Umea is over...

So, after a great week in Umea, I figure I should update my blog!

So far, it has not been sunny here. In fact, the weather has been pretty odd! In the mornings, it is usually cold, but mild. As the day goes on, it gets colder as the sun supposedly comes out, but then get warmer as the sun sets and evening begins. Weird, eh?

This week we have been focusing much on Sami Culture.






On Monday, we went to the University at Umea to meet with the International studies program, as well as meet with the Sami Studies faculty. They taught us much about how Swedish students choose to study abroad (mostly in English speaking countries like US, UK, Aus, and New Zealand) and how the Sami people are integrated with the Swedish gov't and culture (in their case, not well).

Tuesday, we met with a faculty memeber from the language department, originally from Norway, who introduced us to many of the language and Sami study graduate programs at Umea university. That afternoon, we had the opportunity to see both the Umea museum of Arts as well as the Sami Museum.

The Art Museum was filled with artists' interpretations of the world, ranging from upside down maps to documentaries of land use before and after the German concentration camps. One picture in particular I was not fond of- a Brit's from memeory interpretation of the world and it's major cities and features (see picture).















At the Sami musuem, we were able to meet many of the researchers and follow their work throughout Vasterbotten (the provice I'm in), from archieological digs to recreation of Sami archietecture to reclamation of Sami textiles and pelts. I also saw the oldest skis in the world (made 5,200 years ago) and was able to touch many pelts and even visit a forest Sami tent (see picture)












Today we went to a Reindeer farmer about 15 minutes outside of Umea. She was a rare female herder, which among the Sami is a new phenomenon. She and a friend are starting a tourist buisness, and we were her first 'customers.' We got to lasso reindeer, see lots of photographs of her work herding reindeer throughout the year, and coolest of all, meet some of her more domesticated reindeer. Maya was very helpful in understanding both the government and social prosecution Samis face daily: she sees herself as part of a dying breed of peoples, fighting for her way of life among encroaching private lands and public interest.

All in all, these past few days have been both educational and rewarding. Besides being able to walk the town and meet plenty of Swedes (and celebrate Barack's inaguration), I have been more connected to the social and political strife of the Swedish indegenious people than most Swedes ever are able too, while at the same time just beginning to scrape the surface of what this program has to offer.

I am looking forward to a great time in Jokkmokk, the next stop on our trip. It is a town of about 3000 people and can easily be seen on programs like Google Earth. We're staying at the Sami school, and hope to be involved in the Sami fair, starting at the beginning of February. We have an early day tomorrow with a long bus ride. Hopefully the internet will be more consistaint, so I can keep in touch with all of you better in the coming month. One week down, many more to go!