Blogposts posted during 2012

A Very Swedish Christmas (1)

By: Rebecca Francis

If I can say nothing else about Sweden, one thing I can say is that the Swedes sure hold strong to their holiday traditions. It’s almost like a magical season here with things kicking off the first Sunday of Advent which marks the beginning of the...

2 January 2012  0 Comments

A Very Swedish Christmas (2)

By: Rebecca Francis

My Christmas celebrations started in mid-December with a Christmas party hosted by FIRE, the student Christian group. It was a night filled with games, laughter and a delicious selection of Swedish delicacies. We arrived in our finest attire ready...

6 January 2012  0 Comments

Love Is In the Air

By: Rebecca Francis

It seems like just yesterday I was writing my Christmas posts, of which I didn't finish by the way. It's February though and who wants to read about Christmas? Not me. Instead, love is in the air. In just a few sweet hours, Valentine's Day will be...

14 February 2012  0 Comments

Pure Peach

By: Rebecca Francis

I think I spoke to soon. I had just finished writing a post about being able to survive in Sweden with only English when I was gently reminded why Swedish is actually a useful language to know in Sweden (smiles). The past few weeks have been busy:...

20 April 2012  0 Comments

The Sun Must Be Tired

By: Rebecca Francis

The sun must be tired. It has spend the last week and a half dancing across the sky and I couldn't be happier. I can see that I am not the only one either. It seems that here in little Skovde the sun has a positive effect not only on nature but th...

24 April 2012  0 Comments

Fruit Salad

By: Rebecca Francis

Last week I went into the supermarket and headed straight for the produce section. Into my basket went strawberries, pineapple, mango, kiwi - oh what a beautiful fruit salad this was to be. Some of my favorites! As I walked away out of the corner ...

28 April 2012  0 Comments

There's Just Something About That Wagon

By: Rebecca Francis

I love cars! There is something about the sleekness of a well-designed car, that makes me go ooh la la! Back in the day when I was at university (as if that was so long ago right?) I use to study cars. I had a car magazine that I kept with me at a...

30 April 2012  0 Comments

So This is Ikea

By: Rebecca Francis

Sweden: home to H&M, Volvo, The Pirate Bay, Absolut Vodka, Spotify and also guest home to Skype and Sony-Ericsson. Another popular brand with roots in Sweden is none other than Ikea, the home goods store known to many near and far. Prior to my...

11 May 2012  0 Comments

No Place Like Home

By: Rebecca Francis

There is no place like home. Home matters. When I return to any of my previous "homes" there is always a flood of feelings that I experience. With each passing day I am constantly reminded about the pleasant memories and times spent with family,...

28 May 2012  0 Comments

Mummy Love

By: Rebecca Francis

May 13th is Mothers Day. Not here in Sweden, but in my home country and many more countries around the world. Although I will not be with my own mother, there are many life lessons that she and other mothers have instilled in me. These lessons hav...

29 May 2012  0 Comments

Don't Quit

By: Rebecca Francis

As the academic semester winds down, we find that now is the time when deadlines are fast approaching. Exams, assignments, thesis presentations, final projects and a host of other school related exercises are upon us. You may be feeling a little b...

7 June 2012  0 Comments

Wearing Heels

By: Rebecca Francis

I enjoy wearing heels. Sometimes there are days when I wake up in the mood to throw on some heels and...well, just prance about. It's not a daily occurrence but it happens often enough, and well, today was one of those days. For me, the choice of...

7 June 2012  0 Comments

Public holidays

By: Rebecca Francis

Public Holidays I could get use to this. It feels like there's a public holiday every other week. During these past few months there seems to be quite a few days off. During the winter months public holidays seemed few and far between. When I say...

29 June 2012  0 Comments

See you

By: Rebecca Francis

See You! We are well into summer - beautiful sunshine, warmer days and plenty of activities to pass the days. Most of us have taken a pause for the summer holiday. Some have traveled and some have remained. Whatever you plan, wherever you go: have...

29 June 2012  0 Comments

Matfestivalen

By: Rebecca Francis

Every year during late August, Skovde holds Matfestivalen, a food festival. A lovely end to the lovely summer where food, music and live entertainment are on display for your choosing. Approximately, 40,000 hungry people stroll through the streets...

2 October 2012  0 Comments

Another School Year

By: Rebecca Francis

Another school year is underway! I would like to wish a hearty welcome to the new students and to the returning students, welcome back! I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer holiday: sunny days filled with warmth, good food, family, friends and...

2 October 2012  0 Comments

The Firts Couple of Weeks

By: Rebecca Francis

 It has been a couple of weeks. I imagine that for the new students things are slowly changing from the unfamiliar to the familiar. The 'newness' of it all may still be there but you may have settled into a nice, little routine. Perhaps you have...

2 October 2012  0 Comments

Remembering

By: Rebecca Francis

I was recently asked about what I remembered about my experience when moving to this country for the first time. I remember that things got easier/ better over time, but in the beginning I remember: Getting off at wrong bus stops because all the...

1 November 2012  0 Comments

Where Would You Like to Live?

By: Rebecca Francis

I went to dinner with some mates from the local church. While we were waiting for our meal to be served the question was asked "Where would you ultimately like to live and call home?" For me, home will always be where my loved ones are. So if the...

1 November 2012  0 Comments

Thank You!

By: Rebecca Francis

Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving this past Monday. No, I'm not Canadian but I spent the day with a Canadian and oh well, that should count for something (smiles). Thanksgiving also celebrated in the United States of America, is a time of...

1 November 2012  0 Comments

I'll Trade You a Smile

By: Rebecca Francis

Smiles are apart of the universal language. There are moments in life when a smile is all you need. I remember once getting on a train in Eastern Europe and feeling at a total lost. The only other person in my train compartment was this older lady...

1 November 2012  0 Comments

October Babies

By: Rebecca Francis

October is an expensive month for me. Starting from the 2nd of the month right down to the 25th of the month is birthday after birthday after birthday. My mum, sister, aunt, 4 cousins and 2 close friends are all October babies. Speaking of which,...

1 October 2012  0 Comments

Season Bliss

By: Rebecca Francis

Autumn, otoño, jesień, höst, automne, fall. A season of beauty marking the transition from summer to winter. The season when magic happens and leaves transform into bright hues of red, orange and yellows. Fall is peace, fall is tranquility, fall i...

1 November 2012  0 Comments

Alla Helgons Dag

By: Rebecca Francis

I wonder how long it takes for a person to live in a country before they become familiar with all the holidays. As usual, I was a bit late in finding out that this Saturday, November 3rd is  Alla Helgons Dag or All Saints Day in English. The publi...

1 November 2012  0 Comments

Chineese Moon Festival

By: Rebecca Francis

Sunday was Chinese Moon Festival Day, a national holiday celebrated in five Asian countries. A few of my friends who couldn't make it home to celebrate in their native countries decided to bring the celebrations to us. They prepare different dishe...

1 November 2012  0 Comments

Cube Squared

By: Rebecca Francis

This past weekend I visited my brother's friends, a family now living in Sweden but who still remain close with some practices from back home. This past Saturday they held a little gathering, what was the occasion you ask? There was none (smiles)....

13 November 2012  0 Comments

Perfect Imperfections

By: Rebecca Francis

A colleague of mine wrote a piece the other day about appreciating things just the way they are. Since the age of 3, she has experienced different optical aids to help with her eyesight including bifocals, glasses, eye patches etc. On her most...

12 December 2012  0 Comments

Yummy Yummy

By: Rebecca Francis

Last month (October) the International Committee hosted it usual International Dinner. Usual as in a regularly occurring event but unusual in that they changed things up a bit this year. Instead of having food prepared for us, this year the studen...

12 December 2012  0 Comments

Winter's Coming?...No, Winter's Here

By: Rebecca Francis

It was whispered in my ear that winter was coming. Weeks ago I was advised but I paid no attention to the warning. Even when the snow lightly fell a few weeks ago, I didn't believe. Well I believe now. Snow, snow and more snow. It may look like...

12 December 2012  0 Comments

Rebecca Francis

About

Once upon a time there was a girl called Beckie. One day this girl decided to travel further East from the United Kingdom to the little, big country of Sweden. She thought it would be interesting to dabble in the life sciences at the Högskolan I Skövde and henceforth this blog begins….

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