Student blogs

The semester is flying by (how is it almost November?!), which means that nostalgia is creeping up on me again. Because of this, I found myself going through my blogs, all the way to my first ever tale of starting over in a new country, and I realized I have barely showcased life outside academics– my bad, I will do better, I promise. Being in Sweden means being neighbours with enigmatic and interesting places and, let me tell you, it’s worth the exploration. In the spirit of my newfound calling, I’m gonna tell you a bit about a Nordic adventure that I went on with some of my friends. 

An idea brewing

Imagine this: It’s Fall 2025 and classes have just begun. Four people studying the Master in Global Health (Robin, Noemi, Kevser, and I) meet and connect instantly. Several plans follow: a trip to Uppsala, many a dinner at Noemi’s cozy place in Rådmansgatan, and countless study sessions. One day, after a few snacks and beers at Lion Bar in Odenplan (check out my blog on student-friendly pubs in Stockholm), our collective light-bulb lights up and proclaims: “it’s time for a trip”. 

Gothenburg gets thrown into the hat of options because it’s Sweden’s second largest city and a friendly neighbour of Oslo, the sole Scandinavian capital waiting to be checked off from everyone’s bucket list. We share an evening of revealing secrets for the first time and beginning to feel familiar with one another, and the night concludes with a tender “are you guys home safe?”.

But, as it often goes in this world, life overwhelms us, each in different ways: long work schedules, broken hearts, academic worry, uncertainty for the future. Stockholm darkens as the winter looms over, and our trip gets scrapped until further notice. 

An idea that finally saw the light of day 

As soon as the current semester started, though, we realized we were running out of time. With internships and Master theses (oh lord) coming at us at full speed, it was now or never. With a year of life together and many experiences that brought us closer, we were no longer strangers and decided to go on our little Swedish-Norwegian adventure. We planned everything, hopped on a train to Gothenburg, and began our three day escapade. 

Gothenburg– Sweden’s small big city 

After what was supposed to be a productive train ride that turned into a four-hour-long nap, we finally made it to the promised land of Gothenburg. Granted, we were not greeted by the best weather or lively crowds of people (Sundays, am I right?). Still, we managed to make a day of it and tried the famous fish and chips that the port city is known for, strolled around the historic Haga district, and enjoyed the hilltop views of the city. Kevser even managed to fit in a quick visit to the local natural history museum!

Kanelbullar and pool

On our way back from the hectic, touristy day, we stopped by a local bakery where they were celebrating Kanelbullar Day, AKA cinnamon bun appreciation day. We decided to be controversial and chose other kinds of pastries, but we were there to celebrate alongside everyone!

To end the day, we were lured by Noemi to a pool bar, where we got to showcase our not-so-grand skills of pool-playing.

Next morning, we indulged in an all-American style brunch and headed over to the bus station to make our way to the Norwegian capital.

The hidden gem of the trip– Oslo

All in all, heading west to see picturesque Gothenburg was worth it, but I have to say, Stockholm has my heart by miles. Adding to this, I had no clear expectations for Oslo– none of us did. And yet, it was the highlight of the whole trip. We were welcomed by sunny roads and a relaxing, light breeze, an insane sunset atop the utopic Norwegian Opera, and crafty streets adorned with a taste of local charm.

You could feel the harmony of the Norwegian people in the air, which almost made up for the fact that Oslo is terrifyingly expensive. Almost. Our night consisted of a homemade sausage risotto (shoutout to Noemi, the world’s greatest cook) and a time of just existing in the same space.

We of course made a pit stop at the Munch Museum, where we saw the classic artwork by good old Edvard, and posed next to the famous painting that inspired the Scream movie franchise (fun fact). 

We concluded our trip by sailing off the Norwegian archipelago, and then headed to the station to catch the train back to Stockholm.

In short 

Needless to say, it was quite the adventure we had, and in such a short amount of time. Writing this blog has made me wonder, how many more times will I get to share moments like this with these amazing women? I guess the knowledge that time will make it harder and harder to coordinate is making me try to enjoy every moment as it’s happening, not just after.

So in the spirit of more cringe-worthy advice, don’t just smile because it happened; smile because it is happening.

Alright, that’s a wrap. As application season takes off, stay put for my next blog, where I will address some of the most common questions I get about the Global Health programme.