Wednesday August 1^st 

Well it’s officially my birthday month! LOL I like to celebrate all month long and enjoying the last half of my trip in Sweden is the perfect kick-off! Today we had class for about 2 hours this morning, we had another guest speaker come in, Maria, and she is a teacher here in the Swedish public school system. She talked to us in detail about the differences between the Swedish and American systems. We’ve previously learned that kids do not start school until they are 7 years old, and they start right at 1^st grade.  A few of the major differences that stood out to me are that when students move from middle school to high school which starts here at 10^th grade, they pick a “track” to focus on. For example, music, medical, technology, theater, or technical (beauty or mechanics), there are 16 tracks total and the students will still be required to take some general ed type courses but most of their courses will focus on what they want to study in later on in college. Allowing students to focus mainly on their strengths and interests. Maria also shared with us that as teachers they each are assigned a group of students that are separate from their class, where they act as mentors to these students through their graduation. Also, during the parent/teacher conferences that happen once per semester, are mainly run by the students, the students work with their teachers and mentor to prepare goals and outline their achievements, and this is what they talk about with the parents during the meeting. The student shares their accomplishments and where they are currently in all their classes, and they also share and outline their goals and where they want to be. I found this to be quite interesting, as it really calls for a lot of self-responsibility on the students part and allows the teachers and mentors to guide the students and see them through so they meet their goals. I really like the idea of students having their own goals verses goals set by the teachers, as we know every student is different and wont take the same path throughout their education. I don’t think the Swedish system is perfect, but it certainly has some encouraging traits.  After hearing from Maria, we moved onto a discussion around Swedenborg who was a Swedish scientist and philosopher, he is a controversial figure due to the dreams and visions he claimed to have experienced coming from the Lord and also angels, demons and sprits in order to reform Christianity. Swedenborg was a great opening to an interesting debate between everyone in the class on religious beliefs. In our class we have people from Venezuela, Cuba, Columbia and all throughout the US (Chicago, New York, Florida, etc.) and it was interesting to hear everyone interpretation on their beliefs and how they grew up knowing religion. 

After a full class we had lunch, which was a delicious fried fish, and then we all split in to groups and went to the local Antique shop and into town to see the flea market that was set up in the center of one of the squares. The flea market wasn’t big, like the ones that are back home in Orlando on the weekends, but it had it’s charm. There were some beautiful flowers and orchids for sale. 

This evening some of us pitched in and helped the Lovewell staff set up at the theater for the big opening night on Friday of The Women of White Chapel, about Jack the Ripper. I helped pain some of the sets and backdrops. The students are getting really excited and there is a little anxious energy in the air. 

Tomorrow I am headed to Blå Jungfrun, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea. It’s said to be a very evil and magical place and witches often visit. There is a recommendation that you don’t take anything from the island back home with you, as it will cause bad luck. People have taken rocks in the past and have mailed them back with letters explaining all their misfortunes. I’m not sure I believe all that, but I’ll leave the rocks there just to be safe. Who knows what will happen….

Tuesday July 31^st 

Today in class we reviewed the Lovewell process and our professor shared some past stories of best practices in working with the students. Also, Janna one of the students in out class is an expert on the Alexander Technique, so she hosted a short session with us. 

What the Alexander Technique does is teach you how to observe your body and it’s movement and identifies ways to improve it. For example how you stand, or sit or, hold your head or hands. Once you identify, you work to improve it in order to get your body back to its natural comfortable movement so you can release tension within your body. It’s been shown to have a positive effect with folks who have been “mis-using” their bodies throughout a period of time. Its very interesting stuff. One of the best examples I think Janna gave was comparing the Alexander Technique to Physical Therapy, in an example of someone who broke their right leg and having a cast on it, well other parts of the body will compensate for the leg being out of commission and can cause strain on those parts working in overdrive. When you go to physical therapy after an injury you learn to strengthen the injured part, in this case the right leg, but no time is spent on working with the left leg or the hip or the parts that had to make up during the injury…this is where the Alexander Technique comes in. 

Monday July 30^th 

Today I enjoyed the traditional Swedish breakfast as usual, and then we all headed to our classroom. We dipped into some Quantum theory discussion and overview with the materials we were given.

After class we enjoyed lunch, over looking the beautiful green grounds of the school. Next I went into town and walked around, it was a colder rainy day today so there wasn’t much going on. I did get a chance to enjoy some Fika at the famous bakery again, Konditori Flanaden. I had to have another taste of the flakey almond bar; it was even better the second time! It rained on and off the rest of the day, which made it yet another perfectly cozy day back at the school and the best weather for sleeping.