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Two and a half weeks later we are once again on the move. The Arctic has been fun and all, but I’m ready to be somewhere not as cold as here in Jokkmokk. After an eighteen hour transport down south (bus, train, bus, bus) I will be in a warmer part of Sweden and I’m so freaking excited! Mora, Sweden is our next destination, where we will be living the campus life again. We are staying at the Mora folk school where we get to live in dorm rooms, get up for class, and be living the life as a college student again. Never in my life have I ever been as excited as I am to be living in a dorm room again! So enough about Mora, let me tell you all about the rest of my time in Jokkmokk!
Jokkmokk in a town slightly north of the Arctic Circle with about five thousand people in the Jokkmokk municipality. But forward two weeks later and suddenly there are over forty thousand people wandering aimlessly around. Not to mention hundreds of environmentalists staying in Jokkmokk as well. The Winter Conference and 410th Winter Market both happening in the same week. Let me just tell you, tooooooooo many people to handle.
For the first two weeks of my time in Jokkmokk, the group and I stayed in a wonderful hostel. We occupied our own house, where it was quickly to be named the “Frat House”. After two wonderful weeks in the Frat House, the group had to relocate to a new place to stay for the remainder of our time in Jokkmokk. We dragged our bags across town to the pistol club, where we slept on mattresses next to each other. It was like a five day sleepover, waking up to my friends every day! How fun!
The Winter Conference is a yearly international conference that focuses on energy, the environment and climate. Hundreds of environmentalists from around the world gathered in small town Jokkmokk for this event…yeah I don’t get why Jokkmokk either. But what a turnout it was! I met so many interesting people that just completely astounded me! How accomplished they are and what successes they have had I found incredibly impressive. Every person bringing their expertise and passion for the environment to the conference really made quite an impact. I actually left the conference knowing exactly what type of law I want enter: environmental law.
Even though the Winter Conference was great, the real fun came later in the week when the flood of people arrived and my wallet began weeping. Booths and stalls lined the streets with all the sellers putting their items on display hoping to make a sale. And I think it’s safe to say they made quite a sale. Hats, food, candy, jewelry, reindeer skins, wooden crafts, and meat, more meat, and even more meat are to name only a few of the items sold at the market. I bought a hat, reindeer bracelets,and so much more Pictures are below! As the days went on, more and more people arrived and by day four, I was done with people. What a struggle it is to get through the streets, so I’m glad I made my purchases earlier in the week. But how exciting the energy of the market is!
The amount of people I have met here in Jokkmokk is too big to count. I’ve met the Sami students who attend the Sami school in town, so many environmentalists and I’ve met a countless number of other people as well. I enjoyed meeting these people very much!
I don’t think this semester abroad in Sweden could be complete without Jokkmokk. The group has all made memories that will last a lifetime. I’m sad to be leaving, but ready for Mora. Our eighteen hour, 4 transfer ride down to Mora is going to be rough and we are all going to be so crabby by the time we arrive, but we are all ready for some new scenery and warmth.
Until next time Jokkmokk, Laura
Jokkmokk in a town slightly north of the Arctic Circle with about five thousand people in the Jokkmokk municipality. But forward two weeks later and suddenly there are over forty thousand people wandering aimlessly around. Not to mention hundreds of environmentalists staying in Jokkmokk as well. The Winter Conference and 410th Winter Market both happening in the same week. Let me just tell you, tooooooooo many people to handle.
For the first two weeks of my time in Jokkmokk, the group and I stayed in a wonderful hostel. We occupied our own house, where it was quickly to be named the “Frat House”. After two wonderful weeks in the Frat House, the group had to relocate to a new place to stay for the remainder of our time in Jokkmokk. We dragged our bags across town to the pistol club, where we slept on mattresses next to each other. It was like a five day sleepover, waking up to my friends every day! How fun!
The Winter Conference is a yearly international conference that focuses on energy, the environment and climate. Hundreds of environmentalists from around the world gathered in small town Jokkmokk for this event…yeah I don’t get why Jokkmokk either. But what a turnout it was! I met so many interesting people that just completely astounded me! How accomplished they are and what successes they have had I found incredibly impressive. Every person bringing their expertise and passion for the environment to the conference really made quite an impact. I actually left the conference knowing exactly what type of law I want enter: environmental law.
Even though the Winter Conference was great, the real fun came later in the week when the flood of people arrived and my wallet began weeping. Booths and stalls lined the streets with all the sellers putting their items on display hoping to make a sale. And I think it’s safe to say they made quite a sale. Hats, food, candy, jewelry, reindeer skins, wooden crafts, and meat, more meat, and even more meat are to name only a few of the items sold at the market. I bought a hat, reindeer bracelets,and so much more Pictures are below! As the days went on, more and more people arrived and by day four, I was done with people. What a struggle it is to get through the streets, so I’m glad I made my purchases earlier in the week. But how exciting the energy of the market is!
The amount of people I have met here in Jokkmokk is too big to count. I’ve met the Sami students who attend the Sami school in town, so many environmentalists and I’ve met a countless number of other people as well. I enjoyed meeting these people very much!
I don’t think this semester abroad in Sweden could be complete without Jokkmokk. The group has all made memories that will last a lifetime. I’m sad to be leaving, but ready for Mora. Our eighteen hour, 4 transfer ride down to Mora is going to be rough and we are all going to be so crabby by the time we arrive, but we are all ready for some new scenery and warmth.
Until next time Jokkmokk, Laura
