Signs: Lost in Translation

Some of the strange and terrible signs encountered on travels.
Immature and unsophisticated entertainment? Yes.
But entertaining nonetheless.


The UP button on elevators in Copenhagen:


The horrific fate that awaits those that bring garbage cans into elevators:


The word in the final panel of this comic is Swedish for "End", or "Finished", or "Closed". However, oftentimes it ends up being an ironic punchline:
For example, when your treadmill finishes its pre-programmed 20 minute run at the gym, it will then proceed to display what looks like a very insulting and judgmental message.

A giant banner found in Oslo, Norway. Nothing further to comment on...:

A menu in Goteborg. Note that under Kyckling (chicken), you can get the Vom... which is in the Barf:

I don't actually have any idea what this is. But the picture that goes along with the logo confuses further:

Finally, a clothing store/brand in Stockholm. Most t-shirts in store have the name plastered across the fronts. Very flattering:

Today marks just the fifth day we have seen sunlight since our arrival on January 9th, 2009.
It is also the only time we have seen the sun two days in a row.
Wasn't able to get an actual picture of the sun because it was already setting by the time I got home.

We have all noticed fatigue and surprising physical effects from this sunlight deprivation, moreso than anticipated.

Photos

Method of content delivery has been moved to:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/richard.l.lam/
for convenience purposes.

Please Pass the Horse

The language barrier is strongest in the grocery store, where you aren't ever sure what you are buying. A number of people have reported purchasing what they thought was milk, only to find a thick yogurt drink pouring from their cartons and resting on top of their cereal.

In my case, I was looking for deli meat, which is always a useful food item to have on reserve. I settled on a reasonably priced, reasonable looking meat called Hamburgerkött, which resembled some sort of ham, based on the name and the color:

After using it in salad, pasta, sandwiches, omelettes, etc., I am informed by my Swedish friend Daniel who reads the packaging, that it is, in fact, Horse Meat that I have been consuming this whole time.

My guilt and disgust at what I have done is easily allayed by how good My Little Pony tastes.

Jan 9/10 - Living Conditions

Vilhelmsro Student Housing:

Apparently, the building was formerly used as a mental institution, hence the hospital-like qualities to the layout and structure of the rooms and hallways.


3 floors, Various color-coded wings/hallways, each with 6 rooms, 2 bathrooms and 1 kitchen for sharing.



3 washing machines and 3 dryers for the entire building of 80 residents.
All wings converge into the common area, consisting of a ping pong table and tv area.





My room is one of the smaller ones, out of a randomized selection. some have two beds, some have a sink; I got three chairs. I've been trying to trade a couple chairs for a sink, but no luck yet.

January 8-9, 2009 - Transit

The first post in what will undoubtedly be a very minimal and point-form photoblog.
24 hour transit from Calgary to Jonkoping.
- Calgary flight to Minneapolis/St. Paul. uneventful. most exciting picture from the airport:




















- Minneapolis flight to Amsterdam. airport contained various delis selling wall-to-wall cheeses and artistic bathrooms.



























- Flight from Amsterdam to Stockholm, Sweden. We just happened to fly right past Jonkoping on the way to Stockholm, hence the last aerial shot with the labels.

- Stockholm Airport and the tiny plane to Jonkoping: