Coming to The University of Texas at Austin, I had a lot of expectations for what the next four years would hold, including the classes I’d take, the friends I would make and the experiences I would have. Some experiences were more realistic than others, but the one that hung… read more
Sweden
Saying Hi and Other Scary Things
As much as I wanted to study abroad, it would have been a lot easier not to. Arranging my housing leases, taking the most insane semester of courses before this one, and leaving behind an entire life of people and things I loved dearly was not easy. While I was… read more
Returning to “Reality”
As of the time I’m writing this, I have about a month left in Sweden. I can see on my calendar that my departure date looms closer, and I can’t help but feel sad about leaving behind the life I have made for myself here. From the very start of… read more
Adjusting to Living And Thinking Abroad
You know when there’s a popular TV show, and everyone’s talking about it, so you know the characters, basic plotline, and random spoilers, but then you actually watch the show, and everything starts to mean something to you? That’s what studying abroad feels like. I knew where I was going… read more
Slowing Down in Sweden
I knew studying abroad would be a challenge. As someone who typically finds comfort in knowing and being secure in my surroundings, this feeling was so terrifying and freeing at the same time. It had been one of the first times in a long time that I had no agenda—nothing to… read more
Saying Goodbye to Sweden
As I reflect on my time at Uppsala and the lessons I have learned along the way, I find myself both sad that it is almost over and excited to see what the future holds. My study abroad experience was unique because of the circumstances, and I did not get… read more
Welcoming Spring in Sweden!
Spring is finally here! After spending the first two months of my semester abroad experiencing the dark and cold days of a Swedish winter, I have a new appreciation for the sun and warmer weather. Spring is often thought of as a symbol of change, and that has been especially… read more
Life Outside of Class in Uppsala, Sweden
Balancing schoolwork and free time is challenging for any college student. I have found that the activities I participate in outside of class can be just as valuable as my in-course experiences. This has continued to be true throughout my time abroad as well. One of my favorite things to… read more
Adjusting to my New Courses in Sweden
One of the main concerns I had coming to Uppsala was course load. Even in the U.S., courses at different colleges can vary in their expectations. Moving to an entirely new country with a different way of taking classes was frightening. While I could research how people typically felt about… read more
Studying in Sweden – Finding my Footing
Going into my time abroad, I set several goals for myself. I want to make meaningful connections with people I would not usually have the chance to interact with, gain learning experience that I would not have been able to gain at UT and approach the challenges of moving to… read more
