One of the best parts of studying abroad with Take the World by the Horns has been the sense of community the program builds. We are part of DIS (Study Abroad in Scandinavia), a study abroad program and school located in Stockholm and Copenhagen. The staff here put a lot of effort into helping students connect. Everything from housing to group activities is designed to bring people together, and it makes a huge difference in how you experience the semester.
Our floor in the student housing is at the center of that community. Each door has a sign with our name, and most of us keep them open so friends can stop by to talk, grab a snack, or hang out. Because of this, we end up spending almost every moment together. We take classes together, eat dinner together, explore the city together, and even go out together in the evenings. That kind of constant interaction would not be possible without the program’s focus on building community.
The staff and our RA make it easy to stay involved. Every month, there is a communal activity for the whole group. One of the first was a baking day, where we made traditional Swedish desserts. We rolled “chokladbullar” (mixed oat balls), and baked “chokladkaka” (chocolate cake). Spending time together in the kitchen was fun and relaxed, and it immediately brought the group closer. Since then, we cooked Swedish tacos, hosted movie nights, played board games, and attended a Swedish hockey game as a group. Even people who had never been interested in hockey were amazed by the energy of the fans and the stadium.
Study tours are another highlight of the program. We go on two trips: a short study tour to Umea, Sweden, and a longer one to Bergen, Norway. The trips are designed to strengthen our bonds and deepen our understanding of foreign public health systems. We are assigned random roommates, share meals, and do group activities like ziplining in Umea or a four-hour boat tour in Bergen, surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. Traveling together has created shared memories that feel much more meaningful because we are experiencing everything together.
Take the World by the Horns and DIS have created an environment where learning, exploration, and friendship happen simultaneously. Spending almost every day together with other students has made this experience memorable in a way I could not have expected. The focus on community has allowed me to explore Stockholm, try new things, and build friendships that I know will last far beyond this semester.
This post was contributed by Ava DiAnna Edwardson, a Global Ambassador for Fall 2025. Ava is a College of Liberal Arts freshman participating in the Take the World by the Horns program in Stockholm, Sweden.
