School, School & More School...

Hello Again,

I have just finished the two busiest weeks of my life here in Sweden so far...I forgot what it was like to have obligations everyday for 5 days in a row...folks its rough.  Let me just tell you I have been worn out!! Which is why I am just getting around to blogging about my past two week.  So lets recap what I have been up to...The last time I left you it was March 20th...lets see Monday and Tuesday I had class like regular.  Wednesday I started my School visits with my friend Ewa (from Poland).  We were sent to the Kronoberg Skola which is located in town.

Front of the School

The sign on the school.

Ewa in front of the school. 

The view of the school from the street.

The street our school was on.

The schools in Sweden look a lot different than schools in America.  Walking past this school I would never guess it was a school.  Kronoberg Skola is for children ages 12-16 so it is similar to a junior high in America, here it is called a compulsory school. Compulsory school is from grades 6-9.  Kronoberg is a private school but unlike America you do not pay to go to private schools they are just hard to get into.  In order to reserve a place for your child in this particular school you must interview when your child is in the second grade even though they will not attend this school until they are 12.  Private schools in Sweden have something they focus on this school focuses on English so all of the students here must be very good in English.  They are well know and one of the best schools in the area because of this.  Any way back to the school visit...we had to arrive at 8am which means I had to wake at 6:30am (ouch) to get ready and to catch the 7:30 bus to make it on time.  That was rough...then I had to stay until the end of the day which was 3:00p.m now thats a long day.  Some of you may be thinking Allie, in approximately a year you are going to be a teacher and have to do that everyday...I know..I know i'm still struggling.  Then after my school visit I had to hurry back to campus and go to class.  I gave a presentation and finished up my first class.  This was the last day of class which was bittersweet.  I have met some really great people in my class and some are leaving soon so it was a little sad!

 We represented 10 different countries so now I have friends all over the globe.  

World Peace =)

We had some really good times together and lots of interesting discussions. Thursday & Friday I was back at Kronoberg observing the classes and meeting students.  It is so neat to see how schools in Sweden are compared to the States even if I am not going to teach junior high.  The amount of freedom the students get here is unreal...they really don't realize it.  The students always have their iPhone 4's on them texting, they curse freely and the teachers do to them (in a joking manner), they have no bells they show up to class on time (usually at least a couple come in 10-15 mins late), they can go into town and eat lunch...it is just so different.  The subjects are the pretty much the same except they learn ethics and religion.  This was really interesting to me, the students learn all religions in school.  However the lesson on Christianity that I sat in on was hardly Sunday school seeing as the teacher is an atheist. Aside from the religion there is English and they also learn a third language. After the school visits Friday night to celebrate the ending of one class I went to Stallarna.  Saturday I also went to Stallarna so this gave me no time to catch up on sleep.  Sunday was a wonderful day of rest before starting another busy 5 day week.  Just to make sure your on the same page we are now to Monday March 28.  On this day I started my new class Global Perspectives in the Classroom.  This class has many people I know from last semester and many new faces.  I am looking forward to getting to know them as well.  Tuesday I also had class.  Wednesday I was back at Kronoberg Skola.  Some of you many be wondering why I am still going to school visits for a class that ended....well  beauty of the Swedish schools are that the teachers are very laid back..I have the same professor again so she is letting me finish them as soon as I can so I am still finishing them up.  Wednesday I was to do a presentation on my country and the life of a teenager in America.  The students at the school had a lot of questions and really enjoyed it.  I had one hour to split with Ewa to do our presentations, the first period I took 40 minutes and the second I took 50 minutes...barely leaving Ewa any time.  I LOVE to talk and to teach.  I realized, again,  after that that I am SO excited to have my own class and to teach them all day! I had the best day being in front of the class!  Thursday I had my class again so I did not do any school visit.  Thursday evening I also did something exciting...I booked a trip. May 10-17 I am going to France!! For $37.00 I am flying from Gothenburg, Sweden to Brussels, Belgium.  I will then take a train to Lille France where my dear friend Melodie lives. While there I will visit Belgium, Lille & Paris France. I am SO excited.  Melodie & Kaitlyn and I are so so excited to take a trip together! Friday I went to Kronoberg for the last time.  I must say it was a  wonderful learning experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it but I am so glad that the waking at 6:30am is over! I will not miss that and I am so thankful I am going back to my 3 day week schedule..its much better for me :) After class I went back on campus to work on a group paper before going to Stallarna.  It was a great night as always.  I never danced so much in my whole life...in fact I ordered a water at the bar...now thats saying something!  Saturday I spent the day sleeping..I woke up just in time to go to Stallarna again! and that brings us to Today, April 3, Sunday.  Today I have many things I should do like write the final paper for my first class, or register for classes next semester at ISU but instead I think I will watch another movie and do nothing.  There is always tomorrow...
Allie