DIS Blog
Calling Stockholm my home
“It is so tempting when you are abroad to go-go-go and do everything, but when I began to slow down, I found that my appreciation for the city and my life grew exponentially.”
Being able to call Stockholm my home for the summer has completely changed my understanding of what I call home. Before this summer I only related home with my friends and family, but after arriving in Stockholm I realized that Stockholm is my home because I formed a relationship with the city. And while that may sound odd … I find it to be the best way to describe how I have been blessed to call Stockholm my home.
About the blogger
Sabrina (she/her) studies political science at Iowa State University. She spent last summer in both Stockholm and Copenhagen, staying for all three sessions with DIS.
How have I formed a relationship with Stockholm?
Being able to slowly navigate the city without a map and understand the public transportation has been the biggest way I found comfort in calling Stockholm home. Finding the quiet, out of the “main road” things has been so fulfilling. I feel like I am seeing things most people walk past or don’t notice, but these small characteristics of the city are what bring me close to it. These so-called “small things” make me more grateful and grounded while in Sweden, almost as if life is moving just a little bit slower for me.
What do I do around the city during the week?
Because my first summer session has class in the evening I really learned how to use the time during the day to explore, go to museums, and finish coursework! Here are some of my favorite things I have done during the week around my class time:
- Walk around Djurgården (my FAVORITE place in Stockholm)
- Go to the National Museum
- Go to the Vasa Museum
- Go to a library and complete coursework
- Walk around Gamla Stan (and go to one of the many cafes)
- Read in a park
- Go on a run and explore a different part of the city
- Walk around the beautiful City Hall
- Explore vintage and secondhand shops
- Hangout in the DIS Hub with friends
One important value I have learned was how crucial it is to slow down. It is so tempting when you are abroad to go-go-go and do everything, but when I began to slow down (mentally and physically) I found that my appreciation for the city and my life grew exponentially. Being able to be mindful and take care of your mental and physical health while studying abroad can be difficult, but once you find a balance everything falls into place.
Something that helped me was doing activities out in the city before/after class only 2-3 times during the week and leaving the other days to work on school, or simply, take a day for myself.
It is easy to feel you need to be doing cool stuff everyday and getting pictures for social media, but when you stop worrying about sharing this experience with the world, you find so much more peace and love for what you are living right now. That is why I have absolutely LOVED doing solo activities during the week, like going to museums alone, because the pressure to impress others is erased.
What have been my favorite weekend adventures?
My weekends here were both super packed and very calm, and that mixture really helped me find a balance. I’ll talk about my three favorite weekend trips/adventures!
The first one is a kayaking tour in the archipelago!
This kayak tour was 6 hours long and we stopped in the middle, on a remote island, for lunch and fika! This was such an amazing adventure, and it really opened my eyes to all that Stockholm has to offer. The beauty of the small islands we paddled by was something I will remember forever. It was an amazing way for my friends and I to spend a Sunday, and through this adventure we also met a fun family from around Europe! Getting to know them and their experiences reminded me that hearing different people’s stories while abroad is one of the most fulfilling things.
Another one of my favorite weekend trips was in between Session 1 and Session 2. During this 4-day weekend I went down to Germany!
I was SO excited to be able to go on this trip because my boyfriend was studying in Germany during the semester, so it was amazing to not only spend time with a lovely familiar face but also explore a new beautiful country! From this trip I feel extremely lucky to have gained a new sense of confidence and independence while traveling and navigating a new airport or transportation system. I also think it is important to note that there is so many activities and things to see in Sweden, and some people will choose to go to a new country but that is not required or needed while studying in Sweden.
Lastly, my final favorite weekend trip has been to the Swedish island of Grinda to celebrate Midsummer, an iconic Swedish holiday that marks the beginning of the summer solstice!
Of course, the celebrations of Midsummer were exceptional and an absolute joy but being able to take a long ferry out to this island and see an entirely new part of Sweden was the best way to spend the weekend! After spending a few weeks in Sweden I have come to love the individual charm of each archipelago island, and I highly encourage anyone going to Sweden to explore all that Sweden has to offer because there is so much beauty to experience.
