Zsófia Balázsy

Hi, my name is Zsófi (Sophie in English) and I am 22 years old. My homeland is Slovakia but my nationality is Hungarian – don´t be confused… I originally study in Budapest, Hungary and now I am making an exchange for one semester here, at Örebro University. I am majoring in International Studies and this is my third university year. I am really interested in translation and interpreting but I still have 2 more years of studies – lots of time either to change my mind or become more sure about the future.

My hobbies are reading, going to cinema, doing sports and I like to cook as well. Considering these activities you can guess that I don´t necessarily need a big company around myself. However, I enjoy meeting new people and get acquainted with different cultures, traditions and attitudes to life. I think such experiences can substantially enrich our personality if we are open-minded enough to take them in. In this sense I hope, the Rhetoric Course will contribute to my development for understanding poeple better.

Cai Coll

Hello everybody!

I am Catalina Coll. I come from Spain, exactly Menorca. It is a small but wonderful island. I am 23 years old and I am studying Primary School English Language Education at Balearic Islands University (UIB), in Mallorca. This is my third year and I hope the last, at the university. I am studying the last four subjects that I have left in Sweden.

Why did I choose Sweden? On the one hand, I want to improve my English. On the other hand, I want to get in contact with another educational system. I think the education in Sweden is really different from Spain.

My hobby is horse ridding. I love horses, especially mine. Its name is Caruso and it is a big and black horse. I also like to listen to music, photography, hiking and being instructor of children in my spare time. I also like being with my friends and my family. I have one sister and two brothers, and also three nephews.

This is my first time I travel abroad. But I also think it is just the beginning because I am interested in knowing different countries and cultures.
I think with this course we have the opportunity to know students from Stanford. It should be a great experience.
See you!

Julien De Oliveira

Hello. My name is Julien De Oliveira. I come from France. More particularly in south west in the city called Toulouse. I study business in my home town. It is my second year that I study in high school. About my origin, my mother from Spain and my father from Portugal but I was born in France. I am very proud at the same time of my origin and of my country. I have a big passion: soccer and my idol is Zinedine Zidane! (The best player of all time). Sport for me is a cultural factor of integration and it creates a social link. In a company who is in full evolution, everyone is looking for marks and social values. The sport is recognized for what it can bring. It create a real harmony between all the persons and it facilitate the integration by respecting the differences such as: the age, the social category, the sex, the membership in a religion …It can be a good solution front of a lot of problems.
I choose this picture because it describes very well my persona and my passion.

(All together)

Caroline Ebi

My name is Caroline Ebi and I was born in Waldshut, Germany. It’s a small town in the Blackforrest and it’s located in the very south of Germany on the border to Switzerland. My mother is french, but unfortunatelly I can’t speak any French.

I visited the primary school in my hometown, but for secondary school I visited a katholic school in St. Blasien called Kolleg St. Blasien. It’s a really nice school, because it’s in a very old building, which was a long time ago a cloister. There I had contact with different cultures, because it’s a boarding school where were pupils from all over the world (China, India, Philippines, USA, Spain, ...). After I finished school I moved to Zurich, Switzerland. There I study at University of Zurich History and German. I decided to study one semester on an foreign university and I chose Örebro University.

I enjoy doing sports as cycling or diving. I am interested in other countries and cultures, because of that I travel a lot. That’s one reason why I like this cross-cultural course.

Agneta Green

My name is Agneta Green. For almost my hole life I have lived in the countryside of Sweden, with forestes, fields and black lakes close to the house. Today I am living together with my boyfriend  in a smal town, cald Lindesberg. You may think that this also is the countryside, but we do have a cinema in town that shows a movie one weekend each monthJ

Jonna Kihlman

My name is Jonna Kihlman, I am 24 years old. I have just finished my master thesis, which was about how Swedish non-profit organizations work with marketing, lobbying and media.  Right now I am working at a statistics company and doing this course in speech and presentation skills because I want to feel more self confident speaking in front of groups and because I want to work with communications in the future.

I have lived abroad for 1,5 years of my life. In the spring of 2007 I was at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I have also done an internship in news monitoring at the UN in New York in the summer of 2007. I have lived and studied in Chester, England for a year.

I like to travel and experience different cultures a lot. I have been in some countries in Europe and Asia. I like India a lot and also New Zeeland. Another favourite country is Italy. I love the nature, the food and the language.  I’d like to go there this summer

I grew up in a small community by the sea 11 miles north of Stockholm. My mother is an author and a freelance journalist, my father runs his own business. I have an older brother and sister. My brother is a lawyer and my sister works in book publishing.

In my free time I like to read books, do sports and travel. My family has a house on the west coast of Sweden were I like to spend my time in the summers.

Rinke Kloppe

“Hej” and “Hallo”! My name Rinke Kloppe, I am 20 years old and I was born in the Eastern part of Germany, in Leipzig, and have studied International Business in the south of Germany, in Nürnberg, for two years until I came to Sweden as an exchange student. Actually, I was born in the ex-GDR (German Democratic Republic) that existed behind the wall until 1990. But 17 years later, it was not difficult anymore to move to the
Western part.

The bigger challenge for me was the change in culture when living in Bavaria, the most typical part of Germany: Oktoberfest, Dirndl, beer, folk music and the Alps. Nürnberg, which is situated in the North of Bavaria, actually in the region of Franconia, is a beautiful town known for its rich historical background, its castle as the centre of the town and the Christmas fair “Christkindlesmarkt”.

I am proud to live in such a lovely town and to have got to know so many new friends with who have a lot of fun. Moreover, I like doing sports, reading and travelling around. I want to get to know as much of the world as I can and I already know a lot of places in Europe: Spain, Italy, Austria, France, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, Monaco, Great Britain, Norway, Latvia (…) and now Sweden for about 10 months. I really like the country with its beautiful lakes, colourful wooden houses, forests and moose! Stockholm and Lapland are wonderful parts of this country.

Therefore it is also amazing to meet new people from all over the world – YOU - to have interesting discussions about the way of life in different cultures.

I really appreciate the benefits of spending one year abroad, far away from family, friends and a normal life to gain another perspective, to improve my language skills and to develop my personality and not only to study business and economics.

“Hälsningar” and “Viele Grüße”!

Erika Lager

Hi there! You’re now about to get a glimpse of my 24 year old life. My name is Erika and I was born and raised in a small town located in southern Sweden. Since I’ve always been interested in different cultures, it felt natural that I, after graduating senior high school, lived abroad for a while. I have lived on the beautiful island of Malta, situated in the Mediterranean, as well as in the south part of Spain. Whilst I lived in Spain, I worked as a guide for a Swedish travel agency that specialized in arranging golf travels. It was a job that made me learn more about myself as a person, and of course made me learn more about the people and the country I was in. My interest in both people and cultures, made me apply to Orebro University, in which I’m now a senior. Hopefully, by this time next year, I’ll work as a senior high school teacher, teaching both English and psychology. Until then, I’ll try to live my life according to the well-known phrase : Carpe Diem!

Maria Jose Guerrero Mayol

Hello, I am Maria. I am from Palma de Mallorca, Spain. I am studying Primary School Education in English in UIB (University of the Balearic Islands).

This is my last year and I expect to finish my studies in June when I’ll come back of Erasmus. I would like it so much because since I did my practices during the first semester I am totally sure that I want to devote to the education. I like to teach other people, specially, children, because I think it’s very interesting to transmit your knowledge to them, who consider all so new.

There are many things in that I am interested in life, but if I have to mention those that define me, I would say that I am a sincere person, and because of it I like that also the people are sincere with me. I value very much the friendship; I consider it very important, as the confidence, in yourself and in the others. I like the people who have principles and support them; I try to do it always. Regarding to me as student, I’m use to be constant and opened to learn all kinds of new things. I like very much to solve my doubts on some topics and the most of times I do it for myself and I feel that I’m learning more.

Regarding to the cultural cross-rhetoric, I believe that it is very important to know people of other countries and to be able to interchange features of our cultures, as the language or the traditions and customs of each one. Since I came it is what I have done, I have known people of the whole world and overall I have realized that you can feel identified with many cultures that are very different from yours.

Victor Michel

Hey everybody, I am Victor and I come from France a city near Paris. My hometown is in the west of Paris not so far of Versailles, the big castle. I study in Lille the fourth city of France that is situate in the north just near Belgium. I am in my third year in a business school name ESPEME. I study business administration and how manage a company. I love music, I play drums since 8 years and I used to have several band in France. I prefer the Old music like the Rhythm and Blues, the Funk and the Rock of the seventies. I like sliding sport like skiing and surf. I love to travel and I am very curious to know what are the differences between our cultures. I also want to meet new people and talk about what I like and know, like the city of Paris, the French culture, music and many other things. So see you very soon on Marratech bye bye !!

Linzi Morrow

Hi everyone, my name is Linzi Morrow and I go to Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. However, my homeland is in a very small community called Bleary in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. I had lived there all my life until 2 years ago when I started university in Edinburgh. I am an undergraduate student in my third year of my studies at the moment. I am studying International Management and am now on my year abroad in Orebro, Sweden. After this year abroad I will have to study back in Edinburgh for one remaining year. So far Sweden has been a wonderful experience and as I like travelling and meeting new people this year has been a very good opportunity to do so. Since being in Sweden, my friends and I have travelled to Norway, Poland, Venice, and this week we are going to Lapland. As this is one of my interests I am looking forward to visiting more places this semester. Taking this course in Rhetoric has also helped me interact with other students from around the world, which I am keen to do.

Karolina Saramies

Hi! My name is Karolina Saramies and I am 22 years old or young. I have grown up on a farm in a small village (which should not even be called a village, since it is so small) called Häggesled. I have lived in Sweden for 22 years except for the one year that I lived in the Isle of Man and the one semester that I went to Canada as an exchange student. When I was 19 years I moved to Örebro to start at the university, in the Legal Science Programme with International Approach. My programme and the time that I have lived in other countries, I believe has coloured my interest for other cultures. I have now studied for almost four years and I am graduating in June, this year.

For the moment I live in the central part of Örebro with my black cat called Rocky. In my spare time I like reading about history and watching movies, especially American movies since the Swedish film industry is unbelievably bad. 

Amalia Servera

Hi everybody!

My name is Amalia Servera, I came from Spain, specially from the wonderful island of Mallorca. Now, I am studing here, in Örebro during the second semester, I think it’s a  big oportunity to see differents ways of teaching and to visit other country. It’s interesting because I have met people from a lot of  differents countries, and that is one of the most important aspects of this experience, to know about different cultures, and costumes, differents ways of thinkings.
I am studying Primary School English Education, and I am in the third year, I hope finish in june my degree because in September I want to start to study fashion designer.

I like playing tennis, I have been teaching tennis to chidren, it’s very funny. I like cycling through the city listening to music,  I love it! I like going to the beach in winter, because it’s very relaxing and everything is calm, to listen the silence...

Martin Thalström, born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, is 23 years old and is studying business economics at Örebro University.

He has already earned the degree of Bachelor of Economics and is currently working on his research paper for a Master’s Degree. Main areas of interest are management & organization and urban marketing.

He speaks Swedish, English, and Estonian fluently and has basic knowledge in German and French.

He lives by the revised Shakespeare quote: Love All, Trust Few, and Fear None.

Kelly Wells

Hi there, my name is Kelly Wells and I’m from Ireland.  I live in a small village in the Co. Down in the North of the emerald isle.  While I originally come from Northern Ireland I study at a university called Heriot Watt in Edinburgh.  I am currently on my exchange year in Sweden and enjoying it very much.  I am in my third year of study in International Management and have only one year to complete after this.

I love to travel and hope to see the world before I turn 30.  I have worked at a summer camp in Rhode Island for 3 months as director of water sports and as a senior counsellor to the kids.  As I’m sure you have guessed I love waterskiing and time out on the lakes in Fermanagh (Northern Ireland).  I am also a Christian and even though living as a child of God is very difficult I will never look back.  I like to read and spend time with my family and closest friends.  I am interested in CCR because I wish to work around the world and so will be dealing with different cultures on a regular basis.

Xia Yining

Hello！Here is Xia Yining , a Chinese girl from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. I’m a junior in Accounting right now, but for the spring semester 2008 I’m excited to be a new exchange in Orebro University!

Well, I don’t think I acquire much interest in art but I do have learned piano for about 10 years and I’m loving it.. I don’t think I ‘m so optimistic but the fact is I always seem to be happy toward friends because I love them. I like reading books ,newspaper, or magazines. Beyond my major, I’m particularly interested in humanity and communication that’s why I chose Speech & Presentation skills in Orebro. Something has been talked about for million times like getting to know people from different cultures or experiencing exotic lifestyle, but it’s true that all of these are so attractive and funny! That’s why I’m here, meeting you guys.

What’s more, I determined to take this chance traveling around Europe. A famous Chinese saying shows like this : travelling is more eye-opening than reading. So, I will do so. ^_^