Page 16 - SUSQUEHANNA TIMES
Agneta Wenninger
Swedish teen looks at US customs
Sex, TV violence, big cars and capitalism
‘““When 1 first came to
this country, it seemed to
me very much like Sweden.
But it’s only the same on
the surface. As the days go
by, I see more how differ-
ent it is.”
The words are those of
Agneta Wenninger, an
exchange student at Done-
gal High School. She has
been living with the John
Henry Brubaker family
near Mount Joy since
August 15th.
The differences now
dawning on Agneta were
invisible at first because
they are psychological.
Americans have a very
different attitude from
Swedes, she finds; every-
thing in the U.S. is “a very
big deal,” according to
Agneta.
Teenage pregnancies are
very rare in Sweden, much
less common than here,
according to Agneta. She
attributes this to American
attitudes: ‘Sex is a big
deal here. It is not in
Sweden.”” The same goes
for underage drinking.
There is no legal drinking
age in Sweden, although
one must be 21 to buy a
bottle of liquor.
Agneta, who is 18 years
old, feels that teenagers
at Donegal High also make
a "‘big deal’ of dating. She
told us that local girls were
‘““amazed’”’ when she said
that, in Sweden, a girl
need not stay with her
boyfriend at a party.
Agneta comes from a
nation generally considered
to be among the most
liberal in the world, and
she grew up in the big city
of Stockholm. Her society
is less restrictive than ours,
she feels.
“Here, you're not trust-
ed in school. You're just a
‘kid,’ and the teacher is
way up there,’’ she says.
‘“There are more rules
here, especially in school.”
Agneta feels that Swed-
ish teenagers grow up
faster than their American
counterparts, because they
are forced into decisions
and adult responsibilities
earlier. She thinks the
American way might be
better in this case.
While Sweden is famous
for uncensored sexual
films, the restrictions there
are much like those here.
She told us that a Swede
must be 1S to see a movie
with ‘‘advanced sex,” and
18 to watch ‘“‘very advanc-
ed sex.”
Swedes’ movies and TV
are free of ‘‘very cruel vio-
lence’’ such as closeups of
bullets hitting people,
according to Agneta. Run
of the mill violence is not
only tolerated, but enjoyed
by all. Most Swedes speak
English fairly well because
they are fond of American
shows like ‘“Police
Woman’ and “Kojak.”
While some local people
may complain about the
limited TV reception here,
Swedes have it worse. The
entire country (about the
size of California) has just
3 radio channels, and 2 TV
channels. All are run by
the government, which
owns outright the sort of
industries that are only
regulated here —utilities,
railroads, hospitals, and
the like.
The socialization in
Sweden is due to 44 years
in office by the Social
Democrats, the socialist
party. They were kicked
out by Swedish voters only
two years ago, because, as
Agneta puts it, they were
getting too ‘“‘red.’”” The new
party in power is pushing
conservation instead of
socialization, and oppose
nuclear power.
The effects of the
socialists’ reign remains in
high taxes and extensive
welfare rights. ‘“We have
no poor people in my
country,’”” Agneta told us,
and went on to say that
Bjorn Borg, the Swedish
tennis pro, left his native
country to escape the
taxes. ‘‘You must have
very good lawyers to be
rich in Sweden,’’ Agneta
notes.
Like so many other
foreigners, Agneta thinks
American cars are huge.
There are fewer cars in
Sweden, and the public
transportation is excellent.
Agneta finds other areas
in which our society differs
from hers. Most Swedes
don’t believe in God, she
says, and don’t get
married; they just set up
house together. Women in
Sweden have more equal
job opportunities, and
children are mostly raised
in day care centers and
nursery schools, rather
than staying at home until
1st grade.
Despite the contrasts,
Agneta likes America. Her
one real complaint is that
the food is too fattening.
Note: Agneta came here
under the Youth for Under-
standing Program, which
places hundreds of Ameri-
can and European teen-
agers each year. Any
parents or teens who are
interested in this program
should contact area repre-
sentative Mrs. Ann Mes-
sersmith at 898-8203.
Mount Joy
council
agenda
The proposed agenda of
the Mount Joy Borough
Council meeting for
Monday the 14th, at 7:30
in the Borough office
building, is as follows:
1. Discuss the proposed
budget for 1978;
2. Consider the appoint-
ment of a tax collector to
replace Steve Leatherman;
3. Receive a report on
the Donegal Springs Road
curbing survey.
November 9, 1977
Play written by student at DHS
A short play entitled ‘‘Life of Honor,”’ written by DHS junior Sharon Cox, will be
part of a free Veteran’s Day performance of drama and patriotic music at the high
school on Nov. 11. Photo shows Floyd Runkle (foreground), Bonnie Wolgemuth and
Wayne Mylin is a scene from the play. The show starts at 7:30 PM. There will be
no admission charge. :
Lucy Zuch wins home of month award
Mrs. Robert Spangler gave Lucy Zuch the House of the Month award. Story on page 3
tie,