Being now since two months in Kristineberg sounds much longer than it actually feels like. With a constant working schedule (not to forget all the unpredicted happenings of the past) time is running fast and weeks are flying by. I already lost track of the days of a week, as I am only thinking in our sampling schedule of every-other-day-sampling. Which means, I usually only recognise that it is again the end of a week, when the Swedish people working in the station say “Goodbye” on Friday, being back on Monday…. While we stay in the station and keep our sampling schedule (“Hej, how was your weekend?” – “Well, you know… fighting the elements on the water, taking 110 l water sample and filter 66 l water over 77 filters. Rinsing, cleaning, tidying up. How was yours?”)

Yet, as life is not exclusively about work, we also established some social life leisure activities at the station, including so far a yoga class, movie nights, sports (running, table-tennis, climbing) and the obligatory sauna. Our Swedish-German language class started quite well, yet might need some refreshment to continue equally well. I admit, using your brain after a full sampling day is not the most tempting evening activity, but we will get there.

New energy for brain, body and soul is not only delivered from the great kitchen crew, taking care of us from breakfast to dinner 7 days a week, but also from the great nature surrounding us. To give you an idea of what I mean, here are some impressions of the last weeks. Enjoy!

By Dana Hellemann