Month: April 2018

My school back home is tough in terms of weather; like frostbite warning and snow until April, so I wasn’t too worried about Stockholm. And, I was right. It wasn’t too bad for me. However, talking to friends in the program really portrays how brutal the winter can be. No sun for months at a time will affect you, no doubt about it. But you have to realize, people living in Stockholm go through this on a yearly basis, meaning two things. They know how to deal with the cold. And they know how to celebrate when it’s gone.

I was invited by some of wonderful Studentboende neighbors, Jonathan and Clara, on an excursion to a park in Hornstull. Being a New Yorker, I compare it to Brooklyn. It’s this old industrial area that’s had this massive new resurgence in city culture. That’s important because this is where the youth of city go to hang, party, and enjoy their metropolis. That is exactly what happened on the first day the sun came out. The first day it got above 65 degrees (Fahrenheit of course) people came out in droves to eat, drink, and whatever else they do with people they like. I had a complete blast. I got to meet some other local Swedes and understand a little more about intercity dynamics. They playfully joked about who were real Swedes or who spoke real Swedish, “because Uppsala is a college town.” It was fantastic to see the entire city and all of its people open up for a change. The biggest comparison we had for the Swedes during orientation was a coconut. They are hard on the outside and soft on the inside. (As compared to us, who are peaches: soft on the outside and hard on the inside.) But now I see them more like flowers. Cold and dormant during the harsh winters, but in the spring they bloom. I know it’s not original, but I think it works to describe how much more alive people get. This isn’t to say they are dead during the winter, but it’s just a different type of living. They can flourish and spread out to catch as much sun as possible.

In the night, I went with an fellow New Yorker from the dorm and Vincent, the RA from the sixth floor, on another trip into the city. We were heading to a small beach just north of Stockholm University. (We took the buss straight to the Campus Dorms and it was a short walk away.) There was a chance for us to see the Northern Lights, which felt like a once in a lifetime possibility. We couldn’t say no! It was a great night. We went exploring and found the perfect spot by the water. It was warm all day but once we sat by the water without the sun, things got a little chilly in the best way. There’s something about a watery breeze on a quiet night. We didn’t get to see the lights, but we got to see a whole new view of the city. Not only do the people open up, but so do parts of the city you would never have gotten to see. Stockholm is amazing no matter the time of year, but it is a completely new city when spring comes to town. I hope you get to see it the same way I did.

When coming to Sweden with DIS, there are a few options as to what type of housing one gets to be a part of. All the options have their ups and downs, but each one are extremely unique. There isn’t perfect fit for you, but a little research will help you to find the the best fit. To help, I’ll be writing this post about my Studentboende in Arsta (pronounced like Orsta). It is my home for this semester and I hope to tell you all about it. So let’s get going. Welcome to Skontorpsvagen 27!

First things first, students boend up having a great time.
I’m sorry for that pun, but it is the truth! The Studentboende is an amazing opportunity to get to know fellow DIS students and local swedes, at the same time. In most cases, people living on either floor end up living in doubles which is a great way to make friends in a low commitment sort of way. Additionally, the communal cooking and dining area is awesome for a number of different reasons.

It is a massive space with tons of seats for whatever you might be looking for. I’ve seen intimate conversations at a one-on-one dinner, or massive dinner parties where more than one table fully extended is needed. (By the way, these tables freaking extend!) But, the space isn’t just meant for eating. There’s a TV and some cozy seats for watch parties or weekend hangs. There’s an HDMI cable provided so you can hookup most computers in a matter of seconds. I know a few people who got dragged into night long marathons of Black Mirror and Avatar: The Last Airbender. It’s a space to decompress from the day while making friends, and making dinner.

If you’re living at the Studentboende, you’re going to be making your own meals. For some, that’s super scary. DIS comes into to soothe your fears in a few different ways. First, the kitchen is fully stocked with pots, pans, utensils, cooking tools, dinner ware, and even a coffee maker. Everything you could need, it’s here in the kitchen ready to use and ready to make ingredients into dishes. Second, the price of making food is highly mitigated by DIS. There are three points during the semester where you receive a gift-card to the main supermarket chain in Sweden. The ever famous ICA. The amount differs, but all in all it totals out to a bit more than $500 dollars. It doesn’t cover everything, but you will only need extra money to pay for food in the week where your card is out of money and the next one hasn’t been handed out. Sweden can be expensive, but depending on what you’re getting, food is pretty cheap. Pasta with a little meat sauce has been a true resource of good-cheap eats this semester.

This has been just a taste of the Studentboende, where I’ve been living for a few months. It’s been a great time in terms comfort and utilities, but it’s also been awesome for getting to know Swedes. On my floor alone there are at least 8 Swedish people also going to school in Stockholm. It’s been awesome to have conversation, learn a bit of culture, get some help with my language course, and even get some Swedish food tips. I was really lucky to find such a great spot in Skontorpsvagen. I couldn’t see my time in Stockholm anywhere else than here. I hope this has helped you get a better feel for the Studentboende and whether or not it’s a good fit for you. As always, you can always contact me with questions. Take care everyone!

As promised, here’s the second part of my trip to Scotland! This post will be all about the academic locations we visited. All these locations were extremely important to what we’ve been learning in class and in understanding how those lesson translate to the real world, but some locations lend themselves more to being written. That means some sections might be longer than others without meaning they were better or worse than any other. I also didn’t get many pictures which I do apologize for. We had a total of five visits between Glasgow and Edinburgh which gave us a good idea of Scotland’s criminal policy and it’s landscape for Forensic Psychology. Let’s take a look.

Part Two: Academics!

Fergus McNeill
McNeill is Professor of Criminology & Social Work at the University of Glasgow and was kind enough to take the time out of his busy schedule (teaching both Undergraduate and Graduate level courses) to speak with us about Scotland and Criminal Desistance. The first part was a perfect place to start as students studying Forensic Psychology in a foreign country. The Scottish system is independent of the British, so even those knowledgeable about that one may need some explaining. Put simply, it’s very different from anything I’ve seen before. Three things make it supremely interesting. First, there is no criminal code with statutes that dictate legal process, instead they focus on a Common Law type of justice system based off precedent of past cases. This means the law itself is extremely dynamic and adaptable to the needs of the nation. Second, the entire system is better understood as a process rather than a system. For a criminal to be convicted, they must be sent to a number of different offices in ascending order where their course through the process is affirmed. Third, the individual steps in the process have extraordinary levels of autonomy. The police can choose what to do with the suspect they have in custody, just as the prosecutor can choose how to proceed with an offender. This feels like a much more positive process to be a part of and go through when compared to the U.S. I think that directly relates to the second part of the presentation, Criminal Desistance.

Criminal Desistance focuses on understanding the leading causes of crime and recidivism among previously incarcerated individuals; basically how can a society work to stop crime. McNeill did an amazing job of taking this massive topic and making it digestible for students only getting a taste of this very focused subject of study. I’ll use his words and talk about it in three progressive steps. Primary desistance focuses on changing criminal or deviant behaviors in people that might offend. This could be really anything like vocational training, changing where you hang out and who supervises you. Secondary desistance is all about changing the personal identity of an offender away from that of a criminal. Allowing a convict to get a job and make a new life for them-self allows them to change their personal perception of their own life and choices. Tertiary Desistance works to give possible offenders a place to belong. After they have lost their criminal behavior and have changed their identity away from crime, they can find a sense of belonging or purpose in their new place in society. All and all, I think we all learned a lot from McNeill and his work. He was also super friendly and open to any questions we had which was really kind. I think he even stayed past the time allotted to make sure everyone got an answer.

Kibble Education and Care Center

Kibble was probably the most interesting of all the visits we were able to have purely based on the extent to which we were able to see the facilities and their process. In a sentence, Kibble’s goal is rehabilitating violent individuals (whether that be towards others or themselves) while they are in or orbiting the criminal justice system. This is through emotional therapy and communal re-education. The Center itself is an isolated, all-encompassing, correctional facility. The clients are criminals but are given the opportunity to change behaviors and make progress towards better coping behaviors and more autonomy than seen in prison. They have 12 full time Psychologists and other Therapeutic Specialists to help the kids. We were given a tour of both the communal areas, the educational facilities, and the intake facility. It was an extensive tour and allowed us to see the holistic approach that Kibble takes. It was very similar feeling that I felt at RMV in Gothenburg. This is a facility used to house and support criminals and we felt it very clearly while there. It was an amazing experience to better understand an important aspect of Rehabilitative Forensic Psychology, an area which can be hard to get a handle on in class.

Govan Police Office: Specialist Crime Division

I’ve watched a ton of crime TV shows and crime dramas, but being able to get inside the actual Govan Police Station conference room and speak with the department leads of the Specialist Crime Division was incredible. We were able to learn about a few different departments at the station. These departments make up the Criminal Investigation Department, dividing into three separate departments. Operations accounts for investigations of general crime, housebreaking, robbery, murder, you know the general stuff. Public Protections work on rape investigations, child abuse, and the social working aspect of the station. Finally, there was the Serious and Organized Crime division focusing on drugs, serious crimes, and, you guessed it, organized crime. The final department we were introduced to was Concern Hub, sounds pretty chill after the other departments but might be the most important of all three. Any concern from the public goes through this department before reaching the investigators, which, as you might be able to tell, is a massive job for the office which presides over the largest city (by population) in Scotland. Being in a police station again was a bit nerve racking. Nah, I’m just kidding. It was a first for me and was pretty cool. It was awesome to see the conference room where I’m sure tons of meetings about crimes and task forces were held. Academically speaking, it was super helpful to learn about how the police force works in Scotland.

Shakti Women’s Aid Edinburgh

Victimization has been a major part of our class and Shakti works to reverse the normal understanding of women who get trapped in cycles of family enforced abuse. Shakti specializes in educating and supporting women and their children who are in domestic abuse situations. They give financial, living, and legal support to women looking to leave or in most cases escape dangerous relationships. Shakti also specializes in educating women who aren’t fully aware of their personal rights in Scotland. In many cases, they help women who have recently immigrated, refugees who are in the same relationships that brought them here but have now become abusive, or women in arranged marriages. The 73 staff members work to help women all over Edinburgh and speak 17 different languages to help that effort. They are looking to not only make Edinburgh a better place for women, but for women who are new to Scotland whose abuse may be the only familiar and stable structure in their life. Being there for just an hour or two allowed the class to really understand the amount of care and love these workers had for their clients.

Sacro

Sacro is an organization that houses a number of community based programs for restorative justice. We watched presentations on four separate organizations that work to make a difference in Scottish communities.  The first was a program called Another Way, which focused on prostitutes and the common dangers that come to those who work in that industry. Another Way is a person centered initiative to not only make those working safer and supported, but also works to get as many people possible out of that situation.  They work by hosting needle exchanges, providing condoms, or even just giving tea and company. Another aspect is pointing workers towards tools already out there like the Ugly Mug Scheme which works to make sex workers aware of violent or dangerous persons who might be looking for services. The next program was called Shine. This program focused on women currently in the correctional system who could benefit from emotional, professional, or volunteering opportunities before, during, or after serving their sentence. Bright Choices was an organization targeting the prevalence of Honor Based Violence in Black Minority Ethnic communities. A representative gave us the rundown of what HBV is, where it lives, how it manifests, and why it persists. The final organization we got to hear about was Fearless, a LGBTQI focused program looking to maintain a database of domestic abusers. It is similar to Ugly Mug, letting people know if someone has been a perpetrator can help stop future violence.

Scotland was a truly amazing experience on both the cultural and academic side of things. I got to see the UK and one of the most unique parts of it. I was able to eat Scottish cuisine, meet and speak to Scottish professionals, and even see the Scottish countryside. If anyone reading has ever wondered if Scotland is as beautiful as it was in The Little Vampire, I can say without a doubt that it is. I am so grateful to DIS for making things easy, interesting, and unforgettable.

I had never left the states before coming to Sweden, but this past week I got the chance to visit two beautiful cities in the U.K. Half of the Core Courses of DIS got to have their Study Tours and mine was one of them. This is kind of the climax of a semester abroad with DIS. It is a week long travel experience with your core course classmates, the professor, and a travel guide from DIS. It’s basically the same idea as our trip to Goteborg, but turned up to 11. I’ll be taking you all through it in two parts. The cultural aspects of the trip and the academic. I hope you like it, and as always if you have any questions, don’t be afraid to reach out. Let’s get to it.

First Part: Culture!

The Willow Tea Rooms were our very first stop in Scotland and it did not disappoint whatsoever. The establishment was this surreal mix of old style English Tea Room and new age, modern tea boutique. It was pretty exemplary for Glasgow as a city. The menu and lists of tea was extensive to say the least. A bunch of black tea, white teas, and teas from all over the world. As the truly uncultured child I love being, I got a chai latte. I’m not a big caffeine person, but their chai blew me away. I added an additional espresso shot, because our flight was both early and long. It was delicious and vital to get through the day. In addition to a drink, everyone was given a pastry/cake item. They had a display case full of options ranging from tarts to shortcakes or meringue. I didn’t hear anybody with complaints, and instead everyone was fascinated by each option. I myself took a caramel shortcake and by god was that awesome. It was a layer of chocolate and a layer of crust sandwiching a layer of caramel. It was overpowering in the best way and left me aching for more while my teeth were just aching. Dinner would come at the perfect time for something more savory, and deadly! *dun dun duuuuuuuu*

Our next event was that night, and to get right to it, it was a Murder Mystery Dinner. Prior to the actual event, we weren’t  sure what the performance was gonna be like. However, after the mind blowing time we had in the Escape Rooms in Goteburg, we knew it was gonna be fun. We were very right. It was awkward and funny to have a dinner in the middle of family intrigue and drama, but the actors made it fun and everyone really gave it their all. By the end of the dinner, we were all searching through the evidence to find the best leads and most convincing clues. Not to brag, but I was on a team that got the right answer. All jokes aside, it was kind of fun seeing how a fake investigation goes down after being in a class where we examine actual investigations. Plus, the dinner was delicious and plentiful. The city was amazing, but the next day would throw us into the Scottish countryside.

The next day we were off from the city center and were Glasgowing to the Scottish country side. We stopped off at a traditional Scottish lunch spot which was just sensational. You can see the outside just above and the inside was even quainter. It had warm lighting, wooden accents and a burning fireplace that warmed us right up. The food was even better! I had this traditional soup, a cullen skink and woah woah was that good. It was almost like a chowder with haddock and potatoes. The main course that I chose was (the ever traditional) fish and chips. It was served with this killer smashed peas, which I presently devoured. I really enjoyed my first actual Scottish meal, although the breakfast earlier that morning didn’t disappoint either. The hotel provided breakfast and it was a a lot better than a normal continental. A little more than 24 hours into the trip and we were all living it up, but it was just getting started. Right after lunch, we headed out and traveled a few hundred yard down the road to a little field. It was time for some Archery.

We were out in the field for a little less than 2 hours and even though it was freezing everyone was having a great time. The ground was muddy and had puddles your whole fit would sink into, but everyone was a team player. We joked about how terrible someone was and gave cheers to a great shot when they happened. Our instructors were hilarious and extremely patient with us beginners. I have a little experience with Archery thanks to a club at school, and oh was it nice to get back into it. I’m not very good, but everyone was able to have a good time with changing goals from the instructors and tips on how to improve our aim. We ended our time in and around Glasgow on a high note thanks to this. Tomorrow would be a new day and we would be going to bed in a different city than we woke up in. The capital of Edinburgh would be our second and final stop.

The morning after we arrived in Edinburgh, we decided to add in another trek and I loved it. After spending the previous night trying to get a handle on the new city, what could be more helpful than getting a bird’s eye view over it all. Although it may not have actually been super helpful to get to know the city, the hike was a high point of the trip (pun intended). We hiked up to Arthur’s Seat and doing it together as a group was really something special. Different groups had different speeds, but there was nobody left behind. We stuck together and we got through it together. The ground was wet, icy, and slippery, which for some was scary. There was a lot of coaching about footholds and emotional support, but that just added to the bonding experience. Although we all wanted to hibernate for a little while, our day wasn’t over. That was our morning and there was more walking to have at night, with a bit of eating thrown in.

I’m not sure about you, but I had a really bad idea about what a walking tour around a city would be like; I was happy to be so wrong. Our guide, the guy in the red shirt on the right side of the picture, was an absolute blast. Not only did he have a litany of stories about Edinburgh, but was open to questions about culture and his personal experience with Scotland. We had a few different stops all over the city, but my personal favorite was a high brow whiskey tasting. We had an 11 year old whiskey paired with a small meal of haggis, nips and tatties (Haggis, Turnips, and Potatoes for those in need of a translation). The meal was defreakinglicious and although the whiskey hurt my inexperienced palette, learning about the process and dedication the Scottish Malt Whiskey Society has towards the craft was fascinating. Our final meal in the city and in Scotland would be a departure from Haggis, but amazing none the less.

Our wrap-up meal was held at a vegetarian restaurant in Edinburgh, David Bann. I was skeptical to say the very least, but DIS knows how to pick them. It was an experience with food that I wouldn’t normally allow myself. A meal without meat, never! I was pleasantly surprised. I had this super interesting lentil and potato stew. I was a big fan of those potatoes and the lentils had a spice that I was not expecting. I wasn’t the biggest fan, but everyone made it a great time and fun evening.

Like I said earlier, I had never gotten to see anything outside the states. With DIS, I’m getting to see Sweden as a student. In addition to that opportunity, I got to go to the U.K. and experience Scotland for a week with paid attractions, meals, and memories built in. It was a truly awesome time and was made even better when I get to say that this was all an educational experience too. My next post will be about the academic side to the trip. Stay tuned and stay awesome. Thanks for reading everybody.