University: The linneaus
Major: Business Management
Meet Jessica and Zarah, two new exchange students visiting us at the U from their homes far away in Sweden. Get to know them as I ask about their experiences, and what its like to be away from home.
HC: How old were you when you first learned to speak English?
J: 9
Z: 9, we started in third grade. My first English word was pink!
HC: How was your arrival in America for the semester?
J: We went to New York for one day.
Z: We came right to Scranton after that!
HC: Is this your first time in the US?
J: I’ve been here once.
Z: Twice before!
HC: Were you two friends prior to coming to the US or did this bond you?
J: We are in the same class back home!
HC: What is one of the hardest adjustments you had to make since being here?
Z: Taking multiple classes all at once!
J: That’s a really different thing compared to home, and also that you need to have a car to go anywhere. Back home we take bicycles everywhere!
HC: What is different from universities in Sweden versus universities in America?
J: Smaller classes and the teachers actually know your name. That would never happen in Sweden!
Z: We have small classes back home too, but it depends what courses you’re taking.
HC: Where have you traveled so far?
Z: This past weekend we went to New York.
J: We went to the Mets game, and went shopping in Soho. We went to a rooftop bar and had lunch. We walked a lot and had so much food.
HC: How was navigating yourselves around NY?
J: We got a map!!
Z: took the metro and walked from Soho to the Brooklyn bridge.
J: When we thought we were supposed to go right, we went left and a lot of the time we had to circle around the block.
Z: It was hard to find which was the west or east side.
J: We had to stop at Starbucks every other block to get Wifi to check the maps and take screen shots.
HC: Are you only staying one semester or will you be here a full year?
J: One semester.
HC: After the semester is done do you hope to travel anywhere else?
Z: I’m going right home!
J: Maybe I’ll travel for a week or so with my friends!
HC: Where else in America do you want to visit?
J: I want to go to DC and we talked about Philadelphia and Boston as well.
HC: What is your favorite American food
J: I like sweet potato fries and mac n cheese!
Z: Pizza!
HC: Things you miss most about home?
J: My boyfriend.
Z: My family and my dancing.
HC: Is this a once in a lifetime thing, or do you hope to move to America one day.
J: It would be fun to work here for a while, just 1-2 years, but I want to return home and start a family there.
Z: Same for me!