POLAR BEAR ADVENTURES

Questions, suggestions, answers!

2010-03-04T07:14:00.001-06:00

So, I sit here on a three and a half hour train ride back from Stockholm to my new little town of Karlstad. Obviously there’s really not much to do. I realize however that I haven’t been updating as often as I should, or had planned, but, I’d like to do this now sitting here on the internet-free (And therefore distraction free) SJ Intercity 7:15 Sthlm - Karlstad. It’s been just around five months now, I do indeed speak Swedish, I have a large amount of Swedish friends in my first school, I have a great relationship with my second host family, and things seem to be going rather well with the new family. Now I’m going to answer a few questions I had that were never really answered by any of the AFS information or volunteers, returnees or else wise.

What’s it like to go on exchange with AFS?
Well, I wouldn’t trade this year for much in the world, but there are some downfalls and peaks this year. Things have seemed to gone atypically for me. I’ve had to change families twice (maybe three) times, change towns twice and schools twice. I can’t express how angry I felt about AFS at the time when all of this was going on. Volunteers didn’t have anything planned ahead of time, I was left hanging as one of the last people to know things, and I found the families through the help of some teachers and people at the school instead of having one from AFS. So, I guess I can say everything is a bit last minute and…and I don’t know, this year my life seems to be out of my hands. Overall though it’s fantastic if you look at it as such. I’ve learned a new language in the span of three months, and now speak it well too! (So say those who have heard me, disagree I might) I have lifelong friends around the world, I’ve learned to live (basically) on my own, and I’ve realized a few things about myself on the way. I think each country can help you to learn things differently, so I can’t promise they’ll always be the best, but, for now it’s good.

What would you suggest bringing?
Laptop. No really, I think it’s something really important to have with you for the purposes of long journeys like this one. Music, games, internet if you’re traveling by bus. I suggest installing MSN, Skype and a browser better than IE before you go. If you haven’t already. CLOTHES. There was a 20kg limit on our baggage, and the usual two carry on bag limit. So I brought clothes I liked, wore a lot, and was still under the limit. However, as soon as I got here I realized that I’d brought the wrong type ending up where I was! Not fun. Research the climate of the country if you’re not so sure where you’ll end up. It’s better to have a vague idea and cover all the basics then end up having to buy new clothes/having some sent from home.

Can you take off school?
Yes and no. If you go to Europe, there a lot more lax about being absent or being tardy. So Yes you could Probably get away with missing one or two days because you’re sick or feeling miserable (Unless your homesick, then you Need to go to school and get yourself involved in the community and family, it’s the Only thing that makes you feel better.) It IS okay to get sick though. And it’s Okay to feel a little lost, but as an exchange student, as a person that wants to get along, you Have to still give it your best and Go to school and GET INVOLVED! You get into this what you put into it, AFS or Rotary or EF or any other programme. If you stay home, stay on the computer talking to those back home, don’t try to get along with your family, don’t put the effort into the language No, you’re not going to fit in, No, it’s not going to be cool at home, No, you’re Not going to have a good time.

That being said…
You don’t have to spend every waking minute with someone/the family. Yes, it’s an exchange year, yes, you should want to fit in, but it’s also a Year of your life, you Have to have Some time to yourself!

How is it when you arrive with your family? (Last minute or not)
Awkward. I’ve been welcomed warmly, shown my room, and told to unpack before we had dinner/lunch three times, they’ve all been awkward. It’ll be this way for a week or so until you start falling into the routine.

I can’t really think of any more advice off hand right now, I have a list at home somewhere specifically for Sweden…. I’ll (possibly) Put it in another post. For now this’ll just continue to be an update.

Five months, I speak Swedish, I understand most, I’m confident that studying in university here would indeed be a good idea. I moved families in October to Ingela and Staffan and their dog Alva in Sunne, continued to go to Broby Grafiska, they were fantastic, and I’m pretty positive we got along well. But they were going on a long holiday in March and the volunteers figured it’d be best to find me a new family early so I could adjust better. So, now in February (last weekend (6th/7th) actually) I moved into another family, Mama Ulrike, Pappa Bola, Older brother Erik and younger brother Filip. As well as two others I haven’t met. They’re really really nice and have already done everything they can to help me adjust to a new house, town and school. They even understood when I was having issues with the town I was placed in, offering more help and endless support. I’m not quite sure how long I’ll be staying there, but at least I bought paints and am starting to get some done!

I’ve (obviously) started a different school, this time in the art and sculpture line instead of graphic media production. Decent people, reminds me a lot more like a normal public school though. I already miss Broby and Sunne even though it’s only a 45 minute train away. I now take the bus to school every day, changing at the centrum. I can manage to get To school without any issues, but it’s always on the way back home that I’m not sure… The first day of school I got off two km or so away from where I was supposed to and had to walk in the freezing cold xD. Yes I know it’s not a big deal, just shows my lovely navigational skills (I was able to find my way back!)

Why oh why was I in Stockholm? Most of you know, but not all, that I have a lovely lovely boyfriend studying there. No, he’s not an exchange student, he’s Swedish, from the Stockholm area. Thanks to AFS I ended up having to meet his family this weekend, Not an unreasonable request, just a little awkward. His mom was lovely, and I didn’t quite meet most of his family since the two youngest boys were busy playing computer games. My battery is dying though, so I’m going to end this here since there’s not all that much going on at the moment anyhow that I haven’t already covered.

Hej då! Jag saknar er!!!
Bye! I miss you guys!!! (not too much of course)
-Kaity

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

So! Even though I haven’t gotten the post I’d written on the train up before now, I wanted to write something again. Some advice, Some news, Some something. Not quite sure how well written this will be though!

Questions questions questions! ASK QUESTIONS!
When you arrive at your new country (I’m going to be writing about how we arrived in Sweden) You’ll be a mixture of exhausted and over the moon! You get off the plane, walk into the unfamiliar airport and suddenly you hear a new language, and even though you left in the early afternoon, it’s 9am here and people are ready to start the day! Walking through customs to claim the baggage was the easy part, you can stay relatively calm. However, the moment you’re through the door and you see the AFS volunteers there to pick you up there’s nothing more that I can say. It’s really “Wow, I’m Here. It wasn’t a scam, it was a dream, I’m here” And you can start worrying about the language, school and your host family! That being said, before you Get to all those things, you get a nifty little arrival camp. For the US students, the Swedish arrival camp was infinitely better than the departure orientation. You get a book which.. Well, honestly didn’t have so many useful tips. Partially because there were things that really Weren’t useful, or seemed outdated, and partially because once fed up with reading six giant blocks of text with nothing useful, you don’t continue reading! You probably should. You’ll most likely have plenty of time on the way to your new family! They also play games, do a (very) small but useful language orientation, and they sit you down in a group and try and talk and orient you with how Swedish life is. They also feed you. A lot. No seriously. Waaay too much. Good food though, and very Swedish. But that was a sidetrack, anyway… This orientation on Swedish youth and culture, DON’T SIT THERE SILENTLY AND AWKWARDLY ASK THE QUESTIONS!!! The volunteers are open, and even if it seems like a stupid question, it’s really important to find these things out anyway!

I guess that’s really all I had to say for today in the way of suggestions. I Will get that list out sometime soon … Maybe it’ll be used in the orientation book when you guys come :D

Oh well, So, there’s this thing called Sportslov here in Sweden. We get a week off to well, play sports. It’s nice. I ended up here in Stockholm for the week. It’s nice J I know I haven’t been taking many pictures recently, but I’ll take and upload some soon! For now there’s a couple on face book :P

-Kate

PS. Send me some questions future Swedish AFSers!

Beautiful Thai Brides and Racism

2009-09-05T10:22:00.003-05:00

Why do I bring this up? Because I get this ad [Or Russian, or Baltic, Or Chinese etc etc] On almost Every page I visit on the web here. I mentioned it to people here and even though They think it's odd, it actually happens. My host mother told me last night that there aren't so many here in Sunne, but there are a few that go to Thailand, find wives and bring them back. A little odd in my opinion, but, who am I to judge : o Oh, Right. A human being XD Either way. Another thing that's been kind of proding the back of my skull recently is that racism still exists here.

Not in the "Oh it's just because they're the backwards people from Arkansas" type of way either. I mean, practically my whole school is white, and the N-word is still applicable [Not that I've heard anyone say it with malice intended in the least bit] It's just really... Interesting I guess.

SO! Onto other things.
In School I can use any pages I want 8D There are no filters and the teacher doesn't come around to make sure you're doing your work and hover over your shoulder constantly. I know I'm going to a special school, but I really think that this is the way to go as far as schooling. The teachers actually Know what they're talking about, All of them, not just a few. Crazy right?

I made friends the first week I was at this school, and now I think I actually have a rather large amount of them, so I'm really hoping I can stay in Sunne, but, i guess that's up to fate! Basically I'm trying to write that I'm having a really good time, and once my computer stops giving me issues with uploading photos to facebook and stuff you'll see all of them :]

Hej!!

2009-08-28T10:51:00.002-05:00

So, it's been about a week now, and this will be my first weekend at 'home'.
I know people say that it's difficult to say goodbye to family usually, but I only had about one day of 'butterflies' before I realized that I would see them in just a year! Not even! So what's the point of feeling anxious?
So, I went out to dinner with all the relatives, was pretty fun, good food :] Pictures of the party my Aunts and Uncles threw.
Then after the orientation in NY, where I met many cool people going to the same area-ish in Europe, we took off at 4pm-ish and landed in Arlanda at 7am, The volunteers were/are all very cool people who talked a little bit about what we were doing.

We stayed in some Gorgeous cabins for Friday [we weren't allowed to take naps :[ ] to Sunday afternoon, owned by a very tall, very.... interesting man who told us stories about the place and was very nice to all of us. Well, by Sunday I was exhausted from all the flirting I'd done with the hot Swedish volunteers [I Am joking...OR AM I!? DUN DUN DUUUUN. No really I'm just kidding, I only threatened to flirt... one of them happened to be very much my type XD ANYWAY] So, Sunday we took a bus from the camp into Stockholm, got off at the centre station there to ride a train into Karlstad where I was Supposed to switch trains, however, the local head volunteers were there to drive me :] So what would have been a two hour-ish trip that I would have had to change trains Again, turned into a very easy 45 minute drive in which I was informed about Sweden a lot. Needless to say, I basically ate dinner and crashed.

Which brings me to my host family!
There is Lotta, who is my host mother, the Doctor here in Sunne. One daughter is staying in Costa Rica,and her older son and daughter have already moved out from this house. Which leaves me, three cats, two dogs, and something like 15 horses or so. Oh, plus the guinea pigs, but they're scared of me XD

My first week was actually really fun, even though it's only been five days, and I've had Swedish lessons in the middle of the day [which requires walking a block or so to the other highschool in the middle of classes xD] I've already made [what I hope to be] friends in my class and am enrolled in Brobygrafiska, in the graphic design course.

The schools here, when compared with the US are just SO hugely different! I've been told there are about 500 students in this school and there are just six or seven in one of my classes, which I think is crazy cool. In school, we call the teachers by their first names and everyone seems to be on a friends basis with them. Mobiles, MP3players and etc are all Allowed On, in class as long as you're not being obnoxious with it. I think that has to be the biggest difference. There's RESPECT here, a lot of it for everyone. Different or not. Which is Why they can get away with less rules I think.

What else.. what else... well, the weather is rainy, which I don't mind, but I wish I had a small umbrella when it really randomly starts to pour.

I can't really think of much to actually talk about, but I will leave you with some pictures :]

Hej Do!

I got my host family information!

2009-08-17T22:23:00.003-05:00

Well, Welcome Family anyway.... Little sad...I thought it was a permanent family, but oh well! We'll see what happens!
So! I will be spending the first Month of my trip with the Birkebro family in Kil, Sweden and be going to Broby Grafiska [A graphic design school in Sunne] :]

Leaving in three days :]

2009-08-17T21:06:00.004-05:00

So, I'm finally up here in NJ. The flight was bordering disastrous. But, we got here in one piece, and the second flight from ATL to NWK was a little better. I apparently can't upload all the pictures to blogger, so they'll be on my facebook I guess.

It looks like a cave 8D
Anyway, when I got here we headed over to my aunt's [this is three days no sleep mind you] and there was a nice sized party waiting for us there. Jumped in the pool, hung out with some people, had some fun :]

Some people I didn't know, some family. We went back to the hotel and I passed out ;D Got a full ten hours sleep or so, the first time I've gone to sleep at 9:30 since I was six I think. XD. Anyway, spent the bulk of today with my Grandmother, and then saw my aunts and uncles for a last dinner with them I guess.
Anyway, I won't upload their pictures unless I get permission, because the next thing I'll be yelled at for putting up a 'bad picture' >/

Also, It's time to sleep!
-Kaity

HAH! I KNOW WHERE I'M STAYING!!!

2009-08-14T15:03:00.002-05:00

This is from the lovely Ms. S. Coleman who has so far only brought me good news![I don't know if she's like her name to be posted in full, but she's my advisor person]
"TERRIFIC NEWS!

AFS Sweden has let us know Kaitlyn's hostfamily is about to complete their paperwork. I will be in-touch as soon as it is done and their information has been put forward.

They also confirmed that her host community will be OSTRA AMTERVIK, VARMLAND, [I'm positive I know people there....I'm watching you Robin...] and here is a link to her high school (it is a graphic design school...how exciting is that!)

-link-"

:DDDDDD So, it seems as if everything is falling in place, I have a host family, my school is going to accept me... Not sure what programme I'll go into though o_o; It's a cool school but... graphic design? My awesome art skillz....Not a great combo XD But there's a leadership type thing, so maybe that! 8D

Also, I leave in two days to NJ to visit relatives and seven until Sweden!!!

SURPRISE!

2009-08-02T03:55:00.003-05:00

Well, it wasn't really, but it was a fun party :] And day.
A couple of my friends came over to my friend Jae's pool and we spent the day partying there. Everything was themed for Sweden, and Megan got me a polar bear to protect me from all the wild ones roaming the streets of Stockholm :P
Anyway, After the party officially ended, I wound up hanging out with everyone who couldn't make it. Resulting in Yesi, Myself, Eric[not my brother] and Eddy grabbing energy drinks and a giant bag of candy because the theater was closed. It was actually really awesome :3
I also probably won't sleep for a while XD

Some pictures :]

2009-07-30T00:33:00.000-05:00

I find it pretty funny that the thing that jogged my memory of it being Two weeks before I leave [and partially why I'm writing ANOTHER post so quickly xP] is getting a universal adapter, it has plugs for all over the world ;D.

Yes, I know I'm a nerd :P Also, Europeans have that weird plug ^
Anyway, the other thing I thought was that you might like to see some parts of Sweden, while I didn't take these [as I'm not there yet :P] I have permission to post them :]

The first is Trollhättan canal, the second and third are a friend's backyard, but no, I don't remember where they live xP
Just thought you'd enjoy ;D

It seems pretty surreal

2009-07-27T20:42:00.002-05:00

At first, I was a Freshman and looking around on the web, I came across AFS, which looked fairly reputable, and gave it a chance, signed up for the booklet for the hell of it.
I talked to my parent's about it, who talked it over and Actually gave me a shot at it [something which really shocked me :P]
Well, they paid the pre-application fee, another step that excited me. I got the application information in the mail, I could probably scream in happiness even Just at that point.
After a few months, the Final application was finished and sent in, I couldn't really believe it, they were letting me go across the world on my own.
I was accepted, I went to the orientation, my passport came, my visa was accepted, I was guaranteed admission. This was all within the time period of a month or two.
And now I'm here, 18 days [about two and a half weeks] from getting on the plane in Newark and landing in Sweden for a life of who knows what. [Yes, I Am washing my sheets :P]
[I also really need to use a real camera XD]

I'm hanging out with my friends a lot just before I go, I'll talk with my family in NJ when I'm up there literally JUST before I go, Maybe I'll even have a party to talk with friends before I leave.
Either way, It doesn't FEEL like I'm leaving, aside from the giant duffel bag of clothes and things crowding up my floor...Which I still actually have to go through and decide exactly what I want and what I need.

Well, Adjö så länge!*
I need to make my bed and such...

* There you go Robin, corrected just for you ;D
NOW TEACH ME SWEDISH -hinthint-

No host family, No welcome family, 29 days!

2009-07-21T09:07:00.000-05:00

So, it's a little less than four weeks before I'm on my plane to Sweden for the 09/10 year and I am Beyond excited and counting every minute until I hit Stockholm. I'm comfortable with 'going with the flow' and I'm pretty okay packing light and just picking up what I can't find here, there.

The Only issue I have is that I Still don't know my host family! Or a welcome family! I'm not really worried about not having a place to stay, but my entire family is pestering me about it, and it Would be nice to know what to pack, what gifts to bring, what to expect and etc. I don't know what I'm going to do if I don't find out soon. they said four to six weeks before I left!

Aside from that, I don't understand the flight itentirary either.

NWK-Newark, New York

Okay, Fine and dandy but...

My orientation will be held at a hotel just outside of JFK....

Does this make Any sense?

I never thought..

2009-06-25T06:25:00.000-05:00

I'd be feeling this nervous.
At first I was just excited, my dream had come true, been realized.
But I've realized I'm eight weeks away from traveling halfway around the world WithOUT knowing what people I'm going to be staying with, or even Where.
I don't speak the language and I won't have any family to lament to.
Don't even come close to getting me wrong.
I'm EXTREMELY excited and anxious to go.
I can't believe I have the type of parent's who trust me this much and are allowing me to do this, not to mention the absolute luck I have as far as getting in.
I think Sweden will be fantastic no matter whether it differs from what I thought or not, and I'm going to do my damndest to get the best out of this as I can.
It's not better, it's not worse, it's just different.
But that still leaves me as the non-Swedish speaker in a Swedish high-school, and apparently the weird American no one wants in their homes.
I Can't wait to go on one hand, the time of my life.
And on the other, I'm scared to leave home as the deadline nears.
With each big leap accomplishment in the application process I got more and more excited, and now, along with that I'm getting more and more nervous.
But, I'm ready to take the plunge.
[Once I find a duffle bag of course :P]

Well, not in Sweden yet, but Wtf?

2009-06-14T05:26:00.000-05:00

N. Korea... is trying to declare war, for no reason at all.
they have issues.

On a [Happier] side-note NINE MORE WEEKS!

THEY FINALLY CAME!

2009-05-30T19:30:00.000-05:00

So, On the AFS website they have the spot for 2009 AFSers to click for information about their country and visa information.

It's taken FOREVER for the links for the program information to even exist. AND NOW THEY HAVE! : D

On a side note : seventy three days until I leave.
I've started going through my stuff finally... My room will begin to empty out... eventually XD

Highest temperature ever recorded in Sweden: 94F
High of today in Stockholm Sweden: 50F

6 Day weather forcast:
Forecast
next 6 days

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Weather:
Description:	Mostly sunny. Pleasantly warm.	Light rain. Afternoon clouds. Mild.	Lots of rain. Mostly cloudy. Mild.	Morning clouds. Mild.	A few showers. Broken clouds. Mild.	Afternoon clouds. Mild.
Low temperature:	50 °F	45 °F	42 °F	41 °F	42 °F	42 °F
High temperature:	70 °F	59 °F	55 °F	54 °F	55 °F	55 °F
Comfort level:	77 °F	55 °F	50 °F	49 °F	51 °F	52 °F
Wind Speed:	4 mph	17 mph	16 mph	20 mph	14 mph	10 mph
Wind Direction:
Humidity:	46%	85%	87%	62%	61%	57%
UV Index:	3 (Moderate)	0 (Low)	0 (Low)	3 (Moderate)	3 (Moderate)	3 (Moderate)
Chance of Rain:	0%	44%	83%	32%	37%	10%
Amount Rain:	-	0.1 "	0.4 "	-	0.1 "	-

I'll post something later today if I find anything interesting.

-Kaity

Ten Fun Facts about Sweden! ;D

2009-05-09T22:20:00.000-05:00

[ Fact 1 ]
The strongest girl in the world is Swedish!
Pippi Longstocking is the heroine in the most famous children's books in Sweden. These books were written by Astrid Lindgren and are loved by children (and adults) all over the world. They have been translated into 76 languages.

[ Fact 2 ]
All the world's flowers are Swedish!
Carolus Linnaeus – better known in the U.S. as Carl von Linné – was the first individual to successfully classify all the plants (and animals) of the world into different species and families. He wrote the epoch-making book Systema Nature (The System of Nature) in 1735, which is still being used by botanists and zoologists today!

[ Fact 3 ]
Mysterious Moose Tracks.
A popular souvenir is the road sign for moose-crossing. Every year a huge number of these signs are stolen from Swedish roads.

[ Fact 4 ]
Swedes are known for their Innovations.
Swedish Inventions include:
– The perfected the design of the zipper (Gideon Sundbäck).
– The marine propeller (John Ericsson).

[This next one makes me laugh]
– The refrigerator (Carl Munters and Baltzar von Platen).
– The computer mouse (Håkan Lans).
– The pace-maker (Rune Elmqvist).

[ Fact 5 ]
Swedish prize makes the biggest bang!
The Nobel Prize Ceremonies are held in Sweden and Norway every year on December 10th. The Nobel Prizes were founded by the Swedish inventor and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite in 1866.

[ Fact 6 ]
MMmmm! Yummy!
The favorite food in Sweden is usually meatballs with potatoes and lingonberry sauce. Swedish pancakes are also a favorite.

[ Fact 7 ]
Mamma Mia! Sweden is full of music!
Sweden has produced many famous musicians and musical groups over the years. ABBA, The Hives, Millencollin, The Cardigans, Kent, and Robyn to name a few. [They forget all the supercool ones...]

[ Fact 8 ]
Love to Shop?
IKEA and H&M are both modern Swedish retail shops.

[ Fact 9 ]
Would you like to live like royalty?
You can visit Sweden's Ice Hotel, which often resembles a palace, and spend a night or two in this winter wonderland.

[ Fact 10 ]
Sweden is the land of the Midnight Sun!
Every year, Swedes celebrate Midsummer (Midsommar) on the twenty-third of June. On this longest day, in many parts of Sweden the sun never sets.

[-sniffles- I'll miss it D: ]

Sources: Swedish Institute, Virtual Tourist