Name: Katsuki Nakazato

Course: Home Economics Education (Undergraduate)

Study Abroad Period: September 2024 - May 2025

Host University: Uppsala University, Sweden

Sweden, What Comes to Mind?

When you hear "Sweden," what comes to mind? "Is Santa from Sweden? It must be cold there. Can you see the Northern Lights? Beautiful blond people. Famous for its generous social welfare. Cutting-edge Nordic education..." For me, Sweden had always been somewhat vague. Ever since I said "Finland" when my mother asked which country I wanted to visit as a child, I had only known that Sweden was nearby. In high school, I became interested in Nordic education, so my impression was simply, "Sweden and Finland seem to have impressive education systems." However, actually going there, I found it to be a wonderful country, full of diversity. People speak English fluently, as if it were their native language. IKEA was a place for everyday furniture and household goods. The people cared deeply about sustainability and nature. The café culture, called fika, was a significant part of life.

Classes at Uppsala University

I spent my days reflecting deeply on my field of study. Like in Japan, Uppsala University has a two-semester system, but the academic year begins with the autumn term. Each semester is divided into two periods, with 2-3 courses per period. Each course meets once or twice a week, which is very different from Japanese universities where students might have over 15 classes a week. Because classes are fewer, a lot of responsibility is placed on the student to make the most of the learning. Specifically, in almost every course, you need to read three or more English-language academic papers per week, internalize the ideas, and come to class with your own opinion about the topics which were in the articles. The course that impressed me most was Education and Teaching, which offered a comprehensive study of the Swedish educational system and its history. Afterward, students could participate in a three-week internship at a local school. By interacting with children firsthand, I understood the relaxed, student-centered approach to education, which fosters independence and respect for oneself and others. Comparing Swedish and Japanese education helped me appreciate the importance of inclusive and diversified learning, while also re-recognizing the strengths of Japanese education.

Daily Life in Uppsala

Student life in Uppsala is enriched by the Nations, student-run organizations. There are 13 Nations, originally formed by students from different parts of Sweden to support each other in times when travel across the country was difficult. Today, they are open to international students and serve as spaces for socializing. Each Nation manages buildings with cafés, pubs, nightclubs, and cultural or sports clubs, as well as offering scholarships and housing support. From the second semester, I became deeply involved in a Nation called Uplands and made many friends there.

I also often spent time outdoors, enjoying barbecues, hiking, and swimming. In Sweden, nature and urban areas are very close to each other, so the natural environment is an important and accessible part of people's daily lives.

What I Gained

I was blessed with many friends. Over the nine months, I was supported by dormmates, friends I met through the Nations, fellow Japanese students, and many others. Beyond friendship, these experiences taught me to be sensitive to my own feelings and pain.

Sweden has roughly ten times the proportion of immigrants compared to Japan, and studying at a university with many international students put me in daily contact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Living in such diversity means navigating conflicts and compromises between different values to create a comfortable environment for everyone. Previously, I thought it natural for others to have different values, and getting hurt by their unintentional actions was nonsense. I also often overlooked my own feelings by framing cultural differences as "interesting." Certainly, not being deeply affected can be a strategy for living in a diverse environment. However, I learned that being insensitive to my own feelings leads to insensitivity to others' feelings. Implicitly, that means imposing one's own values on others. I believe this experience will be invaluable as a teacher. Even sharing nationality or school experience in Japan does not mean students have the same values or common sense. Keeping this in mind will help me engage with each student as an individual.

To All of You Considering Studying Abroad

Take the challenge! First, declare that you want to study abroad. Studying abroad once seemed like a dream to me. I lacked funds, family support, and sufficient language skills. However, once I started expressing my desire out loud, things slowly began to change. Teachers, the GEC, academic staff, and senior students supported me with information on language exams and scholarships. I took responsibility for my declaration by studying and taking action, eventually gaining my family's consent. Life is YOLO (You Only Live Once), and so is student life. If you contact me, I will gladly help and advise as much as I can. Good luck!

Thank you to everyone who supported me before and during my time abroad.