The South Indian Showdown - Battle of Stockholm’s Top South Indian Restaurant Chains

South Indian food is incredible - rich in both flavour and culture, it provides a diverse selection for all tastes and preferences, and it’s definitely worth trying out. Here are how two South Indian chain restaurants around Stockholm compare.

Being both an exchange student from the UK and a second-generation immigrant from South India, I’ve spent more time in recent years missing home food than actually having it. In my quest to find good South Indian food in Stockholm, I've come across two restaurants with quite different interpretations of the matter.

Hotel Saravana Bhavan (HSB) is the largest South Indian restaurant chain in the world, with well over 100 locations across four continents. Though there is only one location in Stockholm, located quite close to St Eriksplan station, its magnitude is undeniable. Initially targeted at south asian expatriates (such as my family), it has since gained popularity amongst non-Indian customers. Both times I’ve visited, I’ve seen this restaurant act as a bustling hub for couples, friends, families and colleagues to connect and immerse themselves in something new.

On the other hand, the ‘South Indian Restaurant’ (aptly named) is a Scandinavian-only chain with two branches in Stockholm, one merely a street away from SSE campus on Rådmansgatan and the other in Södermalm. Though the restaurant specialises in cuisine from the Chettinad region, the food served is definitely accessible and the restaurant presents a wonderful place to dine from brunch to dinner.

Variety in Cuisine

In general, Indian food is extremely diverse - at any Indian restaurant, the range of options on the menu may even seem overwhelming to the novice diner. South Indian food in particular also tends to have more vegetarian options than other cuisines. Both restaurants offer many vegetarian dishes, with HSB specialising entirely in vegetarian and vegan food.

The South Indian offers a pretty accessible menu, and anyone with minimal experience with Indian food will see dishes they recognise. If you're feeling particularly reluctant, the kids menu even offers items like chicken nuggets and crackers to ease you in. Even if you’re feeling more adventurous, this restaurant has got you covered, with options becoming more varied as you go down the menu.

Substituting a meat base with paneer (a delicious Indian cheese), vegetables and various lentils, HSB makes the vegetarian menu work - in fact, one may not even notice that the food is vegetarian, as the food acts as more than just a mere substitute. Though there are less options for bases in HSB, it makes up for this in variety within the options. There's probably a version of each dish that aligns with your tastes, because going through the menu they make sure to include variations from several different regions from different states.

Taste

I've been to both restaurants quite a few times, and from my experience, dining in the restaurants always makes for a good dining experience. The food is very flavourful, and even the more generic options (like chicken wings in The South Indian) were not slacked on. If you're trying South Indian food for the first time, I would recommend the Thali - this is a big plate with rice in the middle, and small portions of around 10 different curries all around it. Also added are rotis/naans and poppadoms which you can also try with the curries. This will allow you to get a feel for what you like, so the next time you can order an individual portion of that.

The takeaways, on the other hand, are perhaps something to watch out for. I've had, and heard about, mixed experiences from both these restaurants.

I've had some experiences where The South Indian was sub-par. The first time I ordered biryani, I got a vacuum sealed box of some chopped up chicken breast and some not-very-flavoured rice, and I had a similar experience when I ordered curry. However, since then it seems their delivery packaging has evolved, and now it definitely feels like the food delivered has been made and packaged a lot more recently.

On the other hand, HSB wasn’t that disappointing to begin with, and the taste was largely similar to what you’d get in the restaurant. However, I would say be careful when heating up leftovers, as in the microwave, some of the bread dishes can get a little soggy. Instead, maybe toast them on the pan.

Vibe

The South Indian in Rådmansgatan presents a slightly classy vibe, with wood panelled walls, leather chairs and booths, a lot of open space around the front desk and lanterns hanging above each table. You can sit at a corner booth for a casual setting, or perhaps find a wide table for a work dinner.

On the other hand, HSB is a lot more cosy, with much dimmer lighting and a cutout by the front desk peeking into the kitchen. The top floor is small, and the walls are lined with pictures of HSB’s (controversial) history growing in, and expanding from, South India. The basement is a lot larger, with far more tables and a bar for larger parties to get together.

Price Range

Honestly, both restaurants are kind of similar with this - if you want a meal, you should be expecting to spend SEK150-200, but you should also expect to be VERY full (and probably have some to take home!) Alternatively, if you’re a fan of one specific item and only want to order that, you can probably get the cost down to SEK100.

Conclusion

Overall, both these restaurants are a great experience, for both first-timers and repeat customers looking for something comfortable. When I'm feeling homesick and don’t have time to cook, choosing between these restaurants, more often than not, comes down to which one is closest. My final verdict is thus:

If you just want to dip your toe into South Indian food, or you’re looking to impress someone, go for The South Indian! It's close to campus and super convenient. However, if you’re looking for something cosy, something to warm your heart a little, then the clear winner is HSB.

Let us know if this has convinced you to try either restaurant out, and what you ordered!

All you need to know about the SASSE elections

As most students will be aware by now, we have just about entered the election season, at the end of which the SASSE board for next year will be chosen by us students. However, it is easy to lose track of the dates and schedule for the upcoming weeks. Therefore, we provide you with a summary of all the information you need to know about the elections.

When are the elections?

The election period started off with the nominations opening on the 4th of November, running until November 11th. Subsequently, on November 15th, the candidate lunch was held, coupled with the formal announcement of the election promises. As most of you will have noticed on various social media, this was when the campaigning really started: all the candidates were revealed and began announcing their election promises. The period from November 23rd to December 4th is earmarked for a series of debates, predominantly held during lunchtime. These debates (all being held in the Rotunda) will encompass various key roles, including the treasurer role, the presidential positions in all eight committees, and the vice presidential position. The final two debates are the presidential debates and take place in the aula, on the 1st and 4th of December. The pivotal phase of the electoral process commences on December 5th, when voting officially opens at 13:15. However, the window for casting votes is relatively brief, concluding on December 7th at 13:00, marking the closure of the electoral process. This timeline culminates in the highly anticipated Election Night on December 7th.

Who can be nominated?

Anyone who deems oneself or others fit for the task! However, since nominations already have closed, those aspiring for the board positions will have to wait with their candidature until next year. 

Three candidates - three interviews

We have briefly interviewed all three presidential candidates, to get to know them a bit better, as well as get a feel for what to expect should they be elected to helm SASSE next year. Make sure to follow them all on various social media in order to be up-to-date with all their election promises! 

Eldor Hennermark

When and why did you decide to run for president of SASSE?

I have been interested in running for a position in the SASSE board since I started at SSE, but the choice to go for president occurred only a few weeks ago. I knew the competition would be tough, but I decided to take the chance for president as this position is the one that will give me the biggest possibility to implement many of the positive changes I think SASSE needs. 

What are your overarching ambitions for your potential tenure as president?

To make SASSE more accessible. I will do this through adding more roles within SASSE and make it easier for people to get a chance to contribute to the association. Right now, there are many who want to join but few positions available. 

Describe in one word how you want to be perceived as SASSE president.

Honest.

If you could send out one message to all students ahead of the voting, what would it be?

If you want everyone to feel welcome at SASSE, regardless of their previous connections or friends, vote for Eldór!

Philip Remmer

When and why did you decide to run for president of SASSE?

I've been planning to campaign since March last year, but my interest in the role and thoughts of applying started already last fall.

What are your overarching ambitions for your potential tenure as president?

My overarching ambitions are that SASSE should become even better by increasing inclusion, improving communication and encouraging new initiatives. I would like to nudge SASSE in the international direction the school is heading and continue to align our strategy with the schools ambitions while maintaining all the fun traditions we enjoy at the moment.

Describe in one word how you want to be perceived as SASSE president.

Friendly.

If you could send out one message to all students ahead of the voting, what would it be?

Try to consider which candidate for each post represents the values which you believe in, and vote for the person you best believe will be able to handle all aspects of the role, from leading the board to representing SASSE towards external actors.

Clara Härdling

When and why did you decide to run for president of SASSE?

I have been involved in SASSE since I started at SSE. I have met so many amazing people through the student life here and created memories for life, therefore I want others to have that same experience. I started thinking about the position of SASSE president already in the spring when I was selected as Vice President in the sports committee. Through this role I got an insight into the committee life from a more operative level and loved every second of it. I made my final decision during the fall.

What are your overarching ambitions for your potential tenure as president?

My ambition is to continue to create a SASSE where all students want to engage, in an environment where we can thrive and develop both as people and as a community. I want to ensure that we keep the same standards and expectations that we have for our educational experience within the student association. Promising a SASSE that promotes inclusion, well-being, excellence, and above all fun!

Describe in one word how you want to be perceived as SASSE president.

Enthusiastic!

If you could send out one message to all students ahead of the voting, what would it be?

Vote :) Use your power to impact the future of SASSE. For a future that’s bright, Clara is right!

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Visit sasse.se for more information and election results.

Three Wintry Film Recommendations

Force Majeure (Turist) - Ruben Östlund (2014)

Force Majeure, or to Swedish viewers known by its original title Turist, is the fourth feature from Swedish provocateur Ruben Östlund. Taking place in the French ski resort of Les Arcs, it depicts a Swedish family’s holiday taking an unpleasant turn when the father, struck by panic as a controlled avalanche appears to spiral out of hand, abandons his family. Although the avalanche turns out to be nothing more than a bad scare, the family trip takes off in an uncomfortable direction because of the father’s actions. 

   Ruben Östlund has made a name for himself through exposing the pathetic, insecure being hiding behind the façade that we humans are so desperate to maintain. As he has described it himself, all his movies are about people trying to avoid losing face; in particular he tends to like putting the comfortable middle-to-upper classes in the fire zone. Perhaps, none of his other movies does this as clearly as Force Majeure, where he takes aim at society’s perception of male and especially paternal bravery. A lot of the film’s excellence lies in how the conflict just simmers underneath the surface for the majority of the runtime, tastefully refusing to hand out quick payoffs. As he so often does, Östlund chooses to frame the increasingly uncomfortable scenes with static long takes, cynically observing his characters as they little by little reach their respective breaking points. The long takes also serve as dramatic devices: they lock us in, the viewers, with the characters and the awkward situations they are in. Instead of letting us get away from the misery, Östlunds lets the scene go on for a little longer than he “should”, and a yet a little longer after that. On a final note, besides social commentary and satiric brilliance, it is a highly entertaining film, filled with humor, memorable scenes and beautiful cinematography capturing the snow-white Alpine scenery.

Inside Llewyn Davis - Joel & Ethan Coen (2013)

In the current movie climate we are drenched in music biopics. Queen, Elton John, Elvis; it seems to be the case that each and every one who has left their footprints in the history of music also deserves a film depicting their life. How much humbler is then the arena for the failed prodigies, the rejects, the artists who dream big but never make it out of the starting blocks? That’s where movies like Inside Llewyn Davis come in.

   Characterized by the Coen brothers’ trademark balance between comedy and tragedy, we follow Llewyn Davis, an aspiring musician trying to navigate the folk scene in Greenwich Village in the winter of 1961. We follow him as he scutters between auditions, sleeps on couches in draughty apartments and drifts around on snowy streets. He personifies all starving artists who are close to, or already have, given up: in a ”what could have been”-moment close to the end, we see a young Bob Dylan take the stage in a nightclub where Llewyn was thrown out the night before. The sullen truth is that the vast majority of people never become Bob Dylans; instead, most become Llewyn Davises. Oscar Isaac delivers a laconic, muted performance and shines in the shoes of the titular character. The Coen brothers have always had a knack for writing memorable, off-beat characters, and just because of that, Llewyn Davis stands out even more for how incredibly normal he is. He’s just like any other lonesome, slightly depressed but dreamy guy you could bump into at any time. He’s not an angel either, but lazy and often stuck-up against others, but it’s just because of those realistic attributes that we relate to him even more, and are even more emotionally affected by his failures and misfortunes. Inside Llewyn Davis might seem plotless, but its lack of direction is precisely the point: the film itself possesses the same meandering spirit as its main character, as he drifts around looking for something he can’t seem to find no matter how hard he tries. It is a beautiful yet so melancholic film, but in a calm, soothing way. And by the way, the songs are great!

The Ascent - Larisa Shepitko (1977)

If Force Majeure and Inside Llewyn Davis (depending on who you ask, of course) are fairly well-known, this third recommendation belongs to the realm of arthouse cinema as much as anything. Set during WWII, it follows two Soviet partisans forced deep into German territory on a mission to gather food, but as things start to go wrong, the journey soon turns into a fight for life and death in the midst of the ruthless Russian winter.

   Unflinchingly depicting the horrors of war, The Ascent belongs in (although it is quite unknown to the wider public) the pantheon of war films. Unusually enough for a war movie, it doesn’t offer a lot of political commentary on its subject, perhaps surprisingly, considering the state-owned, Soviet production company Mosfilm produced it. Even though the Germans for natural reasons are portrayed as the villains, the film does not spend any time discussing political ideologies. Instead, it revolves around one deceivingly simple theme: survival. While Force Majeure is about to which lengths a person is willing to go to avoid being ridiculed, The Ascent is about what a human is capable of doing in order to live one more day. Few films manage to depict the psychological toll war takes on a person: with claustrophobic camera angles, pressed up tight against the actors’ faces, we feel their disillusion and fear as if we were there ourselves. We feel each gunshot breeze by our heads, we feel the freezing cold rubbing against our faces, and we hear the soldiers’ hyperventilation next to us as they crawl through the snow. Death is constantly lurking around the corner, and the dread grabs hold of the viewer from the get-go. The movie culminates in the bleakest of endings, which doesn’t showcase as much as a glimmer of faith in the goodness of either humanity or the universe at large. A true masterpiece, albeit an underseen one.

Review: Killers of the Flower Moon

Vamshi Darisi

Killers of the Flower Moon

Non-spoiler Review

Killers of the Flower Moon is Martin Scorsese's latest epic, a historical crime drama set in 1920s Oklahoma. The movie depicts the boom of the Osage nation after the discovery of an oil reserve on their tribal land, and the series of suspicious deaths of Osage members that follow.

The film boasts a talented cast, as well as a 3 hour 26 minute runtime. Scorsese moves from strength to strength, drawing from his wells of experience with historicals and gangster epics to present a captivating portrayal of paranoia, conspiracy and cynicism. His storytelling is enhanced by incredible cinematography, a refined soundtrack and consistently high-quality sets and wardrobe, creating a world that (mostly) captures the audience from start to finish.

There is no shortage of compelling characters - Leonardo Di Caprio as the simple minded Ernest Burkhart and Robert De Niro as his uncle, William King Hale, are engaging and intriguing leads, and Lily Gladstone as Mollie Kyle, an Osage whose family falls victim to this reign of terror, brings tragedy, heart and charm to her performance.

This film is very Scorsese - it’s got lies, crimes and brutal power grabs. It's also very Scorsese in that it’s demanding - make sure you’re prepared for the runtime, because while it doesn’t take you out of the film, it definitely hits you. However, the combination of Scorsese’s ever-growing skillset and the harrowing historical and cultural context add weight to this story and make it feel new and fascinating.

• Story - 5/5

• Entertainment value - 4/5

• Cinematography - 5/5

• Characterisation and Acting - 4/5

Recommendation: Watch in theatres if possible!

Spoilery thoughts

This movie broadcasts pretty early on how William Hale and Ernest Burkhart are involved in the Osage murders. Although there’s kind of a ‘big reveal’ scene, there isn’t really any mystery to it, and the characters’ motives and lack of morals are present from the very beginning.

A previous draft of this movie centred wholly around the Bureau of Investigation (now the FBI) and their inquiry into the Osage murders. Jesse Plemons’s character would have been in a much larger proportion of the movie, learning about incidents that had already happened and piecing together the perpetrators of the murders. While this would’ve made for an intriguing mystery, it’s not the best idea; we would’ve missed all the events unfolding!

I bring this up to show that this story can be told from a number of different perspectives. Personally, I think a more compelling one would have been from Mollie's - she would have been a brilliant protagonist, one we already feel sympathy for and a connection to, and Lily Gladstone definitely seems to have the acting chops to carry a film of this scale and complexity. Making a film following exploitative murderers makes it easy to find your moral standing but slightly harder to find specific characters to root for.

It's especially true when a lot of the victims, including Mollie herself, fade into the background for a lot of the movie. I’m not sure how much of the story Mollie experienced in real life, but perhaps it could have shortened the movie while still keeping the nuanced portrayal of each of the large ensemble cast.

However, perhaps Mollie’s perspective would have been difficult to tackle correctly. Letterboxd reviewer trythebuffer, who are Osage themselves, suggested that it might take an Osage person to make this film from an Osage perspective. Scorsese may not be able to capture how the Osage felt, or conveyed their generational trauma with the right understanding. But as Lily Gladstone puts it, nobody is giving Osage filmmakers ‘Scorsese money’, and this film makes vast strides in representing Osage history on the big screen.

Anyway, that’s really my main spoilery thought to be discussed. Overall, I really enjoyed the movie, and am looking forward to Scorsese’s next project, titled The Wager - intriguing! Please contact us through the website[either the submission box or email] with your own reviews, or submit them in the comments below to get featured on the blog website! I'd love to hear what you think.

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Blog

What to watch out for on TV - Doctor Who and Scott Pilgrim

Vamshi Darisi

BIG THINGS coming to TV this week!

Doctor Who - Disney Plus

Thursday 23rd November is Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary!!! This is officially the longest-running science fiction show, and my absolute favourite thing in the world. The show follows The Doctor, a time travelling alien who has the ability to ‘regenerate’ when injured, changing their entire body - thus allowing many actors to portray the character in their own way. The Doctor travels in the TARDIS, a time machine that looks like a British police box that is bigger on the inside, with companions, often from modern day Earth, who are shown the vast wonders of the universe and get up to all sorts of adventures.

You may have heard of Doctor Who, perhaps when it was at its peak of popularity in the late 2000s. This man was all over the world - his name is David Tennant, and he played the Tenth Doctor.

He travelled with many companions, including the feisty Donna, played by Catherine Tate.

The show was written by Russell T. Davies, an award winning showrunner who created shows such as It’s a Sin and Queer as Folk.

Guess what - they’re all back!!! That’s right, for Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, David Tennant and Catherine Tate return for three bombastic hour-long specials penned by Russell T. Davies, also starring Neil Patrick Harris. And for the first time ever, Doctor Who will be available outside of the UK on Disney Plus! At 7.30pm CET on Saturday 25th November, the first special, entitled ‘The Star Beast’ airs on both the BBC and Disney Plus, with the subsequent specials releasing over the next two Saturdays. So whether you’re an avid fan, or you stopped watching a long time ago, make sure to catch these specials to reintroduce you to the wonderful world of Doctor Who.

For those who aren’t familiar with Doctor Who at all, do not worry. After the 60th anniversary specials, there is soon to be a perfect jumping on point - sort of a ‘soft reboot’. Though the show’s previous history won’t be forgotten, the show will restart at ‘Season One’ (the previous series was called Series 13), with a new Doctor who you may recognise from Netflix’s Sex Education!

I am definitely looking forward to this new era of Doctor Who, as the new storylines seem incredibly exciting and I think the new Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, is a hugely talented actor. The show seems to be gearing up for worldwide domination with its new Disney Plus deal, and I say bring it on!

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Fans of Scott Pilgrim AND people who have never heard of it, gather round! There is a new Scott Pilgrim show on Netflix, called Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.

Bryan Lee O’Malley’s series of graphic novels called Scott Pilgrim, focus on a guy (surprisingly called Scott Pilgrim) who’s a musician and a bit of a slacker. He wants to date a mysterious girl called Ramona Flowers - however, in order to do so, he must defeat Ramona's seven evil exes in battle. The graphic novels take place in a video-game style universe, and make for a really fun and often introspective story.

You may be familiar with Scott Pilgrim from the 2010 movie adaptation called Scott Pilgrim vs. the World from one of my favourite directors, Edgar Wright. The film stars a whole bunch of people who are now very famous: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Evans and Jason Schwartzman to name a few. The film was quick paced, visually clever and so, so funny. Also, it had great music!

This week, Netflix released a new animated series adaptation, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. 

This series was developed by the original writer, O'Malley, and the film’s director, Wright, and showcases a reimagining of the story different from both the graphic novel and the movie. Trust me, there’s a twist in the first episode that would surprise both newcomers and fans alike - it definitely surprised me.

For fans of the film, here’s the big pull: all the big celebrities who starred in the 2010 adaptation have come back! Every single cast member who played a character in the movie is voicing the same character in the show, and yes, that includes Captain America himself, Chris Evans.

So please, check it out! It's a show I really enjoyed and you will too regardless of your familiarity with the franchise. Let us know if you’ve heard of Scott Pilgrim before, and what you think of the show in the [comments/email].

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Blog

Murder Ballads by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Axel Hansson

In the twilight of the Spooky Season, when the darkness of winter comes lurking, the crimson autumn leaves start to fall and the rain patters against the windows, what better album to fit the mood than this blood-drenched, devilishly entertaining collection of songs, all circulating around the same theme: murder.

Murder Ballads is the culmination of the style and themes that Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds had indulged in all the way from the debut From Her To Eternity; a style characterized by evocative storytelling and gothic soundscapes. In a majority of early Bad Seeds songs, the interest is primarily in the violent and macabre side of the human condition, often in the form of the traditional folk subgenre of the murder ballad. The lyrics are often written from the first-person view of the murderer, and when they’re not, they take the narrative shape of folk tales, as they would be told in front of the fireplace during a cold and windy night. Before the group set off in the somber, love-yearning direction of the subsequent album The Boatman’s Call, the Bad Seeds waved farewell to their early era with an entire album dedicated to the malevolence of the murder ballad genre.

Albums seldom come more mean-spirited than this: no character in any of the ten songs manage to escape violent death. Even in those tunes where the story at first seems to take off in a different direction, like the mysteriously romantic Where The Wild Roses Grow (greatly elevated by the iconic duet between Cave and Kylie Minogue), the narrative sooner or later ends in death. In many cases, the contrast between the beautiful melodies (often accentuated by melancholic piano-playing) and the violent lyrics creates a form of morbid humor; nevertheless, there is always some kind of strange harmony between the two.

The major highlight in an album full of highlights is the penultimate song, the 14-minute masterpiece O’Malley’s Bar. In darkly humorous fashion, the song follows a man entering the titular bar and going on an unhinged killing spree, where Cave inhibits one of his most memorable characters as well as showcases a vast array of ways to die. When the 14 minutes are over and the album is wrapped up with an ironically optimistic cover of Bob Dylan’s Death Is Not The End (featuring Shane McGowan of The Pogues and PJ Harvey, among others), you can’t help but feel that it is a mischievous touch of dark humor from the band.

From the get-go, it is Cave that runs the show with his brilliant lyrics, which are filled with imagery so vivid that listening to the album is almost like watching a horror film unfold before your eyes. Sure, the melodies are beautifully composed, but no instrument ever takes the spotlight from the vocals. Instead, the particular Bad Seeds sound constitutes an eerie backdrop to Cave’s storytelling; his deep, imposing voice being a perfect fit with the gruesome narratives. 

Best songs:

1. O’Malley’s Bar

2. Where the Wild Roses Grow

3. Henry Lee

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Blog

A Welcome to the Minimax Blog

Axel Hansson and Vamshi Darisi

Who are we?

Axel: Hello! My name is Axel, and along with Vamshi I will take care of the blog posting here on the website this year. I am a first-year student at the B&E bachelor program, and this is therefore my freshman article for Minimax (hopefully the first of many). As far as introductions go, I am 19 years old and have lived in Stockholm all my life. 

Vamshi: Hej, wonderful readers! My name is Vamshi, and I am absolutely delighted to be part of the blog team this year. I grew up and studied in a small town close to London, and now I am two years into my degree at the London School of Economics. I really enjoy living in London, but the opportunity to come to Stockholm and take a break from that life was a welcome one. I’m eager to make the most of my opportunity this year, through taking interesting courses, travelling and exploring Stockholm, and chasing down the Northern Lights by any means possible.

Our interests

Vamshi: I can’t really categorise the things I’m interested in, because it’s pretty much everything under the sun, as I’m sure you will realise quite quickly. My favourite pastimes include falling into Wikipedia rabbit-holes and watching 4 hour YouTube videos about things I’ve never heard of before. 

I love all kinds of music - if a genre exists, I’ve almost certainly had a phase where I exclusively listened to it. Currently, I’m quite enjoying math-rock/indie folk type stuff (and would very much appreciate recommendations) but I was very much obsessed with early 2000s pop-punk music for longer than I would like to admit. 

However, my biggest interest by far is movies and TV. I think my one true love is a 60-year-old British science fiction show called Doctor Who, which has been a big part of my life for longer than I can remember (so my standards are clearly going to be quite high), but I love keeping up with everything coming to our screens, although I can’t promise to know everything in the Swedish zeitgeist!

Axel: I have a great passion for art and culture in general; something you will be very aware of if you read my posts here on the blog in the future (more on that further on). When it comes to movies, I usually say that I like everything that is good; that is, everything that I feel has been made with an honest effort to make a proper movie. Hence, I don’t consider myself restricted by any particular genres; as long as the quality and genuine passion for cinema is there it doesn’t matter if we’re talking about a slow-burn historical drama or an adrenaline-pumped action flick. Regarding my music tastes, they are more distinguished - although I have made conscious attempts to broaden my preferences over the last few years - since I am more inclined towards alternative (and classic, to some extent) rock than anything else. What’s more, I also love sports and follow Arsenal religiously, so I will always be up for a good old football discussion (although I probably would be too blinded by my personal biases in order to write about football here on the blog - but we’ll see).

What can you expect from this blog in the future?

The idea behind the blog is that we will write continuously each week on the latest happenings in SASSE, however big or small they might be. For instance, we will cover big events like Handelsdagarna in February and Handelsspexet in May, but the space here on the blog is not limited only to the biggest events at the school. So, if you are part of a smaller club, society or committee within SASSE, and want to let more people know about an event you’re organizing, or just want a channel for general advertisement, contact us! We will write about it and spread your amazing work to students who otherwise maybe wouldn’t have come across it! 

As lovers of film, music, and books, we will also regularly give recommendations, make some lists, write reviews, and similar things in a separate column here on the website, starting off this week with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ home-run of an album Murder Ballads. Once again, if there is something particular you want us to review or write about, let me know and we’ll give you our two cents on it! 

From Vamshi’s end, exploring Stockholm is also one of my top priorities - as a non-Swedish student, I want to get involved as much as I can with the city, and would love to share my journey and experience with you all!

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Blog

Do you ever wish you had more hours in the day?

I think we’ve all, at some point, tried to do everything. Studies, work, SASSE-engagement, working out, hanging out with friends, the list never ends. Even though we only have 24 hours in a day, and no one has ever been able to achieve every single thing they wanted to, we still try. Everyone preaches about their time management skills, but isn’t it just about learning how to prioritize and choose what to focus on? Time is not manageable. It doesn’t matter how good we are at prioritizing our time and organizing our lives, time will still go as fast, and the day will still have 24 hours. With so much to do and so little time, it is inevitable to feel stressed and overwhelmed. But we can’t change the number of hours in a day, all we can do is learn how to make the most of the time that we do have.

Personally, I’ve never experienced the immense pressure to perform and to achieve great things before I started at SSE. Everyone here studies hard, is involved in SASSE, and somehow (don’t ask me how) still manages to have social lives. What I’ve learned though, is that what works for someone else might not work for me. It’s just like study-techniques – how the best-performing student in your class studies is not necessarily a good strategy for you. It’s all about knowing yourself and what works for you. Don’t beat yourself up for doing “less” than others. 

Time is precious. Ask yourself, is it really worth sacrificing other aspects of your life in order to manage a second part-time job? I hate to break it to you, SSE students, but everything you do does not have to be career-enhancing. It’s human to take breaks, it’s human to procrastinate, it’s human to feel unmotivated. It’s human to be human!

“No” is such a powerful word. It can be very difficult to turn down opportunities, but sometimes it is necessary. Always keep your own goals and needs in mind, and value your own motivation over what others would say and expect you to do.

Whenever I’m stressing and overthinking about not doing enough, I remind myself that everyone has the same 24 hours a day, and what we manage to have time for is all about what we personally find to be worth it. You don’t have to do everything right now, you have time. Making time for a lot of things in your life doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll perform well. 

At the end of the day, it is important to remember that time is a limited resource, and we need to use it wisely. Make the most of the time you have. The next time you find yourself wishing for more hours in a day, remember that it’s not the quantity of time, but the quality of how you use it that really matters. 

Quality over quantity.

Second-year Blues

Here you are, reading a Minimax blog post from a highly mediocre author, if not less-than-so. This likely means that you are in a curious and motivated phase of your life. I am truly wondering if this text is actually for you, but in any case, I hope you find it useful.

Once, a great acquaintance of mine, who is some years older, told me about how second years at his university got special therapy sessions that address a so-called “sophomore slump” or “second-year syndrome.” At the time I thought it was some kind of hoax he was trying to prank me with, but it really does have some truth to it.

So, for your benefit, I'll give you a quick rundown of what "second-year blues" is all about, according to ChatGPT and Wikipedia (which are not the most credible sources, but for a meme, they'll do for now):

ChatGPT:

 "Second-year syndrome" is a phenomenon that has been observed in some students who are in their second year of college or university. It is characterized by a decline in academic performance and motivation, often accompanied by feelings of anxiety and depression. The exact cause of the syndrome is not known, but it is thought to be related to a combination of factors, such as the increased academic demands of the second year, a lack of clear goals or direction, and difficulty adjusting to the social and emotional aspects of college life.”

Wikipedia: 

“A sophomore slump or sophomore jinx, sophomore jitters, second-album syndrome (in the musical sense of the term), etc., refers to an instance in which a second, or sophomore, effort fails to live up to the relatively high standards of the first effort.

It is commonly used to refer to the apathy of students (second year of high school, college or university), the performance of athletes (second season of play), singers/bands (second album), television shows (second seasons), films and video games (sequels/prequels).”

So there you have it. Now, let me add my own thoughts on the matter. A few months ago, I started feeling neutral about the future. I realized that the world economy and business culture are interconnected and incredibly complex, and I started thinking that, as an individual, I can't really make much of a difference. This feeling was compounded by the fact that I felt like I hadn't lived up to my own expectations academically. Every day, we're surrounded by people who are doing better than us in some way, and as economics students, we're also shown how there are solutions to many of the world's problems, but they're not being implemented because of power struggles and political games. We also have the minds and cognitive capacities to recognize how wealthy we are compared to certain countries and societies. We are at the economic top, here in Sweden, or the EU in general. This could obviously lead to some reflection that points toward our roles in this society and to the huge amounts of responsibility we hold.

So, we have two things: incredibly complex tasks that need to be solved and an ordinary person (like me and probably you). In the first year, we might have thought we were special, that we were somehow superhuman. We got into Handels, we started living on our own, and all the professors were telling us how smart and awesome we are. But after a while, you might start to realize that you're not that special or that smart, and that you have some pretty heavy responsibilities. And when those two things come together, BAM! Second-year syndrome. You feel lethargic, are unmotivated, and have lost your ambition.

However, I have asked some of my psychologist acquaintances about the condition and they confirm the statement that most of the sources say: the term is not scientific and has not yet been approved as a medical condition. They said the condition could potentially be attributed to burn-out, in addition to issues with coping with commitment and recent responsibility. Furthermore, it might as well have underlying social-psychological aspects to it, just as I tried to point out earlier.

The important question remains: how do we cope with this?

I don’t know.

However, I compiled some key points myself that I will now share with you, that have the potential to help you, just as they helped me overcome the effects of the condition.

• Sit down and think through what the core reasons are for you doing what you are doing. Re-evaluate them. Why do you study business?

• Outline some more short-term goals that can potentially contribute to these, so you have something more tangible to reach towards. This can give you short-term positive feedback on your process and role in society.

• Lower the number of those short-term goals so you have time to just rest without procrastinating.

• Try to come to a healthy understanding of the depth of your skills and talent, but also the limitations of it.

The most important thing to know is that whatever it is, or whether it is defined as a scientific condition or not, you are not alone, that many people get struck by second-year blues during their second semester or year.

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Are Cover Letters Necessary?

As many other students, I browse through multiple companies’ job application requirements on a weekly basis. I find the job-seeking process a tremendously time consuming one, with the tailoring of my personal letter to every organization as the most time demanding component.

The above being a one-page letter containing unique arguments for one’s application, along with passions, accomplishments and commitments implies a time-consuming procedure in its creation. Despite understanding that it is an opportunity to differentiate oneself from the crowd and showcase one’s personality and enthusiasm, I find it fairly unlikely that the person who scrutinizes the letter reads it properly, considering that they usually have 40 other candidates in line for the job. In fact, according to a study, 58% of employers regard personal letters as unnecessary. With this said, I often feel that the hour spent on writing the letter is time wasted.

My impression is that the kind of jobs that I tend to apply for regard concrete work experience and education, which are often stated on one’s CV, as more important in comparison to the less objective characteristics, such as passion and enthusiasm, that the personal letter often serves to express. However, I still understand that in many professions, such as for sales representatives, personal qualities such as high energy, personality, and extraversion, may be both essential in a candidate and hard to express through a CV per se.

Still, for the jobs that many other SSE students apply for, such as management consulting jobs, it is my impression that factual experiences conveyed through a CV weigh greater than a couple lines about one’s commitment expressed in the personal letter. This takes me to my main point about personal letters – they often contain a lot of unnecessary junk. With this, I mean that although a person may apply for a job because of less nice-looking reasons, such as high salary, he or she will likely frame him/herself as passionate, driven, and ambitious in the personal letter anyway. Therefore, it is hard to distinguish truths from lies in letters and to compare who is the best fit for a job when most applicants' letters do not represent a truthful picture of their skills and personality.

Although many employers likely have developed a trained eye for distinguishing positive commendations from genuine passion among the applicants, numerous are likely still misled by individuals who disingenuously appear to be passionate in their letters. It is very easy to frame oneself as being enthusiastic for a job even when one is not, making it appear silly that this should be part of the application process, perhaps turning it instead into a competition of who can make up the most seamless lies.

I assume that cover letters could function as a filtering system when deciding who to offer an interview in the case of similar applicants. However, if employers regard other things than concrete evidence for how well one fits for a job, a fair assessment of applicants can probably only be made by calling everyone to interviews, something which I also understand takes time.

All this being said, I rarely feel that the effort put into writing cover letters pays off in cases when concrete knowledge and experiences conveyed by a CV in fact matter the most. At the same time, I understand the function that personal letters aim to play, even though their information may be factually irrelevant. Therefore, I think that employers who use cover letters should think twice about what role they play in the application processes. Shorter video meetings where the applicant answers personal questions and interacts with the employer may bring a fairer picture of the applicant to the employer and spare us the process of writing personal letters every time we apply for a job.

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Remember to Not Remember

Remember to Not Remember

I love thoughts. Honestly, who doesn’t? The one thing that bothers me is that I have too many, too fast to record them all. My mind works faster than my typing speed. Please note that the previous sentence is more of a callout to my abysmally low typing speed than a flex of the former. So, one of the first things I wanted to invent as a kid was a device that somehow records all our thoughts. Knowing the dystopian landscape today, notions like intrusive thoughts that shouldn’t ever be public plus some concerns about data privacy if such a device existed come to mind. Reflecting on this thought did make me want to learn more about how exactly I record stuff in my mind subconsciously. Basically, how memories work and why we keep some while forgetting others. I didn’t find answers, but I did find something I would have been better off without knowing, but since I know it now, you must too.

TL;DR: Our memory is pretty unreliable.

First off, almost all human interactions are about storytelling. Stories are recited from memory. In fact, even our identity as people depends on the things we remember and choose to associate with as a consequence. So you should be pretty worried about this. The best way I found to explain this on the internet is the telephone game, also known as Chinese whispers where I come from. The basic idea is that a single sentence is recited to a person who relays it to the next one. Once everyone’s communicated, the last person in the circle recites what they heard. The game is just a good way to show how details can get messed up in the process of relaying information. A practical example of this is the retelling of history through biased lenses, showing how unreliable second- and third-hand sources are.

Life is just a large-scale model of the telephone game, where people relay each others’ stories to other people. It gets even more interesting when the same person narrates the same story differently every time depending on the context. There’s nothing wrong with it per se, except for the fact that the tiny details they keep changing have a long-term effect on the way they remember the particular story as a memory. To grossly oversimplify, if you lie to yourself enough, it might as well be recorded and recollected as truth in the future. (I was screaming with joy seeing my life’s motto “fake it till you make it” be academically validated.) Formally, the difference in narration of stories depending on context causing long-term effects on memories is called “the audience-tuning effect”.

It gets worse. Recollection of memories alters them as well. The context under which you try to recollect a specific memory adds a new layer of blurriness to said memory. Depending on how, when and why you’re accessing what memory, it changes. Not all at once of course, it changes bit by bit. This is formally called “retrieval-enhanced suggestibility”. I was reading about the controlled experiments conducted to reach the above conclusion, and something weird came up. People who took practice memory tests before receiving false information were more likely to bring the false information up in the final test. Too much to wrap your head around? Honestly, me too. However, as a good journalist, allow me to sum up everything in decipherable analogies in the following paragraph.

Storing memories is like storing ice cream in the refrigerator. You can take it out to eat some, but remember that even if you don’t, the ice cream you keep will never be the same. Some parts of it melted away and refroze differently, and there’s essentially nothing you can do about it except maybe never take it out? But let’s be honest, it’s impossible to live without ice cream. Memories, I mean. Of course I meant memories.

Recollecting memories is equivalent to recording things on a cassette. When you access an old memory, there’s a new recording created of you playing an old recording. The noise will always find its way in, eventually. The next time you access the same one, you’d involuntarily be accessing a tape of you accessing it, not the original recording.

So in conclusion, the only way to keep your memories safe and authentic is to never speak or think of them. Or if you’re feeling optimistic, go create as many memories as it takes to make sure the altered details of your narration would be true anyway.

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https://theconversation.com/are-memories-reliable-expert-explains-how-they-change-more-than-

we-realise-106461

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wf33UFl56o0sh6FAnGDvv?si=_wD2eQR5SpCV553yM1TXC

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It’s okay to fail

One year ago I had my first accounting course, which made me question if maybe some superior power had it in for me. The first few lectures felt stupidly easy, this I think a lot of us have learnt the hard way is a serious red flag. I started slacking off a bit and stopped paying very much attention during lectures and seminars, until I actually looked up from my phone again and realized that I understood nothing.

Studying for the exam was hell. It was a course where the lectures were not recorded so back tracking became infinitely harder. I came to really hate accounting during that study period. In my opinion it was boring and didn’t make any sense whatsoever. Needless to say, I wasn't able to understand the majority of the material in my hurried cramming. In the end I went to the exam anyways, figured I might pass if I was really lucky with the questions.

I failed. Miserably. I didn’t even perform well on the part I thought I knew. Not even close to passing the exam. It was a tough exam, and a lot of people failed. But as it was my first failed exam ever I still felt bothered by it, especially since it probably was my lack of attention rather than the course administration causing my poor results. At best they were equal culprits. Obviously, regardless of my then burning hatred of the course, I eventually had to do the retake.

I took the retake this summer, right before the start of term. I came back to Stockholm right after finishing my summer job and with a heavy heart I started to study the dreaded course again. I tried to disregard all of my initial notes, as they obviously had been of little help the first time around. Instead I tried out all the other approaches I hadn’t done the first time.

As it was the summer retake and I didn’t have any other re-exams I was able to fully focus on this one exam without being too stressed out. I went to school and sat in the atrium everyday and did my best to figure out all the financial statements and so on. At first I felt very reluctant. But as I sat everyday and forced myself to go through it all until I knew it, I found that the more I learned the less resistant I got to doing the practice exams, towards the last few days before the retake I had even started to quite enjoy my study sessions. I had been one of those people who thought you had to be crazy to find accounting satisfying or appealing in any way, but I started to get it in the end.

I ended up exceeding my own expectations. My initial goal had been to just pass the course, I would have been happy with exactly fifty points, I just wanted to move on with my life and never look at a balance sheet again. But I actually managed to rack up some more points and even improved my GPA somewhat. Even better, I got much more confidence for the next course than I would have had otherwise. I also no longer feel sick just from hearing the words financial statements. In the end I think that failing that particular course and actually studying it properly was one better than barely passing and keeping my resentment and trauma.

Failing can be scary and frustrating, but sometimes it’s worth it.

Writing Your Thesis on Sustainability – Good Tips to Know

Time flies by, and the day has come…

It is high time to consider what topic you want to choose for your thesis. While there is some time left before the start, if you are an early bird and have decided to write your thesis on a sustainability-related topic, we have gathered latest updates from our thesis directors and helpful information on some available scholarships and support that might be relevant for you.

Economics or Finance: It is possible to write a B.Sc. thesis on a sustainability related topic in the economics or finance specialization if the thesis satisfies the regular requirements applied to all theses in the specialization. The support provided to students is the same regardless of the topic they pick.

Management: This year, students are encouraged to engage in sustainability related topics, two of the supervisors who will support the students are doing research linked to sustainability. The course director will also encourage students in class to work on sustainability, stressing that this is in line with SSE’s strategy for increasing SSE students’ literacy in sustainability and to produce more research on sustainability. In addition, this year the course degree project in management is a CIVICA course thus with a focus on responsible management and social engagement.

Accounting: Sustainability topics are very common in accounting too. There are many researchers (and thus supervisors) at the accounting department who specialize in sustainability research. The accounting track normally has a few theses on sustainability issues each year, either linked to reporting, financial management, and/or analysis. The teaching team also proposes sustainability as one of the topics students may write their theses on.

Marketing: Writing on the sustainability-related topics was highly common within marketing specialization lately. There are several companies that encourages or are open for collaboration on within this area that may make it easier for you to get access to more unique data.

Cross-over Thesis: In case you have chosen to write a thesis with a partner having a different specialization than yours, you can still write your thesis on the sustainability matter. Note that in this case you will have to choose one teaching team and their rules and requirements will apply to the level of support and your writing process.

Scholarships and support

Writing your thesis on sustainability can entitle you to multiple scholarships and rewards. For instance, two students in accounting have received the sustainability thesis prize from the Research Institute for Sustainability and Ethics in Business (RiseB.se) in 2016 for their bachelor thesis “Corporate Social Responsibility and the Cost of Capital: Is CSR priced in the Swedish capital market?”; another pair has received The Folke Kristensson Scholarship for their thesis “Reshaping the Man in the Mirror: The Effects of Challenging Stereotypical Male Portrayals in Advertising” in 2017 and the thesis “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Intergroup Bias and Access to Venture Financing” has won the The Staffan Viotti Scholarship in 2018.

Furthermore, the SSE Students for Climate Action (SSCA) has a thesis Competition which grants two stipends (both Master and Bachelor) of 2 500 SEK each to sustainability-related theses, and the application ends on the 13th of June.

Moreover, SASSE Sustainability Group (SSG) may provide help with finding contacts from our network and some advice of possible sources for the data. In case your thesis requires monetary support for your research, you can apply to Sustainable Fund by SSG as a member of SASSE. Don’t hesitate to contact the project leader Kiryl Shantyka at sustainability@sasse.se if you have any questions or would love to get some support with your thesis.

Sources:

1. Accounting students receive sustainability thesis prize. Stockholm School of Economics. 2016-04-30.

Accounting students receive sustainability thesis prize (hhs.se)

1. Awarded Bachelor's Theses. Stockholm School of Economics. 2017-11-13.

Awarded Bachelor´s Theses (hhs.se)

1. Awarded Bachelor's Theses. Stockholm School of Economics. 2018-11-07.

Awarded Bachelor's Theses (hhs.se)

How I reset my shopping habits

Confession time, I’ve always been a bit of a shopaholic. Maxing out my bank account or having to do transfers from accounts with other purposes, or having to do some very reactive cooking at the end of the month, are things that I’ve experienced a couple of times. Now that I’ve lived on my own for a bit over a year I’m well on my way to becoming a better shopper. I still have some way to go but I’ve come up with a few strategies to shop better and less.

Stop the impulse purchases

Regardless of what your shopping vice is: books, clothes, shoes or tech, you might recognize the scenario of seeing something for the first time, falling for it and taking it to check out immediately. I’ve done this a few times and found that a lot of the time that cute top isn’t so cute after all or doesn’t really fit right, which is why I try to avoid these kinds of impulse buys in two ways. 

The first is to keep an unspecified wish list. What I mean by unspecified is that I avoid keeping pictures of the items as well as specified brand names. So, if you’re really into interior design for example, you can just write “round vase” on your list rather than saving a picture of a specific one or listing it with the brand name, as this will allow you to consider what you actually need and also allow you to be a bit more flexible, you might find an equally nice round vase for less in a second-hand store.

My second strategy to stop impulse buys is to not buy things I’ve only seen once. Novelty can really add an extra layer of attractiveness to things. But buying things you haven’t really looked at before can both have you end up with something that doesn’t fill a function in your life, or something that might be of a lower quality than you expected.

Stop looking at shopping as a hobby

If you start looking at shopping as a task with a purpose rather than a hobby or activity, you might be able to seriously reduce it. When you need to define the purpose of your shopping, you can also consider why. If you choose a new pair of jeans as the purpose of your trip but you actually have several pairs in your wardrobe already, you may want to reconsider if it’s actually necessary to go shopping this time.

Name your non-shoppable accounts

I could tell you to stop transferring money from other accounts. But honestly, once you’ve gotten into the habit it’s not that easy. What you should do instead is to remind yourself of why you put your money into those accounts in the first place. Right now, I have a savings account called “Paris” where I save money for all the things I want to do on my upcoming trip. Now whenever I’m tempted to use the money for something else it’s much easier to resist as I’ve put into words why I need or want that money for something else.

Also just in general when it comes to money you’re not supposed to spend (most readers probably know this already as a result of your studies; it’s also kind of obvious): make savings as non liquid as possible. Put them into stocks or funds in another bank than the one you normally use, so you need multiple sales and transfers to be able to spend them. And preferably: almost forget that the money exists. 

Replacing the stimulus

Shopping as a habit or addiction gives you a rush, a reward. There’s something oddly satisfying with carrying your shopping bag or newly delivered package home and putting your new dress in the closet or making a cup of coffee with your new French press. It’s also an easy activity if you’re bored, e.g. killing off some time on the subway by looking at online stores.

Now there are other more or less productive things I do instead as a way to replace shopping. If I’m trying to kill time, I generally just take a walk, sit down and listen to music or scroll on social media, or if I’m really good that day, I remember to bring a book with me and read that. I also work out which gives a sense of reward similar to shopping, but without guilt or an empty bank account. At other times I watch movies, write confused drafts or concepts for blog posts, articles and the occasional fictional story, or doodle random faces in the margins of my notebooks.

I still have some way to go when it comes to improving my shopping habits. But since I started implementing these strategies I’ve found that I more and more seldom feel a crave for shopping. It also helped me save up for my upcoming post exam celebration trip.

Surviving your exams

The first banquet took place, the parties stopped, the atrium and the hallways are a bit more quiet, we know what that signals: exams! Not just any exam, and not for all of us: the math dugga for the småttingar! We tried to relive our very first dugga at Handels in order to come up with some valuable advice for you, the small but mighty. We are rooting for you and hope that our tips will help you handle it like a pro.

Study smarter, not harder

Yes it’s important to feel prepared on the day of the exam, but getting proper sleep, meals and some relaxation will help equally in getting the grade you deserve. Studying well does not necessarily equate studying a lot. Reading the whole course book is rarely the best way to achieve your ambitions, try instead to do exercises and practice exams so you learn how to use the knowledge that you have.

Friends are your best friends when preparing for exams.

Planning in some study sessions with your course mates can actually help you a lot. Not only is it a bit more relaxing than pulling your hair over practice questions by yourself, but it also gives you the opportunity to ask questions and double check that none of you have misunderstood any essential concepts. 

Consider the aspects you’re most worried about

The easiest way to counter any challenge is to be prepared for the worst, and by figuring out what stresses you out before the exam you can prepare for it. Are you scared of running out of battery for the calculator? Get spare batteries. Worried about that one really challenging chapter? Look it up on youtube or somewhere where you can get it explained in an alternative way. Things will work out, don’t worry.

Bring your exam fika, and most importantly, water

I tend to bring more than necessary in regards to fika, usually some coffee, fruits and one of those one serving cottage cheese packs. I rarely eat everything during the exam, but it can be really helpful if you get lower blood sugar or start to lose focus. But more importantly you should bring a decent bottle of water. You’re going to sit down and focus for a long time, you’re going to get thirsty, and it can also help if you start coughing from the suffocating pressure.

Time margin for finding the X

SSE can be a bit of a labyrinth in the beginning, especially when you have attended only a handful of seminars, all in the same rooms. Think about this while setting your alarm, arriving earlier can make the treasure hunt of finding room 320 less stressful. Who wants to run from one end of the corridor to the other 5 minutes before the exam starts? (hint: you can’t do that anyways on the 7th floor) Besides, keeping a time margin for finding the room can also give you time to use the bathroom or do whatever you might need that could otherwise take time away from the exam. Also be careful with your time during the exam, it’s okay to skip questions and do the ones you’re really confident about. It’s better than wasting your time on questions that will give you little to no points.

“Is it possible to study for a test in one day?”

If your search history has an entry similar to the one above, let me provide the answer: no, it is not. Don’t even try, you will waste your day and on the exam all the information in your head will be a huge knot you won’t be able to untangle. Constant studying is the key. I think we have all reached that conclusion more or less “the hard way”. 

“This is your first exam at Handels...”

Yes, you might have heard or thought about that. It is your first and certainly not the last. Some people say the result influences you psychically: passing your first exam boosts your confidence, while failing it demoralizes you. That’s a bit of a stretch, it is really not that important. We all have our own ways of getting through life, and some of us need more tries to get it right. Have you spent too much time at the pub and didn’t study enough? Don’t worry, there are 2 retakes coming up, you will pass it some time. There are no retakes for parties, though.

Don’t forget to celebrate!

Speaking of parties… It is very important to reward yourself! Take Monday off, hang out with your friends and enjoy the milestone of having written your first exam at Handels! Off to the next one!

The Banquet: an Honest Review

If you are Swedish or have spent some time in Sweden, you probably know all about the classic Swedish festive dinner and its formal cousin: the banquet. The majority of school-centred suave soirées will probably revolve around this interesting ritual. Having grown up in England, I've experienced a formal dinner or two in my life but none to the same sort of ritualistic standards as the banquet. So here we go, your guide to an honest review of the Swedish banquet.

Do we really need to make it formal?

Ok Sweden is pretty good at keeping things informal. School teachers go on a first name basis, everyone I've met is rather casual, hell the SASSE board wear working togs for their uniform. Nonetheless, if there's one thing I've learned since coming here it's that Handels likes to do things differently. Formal is our middle name. Even join me on briefcase bingo in the Atrium at lunch time.

So in a country which prides itself in being so chilled out, is it necessary to have so many formal traditions crammed into one evening? Well no, but it’s nice. I've enjoyed many a song over many a snap on a low-key Midsummer but I've also equally had a jolly ol' time doing the same things up in Stora Salen. I say yes to whipping out a bow tie and yes to a ball gown (although the necessity of reportedly painful high heels is perhaps a debate for another blog), it's nice to feel nice no?

The songs

You will sing. You have no choice. And COVID aside, this is something I really do love, even if my Swedish was tested hard in that first banquet to read lyrics, guess melodies and figure out how on earth to know what the 'k' sounds like. I think from a non-Swedish speaker's point of view, the singing can be interpreted as a little cultish without knowing the words (pretty much every one is about drinking or just having a good time - because you don't need one to have the other). Nonetheless, just think of all those British football fans who sing godforsaken lyrics at their players every weekend and then ask yourself, what's the real cult now?

The break

Completely caught me off guard on the first time. Wait? We're having fun, why do we need a break from fun?! I'll tell you why, because there are rules and you need some time to bend those. Yes it is frowned upon going to the little boys or girls room during the sitting, but the purge begins once the break is announced. Other more lavish and formal-appropriate break activities include, running outside for fresh air only to have to stand with the smelly smokers or, my personal favourite, sprinting down to Handels' favourite Hirschenkeller for the quickest pint (or alcohol-free alternative of course) of your life only to run back up just as it begins and have to sit there holding in the inevitable pee that comes with it.

The table banging

Enjoying your meal? How about that drink? It'd be a shame if someone was to come and... I don't know... steal it? Alright so maybe that won't happen anymore (probably one of the few things for which I'm thankful COVID has stopped) but it still used to be a thing. The fact any group can start drumrolling and all of a sudden everyone becomes paranoid of impeding theft is the more subtle and grim life lessons I've learned from Handels - always be on guard, someone is always on the look out for an easy target to steal.

The worst part comes momentarily after the first group embarks on either a bordskål (they just say cheers after a drumroll) or tjuvskål (they actually get up and try and steal an unguarded drink). This is because the paranoia just doesn't end. Much like a catchy TikTok dance, once one group sets the trend, every group and their neighbours will be going for a skål surprise and thus begins the longest 20 minutes of your life listening to each section do a little drum roll and decide if they want to stick or twist.

Dancing on the chairs

I was a little intrigued when it was mentioned more than once that dancing on the tables was not permitted. Not because it was my game plan for the evening, but more because the repetition seemed like they were trying to stamp out a recent habit of banquet goers. And soon enough, I understood why. Once Robbie William's Angels comes on, it's kind of hard to resist hugging your neighbour (again pre-COVID) and swaying along on your chairs while resisting to think of how dirty your shoes were and consequently chair will be when you sit back down. Again, I liked this little tradition, its harmless and gets a bit of blood flowing to my legs.

The art of the pre-drink.

Now I am not the same naive little man I was when I was 18 and going to uni for the first time so I have a bit of hindsight in my toolbox right now. Further, I've seen numerous disasters occur due to the pre-drink being more of a drink than a pre-drink. Let us first ask what a pre-drink is about. In my view of alcohol being unnecessary to really enjoy oneself, the pre-drink is more about getting together with your friends before an event where you may not get to talk (especially because of the seating arrangement of the banquet - see below).

In a club you can't really have a chat, play games or have a laugh and in a banquet you are often too busy making small talk with your random neighbour whilst simultaneously guarding your drink whilst also trying to read the next lyrics for the song that may or may not come up to do this also. Further, as I emphasised: you cannot go to the bathroom during the sitting so breaking the seal would just ruin the night for you and those around you who have to listen to your complaints over how long the main course is taking to be served. My advice is: don't ruin it for yourself, think of the next 4 hours of formalities you have to get through and think of the fun you will have swaying on your chair knowing you have a lower chance of falling off it.

Moving to Stockholm

Moving to a new city is always a bit overwhelming. Especially when you’re faced with the bureaucracy and prices of Stockholm. Luckily for you newbies to this great place, we’ve compiled a few tips on how to land yourself a great place to call home.

Use your channels

SSSB may offer several accommodations in central Stockholm, and sometimes the kitchen isn’t even that bad. But as a first year you may have too few days to get something that will work for you. By sharing on social media that you’re looking for somewhere to live you will be offered more alternatives, such as sublets, sharing a bigger place with other students or renting a room in someone's apartment. There are also several groups you can join on facebook with focus on renting out apartments and rooms. 

Don't be too picky, you can move again later once you’ve landed 

I have a friend who’s managed to move to a new city without actually having somewhere to live. It works for now, but can probably add a lot of unwanted stress onto the initial weeks of uni. To avoid this, don’t be super picky about where you first live. Assuming you’re not signing up for some long term commitment on the first place, you can easily find something better and leave when you can and want to. It doesn’t have to be the perfect apartment or the cosiest corridor the first time around.

Beware of creepy landlords

I went to look at a room in a collective for women, with the landlord having his apartment(read man cave) on the bottom floor, just to “hang out”. Also avoid live-in situations where it seems that you won’t have the privacy that you need. I have had several friends who’ve been offered to share one room apartments with strangers. If something feels creepy…. It probably is, safety first.

Check your commute

In Stockholm you can be geographically close to something, but it can still take a long time to get there if you live on the “wrong” line. It may say on the listing that the apartment is close to transport, but check which transport and check how close. When it comes to the winter, you can thank me later. Further, living in the inner city may not be quicker to campus as buses and inner metros can be slow. It may be just as quick to take the pendeltåg (commuter train) to Odenplan.

Check your social media profile

If you choose to look for a place to live using eg facebook, make sure your profile is presentable. You don’t want a potential landlord to see all your party pics or questionable interests, just try to be as neutral as possible.

Ikea is not as cheap and good as you think.

Ok so maybe this is more for the non-Swedes out there but I guess you’ve all heard of the Swedish commercial prodigy that is Ikea. One tip is to not go splashing all your cash in their warehouse… It’s honestly not that easy or cheap. Better idea is to scavenge Facebook marketplace or Lappis marketplace (a student group for selling stuff) and get it second hand. That way, the furniture is a) cheaper and b) already built!

Think about the amenities

Closely linked to the commuting section but think about what is close to your new place? Is it a reasonably priced supermarket or a posh ICA Nära? Do you have a gym nearby, if that is what you are after? Does a nearby building look like it will be reconstructed soon? These are things that can seem obvious, but are easily ignored and can make a lot of difference. In the winter, you will not be keen to travel far in the dark and cold and will spend more time at home than you do now so annoying hammers can get more annoying and little commutes can become a drag.

The price is right.

Honestly, when moving to Stockholm, I had no idea what a good or bad price was. Generally speaking, the closer to the city you live, the more it will cost you. The more spacious your apartment, the more it will cost you. The less flatmates you have, the more it will cost you. Most importantly, the more greedy your landlord is, the more it will cost you. Beware, a deal may not be as good as you think. I would always recommend comparing prices of similar properties before jumping into any deal. The last thing you want is to be overpaying and having your friends laugh at you because you thought it was a good deal (definitely did not happen to me….).

Travelling on a Dime

Like many, I love traveling. And for the first time in a year, I feel like it is somewhat within reach. However, my wallet does not enjoy traveling quite as much as I do. And since we are all students here, I would assume that is not unique to me. Over time however, I have found some things that can really help decrease the costs. And today is the day I share those tricks with you.              

Try doing a work exchange!

A work exchange is when you work at a hostel, farm or someplace else in exchange for free accomodation, often free food, and sometimes extra benefits. Not only does this save you money, but it can also be a great way to get close to locals. There are many websites that facilitate the search for a suitable host, and even though you have to pay a one-time fee for the most popular sites you save so much more than the fee costs! I have done one myself and it truly is one of the fondest memories I have from my travels.

Stay at hostels!

We all know of hostels. We all know hostels are cheap. We have all heard hostels can be super fun. Yet not everybody feels eager to try out hostels. But trust me, hostels are the ultimate place to get to know interesting people while saving money at the same time (and thus a must if you are ever solo traveling). There are surf-hostels, party-hostels, hostels in the middle of beautiful nature.. There is something for everybody!

Download good apps!

Oh, sweet algorithms. Today there is an app for pretty much anything - so take advantage of that! And with free wifi becoming increasingly common in cafées and restaurants around the world, they are more accessible than ever. Don’t know what to do or where to eat? Tripadvisor! Want to find cheap flights? Skyscanner, momondo! Don’t know where to stay? Hostelworld, Airbnb, Want to take a long-haul bus? Google what app best suits the area you are in! And a personal favorite is maps.me

Cook a bit yourself!

While it may be tempting to eat out every meal when traveling, that is something that can really make the costs pile up. Food can be a huge part of traveling to some, and I definitely do not discourage you to try out the local cuisine. However, going to the local market and getting some fresh produce and cooking yourself a nice meal is a nice experience that you can opt for sometimes!

Take overnight buses!

Do you have several stops on your journey? If the distance is long, take an overnight bus! Not only are buses often the cheapest mode of transportation, but you also save yourself money on not having to pay for accomodation for the night. And while it may take longer, you may actually end up saving time since you do not have to spend your precious days transporting yourself. Plus, it is more environmentally friendly than flying!

Google, google, google!

The internet has the answers to all your questions and to all the questions you did not know you even had. Google what fun things there are to do cheaply or for free in the area 

Do NOT forget your student ID

Your good old mecenat-card is not just something good here in Sweden, but my tip is to get yourself a physical one if you only have the online one, as many are much more familiar with physical cards and may be suspicious of accepting the online one.

Travel closer to home

When we think of traveling we often think of going to places as far away from home as possible. And while you can find some good deals on long-haul flights, going across the world will inevitably be expensive. Plus, it is really time consuming which can be a problem for many. Look into places closer to you, and often you will find that there are many amazing places you have overlooked. Ideally this also gives you the opportunity of traveling by car, bus or train - which is much more environmentally friendly than flying! It is the future of traveling!

Stay flexible!

Often we get so set on specific things that we forget all the other options there are out there. When checking flights, maybe expand your search to a bigger area than just one country for example! This can also give you the opportunity to see some less tourist-y attractions.

Couchsurfing

I will be honest, I have been a little too scared to try this one myself, but I just felt like a list about cheap traveling would not be complete without it. If you don’t know what couchsurfing is, it is when somebody opens up their home for you and allows you to stay with them for free. Those I have talked with who are frequent couchsurfers explain that it is a great way to really get all the local tips and often some nice company as well! 

Soon we will be on the road again. Hope is on the horizon. So safe travels to everyone (once the world opens up a bit more, of course)!

Is it Time To Say Goodbye to #girlboss?

In November 2021, Sweden released some news which took other countries by surprise. For the first time, the new prime minister would be a woman. Outsiders were stunned that such a proudly gender-equal country had not had a female political leader in its history. Magdalena Andersson will be well known to the reader of Minimax as the first prime minister of our country to come from SSE but many consider her achievement highly as the first female head of the Swedish Riksdag. But should we hold this monument of her political career in such a light?

Scrolling LinkedIn these days, it is difficult to evade the barrage of occupational influencers. Unlike those flogging the latest protein powder or hip attire on Instagram, these occupational influencers tend to promote ideals of workplace environments, recruitment processes and equality. A recurring theme that I often stumble upon is the movement to reject the terms SHEO or girlboss. The underlying and compelling argument here is that we need not reduce an individual’s achievement to their biological sex. After all, we do not often single out male counterparts for their tenure based on their anatomy.

While the historical context merits some recognition of firms moving towards female leadership and equality in top positions, the label has become somewhat derogatory for many who do not take to the term. The once nuanced presence of female leadership is now promoted as an unambiguous fact. Female managers are advocating for an industrial acceptance that they are just as important as any male manager and that the culture need not celebrate one’s achievement for anything more than the gender-neutral title that it is.

The celebration of female-first leadership or even the mere presence of a female leader is supported by many to champion the social movement towards gender equality. An appointed female leader is, after all, still relatively rare in many industries. Hence, the heightened praise for female leaders may still function as a signal to other industries of the prevalence of the rising frequency and the corporate power of women. Nonetheless, others consider that as long as we term female leaders under specific terms, equality is not truly met. Using labels such as girlboss places women in a different category to their male equals however amicable intentions are.

When one considers a typical girlboss, one may imagine a ruthless and determined leader. In another time, one may have matched the term with a resumé of breaking glass ceilings and challenging sticky hierarchies. Both descriptions may be accurate, yet the new glass ceiling is dividing a girlboss from a boss. The tendency to attach connotations to terms is subconscious and so continuing the use of terms that separate males and females in positions attenuates a gender disparity in leadership.

Let me be clear: I am not arguing that females and males have equally as much chance of reaching leadership positions nor am I arguing that females should not be celebrated for their achievement in breaking glass ceilings. I am arguing that there is a tendency for society and in particular, the media to attach easy labels to individuals to draw out their salient characteristics. After all, it is far easier to label Andersson as the first female leader of Sweden than to label her as the first SSE educated prime minister.

One risk of continuing this labeling of female leaders is that it permits the criticism of individuals due to media profiling. When Theresa May attempted to lead the United Kingdom through the process of negotiating a post-Brexit agreement with the European Union, she was often labeled as weak by other parliament members and the media. This was often followed by the recognition that she was only the second female leader of the government. What does her sex have to do with her diplomacy? Nonetheless, examples of the de-sexification of female leadership prove that celebrating all leaders under the same light need not be an issue. Angela Merkel was often praised for her handling of the coronavirus pandemic in Germany and yet her sex was not called into question: instead her scientific background was applauded.

So, should we continue to push for extra applause for our female leaders? Well, yes. But not because of their sex. Female leaders are merely leaders just as females are humans. While celebrating a shattered glass ceiling can cause a butterfly effect, one must be careful to not ring too many bells that a new ceiling forms. Should a leader be successful, it should be determined by their achievements as a leader and not as a woman or a mother over a man or a father. This is the gender equality that many wish for.

Let’s Talk About Talk

I mean, can’t we just text all the time?

It was a normal day in college, the atrium was fairly noisy, the corridors fairly silent and I was fairly annoyed by the sounds. So as usual, I went to the library to get some quiet. Walking through those doors was almost a paradigm shift, from a world of hollow words being thrown around randomly to one where they were systematically arranged all around me. In that moment, I found myself questioning why we need to talk at all.

Well, obviously, we talk to communicate thoughts, ideas, essential information, yada yada. It’s quite incredible how we can express ourselves so well to each other as a species. Again, how did this come to be? How did they develop language in the first place? It’s easy to understand tangible things like apples or oranges because a human can simply point at one and say “apple”, so it’s established for everyone that the particular object is going to be called the sound of “apple”; but what about intangible things? Feelings, ideas about fiction, how did all of that come to be in our language in the first place? It’s amazing how we can put into words concepts of fiction, yet understand each other so well. And here’s where I stumbled upon the limitation of our language.

We can describe abstract concepts, but we can’t describe all our perceptions yet. For example, it’s impossible to describe colours to another person. Try it if you don’t believe me. How would you describe the word “red” to someone? You might say blood or the dot in the flag of Japan, but those are things that ARE red, not the colour itself. Similarly, you can’t describe feeling warm/cold to a person. You could say sweat, but that’s what happens when you’re feeling hot, it’s not the feeling itself. That’s where our language limits our communication.

Talking about colours, interestingly, it’s possible your red and my red aren’t the same. There’s no way you can see through my eyes or I can see through yours, so how do I know that the colour I call “red” and the colour you call “red” are indeed the same colour? There’s scientific evidence proving this, feel free to look it up in your free time (also a Vsauce video). It’s almost terrifying to think that the world I see, exists in a different colour scheme for someone else.

Well, if not our colours, at least I know for sure the words I speak are the ones you hear, no matter how hollow they may be. But, why do we love throwing around these empty words so much? Shouldn’t we have probably evolved to only communicate quintessential information, reducing redundancy in conversations? Why then do we still tittle-tattle?

While reading one of my favourite books, I came across something called the ‘gossip theory’. Apparently, humans are hardwired to talk behind each other’s backs. Evolutionary psychologists have studied this for years and found a number of reasons. Unsurprisingly, we bond over idle talk. Humans talking about other humans helps establish social structures and indirectly aids us to adapt. That’s why hearing about someone getting punished is more ‘fun’ than hearing about someone’s new achievement. Not (only) because of spite or jealousy, but because by knowing why someone failed, you learn more than by hearing about someone’s success.

For me, as much as I hate it, I admit gossip is what makes us, well, us at the end of the day. It’s unavoidable. Animals and machines don’t gossip, we do. Imagine not having gossip, just speaking instructions all day. That’s be a boring world, wouldn’t it? As inescapable it is to gossip, we really don’t get away from it even in our studies or classes. The next lecture, try noticing how we usually personify concepts so much so that we talk about them as humans- “The shifting demand curve makes the supply curve shift as well”, almost as if the curves have minds of their own. You subconsciously talk about data, facts and information as if they’re living creatures. And that, is what I believe, makes us human.

How poetic. Humans, living creatures talking about inanimate things as if they were living creatures too.

“The new linguistic skills that modern Sapiens acquired about seventy millennia ago enabled them to gossip for hours on end.The gossip theory might sound like a joke, but numerous studies support it.

Even today the vast majority of human communication – whether in the form of emails, phone calls or newspaper columns – is gossip. It comes so naturally to us that it seems as if our language evolved for this very purpose. Do you think that history professors chat about the reasons for World War One when they meet for lunch, or that nuclear physicists spend their coffee breaks at scientific conferences talking about quarks? Sometimes. But more often, they gossip about the professor who caught her husband cheating, or the quarrel between the head of the department and the dean, or the rumours that a colleague used his research funds to buy a Lexus.”

Excerpt From: Yuval Noah Harari. “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind”.

So, we talk. A lot. About unnecessary things.

Such extensive communication also brings with it the possibility of miscommunication and gaps. It’s amusing to think other species don’t have anything of the sort. Your pets are effective communicators, believe it or not. In conclusion, the next time I see an animal, all I’ll feel is jealousy.