After three weeks of learning, bonding and enjoying American culture, a group of Swedish exchange students wrapped up a three-week cultural exchange pilot program at Santa Rosa Junior College for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simona Stefanescu, one of the SRJC exchange coordinators, said she was thrilled to see the Swedish exchange program return. In 2020, she initially set up travel arrangements and matched students to their host families, only to cancel just weeks before their scheduled departure date due to travel bans.
Since 2003, students enrolled in their third and final year of an entrepreneurship program at Sven Eriksonsgymnasiet, or the Sven Erikson Gymnasium, a college-preparatory secondary school in Borås, Sweden, have travelled to Santa Rosa to be integrated into SRJC business, marketing, and entrepreneurship courses, where they would meet SRJC students and connect with mentors.
In this year’s pilot program, rather than integrating the Swedish students into courses, the 24 students attended special lectures and panels hosted by local professionals and business owners, and faculty from SRJC and Sonoma State University.
Stefanescu, who was born in Romania, hosted a diversity and immigration panel with two other naturalized citizens.
Swedish student Wilma Suu said her favorite speaker was SSU Criminology Professor Bryan Burton, who delivered a lecture about white collar crimes. Burton also hosted two students.
“These types of programs bring people together, and I think that is a very important thing during this time,” Burton said.
The students also participated in extracurricular activities, including volunteering at Redwood Empire Food Bank and Binkley Elementary School, exploring Sugarloaf State Park and touring Angel Island and Alcatraz.
When asked what shocked them most about American culture, several students gave the same answer: politics, specifically in the classroom. In Sweden, public school teachers are not permitted to share political views with students.
Neo Caron, 19, noted the polarization of American politics. “It was overwhelming at times,” Caron said.
However, Smilla Vejsholt, 18, said her biggest challenge, aside from missing her family, was speaking so much English. “It would feel like my tongue was twisting,” she said.
Student Anton Liljegren, 18, not only learned about the American world of business but also discovered how much he loves dogs after living with Anne Belden, the Oak Leaf’s adviser, and her three dogs, Koya, Bodie and Winnie, a puppy.
“The first thing I’m going to do when I move out is get a dog, and another dog,” Liljegren said.
One couple, Robin and Steve Brown, have hosted Swedish students intermittently since 2004. “My husband and I raised three boys. When we first heard about the program, I said, ‘I’ll do it, but I only want girls, because we never had girls in the house,’” Robin said. Over the years, they have hosted a total of 16 Swedish students.
“The first one we ever hosted, we are still very close to her. We went to her wedding, she’s been to visit us in California, her boyfriend’s family came, so we have definitely made lasting connections,” Robin Brown said.
The program ended with a potluck dinner at Shone Farm on April 4, where students and host families shared their memories over dinner. After dinner, the group celebrated Caron’s 19th birthday with dimmed lights, two candlelit sheet cakes and group renditions of “Happy Birthday” in Swedish and English.
As dinner came to a close, Katrina Smith, SRJC librarian and organizer for the exchange program, and Stefanescu addressed the room one last time.
“EP students, I love you, and I’m very thankful for you in my life. And I hope that you will take good stories and funny stories back, and we have good years in front of us,” Smith said.
“Students – I hope this California experience changed you and gave you wings, and I hope you use those wings to become the successful entrepreneur I hope you will become,” Stefanescu said.
Before their departure, Lisa Ekberg, Principal of Sven Eriksongymnasiet, and Hanna Fjeld, the entrepreneurship program coordinator, met with Kerry Loewen, SRJC Dean of Arts & Humanities, to evaluate the results of this year’s pilot and consider the new format for future programs.
Both parties intend to prepare a collaborative agreement to present to the SRJC Board of Trustees to prepare for future exchanges, according to Stefanescu.
