Our Rotary Youth Exchange student is from Uppsala, located north of Stockholm. His siblings consist of an older sister and his twin sister. The secondary school he attended at home was founded in 1246. School schedules are more like our college schedules. Classes vary in length and don't meet every day. There can be free time in between classes and students walk around town. Students start learning English at age 6 and pick a third language to study at age 12. There are entrance examinations to attend secondary schools and each school has an academic or vocational focus. Every student with greater than 80% attendance is given the equivalent of $185 monthly. After completing secondary school, every student must serve one year in the military.

 

Joel is very active with scouting in Sweden and has joined a scouting troop here. His favorite scouting activity so far is attending an international scouting jamboree in South Korea, where more than 200 countries were represented. Sweden is 80% forest land and outdoor activities are beloved. Sweden is unique in that it has a "right to roam" law that allows hiking and camping on all lands, public or private. His scout group does lots of hiking, camping, and sailing.

 

Families in Sweden have a "summer house" that is quite primitive. Joel's house was built by his great-grandparents and has no plumbing or insulation. His entire extended family gathers at the house, especially at the end of summer where they share a traditional crayfish dinner. Some well-known Swedish foods in addition to crayfish are meatballs, lingonberry jam, blood sausage, and saffron buns.

 

Unique Swedish celebrations include St Lucia Day marking the middle of winter and the Midsummer celebration where dancing around Maypoles is the main festivity.