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Going “home”

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Well, I’m back.

Fifteen hours of flight time, a five-hour delay in Washington D.C. due to thunderstorms, and I’m back in Oregon. My student visa has expired, meaning my studies in Sweden have come to an end.

It’s been a long, strange journey, but it seems it has reached its end. Or has it?

The last 302 days have brought some of the greatest joys of my life – from meeting new friends to seeing the world outside the United States for the very first time – and some of the greatest challenges (having to learn a new language, making new friends, having to cook for myself). There were times where all I really wanted to do was leave Sweden, to go back to the familiarity of the Pacific Northwest, but somehow I stuck through it. And because of it, I’ve emerged a wiser, better man.

The hardest thing I did in Sweden? Leaving.

It’s no secret that I fell in love with the country. The landscape, the people, and yes, even the climate, grew on me in a way I could never have imagined. If I had my way, I would stay forever.

For the first time in my life, I actually felt at home. Like all my life I had been away, and had finally come home.

But unfortunately I had to leave. I still have one more year of studies at Boise State, and without a job, I had run out of money.

So I went back. Was I happy about it? No. But it’s what I had to do.

Jag alskär Sverige - I love Sweden. Photo: Martin Winberg

I’m already dealing with reverse culture shock. Let me tell you: integrating back into the culture of your home country is much harder than assimilating into Swedish culture. That’s what no one can prepare you for, what no study abroad advisor can tell you: that sometimes you don’t want to go back, and when you do it can be almost overwhelming.

I’ve found I’ve changed in ways I could never have imagined. In just the few days I’ve been back, friends and family have commented more than once on my newfound accent. Seriously, I now speak English with a noticeable Swedish accent. I never thought about or noticed it before, but I’ve spent so much time in Sweden that it rubbed off on me so much that I even picked up the habits and mannerisms of native-born Swedes, permeating my very being and changing how I perceive the world.

It astonishes even me.

It feels like I’ve left a part of myself behind, like I don’t really belong in the U.S. anymore. I’m trying to keep myself busy to help bury my feelings, but I admit it’s not easy.

“Lord of the Rings” is one of my favorite movies. The other day I was watching “The Return of the King,” when something happened to me that’s never happened before while watching it: I cried. It was the conclusion, when Frodo and his friends return home after destroying the One Ring, and they were sitting in a pub. The characters silently shared a toast, the music was simple and unpretentious, and suddenly I cried.  Like a light bulb switching on in my head, the parallels became instantly stark: Frodo and his friends had experienced things nobody else would understand, travelled to strange lands much farther than anything they had ever known, and now they were home. The journey was over, their lives had been forever changed, and no one else would ever understand. The same, I realized, had happened to me. It hadn’t really sunk in before, but now I knew that I was back.

The best part about studying abroad? The people you meet. Photo: Ben Mack

The list of people who I’d like to thank could literally fill an entire novel, but to name just a few I’d especially like to thank University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) for helping me realize my dream of going abroad, Lennart and Katrin Nordmark (my host parents) for helping create a home away from home (not to mention providing more “cultural experiences” than I can count), Karin Siöö and the rest of the International Office at Linnaeus University, Professor Jerald Catt-Oliason for teaching me to remember to listen, Katrin Ruffing for inspiring me to go abroad and being such a gracious host when I visited Germany, Jana Lepple and Clementine Monet for also inspiring me to cross the Atlantic, Sari Kiviharju and Sara Vanaikka for giving perspective to things, Foluoso Abbey for helping me see inward, John Harrigan for reminding me that the world is not flat, my parents for all their love and support (both financially and emotionally), my wonderful corridor mates – from both the Fall and Spring semesters – for helping make me feel like part one big, dysfunctional family, Martin Winberg for being my best mate in Sweden and keeping me sane (and for teaching me more than a little Swedish), Julie Blomberg for encouraging me to have faith in myself (not to mention question everything), Corrine Henke and the International Office at Boise State University, Christine Deppe for always being there when I needed to talk to someone, Tamar Amashukeli for helping me see the world through new eyes, Alina Merinscu for being a doppelgänger for so many of my adventures, and of course the people of Sweden for putting up with me for the past year.

For anyone else I neglected to mention, I haven’t forgotten you. I blame human nature for not having the patience to go through all the names. I also want to thank you, readers, for following this blog. Writing for the Swedish Institute has been an incredible, and unique, opportunity, and I’m glad to have shared with you my experiences and tips and tricks for surviving – and thriving – in Sweden. Hopefully you won’t make all the mistakes I did!

My immediate plans are simple: in August I will return to Boise State for my senior year, where I will also be working as Opinion Editor of The Arbiter (the university’s student newspaper) and living on-campus in the Global Village Community, a special housing program for international students and those who want to gain new perspectives from them and help them adjust to life in the U.S.

And after that? Who knows?

Maybe I will return to Sweden one day. Perhaps I will never go there again. But whatever the future might hold, I know this: I am better off for having studied in Sweden.

Studying abroad is not merely a physical journey – it is also an academic, cultural, emotional, and spiritual journey. In other words, it is personal. No two people have the exact same experience, and no two people reach the same conclusions afterwards.

But what exactly are those conclusions? No one can really say until one has gone abroad, and even then there’s no guarantee conclusions will ever be reached. It is an enigma of a most individual nature.

The Swedish sunset is one of many things I'll miss. Photo: Anne Balonier

I am not a celebrity. I have not been, and probably never will be, President of the United States. I am just an ordinary, average person who has had an extraordinary experience. But so, why then, am I bothering to write this? The answer to that is simple.

By studying abroad, you will gain an increased appreciation for the interdependency of the world today, the commonality we all share as human beings

While no one else will ever have the exact same experiences I have, studying abroad is nonetheless something that is more attainable today than at any other moment in history.

If you do decide to go abroad, dear reader, Sweden is an ideal location. I think my blog posts, and those by fellow student blogger Kristin Follis and other bloggers at the Swedish Institute, speak for themselves as to the reasons.

But know this: there are many more reasons why you should study in Sweden, reasons which words cannot possibly begin to describe.

In the words of St. Augustine, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”

Tack så mycket, och hej då.

On the coast of Öland the day before going back to the U.S. Photo: Ben Mack

Ben Mack — Student

June 27, 2011

Top things I’ll miss in Sweden

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While studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the hardest part isn’t going to your host country: it’s coming back home.

Meeting new people from around the world is just one of the many advantages of studying abroad. Photo: Ben Mack

I’ve been studying in Sweden for about a year, and am definitely going to miss a few things. Here are the 14 I’ll miss most.

_____________________

1. Strawberries

 Back where I come from in Oregon, we’re known for having some of the best-tasting strawberries in the world. But even they pale in comparison to the Swedish variety, which taste like a combination of ecstasy, fulfillment, and a satisfaction in knowing you will never have better.

2. Winter

I know what you’re thinking: how can anyone love a season where temperatures can dip below minus 20 Celsius, snow is almost a meter thick, and it’s dark 18 hours (or more) a day? That’s precisely why I love the Swedish winter: it’s so different than what I had been previously used to. In Oregon, winter is marked by over 100 centimeters of rain, and in Boise if it’s snowing… well, if it’s snowing, then that’s the least of your problems. But in Sweden mayors don’t declare a state of emergency when it snows, and the glistening white stuff is also, I’ve discovered, a lot of fun to play in.

Swedish pancakes are, in a word, delicious. Photo: Anne Balonier

3. The food

Sweden may not usually be the first place that comes to mind when people think of tasty national cuisine, but I’ve found Swedish food to be surprisingly scrumptious – and much more diverse than herring and köttbullar. It’s much more affordable than it is in the U.S. (where you usually have to go to a specialty store or IKEA), and obviously more authentic too. And, when I was tired of traditional Svensk mat, grocery stores carry foods from all over the world, including the artificially preserved,  flavorized, prepackaged, hormone-treated, sugar-infused fare I – unfortunately – was raised on.

4. The people

This one comes as a no-brainer. Life isn’t just about what you do: it’s about who you meet. And in Sweden, I’ve met some amazing people, from Swedes such as my host family and close friends to fellow exchange students who’ve helped me broaden my horizons and taught me a lot about myself, too. If it wasn’t for this motley cast of characters, there’s no way my time abroad would have been as magical as it was.

Any time is a great time for a fika! Photo: Anne Balonier

5. Fikas

A uniquely Swedish creation, a fika is a great way to spend time with friends, family, classmates, coworkers, or just about anyone. It’s also a great excuse to consume more coffee and sweets than your mother would have ever allowed you to have growing up.

6. The queue system 

Back home, when you go to someplace like the bank, housing office, etc. you have to wait in line. And wait. And wait. And wait. But in Sweden, you just take a number and wait for your number to be called.  It’s great for people such as myself who can never stay in one place for more than three minutes.

7. Traveling by train 

Trains in the U.S. are few, far between, and incredibly expensive. In Boise, a city of more than 200,000 people and a metro area of half a million, there isn’t even a single operating train station. Pretty much every town in Sweden has a train station, and – in my opinion – paying 400 kronor to travel from Växjö to Göteborg seems pretty cheap. It’s a great way for students without cars to get around.

Kronobergs Slottsruinen, located north of Växjö, dates back to the 15th century. Photo: Ben Mack

8. The history

Some Swedes may gripe that there isn’t much history in Sweden, but it’s a whole lot more than where I come from. Back in Boise, the oldest building is an old log house from the 1800s. In Sweden, people live in houses older than that. Heck, the Växjö Domkyrka (Växjö Cathedral) was built in the 12th century – more than 300 years before America was even “discovered.” Every town has its own rich and unique history.

9. Allsvenskan football

Few things are able to match the passion — and intensity – of Allsvenskan football matches. It’s one of the rare times you’ll see Swedes lose all emotional control, and is certainly not to be missed.

Few things match the passion and excitement of Allsvenskan football. Photo: Ben Mack

10.  My host family

Host families are a fantastic way to see the “real” Sweden, and I had a great time with mine. From going to football matches, to barbecues, to fishing, to speaking to secondary school students and to jumping in frozen lakes, I will miss them greatly.

11.  The summer

If the Swedish winter is spectacular, then the summer is even more so. Photo: Ben Mack

If the Swedish winter is spectacular, then the summer is even more so. Temperatures around 20 Celsius, clear skies, 18 hours of sunlight, Midsummer… what could be better?

12.  Nature

Swedes have a special connection to nature, and it’s easy to see why. Never in my life have I seen a country as green as Sweden is. From the forests to the meadows to the thousands of lakes, it’s hard to imagine more beautiful scenery anywhere else on earth.

13.  Teleborgs Slott

Sure it’s not that old (built around 1900), and sure it’s not that big, but it’s the first castle I’d ever seen. And when it’s only a five-minute walk from your flat, you tend to spend a lot of time there. Truly, it’s the most magical place I’ve ever been. No matter the occasion – whether I was having a bad day, was stressed out, wanted to enjoy nature, meditate, hang out with friends, take a girl on a date, study, or whatever – I could just walk through the castle’s spacious grounds or inside to have a fika. Every moment spent there was spent in timeless bliss.

Though not very old, Teleborgs Slott is nonetheless magnificent. Photo: Ben Mack

 

14.  The Swedes

Whether it’s their closeness to nature, tolerance of others, friendliness, ingenuity, or helpfulness, it’s obvious the Swedes are special. Never before have met friendlier, more tolerant, or helpful people in my life. With them, the glass is always half-full. And their smiles can power a small city. And they’re the most loyal friends you can ever have.

My advice to anyone coming to Sweden: enjoy every moment of it. Because when you’re gone…

You’re not in Sweden anymore. And that’s what I’ll miss the most.

When you're in Sweden for a year, you tend to meet at least a few Swedes. Photo: Tiina Syränjen

Ben Mack — Student

June 26, 2011

True confessions of Swedish dating disasters

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Ask any expatriate, exchange student, fellow traveler, or even the guy selling strawberries down at the Saturday market, and they’ll all tell you the same thing: Swedish women are confusing, even more so than… well, there might not be anything more confusing than Swedish women.

Dating in Sweden can be... well, complicated to say the least. Photo: Tamar Amashukeli

And you know what? I agree. I’ve gone on a few dates here, and every time found myself more and more perplexed. Christ, even O.J. Simpson’s police chase makes more sense.

Let’s save ourselves a lot of time here and just agree that Swedish women are incredibly attractive. They have terrific personalities, million-dollar smiles, and are more in shape than 99.99% of everyone else. They’re well-educated, know exactly what they want in life, and usually speak with an accent that makes us men melt every time we hear it. Oh, and did I mention almost all of them look like they should be modeling somewhere? Seriously, Tyra Banks has nothing on them.

But damn, they are enigmatic. Allow me to illustrate by sharing my personal experiences.

I’ll admit I’ve always been a little nervous courting the opposite sex, probably due to watching – as God is my witness – more romantic comedies than quite possibly any other heterosexual male on earth. But I held firmly to the popular U.S. stereotype that Swedish women go crazy for American guys, and let my friends do the rest to inflate my ego to levels perhaps only rivaled by Muhammad Ali or Zlatan Ibrahimovic himself. I was young, I was in good shape, and I was American: when I arrived in Sweden, the ladies wouldn’t stand a chance.

But as the weeks went by, I gaped in paralyzed horror as my self-esteem was quickly ground into mush. Not only did all my previously held notions turn out to be totally wrong, but it seemed the opposite was true; compared to the endless number of good-looking, well-muscled, and much better dressed Swedish guys, it seemed no woman was interested in a pale, skinny American with absolutely zero fashion sense and a shaggy haircut.

Eventually, however, I drummed up enough courage to ask a girl from one of my classes for a fika in Teleborgs Slott. We talked, laughed, and I somehow managed to pay for her – something many Swedish women, I knew, were not used to. We hung out a few more times and, in my mind, there was no way I could fail. I was IN.

Just because you had a fika with a girl in a castle does not mean she will see it as a date. Photo: Ben Mack

But then disaster struck. I asked her to dinner, assuming the answer would be an automatic “yes.” Instead, I received a text message explaining that dinner would feel “too much like a date.”

In all my 21 years, I had never been so confused. Would feel too much like a date? Really? I mean, c’mon, we had coffee at a freakin’ castle!

A good way to get to know a girl is to spend time with her, even if it involves freezing half to death. Photo: Johannes Feldmann

In one swift blow, my self-esteem returned to its liquidous state. A few weeks later, it evaporated entirely when, after getting the phone number of a girl I had warmed up to, she rejected me by flat-out saying I wasn’t her “type.” Looking back on it, I probably asked her out for the wrong reasons anyway, but if I had known what I know now I could’ve gotten a lot more sleep.

A few weeks after her – whom my friends only refer to as “Miss A” – there was yet another girl. Unlike the others, she took the initiative of “first contact” by talking to me after a class we shared. A hopeful sign? Perhaps. But then again, I’m pretty sure I’m not psychic. And later events would certainly validate that.

The two of us had something in common right away: both of us studied journalism. She seemed to spend every moment picking my brains on life in the U.S., determined to study there one day. We had similar tastes in music and movies, and even shared a secret passion for documentaties.

Travelling to places such as Kalmar Slott is also a good way to get to know a girl. Photo: Ben Mack

We hung out every day for about a week, and finally one night she spontaneously invited me over for dinner. We ate a nice meal of chicken and rice, and then we talked for a bit. And talked. And talked. And talked some more. By the time I finally excused myself and went home, it was past 4 a.m. She had poured her heart out to me, displayed the entire spectrum of human emotion, told me things she said she had never told anyone else – or so I thought.

A couple weeks later, she told me she was seeing someone. A guy whose name I never learned, of whom she and her friends had never spoken, and of whom I didn’t even see any evidence of on Facebook.

Jeez, how cruel can a girl be? If you want to say “I’m not interested,” then just say it! Mentioning possibly fictitious boyfriends only makes it crueler!

But that’s dating in Sweden for you. If I’ve learned one thing from my time here, it’s that I don’t know anything.

So everyone, I’m with you: I’m just as clueless as you are. If you can decipher the mystery of Swedish dating, let me know.

I’ll be drowning my sorrows in coffee.

Ben Mack — Student

June 21, 2011

In (and out of) the club

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It’s Friday night in Sweden. What’s one to do? Go ice fishing? Make meatballs? Try your hand at naked sled dog racing?

Student pubs are very popular on campus. Photo: Ben Mack

When I’m faced with such a dilemma, I prefer to ask the locals.

However, their advice is sometimes contradictory.

Swede 1: Go to the club!

Swede 2: Whatever you do, don’t go to the club!

Huh? Last time I was so confused, a buddy and I wound up accidentally driving into rural Eastern Oregon trailer park in the middle of a police raid. Hadn’t talked so well since my high school graduation speech.

However, club/pub life can be a major part of a student’s social life – for good or ill.

But face it: going out to a club, paying the ridiculously inflated admission fee, the even more astronomical prices for a drink (or two, or three, or seven), and then paying yet again for some girl you’re never going to see again and a cab ride home, makes one seriously question your mental fitness.

If the situation was indeed that hopeless, this column would end right HERE. Done. Kaput. You’ve already clicked on the next link, and vowed never to read anything by this author again.

Thankfully there’s a handy innovation known as student-friendly prices to help you get by. And when you have two pubs on campus – and a third across the street – it can mean the difference between a night out or a night watching yet another “Sex and the City” rerun.

Going out’s an interesting experience, to be sure. You see more drama than an adaption of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” Why, just last night I saw some girl slap a guy. Didn’t hear the whole conversation, but something about “soup.” Gentlemen, remember to cook for your girlfriends. Or else.

Going out can be a great way to spend time with friends. Photo: Ben Mack

But I can see Swedes’ contradictory views on the student pubs/clubs (been here a year and I’m yet to figure out why exactly they’re technically called pubs even though they really are nightclubs).

After-parties can sometimes be as crazy as fun as the party itself. Photo: Ben Mack

On one hand, they’re a great social release from all those hours of studying. Jumping up and down whilst losing a good kilo of sweat is naturally a good way to lose weight, and it’s a rare opportunity to see Swedes let loose their famously restrained emotions.

On the other hand… well, going to the club can be something like “Survivor,” only with more wildlife. Somehow, the combination of alcohol, loud music, flashing lights, and bodies packed into a small room more tightly than sardines in a can turns even the most mild-mannered person into a raging party animal. Oh, and there’s also the sheer brutality of Swedish partying, which usually involves more steps than filling out your tax return. They usually include:

  • Pre-party, usually at someone’s flat. Can start as early as 4 p.m.
  • Party at the club/pub.
  • After-party with several dozen people, usually in a flat.
  • After-after-party. Smaller, but still at least a dozen people.
  • After-after-after party (AKA morning). May or not be the same people you originally started partying with. Typically ends by 7 or 8 a.m.

Up to 16 hours of partying. Brutal. The Ethiopians may usually win marathons, but when it comes to marathon partying, Sweden sweeps – ehrm, stays awake longer – than the competition.

If you do decide to hit the club, here’s some advice:

Seeing people wearing Halloween costumes for no apparent reason is a sure sign you're in a student pub. Photo: Jordan Tuchek

  1. Dress the part. And by dress the part, I mean wear whatever. Seeing fellow students wearing Halloween costumes for no apparent reason is not uncommon. If you want to lose more weight, I suggest wearing a parka with galoshes. Winter boots are also good for building leg strength.
  2. Bring a friend or 20. The more the merrier, right? Besides, conga lines look cooler with more people. And no one wants to dance by themselves, unless your name is Dennis Rodman.
  3. Eat right. An overpriced kebab from the kebab stands outside may look and smell tempting, but you’ll regret it later when you realize you can buy the same thing during the day for a third of the price. Likewise, you tend to discover buying nachos from the bar isn’t a good idea when you spill hot cheese all over yourself – or worse, the cute girl you’re dancing with in the expensive dress.
  4. Bring extra cash. You never know where you’ll end up afterwards, literally. It’s a good idea to have money in case you need to take a bus back to campus or call a cab. There’ve been nights where I’ve met new people and found myself eight hours later several kilometers north of campus in the Växjö suburb of Araby with absolutely no idea how to get home, or who the people, all of whom are dressed in black and most of whom have multiple and very large piercings, even are.
  5. Remember your ID. To get into the clubs on campus, you need your student ID, photo ID (like a driver’s license or passport) and proof of membership in one of the student nations. And Swedes are immune to bribes. Trust me, I’ve tried it.

One of the drawbacks of going out can be sleep deprivation. Photo: Matthew Weinberg

“But what about safety?” you ask. “There must be more creepy guys around than salesmen at the Antiques Roadshow!” So is it dangerous? Not really. With one of the lowest crime rates in the world, not much is expected to happen to you if you go out. Still, it’s always a good idea to use common sense: use the buddy system, don’t drink and drive, and – unless you have kielbasa for brains – avoid the temptation to jump in lakes while under the influence.

Oh, and make sure you don’t have classes the next day. Because by the time you get home, it’ll probably already be light outside.

Even in December.

Always remember: do your schoolwork before partying! Photo: Gertrud Larsson

Ben Mack — Student

June 17, 2011

An Unforgettable Year!

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I have studied all night, I have partied, I have barbecued, I have given (what feels like) a million presentations, I have survived days with only 4 hours of sunlight, I have had a trillion fikas, I have tasted sill, I have made meat balls, I have survived snowstorms, I have travelled around Sweden and I have even learned some Swedish!

It is without a doubt that the memories created over the past year will never be forgotten. From walking into the first lecture with 100 other students from 52 different countries to celebrating a completed year with those same people you started with.

What I have really learned over the past year is that studying abroad is not just about sitting in a classroom, taking notes and having discussions. But, even more important, it is about what you learn outside the class. It is truly about meeting people, learning another language, living in a new place and really just trying something new.

I am thankful for all the people I have met and all the friends I have made.The possibility of traveling all over the world to visit friends and past classmates is nothing short of exciting.

I am especially thankful to all those Swedes who shared their traditions and cultures with us foreign students. The best way to truely understand and experience Sweden is to have your own personal tour guides, and who better then the Swedes who have enjoyed it all their lives.

My Swedish tour guides! Photo by: Daniel Lövgren

For all of those who have to say goodbye and go back to their home countries, it is not easy. It is hard to leave everyone you have met here and the adventures you’ve had for the calm and familiar life back at home. But, just remember you can always return. The last time I left Sweden I missed it so much I had to come back!

For all of us Masters students who are still sticking around for at least another year, we look forward to many more exciting times to come. A year full of internships, thesis writing, and I’m sure a few more parties.

While studying in Sweden this year has been full of both successes and setbacks, it is without a doubt that the friends and memories I have made will be around forever!

A great trip to the coast! Photo by: Kristin Follis

Kristin Follis — Student

June 7, 2011

Eat my (proverbial) shorts!

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Sun = fun = HUH??

A Linnaeus University tradition, Allkår can be more of a circus than, well, the circus. Photo: Ben Mack

The formula sounds simple enough, but just like those physicists who spend 15 minutes coming up with a theory and the next 15 years figuring out if it’s true, you have a hard time believing the Swedish sun is real. But really, just like the mythical decade known as the nineties, it really does exist.

And with the sun comes perhaps the strangest tradition in the history of Swedish higher education: the Allkårsfestivalen (Allkår Festival for the linguistically challenged).

Can I get a collective “What?!”

I’d love to tell you what it’s all about. I really would. But from what I gleaned through attending the thing eight hours a day for three whole days, all I figured out was this:

  • - Random activities take place with no real set schedule, from baseball to football to water balloon fights. Spontaneity at its finest.
  • - Swedish comedians attempt to retell their jokes in English. While it’s true that every Swede speaks better English than, ahem, the English, something is lost in translation when telling Swedish jokes. Either that, or American humor isn’t as “sophisticated” as the Swedish kind.

    Quick access to free concerts tends to be one of the benefits of living on campus. Photo: Ben Mack

  • - More indie bands perform than you’ll ever see at SXSW. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I was in Austin. And the fact that everyone looks as tragically hip as indie rockers doesn’t help.
  • - Alcohol is consumed in copious amounts. And for what reason? Beats me. Do you need a reason to partake of adult beverages? All I can say is that Merriam-Webster calls the lack of a reason “alcoholism.”

O.K. so I admit I did find a partial explanation as to what Allkår exactly is. According to the official Allkår 2011 Magazine, it’s been a tradition at Linnaeus University for over 20 years, and is organized by Nations Kollegiet (or NK),  a consortium of the various student nations on campus.

Summation: Allkår = giant party organized by a bunch of frats.

But be careful: this isn’t your father’s celebration. It’s like Spring Fling on steroids.

One of the "quieter" moments at Allkår. Photo: Ben Mack

Is this a problem? Not really. It’s part of campus life – in this case, the only campus in Sweden. Sure, other universities might have random boat races, burn giant effigies to celebrate the ancient Mesoazoical Chinese Mughalindu Zoroastrian festival of new beginnings, but they don’t have the likes of Streets of Mars or Dial M for Murder! playing free concerts, outdoor dance parties featuring some of the most famous DJs in Sweden, or – my personal favorite – sausage baseball (you must eat a sausage every time you reach a base, and if you throw up, you’re out).

And the best part of all this? No planning on your part required. Wanna show up in your pajamas? Go for it – your room is only three minutes away anyway.

And besides, at some events you have to wear pajamas. It’s an eight-year-old’s dream. Or as John Belushi might say, welcome to college. It’s the best seven years of your life.

Got a problem with this? Eat my shorts – proverbially, of course. I’ll need them later for beach volleyball.

After a long day (and night) of partying, it's good to know your flat is only a couple of minutes away. Photo: Ben Mack

Ben Mack — Student

May 20, 2011

Taking a hike

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I’m through. Finished. Pooped. Exhausted. Drained. Just plain old tired.

After nine months of studying, I need a little break.

When studying in Sweden, you try to squeeze in vacations where you can. Unlike the U.S., at Linnaeus University there is no designated “finals week.” Classes are ongoing, a rolling schedule that’s sometimes more confusing than a Picasso painting.

And after having no less than four finals within the span of two weeks, I need a break.

So I’m off to Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania, a five-day odyssey that – though it will test the limits of budget travel and human mental endurance – should hopefully prove to be invigorating.

With me I am bringing but a single backpack packed with a change of underwear and sandwiches. I have no travel guides, no maps, and no concrete plans whatsoever other than visiting some friends in Kouvola, a tiny town in southeast Finland whose entire population could fit comfortably inside a Wal-Mart.

Okay, so maybe not every moment in Växjö has been academic...

One of the great advantages of studying abroad for more than one semester is you have more opportunities to meet new people and make new friends all over the world. Seriously, even though until coming to Sweden last August I had never even been outside the United States before, I can now say I have friends in just about every country in Europe.

Here’s the benefits of having friends in many places:

A)    You learn about their culture, particularly their leisure activities. Maybe you’ll find a new hobby.

B)    You get to try new foods. Your taste buds will thank you later.

C)    It saves money on trips overseas.  Why sleep in a five-star hotel when you can crash on a pizza-covered couch?

I haven’t taken a vacation since November, so hopefully this adventure won’t turn out to be such a catastrophe as the last one. But, given the fact that I don’t speak a word of Lithuanian, Latvian, or Finnish, have absolutely no concrete plans whatsoever, and seem to constantly be constantly enveloped in a fog of intense confusion, my hopes aren’t the highest.

But that’s the beauty of travel: you don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s enough to drive an NFL coach mad.

Having friends in many places can save on lodging costs when traveling, and makes for cool photos that have no point whatsoever.

Seize the opportunity when it presents itself. At the very least, it’ll make a sweet dinner conversation later on.

But before I go anywhere, I better get back to packing. You seen my socks?

Ben Mack — Student

May 4, 2011

Sitcom syndrome

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Temptation. Ever dealt with it? You know, it’s that feeling you get every time the weather warms up, or whenever you walk inside H & M. In my case, it’s also what I deal with when I see anything with a combination of the words “free” and “food.”

But there’s another temptation too. And no, it has nothing to do with clubs located on campus, cheap travel to foreign destinations, pool halls, and/or the worldwide phenomenon known as herring.

When abroad, try to meet people who aren't all from your home country.

That temptation, faithful readers, is the temptation to remain complacent. It’s the temptation to not go out of your comfort zone, to only hang out with people who come from the same country, speak the same language, or wear the same brand of skinny jeans as you.

There’s a lot of sad stories out here in Växjö. Students that come to Linnaeus University and only spend time with other students from their home country, never making an effort to meet any Swedes or even learn a word of Swedish. It’s a dark, lonely existence, and unfortunately happens more than you might think.

Sure, going abroad might be scary. Sure, it can be hard to try and learn a new language. And sure, the typical Swede might not exactly be as talkative as , say, the average Italian. I know this sounds horribly cliché, but that fear can be overcome. Because I did it.

Spending time with Swedes is a good way to learn Swedish.

Hey, come closer! Yeah, that’s right: get over here. Now lean over. Closer. Just a little closer. O.K. That’s perfect. Now listen to this. Let me let you in on a little secret: I’m not the only American in Växjö. It’s true. No I’m not lying. But while there are other Americans here, I don’t spend any time with them.

Sounds cruel, doesn’t it? But it’s the truth. The logic is simple: if I wanted to hang out with Americans, I would have stayed in a certain country that happens to have over 300 million of them called America. But in Sweden I prefer to meet, well, Swedes.

Once you take that first step of conquering your fears, everything else seems to fall into place in almost fairy tale-like fashion. O.K. so it’s not quite Cinderella corny, but it’s still pretty cool.

Going out of your comfort zone is vital for success abroad.

Let me give you two different scenarios. Billy and Bob both came to Sweden for a year from a small college in Kansas. Billy didn’t know any Swedish, but went out of his comfort zone, joined a choir, and now speaks Swedish more than he does English.

And Bob… well, when Bob came back to the U.S. and shared his adventures with me in a fictitious Seattle sports bar, I turned to my equally fictitious server and asked if the place served crow. Alas, the kitchen was closed.

Take my advice. Be bold. Go out of your comfort zone. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with what I hereby christen Sitcom Syndrome – the state of being where you’re forced to watch boring reruns on TV because you didn’t take the chance to live life to the fullest.

How’s that “Lone Ranger” box set treating you, cowboy?

Ben Mack — Student

April 28, 2011

Far Away from Home

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Being an international student can be hard sometimes. Whether your gone for six months, 1 year or two years, being away from your family and friends can more difficult than you imagined.

The feeling of homesickness is something most international students get. At some point everyone craves the more familiar like friends, food, pets or family. Sometimes it just feels like it all is so far away.

The holiday’s can make it even more difficult as you remember certain traditions you used to have, family gatherings and home cooked meals. It can also be hard to miss all of those traditions going on at home that you have grown up with for so many years.

The best way to deal with homesickness when you’re an international student in another country is to get out and meet some people. You can even do something that reminds you of home.

Carving the turkey! Photo:Andreas Bergman

This past Easter I took a trip to Sjövde to visit my Swedish family. Being around family, even if they are not your own, is a great way to kick that holiday homesickness. We may not totally speak each others languages, but we all enjoy it nonetheless. Just hanging out and relaxing with my second family makes me feel like I’m back at home.

This visit was especially nice because we tried out some Canadian holiday traditions. In our family, it is very typical for most holidays (Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving) to get together and spend most of the day preparing a turkey and a big holiday feast. The get-together usually involves everyone in and around the kitchen enjoying food and wine, making jokes and having fun.

This year my Swedish family surprised me with a turkey and together we spent the afternoon in the kitchen preparing the turkey and all of the fixings!

A Swedish-Canadian inspired Easter feast! Photo:Andreas Bergman

If you are new to Sweden and don’t yet have any close family, friends, or family of friends there are always lots of chances to meet new people. Most universities have a buddy matching program for exchange students where they match you up with a Swede. Some schools also match you up with families in the region to enhance your ‘Swedish’ experience.

So if your feeling a little homesick, don’t worry, it happens to everyone. Try to take your mind off of it and hang out with some close friends, get our of your apartment and do something. The feeling doesn’t last forever and soon you will be back to normal!

Kristin Follis — Student

April 27, 2011

The finer points of fikas

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The fika. It’s about as synonymous with Sweden as ABBA, meatballs, and Tiger Woods’ ex-wife, and occurs more often than the weather here changes. It’s an integral part of Swedish culture, and is usually one of the first things foreign students experience when they arrive.

The fika is a Swedish institution. Swedes drink more coffee per capita than any other country except Finland.

But what exactly is a fika? What’s so great about it for Swedes to get their shorts all stuck in a bunch? Is it a good thing? Does it have anything to do with IKEA? As a matter of fact, where is the nearest IKEA? Can you recommend something there that would go with my carpet? Could you be the best man at my wedding?

Whoa, slow down there, buddy. Let’s take this one question at a time. Questions three through five have nothing to do with a fika. And unfortunately, I think I have an appointment the day you’re getting married.  Sorry, pal.

But back to the fika. Basically, the word “fika” means a coffee break with friends or family (though if you ask my German-speaking grandpa, it means something else that can’t exactly be printed). It’s an example of nineteenth century Swedish back slang – in which syllables of a word were reversed – that originally came from “kaffi,” an earlier variant of “kaffe” (“coffee”). Nowadays, the fika is an institution enjoyed by everyone with a pulse.

So fine, you say, people just consume empty calories and talk.  And yeah, you’re mostly right. But a fika can also be so much more.

Tired of studying? Have a fika. Want to catch up with friends? Have a fika. Want to schmooze that blonde bombshell you’ve been eyeing but want to take things slowly? Have a fika, son.  And looking for a way to celebrate your “VG” test results?  Then have a fika, Einstein.

The interior parlors of Teleborgs Slott, located on Linnaeus University's campus, are an ideal place to have a fika.

While not necessarily required, food oftentimes enhances the overall fika experience – unless you’re an aspiring supermodel or an individual such as myself who frequently forgets the importance of eating. Typically, fikas are enjoyed with “fikabröd,” a collective term that refers to all kinds of biscuits, cookies, and buns. Baked goods are also a popular choice, as is having the fika at a “konditori,” a coffeehouse/bakery fusion that may just be the greatest innovation in the coffee world since the coffee maker. The important thing, though, is that coffee is consumed – after all, Sweden is number two worldwide in coffee consumption per capita, second only to Finland.

Fikas can be highly intimate affairs – a popular choice at Linnaeus University is Sunday fika in Teleborgs Slott (I know, it’s pretty awesome to have a castle on campus) – but they can also involve more people than a ½-off sock sale at Wal-Mart: in May 2009, a record 3,563 people had a fika in the town of Östersund. Do you know how many sugar cubes that is?

When in Sweden, you will inevitably have a fika, and probably lots of them.  In the 225 days I’ve been here so far, I’ve had thousands. Every time I’ve loved it, though all the caffeine has caused me to stay up a little bit more than I’m normally used to.

But there you have it, the mysteries of the fika revealed. Information has been transmitted, and with this newfound knowledge I suggest you do only one thing: have a fika. Now. Because somewhere in Sweden, someone else already is.

Why not follow the crowd?

Although it is possible, a public restroom in Gothenburg is usually not the best place to have a fika.

Ben Mack — Student

April 7, 2011