I arranged a ride from the airport upon arrival. Navigating the airport, baggage claim, and customs was very easy. I did not utilize Global Friends because I had established contacts in Stockholm. I did not attend an introduction day or any form of orientation for exchange students. The student health center was not the easiest to locate but I was aware when walk-in appointments were for MRSA screenings, which was very helpful. It would have been nice to make contact with the KI staff the first weekday after arrival.

I applied for housing through the UAC. I chose my housing based off of past student testimonials about the location and cost of the choices available. The accommodations fit my expectation of student living. The space is suitable for one person and the cost is fare. The only negative was the shared kitchen because it was often dirty. It was inconvenient that keys were not able to be picked up on the weekends considering most arrivals are during weekends. 

I did not participate in any formal/informal social events for exchange students. I was not enrolled in any couses at KI so I was not immersed in the student scene. 

I've always been interested in internal travel and I was given the opportunity to do so by my occupational therapy program at The University of Toledo. UT and KI provided information regarding the application process for the exchange program, making living arrangements, and general information about Stockholm. One thing that was missing that would have made the pre-departure and departure less stressful was an organized checklist for preparing to travel internationally including dealing with banks, credit card companies, airlines, etc. I was required to have a MRSA screening upon arrival due to my clinical placement and I also brought updated medical forms from my physician.

I enjoyed my exchange experience. I did feel removed from the student life because I was not taking classes or on campus. However, my living arrangement did offer the opportunity to connect with other students. A positive experience that could be arranged for the occupational therapy exchange program would be to introduce the occupational therapy students at KI to the exchange students from UT. This would be a great way to make connections with other students as well as the bonus of being in the same profession.

N/A

I was not enrolled in any courses at KI. I had a clinical placement at Karolinska University Hospital Solna. The supervisor and staff was very welcoming. The language barrier was a challenge when working with patients. Despite the language barrier, I was able to gain clinical skills and learn about the Swedish health care system and occupational therapy practices.