Its 4 am and world outside this window is as white as snow. Pun Intended. I sit down with my tea and with every sip I recall a story that I would like to share with you all. A couple of years ago I was part of a leadership exchange from Pakistan to USA. I was so excited to learn from it, meet so many young people from around the world and participate in activities. But above all I was excited to use accessible bathrooms, ramps and lifts to my heart´s content. I reached USA and quickly made friends with all the participants. Then one day the organizers arranged a trip to another event and a bus was booked for us. I was super excited to see a bus that had a lift in place and I could easily get in a special designated seat which was at the back of the bus. Once the bus started, everyone was settled and I realised there were a couple of seats between me and the other participants who mostly occupied the front rows. Just in a few moments into the journey, the music started and then there was dance followed by singing. Though I was in the bus and with them but yet not ´with them´. I saw from a distance all the fun and waited for them to move back a little so I can also participate. When that seemed impossible, I could not make my voice reach them and none of them looked back, I sat there just fidgeting with my phone and looking outside the window, a tear escaped my eye.
Once we reached our destination, we got off. Everything was normal. But my mind kept trying to reflect over the situation. I asked for an accessible bus and my wish was granted then why did I feel not included? That’s when I realised the infrastructure did not fail me, the community did.
Fast forward today, I am in Uppsala pursuing a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship aiming to find sustainable solutions for people with disabilities. I am also aiming for a student life experience that I could not have back in Pakistan because the infrastructure did not support it. But I wanted that to change forever. As I enjoy some parts of accessibility, I wrote to all the student Nations to ask about their understanding of accessibility and inclusion. Seven out of thirteen Nations replied me explaining why their buildings are not fully accessible. I wrote back cheerfully proposing a workshop or a meeting under the theme of ´Inclusive Lens´ to build a community that would support people with disabilities regardless of the infrastructure. Sadly none of the curators got back to me after the proposal and now I sit here sipping my Pakistani milk tea wondering how insignificant infrastructure is as compared to the power of people is. If only we as people could build our foundations on empathy through our actions and not let policies, systems and conventions take control.
As my tea reaches the bottom of my mug so does my article with a challenge or a proposal for you all to build an inclusive lens through your leadership and actions and also call me if you want to have fantastic tea and hear stories of inclusion.
It was 2017 when I first set foot on Swedish soil.
I walked through the streets of Malmö with the help of the wind that pushed me. Sitting in a cafe, I watched students riding their bicycles. I thought: “I want to be one of them.” And at that moment, I chose Sweden as the destination for my future studies.
Upon returning to Brazil, I readjusted my plans towards one goal: save every penny to afford part of my studies in Sweden (I am also an EU citizen). I did this for 3 years, and 2020 was dedicated to making the best applications to pass at a Swedish University.
The result?
My acceptance at Uppsala University! S-O H-A-P-P-Y!
In April 2021, I WAS ACCEPTED TO STUDY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MY DREAMS – Uppsala Univesity!
HOWEVER, it’s not all roses… even though I saved money in recent years, I would still need more to go to Sweden. So two alternatives came to my mind:
Give up studying in the incredible strawberries land… or
Find new ways to raise extra money.
As I tendnot to choose the easiest option, I opted for the second alternative (spoiler: it worked!) and found three ways to alleviate my initial expenses!
With these 3 ideas, in addition to my full-time job, I managed to raise more than my goal, so moving to Sweden was smooth, and I could calmly afford the initial costs. When your goal seems far from being achieved, remember how hard you fought for it and how many people are willing to help you.
Hi there! If you’re new to Sweden, are considering to study in Sweden or are simply planning an exchange to Sweden, I’m sure that you would like to make the most of your time here. I hope this post will help you with that!
My name is Aslı, I’m 26 years old and I’m currently in my second – and sadly, last – semester as an exchange student here in Uppsala. Obviously, before I came to Sweden, I did a little bit of research on what is a must-do here. Seeing the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) was one of those and it was on top of my bucket list. I found the Facebook group “Uppsala Northern Lights Watch”, in which people communicate when and where to see the Northern Lights here. Some of the most popular spots are up at the Uppsala Castle or at Gamla Uppsala. But really any spot outside of the city, with a little bit higher ground and less light pollution is perfect as well. In November 2021, I saw the Aurora Borealis from the Uppsala Castle and got a first glimpse of the beauty and majesty of nature. However, that wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to see more, and I had read a lot about places to see them in northern Scandinavia, but I wanted something different. I’ve been following the Aurora Borealis Observatory on social media for a long time now, and I’ve been fascinated by its location and the experiences previous visitors shared. That’s why this spot on the island of Senja in northern Norway was at the top of my list and I chose that as my next destination. Plus, it was a lifelong dream come true!
I went to Senja in December 2021. If you would also like to go there, this is one possible route to choose from: You go to Arlanda Airport by train and take the plane to Oslo. From Oslo, you take the plane to Bardufoss. I went to the Observatory in Silsand. There will always be a bus waiting for all the passengers at the airport and it will then drive from Bardufoss airport to Finnsnes. The crew will pick you up from Finnsnes and drive you to the Observatory in Silsand. They will also take you back to Finnsnes at the end of your stay. During that time, it was up to -20 degrees, so make sure to wear thermo clothes and bring a thick jacket with you.
One evening, the owner asked to take over the live stream of his daily Aurora sessions. I was unprepared but thrilled to do so. You can also see how beautifully the Aurora changes:
Seeing the Aurora changing colors and dancing above made me feel like I was in a different universe. It was pure magic, the snow and forest surrounding me and the sounds of the Arctic wind… this is a memory I will never forget. I even thought that I could hear something while I was taking in the magic dance of the Aurora. It was only later that I found out that some people claimed to hear the Aurora and that there is no scientific evidence for it yet. I found a nice book by Pål Brekke called The Story About the Northern Lights which is about the history and different perceptions of the Aurora Borealis. I can warmly recommend it to everyone.
Here is a Reel that I created of our trip. Enjoy the beauty of Norway!
Of course, wanting to explore the Northern Lights doesn’t necessarily mean that you must go to northern Norway. There are nice places in Sweden as well. Kiruna and Abisko, for example, are very popular spots as well!
I hope you enjoyed reading through my recap and feel inspired to go on your own little Northern Lights adventure!
University studies may seem like an arduous path. A path of which you cannot foresee every blocked road nor every turn you ought to take. Yet, you must embark on the journey if you want to reach its luminous end. What, then, could help you make the most of the effort and, if we want to be really ambitious, bring you closer to that extremely rare human capability that is differentiating mere knowledge from wisdom? With the word itself, we all might be familiar with. But it is its full significance and relation to your future endeavor what concerns us now. That word is ATTENTION.
The first step in the exploration of its meaning takes us to what you bring to class. Or better still, what you don’t bring. It’s quite clear that everyone’s life comprises a myriad of things: we have our family, friends, desires, pets, fears, work, among many others. But it is a demand of attention to be in the “Here and now”. That is, to momentary let the mind free of its various obligations and let it focus on the issue at hand. To let it be truly present. As philosopher Simone Weil puts it: “…to suspend our thoughts, leave them detached, empty, and ready…”
It depends on the professor, but so far in Uppsala I have encountered more than one that urge the students not to use computers to take notes, as it has been proven that it not only distracts them, but also distracts students around them that are not using computers. If you insist in using one, at least make the commitment to have preferrednote taking software in full screen mode (e.g. focus mode in word).
Photo by Todd Trapani on Unsplash
The second step is more subtle, but not of less importance. It’s a characteristic of human beings to extend their hands into the unknown while standing on experience. And that may not only be natural but needed. The only way of making sense of something new is to see how it changes or fits the known world. A world seen from your own particular perspective. A perspective which in turn is shaped by your experience. But there is a peril to be avoided in all of these: the old might prevent us from seeing the new.
In other words, every time you encounter something new in your studies, you must make an effort to see it for what it is, instead of seeing it as a reflection of your own previous knowledge. With a dismissive attitude (one that constantly repeats “I already know this…” and makes you check your phone) you will close the door to new insights and to the possibility of contributing. And please, try to speak up and contribute! It will not only enrich the whole class but might inspire additional comments from otherstudents that make you see things from a different perspective and grow your own knowledge. Especially considering the international nature of Uppsala classes, where you will find many different backgrounds.
I firmly believe that adding these two requisites of attention to your studies will yield great results, not only in what you learn, but even in yourself, as it might become a life habit. To borrow from Weil one last time: “never, in any case, whatever is a genuine effort of attention wasted”
My LGBTQIA+ journey, from a tiny Caribbean island to the big city of Uppsala Before talking about the LGBTQIA+ community in Uppsala and my lovely experience here, I will give a bit of background information about myself and my experience in other countries as a queer woman. Sooooo……
Hej Hej, I’m Sam and I’m from a small Caribbean island called Aruba; located just above Venezuela. The island is smaller than Stockholm and holds about 110.000 people. The island is beautiful, warm, with gorgeous beaches and the people on the island are very kind. But even though most Arubans are lovely people, many people are not kind towards locals who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Being a tourist and a part of the LGBTQIA+ community is fine, you´ll be treated like royalty since you´re a source of income. However, being a local and a part of the community is usually very frowned upon. Aruba is a very Christian island and the Christianity on the island does not support the LGBTQ+ community.
I’ve always known i was attracted toboth men and women. I found girls very beautiful and sometimes would feel the urge to pursue them romantically or sexually, but growing up on the island I supressed these emotions and only dated men and only showed interest in men in fear of judgement. I was also told that finding girls pretty is a normal thing and since I´ve only dated men and shown interest in men, I´m heterosexual and can’t be queer. Sadly, for most of my life I believed this and did not realise that I was and am, in fact, bisexual. Thankfully, things on the island are changing for the better and hopefully one day the community will be welcomed completely. However, when I was there it still was not. So, my attraction for girls was supressed until I left the island.
When I was 18, I left Aruba to start my Bachelor studies in the Netherlands. During my time in the Netherlands, I realised that there was a lot more than just homosexuality. I learned about various sexualities and specifically bisexuality which opened up a whole new world for me. A world I was, sadly, too scared to explore right away. I´ve only dated men and for years believed I was heterosexual, so this new information made me question everything. My life, my identity and most importantly my sexuality. Who am I?
Thankfully, with the help of amazing friends, and one truly supportive cousin, I started to explore my sexuality. I dated both women and men, and realised my attraction to both was and is real. I´m not a heterosexual that simply finds girls pretty. No, I´m a bisexual who loves both men and women, would love to pursue both and I´m finally proud of it! After having found my identity and sexuality, I was happy and could finally live my life freely.
After my bachelor studies in the Netherlands, I decided to move to Uppsala for my Masters. I wasn’t sure how the environment would be for us queer folk, but that was soon cleared up. One of the first things I noticed when moving to Uppsala was the vast amount of rainbow flags hanging around the city. I felt welcomed and I felt as if I´ve found my new home. I also noticed how open everyone is, from their clothing styles up to their sexuality. I saw many same-sex couples walking hand-in-hand and nobody, absolutely nobody, looks at them in a judgemental way. My heart still melts every time I see it. Everyone seems to be accepted here.
During the welcome weeks in Uppsala, I also got the time to visit all the nations and I found that one nation had recently had a gay night, and when I visited the nation, the nation was and still is decorated with rainbow flags. It truly warmed my heart when I saw it and it still does. When at the nation, I asked about the gay night and they were all so excited and happy to talk about it, and were so happy to welcome another LGBTQIA+ member to their nation. They explained how everyone could just be themselves with no judgement there and it was so very true. During their activities it´s totally not weird to see people with hair of all colors, or men in make-up, heels, skirts etc. Everyone is accepted and can truly be themselves. I can truly say I´ve found my second home.
Apart from the nations, there is also an LGBTQIA+ group in Uppsala which meets every Thursday (I will post the website below). They give lots of information about the community and also host fun activities. Everyone is welcome, and so kind to each other. It´s truly a safe space to be in and it´s truly fun to be around other members of the community to talk about your experiences, but also just have fun. They also have other specific groups meetups, such as trans groups and a mental health group. You can find all their info on their website! There is also an LGBTQIA+ student association being formed at the moment and hopefully they succeed in starting it, because that would be great! Their Instagram handle is: uppsalahbtqstudenter
All in all, Uppsala is so welcoming and very accepting of the LGBTQ+ community. I can be myself and be completely free here in Uppsala. Everywhere I go there is a rainbow flag to welcome me and show me, I´m home. I hope you can feel the same way as well.
After having lived here in Sweden for a few months, grocery shopping is going pretty smooth. But one thing I always have to be very careful with is buying milk! Here in Sweden, they have a variety of milk, which can be great, but can also make it very difficult for internationals like me to know which milk to pick and if you aren’t careful, you might end up with sour milk (filmjölk)!
So, to help you on your quest for milk, here is a short guide of the types of milk in Sweden.
Mjölk: this is the Swedish word for good old regular milk. There are four different kinds of milk:
⦁ Minimjölk: this is milk with the least amount of fat; less than 0,1% ⦁ Lättmjölk: lätt means light and is comparable to skimmed milk with 0,5% fat ⦁ Mellanmjölk: mellan means middle and this milk has 1,5% fat ⦁ Standardmjölk or just Mjölk: this is the fattest option of milk and has 3% fat Filmjölk, also known as Fil: this is a Swedish fermented milk and is very sour. If you are looking for regular milk, avoid fil at all cost! But if you’re interested in fil, there are different flavors such as raspberry, vanilla, etc. Also, Fil comes in three fat options:
⦁ Lättfil: which is 0,5% fat ⦁ Mellanfil: which is 1,5% fat ⦁ Standardfil or just Filmjölk: which can be between 2,7 to 3% fat
Laktosfri mjölk: Sweden also has a huge variety of lactose-free products, including milk. Usually lactose-free products have their own section, so you don’t have to look for lactose-free milk between regular milk. When looking for lactose-free milk, just look for products which say Laktosfri. Lactose-free milk comes in the same fat options as regular milk. They also have lactose-free fil, but again if you are looking for milk avoid the word fil at all costs! Even if it says filmjölk, do not be fooled, it is still filmjölk!
This isn’t really about the Sustainable Development Goals!
Like many prospective student who finally gets a chance to be admitted into a reputable institution of learning amidst the competition for the available spaces and uncompromising admission criteria, I was overjoyed by that realization and was looking forward to finally studying in Sweden in the autumn of 2021, precisely at the oldest university in all of Sweden. The Uppsala University asides other interest is known for its rich cultural background, stimulating research environment and participatory student involvement. But sometimes, the route to a desired destination is not always a straight and easy one, and this applied to me in this context.
You might be tempted to ask if I got admitted to study my course of choice, Oh! Yes I did. Did I also travel to Sweden to study? Not yet as I am currently still in my home country Nigeria awaiting a decision from the Migration agency as regards processing of my study permit. I am very hopeful and still keeping my fingers crossed for a positive response. This delay was partly due to the late approval for my proposed study leave at my previous place of employment and challenges with study permit and visa application payment done online. Hence, I was caught in the web of study permit processing time as detailed by the migration office.
I was fortunate to have my first module starting via zoom. This was scheduled for about 2 months beginning in August, so this gave me ample time to familiarize with my course mates. This interaction was not only pertaining to course work but also getting to know most of them on a personal level including their families. As scheduled, physical classes were expected to commence in the last week of October and to my dismay I still wasn’t ready to leave for Sweden. I was torn in between taking a decision to defer the programme or just totally opting out of it completely, but as a fee-paying international student the second option was not an agreeable one. Though not currently out of the woods yet as I write, but I have come to realize that anything is possible if only you put your mind to it.
Before the face to face classes commenced, I had notified every concerned personnel about my predicament and course mates alike, so everyone was in the know to an extent. I wrote personally to all the class teachers for the next module, informing them officially about my absence from the classes with recommendations on possible ways to go about the compulsory lectures, group work, presentations and seminars knowing fully well that attendance and participation was an important part of the grading system at the university. The teachers were very supportive and proffered flexible ways of ensuring that I continued in my studies. This was majorly because it was observed that I was making some efforts too to remain afloat. Hence, lecture slides were uploaded timely on the learning platform so I could access them sometimes before the lecture date, explanations on study materials were summarized by close course mates via remote calls, zoom and other agreeable social media platform. Group members made group meetings very flexible so that I could be a part of it and interestingly, I am ‘zoomed’ into real time class activities and group presentation so that I can also get a ‘feel’ of what transpired during compulsory sessions.
There are really wonderful people in Uppsala University and I am glad to be associated with it. Hopefully, when I am set to travel to Sweden, I shall take my turn in the “taggedforuppsala” intagram takeover for the week and share more experiences. Till then, keep networking!!!
When I moved to Uppsala, I couldn’t bare the thought of leaving my best feline friend behind. I knew from the moment I applied to Uppsala University that I’d be taking my cat with me. But how does that work? What do I need to do? What does my cat need to do? Is it even possible? Well, yes, it is!
In this blog post I’ll tell you all about the steps I needed to take to bring my cuddly friend with me to Uppsala.
Requirements for your pet to fulfil
Before my flight to Uppsala, my cat had to fulfil certain requirements. I looked up these requirements online and came across the website of the Swedish Board of Agriculture. On the website I found all the requirements needed. My cat had to be insured and be vaccinated. She especially needed to be vaccinated against rabies at least 3 weeks before traveling. She also needed to be ID-chipped and of course have her own passport. So, I went to my veterinarian and got everything sorted out.
Booking a pet-compatible trip
Next thing to do was to book a flight for her and I, and try to get her to fly in the cabin with me. This all depends on the airline you are flying with; mine was KLM. My cat isn’t that big or heavy, so I booked a flight where she could fly with me inside the cabin, yay! However, this really depends on your airline and of course the size of your pet. Many airlines do not allow pets inside their cabin area so check their websites carefully.
Pet flight prep
Now, of course, I had to prepare my cat and myself for the flight. For the flight I had to buy a bag with the exact measurements offered by the airline. If the bag is smaller than the measurements, there is no issue. But if it is too big, the pet won´t be able to fit in-between your legs in the cabin and would have to be put with the luggage instead ☹
I also had to make sure she got used to the bag before the flight, so I bought the bag a few weeks before flying to get her used to being in the bag. Sometimes she even slept in the bag. For the flight itself, I also got her a Beaphar de-stressing collar with valerian and lavender scent. This scent calms cats down so they won´t be too stressed on a flight or whatever else you need your pet to be calm for. It’s also very important to not let your pet eat a few hours before the flight to avoid any “accidents” on the flight. So, I took her food away the night before the flight. Your pet can still drink water until about 4 hours before the flight.
Finding pet-friendly accommodation
But before flying to Uppsala, I had to complete the hardest step of this entire process; finding an accommodation that would allow pets. Most student housing, if not all, do not allow pets. I was also moving to Sweden with my partner, so finding a student apartment for two and a cat wasn’t really manageable. That means I had to look elsewhere.
I started my search on Google and also asked @taggedforuppsala for some tips on finding an accommodation elsewhere. This eventually led me to three places:
Blocket.se
Facebook
Uppsala Bostadsförmedling
To start, blocket.se is a website where you can buy and sell many second-hand things, however it can also be useful for finding accommodation. When looking for a place to stay on the website, you can filter your location, but you can also add in the filters that you want a place that allows pets. That’s what I did and there were loads of options for me to choose from. But they were sadly either too small for us and a cat, too expensive, or only short-term. So, I continued my search elsewhere, Facebook!
On Facebook, many people offer many accommodations but it’s very competitive, and usually you have to still apply through another website. Also, there are many scammers on Facebook so I decided this wouldn’t be the best place to find an accommodation for my partner, my cat and I. This eventually led me to Uppsala Bostadsförmedling. This website offers you housing all over Uppsala, but also in counties outside of Uppsala but still nearby. It offers student housing, retirement homes, and, of course, also normal apartments and many of those apartments allow pets. The only issue with this website is that it works with a queue, and it is very competitive. So, you have to sign up fairly early to secure a good spot in a queue. I signed up a bit early, around January, to look for an apartment for July/August. It took many applications, lots and lots of patience, and of course lots of time to find an apartment suitable for all of us. I stood in the queue for about 40-50 accommodations, each time being in the queue line starting from place 50-100 and eventually not getting even close to getting them. But eventually, after months of stalking the website, I finally managed to apply for an apartment and came first in the queue for it! When you´re first in the queue, the people of the accommodation eventually contact you and ask you for some information. If you meet all the requirement, you´re all set!
Flying, arriving and getting to know the new home
So, with an accommodation set, my flight set, and my cat completely vaccinated and ready to fly; we flew to Sweden. At the airport from where I was travelling from, I had to show my cat’s passport, and get my cat and her bag searched. Inside the airport my cat could be let out of her bag, but my cat didn’t like how crowded it was, so in the bag she stayed. I also had to check-in my cat at the gate before flying to let the crew know my cat is joining us on this flight. During the flight, my cat wasn’t allowed out of the bag, but she could stay on my lap inside the bag. But during take-off and landing she needed to stay in-between my legs, like a carry-on bag would, for her and my own safety.
When we landed at Arlanda airport, I had to show them her passport again, but my cat didn’t need to be searched and we could easily leave the airport and finally start our journey in Sweden together. When leaving the airport, I had to get my cat and me to the apartment. I did not want to take my cat on a train and bus ride home. So, I took an Uber instead to have a comfortable ride to our apartment.
It’s important to note, that just like you might need time to adjust to this new foreign country, it might also take some time for your pet to adjust to a new country, home and climate. They will also be very tired from the flight and travelling. So let your pet rest and explore their new surroundings slowly and when they are ready. And most importantly, give them lots of love! My cat took about a week to really adjust to her new home and her new surroundings, but now she loves it here. So, be patient. It will all be fine.
Register at your local veterinarian
It´s also important to note, that once you get your Swedish personal number, register your pet at the nearest veterinarian as soon as possible. They might have cheaper insurance plans for your pet, but it´s also always great to have your pet registered at a veterinarian if anything goes wrong and to have their yearly check-up. At the veterinarian, they can also change the address on your pet´s ID-chip to your Swedish address, but you could also do this yourself online in case your Swedish personal number is taking too long.
Moving with your pet to Uppsala or Visby: step by step
So, to summarize everything. The steps needed to take your pet with you are the following:
Check the requirements for your pet on the Swedish Board of Agriculture website
Find accommodation for you and your pet
Book a flight
Check flight requirements
Prepare for the flight
Fly
Register your pet at the nearest veterinarian
Enjoy Sweden with your pet
I hope you enjoyed this post and learned a bit about how to take your furry friend with you on your trip to Sweden 😊 I’m so happy to have her here with me.
I want to tell you about two recent experiences I had and how I found they relate to each other. The first one is about a cycling trip I made with other students, and the second one is about a group assignment that ended last week. Let’s start with the cycling trip. There was a social event in an adjacent island called Fårö. To reach it, you have to take a ferry that has a departing point of about 60km northeast of Visby.
When I found out that there was a small group that was going on their bikes, I was immediately interested. I thought it would be a great opportunity to know more about the island and exercise at the same time. It did worry me that the distance was much longer than anything I did before. I usually only cycle to campus and back (about 2km) and 60km seemed too much, even on the “mostly flat” island of Gotland. After a day or two of thinking about it, I decided to embrace the challenge and told the group that I was joining them. Two of them belonged to my programme, so I knew them, but it was the first time I met the rest.
We got together at 8 in the morning and started our journey. Soon, after a short but steep hill, I started thinking that I might be out of my element. I was already getting tired, and we were on the first 5km only. One of the guys, that had the most experience cycling, reassured me by saying that that was the hardest hill we were going to face, so I continued. That wasn’t the last time I got tired and felt like I wasn’t going to make it, but the beautiful scenery, my desire to reach the destination, and, most importantly, the fact that everyone else was still pedaling, prevented me from quitting.
I will rush on the second story so we can get to the important part. On the second assignment that we had, a girl that was part of our group had to travel and lost the first gathering. This made it a lot harder for her to do her part of the work and she became increasingly frustrated. Two days before we had to hand in the document, she told us that she just couldn’t finish her part. After that, the group got together and we help her finish.
So, what’s the point and how do my two stories relate to each other? In both cases, the goal was achieved not on an individual level, but on a group level, even if the individual did most of the work (nobody pedaled for me). This is where fellowship comes to play. Anybody who is next to you pursuing the same thing is a fellow of yours. Even if it doesn ́t develop into a friendship, fellowship has value on its own, and once you have realized that you can actively make the most out of it.
By deciding to be part of a group, be it a cycling group or a master’s degree, you have already taken a big first step: you are putting yourself in a situation where you will have to work alongside many and keep up. The psychological effect of that is tremendous and will help you unleash your potential. A second step can be to take the initiative and ask others (that you regard as competent) to compare works, ask how they did it, or don’t hesitate and simply ask for advice. The girl in our group did and we were all happy to help her. Everyone in the cycling group was also happy to take a break and just chat for a minute if I needed it. Thanks to that, and the other positive components of fellowship, I endedup cycling not the initial 60km, but 83km to reach my destination. I am sure it can help you to get to yours.
It is easy to move through spaces and moments in life thinking you could do better or be better. Now what is hard is taking a beat and acknowledging what you’ve done, and patting yourself on the back. Perhaps we expect that from friends, family, and society but it is very important to do it for ourselves. Moving to a new country is a big change and if you took a couple of gap years to recharge & relax, travel, or work after undergrad, then I’d say getting back into studies is no walk in the park, at least for me.
It is so exciting to get the opportunity to move abroad and to study a course you have been dreaming about but it can be incredibly stressful to find a rhythm. You might be having a lot of expectations of yourself, eager for everything to come together at once but I want you to know this could take longer than you might have thought, however, everyone moves at different paces. As an international student, moving is not just about what you will be doing within your university program but you are going to experience a range of things on different levels. Here are a few examples of what I mean:
The experience of hearing a new language.
The experience of new road networks/places you need to memorize.
The experience of new food and finding what you are familiar with.
The experience of locals who seem to breeze smoothly through spaces because they are used to it.
Perhaps the experience of study routines and patterns not developing as quickly as you want them to.
It’s important to acknowledge that you are not just studying 24/7 but also taking care of your health, diet, hobbies, new connections, present relationships, world events, engaging in new things, trying to grow, and challenge yourself. If you ask me that is a lot to be taking in. When I first got to Uppsala, I was so eager to know all the cute corner street cafes, places with the best student discounts, the picturesque sceneries because if I wasn’t, I felt like I was missing out on something I moved so far away to experience. Sometimes the expectation to let loose and be in the moment can be a source of anxiety.
So dear reader, I hope that you can relate to some of the pain points I mentioned because here comes the cavalry – some tips I hope will give you a breather and save you undue stress. I’m sure by now it is no news to you that the level of preparation it takes to embark on this journey is immense, hectic with a lot of moving parts. In my case, I took all the stress from leaving home and let it spill all over my new experience, and I certainly would not want you radiating that same energy into your brand new environment. Sure, we are bound to make mistakes, but a friend of mine once told me “don’t make the same old mistakes, make new ones.” J So here are my two cents on what to do to fend off some anxiety that could creep in ever so often before your trip or when you are settling in.
Before you leave your home country, take a few days after packing and organizing your trip to completely wind down and rest. A few days of doing absolutely nothing.
You may not realize this but you are taking on a lot, so acknowledge that and go at your pace and no one else’s.
Invest in your self-trust, trust yourself enough not to overthink activities you should be part of or getting through the texts assigned by your professor. Trust yourself enough to know you will do your best.
Take it easy on yourself and let your mind catch up with your body or vice versa.
Take pictures of yourself, new and old things, your room before you decorate it, the first bus stop you stood at, a view of the airfield before you landed in Sweden for the first time… Why? It gives you a sense of how far you have come and gives you a lift to know you are growing and doing great. It’s also great to look back on your early days, like a sort of nostalgic savings account you will appreciate later 😉
We may often forget, amid coursework and our day-to-day activities but if you need to hear it one more time I’m here to say it, “Dear international student, be super kind to you!”
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