I remember the first time I visited Europe. I was freshly eighteen, just graduated from high school, and ready to begin my adventurous “adult” life on the family trip my parents had been promising us for years.
While a cramped, ten-hour plane ride may not feel like freedom, the idea of spending two weeks across the ocean did, and family trip or not, I was going to make the most of this newfound independence.
Two years later, boarding another plane, alone this time, those memories were more vivid than ever. Last week, I left my home in Bloomington, Illinois once again to venture to Stockholm, Sweden. As a rising Junior at Vanderbilt University, I’ve had a larger taste of freedom and adulthood since my family trip, but leaving the country by myself for the first time still felt like a big step. I was terrified. I was excited.
When I was looking into studying abroad, I knew I wanted a program that supported me academically, of course, but I also wanted to be supported in my self-growth and search for independence. DIS had just what I was looking for. As a secondary education and English double-major, I was intrigued by several of the DIS courses, especially Travel Writing and Children in a Multicultural Context, the classes I am taking in Stockholm and Copenhagen during Sessions Two and Three, respectively.
Through these courses, I am thrilled to work on and learn more about not only writing and education, but also my understanding of different perspectives. While studying abroad is focused on academics, I have found (in my short time here) that the most important learning I do happens outside of the classroom. Each person I meet, place I visit, and sight I see has its own unique story and background, and I love learning about them. It is incredibly humbling to experience such a new place with different ideas and traditions.
From being able to speak English, my first language, everywhere I go to being able to find comforts and foods from home, I have realized the amount I take for granted in the United States. I have also recognized the beauty of straying from these comforts and trying to fully immerse myself in my surroundings. A few locals I have met already have jumped at the chance to show me around the city and teach me basic Swedish. They told me that everyone is always excited to practice their English with visitors, but it makes me question why they have to conform to my native language when I am in their home.
This has challenged me to try and pick up as much Swedish as I can while I spend the next few weeks here, and I was thrilled to get started this past Thursday when a Stockholm resident I met offered to teach me a few lessons while showing me around the city. I was delighted to be able to see Sweden through a local’s point-of-view and learned so much about the city, its history, and the best places to stop while visiting. While I may not be a local (far from, in fact), I wanted to offer you the best tour I can, so, without further ado, here are some of my favorite stops in Stockholm so far.
Fika & food:
- Klara Strand Cafe – On my first night in Stockholm, I walked to this outdoor café for an iced latte and a view of the water. I had (and this is high praise) the best latte of my life here. And with its comfortable, leaned-back chairs and a view of the water, I couldn’t imagine a better place for my first meal in Stockholm.
- Fosch Artisan Pâtisserie – A two-minute walk from the DIS building, I’ve eaten at this café twice now. Their ham and cheese sandwiches and ice cream sundaes are unbeatable, and I don’t even like ham.
- 7-Eleven – I can’t lie to you, some of the best food I’ve had since arriving has been from the 7-Eleven’s on each block. As a college student, a cheap option that offers anything you may be craving ends up being a daily stop.
Outdoor activities
- Swimming – My favorite thing to do is dip into the freezing waters of Sweden at any of the beaches or piers around the islands. My favorite is called Tanto Strandbad and is a ten minute walk from my dorm. It has rocks, sand, piers, rock walls, and ducks that swim right up to you.
- Skansen – I was lucky enough to be able to spend the Swedish holiday Midsommar at Skansen, an open-air museum and zoo featuring Nordic animals, historically-accurate cottages, and beautiful paths. Even without the holiday celebration, Skansen had enough activities to spend an entire day in the park.
- Gamla Stan – Translated to “Old Town,” Gamla Stan is a historic area of Stockholm home to the Royal Palace, several churches, government buildings, and plenty of restaurants to keep your energy up while walking around the town.
Indoor activities
- ABBA Museum – Sweden is home to one of my absolute favorite bands, ABBA, so of course I was thrilled to learn about the ABBA museum right here in Stockholm. While I haven’t been yet, I’ve heard it is one of the most exciting things in the city from several of my classmates.
- Vasa Museum – Another museum I have yet to be inside of intrigues me simply from the story I was told by my Swedish friend. He said that the first modern king of Sweden wanted to build the most luxurious ship possible, but when they put it in the water, they realized they forgot that it had to float, too. The Vasa ship sank almost immediately in the Stockholm Harbor on her maiden voyage. It sat underwater for hundreds of years until it was finally retrieved and turned into a museum.
Relaxation
- Housing – Of course, I love my DIS room. While I don’t spend much time home (as I’m trying to cram every activity into my short time here), my dorm is cozy and complete with a kitchenette, bathroom, two beds, three closets, a table, and ample storage space.
After less than a week here, this list is far from complete, but as I spend the next two weeks getting even more familiar with the city, I hope to keep you updated on all my favorite spots in my temporary home of Stockholm, Sweden.