I had studied abroad in Sweden for about one year from summer in 2006.
There were many difficult things for me in Sweden which was not in English block, while there were pleasant things more than double. It was first for me to hear Swedish. Also, life style and food differed from those of Japan. Everything were new for me.
< School Life >
There were many different things between Japan and Sweden. Thing that I was surprised was school life. High school I went to was public one and was located in central part of city. There were students more than 1,000. School building was so big and there were schoolhouses apart from main building. When first I went to school, it was very difficult even to find out my class room.
In Sweden, there were many faculties and courses of study in high school, like of universities. Students could select their preferable course of study before entering a school. By that reasons, each individual student was concretely studying preferable discipline. There were no school regulations and they were not forced to do anything. Also, there was no comparison between students and they took responsibility by themselves. It seemed for me that they were spending school life without any pressure.
There were no group activities like sports club and school festival for which students were doing together. Sometimes, I felt lonely because of little times to have relation to classmates. Finishing time of lesson was deferent by class, therefore, they returned to their home immediately after finishing last lesson.
< Swedish was shy >
I learnt from books that Swedish was shy. I felt it was true when studying aboard. Especially, young people were very shy. It was very hard to make a friend at first.
It was natural in Japan to take lunch box and take for a joke with friend. At initial stage of studying aboard, I felt that, in country where I could not communicate in, it was quite difficult even to do matter of course in Japan.
< SKA VI FIKA? >
This is one of Swedish I like and means [ Would you have a tee?] in English. Swedish people liked very much time of FIKA. They were having a chat and deepening friendship while enjoying tee. Sweets such as cake and cookie were essential for FIKA. Swedish people liked very much sweets such as chocolate, cake, ice cream whatever men or women. They deliciously eat sweets covering custard cream completely over apple pie from top and putting whipped cream on chocolate cake. There were many Swedish sweets that I was worry about due to their high calorie. I was under care of and living with three host families. Every host mother liked to cook sweets. I baked chocolate cake almost everyday after learning way how to cook cake, from mother of second host family.
<Long procession in front of ice cream shop was symbolic of advent of
spring>
 Ice cream shops which were closed during winter were opened in late March.
People waiting for opening were in procession in front of ice cream shops. For me ,such people behavior seemed to symbolize change of season from long winter to spring. I often sow that father ate ice cream wheeling baby cart in daytime of weekday. That scene was seen specially in Sweden which social insurance was firm.
Time I stayed in Sweden passed quickly. One year was very fine for me. I met numerous people and learnt not only language but also other many things. That
opportunity made me possible to see Japan from outside and renew good things and bad things of Japan. I like Japanese culture and foods more than before studying aboard.
Hereafter, I will work hard to my lessons targeting to study aboard in Sweden again. I wish to enter into such business as to bridge between Sweden and Japan, in future !!!! |
