First day at Malmö University!

So far, so good! I had an amazing time settling here in Malmö. Yesterday I received my Welcome Package from school, containing lots of interesting stuff, like a swedish SIM-card, sketchbook, informational leaflets, fun facts and helpful sheets, as well as a schedule of the coming week. It's awesome! Everybody is extremely helpful, and everything you need to know is about covered such as the bus system, insurance, residence permits, etc. 

I'm starting off with the Introduction Program these two weeks, which is more intensive than I had expected. Today I met a lot of amazing people from e.j. England, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, and of course there are quite some Dutch people as well! There were two lectures today, one welcome meeting, which was a re-cap of everything you need to know, as well as an introduction to all the people whom we'll be seeing more often.

     

The other was a 2-hour introduction to the Swedish Language, which was very interesting, and a great way to get started, since tomorrow I'll be having my first Swedish class from 8:30 to 12:00 with my specified group (which includes people from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and more Dutchies!). After that there will be another lecture from 13:00 to 14:00 about Safety & Security in Malmö, and to finish it off with a Movie & Crafts evening at 18:00, where we will get to see a Swedish movie (apparently a contemporary classic) plus work on our own personal mask for a masquerade party on Saturday (not sure if I'm going to the party though).

Otherwise to finish up today, we ended with the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) to play a couple of games together. Simple games to break the ice, switching things up and getting to know one another.

Did I mention that the cafeteria here is astonishing? Around €6,70 for a whole freaking meal, with e.j. potato mash, fish, a drink and a salad buffet from whence you can enjoy lots of options and take as much as you want, like broccoli, pasta salad, sauces, etc. I LOVE IT. Still a bit expensive and not something to do regularly, but still awesome.

Short video about Malmö by other Exchange Students from a previous semester to give an impression:

Next week I'll be having my Swedish Language Course from 9:00 to 12:00 every day, and after that, in the afternoon, there's a lecture and an activity. Days are packed with fun! On monday there's a library tour and computer introduction as well as ice skating together at an ice rink. Did I mention that I never ice skated before? Well, there you have it. I never did that. EVER. I'm so scared! D:

On tuesday there's a lecture on what you can do in Malmö in your free time and some fun dairy product sample tasting (aka tasting swedish food products, YES!). On wednesday we'll have an introduction to the political history of Sweden, followed by a visit to your faculty - which means in my case a visit to the building of arts & communication! On thursday we'll get an introduction to the Swedish Academic system (how their grading system works, etc) and a visit to a sauna in the sea called Ribersborgs Kallbadhus. It's literally on poles above the sea, so the idea is that after you got all hot and sweaty in the sauna, you jump into the freezing water below. Exciting, crazy, insane! I'm going to do it! Or am I...

And lastly, the introductions are finished off with a Malmö City Bus Tour and a welcome reception at the school restaurant (so it includes more FOOD). Of course I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and keep you updated!
 
On another note, I'm still anxiously waiting for my graphic tablet to arrive, so once I have that I hope to finish my commissions as well, please hang in there! :)