I caught a duck! Also I'm the new bar master of Västgöta Nation.

Yesterday was my best day since arriving in Uppsala.
First of all, I fed some ducks.  I've been meaning to feed the ducks for a while, and kept forgetting.  Finally yesterday I remembered to put 2 bags of bread in my coat pockets.
I went to the duck pond.  As soon as I started unwrapping the bread the ducks started heading over.  The ducks here are pretty bold...I had them eating directly out of my hand within a couple minutes.
Then I grabbed a duck.  You know how, as a kid, you would chase after birds in the park and never catch them?  Well, I caught one.  I never expected to actually catch a duck.  Now what?  I wanted to scratch it behind the ears, but where are the ears on a duck?  Nobody knows (I asked a biologist.  She claimed she didn't know because she was a molecular biologist.  But ducks are made of molecules, right?)
I ended up walking around for a little bit holding it in my outstretched hands while it kicked and squawked and pecked at me, then I let it go.  It was everything I hoped it would be and more.

Second, yesterday was the initiation day for Västgöta Nation.  This requires a brief side-journey to explain the "nation" concept at Uppsala.
Around 350 years ago, the students at Uppsala decided to join together in groups based on what area of Sweden they were from.  At first the University didn't like the idea, and banned the practice.  Then the University changed its mind and REQUIRED all students to join a group based on their geographic location.  Those groups were called nations, and they fulfill the role of residence hall, dining hall, student organizations, intramural sports, fraternity/sorority life, student government, etc.
The 13 nations vary drastically in size, from a few hundred members to several thousand.  They have pubs and/or bars, restaurants, theatre troupes, choirs, and sports teams.  They host movie nights, dance clubs, concerts, and parties.  The work for the nations is done primarily by members and on a largely volunteer basis.  Workers may get paid 150 SEK (~$20) for a 6 or 8 hour shift, but they also get a free meal.  It's not great money, but it's a way to do something worthwhile with friends while still earning a little spending money.
Because the nations have been around basically since the beginning, all student programming is done through them.  Although the nations started a student union a couple hundred years ago to perform functions for all students (like petitioning the government for more money), as far as I can tell, all actual programming is done by the Nations.
Just like it was over 300 years ago, all students are required to join a nation.  However, you are no longer limited to the nation from where you live.  Now you choose the nation that is the best fit for you or that you like the most.  Once joining a nation, you are issued a "nation card" that allows entrance to any of the nations.  The only difference is that you don't have to pay admission to events that your nation hosts, while members of other nations may be required to pay 50 or 100 SEK to get in to that hoppin' dance club.

OK, so that's the nation concept.  I wanted to join a smaller nation where I could get to know the members a little better and have a more personal experience.  I ended up joining Västgöta Nation, which is the oldest nation.  It was started in 1639 and the building where they reside was built in 1666.  (Västgöta Nation is older than the United States.  That's pretty awesome.) Their pub is in the cellar, which actually dates back to the 1400's.  It's pretty thrilling to sit and drink a beer in a cellar that was built before they knew about America.  They are also located right on the river, so it's close to go feed the ducks.
I should also probably mention that I volunteered for (and was selected to be) the Bar Master for the semester.  I'm not the bartender, I'm the one who organizes the bartenders, orders and stocks the alcohol, decides on drink specials, etc.


Yesterday was Reccemottagning, which is the initiation event.  It started with some speeches by the leaders of the Nation, including the faculty advisor.  Then we broke up into small groups and went around to different stations for each of the different aspects of the Nation (short scavenger hunt with the sports club, movie charades with the theater group, drinking beer with the pub master, doing shots with the bar master, etc.)  Finally, the evening was capped off with a formal 2-course dinner with entertainment by the mixed choir, the men's choir (who for some reason were carring around a headless baby doll and a cow skull), more speeches, etc.  There was lots of drinking and singing, and most of what was happening was in Swedish. (quick side note: the Swedish people are very quiet and reserved, until they start drinking.  Then they become outgoing, talkative, and friendly.  As a result, essentially all social events in Sweden involve drinking alcohol.  (And yes, it extends to non-college events as well.))
Anyway, fantastic cultural experience.  I met a ton of new people and the Swedish people think it's just as hilarious that my name is Law and I study law as people in America think it is.