Christian, Whitman College, spent a semester in Stockholm. During his time abroad, he passed on advice for creating a unique study abroad experience.
Read Christian’s letter, and learn more about what to expect from a semester with DIS.
In the months leading up to my semester abroad, I began to worry if it would all be worth it. Would I fit in? Would I find a culture that welcomed me and felt like a place I could call home?
For anyone who knows me in person, traveling to Scandinavia to study has been a huge dream of mine, and I have done so much to realize it for myself. Thus, finally making to Scandinavia felt like a weight being lifted off my shoulders, where I could finally stop dreaming and live out my fantasy. But there was also a sense of dread, where I worried that the image I’d built up in my head of what I thought my study abroad semester would be like, and the reality of what it was, wouldn’t match up.
If you’re considering going abroad at all, I urge you to take the plunge and go for it.
Happily, I can confirm that my fears were definitely assuaged. I’ve met professors and friends that have supported me and helped me cultivate my interests. I’ve seen countless buildings and cities older than the foundation of my country and have felt the power of the history contained in them.
If you’re considering going abroad at all, I urge you to take the plunge and go for it. But if you’re not quite sure where to start, then let me be the first to welcome you to Scandinavia. Not only is this a supportive and welcoming place to learn and grow, but it also challenges and stretches your perception in ways that I guarantee I’ll take with me long after I’ve left.
Best of luck to you and your study abroad journey!
Christian