Rowen's Exchange to Malmö University | Sweden
Hmm, where to start when describing the experience of going on exchange. I think that I will start with this. Be very careful. Once you decide that you want to go on exchange you will change and you may not want to come back. Of course it is one of the best experiences that you can do for yourself so of course I will say GO FOR IT!!
As a mature age external student the idea of going on exchange seemed like nothing more than fantasy. Yet here I am, extoling the virtues of undertaking such a wonderful experience. Ever since I travelled to Norway in 2012 I have had a longing to go back to Scandinavia. So when I saw that studying on exchange in Sweden was available, well..a quick email to the exchange department started me on a course for adventure!
Arriving at Copenhagen airport was pretty easy after the flights over and finding the train across the Øresund bridge was easy. Finding the way to our private accommodation was a little bit trickier. Arriving at night, trying to find a SIM card for your mobile phone, buy credit so that you can call someone to find directions in a language you can’t speak was awesome. I am an exception to the rule as I wasn’t staying in university provided accommodation which you probably will do. It is pretty awesome and there are ‘Floor’ parties and you mix with a lot of fellow students from all parts of the globe. There are 2 places that you can go to, either Rönen or Celsius Gardens. Both of which will give you a great time.
Arrival day at Malmö University is incredibly easy. You arrive at central station and look for the person in an orange vest. Simple. They will guide you to the university and get you all set up with your welcome pack. There is a big introduction and welcome to the university and then you have a week long activity and orientation bonanza! You can sign up to the Swedish language course (highly recommended yet slightly confusing) and get ready for picnics, excursions to see picturesque villages and ancient Viking sights and even a welcome from the mayor. Did I mention it is inside the Town Hall and included booze & food?
Getting into the swing of things with classes is super easy as everything is done electronically. You will encounter Swedes who will be busy looking at their mobile phones and not where they are going. Yes, they even have road signs in Stockholm warning drivers to look out for mobile phone obsessed Swedes walking in front of traffic! Transport around Malmö is very easy with busses running just about everywhere and trains too. The cheapest thing to do is buy a bike, then your transport fees are free! Yay! More money for beer I hear you say!!? Well, hold on just a minute. If you want to go drinking in Malmö it helps to have a lot of cash as it is highly taxed. There is a great brewery in Malmö that has about 30 beers on tap which is worth a visit if you have some money tucked away.
You are pretty close to everything in Malmö with Gothenburg 3hrs away by bus and Stockholm about 4hrs by train. Copenhagen airport is a quick 20-minute train ride away and you can explore Copenhagen city by staying on the train just 5 minutes longer. If you get in early enough, you can join a pub crawl in Copenhagen that is organised by the Malmö university student union. There’s even Tivoli, a huge theme park which changes its look depending on the holiday. I got to see the Halloween theme and also the Christmas theme. Incredible! Sweden goes mental for Christmas which is really pretty to see. The whole town is decorated with lights, candles, markets and of course snow! Real snow!
You’d best pack some warm clothes or better yet, buy some over there. Yes, it is pricey but you can be guaranteed that it is designed to keep you warm when the temperature drops. And it does. Oh, and there’s the wind too. That’ll cool you down so pack some layers. Or if you’ve saved hard, go and buy yourself some fashionable clothes. I’ve never been anywhere like it. The Swedes dress immaculately, as if they are going out for a night with friends or a fine dinner when really they are just going to buy some milk. The Swedes are gorgeous looking people. Ladies and gents, you never know, you may just meet the person of your dreams over there?!
Whilst on exchange I travelled to Germany to attend a small heavy metal festival \m/ \m/ and then travelled right up to the top of Sweden to go and seek the Northern lights and go dog sledding. I was lucky enough to experience -31 degree temperatures which was cool. Literally. Spending time in Stockholm was superb as well as Gothenburg which I absolutely adored. It was there that I found the giant Kanelbuller. You will learn all about them as they are the most popular thing to eat when having your fika which is Swedish for ‘pause’ or ‘break’. It involves these delicious cinnamon buns and coffee. Lots and lots of black coffee. Heavenly really.
- Rowen studied at Malmö University in Sweden
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