Now, about five months later, I can already look back on an experience that I will always remember. Gothenburg doesn’t feel like a big city, but it includes everything you would expect. The big shopping streets, the nightlife, the people and the whole atmosphere. Everything comes together in the student life. The first thing you learn as a foreign student, is the concept of ‘fika’, because this is sacred in this country. Between the main meals the Swedish people take their time to drink a coffee or thee with a kanelbullar. A sweet bun with the main ingredient being cinnamon, delicious! Maybe something to introduce in the Netherlands?

After the summer evenings in August and September we quickly roll into autumn, where Halloween is celebrated with the craziest outfits. Not soon after this is over, the Christmas lights brighten the city in November and the Christmas markets open their doors. Because now it really starts getting dark. During four weeks of November, ten hours of daylight were measured. While we know that it can rain in the Netherlands, this city tops even our country. Then in December it’s dark around three o’clock.

Despite the darker days, we travel a lot. Gothenburg is centrally located in Sweden, that means it’s easy to take the bus or train to Norway, Denmark, Finland and I even visit Lapland. Besides this you have to go the sauna, so we visit it regularly. Of course, you jump in the cold lake afterwards.

I also shouldn’t forget to mention the student theme parties. Every month there is this huge student party on the campus, where everyone dresses up and we drink cheap beers, ‘goudgele pretcilinders’, as far as cheap is possible in this country.

The courses I take, complete the whole experience here. Sustainability is a big topic in Sweden at the moment and my motivation to become an architect has only been strengthened during my time here.