For my final blog, I thought it would be a fun idea to give some conclusions, and recommendations for everyone that considers going on exchange in Stockholm in general. So, here goes!
- Going on exchange is an incredible experience. You meet so many people, make a lot of good friends, get to see another city thoroughly and get the chance to study in a completely different institution. However, some people tend to romanticize the going on exchange a little too much. There are also things that are less pleasant. I’ve heard quite a lot of people getting lonely on exchange. Even though there are numerous opportunities to meet new people, there is always the chance that you do not find people you really have a connection with, and since there is no family or friends to keep you company; it can be quite a lonely place. Luckily for me this is completely not the case, where I have made friends for life and met plenty of other acquaintances.
- Missing family and friends from home can also be quite tough. Especially when you have a girlfriend at home (like I do), you sometimes would like to go home for a while. It is not such a big problem when you go on exchange to Stockholm for example, since people can visit you easily and often. However, the story becomes different when you go to, say, Jakarta. Definitely something to consider when you think of going away.
- Time for some typically Swedish points. I personally have had very positive experiences with Swedish people; they are kind, if what a little preserved, and are always prepared to help you out. Other exchange students have experienced similarly, but there are also people that find them arrogant and too introvert. Especially people from southern Europe and South America. But that’s just a difference in culture I guess.
- Stockholm University is a fantastic institution to study at. The old campus is beautiful, lying in a preserved nature park. Furthermore, the concept of doing courses one by one after each other has numerous advantages. Also, the quality of teaching was astonishing; Very good teachers and professors, and I have the feeling I learned an extraordinary lot about business the last semester. A slight con is that they do not have a very big amount of undergraduate courses in business in English, but luckily I could find courses that were very supplementary for my studies. I think the university is highly recommendable!
- I’m completely in love with Stockholm as a city! The city is so incredibly beautiful and atmospheric, and has literally everything to offer! Furthermore, I am a big fan of the posh and pompous style of most parts of the city, as well as the water that seems to flow everywhere. The city is fantastic to shop for clothes, and has more museums that someone can possibly visit in a semester. It is also an incredibly romantic city, and therefore I can recommend everyone to visit it with their loved ones. It´s a truly remarkable city!
- After this complete hailing of the city, there must also be some cons for Sweden of course. For one, don´t expect to nice weather up here in the north. Although rainfall is not as often as in the Netherlands, the weather can get very cold, and it can be quite windy. Also, the fact that it gets dark at 14:30 in the winter is still something I cannot get used to. And the biggest ‘problem’ is that it is an expensive city to live in. Expect to easily spend 800 euro’s a month for your basic expenses (living, food, going out, clothing), and then we’re not talking about extensive spending! Add the fact that you are on exchange and will probably do a lot of trips, and you get quite a heavy spending spree for one semester. Although I don’t think this should be something that keeps people from going here on exchange, it is definitely something to take into account.
Also, since this is the last blog, it might be interesting to write something about how I feel about going back. Of course it is self-evident that I look forward to seeing my girlfriend, my family and my friends again on a more regular basis. One of the things I really look forward to is to not have to spend the amounts of money I spend now just to live. It will be fantastic to be able to buy a beer for a couple of euro´s, or to go to a supermarket and simply buy everything I feel like buying.
There are many things I will miss here though. I feel like I’ve bonded quite a lot with the people I’ve met here, and it will be strange not to see them for so long. I hope I will be able to visit some of them! Also, I will miss the kanelbullar! Urban and I have eaten massive amounts of them in the last couple of months, and it will feel like rehab when I will get back.
I think this exchange will help me in my future career, since I truly have the feeling that I have developed myself in many ways. I have become more social, a much better presenter, and a better writer, among many other things. I hope to apply these competences in other works that will hopefully help my career path!
Lastly, I want to thank the exchange team for making this possible for me. It has been an epic journey, and a true life experience, and I am still very honored to be able to do an exchange like this!
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