Friday, August 19, 2011
Exchange Student in Sweden?
Exchange Student in Sweden?
What is it like to be a foreign exchange student in Sweden? (high school). Because I'm considering to go there when im 16 or so. Was it fun? What are the people like and how is the school different from those in America? What city did you stay in? Did you make a lot of friends there and do you keep in touch with them? Was it easy to pick up on the language? How's their English? Please let me know ! Thanks!
Other - Europe - 1 Answers
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1 :
You will love Sweden! I didn't study there in high school, but I did a summer of study in Sweden during college. It is a beautiful country and Swedes are wonderfully kind and hospitable. I was in a large town/small city called Nyköping (literally, "New City," though the castle in the heart of the old town dates from the 12th century!). I made many friends and remain in touch with them regularly. Grammatically, Swedish is a very simple language, much easier than English. However, it is difficult to pronounce. However, Swedes start learning English at a very young age, so you will have minimal communications problems. You will find, no matter where you go, that if there is a willingness to exchange thoughts, people can always find ways to communicate. European schools are structured somewhat differently than ours. Typically, when a student reaches what in the U.S. would be high school years, they usually don't change classes like we do. They stay in the same room and a different teacher comes in. That way they can fit more subjects into a school week than our 7 or 8. After school sports and clubs are sometimes not run by the school, but by community or student groups. But keep your mind on your studies. Most northern and western European schools are more advanced in their core curriculum instructions than ours, so their students take more vigorous math and science classes. Be prepared to be challenged! Culturally, Sweden is an interesting country. It is a good example of socialism that actually works. There is a very broad middle class and very little poverty. By 1980 the country met its goal of assuring that every Swede that wanted a home would have one. Though this resulted in some unattractive apartment blocks on the outskirts of some cities, Swedes are good at adapting. When they found the high concentrations of lower-income people were causing societal problems, they tore down some of the ugly apartments and built more friendly, village-like complexes and introduced a variety of social services, including community centers with pools, classrooms, gyms and programs ranging from crafts and language instruction to personal and maternal health classes. Though taxes are high, you'll find most Swedes have a nice house with at least one car, sometimes two, often a summer cottage in the country and perhaps a boat. (The family I stayed with had all of the above.) As a result of my experience in Sweden, Stockholm is my absolute favorite city in the world and I have returned several times, catching up with old friends and making new ones. I strongly encourage you to apply for an exchange program in Sweden. You will not regret it! Hej då! (That's the Swedish equivalent of "see ya!")
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