Hej from Stockholm!

I arrived in Sweden this past Saturday, January 11^th. My first flight to London got delayed, so I was worried I was going to miss the connection. Luckily, after a nice sprint through the Heathrow terminals, I made the flight to Stockholm just in time!  I am so excited to finally be here.  The past few days have been full of jet lag, learning the public transportation system, settling into a new home, and meeting lots of new people. It has been a busy time, but it is off to a fun start!

I am living in a Studentboende in Årsta.  This is a student housing complex made up of DIS students and other local/international students studying in the Stockholm area. It has been nice engaging with some of the local students in the communal kitchen area.  They are super welcoming and have some great advice!

In Sweden, commuting is an integral part of the culture. It takes me about 40 minutes to get to the DIS building where we have our classes. This consists of a bus ride, a metro ride, and a transfer to another metro line. The commute is an adjustment, but I think it will be a nice addition to my schedule.

In Sweden the metro is called the Tunnelbana or T-bana. I have loved taking public transportation here because everything is so clean, efficient, and organized.  For example, when you are waiting to get onto a bus or train, everyone waits in a single-file line, and then waits their turn to get onto the public transportation.  I find this to be a very polite and orderly system. Also, the T-bana stations in Stockholm are said to be the world’s longest art exhibit! This just adds to the beauty of Stockholm’s transportation system.  Below is a picture from the Stadion station. 

My classes start later this week on Thursday.  I am excited to get back into the groove of school.  I am also looking forward to meeting my professors and classmates for the semester.  Some of my classes here are really small (4 or 5 students).  This will definitely be an adjustment, but I think it will be a great opportunity to get to know the professors and engage with the material.

So far, so good! Stockholm is a beautiful city.  I can’t wait to continue exploring. Stay tuned for more adventures!