My classes have finally started here in Jonkoping, and the system of education here is extremely different to how Penn State is run. Instead of having all of our courses at the same time, we do one class at a time, for a shorter and more focused period of time. My first class is called Intercultural Encounters, and my teacher Ulla is amazing. Today was our second lecture, and she always has a story for everything we talk about. The course is focused on finding out about yourself and your fellow classmates, and we have a very diverse group of students. The majority of the class is the group of students from my CIRT program, however we also have new members of the class from Sweden, Holland, Hungary and Singapore. Though we only have the class scheduled three times a week, we have scheduled time to meet with fellow classmates and learn more about their cultures, their identities and their beliefs. I am confident that the course will be very useful to my future as a teacher, being able to not only learn more about other cultures, but to embrace the differences that every single student in my class practices. It’s interesting to learn that even Penn State students from my group have extremely different values and upbringing to my own.

            At the same time that I take these courses, the university has also scheduled a beginner Swedish for the CIRT students. It doesn’t start until next week, but I am anxious to learn more of the language. Although I have already been through a similar experience of not understanding the language (when I was younger and living in Switzerland), I am still uncomfortable not being able to understand what is being said to me. I feel like the most common phrase I have been saying is: “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Swedish!” It will be nice to hopefully learn some basic phrases and be able to get along with a normal conversation on the street or at the grocery store. We had a basic introductory course to Swedish in England, however it was difficult to remember most of the things that were taught to us.

            Tomorrow, I look forward to a few things that I have planned. First of all, we do not have class tomorrow, so I definitely am looking forward to sleeping in a little. But most importantly, I have my first “interview” with a girl from my Intercultural Encounters course. Her name is Johanna, and she is from Sweden. I have been sitting in the caf� section of the library for about an hour now, working on questions that I can ask her. It will be interesting to learn a little bit more about Swedish culture and traditions, although I am also nervous as to what she may ask me. It seems as though a lot of things we have had to discuss or write about so far and not common public knowledge in America. For example, for one assignment that was due today, we had to discuss our socio-economic status with the class. I have never really been asked to talk about my families social class or status and I, along with the other Americans, felt somewhat uncomfortable talking about it today. I have always been extremely privileged in my life to have a successful family, and have been able to participate in many activities, and been given incredible opportunities due to the comfort of my family situation, however it seems almost bragging to discuss this in class. I suppose this is one of those infamous “cultural differences” that will be discussed in further depth in my class.

            Tomorrow night, I will also get a little taste of home by attending my first Swedish ice hockey game! I am so excited, because I think next to my family and Penn State events, the thing I miss the most from home are my almost daily viewings of the Pittsburgh Penguin games. I was able to download the NHL application onto my cell phone before I left (thank goodness!) so that I could keep up to date on my Penguins, but I miss the atmosphere of actually watching the game. Of course, I am certain I won’t understand a single word of the game, it will be nice to see the actions of the game.

            On another sports note… PITTSBURGH’S GOIN’ TO THE SUPERBOWL! My parents were actually at the playoff game that advanced us forward into the Superbowl, as we try to capture our 7^th Superbowl win, and become solidified as the City of Champions. Luckily, there are a few local pubs that encourage sports, and one pub downtown will be airing the game (although I am sure with the time difference it will play pretty late at night, but I don’t care because this is extremely important!) My mom is even sending over my Roethlisburger jersey and it should arrive by mid-next week!

            Anyways, that’s it for now… until next time… Peace, Love and STEELERS!

OH AND PLA!!! KELSEY IS COMING TO VISIT THIS WEEKEND!!!! 🙂

Location: jonkoping, Sweden