Archive for June, 2009

32m2 + 1 = My/Our appartment

// June 16th, 2009 // 6 Comments » // Sweden

Finally, one month after paying the required deposit (=borg) I received a confirmation of the room/appartment I’ll be living in during my exchange semester. This was the only thing that didn’t run quite as smoothly as all the rest of the preparations. Let me tak you back..

..to a few weeks ago. It’s May 12th, somewhere in the late afternoon. I’m logging in to my Rabobank account, ready to pay a deposit! I had the correct IBAN number and everything went incredibly smooth, smooth as a smoothie. So, fulfilled with confidence, I waited a few days. Eager to receive a room confirmation. But it didn’t come.. even after two weeks, it didn’t come. They said it would take just a few days before you get a confirmation. But those ‘few days’ have gone by almost two times!

So I decided to write an email, I was kinda worried you know.. Luckely, the Swedes tend to email back in jut a matter of minutes.. so only half an hour alter I already received an email back. Unluckely, however, it didn’t provide any good news. It stated the following:

“Dear student, we didn’t receive your payment..” WHUT?? You’re kidding me right?? “.. but wait a few days, it may be due to the mountains of work we’ve got here..” Hmm.. alright, though it’s almost one month later.. I’ll wait a few more days.

One week later: NO FREAKIN’ SIGN OF ANY IMPROVEMENT. So I emailed again.. this time with results! The emailed me back that they (finally) received my money.. And only 2 days later I finally received the confirmation.. end good, all good ;-)

So join me next time on an other adventure, yes? YES!!

Tom

Ps. the room I got is a 32 square meters appartment which I’ll be sharing with another (male) exchange student.

Blog launched! *UPDATE*

// June 9th, 2009 // 14 Comments » // Sweden

Finally, after a few weeks of hard work (yes, designing is and can be hard work), the new and improved TomInc website / portfolio is finished. I don’t have that much to say now, but in the near future I will.. Enjoy your stay!

Tom

*UPDATE*
A new site is being made specifically for my Sweden adventure.. the blog is now improved and more (waaaay more) interactive! Feel free to comment on my posts, flick through my Flickr account or watch my videos.. again: enjoy your stay!

EC: Do whatever you want!

// June 9th, 2009 // No Comments » // Sweden

First, I’ll explain what EC stands for.. Maybe some of you (who have experience with going abroad), can already guess what it stands for. For the rest of y’all, it stands for: Examination Committee.

Coming closer to completing all the preparations before leaving to Karlstad, this was one of the last things that needed taking care of. On march 28th I submitted my request for a free minor programme and now I finally received a letter from the EC that basically said: We’ve approved the following two courses: Web Design & Digital Imaging and Global Media. But if you wanna, feel free to switch one of them for Nordic Studies.. So that’s great!

I think the only that’s left to wait for is the approval of the room I’ve requested. Last week I’ve transfered the required 3000 SEK, I hope that was early enough! Think it is… Anyway, thanks for reading this, maybe boring, blogpost. I promise that the future ones will be more exciting and interesting ;-)

Tack! Tom

Acceptation.. at last!!

// June 9th, 2009 // No Comments » // Sweden

“Dear Tom,
I am happy to enclose the admission letter for your studies ar Karlstad University the next semester!”

That’s how the Study counsellor from Karlstad University started her email she sent me last week. As you can imagine, I couldn’t be happier! Although I didn’t really expect to be denied, it’s still kinda nice when you get such an enthousiastic response. She even used an exclamation mark!!

Still, when reading the admission letter itself.. a little disappointment was in place. One of my first choice courses is no longer part of the programme. Too bad.. but, instead of studying Web Design & Digital Imaging, I’ll be following the course Nordic Studies. Which is also fine, but still: Second choice ;) Oh well.. I’ve always said that I’m interested in Scandinavia, and there I go! So, all with all.. theser are the courses I’ll be following when I’m over there:

- Global Media (15 ECTS)
- Nordic Studies (15 ECTS)
- Swedish as a Foreign Language 1 (7,5 ECTS)

Sounds great right?? The only thing left is for the examination committee to approve it as well.. again: fingers crossed!

Tack! Tom

Preparations

// June 9th, 2009 // No Comments » // Sweden

Since January I’ve been busy with all the preparations necessary for the application for an exchange semester (abroad that is). The destination I’ve chosen may for some not be a total surprise: Sweden!

After some browsing and casual-clicking-sessions through the fresh and youthful website of Karlstad University, I decided this is the one. An abundance of courses given in English and exactly those courses I was looking for; something to do with the web and/or media. I found both in Karlstad!

I am happy to announce that my housing application has just been approved, which means I don’t have to worry about where to stay those 6 months :-P Also, to read from all the e-mails I’ve received, I think it is safe to assume that they’ve approved my application as a whole! The next step is to hope and wait for the approval of the courses I’ve selected.. let’s keep our fingers crossed ;-)

Nighty night, Tom