Nu välkomnar vi vår nya praktikant Annie Tsai! Hon pluggar Turism och Hållbarhetsprogrammet på Linnéuniversitetet och kommer praktisera med oss till augusti, tillsammans med Shiva Soroushnia. Även om hon mestadels kommer att jobba från Kalmar så hoppas vi på att ses i Stockholm snart. Det här är en mycket spännande tid hos oss och vi vill ge dom ett stort varmt välkomnande till Sveriges hembygdsförbund!
Både Shiva och Annie är internationella studenter så de kommer att hjälpa oss med bland annat översättning, skriva artiklar på engelska och sommarkampanjen. Vi ville självklart ge er alla en ordentlig introduktion så vi ställde några frågor till Annie.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am from California, the United States. I studied human development, with an emphasis on education and psychology at the University of California - Davis. I did fundraise with a nonprofit organization in Taiwan for a year and a half, then worked in events assisting and coordination in the United States. I love photography and travel, and now studies Tourism and Sustainability Master Program at Linnaeus University in Kalmar, Sweden.
How did you end up as an intern at Sveriges hembygdsförbund?
Thuha Nguyen came to speak about Sveriges hembygdsförbund at the course I was attending at Linnaeus University in Kalmar. I thought the organization was interesting in trying to promote Swedish culture and heritage so the next generation and others visiting Sweden can learn about it. For me, hembygd is an interesting word because there is no such word with a similar value in the United States, but there is a word similar in value in Taiwan. Hembygd as a word that contains not just geographical but also spiritual and mental identity shows similarity and differences in cultures intrigues me a lot. When Thuha said Sveriges hembygdsförbund was looking for interns, I decided to apply.
What are you looking forward to the most during this time?
Go to hembygdsförbund in different parts of Sweden to learn more about Swedish culture. I am also looking forward to creating projects with everyone to show exciting activities hembygdsförbund can offer. Hopefully, we can use culture and heritage to connect people from all different backgrounds, find similarities in cultural values, and bring more people to love Sweden.
What are you hoping to gain from this experience?
To learn about Swedish values in viewing life and the natural environment and the impacts of Swedish culture on innovations. To learn about how hembygdsförbund function in tourism, and as the center of communities. Perhaps, this is my path to find out what hembygd means to me also.
What's the best thing about living and studying in Sweden?
Living and studying in Sweden is a dream come true for me. I first visited Västervik, Sweden in 2019 to experience the winter, and fell in love with the quiet yet simplistic beauty here. I enjoy taking photos in the forest and by the waterfront when not in class, and enjoy fika in different cafes in Sweden.
