Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Application... what? Erasmus... what?

As I mentioned in the presentation post, I've been trying to assure a place in KTH for the next spring term courses. Since late spring I've been in touch with some people to obtain all the information needed to make the application. Sadly I've found more misunderstandings than clear instructions and I would like to help other people in my situation. I will explain all the process I'm taking, even the mistakes, but in real time. I hope it will be useful for some of you.

First of all, I'm in the framework on Nuclear Engineering and the reason why I want to make exchange's courses is because they can be validated as an EUROPEAN MASTER SCIENCE IN NUCLEAR ENGINEERING by the ENEN Network. For those who are in my spot, here are some tips to clarify the situation.
As you should know, this mode is not an exchange/erasmus nor master strictly. Nevertheless you should think it all as an Erasmus student at all the effects, at last until you will get accepted. First, you should introduce yourself to the person contact designed by KTH to organize the nuclear master. Obviously I will not provide you any tip like:
"Come on and send an e-mail to Someone Somethingsson (someone.somethingsson@kth.se)"
The reason is because the person who organizes this master is not always the same. You have better visit this link, directly to the nuclear master's bases and find it by yourselves. Once you have contacted with him you must know this is all informal, you are not accepted yet but this person can give you some good advices. Don't get stressed if your international relations' office doesn't help very much: this master seems to go further than other exchange studies and for that reason this office doesn't care very much, at least at the begining of the apply. You can think it as a Departments Pact, you know...
At this point you are able to fill the application form and the learning agreement:
Last week the web-based application form had been put online so the application period is now open until the deadline (15 october). If you are going to take courses on Autumn term you should apply on April period. As I said, I will go to Sweden on spring term so recently I filled all the documents that must been sent to KTH's International Relations' Office. I've uploaded at my photolog (where you can be linked to by clicking here or in the button on the top-right side of the blog) some pics of the documents.


I would like to clarify that this documents only can be sent to KTH on application period, before the deadline. Otherway you will spend time for nothing and you will not get accepted. Before to do this I strictly recommend visit and read carefully all this site and the study handbook. Think that at this time you are next to register which courses you will study so it's recommended that you choose it consequently from the courselist of your department (i.e.: Physics department courselist). As you can see in the application form, you are able to submit a place for accomodation. I've heard that although the accomodation place can be a little far from the faculty communication between both is always good. Moreover, it seems to be individual rooms with moder furnitures so I've decided to submit one. For those who are interested on learning Swedish, free-of-charge swedish language courses can be done by accepting it on the form. This courses are taken in July and August so it is a good way to get mixed quickly with the "vicking" crew. Sadly, it is a matter of dates and I couldn't attend to this course, that's why I have to make it by my own.

Once you have sent all the documents and you best-photo-ever-taken (obviously, I'm being kind of sarcastic about the photo I have sent...) you only have to wait. In fact, it's supposed that the acceptance letter should arrive to our mail post few weeks later than the deadline is over. No, mine's hasn't arrived yet. It will take some more weeks but it will be part of another blog entry.

I hope it had been helpful for someone.

Nothing more until now, thanks. Or as they say:
Inget mer, tack!

Monday, September 1, 2008

"Mom, today I've learn the swedish aeiouäöåy "

Few weeks ago I persuaded myself to study some practical swedish notes, not for strictly study the language but just for take some basics. I think it could be interesting to make more confortable the coexistence with my future swedish neighbors.

Well. Swedish is frustrating.
On one side, I love this SingStar-like melodic paused stunning language. I like its intonations.
On other side, nowadays I am unable to assimile such tons of completely new vocabulary. Then I said to myself:
'Think as you were in the pre-school. How did you do to learn all the earlier points in Spanish language?'
As I use to think like a pre-school's kid I quickly realised what is the first point I should undertake.
My very first lesson would be The Vowels.

"a is like my spanish a. Good. e is like spanish's too. Fantastic. i, o, u are too!
I've learnt all. I have a superb mind."



"Oh, wait. Swedish has more vowels? å, what the hell is å?!
ä
, ö, y, Short vowels, Long vowels... I have such a mess mind."

When I spend more than 5 minutes to try to understand its sounds I notice that this bunch of new characters are not as difficult as it seems. I can say now I can read them without problems. Wow! Yeah, I'm awsome.

At the same time I has been searching resources about swedish too. Surfing the web I have found a great source of material about learning languages. Here comes the site, Unilang.org. More specifically, there are good swedish phrasebooks and other material I would like to recommend you. Unfortunately I'm not a good teacher that is why I prefer to underline some joking/funny things instead the correct ones. There is a funny phrasebook that seems to be made for nothing else than be a source of fun Messenger nicknames... here is the link.
Well. As you see, sentences like
"The international soldier shoots an innocent passenger"
"
He frequently shows his nak€d body"
"My wife has s€x with me every night"
"My mother always thought I required extra attention"

(translated to the appropriate language, i.e.: Swedish) will do more confortable our stay abroad wherever you go. (At least, some of them could be used in some kind of 'SvenskaPhrase of the Day' section...in a blog...or something. Have you got me?)

After this nonsenses, I have made up my mind to continue the swedish study (at least bit a bit). For those like me who has felt betrayed for the å vowel, I will give you an advice: JOIN THEM!

See you in the next post. Good night, or as they say:
God natt!