What inspired you to go abroad?
Despite being half Swedish, my parents made no attempt to bring me up bilingual, so learning Swedish fell to me to organize. Sadly my mum's father lost a lot of his English due to dementia in the last few years of his life, and being able to communicate with family—as well as Brexit happening—really inspired me that learning Swedish was what I really wanted to do.
Musical Theatre performance at the farewell dinner
Why did you choose your Uppsala International Summer Session (UISS)?
Due to Swedish's lack of global influence as a language, I found it quite difficult to locate language programs that I could fit alongside my university studies. UISS taking place over the summer has made it fairly easy to attend for the last two summers. I was also drawn to the fact that not only did we have language lessons, but that there were cultural afternoon classes, field trips, and lots of weekend and evening activities as well!
What was your favorite part about Uppsala?
Uppsala is a wonderful place to stay! Attending for three weeks in 2017 was the first time I had traveled by myself, and I was initially nervous, but Uppsala is such an easy city to navigate that it felt like home within a week. Not only is it a stunning location, but there's also shops, cinemas, bars, and clubs which meant we were never bored after school!
What made your experience abroad unique?
One thing that I was surprised by in my first summer at UISS was how much it felt like a large family. It sounds cliche, but to see people from all around the world, with a variety of cultural, political, and religious backgrounds come together with a common goal of learning Swedish was truly a wonderful thing, and I've known no other place like it!
Celebrating Midsummer
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The staff at UISS are AMAZING! They balance organizing a smoothly run course, looking after students, and having fun for a whole summer—always with smiles on their faces! I don't know how they do it, but I'm in awe!
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
The only thing I would have changed about either of my summers in Uppsala is staying longer. Unfortunately I was only able to attend the last three weeks in 2017, and even though I extended that for six weeks in 2018, I would still have loved to stick around for the whole nine!!
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
The language classes start at 8:30 a.m., and last until 12:30 a.m.—with a fika break mid morning of course! Afternoon classes are between 1:45 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.. Classes take place Monday - Thursday. There are often activities in the evening. On Fridays we went on field trips to a variety of places, and there are opportunities to go on mini breaks over a few of the weekends.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
Uppsala is a student city, and we were given student IDs so that we could make use of the cheaper food and drinks in the student bars. There are a wide variety of student places, from chilled out pubs to a nightclub, so there was something to suit everyone!
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
The accommodation has a perfect location, right in the middle of the city centre, and less than 10 minutes walk away from the school (very useful with the early mornings). Having an en-suite and kitchenette was really useful, and the rooms really do feel like home after a few weeks there!
Group of people dramatically posing with lights shining
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
The language learning is fun and very rewarding, but make sure you leave time to get to know the people from the course, as you'll get a chance to meet some truly amazing people!
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
Both of my summers in Uppsala have had a huge impact on my life. Not only have they convinced me that I would still love to live in Sweden when I am older, but I now have best friends scattered across the globe, whom I keep in contact with regularly, and am confident I will for years to come!
Would you recommend Uppsala International to others? Why?
YES—it's a no brainer, going to UISS will give you the best summer of your life!!
