My first Erasmus

Why did you choose Sweden?

I - quite randomly - decided to study Swedish at university, wanting to explore a new language and a culture I knew little of. I felt ready, and even eager, to have an adventure abroad, and applied for my Erasmus. Lund was my third choice in the list, yet I ended up choosing it over my second choice (Nottingham). I wanted to improve my Swedish skills, and Lund honestly felt like the right choice for me at the moment.

Did your language improve?

At first, it was very difficult to speak Swedish. The majority of my fellow Erasmus students did not speak it, and so English was the language of choice for our interaction. Furthermore, I was overwhelmed by the local accent, and had difficulty understanding the local people, although that got better with time. I applied for a Swedish course at the university, and ended up taking all the levels available throughout the year, and that helped me a lot in learning new things and speaking Swedish with other people. I recommend these courses: not too many students, native teachers who use engaging techniques such as movies, songs, group activities, and not too much workload. On a side note, though, I still prefer Stockholm Swedish.

How was university life?

Awesome! The courses were all interesting and well-balanced, the professors were friendly and competent, and the exams were thought specifically for the Erasmus students. There was a café inside the university, with low prices and even a lunch buffet and lunch menu, and the tables were always full at any time of the day. You could walk in alone and immediately find someone you knew and could chat with, without having to schedule a time or place to meet!

How about night life?

Pubs are awfully expensive in Sweden, but Lund has a solution to that: the so-called student nations! There are 13 nations in Lund, and if you have membership for one of them you can go to all! Basically, the nations are organizations of sorts. They are run by volunteer students, who oragnize events every day. For example, there is a pub night every Friday, a brunch every Sunday, and other sorts of events on the other days, such as lunches, dinners, clubs, and so on. It's very cheap to participate to these events. For example, the price for the brunch, where you can take as much food as you want, is of 50 Swedish kronor (5-6 euros).

You can also volunteer to work for these events, by helping in the kitchen or by serving at the tables, and cleaning after it is over. In return, you can choose between a voucher that you use to enter for free in one of the events, or a dinner party held for the volunteers of the event you helped with. There, you are offered a dinner and you get to party. You can only work for the nation you have the membership for, however.

I only went to a normal pub once, as the nations were much better and cheaper, and all the students were there. It was a great way to party, eat, meet new people without spending too much money.

I had membership with Kristianstad nations, which I think is amazing, but I chose it randomly and I think all the nations are great, especially because you really can go to all of them. They are all near the city center, so easy to reach as well.

What is there to see in Lund and close by?

Lund is a small city, but there are some nice things to see. There is a very famous Cathedral, with an astronomical clock and very interesting crypts. The other church, Allhelgonakyrkan, is very beautiful as well. Both offer some events, such as choir concerts.

There is also a big Botanical Garden, a bit sad in the winter as there are no flowers, but enchanting in Spring and Summer. It also has a pond and a greenhouse, and you can see a lot of ducks and other birds just walking around.

You can also find a few museums, with student discounts. If you like culture, I recommend them!

Lund is also very close to two bigger cities: Malmö and Copenhagen. Malmö is just 10-15 minutes away by train, and it's a lively city full of people. There, you can visit the local park, the old castle which is now a museum, or just walk around in the beautiful city center. There are also a few beaches, as it is by the sea!

Although Copenhagen is in Denmark, it's actually closer than many other Swedish cities. It's a capital, so it's big and lively, and there are many things to see. I visited a very big historical museum, for free, and there are also many attractions that you can see while walking. The new harbour is one of the most picturesque places, as is the statue of the Little Mermaid from Andersen's short story.

In Copenhagen you can also find Tivoli, a big amusement park just across the central station. It's a bit expensive, and I haven't been inside, but I've heard it's worth the price. It is said to be especially beautiful during Christmas, as there is a Christmas market and everything is lighted, producing a warm and cozy atmosphere.

What other places have you visited?

I went to Helsingborg, on the coast north of Lund, and from there I took a boat to the Danish city across the sea, Helsingor, where Shakespeare's Hamlet was set and where you can visit Hamlet's castle. The two cities are both nice, but I was disappointed by the castle, as it was mostly empty and didn't truly recreate the atmosphere of the past.

I also went to Stockholm, the capital and, as I was there only for three days, opted for the Sightseeing Bus service. There are many museums in Stockholm - I visited the Children Museum, the Abba museum and then the Royal Castle. There is also another Tivoli amusement park. Gamla Stan, the historical center, is picturesque, and it's lovely to walk around it. You can find many places with local food and cultural references, mixed with tourist shops and attractions. There is also an Ice Bar where everything (tables, chairs, glasses, walls) is made of ice. Spectacular!

I later went to Kalmar, which is about halfway between Lund and Stockholm. It's smaller, and a typical Swedish town. There are a few interesting museums as well as the castle where the Royal family used to live a few centuries ago. It's on the coast, so you can also take boat trips or go to the beach. Kalmar is connected by bridge to a long but narrow island, Öland, famous for its natural landscapes and for its many lighthouses. It's definitely worth a trip!

I didn't get to go to the real North, but it's spectacular and I really wish I had seen the Northern Lights.

There is also ESN, an organization that organizes trips and parties for students. If you get a membership card done you can participate, and everything is planned for you!

How was the food?

Sweden's specialty are sweets. The absolute best are cinnamon rolls, but carrot muffins are also great. You can find entire aisles of supermarkets filled with candy and chocolates.

Meat is one of Sweden's most eaten foods, generally accompanied with potatoes or some other vegetable, but it's also easy to find many vegetarian alternatives, and all restaurants have vegan and vegetarian food.

Is it hard to find accommodation?

Unfortunately, it is. There are a few websites with many ads, but landlords are overwhelmed with emails and they don't always answer. Student dormitories are very expensive, at least in my opinion, and it's often hard to get a room because there are long queues. Many Swedish parents register their children from birth!

I suggest you look for a room in the surrounding area as well, even if it seems far from Lund. I initially got a room in a house in a village about 30 km from Lund. It was cozy and big, and there was a bus every hour so I didn't mind the distance. However, I kept looking, and after two months I found a room in the city center for about the same price, and had the chance to visit it in person as opposed to just answering the ad. And there wasn't the rush of all the students looking for accommodation, so it was easier!

Would you recommend the experience?

Yes! I met people from all over the world, learned a new language and learned to be independent while being in a safe environment at the same time. I loved my experience and I would do it again if I could. Be brave, be curious and be ready to spread your wings!