Marcela’s Journals

September 30, 2024

When You Blink

September has been interesting to say the least. A lot happened, but I’ll try to keep these as short and entertaining as I can, ok? So, if you’re still with me let’s get to it!

First week, my host family and I said goodbye to my host sister at the Copenhagen Airport and she’s now in beautiful Italia. Shout out to you Hanna!

”Welcome to Sweden“ is probably the phrase I heard the most this month. Every time I’d mention a cultural difference to my friends, family, or pretty much anyone, that is the only and best answer I’d get.

Speaking of which, I haven’t really felt like the stereotypical American abroad UNTIL one day my class was supposed to attend an outdoor play, but it started to rain heavily, and the air was just crazy as it always is here in Skåne…long story short, the rain did not stop anyone or anything for the plan to carry on as intended. When I was already thinking the play would get canceled (as it would’ve in the U.S.) both thespians and staff just said, “the show must continue” and moved on with it.

Lesson learned: “Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder” (there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing)

I casually went to Copenhagen again the same week with my class for a fieldtrip. It was such a funny experience as some Swedes see Danes in a way, I’ve heard, Danes see Swedes. Apparently, they both think the other country’s language sounds as if someone had a potato in their mouth when speaking, which sounds silly to me as both languages are relatively similar. The trip had as much laughter as it had pictures to remember (plus the ones we needed for an assignment, but that\'s another story). I also realized that field trips and excursions like these are more common here than in the U.S., perhaps having the same classes with the same people makes it possible to be that way. 

As of school here I’ll leave some bullet points that briefly summarizes and highlights the system as well as its differences to both schools in Mexico and the U.S. (which are also different to one another):

• Gymnasium/gymnasieskola is from 10th-12th grade (students tend to start when they’re 16 and graduate when they’re 19) it is also voluntary to attend.
• You apply to the school and a “line of study” based on a point system.
• The “line of study” determines the “core classes” each student will take every year which are also tied to said line. Think of it as a major in college (mine is humanities!) 
• Every day there’s a different schedule (in the sense that every Monday is the same and so on)
• Students study more subjects per school year here than in the U.S. (I’d take 6 there) the number may vary per student, but in my case, I’m taking 9 different classes.
• At least in my case, I don’t take more than 4 classes a day, and they’re all longer than an hour.
• Teachers are called by their first name, which may shock many Americans, but this is the same in Mexico, so I wasn’t too shocked when I found out.
• Students get monthly financial aid from the state as part of the government’s education policy.
• NO BACKBACKS, almost everyone uses a handbag or something alike (I have a friend who calls me a backpack kid as a joke since that is what I bring and she finds it very American, which I find hilarious)

I also got to see my inbound friends in two different occasions this month. The first was at a district meeting, where everyone from district 2395 gathered in Malmö. The second was at our first rotary trip in Göteborg, the 2^nd largest city in Sweden. We toured around the city, and of course we did the mandatory visit of the city to the Liseberg amusement park, the largest in Sweden and most visited in Scandinavia.

Besides that, I did the famous presentation that every RYE student does to their Host Rotary Club. I don’t know whether I was expecting something or not, but it definitely went better than I could ever imagine. I thank my Sponsoring District 6900 in the U.S. for all their support and preparation for it, as well as my Host Club for all their interest and curiosity about what I can bring to the table.

And to wrap things up, since I recommended a Swedish music album last time, it is only fair that I do so again for those interested. This time it is Cruel Town by Broder Daniel (also known as BD). Hope you enjoy listening to it! And until you hear from me again, take care and stay safe!

Greetings from Sverige, vi ses snart!