MalmoReflectionPaper 1 Fall 2008 Malm,Sweden Icanfinallyanswertheinfamousquestion,"Sohowwasyourtimeabroad "It wasthebestthingIhaveeverdoneinmylife.Despite"WhySweden "beingthesecond mostpopularquestion,Iamstillunabletocompletelyanswerit.IthinkIchoseSweden becauseitwasthelongestexchangeprogram(5fullmonths),ithadanamazingthree weekorientationprogram,andbecauseIneverwantedtogoorlivetheresowhynot ReallytheonlythingsIknewaboutSwedenwerethestereotypesofblondes,meatballs andABBA…whichbothturnedouttobetrue.Thewomenreallyweretall,blonde,and stunninglybeautiful.Thebizarrethingaboutitwasthatnoonenoticed.Theywereso usedtoitthatitdidn'tmatteratall.Wehadmeatballsateverysingleuniversityevent.A Swedishfriendonmyhallevenhadameatballmakingparty.Shealsomadeallofthe studentsonmyhallanamazingrecipebookfullofSwedishtraditionalfoodandher variousspecialtiesbeforeweallleft.ABBAisalsoaspopularasthestorygoes.Noone willclaimthattheyloveABBA…theysayit'sjustclassic,oldschoolmusic.Thenthey playitateverypartyandnightclubandeveryonegoescrazy.Oneofthestrangest experiencesofmylifewasduringthefirstcoupleweeksIwasthere.Theyhadareally awesomefestivalinMalm,whentheweatherwasfantastic,withawackycrayfishparty andconcertseverynight.AtoneoftheseconcertswasanABBA imitationgroupand literallythousandsofpeoplewentcrazysinginganddancingontablesasiftheywerethe realthing.Weird. TheweatherwassomethingelseIhadheardaboutandgottoexperiencefirst hand.Augustwasamazing.Neverabove75,butsopleasant.Thesunshone,Ioftenrode mybiketothebeachwithfriendsandenjoyedtheincredibleviews.(Sidenote: everybodysaystobuyabicycle.Doit.Itissousefulandnotthatexpensive)Slowly, however,thedaysgotshorterandtheweatherworse.OnetimedidIgetstuckina torrentialdownpouronmywaytoclassandhadtositthroughthetwohourlecture soakingwet.Thedaylightwasanissue.ByDecember,itwaspitchblackoutsideat3in theafternoon…andMalmisinsouthernSweden!ByChristmas,Iwassosundeprived thatwhenIstayedwithmyfriend'sfamilyinsouthernItaly,Iwouldjuststandoutsidein themorningandatsunsettosoakitinandtalkedabouthowfantasticsunwaswhilemy friend'sfamilythoughtIwascrazy.Fortheweatheralone,IwillneverliveinSweden again.ThatissomethingIlearned…peoplecanadapttoanysituation.IneverthoughtI wouldliveinSwedenandIneverwanttoagain,butIlearnedtoandIdid.ThoughImay neverwanttoagain,Icould. Icouldliveinanysituation.ThisisnottosaythatIdon't likeSweden.ItisfantasticallybeautifulandIhavetogoback…nexttimeinthesummer. IwasnervousaboutgoingtoSwedenbecauseIwantedareal"culturalexperience,"andI didn'tthinkIwouldgetthatthere.Iwaswrong.Swedenmaystillbepartofthe"West" buttheyareFARfromAmericanculture.Nakednessandsexarenormalandcommon.A

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