception Committee at Chalmers (known as CIRC), has been hiring and looking for new members, to take over for the year 2014. I personally, admire the effort and work they have put in to make international students feel at home, and therefore was quick to sign-up for it.
Coming into a new system of education, culture and lifestyle is always a challenge and different people cope-up with it in different ways. As a new student my-self, a few months ago, the feeling of having someone to turn to in case of trouble was a great cushion and helped me with my transition abroad. When I reached Gothenburg after a pain staking 20 hour long flight, I felt like blowing my brains out when I learnt that my luggage was still in Stockholm !! It is a tough spot to be in if you do not know Swedish and your mind is not quite in the right place because of the fatigue. But thankfully one of the CIRC members helped me out and I got my luggage the next day! Moreover, through the reception committee’s page on facebook you can connect to the students in your batch even before meeting them. I was already in touch with a couple of my class mates before leaving Pakistan. The reception itself comprises of a series of social events like the sauna party, tram race around Gothenburg, Swedish sittning, International Dinner and many other exciting opportunities to mingle and get to know each other.
The tram race is one of the many exciting events organised during the reception
Having been a part of all the festivities, I really wanted to know what it takes to put all this together. Initially I was confused, as most of the applicants were, that wether working in CIRC was worth the time and effort and will I jeopardise my studies by doing so? However I decided to give it a shot. The recruitment process itself, was quite informal and fun. We had a couple of get together events before the interview stage, allowing the new probable members to get to know each other well in advance. The ambience during the interviews was that of a discussion, allowing the interviewees to speak out and opt for their roles in CIRC 2014. It felt great that the recruitment was not made to look like a rigorous, cut-throat competition; instead those willing to contribute were accommodated in best possible manner.
To be honest, I am still not sure about my decision; it’s a question of priorities and opportunity-cost. I am sure the gains out of this stint won’t be tangible; CIRC is an opportunity to work with a very diverse team of students with contrasting ideas, having nothing in common, but still trying to create something spectacular for people they have never seen! Where else in the world would you get a chance to do so! And then of course down the road, you are bound to make some good friends and good memories, that are going to last longer in your memory lane than everything that you learnt in school. If not anything else, it is certainly a breather from the grind of trying to get the best grades, beef-up our CV’s and hunting for lucrative deals to ‘sell’ your engineering knowledge. At the end, I guess, the decision depends on individual perception and what you want out of your university life. In my case I hope it will end up being a subtle experience, that I can look back on and smile about in a few years time.
So as a member of CIRC 2014 now I am really looking forward to organising the reception for the spring and autumn in-take and having some fun!
Members of CIRC 2013
Applying to foreign universities
Yes, it is that time of the year again. Among all the festivities of Christmas and zealous planning of winter vacations, is the hectic task of compiling the application for studies to a foreign University. There is always a wide mix of students trying to break into a University of good stature; from those who always had a “dream college in mind”, charged-up to explore more about their profession to those who just got a fancy idea of studying abroad a few weeks ago and set-off to pursue it. But no matter what the motivation, for majority, the application procedure remains an uphill task and speaking out of personal experience, not all aspirants make the distance; many will feel burnt-out and would bow out of the race because it’s too much stuff to keep track of. Last year I was part of the grind, and can still recall the never ending rounds of research about universities and of effort to perfect the paper work before dispatching it.
After a few months in Sweden, I have heard countless stories from different students about their “journey to Chalmers”. I must say each narrative I heard, taught me something new about what kinds of challenges exist at other places and how people manage to cope up with it. I personally come from a place where studying abroad is not a priority for many students and those who want to do so are left ill informed and are at great loss if they need some guidance or information. After my interaction with other students I realised that the lack of career counselling facilities back home and a casual attitude on part of students is a major hurdle, since many wait until too late before they begin their research. So for those who belong to similar backgrounds like myself, the challenge might seem more stiff, but the important thing is to stay in it; I did so, and I made it and I am sure anyone who desires to achieving international exposure at a young age, will give that extra bit and go through with the application process despite all the odds.
The best part with applying to Sweden was that you can send in a common application for four universities at a time. I loved the concept, and it is becoming increasingly popular across the world. It makes perfect sense too, since a large part of documentation is the same. So for the lazy ones out there, like myself, or should I say those who are looking for smarter ways of getting things done, Sweden should top your list of priorities. Now that I am through, I want to compare what I expected, to what I actually experienced at Chalmers, so as to help the new aspirants with their selections.
During my research, I was looking for an institute which has a vision that extends beyond the class room and helps you get a kick start into professional life. All that I read about Chalmers was exactly in line with what I wanted and I have not been disappointed since I have arrived. I have already been part of a career fare, attended multiple seminars conducting by different companies, and participated in activities that help improve your soft skills. The campus is always buzzing with some sort of social event or extracurricular activity. The ease with which the student union operates and the harmony in which all the committees function is commendable. For me the idea of a student union was synonymous with a redundant, financially challenged student body, so seeing Chalmers Student Union was refreshing. It speaks volumes about the superior work ethic in Chalmers and in Sweden. I felt, there is a sense of collective responsibility amongst the student community at Chalmers; each individual has a sense of ownership and looks after the facilities he enjoys on campus.
A choice you won’t regret
Your transition abroad to a new education system and a new culture opens a treasure-chest of knowledge. My time in Chalmers and Sweden, would not only polish me professionally but it would do wonders in building up my character, and my understanding of society and culture. The latter traits are the ones I shall cherish more. I hope all those gearing up for applying abroad do so with conviction. You might go through a few rough weeks, but the possibilities after that are exciting, rich and totally worth the trouble!
Gothenburg from atop
It was Friday and we had just finished a presentation for a group project. Against what we usually do, which is study some more, the entire group decided to go home and take a break. I was walking to the tram station and felt that something was off, something was missing. While looking at my surroundings it dawned on me: what was missing was the DARKNESS! For days I had been arriving to Chalmers while the sun wasn’t completely out, and leaving by the time sunset had long passed. Still in shock by how shiny things looked, I made the purpose of making the most out of the sunlight hours during the weekend. And not only that, I would also try to see as much as possible! This is how the “High Places” theme came to mind. A tower, a church on a hill and the top of an island were waiting for me.
On Saturday, the first stop was Guldhedstornet, a water tower constructed in 1953, which has a Café on top with a wonderful view.
From there you can see both unpopulated areas and the city.
Before leaving, I noticed a small path to the side of the tower. One of the interesting things about Gothenburg is that from pretty much everywhere, if you walk a few hundred meters you will most definitely stumble into nature. So following the trail I discovered what is now one of my favorite spots. The view is not as broad, but the beauty is increased by the surrounding rocks and fauna.
Next stop was Masthuggskyrkan, a church used as navigation point in Gothenburg. It sits on a hill and provides a splendid view over the harbor and river.
I arrived just before the sun started to slip away, which resulted in a hypnotizing panorama as the city slowly lit up. My very inappropriate gloves for the chilly weather made the visit shorter than planned, but the view was exceedingly worth the nearly frozen fingers.
In the next picture you can also see Sjömanstornet, a memorial tower built next to the Maritime Museum, from where the “Mariner’s Wife” gazes at the river. This one I will visit in the future, since it’s currently closed for the season.
Today, my daylight hours were spent away from the city, in what many consider the #1 must-see in Gothenburg: the Southern Archipelago. The ferry trip to the islands takes about 20 minutes, but it’s almost as impressive as the islands themselves.
Stora Rös, the highest point in the Styrsö island, was one of the first places I visited at my arrival in Gothenburg. The “High Places” thematic weekend was the perfect excuse to return and see the traditional Swedish red and white houses from above. I have now been to the Archipielago thrice, and don’t think I will get tired of it any time soon.
After hundreds of stairs and some rock climbing, the (surprisingly purple) sunset happily marked the end of my weekend adventure.
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