FREDRIK SCHEIKE

(postcards.)

(Shot with my Canon EOS10D in the summer of 2017.)

Yeaaah, couldn't have imagined how expensive this trip would become... But hey, you only live once right? Paris is awesome, the guys are awesome and everyone's just really laid back! No "real major" mistakes yet, right? Love from Paris Fredrik

I'm sitting here in the library once more after a quite extrordinary and terrifying day.. I awoke at the usual 6:50 and got out of bed to be able to check once more I had all my things packed for the day. I had this feeling I had been sleeping extremely heavy since when the alarm went off, it started ringing in the far distance. I packed my stuff and headed for breakfast. Same "demi-wholegrain"-bread, bowl of tea, glass of orangejuice, yoghurt but today they also served leftover fruits which for me meant a banana! I got to my historylesson which today was transformed in to the premier geographylesson. I sat there, trying to take notes, trying to think in french but soon realized that I had major difficulties with both my concentration and my understanding. I always find it difficult, but today it was as if the teacher all of a sudden started speaking Greek or latin or some completely different language. First I thought it was only because I was more tired than usual and ...

Jag har hittat franska motsvarigheten till Radio Rix FM.. Jag är SÂÂÂÂ lycklig. How do you know you've succeeded with your language? Mickaël asked me one breakfast this week what I've been dreaming, I of course couldn't answer since I didn't remember. He then told me he had understood everything I had said, because I had been speaking FRENCH in my sleep! How awesome isn't that..? Well well:) Love from the Café Bis! Fredrik

Time for me to write a little aswell! This weekend has clearly been passable, enjoying it for real, though all this language training makes me kind of dizzy. I finished at 10 as usual on saturday morning and waited for the clock to turn 11:00 because that's when I was about to be picked up. I headed, directly after course to a little bar with Delphine and Marion to take a coffee. After a lot of thinking I decided I wanted a cold nice coke in the near-to-summer-sun". I headed back to the Lycée where Florence would pick me up, because we were going to go visit Georges mother who had her anniversary Saturday. She had told me earlier that Georges and Quentin would go by bike and we others by car but as we approached "home" she told me we were all going together. During the way "home" to pick up all the others me and Florence started discussing the problems I'm having with learning and wanting to quit german. I debated it for the whole way when I started rea...

Another picture-blog from the two weeks gone past. Texts up later today, or tomorrow?: 1 row. 2 row. 3 row. 4 row. 5 row. 1st row - L to R: Madame Pont, my philosophy teacher. || Toasting in Champomy in the schoolyard. || Clermont-Ferrand. 2nd row - L to R: Sunrise over the internat. || Elevator-lights. || Fire-poi session with Pauline and Mickaël. 3d row - L to R: Fire-poi session with Pauline and Mickaël. || Clouds above Puy-de-Dôme. || Parachuters at Puy-de-Dôme. 4th row - L to R: Swiss guy with beret and baguette. || Beautiful rose thistle. || Same thistle with a bumblebee. 5th row - L to R: Delphine, Marion and Anouk at Puy-de-Dôme pick-nick. || Vincent - the other brother. || Florence - my correspondant mother.

Well, here I go again, whining away. Sitting here at the Internet-café not far from school, where one hour on internet costs 2.50, but why in the middle of the morning you ask? One answer: today I experience the first of - probably - many "grèves" to come. Yup, it's a strike right now, why? I understand perfectly why, there is now limit to the number of pupils permitted in each class. There are classes with 38 pupils on my Lycée, and others have told me horror-stories of classes of up to 45 people at Collège. Of course the teachers can't put up with it! Anyway, I'm not permitted to quit German to take a course in French. Just because "it's not according to the rules". French is not considered to be a "foreign language" you see. I'll print the story in black and white for you. I want to quit german. Why? Because I seriously can't understand jack shit, I understand that which resembles Swedish, but that's not good enough since the...

Ah Putain! It feeels gooooood to finish at 10 now a days! But I will still go to the course, just to see if I have to be there! Now you wonder: What is HE talking about?! I've quit GERMAN! And apparently, if things go the way I want - I'm going to start a course in french with the UNIVERSITY students! Not the french-university-course, but the "french-for-foreigners-university-course"! Could it be any better? I think NOT! During my "away"-time from here I've been doing sooo much I think I've forgotten half. Last friday after classes, I together with Delphine, Marion and Anouk went on a tour around Clermont. Since Delphine had passed here license last tuesday (on wednesday we drank and toasted in "Champomy", carbonated apple-juice, to celebrate her license - IN THE SCHOOLYARD! Haha) she of course wanted to practice her driving. And I have to say I'm impressed, because seriously, I would go bollocking mad, driving around in this town! The ...

Phew! Now I haven't written here for quite a while, and much has happened since last time, first I will post some pictures and then in another inlay I'll write. So here begins the pictureshow (all the images are clickable - for a greater size): My chamber at my familys house The "to-be" summer house of my family, A LOT of work still needs doing. Georges (dad) and Quentin (brother) working hard at the house. My bed --- Mickaëls bed at the boarding house (internat). Mickaël playing narcisstic with my camera. Benjamin, from the boarding house Fabien, Benjamins older brother, from the boarding house. Adrien, from the boarding house. Skilled Poi-artist. Jonas, the french guy who listens to Totalt Jävla Mörker! Quentin(another one), from the boarding house. More pictures coming up!

Haha! Best title ever! Awh, I've been having two WONDERFUL days right now, this weekend really is up there at the top. Yesterday of course started with two hours of philosophy as every saturday does. As I had been sleeping awefully good I was unfortunately a bit late when I realized that I would return "home" today, as every saturday. So I collected all of my stuff rather quickly but I still wasn't finished when Fabien came knocking at my door. I tried to explain and he just laughed and remembered that he had forgotten his bag aswell. We got all our stuff and then headed down for breakfast. Same as always.. But I think my stomach is becoming quite accustomed by now. but it's taken almost 2,5 weeks, though still, I miss PORRIDGE! I never thought those words would come across my lips, but there you have it ladies and gentlemen, hands down, the truth - I miss porridge.. After breakfast, two hours of philosophy awaited me. Those two hours would have taken the must ou...

I forgot something yesterday when I had to finish my blog in like 2 minutes. I'm beginning to love philosophy! For the first time, I understood something yesterday! We're finally beginning with the kind of philosophy I love. Reality - how real is it? Gawsh, I'm only said I can't debate more, because I got so many things on my mind. Well today was just an ordinary day really. 2 hours of history, 2 hours of litterature, and I must allow myself to say, gawsh, I'm beginning to dislike the educational system here. Where is the dialogue between student/teacher? There's isn't anything that even comes close to that. And I believe that's the only way to actually accumulate the knowledge, by practicing it. Well I'm off now, going in to town to meet pupils from my class now, in this heavy rain.. Well well, loads of love! Bis Fredrik

As the same blog today decided to go bazongas on me and didn't save A THING of what I had written I have to do a shorter version. Yesterday was just one of those quite unordinary days. Had two courses - philosophy and history, and finished thereafter. And in between I got the promised surprise from one of my classmates (Delphine) - An IKEA pen and two small Swedish flags! THE JOY OF HOME!! Haha, we had a great laugh and I thanked her heartly. I went to town after school where I first met with Quentin who had promised me that he could help me unblock my phone. He pretty much ignored me during the whole day, and when we met with one of his friends Thibaud, it was ever even worse. I actually started to think that if I went in another direction, they wouldn't notice - less even care. The deblocking of the phone was unfortunately not a success so I managed to "save" 25€. After I parted from the guys I went around the Centre Jaude which is the largest shoppingmall in town t...

That's right, I'm a big boy now..! Haha! Seriously speaking, this has been one of better birthdays ever. I got two calls, 13 text-messages and 6 comments on the blog saying congrats. I was also surprised by family this sunday and by my french friends on the day. When I joined them for dinner they started singing "Jouyeux Anniversaire..!" loudly and presented me with gifts. I've now celebrated my eighteenth birthday 4 times and it feels so good! I've never gotten this much appreciation - EVER! Right now, I'm sitting here in the library again in between lessons. I finished my english course at 1000 and I'm starting again at 1500 with another german lesson... What to do in the meanwhile? I've got no idea. I think I'll go in to town for a quick shopping round, or perhaps just rest here until the "SELF" opens (self-catered restaurant at the Lycée). Whatever I do I shall go around smiling all day, because of my birthday, because of my new-f...

18 TODAY!! Nog kort, Robin..?

What a day, what a joyous day! I slept late, had a loooong breakfast and did some of my homework, I'm now finished with the English assignment, now I just have Philosophy and litterature left. All the day I've been reading my new book, mixing it with a blend of music and a hint of studies, all on top with a slice of meals. Gawsh, lazy wonderful day..! At dinner today, everyone surprised me by bringing in a huge prune-cake with lighted candles. Singing and all! I had almost forgot my birthday tomorrow because I've thought I would spend it "alone" so to speak. But no, not just the singing and the cake, they brought in enormous amounts of gifts also! Minth candy, nougat, socks, a packet of drinks, Champagne and best of all 40 E for refilling my french mobile!! That's LOADS of cash! I think I'm going to fall over, or at least, sleep rather good tonight, knowing that my 18th birthday will still be the best! Those of you in Östersund at the day, please make a co...

For those of you who don't speak french I'll translate the headline for you: At Deneuvys at the end of the week. Finally I'm here again! It's been one messy and stressing week but now that I'm back "home" the pieces are finally coming together. I'm beginning to see the picture instead of just the pieces. First week of school, what can I say? Revolting? Yes very. Disturbing and confusing? Most certainly. Fun? No doubt about it. I've during this week learnt to know multiple people and gotten many friends, not just in those that Quentin has introduced me to, but others aswell. People in my class, in my corridor and other people at the internat. Marvellous! Everything really works out if you're just a bit openminded and actually try to speak french. I've also gotten invited to a birthday party at my roommate's house around the 23d of September, of course I'm going! Marvellous way to learn to know even more people! The joy, oh the joy!...

This is NOT my day.. Litterature course went bad, really bad.. I tried to understand and I really tried to comprehend the homework but it just didn't go my way! I couldn't, I just couldn't, I don't know why but it just wasn't possible.. That's when you're thankful for all your classmates. We had a small break in the middle of the lesson when a guy from my class approaches me and asks if everything's alright, and also if I understand everything etc. I tell him No, of course, because I didn't understand. Then he says these magical words which lift the world of your shoulders - no, not I love you, but - I can help you! OF COURSE, you can help me, no doubt about it, I'm the "crazy-Swede-who-went-to-france" remember..? The lesson ended and I was still like a questionmark when I headed for the internat - tired, hungry and absolutely fed up with school. I reach the gates, get inside and up all the 83 steps for my floor and manages to reach the...

Oh my, what have I gotten myself in to? Naw, just kidding, but yesterday I was mighty tired of the french language, the french culture, the french temperature.. Everything. That was probably because I had 2 hours of philosophy and two hours of history and geography. I understood NOTHING! Nearly NOTHING! During philosophy class I've never felt such a longing for home. During class I thought about one of my last days in Sweden, and one of the best of all summer (year even?). The day I was bathing, eating and sleeping on Rödön. Gawsh that was the best day in a long time. Both are hard courses to attend in your own language, but in a foreign one, it's nearly impossible! But I won't give up that easily, oh no, the french don't know who they're messing with - haha! Yesterday was a nice day, I had my two courses and then I ate and then I'd finished the day, just as simple as pie. So after all my courses I headed in to town with Quentin and Clément - a friend of Quentin...