DIS Blog
How did I get here?
“I decided to study abroad because someone just like me did it first.“
I never thought I would study abroad.
I didn’t think it was an option for students like me: first generation, commuter, STEM major.
And as the youngest of four children, I knew what I was required to do: go to school, get my degree, and try to score a few internships along the way if I was lucky.
On top of this, my major was a small fish in a big pond — classes I needed to graduate were not regularly offered and so missing a fall or spring semester at my home university would mean graduating a semester later. All the cards were stacked against me.
About the blogger
Mary (she/her), studies environmental science at the University of Maryland. Last summer, she spent one session in Stockholm and another session in Copenhagen.
I decided to study abroad because someone just like me did it first. They too are a first generation college student, a commuter, and have a demanding STEM major. When I asked them how they did it, there weren’t any tips, tricks, or special cheats. They told me they did their research, communicated with their advisors, and spoke extensively to the financial aid office.
To any future students taking the leap, I would recommend starting early! Like making sure classes during the semester fit, so that I could have more freedom in my summer class. I regularly contacted the financial aid office at my school to find out if there was any assistance they could provide me. I reached out to my school’s study abroad advisors and read blogs just like this one!
But above all else, I asked questions. I asked anyone that had studied about their experiences, what to expect, and what I should make sure not to do.
So when I picked out my classes I was hopeful. When I got accepted with scholarships I was grateful. And when I took those first steps alone into the Arlanda Airport, I was simply in awe.
Culture Shock
My time spent in Scandinavia has been full of culture shocks. As this was my first time outside of the US, I had no idea what to expect. It didn’t immediately feel like I was in a new country. I often called home and said that Stockholm felt like “A weird part of New York.” Nevertheless, it was like nowhere I’d ever been before.
One way I experienced culture shock in Sweden was grocery shopping. I was lucky enough to have a grocery store right next to my housing, but I would often comb the streets looking for the most affordable option. I’d wander the isles with “Swedish to English” open on one page and “Krona to USD” open on another.
At first it was quite difficult, figuring out whether I wanted rokt kalkon or rokt skinka for my sandwiches, or deciding between 1.5% or 3.5% mjolk. But it quickly became one of my favorite activities. I’d try to see how long I could go before looking up a word, or try a new grocery store in a different area.
One of the funnier shocks was that Swedes don’t say anything when people sneeze — I definitely learned this one the hard way. On trains and buses, even in the grocery store I had said “bless you!” after a sneeze, to no response. It wasn’t until my Aunt had informed me of the slight taboo that I broke the habit.
Something that culture shocked me in Copenhagen was the prominence of bicycles! I had never seen so many bikes, and especially unlocked bikes. I had hoped to cycle around the city, but once I saw how intense it can get, I took advantage of the amazing metro. Especially as a student with a 9am class, the rush hour cycling can be extra intense.
Home Away From Home
A large part of what made studying abroad so wonderful was my family. My aunt immigrated to Sweden in the early 2000s, and has called it home since. Seeing her and my cousins was a large Mary Gbenro inspiration for me to come to Sweden, and they went above and beyond to make me feel at home.
I often heard from expats learning Swedish that it can feel isolating in group settings when you can’t quite keep up yet. But one of my favorite things my family would say was, “Let’s speak English, Mary’s here!” They were always quick to translate jokes or interactions, and made my transition to Stockholm seamless. As soon as I touched down I had built in tour guides. We’d spend weekends bowling, going out to dinner, and seeing tourist attractions.
Homesickness
When people mention study abroad they often do not mention the hard parts. Having family with me when I was away definitely helped in many ways. They consistently felt like a tether that grounded me, and kept the homesickness at bay. But being without family in Copenhagen, I found myself relying heavily on the friendships I’d made and maintained from Session 1.
It wasn’t easy by any means! There were good days and bad days, but it’s times like these that you pick up the phone and call a little more than usual. You settle in the emotions and acknowledge them, but remember what an opportunity it is to be abroad and carry on. Adventure awaits!