Category: No Place Like Holm

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.

In case the title is a bit vague, I’m a massive film guy. I’m not super knowledgeable and sadly can’t major in everything that I love, but movies have been a part of me ever since childhood. I saw Fight Club way too young and fell in love with it. This past week was a long one in terms of work. Two presentations and a paper were stressful to say the least, but it all got done and even went pretty well. But, the weekend arrived and I was looking for a little bit of self-care for sure. A fellow film fan here at DIS had the awesome initiative to start a group chat and see Black Panther this weekend, so I signed up! DIS let us know that we were both interested in film and pointed us in the right direction. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see the movie that was taking over the nation. This post is going to focus on the trip to the Theater and how perfectly Swedish it was. (There won’t be many pictures this time around, I wasn’t thinking and arrived a little late to the theater.)

The theater itself made me feel right at home. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted with the same popcorn smell and concessions area that I see in the States. Being a bit out of breathe, I got on line and made some conversation with the people I was watching the movie with. One of them, Emma, is in my class studying Television in society and the other, Bret, I got to meet through mutual circles. It was a lot of fun talking about our mutual experiences with movies back home and why it was important for us to get a taste here. We talked about favorite concessions, the movie theater business, and movies in the MCU (or Marvel Cinematic Universe for those wondering). It was a great way to kill the time before movie time, but we needed to prepare for the actual film. We were missing one thing: the snacks! But there were plenty of options on display for us to choose.

We didn’t stray away from popcorn on our first outing but there is plenty of room for exploration. For candy, they had a cup serving system that really excites me. You would pick up a cup plus a lid and fill it up with as much candy as you could fit. Charging by the cup, you can tailor the snacking experience to your preference.  If you’re a real movie stickler, they also had the classic boxes of candy too. Besides candy, as any true Swedish establishment does there was plenty of hot dogs to choose from too. It was so comforting to have that kind of sensory experience. Going to the movies is already a nostalgic activity to do, so having the familiarity of sugary treats, yellow popcorn, and cinema comfort foods was such a welcome sight. There was however one thing missing. Butter! I am not a fan, so I didn’t mind in the slightest but the group as a whole wasn’t the happiest. Pro-tip! Bring your own melted butter if you end up going to the movies in Sweden. What they did have was extra packets of salt if you wanted. I am quite ashamed to admit, I did, and it was delicious.

It turned out that the timing was almost as amazing as the movie. We got in, found our seats, used the restroom, and it started after a few coming attractions. The film was completely awesome! I would say one of my top Marvel movies. It had a bit of everything (action movie, spy thriller, sci-fi, romance, comedy, and even a strong drama about father figures). You could really tell the filmmakers weren’t afraid of taking stances on some serious topics about government intervention and the racial dynamics going on. But to talk about the movie going experience itself, one thing rained supreme. It was in English! Well, most of it. Nothing was dubbed in Swedish so we had original performances with Swedish subtitles, which was bomb. The only time that became a problem was when characters spoke Xhosa (the language used by the fictional African State, Wakanda, which Black Panther calls home). Those moments were still in Swedish subtitles, surprisingly enough. It would have been nice to know, but wasn’t that big of a deal at all. We were extremely happy with the experience and with our choice in movie. I think we would all highly recommend the Cinema scene if you are ever in Sweden yourself. Just look at our happy faces. (Sorry about the low quality, I was a bit shaky from the extra salt and we were anxiously awaiting the after-credit scene.)

Hi everyone! This past week was really something special. I had the chance to travel to another Swedish city, the smaller urban center of Gothenburg (or as it is pronounced, Yohteber)! It was an absolute blast through and through. Here at DIS, one of the most important things is hands on learning. That’s why they even have field studies in the first place. They want us to learn in the classroom but then be able to apply what we know in the real world, or at the very least see where that knowledge gets applied. My study tour was exactly that for my core course, Forensic Psychology: a tour of a bunch of different applications of Psychology in Forensics and looks into the Swedish legal system. Here’s where we went and how they taught or touched me in a real way.

We arrived at Gothenburg’s central station in the late morning on Monday. We took a tram to our hostel so that we could settle in and drop our things off. Let me just tell you, leaving a metro system you just learned to start using a completely different tram system might just be the scariest thing ever. Lucky for us, we had an amazing tour leader with us! Jenni was our trip leader and had everything down pact. She knew exactly how to get everywhere and took us personally to every stop in our little journey. What’s even better? The tram system is above ground. We got to gaze at the beautiful city whenever we were on public transportation. It was a treat and not having to worry about getting lost made it even better! Speaking of the sights, there was something different about Gothenburg. This isn’t a bad thing, but Stockholm, at least in the inner city, is structured in a very western way. The architecture is different and I’ve been getting my admiring fill of that, but Gothenburg is a city of Europe without a doubt. There were long tram ways that crisscrossed with canals and parks. It was a feeling that I just couldn’t shake the entire time I was there in the best way. Truly being enveloped in a city unlike any I’ve been to.

Sorry! Too many pictures, I know. I just couldn’t resist. Do you see those?! *clears throat* Anyway.

The first place we visited was a woman’s shelter, Kvinnojouren ADA. It’s this awesome organization that helps to support, educate, and, in extreme cases, shelter woman and children in terrible situations. They’re doing a very important job, especially in Sweden. Sweden has a big problem with the reporting of violence against woman. The police force isn’t knowledgeable of the ways that abuse can manifest or with the fact that many woman don’t know they are being abused so they won’t search for help. This stop was super important for our work with victimization and victimology. It was amazing to see the type of support available for women and families in need. Additionally, the perspective the shelter took was a primarily feminist point of view and worked to empower the survivor in the face of trauma.

Our second stop took us to Gothenburg University’s Institute of Psychology. The building holds the CLIP (Criminal, Legal and Investigative Psychology) Research Team. This team is a world renowned group of psychologists who have and continue to revolutionize the game of Forensic Psychology. They make real change in the field and we got to meet some of the PhD candidates while hearing about their research! I had never even gotten to look at the work of a PhD candidate, let alone getting to be presented their work first hand. To beat that honor, their facilities were beautiful.

Our final academic stop in Gothenburg led us to a visit that I don’t think many people would ever get the chance to be a part of. We were allowed into a government facility that specializes in evaluating individuals facing criminal charges. Through their process, they determine whether or not someone is suffering from a mental illness and therefore cannot be tried in criminal court. The facility itself had extremely high levels of security, understandably with the type of service they provide. Every door was actually two and only one was ever open at one time to maximize security. The facility was also surrounded by two (yes that’s right, two) fences. We spoke to an analyst who has years of experience with mental evaluations and the Swedish legal system. It was an amazing opportunity and felt like I was in a movie. I won’t easily forget that. The other thing I won’t forget is the food.

DIS was more than generous with the dinners we received at the end of every night. The first night we were able to have a beautiful family style dinner at an Italian restaurant close to the center of the city. It was the best I’ve eaten my entire semester and I doubt it will be topped anytime soon. There was this dish with penne and veal which completely blew my mind. It was the perfect combination of this kind of dirt taste with sweet cheese soaked up into perfectly cooked pasta. The small amount left in the bowl above, didn’t last very long after I took the picture. The next night we went to this awesome bar/restaurant/boules-arena. The food was amazing for sure. Never ever underestimate polenta, I will say that. It was this creamy grainy stuff with dill that just blew me away. And that was before I put it on a piece of bread. After dinner, DIS was even more generous and allowed us to get dessert! I didn’t turn down that offer.

After getting back to Stockholm, there was one more field study and it really blew me away. We visited FrysHusset. The building was originally a meat packing facility. Today, it’s a community center, social service, and social program production center all rolled into one. The work they were doing really touched me on a few levels. The level I will be talking about is the social working held there. The program we got to see extensively was Exodus: a program focused on rehabilitating radicalized individuals, whether this be organized crime, alt-right extremist, or other violent offenders. A professional social worker would meet the individual (almost always convicts coming out of prison looking to assimilate successfully), and give them a better understanding of the situation they’re facing. This wasn’t only socially, with the stigma that faces any convict, but even more so the internal problem. Self understanding and emotional intelligence are pivotal skills that some individuals may not have ever learned. Radicalized individual’s first reaction to adversity can be violence and anger. The professional tries to show them another way, a way that will allow the former criminal to make a better life for themselves.

Sorry, I took so long to get this to you all. It has been a busy week with the trip and the work I had to catch up on. I hope everyone liked the post even if it was a little long. If you’re interested, you can check out some of the other student bloggers to see how their experiences differed from my own. I’ll talk to you again. Take care y’all.

This time around my excursion into Stockholm was for a class. Last week was exciting for a few reasons: first full week of classes, some Swedish snow, and the beautiful act of laundry to name a few. But, I think the best thing to show off for anybody reading is my first field study in Stockholm. This past Wednesday, I went to the Royal Palace with my Swedish Language and Culture class. This is the palace that housed the Swedish monarch for more than a millennia, although there have been renovations. It was a fascinating place and the guide made it even better, spouting fact after fact or detail after detail about every aspect of the palace, its design, and its furnishings. Additionally, getting some insider stories about the Swedish monarch made the Swedish crown a possible subject to a TV series.

This is where we entered the castle. It was a brisk walk up some truly gorgeous steps. The exact same steps that dignitaries from all over the European world would have had to walk to meet the King or Queen. The steps were these massive slabs of stone surrounded by marble covered walls with the most fine details etched into the accents of the interior architecture. It was really something special. In the U.S. we don’t have a royal family, or the artifacts left behind from a monarch like this. Seeing the true amount of opulence that was used to inspire the sort of power necessary to hold and maintain power over a country of people was staggering. Our guide spoke about power and how it has been used as a tool to cement the authority of the crown, not only domestically but to surrounding countries as a way to stave off invasion. If someone came to meet with you and felt like they were equal, what would keep them from thinking they could take it all away. It was unbelievable how much thought was put into making the royals at a higher level than everyone else. There were even dinners where people couldn’t sit or eat, but were invited to simply stand and watch the royal family eat and have conversation. This was an honor people wanted, even when that dinner could last four hours and have 32 courses.

Today, the royal family no longer acts as the face of the country. Similarly to Britain, the Royal Family has no political power and doesn’t vote in any political affair. Even more shockingly, they aren’t allowed to have an opinion that differs from the political outlook of the government. The Swedish people’s opinions about the crown are mixed to say the least. The days are long gone when Sweden cared about opulence and displays of power. People have even greater feelings that tax dollars (or Krona) every year go to the family and the palace to maintain the artifacts of the past. Some traditions even still remain today. The King sits at the banquet table (which they hold multiple times a year) with an extra table cloth under their plate. This comes from the old tradition that the king would sit at an elevated level to his guest. Today it is by about a millimeter thanks to that tablecloth. I completely understand that the Royal Family is an artifact of the past similar to all the pieces of royalty in the palace, but I would say the Palace is basically a museum. They’re not funding a family that spends tax dollars on a Bentley or a Ferrari. They’re the spiritual face of the nation. Also, they almost certainly bring a lot of tourist dollars into the country. The guide also mentioned that many of the traditions of yesteryear are slowly being phased out. Sweden is ever changing and so is their royalty.

After literally anything in Sweden, there is only one thing left to do: Fika! We all took a small walk over to this wonderful little cafe overlooking an old square. This wasn’t the usual location of the place, but thanks to a water leak we were given a once in a lifetime chance. The entire little restaurant had been moved two floors up in this gorgeous little building. I was too excited about the prospect of DIS treating us all to coffee and something to eat that I didn’t get any pictures, but the spiral staircase with an old fashioned elevator in the middle is ingrained in my mind. Talk about European goals. After taking our seats we were allowed to peruse a few of the options for sustenance. My eyes immediately trained upon a Semla. This distinctly Swedish treat that I had seen everywhere but never had a chance to try. It was delicious. The bread was much less sweet than I expected, but the whipped cream added just the right amount of moisture and hint of sweetness to make me a very happy camper. Additionally, the middle was filled with this sweet almond butter that was the perfect surprise.

It was a truly amazing first week. I would have never gotten to see what this field study showed me. The guided tour was fascinating, funny, informational, and actually pretty awe-inspiring. I got to have awesome political discussions with peers and new friends. I was able to eat a dessert that I had been dying try to in a place that was to die for. (See what I did there?) I am so excited to see what else Stockholm has to show me. Do you know what’s the best thing about these Field Studies? I have them basically every week I’m here and have class. Thanks for reading. Onto the next one!

First week down and a lot has happened! This week was based around orientation with the program and orienting myself with this beautiful new city. The first few days had a large amount of culture shock (although I use the term lightly) and awe for all the stark changes I saw, but that’s lessened. That isn’t to say the city has become common place but the little pieces of familiarity have come out and started to bloom. The public transport, the people, and the consumerism are really keeping me grounded. (Don’t worry, it will make sense.)

Public transport in Stockholm is truly a blessing. I’ve only ever really used one public transportation system, being the one run under New York City. The system in Stockholm  is called SL and I can only think of ways it’s better than home. I’ve mainly been using the metro/subway (or the Tunnelbanan), but the SL system covers any sort of transit including buses, commuter trains, and even ferry’s. With the program, we get this transit card that covers unlimited travel on any of the services in the system. At first this network of transport is vast, non-nonsensical, and scary. But that all changed after a few trips and the pressure of commuting. Missing a stop changes a metro into a simple, although very scary, game of finding your way back. Once you play that game and win, you will know your way around. Let’s just say, I played that game early in my week. It was a scary moment that lasted about 10 minutes. Names you don’t know and colors that determine the line can be a lot to stare at, too much stimulus only adding to your confusion and anxiety. However, taking a train one stop backwards is not the end of the world and can be worked out pretty easy. That’s something I know and that’s something that feels just like home. Never fear, the metro is here. And it is easy.

The people at first seem perfect, too perfect even, but after a little time they open up and show their human side. When you get here, there’s an instant change in people surrounding you. Everyone is independent, capable, and speak English basically perfectly. (Which can feel awful when you don’t speak a lick of Swedish.) Also, they are extremely fashionable. Wait, I might not be making my point. If it isn’t coming across, they’re a little (extremely) intimidating. You feel out of place very distinctly and mostly accurately. You don’t belong here; that’s okay and important to realize, but palpable and quite a shock. It takes a while for you to come to terms with your difference. After you do, the people stop being so scary and start to become as interesting as they truly are. You’ll never guess, Swedish people are… at the end of the day… if you’ll believe it… people. Additionally, they are kind people. This guy above was yelling in Swedish in a little market in a consumer district of Stockholm by the Hotorget station of the Tunnelbanan. He was selling fruit. I ran over to take a picture of the stand and its background. I mean, look at those lights. As soon as he sees me, he stops yelling, faces me, and puts up a “knarley” sign. It was fantastic. After getting the picture, I run to catch up with friends, yelling “tack so mycket” with a big smile on my face. He is one of millions of people that live in Stockholm. One in millions of pictures, thanks, and knarley signs yet to be had.

New York City is a big city and an even bigger city for shopping, but Stockholm has not left me wanting in the slightest. There is a massive presence of shops, both high end and low, all over the city. There is something extremely comforting about window shopping boutiques and little boogie restaurants based on new culinary trends as I walk down the street. I hate to say it, but capitalism is comforting. It is a pivotal part of the westernized (and really any) culture in the world. Coming to Europe, I wasn’t thinking about shopping and I’m still not. However, having this presence makes it feel like home. I first realized it because of commercials. On the first train I got on, there was a commercial for Molly’s Game and some Swedish animated movie. There are movies people are gonna go see, there are kids movies that parents get dragged to and have to sit through, there are people that have to put those signs up. This kind of culture made things feel less alien and unknown. It works the same here as it does at home, so will everything else. I was even able to find a little Time Square pictured above. It doesn’t get captured it in the picture; there were screens all over and shops walling the intersection. I was overcome in such a familiar way. I don’t mean to get cheesy, but holm didn’t feel so far away.

Day 2 and I am completely blown away by this city, my new dorm, and the people I will be living with for the next four months. Today was a big day for two main reasons, groceries and my first excursion. Let’s just say, they did not disappoint whatsoever. The day started with a brunch we made as group, guided by our SRAs to some extent with information about the dorm and kitchen. (Some of our neighbors also came to give us some insider information about the dorm that one can only get from living here for a while; this is something you only get from a Studentboende.) This was interesting after dinner yesterday night when students were cooking alongside Vincent and Moa (the SRAs). This time the kitchen was ours and the students took the lead, making oatmeal, eggs, and, for the adventurous two, making pancakes with ingredients they couldn’t read and an uncharted and foreign metric system. It was a lot of fun if not a bit hectic having everyone hands on all at once. None the less, it was a great start to our first full day in Stockholm.

After Brunch was free time, but free time isn’t free when you’re Adulting (trademark pending). After unpacking, I looked at the group me and found that some people had planned to go grocery shopping. The kitchen was set up to be the meeting point and one hour later we were off. Nine of us headed out for a trip the ICA (pronounced like eekah), the local grocery store where our stipend from the program is accepted. It’s kind of a big deal here in Stockholm. There are two main options: the one right across the street which is awesome to have, or the one a small walk away with apparently some more variety and a slight decrease in prices. We easily opted for the second with the added benefit of a little adventure. A ten minute walk down and around a corner took us right to it: a kind of mysterious wonderland of ignorance. Everything was completely new, even the bread isle was something to decipher and investigate, and don’t get me started on yogurt. It took forever to look through all the options and even longer to understand what each small variation in the name meant for the final product you will be consuming. “Oh wait, this yogurt has a ‘Letty’ in front of it meaning it’s low-fat and probably won’t taste great.” Every section was a new world to explore and it was honestly a ton of fun. Having other people there really helped make it a great experience as a opposed to a chore or nightmare. They gave me some perspective in my ignorance (“this isn’t just me”), was shocked by what I was shocked by, and marveled at what I marveled. Plus we gave each other directions to what we needed to find. But don’t worry, this scary adventure didn’t satiate us. We needed more.