Random Reflections: Halftime Report

Well, we've now hit the halfway point in our semester at SVF!  In a way it feels like we've been here for a lot longer, and yet at the same time it feels like we just got here yesterday.  I've really been loving it here in Sweden, and my friends here at SVF have been so nice to me.  Now that it's autumn, the leaves outside have been changing colors, and with so many trees around it's really a neat site to see.  It kinda reminds me of pictures of New England in the fall.  We even had a Halloween party just last night.  Really made things feel a bit like they do at home in America.  I love Halloween!

As for school work, it's mostly going well.  Of course our History of the Mediterranean class has been great with our recent trip to Rome, but I still struggle with Swedish quite a bit.  If anyone reading this is planning on going to SVF, I would highly recommend making sure you keep up on your studies in Swedish like you would at North Park.  Around here the courses aren't as homework heavy, so you'll find you'll have quite a bit of free time to do other stuff.  (In fact, those who are used to - or perhaps enjoy - a heavier workload may find themselves going a bit crazy from having a lack of stuff to do outside of class.)  However, Swedish requires constant study and review and practice.  Unfortunately, I haven't really kept up on that like I should, so now I'm struggling.  So the advice I offer is "the best cure is prevention," so prevent yourself from being in this position by keeping up on stuff, even if the consequences seem like their a ways away.  Catch up to it before it catches up with you.

But having free time isn't all a bad thing though of course.  It's because of having this kind of time we were able to go on our trips around Europe, and I've gotten to do some fun stuff with my friends here like having a Halloween party. Being interesting in drawing and graphic arts, I've also found that being here in Sweden has allowed me to do more with those kinds of things.  Especially with seeing so many different places, I've had quite a bit of inspiration to go off of.  In the end, you just have to find the right balance, and roll with it.  :)

'Water Fairy'
One of the graphic arts projects I've done
since being here in Sweden.

'To Have Wings Raven Black'
Just something I sketched out in one of
my notebooks.