Stockholm, Sweden, sent us Johana Holbrar. A seventeen year old student who has found that life here is very different from life in Sweden. The differences, she says, are most prominant in the way that the school program is run. Instead of high school, students in Sweden, if their grades are high enough, and if they have enough references, enter ‘““Gynasium”’. It is more advanced than our high school program and it tends to resemble college in that once the students has chosen a “‘line’’, only classes, that are directly related to that choice, are taken. Also, ‘‘Gynasium’”’ is totally academic, ‘‘We don’t have the cheerleaders, the sports or the dances that students have here.”’ There are other differences other than just the ones concerning school. ‘“‘We don’t curl our hair where as Americans often do. Instead of driving everywhere, we take the bus. Also, one-on-one dating is new to me. Back at home we always went in groups. The family size is so different too. More than two children in one family is concidered to be a large family.” ‘‘I guess what | like best about being here is that people are very social. They will talk to you even if they don’t know you. I'd never dare to do that in Sweden.” ‘Where I go to school in Japan, | have to wear a uniform; keep the front of my hair above my eyebrows, and I’m not allowed to curl it.”’ Chifumi Suzuki has found life here to vary somewhat from life in Japan. ‘‘In school, we must bow to our teachers, and when they are instructing us they stand on a platform.”’ Also, the classroom atmosphere is very stiff. ‘‘We go to school 250 days a year and we study every night.’’ Which is very important because Chifumi had to pass a test in order to enter high school, and, ‘‘Once we are accepted, our classes are chosen for us.”’ ‘‘In Japan, our major holiday is New Years. It is the most important holiday to the family, like Christmas is to Americans.” Chifumi likes going to Weber High, and her most favorite thing about it is the fact that the people are so friendly. ‘‘I think | like that the best of all” ‘Schools in America are very different from schools in Norway.’’ Lin Larsen, our foreign exchange student from Norway, says that the differences between the two systems are very ‘noticeable. ‘Teachers, at home, are very stern. We don't get to choose our classes; we graduate at 16, and then we enter college or trade school. We don’t have school lunches, nor do we have cheerleaders to lead our soccer or hockey teams. Because school is so hard, teenagers don't have jobs during the week.” ‘‘Food here is so rich and sweet. When | first arrived in America, | noticed that people didn’t eat the food that | was accustomed too. The Norwegian diet consists of fish, vegetables, cheese, and a lot of bread; where as, Americans line up for the Mc Donald's Big Mac. In fact, the Big Mac, California, Hollywood, and New York are what we think of when we think of America.” ‘Sailing, partying, and concerts are popular in Norway. We always do things in groups. even dating. We ride buses, and the underground railway instead of private cars.” ‘“‘! think what | like best about America is that people are so friendly, and even the teachers.” All in all, Lin’s experience, so far, has been exciting. She enjoys it here despite the many differences. 34 ‘ - : - . : . Ty Oo