Hi everyone and welcome back to our second issue this semester. As the title describes, I am currently on Erasmus. I’m based in Stockholm, Sweden and it is as lovely as it sounds. Plenty to see and do, it’s hard to be bored here.
However, I have been travelling a lot, which Is part of the whole Erasmus experience really. I went to Tallinn, Estonia several weeks ago. It was beautiful. It honestly looked like a fairy tale. Towers everywhere and stunning churches. I even got to light a candle in the main Orthodox Christian church in the city, it was great. Plus, we got cheap coffee and pancakes when we arrived, what more could you ask for?
The weekend I’m writing this, I went to visit my dad. He lives on an island called Aero (yes, like the chocolate bar) in southern Denmark. It’s really beautiful, no matter the weather. It was stormy when I arrived, which made the ferry trip to the island quite sickening. However, I am on my way back to Stockholm now as I write this. A four-hour train trip from Malmo to Stockholm. Feels like going from Buncrana to Skibbereen.
I guess what I’m trying to say by telling you all this, that if you’re going on Erasmus or are on Erasmus, then travel as much as you can. Ireland has many beauties because of it being an island, however we are separated from the rest of Europe because of it. This is a perfect opportunity to see new places and experience different cultures. You are easily connected to half a dozen different countries. Don’t be afraid to travel by yourself as well, there is a lot of value in being able to do what you want to do in your own time. And you can pretend to be the main character of a Sally Rooney novel.
These experiences and so valuable especially after the pandemic. We’ve been stuck in our rooms for nearly a year and a half and all of us are too young for that. So, without sounding too preachy, I urge you to take to the skies and get a train and explore what is out there while you still can.
So, if you made it this far in my diary, thanks for reading. I look forward to updating you on my adventures. I’ll see you next time.
