Everyone keeps asking if I am excited to go to Sweden. Of course I am excited, but for some reason that question keeps stumping me. In order to be exited you have to know what it is you are excited for. I’m not really sure what it will be like or what to imagine in my head. So I guess I am excited for the unknown and unimaginable, which is different than being excited. It is more like scared, but the kind of scared you get when you are about to drop over the edge of the first hill on a really big rollercoaster.
I choose to study in Sweden because I wanted to go somewhere a little unexpected, but not too different from home. I am thinking of this time as dipping my toes into the world of international travel, so I picked a place where my lack of other languages wouldn’t be a problem. I also picked it because I love winter and snow and cold. When I was thinking about culture shock and how I will manage I think of things that are comforting; a cup of Coffee, or Fika as they say in Sweden, looking out the window and seeing the first snow, warming up by the fire. I know that with these little things it will help me to find comfort in the harder times.
Enjoying my last days of summer, and taking time to appreciate my home state of Alaska.
Fundraising for my Program
In order to be able to travel I put a lot of effort into my fundraisers and received so much kindness in return. I wouldn’t be where I am without my family, friends, community and random travelers passing through.
Over the course of the last year I did two dinners as fundraisers. Because I live in a very small town, I posted on Facebook and hung flyers around town that I would be serving food. For one dinner I did spaghetti. My mom and I made two huge pots of spaghetti, salad, and baked rolls. People also donated some food, and expertise.
If I learned one thing from doing the fundraisers, so often if you ask for help people are willing.
Asking can be hard, but with practice you learn how to make it easier for yourself. The second dinner we made Mexican food. We made beans, and rice and burritos. At each dinner we probably served between 50 and 75 people. Although it was hard, one good thing was seeing a room full of people who came out to support me in reaching my goals.
I also did a third fundraiser where I put together a calendar with my photographs in it and asked local business to purchase advertising space. My parents are helping to sell them for me around our communities while I am in Sweden.
Doing these dinners and making the calendar wasn’t always easy or fun. It was a lot of prep and planning and cooking, serving rushes of people, phone calls, and organizing, but with out that work I wouldn’t have been able to participate in the program, and earning my way here made the journey that much more meaningful. Thankfully that part is over now and I get to move on to focusing on my travels and the adventures ahead of me!
A few of the people that supported me unconditionally in my dreams.
Looking Ahead
I envision my year being very challenging. As I say that, I remind myself to really mean it and take it seriously. I want to know it will be hard and remember to take every challenge and use it as a learning experience.
Going to school and growing up in Alaska hasn’t been like what most kids experience. With only about 15 kids in school many things have been different. This has been both a huge advantage to me because my schooling was unlike so many. I was never just another kid. But it has also created its challenges. Although my experiences have been unique, they have also been a little limited.
I wouldn’t change where I went to school or how I grew up at all, but I hope that my time in Sweden can help me to see what else is out there.
I hope to be able to have friends my age, be involved in more activities, and take different kids of classes.
The kids in my school on a field trip.
Although I am scared, I am so excited to see what this next 5 months will be like. The next two days I have a lot to do to make sure I have everything I need, and then I will be out the door. What I have will do and everything else will fall into place. Skål, to the adventures this next chapter has to offer!
This week on the blog we are featuring Greenheart Travel alumni and telling the stories of “Where Are They Now?”. We handpicked alumni that are doing great things back home following their programs, and whose time abroad has shaped what they’re up to now. Hannah Patzer is a two-time Greenheart Travel alumni! Read on for more about what Hannah is up to now and how her time abroad has shaped her career goals.
What Greenheart Travel program did you do and what was your favorite part about living in that country?
One of my favorite parts about living in Sweden was how much everyone loved the outdoors. On a sunny day, no matter if during the week or on a weekend, the streets were flooded with people enjoying the beautiful weather. The running trails were plentiful and weekends were often spent down by the beach with friends. Swedes take great pride in their environmental sustainability and it shows. You are hard pressed to see a piece of garbage on the ground or to find yourself where a recycling bin is not within a 20-meter radius. Besides the outdoors, I also adored the Swedish tradition of “fika” which involves a break in the day to chat with friends over a pastry in coffee. The Swedish people are very good at work life balance and living in the country taught me to slow down and live in the moment more – something I think all Americans can benefit from.
Sri Lanka was the opposite of Sweden, but I still feel in love with the country all the same. To me, Sri Lanka’s charm was in the people and food which filled the country. Throughout my stay working on the elephant camp, I never once had a single bad encounter with the locals. Everyone I met went out of their way to be nice to me. I spoke to people who wanted to practice their English, who wanted to learn about my culture and tell me about theirs, and to thank me for our aide we provided the country in the tsunami many years ago. When I went into local restaurants people helped me order and insisted I try just about everything on the menu. One of my fondest memories came from a weakened trip I took with another volunteer to Gale. We stumbled upon a small local carnival and all of the food stands let us eat for free because they wanted the foreigners to truly experience their culture and generosity. For people who had so little to still give so much was something that will stick with me and forever inspire me to treat strangers with kindness. In addition, the food in Sri Lanka is to die for. Endless curries, coconut balls, and roti. I practically had to roll myself onto the plane when it was time to leave, but it was worth every bite!
What are you up to now?
I recently returned from a year abroad where I spent 6 months working for the Department of Commerce in the United States Consulate in Sydney, Australia. From there I moved to Denmark to study at the Copenhagen Business School for a semester before returning to the states in June to work as a research analyst for the State of Wisconsin Investment Board. I plan to continue my work here while finishing up my bachelor’s degree in finance at the University of Wisconsin Madison and graduate in May 2019.
Working at the US consulate in Sydney, Australia.
How did studying and volunteering abroad have an effect on what you’re doing now?
As corny as it is to say, studying abroad truly did change my life. Without taking the plunge and moving to Sweden at such a young age, I would not be the same person. I would not have lived with elephants for 2 months in a country I never knew existed waking up at sunrise and eating every meal with my hands. I would not have gone to Colombia and climbed the Cuidad to Perdida and I certainly would not have had the guts to buy a round trip ticket into Lisbon, Portugal and out of Reykivaik, Iceland with three months of solo travel in between. I also believe that my diverse travels and experiences living abroad helped me land the position at the consulate in Sydney which eventually lead to my current position at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board.
Volunteering in Sri Lanka
Do you think that your program abroad helped you develop skills you use back home now?
Besides the experiences I gained from traveling, I also have grown immensely as a person. I can easily adapt into new environments whether it be a new country, school, or job.
Traveling has taught me how to mold myself into new and better versions of myself depending on the situation.
More than that it has taught me how to hold a conversation and converse with strangers – a skill often lost in the new social media run world. In Sri Lanka we had no phones or wifi. The volunteers would get together every night and we would talk about anything and everything. These are some of my favorite memories from the Volunteer program.
I did not speak a word of Swedish when I arrived in Sweden. I had to get over my fears and learn to communicate with others overcoming language barriers and self-doubt. Most importantly, my experiences abroad have provided me with self-confidence. Whether it be moving to a foreign country alone or living completely off the grid for an extended period of time. I survived both of those experiences through the ups and down and learned that I can do anything I put my mind too.
If someone was nervous about traveling abroad because it might negatively affect their career goals or getting into college, what would you tell them?
To all the “what-if” people out there, my only words of advice are to just do it. Nothing in life is permanent and there is no opportunity like the present. So often people are focused on the what if I don’t graduate in time, what if I don’t like it, what if I get homesick, what if, what if, what if. One thought that really helped motivate me the first time to go abroad was that I knew if a year from now I had not gone I would have been sitting in a classroom thinking to myself that I should be in Sweden right now. Knowing I would regret it was enough to push me to just go.
Don’t be so worried about the future that you forget to live in the now. So, you are worried about getting into college? Landing that perfect job? You want to go abroad but are worried it will mess up your future? Going abroad will set you apart from your peers. In every single job interview I have had I have been questioned about my time abroad in positive ways. In a world where so many people are similar, going abroad is one great thing you can do to set you apart.
At Greenheart Travel, we encourage everyone to follow their travel aspirations, despite obstacles that may inhibit these goals, and we strive to make travel more accessible. As fellow adventure enthusiasts, we firmly believe when you study, teach, or volunteer abroad, you’re embarking on a journey that will significantly impact your global perspective.
This year we chose to focus on providing scholarship grants to individuals who are “first time travelers” and have a desire for cultural immersion. We’re thrilled about this diverse group of ‘first time travelers’ from all over North America, who will represent a wide array of program opportunities we have to offer throughout 2018.
From small-town America to Montreal, Canada, read on to learn more about our 11 outstanding “First Time Traveler Scholarship” recipients for 2018:
Alvaro Zumaran, Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient
Desiring to Make a Lasting Impression in Vietnam: Meet Alvaro Zumaran
Alvaro considers White Plains, New York, to be home. He plans to gain his TESOL certification and teach English in Vietnam this summer with Greenheart Travel. To Alvaro, traveling for a change means immersing in a different culture with the goal of making an impact.
He continues, “It means foregoing staying at a fancy resort, only interacting with the people you’re traveling with, and avoiding spending too much time on social media…”
Alvaro hopes to learn more about himself by teaching English in Vietnam. He’s at a point in his life where he’s seeking clarity. He also desires to leave a lasting impression of compassion, kindness and appreciation.
Danielle Churchill, Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient
Leaving Everything She Knows to Travel to the Country of Her Dreams: Meet Danielle Churchill
Danielle has worked in higher education since graduating college. The next journey she’s embarking on, though, will take her to the country of her dreams – Thailand! From Atlanta, Georgia, Danielle is leaving everything she knows to depart for the unknown as an English teacher in Thailand starting in September.
“Teaching abroad has long been a dream of mine, but also taps into my passion to educate,” she says, “It’s a scary decision because I realize I’ll be leaving everything I know… But, I also realize it’s important to leave everything I know.”
Danielle believes traveling for change embraces this concept at the core – that learning about other cultures makes you a better, well-rounded person.
“I have no doubt this travel experience will change my life forever,” she admits, “Not only because this is something I’ve never done before, but I’m also the first in my family to do anything like this…”
As an African- American woman, she hopes to show those she’ll encounter abroad that she’s more than the stereotypes and images mass media portrays.
“I’m educated, passionate about change, and capable of inspiring the world to be a better place.”
And as a citizen of the United States, Danielle wants to represent the good she knows many in this country still possess.
James DuVal, Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient
Conquering the Fear of Traveling Alone: Meet James DuVal
James “Joseph” DuVal is a rising ninth grader from New Kent County, Virginia. He’ll be heading to Salamanca, Spain, for six weeks in June as part of the Greenheart Travel Teen Summer Language Camp program. For James, traveling for a change is the opportunity to learn a new language and culture while being part of another community and family.
“This first time travel experience will help me conquer the fear of traveling alone,” he shares, “This experience will also help me have confidence that I can handle whatever comes my way.”
James looks forward to going back to Virginia and sharing his adventures and experiences from a different perspective and culture. Making a positive difference in the lives of those he meets along the way is something James hopes for as well.
Fiona MacDonald, Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient
Fiona is currently a junior at high school in Cantwell, Alaska. Beginning in August, she’s going to study in Sweden with Greenheart Travel as an exchange student. The chance to travel for a change is the reason Fiona is going to attend high school in another country.
“I’m not just traveling to change myself,” she reveals, “I also want to take what I experience and share it with young girls in my small town.”
Fiona strongly believes the opportunity to travel at a young age and experience other cultures and ways of life can open a person’s eyes to world, and the biggest takeaway she wants others to learn from her example is that where you come from doesn’t define where you can go.
Georgia Gazette, Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient
Creating a Sense of Independence Abroad: Meet Georgia Gazette
Originally raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Georgia’s current residence of Fayetteville has felt more like a home over the last four years than the urban epicenter of her childhood.
In the insulated heart of the Ozark Mountains, Georgia works as the administrative coordinator for the Office for Sustainability. In this role, she’s helped promote environmental understanding, advocate for parks and trails, and seeks out an interconnection between community and city.
“I hope to gain a new awareness of myself and how I can contribute to the world at large,” she informs, “It’s important for me to create a sense of independence and to marry this independence with change.”
Georgia hopes she’ll incite the same sense of motivation and strength with those she meets along the way!
Jessica Hovermale, Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient
Seeking to Bring a New Perspective and a Fresh View in Sri Lanka: Meet Jessica Hovermale
Jessica is a high school sophomore in Corvallis, Oregon. She loves to dance, draw and volunteer in her free time. This summer she’ll be venturing to Sri Lanka for the Elephant Conservation Volunteer Project with Greenheart Travel. To Jessica, traveling for a change means traveling for a reason other than a vacation to relax.
“It means traveling with an open mind to learn something new,” she states, “It means being able to see things from a new perspective and taking newfound knowledge and implementing that mindset into daily life at home.”
Jessica believes she’ll have the opportunity to learn about the ways other people live by traveling to a new place very different from where she’s from. She also hopes she can bring a new perspective and fresh view to those around her in Sri Lanka.
Katie Gentile, Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient
Hoping to Gain Confidence as a Young Woman Traveling Solo: Meet Katie Gentile
Katie teaches second grade for Eastern Lancaster County School District in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Outside of teaching, she coaches a program called “Girls on the Run”, which she affirms has been super beneficial for the young women involved. Once the school year wraps up, she’s going to Thailand to teach English.
“While in Thailand, I’m hoping to grow both personally and professionally,” she remarks, “I’d like to gain confidence in myself as a young woman traveling alone for the first time and experience all that Thailand has to offer.”
Katie wants to bring back as much as she can to share with her home school district, one she’s taught in for five years, to make that global connection. She also thinks connecting with others and sharing her own life experiences while in Thailand will be impactful.
Nini Vo, Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient
Aiming to Inspire Others to Explore: Meet Nini Vo
Home for Nini is anywhere that comforts and provides loving arms. When she imagines home, she doesn’t just see a place or a bed; she sees warmth and embrace. At the moment, Nini is a senior at a high school in Houston. She’ll be leaving in the fall to teach English to a host family in Spain.
For Nini, “Traveling for a change means stepping out of that conformity, taking a risk to learn about something you can’t try to understand by listening and reading for it, rather than living in it.”
Nini hopes her first travel experience will only be the beginning of many journeys.
“I want it be an experience that will help me gain confidence, appreciation, and to become more aware of different lifestyles and the stories behind all of them.”
Nini is also optimistic she’ll be able to share her stories with those she meets abroad – in exchange for theirs – with the aim to inspire others to take the leap and begin to explore for themselves.
Kristen Andersen, Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient
Aspiring to Share Her Culture and Educational Expertise in Thailand: Meet Kristen Andersen
Home is many places for Kristen – especially when she’s with family and friends. But, as far as states go, she calls California home. She’s a recent doctoral graduate with her Doctorate of Education, and is currently questing for a full-time professional position in education and other fields. Simultaneously, Kristen is co-authoring several books, compiling an ESL through ASL textbook, and creating meditation and rhythmic music among other hobbies. Through Greenheart Travel, she’ll be teaching in Thailand for seven weeks this summer.
“To me, traveling for a change means stepping out of the comfort zone I call home and exploring the environments and cultures of other people,” Kristen adds,” The change will occur externally and internally as I embark on a new journey into the unknowns of Thailand.”
Kristen knows change is something that happens socially, professionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually among other facets of life.
“Traveling will influence these changes and self-evolution will transform me and the students I instruct. Becoming more self-aware and conscious of others will enrich the travel for change experience and connections made with the Thai people.”
Kristen hopes this experience will eliminate her irrational internal fears of the unknown, expand her cultural perspective on living another way of life, and grow her network of educational knowledge of curricular design and instruction. She also aspires to impact those she encounters in Thailand by sharing the positivity of Californian culture and delivering her educational expertise.
Michelle Caron-Pawlowsky, Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient
Getting Ready to Share the Love with Stray Dogs in Thailand: Meet Michelle Caron-Pawlowsky
Michelle is currently studying for her Bachelor’s in Photography at Concordia in Montreal, Canada. In November, she’s heading to Thailand to do a three-month internship at Greenheart Travel’s stray dog rescue project in Hua Hin.
According to Michelle, “Traveling for a change means traveling with the purpose of engaging with the culture and community, aiming to give back to those in need… It’s the difference between passively moving through a country and traveling with the intent of contributing, collaborating, and participating in the social fabric of the society.”
Michelle hopes her first travel experience will give her a broader and more comprehensive understanding of the world. Having never really gone outside of North America, she knows no matter how much she reads or tries to understand things about other parts of the world, she can only really get to know them through experience.
“I’d like to make a positive impact on those I encounter in any way possible,” she exclaims, “But, mostly I hope to kiss a lot of dogs on the nose.”
Emily Pipkin, Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient
Dreaming of Living in Japan and Learning Japanese: Meet Emily Pipkin
Emily feels like home is where she can be loved and learn, and she believes love is an important part of any home. She lives in the small town of Moro and attends high school in the Village of Bethalto, Illinois. Emily stays active at school by participating in jazz band, the National Honor Society, theatrical performances and the like. She’s getting excited to attend Greenheart Travel’s Summer Language Camp in Fukuoka, Japan.
For Emily, to travel for a change means she can travel while making a difference in her life and the lives of others.
“It isn’t only changing my environment but, when I leave my host country, I hope to have changed the way I think about the world around me.”
Emily goes on to say, “Traveling for a change also impacts others because of all the stories I’ll have to tell when I get home. I want to provide information on my experience so others can think about traveling and learning new languages as well.”
Living in Japan has been a dream of Emily’s for a long time, and she’s been studying Japanese for six years. She wants to visit Japan before she makes the decision to continue to study Japanese.
“Living in Fukuoka won’t only bring me new knowledge, but it’ll help me understand a different culture and decide if I want to eventually live in Japan.”
Studying abroad in high school takes a lot of planning, both personally and academically, and can seem a bit daunting in the beginning. To help ease the minds of those looking into a high school program overseas, we asked Isabel Wolfer, an alumna of the High School Abroad Sweden program, to host our recent Personal and Academic Impact of Study Abroad webinar.
Isabel shared how her study abroad program has impacted her life personally; she still remains in close contact with host family members, friends, and even her Swedish high school teachers to this day. Studying abroad also had a huge academic impact on Isabel and has helped her navigate her studies at George Washington University.
While some would argue that studying abroad can disrupt credits and getting into college, Isabelle inspired our viewers with a different experience. Because of her class work in Sweden on Genocide Theory, Isabelle advanced into upper level classes in college in the field of genocide and passivity during the Holocaust. She is now receiving $5,000 in funding for a research project at Yale University.
Are you ready to study abroad but need some reassurance?
Check out the webinar hosted by alumna, Isabel Wolfer, and get inspired to start your study abroad adventure!
I have been in Sweden for a fair amount of time now, just over three weeks. I can now say that I really feel I have gotten into the swing of things and have adjusted to Swedish life. Because of school, I have found myself back into a schedule and enjoying everyday life as a resident in Sweden. Everything I do here, going to school, riding the train, etc., is becoming much more routine and I feel like I am beginning to see life here through a Swede’s eyes. Truly, I am enjoying every second of this crazy concept and this amazing lifestyle.
So far, most of my time here has been spent exploring and socializing with my friends and host family. Whether it be exploring Gamla Stan (Old Town Stockholm), grabbing a fika, going to the movie theatres, or just walking around the city, every day really does bring a new adventure and a new experience. One of the best parts of being an exchange student, though, is the ability to form numerous, new relations.
I have made countless new friends at school, relationships that I will hold close for a lifetime. My host family has also been selflessly generous to me and it could not be more appreciated. Every experience I have been involved in here has only been amplified by the amazing people around me.
Being able to get a taste of Swedish cuisine has also been a blessing. Swedish candy, such as Japps or Marabou chocolate is delicious and will truly be missed when I go home. I also had the opportunity to try semla recently. Semla is a type of pastry filled with cream and an almond filling and is possibly my new favorite baked good. I have found that Swedes, much like myself, love baked goods. It appears I have found myself in the right country as far as food goes.
The time I have spent in Sweden so far has been so overwhelming and filled with new people and new experiences that it’s hard to believe that I have not even been here for a month yet. Everything that I’ve done since I arrived in Sweden has really led me to cherish my time here and love every second of it. As long as my time here has felt, I realize that it simply can not last forever.
In roughly six months I will be on a jet back home, saying hej då to a country and life I have grown so fond of. But it is way too early for me to be thinking of that and for the time being, I am just really, truly enjoying every new day, every new adventure, and every new relationship.
by Jared Ebel, Greenheart Travel high school student in Sweden
As I write this, I have officially been in Sweden for a week. Wow! Where has the time gone? I have accomplished so much, seen so many sights, and met so many new people in the last week. Frankly, I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed with new activities and this, combined with jet lag, has made bed time one of my new favorite times of the day. But every new day here in Sweden brings a new surprise on this stupendous adventure.
Since the last time I’ve wrote, Jonas took me to downtown Stockholm, showing me the city via the Hop-on Hop-off tourist buses, giving a guided tour of many points of interests. We also ate lunch in the Old City. I’ve met up with another exchange student from Texas whom I am going to school with now. We had fika (a Swedish coffee break) and talked about where I will be going to school.
Visits to the Vasa Museum, a museum dedicated to the boat, “Vasa,” that sank in Stockholm in the 1600s and was recovered mostly intact more recently, and the Historical Museum of Stockholm were also made. Being from Wisconsin, a traditionally snowy state, my host parents were somewhat surprised I had never skied before, so they made a point of taking me. It was great workout and I only fell over once! A new hobby may have been found for me when I return home.
Possibly the most exciting thing I’ve done so far, however, is starting Swedish school. The most frequent question I get from home is, “How is school different in Sweden?” This is hard for me to answer as, so far, I’ve only gone for two days, and because it is so vastly different that it is hard to decide where to begin explaining it.
First, in Stockholm I get to take mass transit to school, which is an experience in and of itself. Swedes are famous for being quiet and uncomfortable with unusually loud people and the train is no exception. On a packed train with standing room only in the morning, one dares not to make eye contact and a pin drop could be heard from across the train.
Secondly, high school here is almost more similar to college in America. My classes are less frequent, and if I don’t have one, there is no need for me to be in the building. A lot of the work is also given to be done on the pupil’s own.
Lastly, there is not the massive power gap between teachers and students that exists in America. This is harder to explain, but I will do my best. One example of this is that teachers are referred to be their first names, as opposed to their last. Students feel much more equal to their teachers here in Sweden. So far, school in Sweden has been a very positive experience.
Stockholm has offered so many activities to me in my first week and in the weeks to come. There’s so many museums here; they even have an entire museum just for ABBA (don’t we all have a little Dancing Queen in us?) Opportunities for shopping and adventuring are also around every corner. But most importantly, there are so many people here, my host family and my new friends, that I love spending time with and can’t wait to enjoy so many new experiences with.
by Jared Ebel, Greenheart Travel high school student in Sweden
I did it! I made it to Sweden to study abroad. After eighteen hours in and out of airports, me and my luggage landed in Stockholm Arlanda Airport Sunday morning. I was greeted at the airport by my host mom, Lena, my host father, Joakim, and their dog, Gypsey. It was crazy seeing them for the first time.
Lena greeted me with a Swedish and an American flag as well as a blue and yellow scarf with Sweden engraved on it. We left the airport just as the sun was coming up, roughly 8:30 right now in Sweden. The drive home was overwhelming to say the least. We talked about all the different areas of Stockholm we were passing and what points of interest were along the way, such as Joakim’s workplace.
When we arrived at home, Lena and Joakim showed me around the house and to my beautiful room, which has a lot of Swedish memorabilia in it, such as a blanket with the Swedish flag on it, a sculpture of a Viking standing in Scandinavian boat, and a coffee mug shaped like a Viking horn.
I have a beautiful view out of my bedroom window, too. It’s just too bad that it’s almost always too dark to enjoy it.
After being shown around my new house, I went up to my room and unpacked all my clothes into my closet. I went downstairs then to meet my host brothers Jonas and Tobias as well as their cat, Skrållan. Me and Lena sat down and talked about all of the beautiful things Stockholm has to offer and I will get to see.
There are plenty of places to visit such as Skansen, a large open air museum, Vasamuseet, home to an actual Viking longship that was pulled from the harbor, and Gamla Stan, the oldest part of Stockholm. As I have difficulty sleeping on planes and had an overnight flight, I was incredibly jet lagged. I decided to take a two hour nap as to not further ruin my sleep schedule.
Four hours later I awoke, accidentally oversleeping. Jet lag is awful to get over.
Getting to Know My New Neighborhood
After my longer-than-intended nap, Jonas took me for a walk around the area I am staying. It was hard for me to adjust to it being dark out at 3:30 in the afternoon during our walk. On the walk he showed me the local gymnasiet (high school), the Pressbryån, a Swedish store somewhat similar to a seven-eleven, and an ancient Viking stone in the area. The walk helped greatly to dissipate my jet lag. We came home just in time to meet my host sisters Cecilia and Erika, who don’t live with us, but came over for dinner.
Cecilia does not speak English, so that offers me a good opportunity to practice my Swedish, which is far from ample. I enjoyed my first Swedish meal of reindeer and Hasselback potatoes, traditional Swedish dishes. We talked about my first couple hours here and the topic of conversation eventually veered towards Swedish and American politics and upcoming elections.
After a long day of excitement and adventures, I was exhausted and went up to my room looking forward to a good night’s sleep. Then began night one of battling jet lag. I finally fell asleep around two or three in the morning and rested intermittently through the night. My first day was such an amazing Swedish experience and I hope it is evident of what the rest of this crazy adventure and travel will bring me.
by Jared Ebel, Greenheart Travel high school student in Sweden
Well, today is the day. Today is the day I finally leave to pursue a massive dream of mine and study abroad in Sweden. Today I will spend eighteen hours in airports and airplanes so I can spend the next six months of my life with a new family, in a different culture, and a different country. I still haven’t mentally wrapped my head around this entire situation.
It hasn’t really “clicked” yet. Every relationship, every person I have met and became friends with in the last seventeen years of my life, will be with me only electronically. I am beyond thankful for the Christmas gatherings and going away parties that allowed me an opportunity to say goodbye to all my family and friends.
I will be forced to start anew. I will have a different family and will have to make new friends. That’s a lot for me to process and I realize it sounds scary, but really, what an adventure. What an experience to immerse yourself in a such challenge and in a new culture.
It’s such an insane way to learn about the world around you and the massively diverse people in it. I could not be more excited to see all the new people I’ll meet and enjoy all of the crazy experiences I will have. It is sad to leave everything behind, but is even more exciting to travel and see the world.
I think some of us just weren’t designed to live within the bounds of our comfort zones. That is a category I most definitely fall into. Despite all my nervousness right now, I am filled with joy and anticipation. I can already tell that the decision to fill out an application and become an exchange student was one of the best in my life.
My new experiences with Lena, Joakim, Cecilia, Erika, Jonas, Tobias, and the friends I will meet will surely be incredible.
So here I am, sitting in an airport, waiting for my next flight. As I think back to my going away party and saying goodbye to all my friends and family, I can’t help but smile thinking about how lucky I am to get to enjoy such and of all the memories I will make.
High school has been going quite well in Sweden. It’s refreshing to be able to be in classes and not worry about grades, although I AM working hard, I assure you. Just usually not on the subjects we’re discussing. If we have a lecture, I often write down the written notes and translate what I can on the spot, but in a lecture situation, the words are usually more difficult than I can understand at this point. But I’m getting better (and quickly).
However, I think my pronunciation is a little horrible. Isabelle and Michelle occasionally make fun of me when I utterly butcher words, but I’m making less and less mistakes, and that’s reassuring (but the mistakes are still pretty significant. It happens).
Just so you know, I’m in Spanish, Chinese, Swedish, and English. And it’s AWESOME. Chinese doesn’t really interfere with any other languages, because it’s so different from any of the other three (which is very nice). But I had Spanish class on Monday and Tuesday (the 31st of January and the 1st of February) with about four people at Spanish level 5. Oh, and there was also a natural Argentinian Spanish speaker, Laura, in the class. And Sofia’s been to Spain for half a year. I’ve had two and a half years of Spanish at this point, so I’m a little.. Behind them. But the teacher is very nice about it, and the class sits so patiently when I am searching for a word when we’re talking. They’re all so polite.
The really cool thing about learning Swedish and also working on Spanish is that my vocabulary in both of them increases, but sometimes I get them mixed up when I’m trying to speak. So if I try to say “where” in Spanish, I might blurt out “var,” which is “where” in Swedish, instead of saying “dónde.” But if I’m just trying to find the word in Spanish and I know the word in Swedish, it usually comes to mind before the English translation. I don’t know if that makes sense at all, but it’s really very interesting. However, it does sometimes lead to me Google Translate very very simple Spanish words, such as “where” and “who” and “because,” since I can only think of the Swedish translation at times. It’s a bit embarrassing, but I’m really enjoying the process.
I’ve decided that the journey of learning a language fascinates me. This might be why I’m taking three languages, that I have less than three years’ experience in, at the same time. And naturally, these classes are the ones I’m expected to do the most in (yes, I actually do homework for language classes. I know. Be surprised).
I’m not taking any math classes, and the Natural Science class is going over anatomy and organ systems right now, so I’m not focusing on the hard maths and sciences right now. It’s intriguing to be taking language and social science classes, but I kind of miss calculus. Maybe I’ll get out my calculator and do some trigonometric substitution integration asap. And yes, I know that I am an ultra nerd for saying that, but I do actually like math. Choosing a major in college is going to be so difficult.
What else.. Words that I have learned that are cool. Well, Swedes have a word that means “to go for coffee, and perhaps a little snack like cake as well.” I know, right? I love this place! To go for coffee is “att fika,” and if I want to say that I go for coffee, I can say “Jag fikar.” (Fikar is pronounced FEEH-karr). I am so impressed with the Swedish people for having a word like this. Swedish also has the word “lagom” (LAH-gohm), which fits them so well. It is a bit like calling something just right, like Baby Bear in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Not too big, not too small. Not too hot, not too cold. Just right. Lagom. It fits them because Sweden is not too hot, not usually too cold, not too nice, not too mean, not too big, and not too small. It’s a little bit lagom. Just right the way it is.
Can you tell I like it here?
Also, most of the time when I text, I text in Swedish. Yeah. I know. I feel pretty awesome. It’s only when I’m really worried about being misunderstood or don’t want to cause offense or am in dire need of an answer asap in easy language that I resort to English. It makes me feel like I’m making progress.
Anyway, I will finish with that tidbit of information. Perhaps I won’t wait six more days to write again, but perhaps I will. I don’t really ever know what’s going on here. It’s a bit of a refreshing change, having no idea. By the way, to say “I have no idea”, one would say “Jag har ingen aning” (YAH har EENG-hen AHN-eeng).
I’m in Sweden for five months for my high school abroad program, learning the language and confusing and being confused by the Olssons (my adorable and very nice, helpful, awesome host family) while exploring the marvel that is Sverige (sound it out like SVAR-ee-yah). Socialist, successful, and super trendy: how do they do it?
I really like Sweden. I can also see why a bunch of Swedes decided to settle in northern Minnesota. Why might I notice this at first glance, you may ask? Well.. Uhmm.. There are conifers all over the place, it’s pretty flat, it’s a little chilly, it snows (well, Sweden doesn’t snow, but the clouds around here do), and, oh yeah.. By the way, it’s gorgeous. In that season-changing hardy living outdoorsy kind of way, which I certainly appreciate. I think learning Swedish is going to be entertaining (as long as I can refrain from lapsing back into engelska!)
A little bit on the trip out here, just so I don’t forget. I spent one leg (from Newark to Frankfurt) of the trip sitting next to this cute French lady, who shared her Swedish bread with me while talking about cats and Miami and France and music in spurts of broken English, punctuated with gestures and grimaces. Language barriers are so intimidating sometimes, but her efforts were valiant (and a lot more worth congratulations than my nonexistent attempt at French). Then from Frankfurt to Stockholm, I chatted with this charming elderly Swedish man who actually told me about, surprise surprise, Sweden! I know that who one meets on a plane is just luck of the draw, but it does pay to be lucky, and it just goes to show that it’s possible to find courteous, friendly people of all types, as long as you’re following the Golden Rule. Yep. I got a cheesy moral in there. I am on a ROLL.
Also, in Sweden it’s possible to be prosecuted if you, get this, forget to lock up the guns, have your house broken into, and have a crime committed with your stolen guns. Can that happen in the U.S.? …
P.S. It is possible to learn random Swedish words on the first day of being in a country.
Examples:
Unicorn – enhörning
Slingshot – slangbella (isn’t that just cool?)
