Sweden: Not that challenging yet rewarding Past Review

By (English, Grinnell College) for

The Swedish Program: Stockholm, Sweden

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes. It has made me aware of what aspects of American culture I take for granted. Swedish culture was not so obviously different, yet I gradually found myself missing aspects of home and appreciating aspects of Sweden that I never experienced in the U.S.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It was less challenging and less satisfying than my courses at Grinnell, but I do feel that I learned a lot.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I think they could have done a better job at mixing us with Swedes our age and could have arranged more frequently activities/excursions. But, I think they encouraged us to actually be students in Stockholm, so I can understand why we did not have many trips/activities that would cut into class time (there was one trip organized by the program and there were two week-long breaks, so that already cut into course time a lot).

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I LOVED my host family and I think the program did a great job matching students to families.

* Food:

The food was great. And there were plenty of options.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Gotland, the orientation week, etc.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I never felt in danger during the four months I was abroad.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

My host family encouraged me to practice and I think the Swedish course the program offered was effective. However, I think it was hard to learn Swedish given that most Swedes speak English so well and that the classes only had American students--we were not mixed with Swedish students.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Stockholm and my host family, the friends I made in the program.
* What could be improved?
  • Introducing the American students to Swedes our age.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Someone who is looking for a change of scene but not necessarily a super difficult study abroad experience or drastically different culture.