rimhigh-09

My trip as a exchange student

Introduction

My nerves was actually in a quite good shape even when the days start to count down from weeks just to a couple of days before they would stand right in front of us. But the same day the students arrived to Östersund I could barley breathe. Now after these weeks it feels like;

Why was I so nervous just for this?

Davis Auto Body

I actually think that was the best internship I've done. The people at the shop liked their job! They get to their job with a smile in the morning. They could teach at the same time as they were joking. They maked the ambiance relaxed and good. They first days was quite hard when I didn't knew the words for like surface and stuff.. (quite common words...) but when I started to explain what I was trying to say, he seem to understand it anyway. The internship was just a week there, but I think I learned more that week, that I've done during the months at the Swedish internships. Everyone felt sad when it was time to say good bye. They was a whole bunch of good people, all of them!

Comparing Sweden / USA

Okey, the weather is better! surprised? No. They towns are cooler and stuff like that, but the basic things is better here. The green weed, our warm houses, the food. But I could feel that the people there were better to listen and help each other. Here everyone is just thinking about them selves. Look at the traffic for example. It's cars everywhere but they can still shift files cause they help each other. Here everyone is just thinking: Me first! I think it was very good to live in their system for a couple of weeks, cause now we now that it's not so perfect at it sounds. I mean, you love a country, you go there every vacation you get, but that's just because you know the good places to sleep, eat, swim, clime. what ever.. You don't have to know all the bad stuff behind the walls. One good thing with Sweden is that we don't have so many people who have to live on the street. I feel so sorry for the pore guys. And another good thing is that everyone is welcome to the hospital! I like Sweden, I really do.

Summarize

I think the whole program was a very important time for all of the involved students. It made me build up a new vision about different peoples behavior and how their life looks like. I met a lot of nice people as I hope I'll keep the communication with later. I'm very glad that I was one of the students who could go! I can really recommend this for other students.

The USA trip!

Introduction

Me, and two of my classmates had the opportunity to travel with the school to California, USA this spring. No one of us had a clue of what was coming. I hadn't so big thoughts about America before I went there, most of my expectations came from movies and tv-series. But my expectations would soon be changed! I'll try to give you a gleam of my trip with this letter, but the experience is hard to describe.

Rim of the word high school

The school day started at 7.20 am after our long flight the day before. I was nearly awake when we entered the school building that morning, and at the same second as the door were opened, a whole new school journey begun.

The first thing that we saw were a fight in the corridor, two guys were fighting over a girl. Nice first impression, huh? When the fight was over did we continue our walk to the auto shop were the teachers was waiting.

The rest of the day was an interdiction, we were given id-cards and a walk thro the campus. The other days at Rim were spend with L.J or Ben in there classes. Everything from math to ceramics. My favorite was the foto class. There were many pretty girls and the class were in my interest area. The school system it self were different in many ways, things like our "fika-breaks" didn't exist, and they weren't aloud to leave class before the bell was ringing.

We had many discussions with both teachers and students about the big difference to Sweden, and all the discussions ended with a agreement that the Swedish system wouldn't work in US, and reverse.

My impression of the students was that they were more open, curious and talkative then the Swedish students. Everyone wanted to know how our school was and most of them waved to us in the corridors.

This part of the trip was the most interesting!

Davis auto and body shop

We also had the opportunity to have a week of internship at Joe Black's shop.

I did spend most of the time down with Steve in the painting booth. He was a real nice guy, he took life as it came, at least at work.

The equipment was in many cases, different. Some of theme was the same, but the most part of it was totally new for me. Things like wet sanding weren't used as frequently as we do, but one thing was the same, a nice result.

The atmosphere in the shop was also a bit different, the employers were more open to each other and had more "not work" conversations then we have.

I learned a lot of my week there, maybe more than on other internships that I have had back in Sweden.

Summary

This was a life changing experience!

My thoughts of America are totally changed, both in a school and normal life view. I learned that Sweden is a great country in so many ways, and that some differences are bigger than you can believe. Not that America is bad, but in some areas is Sweden way before them. But the trip did also give me new friends, and the knowledge that the people is almost the same! Everyone should have the opportunity to go, it would change peoples view about us, them and techniques. It still feels weird to leave them just like that, but I will absolutely go back there when I get the chance!    

Over & Out

Daniel   

My Rim High/Davis Experience

Introduction

I was really nervous about the first meeting whit the American students, just because all that I had in my head was that I was going to spend five weeks together whit a guy I never talk to or seen.

I had a big expectation in my head how California would look like and it was exactly how I imagine it.

Rim of the World High School.

The first day we went to the school I had all kinds of thoughts and expectations.

And after that day I was pretty chocked. They have security guards that literally pushed the students into their class rooms. On top of that, if they are in the hall way when they have a class whit out a premonition they have to go to the principal, and Saturday school. So the big difference is that the American school are so much more strict in all kind of way.

I have had a lot discussions whit the family I'm staying whit about the different school systems.

We did come to a conclusion that the Swedish students take more responsibility than the Americans.

About the classes I don't know if it's THAT big of a difference. The thing I notice is that they have a little more theoretical class then we do and a lot of homework. A LOT!

Davis Auto body & Paint

A strange thing is how everything can be so different even if it's the same work.

I spent most of my time together whit the painter Steve and it was really interesting to compeer between the Swedish way of working and the American way. The biggest difference was the way the company got paid from the insurance company. The insurance only paid for as little as possible.   

Comparison Sweden-USA

I didn't think that it would be as big of a difference as it was, i was amazed really!

But I don't know how and what I can say is different.

I guess the biggest thing is the school system, and when we talked about what's different they wore chocked about that we get money to go to school, that all education is free. That sixteen year olds got their own student apartment buy their own.

Final thoughts

When we went from Sweden, I thought that Sweden was not that good of a country, small and boring, but now when I have been In America as a citizens for three weeks I realize that Sweden Is a pretty darn good country to live in.

Not that America is that bad, but we have so much more security both in economy and safety.

This trip have been a true life experience that I'll never forget. To have that possibility to go to a country as a citizen and not a tourist! I love America, but Sweden is one step higher!

                                                                                                                                                 Mattias Johansson