By Lara Walder

At the beginning of this March, three of our Year 6 students had the opportunity to visit a school in Vasteras, Sweden for their Erasmus trip! So, after 4 flights, 5 days, 5 lessons and a kilo of candy, here is what they discovered about student life in Scandinavia… 

A Dchool PRISON?

Think of our school, but multiply it by 6. Maybe even 7. That’s roughly the size of this school in Vasteras, with cooler facilities and trophies of achievements on practically every wall!

The students were fascinated by the separate buildings for each of the different courses, and the separate building for the gym (which also had an underground museum with A HUMAN SKELETON?). However, what caught their attention the most was the school prison…

Don’t worry! It’s not in use anymore, but it was interesting to see the methods of punishment this school used to use… I wonder if this encouraged students to actually do their homework… 

The Swedish government is… Generous??

Imagine getting paid to go to school… Wouldn’t that motivate you to go to your lessons? Wouldn’t you be so happy to pick up your wallet, and actually not be broke? (Yes, I’m talking to you)… That’s what these students are given, no wonder they are so happy to be at school! 

Seriously, the Cyprus government should really be taking notes, because what could motivate you more than a monthly allowance simply by attending classes for 6 hours? 

On top of that, Swedish schools have free buffet-style lunches! These students were equally shocked by the fact that we don’t and that most people wait until after school to eat a meal! 

“Wow, I couldn’t imagine not eating in school, I would starve!” 

Ikea Meatballs and more! 

Our Year 6 students absolutely STUFFED themselves with Swedish meatballs, lingonberries and a concerning amount of candy on this trip and the CRAZIEST burgers known to mankind! The best part… It was all funded by Erasmus! 

“Thank you Erasmus for my nutella and whipped cream pancakes!” 

We must say, the Swedish meatballs that were eaten during Erasmus must’ve been better than the ones that they serve in Ikea, and that’s saying something! 

The Swedish students and the flared pants virus…

I think I’ve seen more flared pants in that school alone than anywhere else in my entire life, it seemed that every single girl in this school wore some kind of flared pants: 

“I think this trend started… Maybe, two years ago?”

Despite this virus of bell bottom pants, I can’t lie that every single one of these girls had an undeniably impeccable fashion sense and were equally friendly and helpful. We felt so welcomed by them and it was definitely an amazing opportunity being able to discuss with them about the different ways of life in Sweden compared to Cyprus through the perspective of girls just like ourselves!