Graduation!

Isabella outside her school, Schillerska Gymnasium.

 Hi!
This Thursday my friends daughter, Isabella, graduated from school! When you graduate from the Gymnasium, that is equal to senior 4,5,6 in Uganda, you get to were this hat as you can see on the pictures!
In Sweden you start school when you are 6 years, then you are at grade 0. That first year is a bit of school but also a lot of playing. Then you have 9 years of school that are mandatory to all children in Sweden. The school is free for everyone and they also get free lunch every day. You graduate from the 9th grade when you are 15 or 16 year old. 

Bella with her hat!

 The school year starts in August in Sweden and we only have two terms. Autumn term and spring term. Autumn term starts around the 20th of August and ends around the 20th of December. Then the spring term starts again around the 10th of January and ends around the 15th of June and that marks the end of the school year. That is why you can be 15 or 16 when you finish what we call ground school. That is equal to primary school and senior 1, 2, and 3 in Uganda.
After that you move on to the Gymnasium. As I wrote before, that is equal to senior 4, 5 and 6 in Uganda.

Sandwich cake.

 Almost all students in Sweden move on to the Gymnasium as it is very difficult to get a job if you haven't finished the Gymnasium. Even the Gymnasium is free for everyone in Sweden. Most people start the Gymnasium right after ground school. That means that you are 18 or 19 when you graduate.
After the gymnasium you can move on to the university if you want to, but at the university you have to pay for books and material yourself. The school itself are free.

When you graduate from the Gymnasium it is a big thing and most people have a big party to celebrate! It was to a party like this I went last Thursday. At the party we got a Swedish speciality that is called sandwich cake. It is made out of bread in different layers with different fillings between. For example cream cheese, salmon, shrimps, vegetables, ham, chicken and spreadings. It is delicious!

Me with my hat from when I graduated from the Gymnasium 1989.

 On this day I wore my hat from when I graduated in 1989! Pretty cool!

Bella with a friend and Bellas sister, Fanny at their home.