Meet Brandon Stakenborg

Photo by Johanna Syrén

Brandon Stakenborg, 25, grew up in sunny Ocala, Florida, not far from Winter Park, where he took a job as a java developer at Bonnier Corporation in 2008. Just a few months after starting, he transferred to New York, where he took a position as java developer for Parenting.com. Jump forward two years, and he's made yet another switch to an even colder climate. This time, he's come to Stockholm to work as a java developer at daily newspaper Expressen for three months as part of the GROW program. "It's not as much of a culture shock as I thought," he says. "Except maybe for the language." His advice to others considering the program: Go for it!