Raelyn’s homestay, a family away from home

Raelyn (she/her), American University, chose to live with Homestay hosts for her Stockholm study abroad semester for several reasons — to gain an intimate understanding of Swedish culture, build community among locals, and live with a family with kids. Over the four months she stayed with them, she made the most of the experience, getting a feel for what everyday life looks like and establishing a lasting connection to Sweden. 

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Settling in 

Raelyn was somewhat nervous about living with a Swedish family during her semester abroad — she looked forward to meeting her Homestay hosts, but was unsure of what to expect. As soon as she was put in touch with them by DIS, however, her anxieties eased. 

“Hanna [Raelyn’s host mom] sent me an email and was like, ‘Hi, it’s your host family,’” Raelyn said. Right away, they scheduled a Zoom call to get to know each other before Raelyn traveled to Sweden. 

After this virtual introduction, Raelyn looked forward to living in a family environment. “It made me excited to learn about the culture, really immerse myself, get to learn about their lives, and connect with them,” she said. 

Raelyn joined a household of two host parents, Hanna and Anders, and two younger host sisters, Ebba and Alma.  

“The first day I arrived in Stockholm, we all had fika together, which was sweet. And I got to hear about Ebba and Alma and all about their lives. I also went to Ebba’s horseback riding lesson, which was really fun. So, I think that was a good bonding moment for us for sure,” Raelyn recalled. 

Spending time with her host parents, Raelyn engaged in illuminating conversations about cultural differences between the U.S. and Sweden, while hanging out with her two younger host sisters gave her the chance to be an older sister (she’s a younger sibling herself). From laughing over reality television with Hanna, to sharing Lördagsgodis — the Swedish tradition of Saturday candy — with Ebba, Raelyn quickly settled into cherished routines. 

Striking a balance 

Like many other Homestay students, Raelyn initially wondered how she’d split time between her friends and host family. 

“I think it took some time to figure out a balance between spending time with friends and hanging out with my host family,” she said. Over time, she established a routine. On Fridays, she’d visit with her friends who lived more centrally, cooking dinners and exploring the city. Saturday evenings were typically reserved for family time. 

Raelyn found herself eating dinner with her host family most weeknights, and spent quality time with them on the weekends too. “Fredagsmys,” or “Friday cozy,” is the classic Swedish ritual of indulging in a relaxing evening to kick off the weekend, but her hosts adapted their schedule to “Lördagsmys,” or “Saturday cozy,” so they could all enjoy each other’s company when Raelyn was home. 

Learning from each other 

Raelyn notes that living with her host family prompted a lot of cultural exchange. One of many perks? The ideal space to practice speaking Swedish. 

“I’ve gotten better at my Swedish and Ebba, my little host sister, has gotten better at her English, so I think we’re better at talking to each other now… Sometimes Ebba will show me her vocab list from school and she’ll quiz me. Sometimes the family will quiz me a bit, too.” 

While her hosts taught her much about Swedish language and culture, she’s also introduced them to some things — from American recipes to pop culture to politics. 

“I introduced them to American pancakes. They’ve made Swedish pancakes for me. And Pyttipanna, a Swedish dish consisting of potatoes, onions, eggs, and beets,” Raelyn said.  

Beyond life at home, Raelyn’s family introduced her to the city and culture of Stockholm and greater Sweden. They attended a Hammarby soccer match together, went on a ski trip, and met with her hosts’ extended family, who welcomed Raelyn into their own traditions. “Hanna took me to her brother’s sauna on the lake. He dug an ice hole and we got to polar plunge,” Raelyn said. “[Another time] I celebrated Alma’s second birthday party with their whole family together. That was special to me.” 

Hanging out with her host family was a highlight of her semester. But beyond that, living with them encouraged her to relax and slow down. 

“On a deeper level, my host parents are very easygoing and kindhearted. They take things day by day. I feel like maybe I’m a little more anxious sometimes, so they’ve definitely helped with that,” she said. 

Planning a reunion 

For Raelyn, living with a host family during her study abroad was deeply meaningful, and will continue to be even after she leaves. 

“I’m definitely going to stay in touch with this family as a result of this experience, which is what I wanted at the beginning when I was choosing the Homestay option. I thought it would be so nice to have a connection with a family overseas.” 

In addition to cultivating a lasting connection to Sweden through her Homestay hosts, Raelyn said she’s witnessed a great deal of growth in herself over the semester. 

“I think being able to live independently and navigate everything that comes my way has been a great outcome of my study abroad experience,” she said. Staying with a local family played a key role in this, as she embarked on an exciting semester in Stockholm with the support of her Homestay hosts at the same time.  

And luckily for all of them, they won’t have to wait long before they are reunited. Raelyn’s host family is already planning a trip to the United States next year. When they visit, Raelyn will get to play tour guide on her home turf.

“They’re actually planning on coming to my college graduation. I’m so excited!” she said. 

Learn more about DIS Homestays and Raelyn’s semester in Stockholm:

>> Homestays in Stockholm
>> Homestays in Copenhagen
>> Raelyn’s blog