Well, that went by fast! I’m back, and it feels like yesterday that I was saying goodbye to my friends and classmates for the summer and bitter-sweetly coming to terms with the fact that our first year of masters came to an end. Now, the new semester has started and, with it, our very own existential crisis as the famous “what comes after graduation” begins to slowly creep up on us Master students. 

Thus, I will save my pre-planned blog on what it’s like to be part of the first-ever second year Master’s in Global Health cohort (we’ve got some solid examples to set) for later, and will now simply tell you about my beautiful Swedish summer– okay, it was just June, but hey, who’s anyone to judge? The nostalgia hasn’t fully worn off (she’s a stubborn one) so how about we walk down memory lane and get you all stoked for your future Swedish summer? On with it!  

A bittersweet end-of-year portrait  

As it so happens, the year was great in bringing our class together. Through several courses, some lighthearted drama (hey, it keeps things fun), and our fair share of highs and lows, we really learned each other’s rhythms. It makes me quite emotional to look back at the first few blogs I wrote last year (first ever blog, global health class blog), and it really does warm my heart to be able to say that, in this picture–taken after our last class of the semester–there are no strangers, or even acquaintances. There are but companions, and I think that’s beautiful.

Some much needed celebration

Next up, we kicked June off with an “end-of-year” class picnic at the beautiful Hagaparken next to campus. Lots of snacks, drinks, and memories.  What better way to conclude the year, am I right? Especially after braving through Quantitative Methods II and some rough battles against RStudio. We did it, Joe!

Dancing like a frog

Of course, it cannot be Swedish summer without an honorific mention to Midsommar. Along with some friends who also stayed for the month, we travelled to the beautiful island of Sandhamn where we sat next to the Midsommarstång (the classic wooden pole) and had some snacks, before getting up to experience Swedish folklore first hand through the intonations of Små godorna (please google Frog Dance Sweden and thank me later). And no, contrary to popular belief, we were not ritualistically sacrificed like in the Florence Pugh movie.

Right after returning to Stockholm, and braving through the ferry back with sun exhaustion, we decided to go sunset chasing and made our way to a fan favorite rooftop, Freyja, where we triumphantly concluded our first-ever Midsommar.

The show must go on

Even with Midsommar behind us, we could still feel a sort of general craze in the air, though I can’t quite put my finger on it right now. Oh, wait. Of course. The World Cup. Like the good Swedes we were trying to be, we went to support Sweden in its (tragic) match against the Netherlands at Mosebacketerrassen in Södermalm where, though the mood was that of devastation, at least the Stockholm views were trying to console their gloomy spectators.

More support for football

Since the world cup governed most of the summer, we decided to make the most of it. For the next match (I believe Sweden vs Japan), we tried to go to the all-time favourite Trädgården. Emphasis on the “tried” since, much to our embarrassment, we forgot that Swedes really do start queuing for everything at the crack of dawn, and thus showed up way too late. The queue was infinite and we had no choice but to pivot. However, we ended up at yet another rooftop which, as you’ll see in the picture below, was worth the views. 

My new beginning

Finally, before leaving Stockholm for the rest of the summer, I had one little errand left to run. I had to move from KI Housing to my new apartment. If you’ve read my blog on KI Housing Part 1 and Part 2, you know how deeply attached I was to my humble abode. At first, I admit I was quite sad to leave the place that saw me fall in love with the Swedish capital–oh, the drama. But that’s life, and if there is anything that’s guaranteed in the world, it’s that things will keep changing. There is no balance to it–it doesn’t care whether it is “good” or “bad”. It just is. Plus, look at my new views! So, a few friends helped me pack everything up and, without looking back, moved into my new apartment in Södermalm. 

In short

Though I did not spend July or most of August in Stockholm, I dare say that I did experience a Swedish summer (contrary to a friend’s remarks). The switch between freaking out about getting all assignments done, to frolicking and wandering the infinitely lit streets of summer did take some getting used to, but let me just tell you, what a time. As my second year of masters kicks off, I’d like to take some time to thank all the people I have met so far who have shaped my life in Sweden one way or the other. And I invite you to do the same for those you love. At the end of the day, I believe we absorb pieces of those who’ve been part of our story. There’s no going through it alone, and I think that’s quite powerful. 

Alright, cringey philosophy aside, stay tuned for the next few blogs I’m planning! It’ll be a fun few months, I can promise you that. You will get to take a glimpse at the new Global Health students (this is the first time that two cohorts exist at the same time!), and I will of course keep bringing you along my own adventures, particularly as the scary, thesis-ridden winter looms over. See ya!