convocation but with a different style. Before the convocation we went to the hardware store and a VERY kind Swede patiently helped us find adapters for our many electronic devices. Then, to get to the arena where the introduction was, we rode on the top level of a double-decker bus! The view was great. When we arrived we discovered that we were missing something. Everyone was wearing what looked like one piece painting suits, though everyone had them pulled down so they functioned as pants. People were gathered with others with the same color suits, which were red, yellow, green, blue, or white. Later we found out that these corresponded with the school people were from, and that if we had them they would be white for the School of Health Sciences. We also found out that they cost the equivalent of about $56! People write all over them and sew on patches from different events and places. Upon entering the arena, a group of four was singing acappella into microphones! Christine was reminded immediately of Harry. There was lots of chaos but as we continued in there were different tables set up on each side of the arena, going in a circle, and it turned out to be sort-of like a student activities fair. As we walked around we received an apple from the health center, a notebook and planner from the student union, and various information from other student groups. We were particularly interested in UniVoices, Jonkoping University's 3-leveled singing group. The top level consists of the four that were performing when we entered! The lowest level is just singing for fun, mostly one-part stuff from the way it sounds. Then the middle level, the core, actually performs gigs and sings in parts. They meet on Tuesday nights! To be in the core you need to commit to 3 hours each Tuesday night. With much excitement we moved on to the library table, at which Christine won her choice of a book! She chose Kite Runner.
Eventually we moved into the auditorium for the English version of the ceremony. Here we heard from the mayor of Jonkoping (who graduated from the University himself), the vice president of the school, and two professors. One taught us some Swedish phrases (a much needed lesson!) and the other spoke about "cracking the codes" of Swedish culture. He was quite entertaining and has done a lot of travel, so he made fun of his own culture a lot.
After this we were offered Fika (traditionally coffee with something sweet on the side, a mandatory activity in Sweden). Though we tried to reach the tables that held coffee and cinnamon buns, it was not until the end that we found a few cinnamon buns, and we did not find coffee. We did get juice boxes. Scoffing down our cinnamon buns in hunger and a rush to arrive at the next part of the ceremony on time, we proceeded into the bigger part of the arena. Here we found all the "Fadder" (leaders) in what seemed like a pep rally. To our surprise, some of the girls started to take their shirts off, revealing only bras! After the Fadder paraded out, chanting, we were entertained by a British comedian who now lives in Sweden and likes to make fun of Swedes and Brits. His routine was titled "The Swedes are strange and so am I". Though his jokes were funny, Christine fell asleep on Jen's shoulder for part of the ceremony. (What a surprise!)
Tired and hungry after the ceremony, we went first to the bank and then to a little coffee shop to get Christine some sustenance before she fell over. We had to milk the soap dispenser in the bathroom to get soap out, which felt a little odd...After a trip to the bus station to buy a bus pass and a stop at the grocery store, we finally made our way home. Jen made yummy burritos for dinner!
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