My weekend trip to Stockholm has come to an end! I’m having mixed feelings about it. I was not expecting to miss Belfast so soon after getting there, but I definitely have! I cannot wait to get back and see the friends I’ve made, go to class, and do other such daily activities. The trip was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster; mostly filled with highs but also some surprising lows (though not as dramatic as it sounds). Possibly the best advice I could give you regarding your own study abroad experience would be not to travel immediately after carrying to your host country. It is extremely important for me to have the best year I possibly could, and making sure that my life at Queen’s is not only balanced but also fun and an unforgettable experience in and of itself. Although it is a lot cheaper to travel around Europe while you are here, I am glad that I gave myself almost three weeks to settle into life at Belfast. I definitely would not recommend leaving your host country (or even city) before the three week mark, unless perhaps it was only for a short day-long or two-day trip. Another tip that might go without saying but I believe is worth mentioning is to plan your trips as well as possible, but leave some flexibility. My trip to Stockholm was pretty impromptu, and I definitely should have planned it better. Nevertheless, my best experience ve there was a product of aimless wander and an open timetable. I recommend you at least research the following: (1) how to get from the airport/train station/bus terminal to your accommodation, (2) top places that you want to go to (both food and sites of interest), and (3) experiences unique to the country. If possible, I would also research how expensive each activity is and begin thinking about whether the price is worth it. Don’t forget to also look up the exchange rate because it’s easier to spend money when you don’t know how much you are spending, and figure out how you will pay for things (cash? card?).
The disappointing thing about Stockholm was the lack of points of interest and nightlife. It was definitely enough for a weekend, but I cannot see myself going for longer than that. In case you decide to visit Stockholm as well, here is a link that I found helpful: http://www.visitsweden.com/
I most loved walking around the city, particularly Old Town. It had amazing architecture and led to some amazing sights. I wouldn’t underestimate how great it is to simply experience daily life in the place you are visiting (even if that place is mostly filled with tourists, such as Old Town is.
Last I wan to cover is schoolwork. I don’t know if I mentioned it before, but the grades you earn while abroad will not affect your GPA, but they will count for credit. A lot of people forget to pay attention to their studies because of this, but remember that your transcript will still include those grades. Hence, I would recommend you figure out how you will keep up with whatever readings or problem sets you have due. To end with a good note I will tell you a little more about my favorite part of the trip. We woke up early this morning and headed into the city center. My friend and I first stopped at the Swedish History Museum, because I knew next to nothing about it. Then we walked around the city for a bit until we found a street food locale. Stockholm seems to kind of shut down on weekends, so we didn’t have many restaurant options, but the sausage baguettes were delicious and affordable. After eating we walked around the city a bit more and found a café that had rave ratings online. I had what must be one of the most delicious coffees I have ever had, and my friend’s mochaccino was heaven on earth. My friend’s flight was earlier than mine, so we rushed about looking for postcards and stamps, and she went on her way. For the last three hours I had in Stockholm I followed my instincts. I saw a sign to the Photography Museum, and on my way there found an amazing skyscraper to take pictures from. The museum was also great, and I had just enough time to mail the postcards. I am so exited to edit the pictures I took from the trip. For now, I leave you with a link to my pictures from the Cavehill Hike I wrote about a couple weeks ago.