Where the hell is Andy?

Where my heads at

2010-01-11T12:55:00.002+11:00

Now I've been back from sweden for quite a while but I figured why let a blog just die when there is things to be said like for instance how has microblogging taken off so well. I understand the point of reading a blog it gives you story and experiences of people right round the world but microblogging just lets me know when people take shit or feel like being a bit of an attention seeker. I guess my point is that more people should consider blogging instead of microblogging

Home Again

2009-01-15T19:51:00.003+08:00

Well seems I'm finally home again not that this means the end of my blog though. So I've just had a fantastic and undescibable year in Sweden learnt the language, met the people and my friends all over the world for life. It was really strange coming back at first but now everything is starting to click in to place.

Christmas in Sweden

2009-01-04T06:23:00.003+08:00

Well just thought I should better do at least one last blog before returning home not to say that this is the last just that it quite possibly could be. I figured what better topic then christmas for this post since this year I had my very first white christmas which i have to say was absolutely beautiful beyond belief. Also I had my first real christmas tree which I got to help chop down. Definately more fun than those plastic ones we get back home. One thing I noticed about christmas here in Sweden is that it jumps up more suddenly then in Australia it was the 20th December before I really even start thinking about christmas but from the 21st to the 29th christmas was a solid family affair with my host families son his wife and daughter and my host dad's father coming to stay and doing nothing between those days but enjoying each others company in coversation and activities. Well the fact is I had a wonderful christmas and here is what I managed to capture of it.

Andy Vs Liseberg and the Christmas dinner!

2008-12-15T04:42:00.010+08:00

Well this weekend my first host famiy invited me to go with them to Göteborg (Gothemberg for you uncultured folk). So obviously I went. The main highlights of the weekend being the 5 course dinner. As seen Below.

The Sill Plate, The cold fish plate, the meat plate, the varm fish plate and the Dessert Plate.

Then after that meal it was off to liseberg a place of light and giant chocolate. Where my host sister won the giant toblerone i wanted and i got a little box of strawberry chocolates:(

And here is a video from Liseberg tornet a tower ride in liseberg.

My trip up north ways!

2008-12-15T04:24:00.002+08:00

Recently I made a trip up north to Boden, Luleå, Solefteå and Sundvall to see some of my exchange student friends ( kompisar in Swedish) for the last time. It was alot of fun to hang out with them and see how their exchange worked for them in their own towns.

Just so you know I'm Alive!

2008-11-06T21:28:00.002+08:00

Ok haven't made a blog for quite sometime now but just so you all know. I'm alive and well and have moved into my last family they are really nice and the first family where I've had both a host mum and dad. So just letting you all know I'm going to try to get back on track with this blog and keep you up to date until I'm safely back in Australia.

Euro Ramble

2008-07-26T23:45:00.007+08:00

Well where to start - I guess from the beginning. The date was June 24th and sometime that evening around seven I set off from Falun train station to Börlange train station where I met Steven from Queensland and Cameron from Seattle. We then continued from there to Hållsberg a place in the middle of nowhere, where to our dismay we found nowhere to eat. From there it was straight to Malmö.

We arrived there sometime early in the morning as planned so we could spend a day looking around Copenhagen. Copenhagen turned out to be a really nice city and we even managed to find KFC there. One of the funniest things about Copenhagen was their traffic lights which had count down timers on them so it made it literally a race to get across the road.

We then headed back to Malmö for check in at the Quality Hotel where we would spend that night. The next morning after breakfast was briefing time and all 70 of us rocked up to be told the do's an dont's of Euro Ramble. Then it was time for us to all jump onto the bus and head out on our way to Berlin.

Well after a gruelling trip we finally arrived in Berlin and piled into the Hotel. Then it was off for our first German meal at where else but a German pub with a live band. After dinner we were taken to the centre of Berlin so we could look around that evening or watch the soccer match between Russia and Spain. Spain won to the dismay of some of the Russians who were out that night.

The next day first stop was Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall which I actually found really interesting. There was another interesting thing I discovered that day and his name was Ampelman the Eastern part of Berlin's Streetlight man representing the happy communist worker heading to work. After that we were given free time in the centre again but this time during the day where I managed to buy myself a very nice looking (snygg in Swedish) Ampelman shirt. Then we headed back to the hotel where the Chaperons tried to organise some games with us that worked semi effectively at bringing the group more together.

The next morning it was time to head off for Cracow. The night we arrived there we had dinner at a Jewish Restaurant. Then we walked around Cracow which is certainly not the prettiest city but has a cultural feel about it with the unusual characters that were out that night. The next morning it was time for a tour of the Cracow Jewish ghetto from WWII, where Schindlers list was filmed. Then we set off to see some of the better looking churches of Cracow's near thousand churches. Later we were given free time to find somewhere to eat and the people I was with managed to find a nice pizzeria. After lunch it was off to Auschwitz the largest Nazi death camp during the War. It was not the most enjoyable experience but it was very interesting and definitely worth doing. The next day we moved to Prague.

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. Now the image you have in your head of what Prague looks like if you haven't been there is completely wrong. It does not at all look like a broken down Eastern European city. It is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen in my life. Prague looks and is a cultural capital of the world. We spent our time in Prague sightseeing and shopping (another great thing about Prague is the exchange rate). We also had a ferry ride for dinner on our last night in Prague and were then allowed to go to Central Europe's Largest disco which was great fun. From Prague it was then onto Zell am See via Salzburg.

On our way to Zell am See in Austria we made a stop in Salzburg the birth place of Mozart and the city where the Sound of Music takes place. It was quite nice and in a lot of ways looked similar to Prague. From there it was off to Zell am See the absolute prettiest place I have seen in my life. Zell am See is a village situated around a crystal clear lake and surround by the Alps. The first night we just had a bit of a rest but the next day it was off to hike one of the Mountains. Hiking up that mountain in Zell am See with most of the other exchange student is without exception the most awesome and unreal experience I have ever had and while you get a glimpse from the photos nothing beats being there. After coming down the mountain it was time to relax and go swimming in the crystal clear lake. There’s nothing quite like swimming in a beautiful lake surrounded by the Alps. We were then off again the next day this time till Lido d'Jesolo.
With Lido d'Jesolo came the beach which even though we had been stuck in a traffic jam and arrived at 11 o'clock we made sure we enjoyed it as much as we could by going straight away for a night swim. The next day was a free day where we could do what we liked and I spent the first half of it exploring Lido d'Jesolo with Ornie from Argentina and Poala from Mexico. After that we headed back to the hotel where we found out that the World University Handball championship was being held in Lido d'Jesolo and the Australian team was about to play the Czech Republic. Entry was free so bang! Us Aussie were off like lightning to support our team dragging some of the other exchangees with us. Unfortunately Australia lost 50 to 11. The next day it was off to see Venice the sunken island off the coast from Lido d'Jesolo which I ended up being disappointed about because whilst Venice was pretty it smelled quite bad and there were so many tourists. The worst part was the shop assistants and restaurant waiters who were nothing but rude to us the whole time we were there obviously because we were teenagers. Then the following day it was off to Lyon.

We only stayed one night in Lyon because we needed a place to stop on our way to Paris and it was a fairly uneventful evening.

Next day though it was off to Paris on quite a strange bus ride. But once we were there I found Paris to be quite a beautiful and cultural city. The first night we were there we went to see a French cabaret which whilst strange was very enjoyable. The next day it was up to the top of the Eiffel Tower then we had free time to explore Paris. So some of the others and I decided we would head out to the catacombs. Here during the black plague due to over crowded graveyards thousands and thousands of exhumed bodies were moved and whilst it was creepy I found it very interesting. The next day we had a full day to ourselves to explore Paris So some of us headed straight for the Louvre and after 5hrs or so there it was then a short walk to the Notre Dame Cathedral which is nothing less than extravagant. After that all of them except me and an Australian girl named Ella were tired and decided to go back to the hotel whilst Ella and I walked back to the Louvre and then down the Champs Elysee to the Arc de Triomphe. After that it was back for dinner then we went to see the Eiffel Tower after dark which was spectacular. After that with my legs almost collapsing it was time to sleep. The next day it was off to Belgium.

The trip to Brussels was fairly short and once there we were allowed walk around and find lunch for ourselves which for most ended up being Belgium Waffles. It was then time to move onto Antwerp where we would spend the night. Antwerp can pretty much be summed up in two words "Jewellery stores" as almost every second store in Antwerp is a jewellery store. However we did manage to find some good chocolate and the food at the hotel was the best of the whole trip I thought.

Back to Germany into a small town called Hagen our last stop because the next day we would be heading back to Sweden. We didn't really do anything too cultural in Hagen. It just served as the place where we had our Farewell party which was a whole lot of fun. I ended up winning the most annoying accent award.

The next day we were back in Malmo and it was the end of Eurotour a very sad moment but at least the majority of us were staying for the night in Malmo so at least this delayed the goodbyes.

All in all it was the greatest thing I have ever done and I'm just sad that we couldn't all have stayed together for longer.

Part 1

Part 2

Mid Sommar at Leksand

2008-06-24T17:25:00.005+08:00

I spent Mid Summer which is probably Sweden's closest thing to Australia day at Leksand a town about an hour by bus from Falun and mid summer at leksand is serious turned out more people showed up to watch the Maypole being raised and dance around it than turned up to Hultsfred Music Festival. Crazy would be the best word to describe Swedes at Mid summer.

All in all Mid summer turned out to be great fun. It also included a killer Breakfast the next day with me and Ryan who were both heading to Borlänge having a kilo of yoghurt each and sharing a litre of Orange Juice.

9.30pm Sunset

2008-06-17T19:11:00.003+08:00

Hultsfred 08

2008-06-17T06:46:00.007+08:00

WOOOOOH!! just returned from Hultsfred Music Festival which was Awesome. I got to see RATM who I missed by a week in Perth so looks like Karma is on my side. I just think it was a great experience to see that part of Swedish culture and to find some Swedish bands that are worth listening to.

So basically on the 7th of June I departed to Hultsfred and arrived very late so I simply set up my tent and slept the next day we set up Pausen (The Pause) a snack place for functional staff and the place I would be working that week. Then from the 9th till the 11th we watched as the festival was set up around us. Then the 12th to 14th were festival time where when I wasn't working I was out exploring Swedish festival culture. Then came the 15th a day of exhaustion packing up and going home. But this is definitely an experience I will remember for ever.

Disney Concert

2008-06-01T20:59:00.002+08:00

Hey! Wow two post in one day I'm doing pretty well. At school during the past few weeks a lot of my spare time and weekends was spent on practising for the Music classes Disney concert. Basically what it was is the Music class at my school had arrange all kinds of different Disney pieces themselves and recruited and band, singers and dancers to perform them. As I play trombone I was recruited for the band and even though a lot of time was spent practising for the concert I feel it was worth it because all three performances turned out spectacularly.

Make a free photo slideshow

Biology Camp in Stockholm

2008-06-01T19:27:00.002+08:00

Ok sorry I am a bit behind in my blogs but here it goes. A few weeks ago All the Science line classes in my grade at school got to go to a Biology camp in Stockholm. Yes I'm aware of the irony that we had to go from the country to the city to see nature. While we were there we got to visit an Outdoor museum which was the first of its kind in the world. But if you ask me it's just a zoo with heritage building put all over the place. Go bird watching near a lake where I spent more time figuring out what the translations for bird names are then bird watching.

We Slept at a Backpackers inn and my group totally got the best room it was breakfast room adjacent. So much so that only a curtain separated the two rooms, now that is convenient. The next day was off to the Natural history Museum and the Stockholm Gardens as well as a talk from a Professor on Bio-toxins. Then all that was left was the ride home.

Make a free photo slideshow

New Host Family

2008-05-14T04:23:00.004+08:00

Here are some pictures of my new Host Family. We're it's just My host Mum, brother, the two dogs and I as the 3 older daughters have moved out.

The House and my Host Mum.
The Shed.
The Yard.
Garden.My Host brothers room which I am borrowing.
Living Room.
Kitchen.
Trash the young bitch.
Zero the Old man.

Living Room second angle.

Ice Hotel so many photos so seperate post

2008-04-30T22:56:00.001+08:00

ISHOTEL

Kiruna

2008-04-25T05:07:00.006+08:00

After spending a few days with Ryan in Gällivare it was off to Kiruna where we on the first day got to meet everyone and there were some familiar faces from Åre and meet the tourism class that we would go on a snow mobile safari with. On second day we went to the Esrange the biggest space station in Northern Europe and then in the Afternoon went to the Ice Hotel. On the third day snow mobile safari and then to the swimming pool.

Snow mobile safari

Esrange whilst we were in Kiruna we toured the Esrange which is the main Space station in Northern Europe.

Can you pick the people who know who Lyetton Hewitt is are?

Gällivare with Ryan and Steve.

2008-04-25T00:34:00.004+08:00

Because there were two days in between the Åre ski camp and the Kiruna Camp it seemed a little pointless to go south only to go north again straight after. So Steve and I decided to stay with Ryan in Gällivare so we would only have to go north. So basically thanks to Ryan and his host family for having and we had an awesome time though short whilst we were there and one Epic Breakfast.

Åre Ski camp

2008-04-24T22:28:00.006+08:00

Sorry about the late update but I have been really busy with camps and such. Well anyhow here it is. During the Early part of April I went to the Rotary ski camp in sweden which is held at Åre the largest ski resort in Sweden. When I finally arrived at Åre After the night train I had to wait for out in the cold got in. I saw a large group of crowded teenagers and sure enough they were exchange students. It actually turned out that the majority of students at the camp were Australians which was cool but a little boring. Still manage to meet many exciting and cultural people though. I also managed to become a decent snow boarder by the end of the camp. We also saw Swedens largest Waterfall and the mini Åre ice hotel.

Waiting for the night train which was over an hour late.

The holy ghost of Snow boarding was with me or Maybe it was just snow on my lens.
On the Slopes.
Going to see Swedens Largest Waterfall (It is not very big).
In all its Glory

Face on the mini Ice Hotel.

Just Chillin (Get it Hahaha).

Inside this Mini Ice hotel

Brazil Unites in the Snow.

Cedric Bixler-Zavala and I (The Mars Volta fans know what I am on about).

The Derby

2008-04-02T23:32:00.008+08:00

Yes it's true Sweden has derbys too just not with AFL but Ice Hockey. At the moment the Qualifing series is going on to decide who plays in next years Elite series. So I went to see Mora vs Leksand the two teams of Dalarna play off. I go for Mora the red team but you can choose sides yourself. Also Mora was the home team so you understand the scores.

Mora scored closely followed by Leksand (H=home)Leksand Fans
Mora Fans

So Close it's Nail biting stuff.

Mora Wiiins Yaaaaaaaay!!!!

Post Brawl

Polite Finish

Påsk Vacation!!

2008-04-01T22:00:00.006+08:00

I have just returned from Påsk(Easter) vacation where I first went to Gotebörg and then Grovensjön. The first was down south and more of a family thing but also a food thing as Swedes eat alot during Easter and Fireworks are legal in Sweden so fun, fun, I even got set quite a few of them off myself but since I was lighting them I didn't get a chance to take pictures :( . But Grovensjön the second place was much further up north and I got plenty of time with snow. Cross country skiing, skiing, tobbaganing and ice fishing. I also managed to survive temperatures as low as -20C (crazzzyyy cold). For the record Grovensjön is amazing I've never seen anything like it in my life also its located on the border to Norway so I have now been till Norway I've even Included a video of my first steps into Norway so enjoy.

Alex's 25th Birthday

Petra meets Vegemite Our Fireworks Bounty hehehe

Påsk Bonfire

The Sign of a good store.

Ilaa the Grovensjön dog

Cross country Ski track

More track

Steven demonstrates some technique

Steven's Epic Throne

Weekend with steve

2008-03-20T15:59:00.005+08:00

Long time no blog ehhh! Well I'm back with possible avengence.

So this Weekend I've just had was pretty Awesome. Got invited by Steve a boy from Queensland staying in a town near mine to go skiing with his family up near this town called Idre. Which happens to be right near the border of Sweden and Norway. So it was really pituresc with the Norwegian mountain in the background. Also my skiing got alot better because it was so easy to practice with nobody else pretty much on the slopes.

Yes thats me! not that its that impressive.

Vasaloppet the longest ski race

2008-03-08T22:57:00.005+08:00

Damn Norwegians

First Woman

Me and the Garland Girl Alright!!
Me and Gustav Vasa Alright!!!!!
Sorry this is abit late but I was at the finish line of the longest ski race in the world vasaloppet here are my pictures. Unfortunately it was not a Swede who won or even came second two Norwegian brothers came first and second.

Sprak Lager

2008-03-01T20:43:00.003+08:00

The last week I have been at Sprak Lager or Language Camp. Met some of the greatest people. My first thought was it would be abit boring with seven Aussies and one Argentinian but it turned out to be really fun. During the week we went to the Dalahurst factory, to the vasaloppet muesem, Ice skating, to Falun Gruva and Ice fishing.

Cross country skiing at lugnet

2008-03-01T14:21:00.003+08:00

Went to go see cross country skiing the otherday which is a bit like a biathlon on skis because they change skis from classic to skating halfway through.

What Devil is This Sport?

2008-02-19T22:41:00.003+08:00

Women's Innebandy or Floorball. I went to it with my host dad's nephew alex. It was a really close game but Falun my city won 8 to 7 in overtime.

Also went to see my substitute West Coast Eagles for this year Mora Ice Hockey club play goteberg but forgot my camera again. Was a great match though with Mora the underdogs defeating goteberg 4-1.

Skiing at Romme Alpine

2008-02-09T16:11:00.000+08:00

The other day I got to go skiing at a place near by called Romme Alpine with my Host dads Nephew Alex who is up here in falun for work experience, it was amazingly fun. I only fell over once and that was on flat ground in the line for the ski lift. I think with out being cocky that I am actually abit naturally talented at skiing its a shame I was born in the wrong country to do it from an early age.

Alex at the top.

Me at the top.
Alex at the bottom.
Some random snowboarder.
The Map or ( den karta in swedish)

The House

2008-02-02T16:16:00.000+08:00

Not much Just some pictures of where I'm living.

Most importantly the fridge.

Swedish School is Awesome

2008-01-29T16:46:00.000+08:00

A few people have being asking me to put up some pictures and talk about what school is like here. Well at the moment I have no pictures of my school so that will have to wait but I will talk about it. Well pretty much School in Sweden is absolutely awesome it is so much more casual and nice than school in Australia. You have alot more responsibility to learn the topic yourself and ask if you need help. My class is also full of some of the nicest people I have ever met I was accepted into group right from the get go. Thankfully also swedish humour and Australian humour seem to be fairly similar and translates well. So in Short Sweden is a beatiful country and so are it's schools and people.

Also on the way here on my flight from Bangkok to Stockholm the in-flight movie was Into the Wild. Which is a story of an American colledge kid who throws away his middle class lifestyle and begins a journey across America to Alaska. I think this movie is truely great and says alot about the sort of lifestyle you have on exchange. I encourage anyone reading this to go see Into the Wild.

Ice Skating

2008-01-29T16:24:00.000+08:00

The day after the Ice hockey game Carl took me down to the local lake, lake runn to go ice skating which I thought wouldn't be much harder than skating in a rink but with the wind and uneven ice to contend with it was much harder but I got the hang of it after falling down a couple of times.

Ice Hockey

2008-01-27T16:30:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I went with Carl to go see a ice hockey match. Between Mora a town one hour from falun and another team I know only as the white team. I was going for Mora the red team and the home team but unfortunately they lost 1-4. Also unfortunately I forgot my camera so I have no pictures but I did buy a t-shirt.

Here is a picture from my window before and after it snowed.

In Sverige (Sweden)

2008-01-22T16:03:00.000+08:00

After 30 hours of travelling, Meeting Koshy, Nearly destroying an information booth machine and hallucinating from exhauston I am finally in Sweden.

Unfortunatly for my host family I arrived at 6.30am. But besides the shared exhaustion my first day in sweden went very well. I first went to my host father's daughter's apartment in Stockholm for breakfast then travelled to Falun(my host town) from there. Once in stockholm I met with my host councillor Annelie and some other rotary members from different clubs in Falun. After that I slept which was awesome. The next day after waking up I went around Falun with Annelie. Which was mainly for me to meet the headmaster of my school but I also got to see more of Falun.

Here are the airport photos I have.

Before in Perth International.

After in Arlanda Airport, Stockholm with Carl-henric(my host dad) and his family.

Farewell shindig at Point Walter

2008-01-14T18:38:00.000+08:00

Thanks to all my friends who came to my farewell shindig at Point Walter. It was great and I'll miss you all so much.

District Meeting

2007-12-06T10:51:00.000+08:00

I've just been to our 9450 district meeting. Which basically just refreshed our memories about exchange. As if we needed that and we were also given our blasers, shirts, bags and ext.

Yeh I'm real good looking in this one :P

Falun

2007-10-18T20:24:00.000+08:00

I've just received some pictures of Falun the city I will be staying at in Sweden from my Councilor over there and I thought I would put them up for you all.

RYE Weekend

2007-10-08T18:13:00.000+08:00

I've just come back from an awesome weekend, the Rotary Youth Exchange weekend where we learnt in short how to be exchange students. So I got to meet all the others students leaving Perth, who are going to places all around the world. I also got to meet some students here on exchange from places all around the world including Hanna and Hanna from Sweden.

Here are some photos from the weekend.
These are all the guys leaving Perth.
This is the other girl going to Sweden, the two Hannas and me.
Here is Hanna and Hanna from Sweden and me being blinded by the flash, in front of the Swedish flag.
Here is just about everyone.

SWEDEN it is

2007-06-15T16:59:00.000+08:00

I have now been told I'm going to SWEDEN wahhhooo!!!!!

Intro!!!

2007-06-04T19:47:00.000+08:00

I am creating this blog for sadly next year in 2008, I believe there will be alot of people asking one question "where the hell is andy" and the truth is right now I dont even know where ill be. There's only one thing i do know and that is i wont be here so I figure why wait till the question is ask when i can get a head by answering it now!