Hannah Reher

I had wanted to study abroad for so long, loving languages, traveling, and history. The summer before freshman year I had an incredible extended trip to Spain and Italy (my first time to Europe), and when deciding how to spend my summer a year later I found the UC Davis Rome program to be a perfect fit. I thought I had satisfied my desire to study abroad, but come sophomore spring semester I realized I wanted both a change of pace from my hectic Berkeley endeavors and the experience of actually living abroad for a significant period of time. One of my close friends in the same major did the same program two years before I did, so after discussing it I was confident it would be a good fit, socially and academically. I was very glad to choose a country that I had very little familiarity with - I could come in with few expectations and an openness to immersing myself.

It took some time to meet a significant amount of Swedish people (they could be reserved and from the very start the international students were introduced to each other), but as I got further in my classes and got more involved in the nations I became close with so many of them. I got to experience Lund traditions like Valborg and Karneval, learn so much about Swedish politics, education, and values, eat actual Swedish food (it's not all Swedish meatballs!), and partake in traditions like sittnings. At first the language barrier was a bit difficult to overcome - every Swede I met spoke English flawlessly but had a tendency to go back to Swedish when with other Swedes, and I was hesitant to request they speak in English. However, they became really good with being as accommodating as possible and keeping a check on each other when I was around, even making a game out of it. Little things like this made me feel so welcome.
Additionally, I was actually able to visit some of the hometowns of friends I made - knowing that these places have been fundamental parts of their lives made me appreciate the trips that much more and gave me a more meaningful connection to the cities.

My biggest concern even before I took off to Copenhagen Airport was how I would mentally and emotionally adjust to the stresses of setting up life in an unfamiliar place. I had just come out of a very stressful and busy couple semesters, and my biggest aims were to make the most of my time there and really prioritize my social and emotional well-being. I was pleasantly surprised by how well I adjusted to being there, from meeting new people to picking up hobbies/activities to living in an apartment by myself for the first time. I was able to spend the first couple months taking a break and traveling around Europe, before then shifting my approach and focusing on staying in Lund and fully embracing the incredible student life there and the routine of daily life. Because I was making meaningful connections and keeping myself open to fulfilling activities/opportunities, I was able to stay connected to my friends and family back home without feeling like I was missing out.

A typical day in Lund for me would start with waking up, making coffee in my little French Press and packing a lunch before biking up to my classes across Lund. Classes were usually no more than a couple of hours a day and mostly in the morning. I would grab lunch with friends at one of the nations, large student-run social clubs that run dance clubs, pubs, lunches, and other events. An afternoon would consist of fika (getting coffee with friends) or studying for my classes. Afternoons and evenings had plenty of options. I got quite involved in both Östgöta (one of the nations) and in the Erasmus Student Network (student-run organization that puts on activities over the semester); among other events I was able to work many of the ÖG clubs, attend quite a few sittnings (student banquets), and go every Tuesday to an ESN running club. Otherwise, I had plenty of opportunities to hang out or go out with friends. I picked up board games as a hobby, and at least once a week a group of friends and I would invest a solid 5+ hours in our favorite long strategy game.

I took three Mechanical Engineering courses that all transferred back towards my major in addition to one Swedish cultural class and a two week intensive language program. Each semester at Lund University is split into two, with students take 1-2 classes each half, so at any given time I was only focusing on two classes. Compared to Berkeley, where time outside of lecture is very structured with discussions, labs, and assignments, Lund's coursework is much less structured, and it is up to the student to keep themselves on schedule with absorbing the material. While finding the motivation to maintain a consistent schedule of studying was somewhat difficult, I found that Lund's schedule provided a lot more flexibility with my time. I did not feel too overwhelmed with assignments to properly study for the final exams, and as such was less intimidated by how large of a portion of my final grade they were. Picking a program where I could transfer engineering classes back was a priority for me, and because I was successful in that my senior year is so much more balanced.

My favorite part of studying abroad is actually when the day to day becomes mundane. There is a certain thrill to traveling and trying to experience as much as possible, yet there is a quiet but no less meaningful fulfillment in developing a routine. Needing to go grocery shopping, spending an afternoon catching up with friends over coffee (fika), having a weekly club activity to go to and, yes, catching up on homework. You are no longer just a "visitor," and this place becomes more of a home. On top of setting up a life for myself, I found a lot of meaning in the connections I made: throughout the entire semester I was meeting people of all different backgrounds from all over Sweden and the world. Most people, especially fellow study abroad students, are similarly open to new experiences, making for a really cool environment.

Studying abroad made a huge impact on me personally and professionally.
I learned the value of self-improvement for the sake of always being your "best self." I came to understand much more the Swedish concept of "lagom" and the Danish concept of "hygge." Lagom, translated, means "just the right amount" or "in moderation," and pertains to a way of living and approaching life - balance in every aspect. Learning how to properly balance all aspects of my life (social, introspective, academic, etc) and knowing when to open up to new opportunities and when to take it slow has helped my development into a more well-rounded, fulfilled person. As someone who has been known to take on too much and oscillate between being bored and being stressed, I found that one of the most important things I learned was simply how to sit in a park for a couple hours and draw or read, and not feel like it was a waste of time or like I should be somewhere else. Hygge similarly relates to a feeling or moment, with no actual English translation but being described by, among other words, a feeling of "contentedness." Celebrating even the little things, such as making a cup of coffee in the morning or having a meal with close friends. You don't need constant adventures and change to maintain a sense of happiness.
While in Sweden I met so many people in different stages of their life - undergraduate like me, doing masters programs, looking for jobs - and so many different philosophies/levels of maturity regarding their personal and professional goals and how they want to reach them. I realized that my path doesn't have to be so cut and dry - there's not necessarily a rush to finish one thing, check off a box, and rush into the next. I really opened myself up to the idea of graduate school and opportunities beyond my sphere back in Berkeley. This came at a very poignant time, as I am now spending my senior fall semester figuring out my post-graduation plans.

I would absolutely recommend you do it! I had some trepidation in the months leading up to it and it's definitely important to make sure you can fit it in with your Berkeley career without overloading your future semesters, but I have no regrets about doing it. You'll gain so much from the experience and Berkeley will still be waiting for you when you get back. It can be a leap outside your comfort-zone, but I found it was worth every moment. Lund in particular was a fantastic program - the student life there is like no other and its position as a university town located not far from Copenhagen and the third biggest city in Sweden means you have the ability to reach anywhere in Europe you might want to visit while having a beautiful, student-oriented town to live in.