Language Camp, School, and Wildlife Camp

Well, I can now say that I've been here for over a month. A lot has happened since I've arrived in Sweden. I'll try not to write too much about each event, as there has been a lot going on!

Language Camp

After spending around 2 weeks in Sweden I went to an Orientation camp with 29 other exchange students from all around the world. I had the best of time there. We learned about the basics of the Swedish Language and more about the Swedish culture. It was so amazing meeting new people from all around the globe. This camp was held in a hotel in Sundsvall. It is quite a pretty city there and we got to go walk and look around one day. I think the best part of the camp was just spending time with the other exchange student. It is amazing to hear more about different cultures and just meeting new people. Most nights we stayed up late, talking until we felt that we were too tired. In our introduction to the Swedish Language we played various games to help us learn words and phrases. A few of the district chairman taught us an array of things as to how the school works, geography, and different things about the Swedish Culture. Perhaps one of my favorite memories of the camp was when we went swimming in a lake nearby at night. The lake was freezing cold and we all were freezing cold but I think everyone still had a smile on their faces. I'm so happy that I met tons of amazing people that I hope I can see and travel to sometime during my year in Sweden.


School

After language camp I think I had a week before school started. I didn't do much in that time period but just enjoyed the last little bit of summer I had.
School in Sweden is substantially different than school in America. Here you get to pick the course you want to study, as opposed to pretty much picking each class you want to study back in America. I picked to study Nature Science. In this course I study biology, math, biotechnology, English, Social Science, Swedish, and I even take Welding. School has been a big adjustment for me so far. It is difficult, as of course the teacher's only speak Swedish, and the work that I'm doing is considerably hard. It doesn't matter for me that much, as I don't receive credit from school here back home.
I'm trying to make and talk to as many people as I can in school. It is hard when they all talk in Swedish and I can only understand a little bit of what they say. Hopefully, as I progress with my Swedish, I'll be able to converse and make friends more easily.

Åre Wild Camp

A few weeks back I went to a Rotary organized foreign exchange camp in Åre, Sweden. There were many foreign exchange students that I knew there from the orientation camp in Sundsvall but many new faces that I got to meet. I spent the week hiking, swimming in freezing water, kayaking, tram riding, and the best part, hanging out with all my other exchange friends. All of us have an amazing connection and we all have something in common that brings us all together. I don't think I relate to anyone more than my exchange friends, as they're going through the same thing that I am. During the camp we stayed in a beautiful lodge that had a sauna, hot tub, library, and loft. I had such an amazing time laughing and enjoying each moment here. I made a lot of connections with exchange students from all around Sweden. One of my favorite memories from this camp, was when we went to Åre Ski Resort. We all packed into the tram and it took us to almost the top of the mountain. There, we hiked up a rocky hillside to the top and had such a stunning view of all our surroundings. There was a Waffle House at the top of the mountain, were we of course ate waffles. We could even see the Norway border from the top. I have so many memories from this camp and there was never a dull moment.

After the camp I had to take a flight back home to the Luleå airport. I got a bit sick at the camp and ended up with a sore throat. When I was flying back from Stockholm to Luleå my ears started to hurt dreadfully. I was in tears when the plane landed because of the pressure change. I got pretty sick and had a horrible sore throat and could barley hear anything out of both of my ears. I stayed home from school all that week, trying to get better.

SWEDEN
In summary of this blog, I have experienced so much since I left on the plane back home. I feel that I have matured about 2 years. Right now I'm trying my best to pick up Swedish. Everyone here speaks English very well but I think it's a critical part for making friends and best understanding the culture if you can speak Swedish. Sweden is a beautiful country. Living in Tahoe, it's such a magical place. It's like heaven on earth. It's a place that seems to not even belong on earth. Sweden is different. Sweden doesn't have any drastic beauty to it. It's beauty is subtle. You see it when you look up in the trees. You see it when you gaze outside into the meandering river. You see it when you glimpse up into the glowing sunset. Sweden humbles you. It makes you feel grounded. I love Tahoe and Sweden both but they are just different types of beauty. Everyday I try to appreciate and take it all in. The culture, the geography, the language. I really do love it here and hope I will continue in learning and understanding more about the culture and people that make's me so curious.

Love,
Kelsey