#dalarnauniversity

November has been one of the most busiest month so far in the program, with running of 3 projects in different courses. One course that ended was 'Dynamic Simulation of Energy Systems', a part of this course was to understand functioning of the simulation tool 'Trnsys'. We had to design and simulate an energy system and also design and test a control strategy for the energy system designed in the first part. A word of advice if you are taking this course, to start early and not delay working on your project. Trnsys is not the most user friendly software you will come across, you will have several glitches while simulating and takes time to correct it.

Two new courses started in November 'Solar Thermal Power' and 'Project Course', I have been awaiting for these two courses since the beginning of this semester. We had an amazing guest lecture for three days by Pedro Horta on 'Concentrating Solar Technology'. Pedro is a Head of a Group working on 'Thermal Industrial Processes and Systems' at Fraunhofer ISE , Germany. Pedro's series of lectures were very interesting and informative, they were focused on physics involved in concentrators which can be applied to both thermal and photovoltaic systems, I recommend you not to miss them.

In the project course, my group is involved with a project in designing a photovoltaic system for an indoor football field 'BSM Arena' in Borlänge. So far it has been quite interesting talking to the customers, collecting data from companies and designing in PVSyst.

Apart from courses, the weather in Borlänge has been unusually warm while its snowing in south of Sweden. I hope it snows soon and it will be a white christmas.

International food day is a tradition at DU or something that happens every year. Student union and university funds and organise food day at both the campuses in Falun and Borlänge. Students can form groups and get a stall to cook and represent food from their country. It’s a great opportunity to showcase food from your country and also to get lost and immerse in food from different cuisine and culture.

This year it was more special, on the same day the university organised a seminar by Christian Hadbergs. It was such an inspiration to hear his story, how he turned his life around when there was no hope for him. Christian had a fall from a cliff due to the malfunction of his equipment, where he was almost paralysed. He had to go through several surgeries and then went on to play floorball  for Swedish national team and then represent Sweden in ice-hockey at Paralympics. He was such an example of a person who proved and continues to prove, no matter what life throws at you, you can make the best out of it with sheer determination and hard work.

Midsummer One of the most cultural event you can witness and be part off in Sweden. It was so much fun to see so many people dancing and singing the traditional songs. We were in Leksand, which has the biggest midsummer pole in Sweden.

And how can I forget movie night with Michael.

I guess, it’s never to late to talk about summer. Unlike many, I decided to stay back in Sweden for summer. Summer in Sweden was great with out the Sun. You must be wondering, what the hell is he talking, Summer and no Sun, can’t get any worst than that. Well! You heard me right Summer without the sun was great, even though I was craving for sun after long winter, I did have a lot of fun in the gloomy days. Some of the best things I did this Summer were:

Traveling to North of Sweden : Lisa and Thomas invited me to spend few days in their summer stuga(house), The time I spent in stuga was like living a dream. The house was on an island in middle of lake Udajjure in Arjeplog, 40 kms below arctic circle. Living on an island without electricity, away from city getting close to the Swedish nature. Fresh fish and potatoes for dinner.

Finally! I got to see reindeers. :D

My first fish in Sweden. Lovely Pike. 

I became a sailor for a day, sailed an old Swedish fishing boat. It felt like I was in the movie “Life of a Pie”.

Learned to row a boat. 

Wolf tracking in Gyllbergen : We met a local in one of the music festivals and he agreed to go on a wolf trek with us. Ole has been living in Sweden for about 15 year now has been working on preserving habitats for wolfs in Dalarna region. It was hell lot of fun trekking in rain and finding fresh wolf and bear tracks.