Tatiana Håkanson

2009-10 Inbound from Sweden

Hometown: Gothenburg, Sweden

Sponsor: Landvetter-Råda Rotary Club, District 2360, Sweden

Host: Ormond Beach Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida, USA

School: Seabreeze High School, Daytona Beach, Florida

Bio

Tatiana's Bio

I’m Tatiana Hakanson from Sweden. I’m from Brazil but now I live in Sweden with my parents. I used to live with my 2 sisters but they have moved to their own places.

I live in Gothenburg (second biggest city in Sweden). In the central Gothenburg is my school. I am going to a special soccer school. So I have practicing twice per day. Soccer is my life and I want to be something in that or a PT (personal trainer).

September 7 Journal

It was hard to say good bye to my friends but more to my family. I took 3 planes but I had problem with making my last plane so I slept in the Atlanta airport. But that was a good experience. The next morning I could take a plane to my final destination. And my final destination was Florida/Ormond Beach.

My two host families met me at the airport, that was a warm welcome and the Florida heat was warm too. I was so tired after have flown for many hours. The first thing I did when we came home to my new house was I took a good shower then they took me to a restaurant. I noted one big thing. The portions are so big here and the cars too.

I have been here 3 weeks now. I live with my host mom and host sister. So it is only girls in the house. Oh I forgot that there are two boys here too. The guinea pig and one of the dogs (they have 2 two dogs).

My school has already started. Everything is so different, but different on a good way. The biggest difference is the lunch and the breaks. In Sweden the breaks are like 10-30 min. here they are 3 min max. In Sweden you eat lunch in the school and you have 1 hr lunch break. Here is like 40 min. and you can go off campus, bring your lunch or eat something from the school that doesn’t look real tasty.

October 22 Journal

Happened so far: I have had an amazing culture shock. In good or bad ways, American teenagers they are not the easy teenager to make friend with. They are in their groups and they have difficult to take someone in to the group. But yes I have friends. Friends I can talk to and hang out with. That is the bad way.

My school had tryouts and I made the varsity. Now I’m number 10 on the Sea Breeze team. We are practicing every day. My first game is on Monday 25. I hope that I’m the starter.

I went to Homecoming and I enjoy that so much. I went with a group of friends. And my friend she fixed my hair. So much fun I can tell.

Nobody seems to know that I was an exchange student. So I had a speech about how to be an exchange student and the difference about Sweden and America. So now people know and they come to me and sound interested in what I’m doing.

December 14 Journal

I have been with my new family for 1 week now. We did the Xmas tree prettier. They took me to the restaurant on my birthday December 03. I eat ribs. I love BBQ here in America.

Is going ok at school. I don't like the students. but yes I have friends I can eat lunch with and stuff. I am playing soccer for the school team. It's ok for us. we have a big tournament December 22.

I came home from Disney yesterday. Sick and no voice at all. But YES I did have so much fun with the exchange students. Many of them have improved the language skills so much. For me it feel strange to talk Swedish with my Swedish friends.

I don't have difficulty to understand people any more, just the kids at school when they talk slang. I'm thinking in English, I'm talking in English, and I'm dreaming in English. My parents make fun of me when I talk in Swedish, because I mix the languages.

May 27 Journal

Soon I'll be home and think about my wonderful year in the United States. So many times I have been crying. Not because I'm sad that this year is over. All the exchanges students that have helped me through this year. I'm just very happy.

Well we all know that the fun needs to end. So we will remember it better. maybe?

It will not be the same in Sweden. sure I'll have my friends. But they will not understand how amezing my year have been. So God bless facebook,MSN and Skype.

I did a speech for the students of district 6970. Included a power point presentation with pictures and music. " I will always love you"

My family is coming down here to Daytona. I can't wait to see them again. It's going to be crazy. Because my family is not a typical Swedish family. They are So LOUD. Like me ;)