I will start with rugby. For those of you who don't know, Jess and I have a joined the Lund LUGI rugby club about a month ago. We have both never played before, but we are having the time of our lives learning, playing, and getting to know the people on our team. I wanted to post some pictures of one of the games we played recently but haven't been able to find the pictures anywhere. So here are some of the LUGI lionesses playing another team earlier in the year. I will try to post more when I find them.
This is called the scrum, and in our last game I had the
dubious honor to participate in one. It was one the
strangest and most terrifying experiences I had so far.
dubious honor to participate in one. It was one the
strangest and most terrifying experiences I had so far.
Don't feel bad-- she is on the other team!In addition to a great workout, rugby has also given me a chance to meet some of the nicest Swedish girls, eat some amazing food (a tradition we have after every game/match), and even experience the wonders of the Swedish health care system!
Yes, on my second practice I had the misfortune of getting my hand stepped on by a hefty pair of cleats. After days of intense throbbing and swelling, I decided I didn't want to risk not getting my hand checked out in case it was broken. So I biked to the world class university hospital (much like the UCD Med Center) and went to the surprisingly empty and orderly Emergency Room. After taking a number and sitting for about 20 minutes, I went to the front desk and told them what happened. The two extremely kind nurses looked at the hand and even asked a doctor nearby to look at it too. They decided that I would need X-rays, so I was to come back in a few hours for that. At 5:15pm, I arrived, payed $130 (no free health care for poor international students, but still so much cheaper than the US), and sat for less than 10 minutes before a doctor examined my hand. Then I was sent to be X-rayed, and in no time they determined that although it was severely bruised and swollen, there was no fracture! I was out in less than an hour and extremely grateful for no brokenness and the efficiency of Swedish health care.
Yes, on my second practice I had the misfortune of getting my hand stepped on by a hefty pair of cleats. After days of intense throbbing and swelling, I decided I didn't want to risk not getting my hand checked out in case it was broken. So I biked to the world class university hospital (much like the UCD Med Center) and went to the surprisingly empty and orderly Emergency Room. After taking a number and sitting for about 20 minutes, I went to the front desk and told them what happened. The two extremely kind nurses looked at the hand and even asked a doctor nearby to look at it too. They decided that I would need X-rays, so I was to come back in a few hours for that. At 5:15pm, I arrived, payed $130 (no free health care for poor international students, but still so much cheaper than the US), and sat for less than 10 minutes before a doctor examined my hand. Then I was sent to be X-rayed, and in no time they determined that although it was severely bruised and swollen, there was no fracture! I was out in less than an hour and extremely grateful for no brokenness and the efficiency of Swedish health care.
This was taken on one of the first days few days.I believe my hand got even bigger than that later.
It is a bit hard to see, but then my hand turned psychedelic colors.In other sports related news, I recently had the privileged in participating in a very Swedish (and I discovered German, as well) sport called Brännboll (Burnball) with the Christian college group, Credo. Although it is much like baseball, it is heaps more chaotic, and thus, heaps more fun!
In Brännboll, the score often runs into the high double digits, nobody gets out, and multiple people can be on the same base. The object of the game is to hit the ball as hard as you can by tossing it to yourself, then running around as the bases before the ball gets back to the "Burner." Points are awarded for every run you make, with more if you hit a home run. The team on the outfield can also earn points by catching the ball (but that does not mean the person is out).
I don't want to brag, but both times I have played this game, I have come out on the winning team. However, imagine my disappointment when I discovered that Sweden has no national Brännboll team! Apparently, this amazing game, much like kickball, wolleyball, and dodgeball, has been relegated to children's recess games and international students. Still very fun, and it gave me a chance to know the people in Credo better.
That is all for now, but I will definitely try to post something soon about the amazing trip I had to the Kivik Apple Festival yesterday. Also, I leave for Paris, which includes a short trip to Scotland, on Wednesday, so I don't know how much I will write in the next few weeks.
In Brännboll, the score often runs into the high double digits, nobody gets out, and multiple people can be on the same base. The object of the game is to hit the ball as hard as you can by tossing it to yourself, then running around as the bases before the ball gets back to the "Burner." Points are awarded for every run you make, with more if you hit a home run. The team on the outfield can also earn points by catching the ball (but that does not mean the person is out).I don't want to brag, but both times I have played this game, I have come out on the winning team. However, imagine my disappointment when I discovered that Sweden has no national Brännboll team! Apparently, this amazing game, much like kickball, wolleyball, and dodgeball, has been relegated to children's recess games and international students. Still very fun, and it gave me a chance to know the people in Credo better.
That is all for now, but I will definitely try to post something soon about the amazing trip I had to the Kivik Apple Festival yesterday. Also, I leave for Paris, which includes a short trip to Scotland, on Wednesday, so I don't know how much I will write in the next few weeks.
i can't believe you guys joined the rugby team! that's awesome! great post.
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