Year 1988, November the 7th, 00:27 a.m., a child was born in RenJi Hospital.

This was me.

Actually, this is the first time I spend my birthday in a foreign country, especially without accompanied by my family. Even though, a feeling of warmth is still filled in my mind.

Just a few moments ago, I was back from shopping for the birthday cake essentials with my friends in Willys. Our plan is to create a homemade birthday cake from scratch on date of my birthday, which is tomorrow. All colors of fruits as decoration, Baking powder, Cream, All colors of juice mixed with cream, Flour, Sugar, Vanilla, Eggs, Milk, Cheese, mixed nuts, even Candles( of course more than 21 ), baking vessel, Cream Spread Knife, etc. are all prepared in readiness. As the scheme initiator, Tanyi contributes his own apartment as our strongholds. We consulted our corridor mates, respectively, about recipe of homemade cake. Wubo even brought a piece of paper filled with ingredients, Swedish translation version of ingredients, exhausive steps. All these guarantee the success naissance of my first homemade birthday cake.

My mother has started to bless my birthday through MSN since yesterday, even more, today she told me the exact time when I was born 21 years ago, which was precisely the same as publishing time of this blog. Furthermore, she bought an elaborate cake from Christine Bakery Store, using the online video camera to display the cake. Though it was just a tiny little cake, but I really thanks for her various ways of celebrating my birthday.  Today, dozens of blessings, which write happy birthday, in variant character fonts and colors were continuously jumped onto my screen, through my mother’s MSN message chatting window with me.

I am really happy of all the efforts made by someone who truly care about me. I hope the success of our homemade birthday cake tomorrow, and I wish happiness in my future life just as this moment, after this first special foreign birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Still remember a famous song of Chen Qizhen, which called Meaning of Travelling. The melodious rhythm leads me to consider what’s the true meaning of travelling.

Having seen a lot of worldfamous cities, they differs from each other. They are not like the imagination in my mind, most of which are not so modern as Shanghai. If one of the foreigners from these cities came to Shanghai, he will be amazed by the skyscrapers and other advanced basic infrastructures in Shanghai. It is my custom to compare the city I visit with the city I live for years, that is Shanghai.

Last weekend. right after the liberation of the final exam of first period study, I went out for trip to Amsterdam, Brussels, Brugge, Ostende. The last three are in Belgium, which is a country my auntie and her family have lived for almost 20 years.

Just when I arrived at Brussels Central Station, my auntie welcomed me with her great enthusiasm, my uncle drived the newly advanced car to pick me up to their home in the suburb. In the following days, auntie almost arranged everything concerning my daily life, which includes clothes, eating, accomodation, transport. The first day there’s a little rain in Brussels, she thrusted a raincoat into my hand, and even lent me one of her sweaters. Each day in the morning she put eating stuffs into my bag acting as lunch, which truly saves my spending. I remember the second day in Belgium, we went to a Greek restaurant just after my one-day travelling, they said it is their favourite. At the last night stayed in Belgium, auntie prepared a generous Chinese cuisine dinner with the ingredients she deliberately bought from a Chinese shop the day before.  During the last dinner in their home, auntie talked a lot, she mentioned that she was the first person hugged me in her arms when I came to this world. She also mentioned something about old days with my mother. Most of the motifs are of course about Chinese tradition. To tie in with the theme, my uncle played Chinese news in Youtube with PS3 in the dinning room. Each day, he picked me up in the subway station, different kinds of songs are played in the car. When it comes my departure date, on the way to the subway station,  he played I Really Miss You performed by Zhou Bingqian, the heart-warming two-stringed Chinese musical instrument pushed my tears out. I even cannot stop it, and turned the head towards one side of the window. Annie is a lovely girl, she is now 13 years old, the first night I arrived at their home, she took out the sticker collections, and presented me a pie of them. My mother took Auntie Qing to travel around years ago. If I have time and chance, I am pleased to travel with little Annie.

Brussels is a beautiful city, which is very much distinct from others, engraved constructions, delicate stores, etc. all leaves me a deep impression. But the warm heart of my relative in this city impressed me the most. I will miss you, Brussels, I will miss you, my relative in Brussels.

I suddenly realize one of the speeches my friend made, whether a city deserves staying, determined by the person you concern about. I always believe that I am a flexible people, I will quickly adapt to any new circumstance whatever it is. But I am still a home loving bird, I didn’t bought much souvenirs, one of the two clothings I bought is for my family. Each time I came to a new city, I cannot wait to send a postcard to my family. Even as for chocolate I bought in Belgium,  I packed them into the luggage case once I arrived at dormitory, I will bring them back dedicating the first taste for my family.

I will always love you. My family, wherever in the world you live.

Some Master Student once told me that,” Exchange student are all travelling persons.” I consider it makes some sense, we don’t need to worry about accomodation, education, living expenses. Only thing left is the much more vacant weekend, and much more relaxed weekdays. Under such a good opportunity, what else on earth can we do?

Going through the first period study final exam. It is obvious that I didn’t spend effort in normal times, only make effort at the last time. Even though, the diversity of testing method makes the difficulty reduced a lot. The exam time is 5 hours here. One of the calculation-needed course Digital Communications permit us to bring the compendium, even integration wouldn’t appear on the paper. One of the course called Secure Systems and Applications owns 4 project in the normal time, if finishing them all then Grade 3 is got, furthermore, if attending the final exam, there’s a chance to get Grade 4,5, rehearsal questions are available online. One of the courses called Computer Communication is taught in Swedish, I never attend the lectures, only took part in each week exercise. Brick course book is all the same as in SJTU, but I still feel it is easy to come up with the pace, and I took part in the final exam only relying on two sample exam papers.

I stiil remember that non-mandatory Secure Systems and Applications, nobody attended that test, except me and another guy. It seems that most students in Lund still enjoy their easy life even during the exam period. They don’t pay much attention to the exam result. Quoted from one French guy,” Whatever score I get, I will still graduate from the University and be employed.” The distinguishment between European people and me made me still earnestly prepared for that test several days before the exam, which resulted in 20-page preparation of over 100 rehearsal questions, and I spent a whole day to recite the unfamiliar definitions. Eventually, I got 45 points of which 50 is the highest, additionally, all of the project results are VG, which means Very Good, also the highest grade.

Nevertheless, I still feel studying in such a comfortable environment helps me truly understand the knowledge. Coz the educational resources here are much more abundant, the whole population in Sweden is one third of Shanghainese population. You can imagine that a smaller dividend and bigger divisor will lead to a much higher quotient, which represents higher gained resources per capital. They tend to have exercises classes once or twice a week, it depends on the credits. Sitting in a small classroom, teaching assistant will help me with every tiny little questions whatever I asked. Different from SJTU’s dealing with the questions self in the dormitory. I can consolidate the knowledge immediately afterwards lecture.Moreover, the abundant self-planed time permit me sufficient time to think, no matter about study or others. It provides me with an occasion to study one of the subjects for a whole sweet afternoon, without worrying about the next day homework or other dizzy cases.

Hope me enjoy the remaining half exchange semester in Lunds University!

来到瑞典已经有超过两周的时间，对于瑞典的风土人情也有了大致的了解，那就让我从衣食住行开始说起吧。

衣：

瑞典人穿衣都很随意，风格以休闲与运动为主，走在大街上没有人会注意别人的穿着。H&M在瑞典就像是中国的班尼路，以廉价为其营销策略，基本上的价格和上海的H&M差不多，如果按照瑞典的购买力是中国的5倍来算，将物价除以5，那是相当划算的。

隆德的街道滴答着下雨的时候，路上几乎见不到一个行人是撑伞的，大家还是若无其事地继续前行。有人和我描述瑞典驻北京大使馆门前，露天排起了长队，天空下着雨，但是有个老外就若无其事地和排队的每个人打招呼聊天。

开学那几天，在校园内或者市中心，经常能够看到穿戴奇怪的游行者，我估摸着那些化妆成原始人或者海盗样的是Nation Parade，而那些穿戴着整齐的uniform是Student Union的parade。有次在图书馆的一片区域中，看到两个穿着亮色制服，高举某个旗帜的一男一女，他们神情庄严地高踏着正步前行，不理会旁人的眼光。

阳光在斯堪的纳维亚半岛这块土地占据着相当重要的地位，而我们宿舍Parentesen在瑞典语中就是括号的意思，其形状就是两个相对的圆括号，在括号中有片大草坪和烧烤的地方，阳光和煦的周末午后，就会有穿着比基尼的或者赤膊的瑞典人，垫块毯子直接睡在草坪上看书聊天。然而也有一群男孩在踢球，或者玩自己发明的板球游戏，尽管他们的板与球都很简陋，草坪也不是专业的。

食：

瑞典在外吃的最廉价的是汉堡包店，但是最最便宜的都要39kr，是小孩子的那种mini套餐。普通的一顿饭，要50kr以上。自己做菜成为了经济节省的第一选择。

到超市里面去逛一圈，初看的东西都是20-30kr左右的，瑞典克朗和人民币的汇率差不多是1：1，所以不太用作太多的换算。由于在来瑞典之前准备行李已经做了一些瑞典物价的功课，所以没有感到太大的惊讶。每次都是银行刷卡，没买了几样东西，都快要到百把块钱。我选购的是意大利面、土豆、西红柿、牛奶、鸡蛋、面包、瑞典肉圆、黄油、培根等。而隆德大大小小有数10个超市了吧，好的是每样物品下面不仅有每份的价格，还会换算成per kg来计算。我已经养成了在超市比较价格的习惯，如果便宜就会选购回家当食材。

这是我人生头一次出远门自己一个人生活，虽然高中与大学都是住宿制的，毕竟每个星期都能有回家的机会，学校都会有廉价又合口的饭菜。而这次生活的地方是需要自己买食材，自己动手烧饭，完全不同以往。妈妈说我是一颗坚韧的小草，无论到了哪里都能够适应环境，在来瑞典之前我只是听了些烧菜的理论，没有动手实践过，而到了瑞典，环境逼人，我只能全靠自己。人生头一次的下锅烧菜还是在异地他乡，想不到烧了个意大利面，与培根、番茄、香菇一起炒，浇上辣酱，一起吃，味道还特别好。如今我能自己煮白煮蛋，煎荷包蛋（虽然翻过来的时候不成形了，不过味道还不错，自己吃不求美观），自己烧烧意大利面。“我这下终于放心了，你不会饿死了。”妈妈如是说。

住：

我住的是corridor，每个人有一间独立的房间，包括厕所，但是厨房、淋浴是公用的。我的房间一共有17.4m^2，如今挂上了风景画，放上了一些装饰的烛台，还有台灯。俨然像自己温馨的小空间。寝室是自己的私人空间，家具都可以自己添置，我的前任住主，给我留下了一个大沙发，我把电脑、文件放在前面的桌子上，每次坐下来上网看书都相当舒服。

corridor钥匙一共有两把，一个是个蓝色的小塑料块，其实是一张集成的小卡，进入building要刷一下，进入corridor之前也要刷一下。进自己的宿舍的门则用另外一把钥匙。一串钥匙，有一个小的钥匙扣，是失物归还的标志，意思是如果捡到之后一扔进邮箱，就能够再寄回来。这串钥匙相当重要，千万不能遗失的就是这个钥匙，因为在routine上面清楚地写着，如果遗失，将要罚款1400-1800kr。天啊。因为他们要将building的锁，还有所有人的钥匙都换一遍。

厨房间是10个人共用的，两个电磁炉，每个能放4个锅，大小不一，不能用大炉烧小锅，瑞典人相当环保。冰箱一共有3个，每个人都有独立的一层和冷冻格。中间有电视机和沙发，还有饭桌，阳台。我们的corridor可能是整个隆德最热闹的了吧，几乎每天晚上都会有party的声音，然后就会持续到凌晨之后。住我对面那位还有把电吉他。

所有的住宿设施在我看来都无比方便，淋浴间进去之后，直接将水龙头一开就能放热水，不像家庭热水器还要烧水。特别值得一提的是洗衣房，是我们整个Parentesen区公用的，在进入之前要用钥匙刷卡，然后要预约。到了预约的时间，进门有20多间房间，每间房间有3个洗衣机、3个烘干机，所有的步骤都异常简单。就是衣服塞进去，一按，过30分钟，衣服拿出来，晾到烘干机，一按，30分钟以后，就完全烘干了。洗衣机不用肥皂粉。我在YY要是以后我家能有如此方便的洗衣烘干设备就好了^ ^

在我们小区后面还有个露天垃圾房。进去之后每个垃圾桶前都标明了垃圾的种类。有次我为了进这扇门还费了很多劲，想不到刷卡的设备隐蔽在门把之上，就是放射状的一个印痕，没有标志。

行：

我买了一辆二手自行车，在跳蚤市场上面觅得，400kr，是相当便宜的了，普通的新自行车都要2-3000kr，相当于上海的高级助动车的价格。买的时候前灯还有变速是坏的，摊主对我承诺说给我换新的，并且不用额外付钱。果然这周六我再次造访，他给我修了快半个小时，换上了新的零件。最后还赠与我礼物，包括台灯，画，烛台之类的，我用它们来装饰了我的寝室。我作为回赠，给他捎去了中国的筷子和中国结。虽然不是等值的，但也是我的一片心意。

隆德的街道有着上千年的历史，是用石子铺成的小路。而且隆德是依着地势而建，有地势的高低。每天骑往LTH上课都是一段煎熬的过程，因为要骑着石子上坡路，相当辛苦。每天的15分钟，一般到了最后一段路程，我已经气喘吁吁，实在是骑不动了，就只能下来推行。回来的路则轻松多了，我几乎不用踏脚踏车，能够一路下坡。

来过一趟瑞典的马路，就能够感受这个城市的节奏。在上海都是人让车，这里相反，是车让人。只要行人往人行横道线前一站，车子都会主动停下来，等行人过了马路，再启动继续前行。不管自行车还是行人，每次过马路，都要按路边的倒计时装置，闪到绿灯时，就可以过马路了。我刚到之时，还颇不习惯这里的交通习惯。

在隆德问路，无论问什么人，都会得到最热情的回答。数次我的问路，尽管他们自己不知道，但会掏出GPS设备，当场搜索。有些骑车的当地人，还会好心地与你一同骑行一段路，直到确定能够找到方向之后，才反方向骑车离开。在路上研究地图的时候，还有热心人会主动上前问，是不是需要问路，他们的热心给我留下了很好的印象。

欧洲的北部有片名叫斯堪的纳维亚半岛的土地，位于这片的东侧有个名叫瑞典的国家，处于这个国家的南端有个叫做斯京的省，在斯京的西侧有个叫做隆德的城市。

乘坐CA（上海-法兰克福），再乘坐Lufthansa（法兰克福-哥本哈根），最后搭上火车（哥本哈根-隆德），就到达了这片神奇的土地——隆德。

刚到达隆德，30kg+16kg，这是我的行李，我们一群4人sjtuer，背着行囊，拖着拉杆，隆德千年的石子路，发出轰隆的响声，Jiechao Li的拉杆箱多次侧摔在地，扯断了拉杆箱的牵引绳。看着地图、询问着行人，我们要前往International Housing Office。给我的印象是，向欧洲人问路，excuse me之后，尽管有些人不知道如何走，有些年轻人会用手机上Google Map，当即查找，还有些人会主动上前，为我们指路，最后都会说声Good luck。

安家之处还无着落，我们在International Housing Office中排起了队，我们还算靠前，之前十多个人的样子，两个工作人员，本以为近半小时就能够拿到钥匙。想不到半小时过去了，我们的队伍丝毫没有挪动，上前探虚实，只听到瑞典工作人员在叽里呱啦地讲话，介绍着各把钥匙的功能，rules各项事项。完全没有停过。拿钥匙在我们看来是一件无比简单的事情，只要检查一下有效证件，即可将信封交给拿钥匙者。信封中有厚厚的一打纸头，相信是说明了宿舍的注意事项，可瑞典人偏要一丝不苟地给每一个取钥匙者讲清楚每张纸头的来头，完全不顾外面排着长长的等候队伍。

还有一件事，让我对瑞典人的效率留下了深刻的印象。Xie Liguan在Candy Chang的寝室楼梯扭伤了脚，她忍着伤痛坚持参加Guided Tour of Lund’s Dome，后来导致她的脚踝肿大，数天都没能够恢复。她坚持着一个人跑到了Hospital，我在Summer Pub开始时与她通话，她说在等候，我跑到Jiechao Li寝室去霸占网络之时，又与她通话，她说仍在等待。期间已经过掉3个小时，然后她还说，她是在一个emergency的大楼里面。

我和Jiechao Li决定带着食物和水骑车去医院看望她，带着地图，骑车前往，我们骑了近一刻钟，经过了Dome，还有主教学楼，夜晚仍掩饰不住它的气势宏伟。Xie Liguan说她边拍照边问路就到了那个医院，我们怎觉得是个很遥远的地方，那医院还真大，自行车骑进去，还要很久，才到了emergency。

Emergency的一楼大厅内坐着很多等候者，大家都很安详，要么翘着脚，要么看报纸，没有半点emergency的影子。时刻9.00 p.m.,Xie Liguan打趣地讲述她在医院的经历。过来之后挂号，医生说等待，然后把她叫进去，问了几句，又说等待，然后就把她叫进去拍X光，又说等待；付账的人对于中国字如何输入电脑感兴趣，中国有那么多字，是不是在中国要用很大的Keyboard啊，然后解释Xie Liguan用英文解释了半天拼音的功能；瑞典人叫Xie Liguan的名字异常奇怪，开始她自己模仿了一遍，每个音都是平的，最后一个四声。我还能有模有样地复述了一遍，但是等到有医生出来叫名字的时候，Xie Liguan突然站起来，我完全没有意识到。

吃在瑞典是件头疼的事，我们来的第一顿大餐，是在一次超市购物之后，Jiechao Li经过两周在家的实际训练，练得了一身好手艺，用当地的平锅，当地的油，当地的原料，烧出了本土的口味。相比后面些天，第一顿大餐相当丰盛，有番茄炒蛋，土豆炒胡萝卜丝，烤鸡，还有卷饼，我当即效仿KFC的“老北京鸡肉卷”，发明出了“老隆德番茄炒蛋土豆炒胡萝卜丝烤鸡卷”，卷起来吃还真香呢。后面一天我们还在ICA里面买到了40多克朗2kg的大米，用Jiechao Li不远万里带来的电饭煲，烧出来的米饭还挺香。

每周六都会有flea market，就在我们宿舍门前那条路上，Södra Esplanaden，路很长，所以集市也很长。刚走上集市，就碰上一个和蔼可爱的老头，他打趣地和我开着玩笑，宣传着福音，给我一天都带来了好心情。北欧的装饰品总是很粗重，不如南方城市的细巧，我在一个饰品摊上购得10:-的耳环，摊主说是从France带来。然后又在路边看到一辆自行车还不错，且只挂着450:-的标价，但是前面的灯是坏的，摊主很爽气地把价格降到了400:-，这是整个隆德能买到的最便宜的价格了。还让我在马路上试骑，可是刚一下来，发现变速档坏掉了，他就从车上拿出了工具，当场修理，他又要顾摊，又要修理，修了近半个小时，但看来要跟换零件才行，他就说next week，不会多收钱，给我修理变速和前灯。我相信欧洲人的话，所以也就买下来，在临走之前，他还给我的车固定了一下。cheap price & nice street pedlar。

后来一天我和Jiechao Li去了Wermlands Nation开的Summer Pub，露天拼出了长长的餐桌，大家围坐在一起。我点了一份2.1% alcohol的饮料，还有一个蔬菜派。旁边的一个瑞典人还真害羞，印证了我过去读到的关于瑞典男人的shy。后来来了个Canadian Woman，一坐下来就翘起二郎腿，似乎跟大家都很熟的样子，谈笑风生地开始讲话，native speaker果然不一样。另外个Canadian man，一坐下来也是滔滔不绝，可是他的声音很轻，整个长桌的人都鸦雀无声了，他不间断地讲了快要20分钟，讲述他的读书经历，大家都感到无比的boring。坐在我旁边的Belgium的小伙，笑起来很好看，他说他喜欢reading stories和Judo，然后和日本人说了个很猥琐的日本的特产。不过他还是给我们推荐了些欧洲好玩的地方。

在那边喝的酒虽然只有2.1%，但是还是难喝啊。所以就带回来了。要10:-呢。晚上很晚回到寝室，碰到了corridor的瑞典人，他邀请我去参加Lunds Nation的party，可是第二天还要去Helsingborg和Helsingør玩呢，他给我当场做了一份酒精饮料，并且说是37%的，还是加入了一种叫做leon（just the pronunciation），much stronger than lemon，然后加了两块冰块。喝下去的感觉酸酸的，没有太多酒精的味道，真好喝。然后进了Doglus的房间，哇塞，房间是环形的靠墙沙发，角落里面有个电脑在播放电子音乐，里面站着坐着很多人，在开着小型的party。给我做饮料那人介绍了新来的人，一个很Nordic的名字，我不能够发音，他就把名字用记号笔写在了我的手上，哇靠。我告诉了我的中文名，然后他的左手是我的中文名，右手是中文名的发音，哈哈，用camera拍了张照，我说我的nickname叫Dongdong，他们的发音很奇怪，我就说just like the drum，大家都被逗乐了。很想去party，但是他们说要到3点，还是乖乖地在寝室休息吧，下次带个人一起去。他们临走的时候还在笑Dongdong。