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HoSt family life<br />
Students will develop many relationships while<br />
on the <strong>STS</strong> program. The relationship with the<br />
student’s host family is the heart of the cultural<br />
exchange, and will likely be the most important<br />
part of the exchange. The <strong>STS</strong> staff makes<br />
every effort to place students with families that<br />
will complement the students’ personalities and<br />
interests.<br />
Just as flexibililty is an important attribute for<br />
the host family, it is even more important for<br />
the student as a visitor. <strong>STS</strong> students are expected<br />
to make every possible effort to adjust<br />
to the differences between life in the pro-<br />
18<br />
”The classmates I had were the best<br />
classmates ever. Each one of them helped<br />
me with school and they never let me be<br />
alone. I just had to get to know them,<br />
and then we were all comfortable around<br />
each other. This year was definitely better<br />
than I had expected it to be.<br />
Homesickness was hard to get through at<br />
the beginning of the year, but as time<br />
went on I felt more at home in Sweden.<br />
Still, earlier in the year I had to<br />
think positive. Thinking positive and<br />
talking to my friends and host family<br />
got me through the homesickness. Living<br />
with a new family took some time getting<br />
used to. I had to adjust to their rules,<br />
food, and culture. My host parents did<br />
not have strict rules. Their main rules<br />
WWW.<strong>STS</strong>-educaTion.com<br />
gram country and his or her home country.<br />
For example, all family members usually have<br />
specific household chores and responsibilities.<br />
All family member share the tasks that keep a<br />
home running smoothly. Chores are assigned<br />
to both males and females, young children and<br />
teenagers, as well as the students.<br />
No two <strong>STS</strong> families are alike. <strong>STS</strong> seeks host<br />
families who wish to open their homes to an international<br />
student and who want the student<br />
to become a member of their family. However,<br />
students must be prepared to accept that their<br />
host families may be considerably different<br />
from their natural families.<br />
were: to stay safe, be responsible, be<br />
respectful, clean up after myself, and<br />
have fun. The Swedish desserts are to<br />
die for! They are absolutely amazing!<br />
In the Swedish culture, people take<br />
things one step at a time, and the people<br />
are open about many things. When they<br />
felt like they could be open around me<br />
then they were open, and they loved to<br />
talk. I encourage everyone who wants to<br />
stand out and learn, to be an exchange<br />
student. Sweden has taught me so much<br />
about itself and myself. I will always<br />
remember Sweden as the year I found<br />
myself, I found who I am.”<br />
Olivia on exchange in Sweden
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