Sarah's Exchange to Uppsala University | Sweden
I left Perth at 31 degrees Celsius on the 16th of January, and arrived at the international airport at Stockholm at -15 degrees Celsius on the 17th. The weather wasn’t the only amazing part of my experience over the semester.
Climate
The view outside my window was a constantly changing landscape between January and June. If only I had thought to take photos to show the amazing progression from one extreme to another in a matter of a few months. Unfortunately, I must be satisfied with what I can remember of how it looked: It started covered in snow for a long time, then changed to sludge and slowly the trees started to bloom, until I noticed how quickly the leaves had grown and how green they were.
Near the end of the semester it was 22 degrees Celsius, warm, no wind, sunny and beautiful. The sun didn’t set until 930 pm., which is also a new experience. The climate is just amazing and it continues to surprise me. The ground started as covered in snow and the lakes were frozen. Now the grass is thick and green and the lakes we once ice-skated on, we now swim in.
Many people sit by Fyrisån or ‘the Fyris River’ in English, on the grass. Did I mention the city is divided in two by a river? It’s absolutely beautiful! On the first of May, there was a festival at Fyrisån celebrating the arrival of spring. Groups of student got together and made boats out of palestine and wood and sailed them down the river, they fell apart and some people ended up swimming but it was still exciting to watch.
I should talk about the Swedish Culture.
Swedish Culture
Sweden is incredibly safe and Uppsala is a student town so there are students everywhere. Everybody rides their bikes to wherever they have to go, its really quite cool. I wish I could ride my bike everywhere at home in Australia!
The Swedes are very into singing and dressing up and rallying! They sing ALL the time, and randomly dress up too, mostly as Vikings. There are always marches, and bands and protests happening in Stora Torget (the main shopping square) but all are peaceful. Fika is a HUGE cultural activity here. My classes were organised around fika breaks, there are millions of lovely places in Uppsala to have fika. At the start I couldn't believe how much it influenced daily activities, but by the end of the semester I was very accustomed to fika break. Not sure if that is a good thing…
The Swedes
The Swedish people I quickly learned are very reserved. They never talk to you first, and will never do anything to offend you. In my corridor there are three Swedes, one German, and one Romanian. Of course, the Swedes I know from my classes are very chatty and inquisitive about other cultures. I also know Swedes from the nation I joined, Kalmar (a nation is like a club just for students. There are 13 nations in Uppsala, they have cheap club nights, fika, restaurants, even housing. Every student joins a nation and each nation has different perks.) Kalmar is the most eco-friendly, freethinking, relaxed nation so I’m very happy I chose it. I have worked at the nation numerous times, with students from Switzerland, America, Thailand, and Uruguay.
Travels
I also travelled during the semester. I went to Stockholm numerous times. I have taken a train to Järvsöbacken for a 4 day skiing trip. I have taken a plane to Gothenburg (if you don’t speak Swedish) or Göteborg if you speak Swedish. I took a fifteen-hour bus ride to Malmö, and then a train ride to Köpenhamn, Danmark over the Easter weekend. And I took a ferry to Tallin, Estonia. I also travelled to other small towns around Sweden.
I cant get enough of meeting new people from all over the world, with different backgrounds, different cultures and who speak different languages. I took (unofficially) three language courses from a few of my friends. They taught me many phrases... all of them useful I’m sure.. in Swedish, Spanish, and Thai.
All the sustainable projects and the urban layout of the city is incredible. Sweden has no land fill waste; neighbouring countries pay Sweden to take their landfill that powers Sweden’s buses through biogas. The bus routes are constantly changing so as to limit the amount of pollution brought into the city. I can bike from one end of the city to the other in under 20 minutes. It takes roughly 25 minutes for me to ride to my classes, 10 minutes for me to ride to the bigger, cheaper grocery shops. There are bike lanes everywhere and lots of areas just for bikers and pedestrians and there is greenery all through the city.
Overall my study abroad experience was the most diverse, remarkable, grand, challenging, and significant experience of my life. I am so glad I took the plunge and did it. I feel very accomplished; I am – world traveler, friends with other students from all over the world, speaker of ‘cheers’ in numerous different languages, ready for my next adventure!
- Sarah studied abroad at Uppsala University in Sweden
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