Växjö Universitet

The corridor I lived in was very nice and clean. This of course depents on the people living in it. Some people moved out of their room because the corridor was so dirty! I had my own shower and toilet and this was really good! It gives you a lot more privacy! The rooms were very spaceful, you could have a visitor over easily! There was enough light and were enough windows in the room which I think are very important. You had the chance to decorate it your own way and that made you feel more at home. Living together with other international students and Swedes was very nice and it meant you had a social life directly. Depending on your presence in the common room or 2 kitchens which you share. In these rooms everybody had breakfast, lunch and dinner, then you meet your neighbours and have a chat. Then you also get to know where there are parties or other activities as bowling or something else. Sometimes you organise a dinner or parties with all the corridor which is very nice too!

Of course I have to begin with the student pubs which have the cheapest beer and are very nice too! They are called Stalllarna and Sivans, I personally prefer Stallarna. This pub has two floors, downstairs there is a dansfloor and louder music. Upstairs it is more a brown bar and you can sit and talk, the music is less loud and more alternative (bands, sometimes live music!). Upstairs you can smoke, downstairs not. The Irish pub O'Keeffes is not to be missed! Very nice to have a chat and enjoy a foreign (your home countries?) beer or a simple Guinness or Kilkenny. Then there are some hip clubs called Grace, Time and Café Momento if you want to have a real night out these are the places to see and be seen. For a coffee I would recommend Espresso bar and P.M. The event that can not be missed is Allkår! This is a 4 day festival in May, it means partying, big BBQ's, concerts, Bränball (playing softball and drinking wine!), Olimpic games, Music, and a lot of queuing (but don't look up to that, it's fun!). Then there is midsommer, this is a huge party which is a great Swedish tradition! The people dance around a decorated tree, sing and celebrate the summer! This event finds place on the day that the year is in half, so somewhere in June. There are a lot of traditions in Sweden and Växjö and if you come to study at this university you will receive a booklet containing all needed information including all events while you're there!

VERY VERY IMPORTANT!! The winter in Sweden is very very cold!! -20! So take very very warm clothes, gloves, hats, sjawls and jackets! I would recommend thermo underwear as well! It helped me out! Go and see Sweden! Look around, places to see are: *Stockholm *Uppsala *Göteborg *Malmö *Lund *Kopenhagen *Halmstad and down following the coast! All of this you can do easily and best by car. Even more because renting a car is the only thing that is quite cheap here in Sweden! It is worth it! Especially in Summer then everything is even more beautiful! The spring semester is best if you ask me.

Bring alcohol from home! If you have the possibility do your shopping together with someone and plan for a week in advance. This will definately save you money. Because you will be more efficient. Also write down what you spend! Keep up your finances!

There were no problems in managing to live and study here. Maybe my English sometimes got worse because some people understand you better if you leave some words out of you sentences while speaking..