31 Aug The Swede. Part one.

As per a certain IEEC council member’s request both written and face to face (more specifically yesterday night at TNS, haha, you know who you are!), here comes my first post from San Francisco. Which you may have noticed; I’m not a local. Actually, I flew in to the city almost three weeks from now, and I’m fairly positive that a city couldn’t have given me a more open welcome. Literally. From the naked men in Castro, to the friendly ‘can I help you?’ as soon as I’ve drawn out a city map from my pockets trying to find my way around this city. A city certainly living up to its nickname: the city by the fog – I’m so glad I don’t live in the Sunset (sorry Sunset locals).

I guess I need to introduce myself. My name is Katja and I’m a Swedish born and bred of 22 years. As one of 10? 11? Swedes from our home university, Uppsala, I’m here for two semesters to experience something we otherwise only watch on TV, American college life. Greek, anyone? No? Just me? Damn. Well, hm, back on topic: In Sweden I’m in medical school, which is pretty serious business (though, we DO have lots of fun), and I thought I’d enroll in fairly chill classes this year to enjoy everything San Francisco has to offer aside from student life. That was my plan, and it didn’t go very well.

I’m taking 16 credits this semester. In different subjects. Officially, my major here is Women’s and gender studies, but at this moment, I’m enrolled in classes ranging from WGS 200 to LGBT studies, from Marine biology to Women’s backpacking. Yes! SFSU actually offers a class that is called Women’s backpacking, for those of you who haven’t noticed. It’s basically a hiking class and we’ll be visiting Point Reyes National Seashore as well as other places. A great way to explore the state of California, was what I thought as I added it that day in May back in Sweden, still believing this year a broad was a faint dream. I’m so excited!

Anyhows, I didn’t want to write an entire book this first post of mine. Just let you get to know me a little bit. And show Sh… I mean, that IEEC officer, that I was going to do what I had signed up for: blog a little about my life here in SF and the events the IEEC plans for us so that we can enjoy our time here in the city as exchange students. I hope you all are enjoying yourselves so far. I certainly am.

Also, also, also. As I mentioned earlier, last night was TNS! Which stands for Thursday Night Socialities (I think). We were at a bar in the Inner Sunset, suuuch a pretty bar (there’s a bunch of them here in this city, it seems), enjoying beer (my goal is to try a new one every time I go out, though I always tend to go back to Guinness and cocktails…). It was called Yancy’s Saloon and if you weren’t there yesterday, be sure to visit the place any other time. It was cool!

Also, also, also part 2: I like parentheses. Get used to it.