First Day of School

I just got home from my Welfare Policies and Management masters program informational meeting. This was my first program-specific meeting - we met the program directors, a few professors, and all 20 of my new colleagues. I'm a little overwhelmed. My mind is swimming with textbooks to buy, school supplies to assemble, readings to find and print out, and just how I will do another thesis next year.

I can't believe I'm starting grad school. I always knew I would eventually study further than my bachelor's but this is a bit sooner than expected. The program is a bit like what I imagine a Social Work and Public Policy degree might be at the University of Minnesota. It includes courses on economics, political science, sociology, social work, and tons of research methodology.

The way the program is set up - and I think some of this is typical in Sweden but I'm not sure - is that you have two semesters per year. Just like in the US, there's Fall Term and Spring Term. BUT, during each term you have two "courses." The first "course" runs from August to late October, the second October to January. So at one time you focus on only one "course." However, each course is very broad. For our first course, "Welfare Regimes in Transition," we will have 3 professors and 500 pages of reading. Then onto Research Methodology in October. We have only about 8 hours of class per week, which seems pathetically little to me, but I've heard that there is quite a bit of group work.

I hope I enjoy the program. It may not necessarily be my very first choice in all the world. Yet Lund is very highly rated in the EU and the world. It is by far the best University in Sweden and it's quite prestigious. This degree program is new and interdisciplinary and very interesting. I hope that I made the right move to transition from job hunting to grad school, all the while improving my Swedish to make me a better job candidate down the road (and for fun of course!).

When I think of these things - Did I make the right decision? Should I have done this? I remind myself that I admire people whose life story is interesting, with twists and turns and time for exploration. I admire people who take chances and really live the journey rather than focus exclusively on one singular goal down the road. This quite from Steve Jobs sums up my life view right now:

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future," told Standford University graduates during a commencement speech in 2005. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

The End of Summer

The short-lived summer is nearly over for us in Sweden. Today is August 7th, and I know that our sunny days on the balcony won't last long.

The other indicator of the oncoming autumn is our last set of summer visitors! Dan's parents arrived last week. We spent our first few days in Lund, letting them get over the worst of the jet lag and catch up with Dan. We did sightsee a bit - one of the perks of having visitors is seeing your own city and region in a different light. In Malmö, the nearest big city, we were able to do a nice boat tour of the city's canals. We've enjoyed lovely outdoor lunches and leisurely dinners as a family.

Then we flew to Norway! We began in Oslo, which was far more beautiful and fun to be in than I expected. The restaurants are good (although painfully painfully expensive), the people friendly, and the sights clean and safe. I keep saying that Norway is Sweden prettier more friendly cousin. The languages are so similar I can understand most Norwegian, but people seem to be a little nicer overall. Better restaurant service too!

From Oslo we took crazy train rides and multiple boat rides into the fjords. Today we're in Balestrand but getting ready to head to our final destination, Bergen. We have hiked and canoed and had a bit of a relaxing time. I'm really enjoying myself, and enjoying getting to know my future-in-laws as well.

Once we get home, I'll jump back into Swedish classes and also into my masters program!