Ahh, that Sweden...

First snow. I admit - it was kind of magic :)

Dear all,

I know it`s been a while since my last blog post here about my new life in Sweden. Even some international friends told me that they haven`t seen me for years. That is quite true. I was invisible a bit and pretty busy (FOI courses, Swedish courses, WLM) but I am here! :) And I feel very good! 

It`s been almost two months since I`ve been in Sweden.
Time is really flying! But really, really flying! 

So how am I?

I think I finally feel that going to Sweden and studying at Mid Sweden University was one of the best decisions I made lately. You should have seen me first few days, though. I was complaining about this and that (my poor family... I think they really felt sorry for me) but now I am doing great. Weeee! :)

• Sundsvall is nice. Even though I was surprised to see the first snow last week (it was middle of October) and even though it is very cold here if I compare it with my home country, I am used to those things now. There is my "standard" uniform for going out here: scarf, cap, gloves, warm jacket and boots and then world is perfect.

P.S. Have I told you I like scarves? Xmas, New Year, graduation day, b-day is coming... So if you are wondering how to surprise me and make me very happy - buy me a new scarf. :) Ahhh, I still remember packing my suitcases for Sweden with my mom... it was SO HARD to decide which scarf is going with me since I had weight limit. Ohhh, memories...

• Mid Sweden Uni or Miun as we call it is so...I dunno, so relaxed I think if I compare it to my home uni. I have a feeling that Swedish students have much more free time and they have relaxed and easy relationships with their professor than we do in Croatia. It was so strange to me at the beginning, but now I think it would be so strange to me to come back to home uni. Luckily, this is my last semester so I don`t have to worry about FOI lectures anymore.

• International students are really good. I am happy I met so many different people from the whole world. Of course you can`t be closed and agree with everyone, but in addition it is very nice to meet them all. I just think I need to spend more time with real Swedish people. :) I know just a few of them. And I want to try some real Swedish food. I heard they use a lot of cranberry sauce. It would be nice to try it. I won`t refuse some real Swedish dinner for sure. :D

Cranberry sauce (umak od brusnice)

I found very funny facts about Sweden and how do you know you`ve been in Sweden too long:

• The first thing you do upon entering a bank/post office/chemist etc. is to look for the queue number machine. [Ohh yess...] 
• Hugging is reserved for sexual foreplay. [I really haven`t noticed any couples here holding their hands or hugging each other. Swedes are not romantic or what?? :) ]
• You no longer see any problem wearing white socks with sandals.  [I mean, REALLY?]
• You have conversations with people outside when it is –10C. [heheheh]
• You get extremely annoyed when the bus is two minutes late.  [Ohh yes... Remember my Alnon adventure :P]
• You think women are more than equal than men and deserve to have better positions in the work place. [Indeed]
• Paying $6 for a cup of coffee seems reasonable. [Nooot]
• You start to differentiate between types of snow.  [We will see that!]
• You accept that you will never again wear your beautiful stiletto heels because:> a: there's snow everywhere and even if you did then,> b: you still have to take them off at the door which instantly ruins the hitherto glamorous line of whatever you were wearing as you drop, 10cm, onto your flat feet in your short and sexy little black dress. Not the same effect at all. [Unfortunately]
• You think it is normal EVERYTHING is regulated and you obey the rules voluntarily.  [heheh]
• When returning to "civilisation" you hear yourself saying TACK all the time. [hahahah]

Enjoy in the rest of facts by yourself! :)

I hope I will find some time to go for a walk these days and take a lot of pictures of Sundsvall in autumn before winter comes. Till then, enjoy in one of my favorite songs ever!  
Hej då!

One of the best dreams by Marta Lalić

Hey guys!

I lost a bet and needed to publish Marta`s short story written in English all by herself. She is only 11. I am proud of her because of her English, but still this post has nothing to do with my Swedish adventures. :P But promise is a promise! 

Here we go then...

BOO-YAAH! I was in Tokyo. It was night. There were so many trees and so many people as well. I found myself in such a weird street and nobody was there. Then, suddenly I heard some screams - Waahh!! A big green monster with a hole in its chest was there. The monster was huge and it had a bone mask on his big head. It was screaming so creepy and walking towards me. I was so scared and hide myself behind a stone. Then a woman in a black with her sword suddenly appeared. She was so cool and screamed: “Hollow!” It was very creepy again. Then she continued screaming something like: “Some No Mai! Hakuren!” The next thing I saw there were iced daggers that broke through that big green monster and killed it. After that the woman came closer to me. She was so familiar to me. Her powers were also very familiar to me. Ohh, yes! It was Rukia, the Shinigami, a cool girl from my favourite animated cartoon. (I don't want to say the name of the cartoon.) Shinigami's or Soul reapers are actually magic people who are fighting for good against the Arrancars, destroyers of the world. So, Rukia came closer to me and said ... 

Ooooh! Why now! My mum woke me up. Why!!!!????

Byeeee! See you soon with more appropriate blog post :D.

Her majesty Aurora Borealis

Aurora Borealis in the front of my apartment

On Tuesday very late in the evening we could see a natural light display in the Sundsvall sky which is showing particularly in the high latitude of Arctic and Antarctic regions. It is caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere. It is called northern lights or aurora borealis. (Well, of course Google helped me here). I didn`t know how to explain it although I still remember my strict teacher from the primary school and giving her best to describe the northern lights in simple words. I also thought it would be great to see that one day in the future and that day ALMOST came.

Why almost? Because I didn`t make it and saw it properly! Grrrrr.... I was doing something on my laptop as usual and then promised to myself not to go and check Facebook (Does it sound familiar?) and I REALLY wasn`t checking Facebook for some time. And then it turned out I should have because there I noticed Natalia`s great picture of aurora borealis acroos the sky in Nacksta, our place.

Then I moved my curtains from the window - didn`t see anything.

I ran on my balcony but still didn`t see anything.

Then I even ran outside (I just put my coat over pajamas) and still didn`t see almost nothing.

Northern lights disappeared. She could wait a bit so I can see her, don`t you think so? 

BUT, she will come again I am sure this time I will see her. There are more international students who didn`t make it to see the aurora borealis too but we are all very grateful to Natalia who took the excellent picture of it and made our day! Well done, Natalia! :) (Ahhh, Polish people, you must love them!)

One important lesson learned though - always check your Facebook! :D

I finally tried Swedish cinnamon bun!

So, morning after seeing/not seeing aurora borealis the International desk made a little surprise for all international students and showed us how they celebrate a sweet Swedish tradition - Cinnamon bun day. They prepared a little quiz about Sweden`s and Mid Sweden`s University history and facts.  Alex won on that quiz and got the Miun T-shirt (Ahhh I wanted it so badly :D.)

Delicious cinnamon buns

Cinnamon bun`s recipe

Cinnamon buns are good. Jocahim told me they are way better when they are warm and especially along with a hot beverage of some sort. I have to try that! :) Then we will see!

Anyway, I will also take this chance and say few words about the International desk here at Mid Sweden Uni. Girls who work there are really great and always ready to help you by giving you advice and telling you where you can find a good dentist for example (my teeth is better, thank God and the world is a better place now) or how to reach your professor and so on. 

Amanda, Cecilia and Sara thank you for being so nice to us! :)

See you guys! Enjoy the rest of the week. Weekend is near. Do you have any plans?

Your Maja

Sundsvall Dragons

Free tickets, donuts and T-shirts

It has all started on Tuesday when we got the free tickets (and donuts!) from Sundsvall`s famous basketball team "Sundsvall Dragons". We even took the picture with some of them. Aren`t they cute?

Part of the basketball team with their cheerleaders :D

After that we just needed to wait the big day - the match. It was on Friday afternoon and I think half of Sundsvall was there and of course all international students. They are everywhere all day/all nigh. :D

Most of the international students also came there earlier to get the free T-shirts. 

Cheerleaders with free T-shirts

I will show you some pictures so you can see the atmosphere.

Before the game
photo by Natalia Dobrowolska

Ready for the game

Sundsvall Dragons
photo by Natalia Dobrowolska

Go, go Dragons! 

photo by Mats Ågebrant

Our team lost :/

Although Sundsvall Dragons lost against basketball team from Uppsala we were proud on their game. This was the premiere game of the Sundsvall Dragons, so there is plenty time for winning the other teams. :) So, guys from basketball team don`t be sad and cheer up! See you on the next game!

P.S. I can see that I have more than 2.000 unique visitors (from Croatia, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, German, Pakistan, Japan, USA, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands and so on). Wooow! Thank you people and see you soon! ;) 

Fika (apple pie and coffee in McDonald`s for 15 sek) on Tuesday afternoon
My first visit to McDonald`s though

A Birthday Post

Awwww ^^

Greetings to all of you! :)

Do you remember my last post dedicated to my younger brother? 

Marta, my lovely younger sister sure does since the first question she asked after reading the blog post was: "... And me? Where I am... " :D :D :D

Well, that is Marta - the youngest, the smartest, the sweetest one in our family! And we love her for being just the way she is.

So, my dear Marta, of course I didn`t forget you. How could I? I just waited for a few more days to make/record/edit/write the special post all about you for your birthday!!! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARTA! :*

For those who don`t know - exactly 11 years ago my mom was in a great pain I suppose,  my dad was scared and crazy I assume, my brother Toni was in his first grade in primary school and I was playing a big 12-year old sister trying to take everything under control (the laundry, the lunch, bro and dad,... yeahh right :D). And then on that 3d October 2001. little Marta was born and the world has changed to all of us.

Toni from Varaždin & Maja from Sundsvall wish you the happy b-day!

So Marta, check this out!

Toni and I made you a little surprise for your day. Since he is in Varaždin (Croatia) and I am in Sundsvall (Sweden) we can`t be there and eat all your birthday cake but we decided to wish you happy b-day in our own way. I hope you will like it! Enjoy your video!

P.S. Don`t worry. Your real present is also coming to you, somewhere from the USA I think. Be patient. Pusaaa! :*