I was alone during the flight, but I met my junior high classmate in Hong Kong Airport.
It was the first time I travel abroad alone, lots of things were very new to me.
During the flight from Hong Kong to Frankfurt, I talked to the family from the Netherlands, and play some games with the kids, which made the long journey less boring. I tried some German beers and snacks on the plane.
After arriving Sweden, it was 23:30, and I was alone in a totally unfamiliar place. It was exciting and kind of scary. The airport was almost empty. I called Johan, since I had to stay in his brother's place for one night, and on Monday I could move in my apartment, Rotary. He said they were having a Chalmers Alumni party in the Chemistry pub in Chalmers. We decided to meet in Johan's brother's apartment.
I took the taxi, and the driver is from Palestine. He couldn't understand English very well, which made me really nervous. I waited in front of the apartment, and there were few people on the streets. The passengers looked drunk. It was Saturday night (Sunday morning), people were out for party. Waiting there alone, I became quite nervous. What if the drunk people do some bad things to me, or someone took my luggage. I was even wondering maybe the taxi driver dropped me to a wrong place. Finally I saw Johan, I was relieved.
Well, it is more scary than I thought, being alone to a totally unfamiliar place, and in the middle of night, with drunk people around. Now when I recall the situation, I laugh at myself. Perhaps it is always more scary when you do something for the first time. (After living in Sweden for a while, I think Sweden is actually a very safe place.)
After putting my luggage in the apartment. Johan and I went to Avenyn, since some Chalmers Asia alumni were in a pub there. I was so surprised to see so many people in the street, many were drunk and some were singing. Most people wear fancy clothes. I felt very small there, since I suddenly became the minority.
People were so joyful. However, I saw some beggars on the street. They're from Eastern Europe. They look so miserable, but people just ignore them, some even laugh at them. I felt quite bad since there is such a difference. The Swedes were celebrating, and the beggars were being miserable. Few days later I found out those beggars are controlled by some bad guys who takes money from them. Do not give them money. However, at that time it left a very bad impression on me. I thought, "What's wrong? It is not the Sweden I imagined." I thought the immigrants have miserable lives. In fact, these beggars come to Sweden after their countries join the European Union, and people can go to Sweden legally. These beggars show up on the street starting from maybe 1 or 2 years ago.
In the pub (I forgot the name. The age limit is 25), I met Martina, Mattias, Jesper, Martin, Calle, Hugo and David. They were surprised that I am in Sweden. Hugo even bought some Champagne to celebrate! It was so nice to see some familiar faces!
On the way home, I was so curious that I was amazed by many things around me, for example, the trams running on the streets. The roads, street lights, building all amazed me. There are lots of shops, even 7 eleven is different, which sells banana and Swedish products. It was cold at night, I suddenly feel that summer is gone.
I was very excited. I still couldn't believe that I am now in Sweden, so north and so far away from home, and I am going to stay in Sweden for entire one year.
