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<h2 class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-heading">“How is it like living in Sweden, from an Indian student's perspective?”</h2>



<p class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-paragraph standard">This is a question that I get asked often. It’s been 16 months now, since I moved to Stockholm to pursue my Masters. Three semesters, many changing seasons, and 16 months later, here is my take on what it’s like to be an Indian student studying in Sweden, and some guidance for future Indian students!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-heading">Lifestyle and people</h3>



<p class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-paragraph standard">Sweden is a country where people are independent, and they keep to themselves. They are polite, and welcoming for the most part. They’re not outwardly or openly social. Coming from a place like India, where people are warm and friendly, it might be a little different, but you will slowly see that living here will make you more independent and you’ll notice that people here might take more time to form bonds or to open up, but once they do, you’ll have some of the closest friends for life. The lifestyle here is laid back and hardworking at the same time. It is a very comfortable place to live as a student!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-heading">Seasons</h3>



<p class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-paragraph standard">This is something that blew my mind and still continues to! So many changing seasons, so many beautiful visuals! From the falling leaves of autumn, the dark cold days of winter, to the long hours of sunshine in summer, it’s one beautiful season after the other, one visual treat after the other! My personal favourite is fall! It was the first season I witnessed when I landed in Stockholm, I fell so in love with it, that <a href="https://studyinsweden.se/blogs/2016/10/11/fall-stockholm-education/">my first ever blog post</a> after becoming a Digital Ambassador was about Fall!</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><a href="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/WhatsApp-Image-2017-10-14-at-11.58.26-AM-1.jpeg"><img src="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/WhatsApp-Image-2017-10-14-at-11.58.26-AM-1-225x300.jpeg" alt="A student stands in front of a wall covered in red leaves." class="wp-image-19815"/></a><figcaption>Autumn in Stockholm</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><a href="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/FullSizeRender-4.jpg"><img src="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/FullSizeRender-4-225x300.jpg" alt="A student standing in the snow." class="wp-image-19826"/></a><figcaption>Winter Wonderland</figcaption></figure></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-heading">Diversity and new friends</h3>



<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sweden is pretty <a href="https://blogs.studyinsweden.se/2016/12/13/international-interview-diversity-sweden/">diverse in general, but it is more so in the universities.</a> There are students from all over the world! It’s amazing to learn new cultures, new perceptive, new ways of life and thinking from people from all over the world! It helped me grow my horizons. It gives you a sense of pride to represent your country and culture in a global setting. So don’t try to change who you are to fit in, in a new place. Be proud of where you’re from. Learn from other cultures and societies.<br> </span></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><a href="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/Screen-Shot-2017-12-25-at-1.01.15-PM.png"><img src="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/Screen-Shot-2017-12-25-at-1.01.15-PM-768x496.png" alt="Group of students in a classroom." class="wp-image-19818"/></a></figure></div>



<p class="p1"><span class="s1"></span></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><a href="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/15135906_728191863998737_4578208299994441932_n.jpg"><img src="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/15135906_728191863998737_4578208299994441932_n-768x576.jpg" alt="A group of students taking a selfie." class="wp-image-19817"/></a><figcaption>My coursemates at KTH</figcaption></figure></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-heading">University and academics</h3>



<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The courses and programs in Sweden have a good blend of practical and theoretical training. With amazing professors, to a wide range of guest lecturers, group work, projects, exams and individual assignments, at the end of each course, you’ll not only get an indepth into your subject, but also develop life skills like leadership, team building, research skills etc. I learnt to work with people from different educational backgrounds, countries etc and this made me stronger as a team player as well!<br> </span></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><a href="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/kth.jpg"><img src="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/kth-300x154.jpg" alt="A large red, brick building." class="wp-image-19819"/></a><figcaption>KTH Royal Institute of Technology</figcaption></figure></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-heading">Food</h3>



<p class="p1"><span class="s1">There are few Indian restaurants in Sweden, but they might not have the typical authentic taste, since the majority of people in Sweden and Europe in general, do not typically add a lot of flavour to their cuisine. But, there are Indian shops where you get Indian spices so it’s comfortable and possible to cook almost any Indian dish! </span></p>



<p>But aside form Indian food, you will get to taste so many other types of Swedish dishes, some of them are the crayfish, Swedish meatballs, etc. But I’m a vegetarian and being a vegetarian is not difficult in Sweden at all! It is true that there are not many choices, but most restaurants have at least one or two vegetarian dishes! And with number of people becoming vegan in today’s day and age, there are a few good vegan places as well!</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><a href="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/IMG_2989.jpg"><img src="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/IMG_2989-300x225.jpg" alt="Traditional Swedish pastries, semlor." class="wp-image-19834"/></a></figure></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-heading">New traditions and habits</h3>



<p>Learning new traditions, developing new habits will become a part of your life here. And it feels amazing! From celebrating Valborg, to simple everyday habits like Fika, there are so many little and big ways in which I’ve changed, and I mean this in the best way possible. It’s very enriching to learn and develop new traditions!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-heading">New experiences</h3>



<p class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-paragraph standard">This is probably my most favourite part of living in Sweden! From seeing the northern lights and getting mesmerised, from experiencing my first snow (and snow storm!), watching the cherry blossoms grow, its been one big amazing adventure. Seeing the northern lights was on my bucket list from when I was in the 9th grade, and I literally got to see it from my backyard a few months ago. Just take that in for a second. How magical is Sweden!! I got to walk on ice, and after falling many times, I'm proud to say I still have not mastered it. :/#Teamclumsy<br><br>So many great memories and experiences, And I can’t wait for more! :D</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><a href="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/Screen-Shot-2017-12-25-at-1.17.06-PM.png"><img src="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/Screen-Shot-2017-12-25-at-1.17.06-PM-300x220.png" alt="Northern lights." class="wp-image-19824"/></a><figcaption>Northern Lights as seen from my backyard</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><a href="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/IMG_4724.jpg"><img src="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2017/12/IMG_4724-300x225.jpg" alt="Close up of pink cherry blossom trees." class="wp-image-19821"/></a><figcaption>Cherry Blossoms in Stockholm</figcaption></figure></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-si-study-tsw-tsw-heading">Generalisations and stereotypes</h3>



<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Most people will be open and you’ll feel yourself develop a sense of second home in Sweden, but there will be moments where you might feel like “is this really happening right now”? Some examples from my life here were getting asked “wait, you’re a blogger? I didn’t know Indians can write and speak English properly”. “Do people really dance around everyday like they show in your movies?” “I’ve heard Your people consider cows to be holy? That’s absurd!”, to outright being asked by a stranger, if I’m from India and then telling me that Indians and Asians need to stop going to other countries to study or work.</span></p>



<p>The reason why I’m telling you this, is because there are moments (very rare, but still not insignificant) where you might find yourself getting asked a question that you might think is unnecessary, or hearing a comment where you might get hurt, just dont take it personally. Sweden is in general a very diverse, safe and amazing place to live in! But if in case these moments come up, take it lightly and not personally. Spread love and be accepting, you’re here to study and make a future, so focus on that and the amazing people and experience you’re about to have!</p>



<p>I’ve enjoyed my student life so far, I’ve learnt so many things, grown in so many ways, and looking back on the past 16 months, I’m so glad I choose to do my Masters here!</p>



<p class="p1"><span class="s1">*If you also want to study in Sweden, you still have time to apply!! Applications are open till Jan 15th!!*</span></p>



<p>-For now, your Swe-Desi Seafarer signing off :)</p>

16 months in Sweden - Lessons from my Swe-Desi life.

<h2>A few days ago I read a Tweet saying: "Falu red is the color. Love knowledge and Google it." - @swedense. </h2>



<p>So, I did. After browsing a few of the results I went to Wikipedia (always good for quick facts, maybe not so good for academic papers). This is what I found out:<br><br>Basically, <strong>falu red</strong> or <strong>Falun red</strong> is a dye that is commonly used in wooden cottages, barns, and house. The paint's origin is from various copper mines in Sweden. Being the mine at Falun, in the province of Dalarna the most known one. The paint consists of water, rye flour, linseed oil and tailings from the copper mines.</p>



<p>But, why am I talking about a red paint? Well, there's no particular reason at all. If you are in Sweden (or planning on coming in the near future), you will notice that A LOT of hoses, barns, cottages, and buildings are red. So, when I read the tweet I found it funny that there is actually a historical reason behind it and a specific name for the red. There're even shades of the color.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><a href="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2018/01/1024px-Falu_rödfärg.jpg"><img src="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2018/01/1024px-Falu_rödfärg-1024x692.jpg" alt="A pot of red paint." class="wp-image-20062"/></a><figcaption>Photo: Moralist – Own work, Public Domain, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4790588" target="_blank">Link</a> ↗️</figcaption></figure></div>



<h2>Falu red is the new black...at least in the countryside.</h2>



<p>You don't need to travel much in Sweden to realize that most of the houses, barns, cottages and summer houses are painted falu red with all of the window and door frames in white. Picture an open gable cottage painted in falu red next to the lake. Besides the house, there is a sauna, painted in falu red as well. That's basically the graphic description of the Swedish countryside. Like this example, there are a lot of buildings in the center of Stockholm or Göteborg painted falu red! But, when did the trend start?</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><a href="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2018/01/ulf_lundin-autumn-5818.jpg"><img src="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2018/01/ulf_lundin-autumn-5818-1024x683.jpg" alt="Red houses in a forest." class="wp-image-20084"/></a><figcaption>Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se</figcaption></figure></div>



<h2>A bit of history about falu red.</h2>



<p>The dye started as a by-product of the mining industry, and it was used firstly to paint the roofs of the houses and other casual applications. The mining methods in the 17th-18th century were rather primitive and destructive. Miners would use sledgehammers, chisels and wrecking bars to quarry the rock and copper ore. But before they could use these tools, they had to create cracks or fissures in the rocks to make them brittle. This was done by heating up the rock wall for hours and finally splashing the rocks with cold water.</p>



<p>Once they extracted the ore to ground level, it had to be further burned to get rid of the sulfur and iron (oxidation), which created a cinder of red iron ocher or hematite, called <em>rödmull</em> (red soil). This <em>rödmull</em> was piled outside the mine as waste. Until someone found out a wood pole that had been sitting on the mound of <em>rödmull</em> showed no sign of rot or decay. I’m guessing this was a <em>Eureka!</em> moment for this person. This finding pushed forward the mass production of a paint based on rödmull mixed with water, rye flour, linseed oil.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image wp-image-20083 size-large"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://cms.studyinsweden.se/app/uploads/2018/01/ulf_lundin-winter-3636-1024x768.jpg" alt="A red house in the snow." class="wp-image-20083"/><figcaption>Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se</figcaption></figure></div>



<p>At the time, the paint became so popular that it was used almost on any building or structure. Probably you've seen the famous Swedish figure. The Dalecarlian horse. If not, here is <a href="https://blogs.studyinsweden.se/2017/07/30/story-behind-dala-horses/">a post about the history of this figure</a>.</p>

A lot of houses in Sweden are red

<p>Lately I feel as though I haven’t had the chance to stop. Deadlines, lab reports and impending exams are all quickly approaching meaning I now spend hours at the dining table working attempting to cram as much information as possible into my little brain. It doesn’t help, of course, that the weather is now luxurious yet I can’t justify time away from my computer in order to catch some rays. Heck, I even voluntarily took out all of the rubbish today so that I could go outside to at least get some sun on my face. A beautiful blue sky in the corner of my eye only makes my mind wander when having to study intricate details about cellular processes and the pathogenesis of parasites. I’m now at breaking point in which I’d do anything to lie on a beach. Spring is absolutely beautiful, but I welcome summer with open arms.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="http://s170.photobucket.com/user/fpmartin/media/SAM_1072_zpsid55ac1v.jpg.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u264/fpmartin/SAM_1072_zpsid55ac1v.jpg" alt=" photo SAM_1072_zpsid55ac1v.jpg"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="http://s170.photobucket.com/user/fpmartin/media/SAM_1077_zpsgfvuwhpi.jpg.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u264/fpmartin/SAM_1077_zpsgfvuwhpi.jpg" alt=" photo SAM_1077_zpsgfvuwhpi.jpg"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="http://s170.photobucket.com/user/fpmartin/media/SAM_1085_zpsix0i9kal.jpg.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u264/fpmartin/SAM_1085_zpsix0i9kal.jpg" alt=" photo SAM_1085_zpsix0i9kal.jpg"/></a></figure>



<p>My boyfriend flew over to Sweden for a visit this week, now we’re both masters’ students so as sad as it sounds, we did spend a lot of time studying whilst he was here. He’s already been to Uppsala and there wasn’t that much more to show him that he hadn’t seen before. We did, however, take the bikes a little further up north one late afternoon to Gamla Uppsala. This is an old village dating back to as early as the 3<sup>rd</sup> century and was once considered home to Yngling dynasty Kings. Three large mounds of earth are the most distinguishable feature there and are believed to be the ancient graves of royalty.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="http://s170.photobucket.com/user/fpmartin/media/SAM_1087_zpsrfsdicxf.jpg.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u264/fpmartin/SAM_1087_zpsrfsdicxf.jpg" alt=" photo SAM_1087_zpsrfsdicxf.jpg"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="http://s170.photobucket.com/user/fpmartin/media/SAM_1089_zpswgfgoo30.jpg.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u264/fpmartin/SAM_1089_zpswgfgoo30.jpg" alt=" photo SAM_1089_zpswgfgoo30.jpg"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="http://s170.photobucket.com/user/fpmartin/media/SAM_1093_zps3hw9iqfb.jpg.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u264/fpmartin/SAM_1093_zps3hw9iqfb.jpg" alt=" photo SAM_1093_zps3hw9iqfb.jpg"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="http://s170.photobucket.com/user/fpmartin/media/SAM_1094_zpsmv7k1c7h.jpg.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u264/fpmartin/SAM_1094_zpsmv7k1c7h.jpg" alt=" photo SAM_1094_zpsmv7k1c7h.jpg"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="http://s170.photobucket.com/user/fpmartin/media/SAM_1099_zpsrrqukd4h.jpg.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u264/fpmartin/SAM_1099_zpsrrqukd4h.jpg" alt=" photo SAM_1099_zpsrrqukd4h.jpg"/></a></figure>



<p>After a good old ‘potter about’ in the area, we took our bikes and headed home through the forest. Swedish nature is exceptionally beautiful and bicycle routes are so well thought out and planned here so it’s easy to travel almost anywhere by bike. On our journey home, we noticed that there were a lot of people out jogging and exercising. If they weren’t running past us on the pedestrian paths, they were accumulating in what seemed like ‘grown up’ playgrounds using outdoor exercise equipment. I also notice a lot of people with personal trainers in parks around Uppsala, it seems that almost everyone is an avid fitness fan here, even my flatmate likes to get up early in the morning to go running…and then there’s me eating a jar of Nutella with a spoon because I’m too lazy to toast any bread.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="http://s170.photobucket.com/user/fpmartin/media/SAM_1114_zpsepzmiti3.jpg.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u264/fpmartin/SAM_1114_zpsepzmiti3.jpg" alt=" photo SAM_1114_zpsepzmiti3.jpg"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="http://s170.photobucket.com/user/fpmartin/media/SAM_1120_zps2auqylny.jpg.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u264/fpmartin/SAM_1120_zps2auqylny.jpg" alt=" photo SAM_1120_zps2auqylny.jpg"/></a></figure>



<p>I guess that’s all from me for now, I haven’t done much else but study and I’m sure you don’t want to hear anything about that. Unless of course you want to know about parasites, in which that case I could tell you about bugs in your skin or the ones in your gut that like to hang out of your bottom to catch oxygen and then they pop back in so they can lay their eggs.</p>



<p>Want to hear more? No? Well, until my workload dies down a little, I’ll only be able to talk about my studies. Soon I hope to be back in in showing you what else Sweden has to offer and I won’t mention bottom worms again.</p>

A Swedish Escape

Summer is finally here and as students we are so happy to have spent an awesome year in Sweden ! For that we say tack så mycket and dance to this awesome summer song.

Thank you Sweden ! Tack så mycket - Study in Sweden

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Thank you Sweden ! Tack så mycket

Study in Sweden

My name is Sanjay and I'm from Jamaica 🇯🇲. I studied a Master's in Criminology at Malmö University.

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Sanjay