My exciting Nobel Prize week

‘…Every year since 1901, the Nobel Prizes will be awarded on the 10^th of December for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace…’

Already two months before going to Stockholm, I knew I wanted to try to get in and experience the big Nobel Prize ceremony. I had heard from Nicole, who was in Stockholm last year, that she had managed to get in as well. The only thing you had to do was being on time to make sure you would be standing in the front part of the huge line that would be formed by students - All wanting to get hold of the last places available.

Me and all the Dutchies were excited, the first day we met we already talked about it: One thing we want to do for sure is being at the Nobel Prize ceremony! So on the day itself we were more than prepared. We had our thick cloths on so we could be standing outside for a long time without freezing, we knew where the nearest by glőgg stand was and we had taken a picture of the poster of the Nobel Prize winners for Medicine so we knew how they looked like and thus we were able to recognize them.

When our classes finally had finished on that 10^th of December, we went as fast as possible to Concerthuset. We stepped into the metro, got out at the right stop, walked upstairs and were expecting already a crowded square full of persons but... nada!

After walking around a bit and not really knowing what to do, think or expect, I saw a guy wearing a suit, holding a walky-talky and a lot of papers. He looked important so I stepped toward him and asked: “… Euhm, do you maybe know where the queue will start for all the students who still want to enter for the ceremony?” He looked at me with big eyes and then suddenly started laughing. “You still want to enter? And you’re not having a ticket? I’m sorry but I’m afraid that’s not going to work. Not today.” And he turned around again…

But I wasn’t convinced yet! This guy was just holding some papers and wearing a suit. He could also be pretending to be important! So when a saw a real security guy stepping out of the building, with a real Nobel Prize insignia, I decided to try again. I told him the whole story and gave him all the reasons and arguments I could think of why we should be entering that building: We came all the way from Holland, we were students from Karolinska Institutet, and we had heard that it was possible last year to still get in. He listened to me with a very serious face, but after hearing my last sentence: “… So therefore we thought there is still a small possibility to get in and see the whole ceremony…”, he couldn't keep his face straight anymore and started laughing as well...

Ok it was clear, it was a mission impossible. No ticket, no entrance. But at least we tried! And since we were already there, we decided to wait and see all the Nobel Prize winners, guests and Royal family arrive. It was nice to see, everyone dressed up in ballroom cloths, arriving in classy cars and we had the feeling that - although for only a tiny bit - we were part of the chique atmosphere.

After two hours of standing in the cold, finding out that the cloths we were wearing were not as warm as we thought they would be, and being surrounded by tourists asking what was going on, we decided to go home and watch the ceremony and banquet on television. So in the end I saw it, and for a tiny bit I was also part of it, but I must admit I was a bit disappointed.

Oh well, maybe I should consider again doing a PhD after my studies. Like this I'm still in the run to win one myself. Because one day, I will be at that ceremony!

But for now, at least I got a nice story to tell my grandkids :)

Kram, Yoline