A View from the Swedish Countryside
Name: Haley Person | Majors: Public Health, Biology | Semester: Summer 2025
May 11th, 2025, I boarded a plane at XNA, completely unaware that I was entering one of the most defining periods of my life. Around twenty hours later, I opened the door to my hotel room in Jonkoping, Sweden, and looked around at my home for the next two weeks of my life. Quickly swept into Swedish culture, the night was a blur of dinner, conversation, candy, and gelato. I practically collapsed in my bed as my first day came to an end.
I spent a total of three weeks in the Swedish summer, two weeks in a quaint university town not unlike Fayetteville called Jonkoping and a third week in the capital city of Stockholm. Sweden’s world-renowned universal healthcare system made the decision to apply for this faculty-led experience easy. As someone interested in global health with a commitment to equitable healthcare, I felt like going to Sweden to study comparative health would be a fitting experience, aligning with both my career and personal goals.
While in Jonkoping, I attended classes with my cohort at Jonkoping University in addition to vising sites in the community, such as a pre-school, public and private clinics, rehabilitation facilities, and more. My favorite lecture was one that emphasized the importance of interprofessional communication and cooperation. I appreciated the interactive activities that the lecturer incorporated into the presentation, and it was the first time many of us had the courage to speak in front of the group, which went a long way in making us more comfortable with each other. My favorite site visit was when we visited a local pre-school, where we learned about the Swedish education system, as well as the social and healthcare benefits afforded to parents, all baffling to me. I can’t imagine a world where daycare is free and parents get 480 days of parental leave per child per year, but this is completely normal in Swedish society.
We took several excursions throughout this experience. The first week, we hiked through Hassafall, overflowing with lucious waterfalls and greenery. We made a small fire to roast hot dogs and shared chips and candy, bonding over tired bodies and beautiful views. From Jonkoping, we took a bus to Granna and from there, a ferry to Visingso, a small island within Lake Vattern. Visingo was absolutely gorgeous, and we spent the day biking through the enchanting Swedish countryside. During our week in Stockholm, we were able to take a day trip to Uppsala, a city steeped in history. While in Uppsala, we visited the home and garden of Carl Linneas, the father of modem taxonomy. After learning about his work in my Evolutionary Biology course during the Spring semester, I was completely captivated by the feeling of being surrounded by scientific history. I even had the opportunity to pick up a few post cards in the gift shop to give to my favorite professors!
My entire study abroad experience exceeded all of my expectations, but the most surprising aspect would be the relationships I fostered within three weeks. The friends I made within my cohort are the type of people I feel like I’ve known for my entire life. They inspire me, uplift me, and finally make me feel like I’m not alone in college. The last night of the trip, we all gathered in one person’s room and sat in a circle. One by one, we honored each person, telling them why we love and admire them. We laughed. We cried. We reflected on how we were all new people. My turn was one of the most cathartic experiences of my life. Each and every person was so special, so kind, and so worthy of accomplishing all their dreams. I can’t wait to see them outside of Sweden, as normal people, siting together in class or studying at Mullins.