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INTRODUCTION

Linköpings Universitet

Hej!

This website is a tribute to all my friends whom I had made during my student exchange to Sweden last year from 31st July 2003 to 2nd February 2004..

Little did I expect that I could spend six of the most meaningful months of my life studying and living in a totally different environment than that of Singapore’s! Those months were a wonderful experience and completely changed my view of life and the world. However, all good things have to come to an end. Before I knew it, I had returned to Singapore with those wonderful experience and the friendships I had forged. It was tough initially getting used to a totally foreign environment where people do not speak English but converse in mostly Swedish on the streets and eat meals which are very different from Asian fare.

Indeed, there were many great learning opportunities when I was in Sweden. Living in a foreign environment does make one appreciate the importance of having effective communication with people on a regular basis, especially with those who understand your language! That was an important life lesson!

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I didn’t regret going to Sweden for my exchange programme. There, I have learnt a lot academically and picked up a few life lessons along the way during my stay there. These valuable lessons cannot be learnt unless one embarks on this fulfilling programme.

Not only did I get a chance to live overseas for an extended period and learn about the culture and lifestyle of a foreign place (something which a travel tour could not offer), I also made a number of good friends as well. The friendships and acquaintances made during my stay over there were probably the best things I took away from this experience. I got to know both Swedish friends and many others of different nationalities. During my language and engineering classes, I had for the first time in my life talked to Spaniards, German, Australians, Lithuanians, Czech and also made friends with my fellow Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese and Vietnamese exchange students. Because all of us are exchange students without a family to go back to after class, we were very close as a group and provided support and companionship throughout our stay. Although parting at the end of it all was rather sad, but we do keep in touch still and remember the unforgettable times we spent in Sweden. Such friendships will go a long way.

From my personal experience, I feel Sweden is a wonderful place to go for an exchange programme. The Swedes are very warm and hospitable. And there is so much to see and experience in the culture there. I also got the opportunity to taste some of their traditional food fare like the Swedish smorgasbord, kottbullars (meatballs) and smoked elk.

I have come back home gaining more than I sacrificed for my time spent during my stay in Linköping. My experience abroad was once of a lifetime. I look back and I now realize what a wonderful opportunity I had. I would do it again if I could!