Of Tastes, Liseberg, and Scents

Part one: Tastes. On Saturday, eighteen exchangers, including myself, went to Hovås. We were given a two hours to learn a little about sea rescues in Sweden. The group was split into two groups. I was with the first group. We boarded the vessel and we backed out of the harbor. This ship had two engines, high horsepower, I don't remember the exact number. Once we were in a little bit more open waters, the captain made the boat move sideways, spin in circles, and then cruise at about 30 knots. Kendra, Sarah, and I stood outside at the bow. When the vessel started moving fast, we were washed in the sea spray. My hands and lips tasted like sea salt.

Afterward, we took the bus back to town. A ticket controller got on the bus and started checking tickets. Alex saw them come on the bus and ninja-ed off it. David, unfortunately, didn't see them come on and got slapped with a 1200 kroner fine. That's about $177.78 American. He didn't go to Liseberg the next day. Neither did Alex

After we arrived back in Gothenburg, John stated that he wanted Thai. Badly. So, away we went in search of a Thai restaurant. We found one. A little hole in the wall that was more like a cave in the ground. The food was good. I had never tried Thai food before. It was really good!

So new tastes: Sea salt and Thai!

Two: Liseberg!! (Pronounced LIS-a-BERRY) Liseberg is the largest amusement park in Scandinavia. It is home to three roller coasters, two drops of doom, a haunted hotel, and a large outdoor concert hall. On Sunday, Liseberg played host to a bunch of exchange students completely giddy about the thought of being in an amusement park. Oh, yeah. It was crazy.

We arrived at Liseberg just as the rain started pouring in earnest. Once John, Gage, and Tom were through the gates, they ran towards the nearest store and bought Liseberg ponchos. They are blue with green rabbits all over. We also meet up with Konatsu, Ryutaro, and Sergio. Ryu was also wearing a Liseberg poncho. XD So, what was the first thing that we did? We went straight for a roller coaster. There were some adrenaline junkies in the group, myself included. There was also a roller coaster that lasts only for 40 seconds, but one starts sitting completely still and then one gets shot off really fast first horizontal and then vertical and back down. O_O It was so AWESOME!!! A wooden roller coaster takes one up a ramp and then back down at a 70 degree angle. O_o I went on that one twice. Before I left, Surya, Martha, Naomi, and I went to a chocolate stall. What one could do was buy a number and a wheel would spin. If the wheel stopped on the number one picked, you win. You win a two kilogram box of miniature Toblerone bars!!! I WON!! A TWO KILOGRAM BOX OF TOBLERONE BARS!!! The four of us spilt up the chocolate as equally as we could, but I kept the box. It's a weird thing to be proud of, but I won!! XD

After Liseberg, I went to mass and had fika after wards with some of the university students staying in Gothenburg. They are a part of a student group called REX. I found about about REX on the internet and thought I would give it a try. It was probably the most intellectual experience I've had to date here in Sweden. XD I'm going again. This is too good an experience to pass up.

Now part three: Scents.

While I was typing up this blog, I have been drinking a cup of tea with some of the tea that Mom packed into my bag. It smells of oranges and butterscotch. Yumm... It is gently mixing with the luxurious scent of white jasmine. Earlier today, I went to a store called Laguerhus. There, I purchased some candles and a candle holder. The candle holder is made of colorless glass, molded into a pond lily. The candles that I purchased to go along with the candle holder are scented. The scent right now is white jasmine. It is calming. I feel as calm as the sea after a storm. I have not felt this way since I have arrived.

For once, it is not raining.