DIS Blog
Student Blogger Digest: Why Stockholm?
IKEA, fika, ABBA… These are all buzz words you hear when learning about Sweden. And while Scandi furniture design, midday coffee breaks, and Eurovision are all central elements of Swedish culture, there is so much more to Stockholm.
According to our students, Stockholm’s unique mixture of natural scenery, city life, public transit, and Swedish culture make it an exceptional place to live and explore.
Read on to hear what our Student Bloggers have to say about why Stockholm was the right fit for them.
Exceptional access to nature
Nature is an integral part of Swedish culture. A sprawling archipelago in the Baltic Sea, Stockholm is made up of fourteen islands with nearly thirty parks. Stockholm’s nature is also completely accessible to anyone who wants to explore, inside and outside the city.
Jack (he/him, Tufts University) details a day in Tyresta National Park, where he found a welcome respite from the city.
“Since arriving in Sweden, I’ve constantly been reminded of Sweden’s allemansrätten, ‘the right to roam.’ It emphasizes how nature can serve an invaluable purpose for all, and no one has the right to deny this resource from others. Accordingly, in Sweden, the law establishes that nature cannot be privatized nor exclusive; anyone can (and should!) explore whatever untouched land they can find.”
Want more inspiration for places to trek?
Catherine (she/her), Hamilton College, describes her visits to two wooded areas in Stockholm.
“I’m not a city girl, and I doubt I ever will be, but luckily Stockholm is a special city with lots of nature throughout and great public transportation too.”
A cosmopolitan, easy-to-explore capital
Stockholm isn’t just home to the beautiful outdoors — it also boasts vibrant city life. Picturesque and historical, while also modern and lively all at once, there are countless landmarks and activities to see and do in the city. Conveniently, it’s all connected by Stockholm’s incredible transportation system of metro lines, buses, trains, and ferries, allowing for impromptu excursions and explorations around the city.
Nora (she/her), University of Richmond, underscores how everything she ever needs or wants is right at her fingertips.
“The Outdoor Living & Learning Community recently went to a cold dip and sauna about a 20-minute commute outside the city. It is crazy to me that you can easily get to an experience like this, a national park, downtown, museums, cafes or anything else just by a simple commute. This is one of the many things that I have grown to love about Stockholm.”
Like many others, Diego (he/him, Northwestern University) deems the seamless public transit his favorite aspect of the city.
“The single greatest thing in all of Stockholm for me has been the public transportation system… Having so many different ways to get somewhere makes it easy to have little spontaneous adventures on a new line of transportation.”
Meaningful cultural immersion
From interactive class Field Studies to connecting with locals through shared housing, there are plenty of opportunities to learn about Sweden’s cultural traditions and values with DIS.
For Naia (she/her, Whitman College), living in a Homestay with a Swedish family and joining a running club helped her gain a special appreciation for Swedish rituals and celebrations. “There are a lot of fun traditions in Swedish culture. I love how there are days to celebrate different foods, like kannelbullensdag (cinnamon roll day), and other fun festivities, like crayfish parties.”
Gabby (she/her, Colby College) also found living in Stockholm to be a rich cultural experience. Being abroad taught her to embrace lagom, a Swedish concept that encourages balance in all realms of life: not too little, not too much. “I look forward to taking this idea back to the States. I am now going to be even more conscious about how I travel long distances, as well as how often I drive to get places where a nice walk or run could be a better replacement instead.”
Place-based academics: A hub for research and technology
Stockholm is home to some of the most advanced tech businesses and research institutes in the world. DIS courses take advantage of the city’s resources, bringing students to industry giants like Spotify and Mojang as well as local universities like the Karolinska Institute and KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
Diya (she/her, College of Wooster) testifies that visits to tech organizations in the city, led by faculty who work in the fields themselves, have greatly enriched her academic experience.
“I’ve really enjoyed my classes at DIS primarily because of the Field Studies and Study Tours that accompany classroom learning… Visits like these affirm my interest and rejuvenate my curiosity and passion for the field.”
Mikayla (she/her, Cornell University) writes that being part of a small Biomedical Engineering Core Course was rewarding, as it enabled direct and dynamic discussion with presenters during academic visits.
“Our small class size was nice in that we could have deeper conversations with the researchers and professionals we were visiting. Instead of just listening to lectures, we could ask endless questions and go on tangents with people working on very cool things.”
