California natives might not understand the draw that the Golden State has for a group of Swedish students. Then they talk to tourists from some place cold and are reminded that everybody and their pet poodle wants to visit and enjoy the legendary sunshine.
The Swedish exchange students from Borås are smart, young scholars who have spent the past three years in the entrepreneurial program at Sven Eriksonsgymnasiet looking forward to the time when they could come to California and take classes at SRJC. They love the school, from the lawns and trees to the technologically forward classrooms.
“I think we all like the weather,” said Julia Norén. “We have also noticed that the people are more open and friendly here than they are in Sweden.”
Norén and her classmates arrived during SRJC’s spring break, and have been attending classes and exploring California with their host families ever since. Between classes they head to the nearest patch of sunshine and often spend their lunch breaks on the lawn in front of Analy Hall.
Walking across lawns between buildings is something Linn Ståhl loves about SRJC. “I like the environment of the school,” Ståhl said. “You can lay in the grass and just relax.”
The novelty of so many students with such a variety of interests is new to them. “In our school, pretty much everyone is in business or has some business interest and here there’s so many different people,” said Alexander Gustafsson.
The exchange students appreciate California’s many attractions. “We can go skiing in Tahoe, we can enjoy the sun here or go to San Diego, [and] we can go hiking in National Parks,” said Mathias Bohlin Jepson about California.
Bohlin Jepson raved about his trip to a Giants game, even though the team lost. “We were really lucky. Steve, my host dad, he took me around the arena and up to see what the VIP room looked like and one person was about to leave and gave us his VIP tickets,” Bohlin Jepson said. They got to watch the game from the best seats in the house.
Norén has developed a close friendship with her host. “I’m living with a woman who is 37 years old, so she is more like a friend to me than a host mother,” Norén said. “We talk very much and discuss the differences between Sweden and the U.S.A.”
Norén and her host also visited San Francisco. “We took the ferry the first time and we saw all the buildings,” she recalled. “It’s a really different atmosphere than what we are used to because our town is much smaller.”
Host families share similar interests and compatible living situations. Linn Ståhl enjoys going to church with her host family and teaching Sunday School, which she also does in Sweden. Gustafsson and his host family work out and are athletic together, even going rock climbing together. “I’ve never been climbing before, either indoors or outdoors, but I tried them both here,” Gustafsson said.
All the exchange students are taking a PE class and most are active at home. “I am working at a gym and work out there as well. This fall I will become a personal trainer,” Norén said.
Gustafsson and Bohlin Jepson take Beginning Boxing together, and Gustafsson also exercises often with his host family. “My host parents, they are really out running or bicycling or swimming or indoor climbing,” Gustafsson said. “They are very active, and I’ve tried it all, pretty much.”
Soon the Swedes will go home to Borås, but next spring will bring a new group to SRJC. Hopefully, they will be as satisfied with California as the current group.