Summer in Stockholm: first impressions and recommendations

Hi everyone! My name is Lauren and I am here at DIS Stockholm for all three summer sessions. I will be starting my junior year this fall at UNL (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) as a Forensic Biology major. I am involved at UNL with the honors program, being a member of my sorority and various committees within it, and holding the position of a Peer Educator which includes leading sexual assault prevention workshops by the university for other students and new freshmen.

Additionally, I am involved in the community as an intern and volunteer at a local non-profit advocacy organization helping survivors of domestic violence. In my free time I enjoy listening to Taylor Swift and going to her concerts (I went to 3 last summer!), being with my pet guinea pig, working as a barista, and laughing with my friends.

I love mountains and hiking and am excited to get out to the Swedish archipelagos (islands off of Sweden) as well as explore more of Stockholm’s museums and Gamla Stan (Stockholm’s Old Town). In addition to getting out and adventuring, I am excited to meet people — a goal of mine this summer is to grow by gaining more independence and different perspectives.

I’ve spent less than a week in Sweden so far, but am already loving it! The city is gorgeous, home to endless cafes and cuisines to try, and always has a breeze from being surrounded by water. So far one of my favorite things to do has been getting dinner with friends at restaurants on or by the water — there is no shortage of them!

 In addition to good first impressions of the city, my impressions of DIS Stockholm have been good as well. The housing I am placed in is about a thirty minute commute from the DIS building on the Stockholm city metro. It was definitely a challenge at first, but thankfully I had Apple and Google Maps to guide me there (and everywhere!). It is something that definitely comes with practice, but easy to learn. I was very intimidated by the public transportation system of Stockholm coming here, as I have never experienced a system anywhere near that magnitude. However, the best way to learn if you find yourself trying to commute to DIS Stockholm for the first time is to dive right in!

After the first day of class (statistics, for my major, which included blueberry pie from our professor as a great added bonus), I actually tried mapping it by myself without anyone else — only my second time doing it — and to my surprise, I made it back in one piece! I was a little surprised to learn DIS was thirty minutes away; however, now I almost prefer it that way. I can learn and be more familiar with the names and locations of various islands that make up the city, and the views of Gamla Stan on the route are beautiful. The only downside for me is I must be ready early to make it to my 8:30am class while accounting for the commute (and morning rush hour!).

Something super helpful for me has been crafting a daily routine schedule and being very, and I mean VERY, conscious of the time. With the sun not setting until 11pm and sunlight still lingering for hours after that into the night, you realize how much your body relies on natural sunlight as a cue of the time. It is very easy to be lost in something you are doing, think that it is 5pm, then look at the clock and learn it is in fact 9pm or 10pm. I suggest getting a sleep mask, since the first night the rising sun woke me up at 4am. Additionally, buying a fan once you are here is not a bad idea either. AC is not in the housing (or a lot of places), and even though it is still Scandinavia, there have been a few days with highs of 75 or 79 degrees Fahrenheit. A fan was a game changer for me, since I prefer it much cooler at night.

First week suggestions

• Eat out at GlasHuset (which translates to glass house) for dinner on the water with a group of newly-made friends.
• Grab a smoothie and croissant for breakfast before class at á la Lo café and cantina.
• Explore Gamla Stan — hit a few museums in your free time and stop in all the fun souvenir shops!
• Attend the DIS social put on within the first few days after arrival. It is a great way to meet people or get even closer to new friends. We had a barbecue in a park for ours, but I know it could be another activity as well.
• Delicious pizza at Craft Pizzeria, which is a very short walk from one of the DIS housing buildings!
• Visit the Westfield Mall of Scandinavia for any clothes you forgot to pack. There is NO shortage of stores, as it is the biggest mall in Scandinavia. Stores like Mango, Uniqlo, Zara, H&M, Pull & Bear, Levi, etc. are located here (and a Tesla store, which was weird to see in a mall).
• Most importantly, start crafting your bucket list of places and experiences for your time abroad! Whether you’ll be in Stockholm for a semester, a few weeks in the summer, or the entire summer, time gets away from you. Start researching now (ideally before you arrive, too) and craft a list of what you want to see and do. You’ll be grateful for this when classes pick up, and when you find yourself overwhelmed with the endless options available in Stockholm!