Sweden
Sweden is one of those countries that everyone knows is beautiful, peaceful, and enjoys a wonderful quality of life, but about which the details are more than a bit fuzzy. This, of course, is unfortunate, because Sweden offers so much, and provides such an excellent range of experiences for both tourists and students alike, that it deserves much more attention than it currently gets.
More than almost anything else, Sweden is known for its peaceful coexistence with its neighbors. It has achieved this by avoiding any sort of political or military alliance for most of its recent history. In fact, it did not choose a side in World War II, stayed neutral during the Cold War, and only recently became a member of the European Union "in 1995, arguing that neutrality was less important in the post-Cold War world. However, in a 2003 consultative referendum, Swedish citizens declined to adopt the Euro" (www.en.wikipedia.org). Today, Swedish citizens enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world, which makes it not only a great place to visit, but also to spend your four years of college.
Sweden has been around for so long, and is home to such a fascinating history, that it is rather surprising that more people don't know about it. Perhaps this is because its history is not really taught in American schools. Those who live and study there, however, will find themselves in a country that has been populated since 6000 B.C.E. Sweden itself "was first mentioned in the 1st century, by Roman historian Tacitus," who marveled at the war and sailing skills of the tribes that inhabited the land (www.en.wikipedia.org). The Vikings eventually settled the area, too, and it is this culture that led to the composition of one of the most famous poems ever written, Beowulf. By the 12th Century, Christianity had swept through the country, and Sweden as we know it today began to take early shape.
Today, Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with legislative power located in the parliament, or Riksdag; the king's duties are limited to the ceremonial.
Sweden enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world; much of this is due to the importance the parliament has placed on the health and well-being of every Swedish citizen. As a result, the "the Scandinavian model is usually described as a middle way between socialism and capitalism and is regarded by its proponents as the most developed form of capitalism. The state provides for tax-funded childcare, parental leave, a ceiling on health care costs, free education (all levels up to and including university), retirement pensions, free dental care up to 20 years of age and sick leave (partly paid by the employer). Parents are entitled to a total of 480 days partly paid leave between birth and the child's eighth birthday, with 60 days reserved specifically for each parent, in effect providing the father with two so called 'daddy-months.' In addition, the ceiling on health care costs makes it easier, relative to other nations, for Swedish workers to take time off for medical reasons" (www.en.wikipedia.org).
One of the benefits of this system is the importance placed on education in Sweden, and as a result, citizens and foreign students alike reap substantial rewards. Schools such as Stockholm University and the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm provide excellent educations for all who attend.
Culturally, Sweden is as exciting today as ever. Though it was, for a long time, regarded primarily for its architecture and clean-lined design, it is, these days, just as popular for its nightlife and the exciting cinematic and literary production. Ice hockey and soccer are incredibly popular, and music has historically been of great importance to Swedes. Today more than ever, students, especially in Stockholm, have virtually limitless options when it comes to watching live music, either at "grand" venues like theatres and opera houses or simply in bars.
All told, then, Sweden is a wonderful place to spend your four years of college. It may be a bit chilly in the winter, and the days may be short, but there is so much that this woefully underappreciated country has going for it that you are sure to be surprised by all that it has to offer.
