A tribute to Umeå, a tribute to Erasmus.

Hello again!

When I was planning my move to Umeå, I wanted to be as prepared as possible and so I did a bit of research about the city. I learned it has roughly 114,000 inhabitants, that it has a pretty good women’s football team, that it hosts Sweden’s biggest laserdome center and that it’s dotted with silver birch trees because of a fire that happened once. These random pieces of information didn’t really get me excited I have to say! I didn’t know if I would be happy here, or if I would meet cool people, or if I was making a big mistake coming to a really dark place in the north of Sweden as opposed to somewhere like Malta. I had to remind myself that you can never fully know a place until you live there and make it your own. You just have to go and see for yourself. 

We are all afraid of the unknown..which is why I actually only planned to stay for one semester. Then I remembered something my Dad once said to me “If you’re going to do something...do it properly”..so I did. I’m really glad I stayed for the year because Umeå changes so much through the seasons and so do you as a person.  The leaves turn red, then gold, they fall and are buried by the snow and ice. Endless amounts of snow and ice.. and then it all melts after an incredibly long time to reveal spring flowers and grass.. (by which time you will have forgotten what grass is and rejoice about being able to wear converse again!)

Erasmus is an experience that you will never forget. I have only heard positive experiences from people who have done it all around the world. It takes you out of your comfort zone and places you in an environment where you know nobody, sometimes you have a totally different language to battle with, and perhaps a confusing currency too. The best part is how you are forced to meet people you ordinarily would have never met and end up becoming best friends with them for life. 

Umeå is such a great place to go on Erasmus. No...it’s not a big city and it’s not cool in the conventional sense but it has so much to offer you. This time last year I had never seen or eaten an elk, nor had I gone skiing (and subsequently rescued by snowmobile) I had never walked on a frozen lake...or sang karaoke, I had never seen northern lights, shooting stars or rabbits show-jumping(weird I know). I had never seen such a great jazz festival, or played beach volleyball before.(it turns out I am awful)..I had never drank such a large quantity of shnaps, (go to a “Jul sittning”..you’ll find out) or barbequed a banana or went to the supermarket dressed as a superhero. I could go on..but I think you get my point. The possibilities are endless. 

It’s a really special place. People are proud to be from here and rightly so. It’s different...you’ll see when you get here. Get excited...Umeå is going to be a chapter in your life you will never forget. 

p.s (Everybody thinking about going on an exchange  should watch the film “ l’auberge espagnole” ). It's fantastic :) 

That's all from me today...hope you are having a lovely Wednesday 

Louise J :)