Memorable days with our Swedish mates

DEC

11

Tuesday, the fourth of december was the day when our guests from Sweden were officially present in our college, though they arrived in Goa on the second of december.
The day started with yoga. All were in time since everyone was excited to experience something new.It was very refreshing though.
At about 11.00 am was the welcome function. We, along with the ones who will be hosting the students from

Tullinge gymnasium organised the function.We were a bit nervous at the start but more then that were excited. This was one of our opportuniy to show them the goan and indian culture. We had organised events like fashion show, variety of dances and song performances.

After the programme we had our lunch and set out to visit the NUSI MARITIME ACADEMY located in assolna. National union seafarers of india abbreviated as NUSI. It was establised in 1992 with the objective of training candidates for a career in the merchant navi with appropriate skills and knowledge.
As we arrived there, we were accompanied by of their officers who took us around for a tour of the academy.First we went to the pool area where the students were in progress of their training. They were taught the different technique by which they can swim and save theirs as well as the passengers life whenever encountered by danger. Next we moved on to the fire fighting deparment. There were candidates who were taught to hold and use the fire hose.

Later we had a glance at the classrooms and the labs. After the tour we were served cupcakes and juice. To our surprise it was prepared by the students studing there.

At about 6.00 pm we reached back to college and them to our homes.

The Student life in Sweden

In my summer in Sweden  I learnt a lot of new things  . Out of the many wonderful  things I have learnt from the people and the culture of Sweden the  most important  value I have learnt is the importance to maintain a balance in your life . I have learnt that my life shouldn’t just revolve around my studies but instead I should have an active social life too.

The student life of Sweden reflects that value ..After attending classes with the Swedes I have concluded that the student life in Sweden is much easier and less stressful  compared to the one lead by us students in Goa .The swedish students who were a part of the exchange programme were in higher secondary,  I remember the time when I was so stressed in my 12^th standard  , I was nearly on my toes all the time ,but even though unlike us the grades they get now  insure their entry into a college ,the Swedes  are in no pressure whatsoever , they all seem to possess a chilled out  attitude ,which helps them to concentrate more on their studies and less on the worrying for their future .Their higher secondary generally is of three years where in the portion is evenly distributed , plus they can choose whichever subjects or  field they want to be in , they generally enter college at the age of 19 or 20 .

Another  remarkable thing I have observed is how independent the students are from  a very young age ,they get up early in the morning by themselves ,prepare their own breakfast since they have working parents ,get ready and they are out of their homes in time .Swedes in general are very punctual , they treasure time .After that they travel to their schools with the help of a very efficient public transport ,which is always on time too and start their lectures with a smile on their faces .

Right from the higher secondary level they are given the choice to choose their desired stream ,their streams are Business study programme ,Care and treatment programme ,and Natural science programme .So they are qualified enough to get a job immediately after their graduation .Every subject is chosen willingly and the medium of instruction up to high secondary level is Swedish ,proving that they value their national language and mind you majority of them can speak fluent English . Every subject Is chosen by the student  willingly and as per their interest  and so the so they enjoy every minute of their school life .

Another aspect of their school life  in Sweden I envy is the excellent rapport  shared by the students with their teachers .Their teachers are the students best friends  in school  ,there is so much positivity and humor in their daily classes , the students and the teachers  are on   first name bases and the share everything with their teachers the teachers have no qualms in sharing their life experiences with their students ,which strengthens the bond between the student  and the teacher .

As I said earlier the Swedes believe in giving equal importance to educational and extracurricular activities .Their school ends by 2 or 3  in the afternoon after that they indulge either into their favorite sport or just go into the city and hang out with friends in a café, in their weekends instead of lazing around they indulge into activities such as hiking or skiing or,skating .

Another thing I learnt about the student life in Sweden is that ,as an individual’s they don’t compete against each other in class instead they compete against their own self ,Each time they get their grades they compare these grades to their previous grades and try to improve accordingly Nobody has the desire to stand first instead they all desire the overall progress of the entire class ,Such an attitude has lead the Swedes to  have a friendly environment in class, and develop unity among each other.

I hope some day Goa too can try to develop these values in their educational systems, I would definitely like to take the initiative so that our school life can be even better . Nevertheless I am so grateful to my college Smt. Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts and Science for giving me this once in a life time opportunity. Every step of this journey has been a learning experience. I will always cherish these memories.

                                                  Leonie   Fernandes

SyBsc

Sweden: A Dream Come True!

I’ve always believed that dreams are one of the major steps to achieve your goal. Everything starts with a dream, to a tiny wish and then to an overwhelming desire. For me it was curiosity and the thirst for adventure that gave a spark to my dream that started as a little girl; a dream to visit another country and have a real taste of their lifestyle. This dream turned into a wish as I was applying for my XIth admissions at Smt. Parvathibai Chowgule College, last year. It was a student exchange programme to Sweden!

Sweden? I thought to myself…..It’s not a very usual country that we would have relatives and friends who have been there. What are the people like? What is their cuisine like?  Many more questions started popping up in my mind and I pondered for a moment. Challenges are one of the aspects of a dream. Without them, one wouldn’t be able to move on in life. At least it wouldn’t be that big of a challenge as the Swedish students would be visiting us before we go to t Sweden, so we would have a good idea of everything. Once the Swedish students were here it was like we’d known each other for years! They were all so friendly, outgoing and straightforward. And all of them loved the sunshine that Goa is blessed with. In the beginning I felt it was really weird to like the sun and to enjoy being outside especially in the scorching heat. It was only once I reached Sweden that I realized the importance of it and why our Swedish friends went so crazy over it in Goa. It was around eight degrees Celsius when we were in Sweden, which was cold for most of us. I guess it was the temperature in the end that helped us in maintaining our stamina and permitted us to do a lot during our short stay. Being spring time we were fortunate enough to have an opportunity to explore Sweden’s lush green forests filled with massive trees, a delicious variety of berries and beautiful flowers. It was also a time when people do up their gardens after the winter, by planting fruit saplings which would bear fruit during the summer.  Usually when we visit another country it’s very obvious that one would live in the hotel, but being hosted by a Swedish family was one of the bonus features of the exchange programme. Knowing their way of life and the bond between each member of the family was the most memorable of them all.

Everybody lives in either a small wooden house or an apartment. They all try to use the minimum of private transport and  travel by either a bus or the metro that is available at all places and at all times. In addition, students are provided with access cards by their respective educational institutions that provide easy and free access to all public transportation facilities. Their government gives major importance to promote a high level of education to their students, as they have free education in whatever domain they choose and to whichever level they desire to go up to. It is possible to aid their students to this extent for the simple reason of having a suitable population and I strongly feel India too can provide this to its students only if we give importance to it rather than other things. Another aspect that touched me during this trip were the elderly Swedish people and their view of old age. They are as active as everyone else and strongly feel that old age is one of the best phases of life as one can accomplish all the things you wanted to do but never had the time for it like visiting

all the possible places of the world.  

This entire experience shall be cherished by all of us for a life time. A dream come true for me! And I guess that’s just the crazy thing about every dream! That once you accomplish a dream you thought you couldn’t, the feeling of achievement is so strong that the next dream turns out more challenging and shall be full of surprises…

Rosanne Barreto

Golden memories with my Swedish Family...!!! :D :D

Dinner at Sofias dads place……

From the left…. Sofia, her dad Thomas, her sister in law Anna and two children, her sister Helena and her mum Gunnel

Sofias brother Johan and family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so glad that I got an opportunity to live with my Swedish family….. they were all wonderful J We had lovely times together and I will always cherish those memories. I will always value the time that each and everyone of them made for me, whether it was at home or to attend any function it made things even more special for me. The concept of living in the families of the student as decided by the schools was one of the best things in this entire exchange programme as we got to know our student as well as their family and their ways of living which I feel in most of the aspects is very similar to ours. We all mingled well and became the best of friends and just could not let go.

Dinner at Sofias mums place (where I stayed)

Preparing yuuummmyyy food...!!!!!!!! :D :D

From the left….. Sofias mums Best friend, sofias dad, Sofias best Friend…Sofia and Me

My Swedish Sisters…. Sofia and Helena

Thankyou so much for being sooo good to me… I miss you both alooot……!!!!!!!!!!!!

My room...!!! :)

A photoframe that i made for Sofia as a gift...!!!

Dishes that Sofia and i cooked....!!! :D :D

Chocolate Balls

Salad Pasta

My Swedish sisters favourite....!!!!!

Sofia Campbell Westlind….. :D :D:D…..My exchange student and my best friend. An amazing person that I ever  met. Full of excitement, mischief and fun yet very systematic and punctual in her work. I had the best time with her and her family it never felt away from home. She always took extra care of me what i could eat and drink and kept me away from things that I was allergic to or could not eat. We had a lovveellyy time travelling and staying together. JJJ

My Swedish Mum Gunnel and Me

 

……Gunnel Campbell- Westlind a replica of my mum….. She did everything to make me feel comfortable and feel at home. She took time off from work only so that she could take me around and always be there with me. She made yummy food at home which I still miss aloot. She took great care of me and made sure that I enjoyed as well as rested well and sincerely I had a lovely time with her.

…….Some fun times that we had together….!!!!!!!

In those lilttle fairy tale type Summer houses...!!!!! :D:D

Yuummmyyyy Waffles..... with Cream, Strawberry n looottss of other stuff :D :D

Having fun...!!!!! :D

......Something that Sofia and i looovvveeeed doing....!!! :D :D :D

At Skansen....:D

Just passing time in the tram..... :) ;)

Our favourite pic...!!! On the last day....!!!! At Sodra Latins Gymnasium...!!!!!

We had a loveelyyy time in Sweden.... And our pairing that we made with each student seemed to be Perfect...... i will always cherishh alll my memories back there in Sweden... hope to go back there sooon again...!!!!! :D:D....!!!!

                                                                                                                       Kimberly Pereira
                                                                                                                            (SYBA)

Sodra Latin

Three schools in Stockholm - Tumba Gymnasium, Tullinge Gymnasium and Sodra Latin Gymnasium were awaiting our arrival on 4th May. The fifteen of us were split up into three groups according to the school that would be hosting us. I was, along with five other friends, a part of Sodra Latin Gymnasium for the following two weeks to come. 

Sodra Latin is one of the oldest and most prolific schools in Sweden. It comprises of the original building and a more recent building. It boasts of a vast campus, majestic architecture and a respectable alumni. Sodra latin offers two main programs to students - Natural science and Social science, which we know as arts. It also has a bunch of courses like multimedia, dance, drama, etc. 

Other than that, the teachers and students of Sodra Latin were extremely friendly and warm. They welcomed us to their school and tried to make sure that we were comfortable.

Sodra Latin

The cafeteria

The Sodra Latin auditorium, where the Swedish students held the welcome function. The Indian Day was also held in the same auditorium.

Art work by students at Sodra latin

Indian and Swedish students from Sodra latin

The farewell function at Sodra

Grouna Lound Amusement park

One of the best days (and my personal favourite) in Sweden was when we visited the Grouna Lound amusement park. At the entrance, we were given hand tags that allowed us to visit any ride for any number of times that we wanted. Thrilled about this, we entered the wondrous amusement park and from the very first attraction to the last, we held our breaths. It was truly the time of our lives.

Roller coasters, bumper cars, free falls, haunted house, fun house, love tunnel, twister, game stalls, you name it. The best one that I went on was the free fall tilt - a 90 meter high tower which slowly takes you to the top and lets you admire the amazing view. Before you know it, it drops you down at a very fast speed. Trying it out is, by far, the scariest thing I've ever done. 

Other than the rides, my friends and I also went to the haunted house. For a person who gets scared even at the mention of a ghost, I would consider myself quite brave. (Even though I was the one that screamed the loudest)

All in all, it was an awesome experience. We spent the entire day and when it was time to go, we wished that we could stay there a little longer. Screaming and shouting and laughing brought out the inner kids in us, and for most of us that was the highlight of our visit.

- Joanna

One In A Million :D

Sweden, I fall short of words to describe how amazing it was, being exposed to a new environment as well people.

 Agnes Magnusson, is my correspondent and her family was very hospitable and loving during my stay, they really made me comfortable in a few days I felt like it was my home away from home.

We visited alot of interesting places some of which are Skansen, a zoo which was literally ‘Sweden in miniature’, Gröna Lund, an amusement park in Stockholm, the City Hall and other attractions.

We mostly got around with the help of trams, buses and the metro which I found rather fun. We had immense fun while learning new Swedish words and in turn teaching them a bit of konkani.

All in all, these were the best 12 days and the most memorable. An experience, I will always talk about because it taught me so much.

- Vedika Sood

 

Agnes' Blueberry Pie :D

A view of Stockholm from my very own window at the Magnusson's.

The City Hall

Nikita and Vedika outside The City Hall

Sodra Latin Gymnasium, our favourite.

Nikita :P

The school cafeteria, where we spent most of our time.

Fooling Around

Gröna Lund

Inaaaa

Upsala

Once again, Gröna Lunnnnd. :D

- Nikita Fernandes & Vedika Sood