Joanna Tsen: an interest in Swedish culture

Exchange student Joanna Tsen had some concerns about the long Swedish winter. Coming from Canberra in southern Australia where the temperature can climb as high as 40 degrees, the short, cold winter days could have been a problem. “The winter wasn’t as bad as I imagined it would be. I got used to it,” says Joanna. “It helps that since people spend more time at home in the winter, they burn a lot of candles and focus on warmth and light inside the house. “

 “I’ve always been interested in Sweden” Joanna explains. “It’s cutting edge, the political system, the approach to education.”  She also appreciates the aesthetics of the culture, the clean look of Swedish design.

Joanna’s social and cultural curiosity is reflected in the focus of her studies: Psychology and Humanities which includes a double major, developing countries and social anthropology.

Comparatively speaking, Joanna finds there are differences between Swedish and Australian universities. “It’s a bit of an adjustment,” she says. “Here the courses are only five weeks long with one or two classes a week. So there’s more free time. That means I have to take more initiative, read books independently and do research in addition to my classroom work.”

Joanna hasn’t missed Australia as much as she thought she might. “Facebook helps me stay in touch with home,” she says. “My sister’s had a baby and I get to see the pictures over the internet; I’ve had a haircut and posted my new look.”

As far as Swedish life goes, Joanna feels she is more integrated here then some of the other international students.” “I have a Swedish boyfriend so I’ve spent a lot of time with him and his family. I’ve been a part of family celebrations, singing traditional songs, the drinking of schnapps and glögg and toasting.”

There are no regrets, although she wishes she had learned a bit of Swedish. “It hasn’t been a problem of course since most Swedes speak a fairly high level of English,” she says. Overall Joanna feels pleased with her courses and with her experiences in Sweden.

This summer she will be backpacking through Europe with friends. “We’ll go to Prague, France, Greece, maybe Spain before coming back to Stockholm.”

In the fall Joanna will be back at Stockholm University taking a course in Political Science before returning to Australia in January 2010.

Read a previous article in the series:
www.su.se/english/about/news-and-events/exchange-students-arrive-for-spring-term

Text and interview: Sarah Hollister