A typical school week in Stockholm is quite unlike my typical week at Hamilton. It is refreshing, yet strange to have such a different pace in school and life.
Breakfast & Commute
I normally eat breakfast around 7:00 or 7:30. The commute takes around 40 minutes, but I usually start off for school one hour before my first class, just to be on the safe side. During the commute, I study Swedish vocabulary, read a book, look at the city scenery, or observe people on the subway. I try to avoid the rush hour if I can (8AM-9AM), since the subway gets very crowded.
Classes & Schoolwork
I am taking four courses at SSE. With the exception of Swedish Language I, each class meets once a week for three hours, which feels LONG at times! The class size is around 10-20 students, and because of this small size, the lectures are much more engaging and interactive than I had expected.
#1. Swedish Language I [M, W 10:30-12:00]
In this class, we learn basic Swedish, including pronunciation, grammar, vocabularies, and sentences. I find the class really useful, as our instructor teaches us words and phrases applicable to real life. Now, I know how to introduce myself, be polite, ask simple but important questions (Var är toaletten? or Where is the toilet?), and order fika.
This week, we went on a study visit to COOP, which is one of the biggest supermarket chains in Sweden. ICA and Lidl are also commonly found in the city. We studied words related to grocery shopping, and learned some fun food facts.
#2. Comparative Public Policy [M 12:30 – 15:30]
This is a class where we talk in-depth about the policies and issues in Sweden and the European Union, including welfare, migration crisis, and Brexit. The class is open to SSE students outside the Swedish Program, so we have two students from Sweden and two students from Hong Kong joining us. We will be writing policy briefing papers as our assignments, which I am very excited about! I will be doing my first briefing on GDPR, since I am interested in technology policy.
This week, we spent the first half of class studying the political theories behind European integration, such as neofunctionalism, intergovernmentalism, and institutionalism. Then, we went on a study visit to Stockholm University to take a look at their library and research facilities, and ate pizza afterwards. It is nice that study visits and guest lectures are incorporated into the Swedish Program classes.
#3. Economics of European Integration [Tu 9:00 – 12:00]
In this class, we learn about the European economic integration. Topics we touch on include international trade, Euro and single-currency, and the financial crisis.
This week, we went over the Ricardian model, which shows the benefits of trade due to comparative advantage. We then studied the specific factors model that illustrated how there are winners and losers in trade. I like how this model made me think about redistribution.
#4. Energy and Environmental Economics [Th 10:00 – 13:00]
This class deals with the economics behind the management of energy resources. I’ve been amazed at how much impact the energy sector had on the economy, and vice versa, as we looked into the shale revolution, pricing and regulation in energy resources, and environmental policies.
This week, we went over game theory, and observed how models related to oligopolies and duopolies can be applied to cartels such as OPEC. We also learned about the oil market, and the professor explained why properties of oil such as density and sweetness/sourness mattered even in economics, as they can impact the cost of oil refinement.
#5. Study Spaces near SSE
Although I do most of my work at home, I sometimes go to the SSE Library and Stadsbiblioteket (City Library) if I need to stay in the city for longer. In both libraries, the books are organized in a circular fashion, which I find very pretty. The SSE Library has magazines such as Harvard Business Review and The Economist that you can browse while you are there. I made a library card at Stadsbiblioteket, so I occasionally check out English books to read during my commute.
Family Time & After-school Activities
I am living with a Swedish host family (students can choose between living in private apartments with other Swedish Program students or with a host family), so I spend a lot of time with them at home. They invite me to family activities including grocery shopping, parties, school plays, and sports events. I am teaching one of the children how to program in Python, and it has been a good bonding activity for both of us. We eat breakfast and dinner together, and I sometimes cook with them. Some of the favorite dishes that we had are seafood (cod, salmon, shrimp), goulash, Kimchi, and homemade ice cream (blueberry, lime, and chocolate flavors)!
Additionally, I attend events organized by SASSE (Student Association at Stockholm School of Economics), go to SATS (a gym chain in Stockholm), hang out with friends, and relax in my room. Every Tuesday and Sunday, I go to a nearby English-speaking church in the city. The Swedish Program often organizes evening activities, such as a walking tour, historic pub tour, and opera show, and the city itself is full of things to do, so you can never be bored in Stockholm! During the next few days, I will be participating in various technology events around the city, so you can look forward to another blog post regarding those!
