This is a guest blog post from our student social media ambassador, Emily. Currently studying abroad on the semester program, “Social Systems, Sustainability, and Justice in Norway.”
The first half of the semester in Norway has been an incredible and thought-provoking experience in so many ways.
Through this program, we have explored key issues such as sustainability, environmental issues, social welfare, and equality in the Nordic countries, with a focus on Norway. We have also reflected on how these systems are different in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States. However, the most engaging part of this experience has been our learning outside the classroom! We have visited the Norwegian Parliament, the July 22nd memorial, the Nobel Peace Center, and the National Museum in Oslo, as well as taken a week’s trip to Copenhagen, Denmark. These experiences have guided our learning on Norway’s historical and cultural values as a whole. Additionally, in Copenhagen, we were able to engage with the Nordic Council, the Greenland house, and multiple museums to gain a better perspective of this program’s themes in another Nordic context. Each experience has offered a new outlook on the ways that justice, democracy, and identity are shaped within Norway.
From my perspective as an American, this program has helped me recognize the systems and communities I am a part of. Furthermore, it has shifted my perspective that even the Nordic countries still have a lot of progress to make politically, socially, and environmentally, even with their valued model. However, the emphasis on collective care, communities, governments, and how individuals play a role has shifted my perspective to a more shared responsibility rather than an individual within society. Altogether, it has made me think more critically about how social roles, policies, and cultural values can either support or hinder equality within a society.
