On Friday, March 24, the foreign exchange student from Sweden came to the Sociology classes to take about the difference he sees in Sweden compared to the United States. Henrik Lugia came to the US in August of last year and has been trying to learn the culture fast. Picking up everything he loves and knew, he flew to the US with other Foreign Exchange students and spent some time in New York. From that point he flew to the lovely city of Minneapolis. He has been here in New Ulm for a couple months and he has confirmed to a lot of the students here at New Ulm High School. He says one thing he really enjoys is open lunch. The thing that is hard for him to understand is that the classes are a little bit easier here then they are in Sweden. He also said it is hard to live with a family that is not his own and he has gotten home sick multiple times, lucky for him he got to visit his mom in DC over the Easter Break. Henrik pays for most of his own things and he said that he has had to transfer money a couple of times over the computer through his family. Henrik also said that when Trump was elected everyone from Sweden was snap chatting him being surprised. In Sweden they do not have a president, Sweden has a king. The current king of Sweden is Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

Mall Of America was very over rated said Henrik. They have a really big shopping mall in Sweden and he wasn’t impressed when we went shopping there a couple months ago. He does take pride in the Swedish celebrities they have in Sweden. In Sweden they have celebrities like Zara Larsson, Avatar, and many more. He also takes pride in Ikea!

Henrik is leaving 2 weeks after graduation, which means it is coming up and he and all his friends are very sad. He has made a lot of friends in his time here, including his two prom dates Zach Rhode and Anna Uehling. Henrik will be leaving us June 10th and I know a lot of us are going to be very saddened by his departure. He is currently living with his host family, the Rowley’s, in Searles. Henrik has also compared to the manners the United States and Sweden have that are different. One thing he really high lighted was the feminist movements in Sweden. Combined with mostly feminist females, men and women are given equal opportunities including time off for delivery of a child. The man gets the same amount as the female.

Henrik has fallen in love with track and he participated in this years track meets. He really likes to participate in sporting activities even if he is not on the team. You can find Henrik in the weight room in some of his time off! His best friend Zach Rhode said that it is going to be really hard when Henrik leaves us.

I personally have grown to love Henrik and find him and his country very interesting. I love going out to open lunch with Henrik and the gang and talking about life and events that are going on in our lives. Henrik is just like another teenager who deals with love, breakups and stress at school. Henrik Said that he loves economics and wants to go into something in that field when he gets back to Sweden. With leaving his family he left his younger brother, family and his friends back home. He likes to video call his friends and family back home when ever he gets the chance.

We are going to miss you Henrik!!!