Dishwashing machine, recipes and bird watching

The first time Joelle met Swedish people during the Potluck supper organized by AIV and she got an impression that Swedish people are very kind and talkative people. Before coming to Sweden Joelle applied for a friend family because she wanted to know more about the typical Swedish family. Since she heard before that there are fewer friend families than students she felt very lucky and glad to become a guest student to Ulla and Kjerstin, two charming ladies from Linköping.

Good time and inspiration

She enjoys the time she spends with Ulla and Kjerstin:

- We often have meals together, they prepare a typical Swedish dish and I cook some local food from my country for them. I didn’t have many contacts with people from other countries while living in Singapore. In your own country you feel very comfortable and don’t clearly see the benefits in knowing other cultures. I learned a lot from my friend family while living here and I realized how different people are here and in Asia.

Joelle couldn’t even imagine that grandparents would live separately and take care of themselves in Asia. Although Ulla and Kjerstin belong to the older generation they are both very independent people and really enjoy living on their own.

- During my time in Sweden I really learnt how to be independent and my friend family was my inspiration.

Exploring Swedish nature

Swedish nature was one of those things that Joelle wanted to explore before coming here.

- Sweden is famous for its nature and Swedes really like to spend their time surrounded by nature. Almost everyone has a summer house so they are able to leave the city during the holidays and enjoy the beautiful landscapes and fresh air.

Joelle spends quite a lot of time exploring Swedish forests and meadows.  

 - While most young people I met chose to party all their free time, I like to learn more about Sweden by visiting lovely places around Linköping. Once we went with Kjerstin to nature reserve to observe birds and I‘ve got to know a lot about various kinds of birds. I think that was a really great experience.

Dishwashing machine

While living here Joelle discovered or noticed few peculiar things. One of those was a dishwashing machine.

- When we had a dinner at Kjerstin’s place, the table was laid with all sorts of cutlery and different plates for every course…so many dishes to wash afterwards! After the dinner I was planning to help with all those dishes but to my great disappointment Kjerstin had a dishwashing machine. In Singapore we usually don’t have it at home. I realized then too why our sink in the corridor I live is always full with dishes. We just don’t have a dishwashing machine!

Family, recipes and home

Joelle has just a few weeks left and then she is going back to Singapore. She describes her experience of being a guest student to Kjerstin and Ulla in very warm words:

- All the time I felt my friend family cared about me. Although you don’t really know these people for very long it felt like we had a connection as a family and it was nice to have someone who sincerely cared for you especially when you are here alone. I’ve got a much deeper experience compared to if I would have been partying with some friends and I got to see a typical Swedish home and the way of living. I‘ll try to stay in contact with Ulla and Kjerstin. Of course the recipes, which I took from Kjerstin, will always remind me of my time with my friend family.

 Text and photos, Aiste Mickeviciute, May 2010