Wednesday was not only being back on campus for me, but it was the monthly 3.25 hour faculty meeting.
Being a bit tired from travel, two shorter nights, in a warm room, after a big lunch, and with all the conversation in Swedish, it was a long meeting. I didn’t fall asleep, but I did have my eyes closed pretty close to it a couple times!
I’m still learning the systems, but there has been a rallying of other staff to meet with me and fill in the gaps. (The orientation sheet has been found!) I learned that the employees eat together on Wednesdays. So, that is why I had a big lunch, buying lunch in the cafeteria, instead of biking home for a sandwich, some physical activity, and sometimes a 15-minute power nap.
Much of the rest of the day was Swedish homework.
Today, Thursday, I continued with Swedish, working from home, until I met a conversation partner, Åsa, in the afternoon, also taking the opportunity to print out my little essay for class. Åsa had me read the essay, and then delicately informed that every sentence needed some revision. (Sound familiar, Catharina?)
I was woodenly translating English into Swedish, so sometimes things were technically OK, but they sounded off. Other times, things were just plain off. Åsa was at first hesitant to work carefully through the essay, but slowly, it became clear that this was really helpful for me, as it clarified the grammar and a few words that I know would not happen just getting the paper back all marked up from my teacher.
I made the changes and then biked to the University of Uppsala and found the that reception for the conference is not at tomorrow’s venue, but rather at the library of the Nordic African Institute. It boasts 70,000 African-themed books and reports and 400 journals.
There are people from 36 countries (and probably more if original nationality were considered) coming to discuss recent social science research about Africa. I met people from Uganda, South Africa, Cameroon, Kenya, Germany, France, Belgium, Latvia, and more.
It is pretty amazing that this resource is in my neighborhood!
It was great to end the day Skyping with Jean (and a few moments with Marv), the dear friends who have been such a great support through dissertation proofing, packing, painting (they did it all!), and moving.
In evening prayers with Anya, I hoped that somehow, I can be a blessing here. With the language barrier, I too often feel like a burden. At least it motivates me to keep on keeping on with language learning.
Swedish class tomorrow! I hope it goes well. Then I go a couple blocks to join in the conference at lunchtime. After an afternoon of listening to papers being presented, there is dinner in the Concert Hall center!
With blessings,
Beth