I knew where I was going, after taking the placement test on 30 Aug. I was headed for the first class of Level 3 Swedish for Academics at the University of Uppsala. I arrived a few minutes early, just to allow for any surprises. (I still wonder what I will do if I ever have a flat tire on my bike.)
With a few extra minutes, I wandered through the large graveyard next to the humanities buildings (which I’m told, used to be science buildings).
Close to the entry, I found an compressed air station. At least if I’m in the area with a flat tire that is caused by a slow leak, I can pump up my tire and get home. There is a bike shop not too far from our apartment.
There are 9 of us in the Swedish class, including: a Greek, Germans, a Slovakian/Norwegian, an Italian, a Cuban, and another American. I’m one of the newest to Sweden and have studied the shortest time. Yes, I’m probably the weakest link. My conversation partner today is fluent in Norwegian and just wanting to tweak the Scandinavian dialect into Swedish. He has a different set of language challenges.
There was another quiz to see how one does on the grammar. I think I do better in the reading and some of the grammar, but my weakness in speaking is quite clear. After class, I emailed the instructor and asked: after getting to know my capacity better today and with today’s test results, am I in the right level? I don’t track with all the details of what she says, but I usually get the sense of what is going on. I don’t mind working hard, but I don’t want to be a burden for others in the class and be so frustrated that it sucks the life out of me. However, Level 3 would push me to work even harder. I hope my teacher has divine wisdom to know what will be best for me.
This afternoon, I did the first loads of laundry in our apartment complex’s laundry room, which is in the next building. The good news is that there is no extra charge for laundry. There are 9 machines, but only 4 can be reserved ahead of time. I filled my previously reserved four machines at the same time.
IKEA bags are ubiquitous laundry bags!
The instructions are only in Swedish. (The garbage/recycling rooms have both Swedish and English. I guess recycling is harder!)
I took pictures with my phone to be able to check some new vocabulary on Google translate if I got stuck.
The good news is that in 2 hours, I had 4 loads of laundry done. There are large drying closets and a mangler if I want. Can anyone tell me what this appliance in the laundry room is for?
Also this afternoon, Jim paid my 400 kroner fee to apply for the Swedish ID card and my personnummer was given to the bookkeeping office. So, there are a couple steps of progress, but still no bank account.
Tonight will be folding laundry and more Swedish.
Oh, my position was announced on the Johannelund website. Here’s the news (yes, in Swedish).
With blessings (med valsignelser),
Beth
My browser translated your bio page just wonderfully. I don’t get the same translation experience on a Chinese site we use here to keep in touch with each other. The Chinese to English translator button is quite comical sometimes; other times it’s just plain frustrating.
Glad to hear you are willing to push yourself at language. We start up again tomorrow night with a private tutor.
Jag tror saken på väggen är för att dra tex lakan, dukar.
Tack så mycket! For the readers who don’t speak Swedish or use Google translate, the thing on the wall is to draw sheets or tablecloths. I learn new things every day! Jag lär mig nya saker varje dag!