Julmarknad - Old Town Swedish Christmas Market

Gamla Stan literally translated to Old Town. Which is an area in Stockholm and is one of the oldest and best preserved medieval city centers. Founded around the 1250's, it feels like a step back in time when walking down the cobble streets. Anyway, this draws a lot of tourists and it is usually packed as it is picturesque and 'Instagrammable', but you have to get here early if you want to be away from the crowds. There are interesting restaurants in this area that are Viking themed, there is even one that serves a moose burger. Several interesting sites are nearby too, there is the Nobel museum that the carolers below are caroling on its steps. In addition, the Royal Palace is nearby where you can take a tour. It is very ornate but once you've seen one you've seen them all. My favorite site is the Stockholm Cathedral, it is beautiful, and there is a large statue of St. George. It is well worth a visit. On the subject of Vikings, you can walk on Prästagatan (Priest's St), where you can see a Viking Rune Stone that most likely predates city. 

Now, Julmarknad is located in Stortorget, the oldest square in Stockholm. When I arrived it was packed and I was not able to enjoy myself since it was difficult to get a good look at some of the stalls. I did manage to take some photos for you to take a look but I will have to try and manage to get better ones. Perhaps by arriving as they open or as they are closing. 

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Allhelgonadagen - All Holy Day

As most of the world has a tradition for remembering and celebrating the lives of the dead, it is not surprising to find a day here in Sweden. Which was celebrated on November 3rd this year. I am still getting a grasp on the holidays here, as this day is not quite the same as All Saints Day but it is a separate day that is celebrated the Saturday after October 31st. While November 1st is always All Saints Day. This day is All Holy Day. On this day people go to the cemeteries to light candles on their loved ones graves or light a candle in the memory of family members that passed.

We went to Skogskyrkogården, which is just south of the city Stockholm. This cemetery is a UNESCO site, and was founded in the early 1900's. The goal of the site was to build and design a cemetery that would blend both nature and architecture together. So, it appeared that it was in a natural setting and would not take away from the natural beauty of the area. I have to agree it was well done. Some graves are nestled within the forest and it feels so serene and peaceful.

 Now for the good part... pictures!

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Jena, Germany

So, in mid-Sept I went to Jena, Germany. What a gorgeous little town. It is a couple hours south of Berlin. We traveled by train to there and it was not too bad, on the way back we took a bus. This was cheaper and direct, and travel time was similar so I would probably take the bus again if I were headed to this town again. This town does have a university and it has the feel of a university town.

I did receive a semi-culture shock as I am not used to carrying cash or at least not much. Many places in this part of Germany did not accept cards, only cash. This included sit-down restaurants. We stayed at this hotel called- Gasthof Zur Schweiz. Which was extremely cosy and inviting. They also had a breakfast buffet that was included into the cost. Well worth it, I think. It was also in walking distance to the old city and wall.

A little bit of quintessential Germany

A view of the same street, where you can see a little of the original city wall, a bit of the German facades and the modern building with 28 floors.

A set of views of Jena from the highest tower (27th floor)

Part of the old city wall

A tower original city wall

A gnome fountain

Beautiful German facade

I did want to show this castle we saw on the train ride to Jena from Berlin. It now houses a burger restaurant. Talk about some views when you're biting into your burger and fries.

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Graduation from Oxford University

I finished my degree in 2015 but I attended my graduation in March 2016. This is a late update but I had been on a several year hiatus. Now, graduation is a little different than in the U.S. It is a bit more ceremonial and retains many of its original proceedings, particularly that is all in Latin. Now I don't know about you but I don't know much Latin and I imagine it was the same for most of the audience.

Now, for those with graduate degrees we marched with our college but the Masters and Doctorate students were presented separately.

The day was as follows:
Met at Wolfson college where I had breakfast and signed for my degree. Headed to the Sheldonian  where I was sent to wait in the Divinity School (you might recognize it from the infirmary in the Harry Potter films) along with my other college-mates as we waited to be called over for entrance. My mother was the only family member in the audience but my dad and brother watched on the televised version in the U.S.

Undergraduates receiving their degrees

Here come the graduate students :)

I think this the part where we had to agree that we deserved our degrees, along with saying some Latin words.

The Divinity school behind me. You can probably see some differences in the color of sashes. Mine meant that I received a Master of Science degree. The black and white to the left of the photo is an undergraduate degree. In the back right hand corner there is a red coat which means a DPhil (PhD).

The Radcliffe Camera behind me. This is also known by students as the Rad-Cam. I  liked to study in this building... if I could find a seat.

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PhD in Sweden

Some of you may be aware but I recently started a PhD in Sweden. Now as an American this is a great thing.

I always wanted to pursue a PhD and had been searching for programs for a couple of years. I considered going back to the U.K. but I decided to look elsewhere in Europe since I knew some did not require tuition payments and paid a stipend.

I decided to apply to a university here in Sweden and it was the best decision I made. Unlike many universities in the U.S. you'll need a grant or hold a position as a graduate assistant for a tuition reduction or coverage. I also know a lot of people who pursued and are pursuing PhD's in the U.S. that took out more student loans. This was NOT the route I wanted to take. I already have student loans and I did not want to add to them, just pay them down.

Pursuing a PhD here has many benefits. To be honest, I do not understand why more Americans are not taking advantage of them.

1. You are treated as an employee and an early-stage researcher. 
2. You earn a salary, granted you have to pay taxes on it. However, I find the after-tax pay very similar to an entry-level banking position in the U.S. 
3. Great healthcare and very low cost. Seriously, I broke my arm my first week here and had to have surgery. So far, I've only had out-of-pocket expenses equate to 1000 SEK (~$110.00), which is supposed to be reimbursed once I no longer have to go to P.T. Another benefit!

There are other benefits but these are the only ones that come to mind.

Now, for the fun part. I am currently on an Income-Repayment for my student loan (SL) back home. This means that every year I tell the company my current salary and they calculate my discretionary income and 10% of that is my monthly payment. Now, that I am in Sweden my take-home pay in USD is now $0.00. This means that I don't have to make a payment but it still accrues interest. 

I have been working on paying it down by wiring money home and paying for it that way. So far the wire transfer fees from my bank here are not too bad but I am looking for cheaper options, like TransferWise. I've had other friends studying in Europe who wired money home that way.

Like I said, I am writing this as a way to follow my personal progress and for other Americans to see that pursuing a PhD in Europe is an option. Especially, if you can still pay your student loan. Since, I do not see a lot of blogs about that right now.

Anyway, if you have any questions or suggestions, let me know!

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Iffley Village

The other day I was a little stressed from my dissertation and I followed my father's advice and went cycling. I had heard that a few minute cycle ride from Donnington bridge is a quaint little village named Iffley Village. It is a small village just outside of Oxford and is quintessentially English. The Thames goes through it so it is a nice cycle ride/ walk. The best bit is that it is picturesque!

Along the main road of the village.

The secret garden

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What would I do differently?

I am most likely going to Europe this summer to complete a program similar to the one I completed this past summer. This is a list assuming most everything I experienced will be similar, what will I do differently.

Clothing:

1.  1. I would pack less work clothes and more play clothes. I did the opposite this past summer and I wished I had more clothes to travel with because I don't wear big tees on the regular basis. 
   
2. I would bring a smaller suitcase so I could have the option of traveling around, either that or find it a place to leave it. Unfortunately a lot of airports do not have that option anymore, some bus and train stations still do though.
3. I would bring less clothes as a whole, so I could buy clothes over there because I found some good deals and things I liked but I didn't had hardly any weight room available.
4. Bring clothes for different seasons, I sorely wished I brought shorts with me.

Food:

1. I would bring peanut butter with me and ritz crackers. The food is expensive on top of the exchange rate. My friends and I wanted to 'eat the culture in' when traveling but it got to hurt our wallets. They give a lot of food but a lot of the places we ate at didn't allow 'doggy bags'. I also don't remember ever seeing kids meals.
2. IN MODERATION- Not eat and drink as much as I did daily. It was neither easy on the wallet nor my waistline.
3. Find cheaper options to eat because you still need to think about the exchange rate depending on your home country.
   

Travel:

1. Don't plan so much- This past summer I learned this, because I was saying how I will be here x amount of days/hours. That really never happened.
2. Although if you are planning on traveling on a Friday, buy the ticket so it isn't so expensive. I was going to go to Edinburgh and I was waiting the entire time for the night before to buy a ticket to anywhere. When I went to buy a ticket to Edinburgh it jumped from 85 pounds to near 200 pounds. I had to give up that portion of the trip.

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Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland

I was living in this small town about an hour away from Dublin for 5 weeks. I am going to have to make a couple posts about this town. To begin County Meath is the heritage capital of Ireland, within the county there are so many historical sites and you can find/ see ruins everywhere amongst the modern buildings.

To begin I was in an archaeological dig in Trim excavating the Blackfriary built in 1263.

But some sights around town were Trim Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Simon de Rocheforts Cathedral, St John's Priory, Yellow Steeple, Medieval bridge.

Trim Castle

Building began in 1172 by Hugh de Lacy who was granted the lands from the English King Henry II. It is the largest Anglo-Norman Castle in Ireland. It sits in the middle of town which still maintains its medieval street layout. The town was at the height of power during the middle ages and was the place to be. When discussion of where to place Trinity College began, the other option was Trim. Imagine if things had been different how Trim would be currently. Also an interesting tidbit about the castle, Braveheart was filmed here and was used as the castle double for York castle. Anyways here are some pictures of the castle.

Within the gatehouse

 Where the sacraments were kept in the castle chapel

The view from the window where the Prince's lover was thrown from in the movie Braveheart

At the top of the castle

The River Boyne and view from the top of the castle

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Great Craic!

           The title of this post means ‘Great Fun’. It is already week 3 and I find myself using Irish terminology and using some similar pronunciation. The accent although is easy enough to seemingly pick up because I never realized how similar it is to some of the pronunciation of certain words in Bahamian English. In Irish Gaelic the ‘h’ does not exist so many words that have the ‘th’ sound; those ‘h’s are not pronounced. Instead of ‘three’ ‘tree’ is said. So I am slowly reverting from my American English to my original Bahamian English.

           Many of my roommates and I have been going to the pubs a bit and we have introduced beer pong to some of the locals. Which many have heard of in passing but never played it, they found it enjoyable. The one thing I love about pubs and bars here is that the idea is to not get drunk but to socialize. Many locals leave for the pubs around 8 and leave at midnight, now we have begun to follow that pattern.

          Since we don’t have cars here we have been walking and utilizing the bus system on weekend trips.   I have found since we walk everywhere and are doing manual labour at the site we are gaining muscle and losing fat. I have not lost weight per se but I have gained a lot of muscle which I am happier about. I am very happy that I decided to spend my summer excavating because I have found what I want to do for the rest of my life. We are not allowed to disclose our exact findings on social media but I can say we have found some amazing and shocking things. I am sure I have said this before but it is amazing how I am helping to bring history out from below the ground. That I have a hand in the past, present and future; the past because I am taking out of the ground and the future because future generations will know about these findings and understand the history of humanity and their ancestors.

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To do list for before my highlighted trip

To do list, in no particular order

• Finish up my finals
• Begin studying for the GRE
• Research
• Go to St Augustine or Savannah
• Take the GRE
• Pack!!! 
• I should make a packing list of what I am taking with me.
• I shall call it 'What I am bringing to Europe'
• Need to research the clothes they wear. I doubt daisy dukes are going to be okay
• ADVENTURE PLANNING!

I'll keep y'all updated.

:)

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