Friday, September 02, 2005


The Swedes really like forming lines, anywhere were it's possible they'll make a line (or queue as they call them here). They have those numbered tickets here to make sure no one cuts, sitting at the bank or migration office is a lot like that waiting room scene in Beetlejuice. There's a nation here called Stockholm, it's one of the bigger, more impressive nations with a real big dance club. Unfortunately they're a tad snooty, so there's a bit of mutual animosity between Stockholm and all the other nations. There was a huge line to get in, they wouldn't let anyone in until 2 hours after they officially opened. What was the purpose of this line? Nothing, save that the Swedes like queues.
Once in, I was confronted with a new problem: I'm probably one of the youngest people at Uppsala University. It seems that students in their 1st or 2nd year either take a break from college or go studying abroad. Consequently roughly 3/4ths of my graduating class is not at Uppsala. The result of this can be summed up in a brief dialogue:

Hot Swedish girl: So how old are you?
Me: ...Almost 20.
Hot Swedish girl: If you're 19 that means I'm 4 years older than you.
Me: *polite smile* (fuck!)

Another thing I've noticed in the clubs so far is that Swedes, the girls especially, can't dance. This sort of makes me feel better cuz I blend right in. Maybe that's because they go right from reserved awkwardness to drunken awkwardness without that graceful period in between. A notable exception to this rule are these real weird students who are in charge of welcoming new students. The different departments at Uppsala (law, computer science, medicine etc.) all have initiation rituals for new students (the 1/4th that's still here?) where they play random games and make the new students wear shower caps or big orange cards (see above photo, the ones in capes are their masters). Anyway, these people, who can best be described as 'nerds', are really good dancers. Now just try to imagine a universe where hot blonde nerds are the best dancers on the floor.

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