Written by Ravindu
23 Nov 2024
Earlier this month I got the opportunity to virtually sit down with Azhiemi (you can read his profile here), one of our fellow digital ambassadors over in the Instagram team, via zoom. Azhiemi lives in Umeå, one of the northern-most universities you can study at as an international student in Sweden. It’s a place I have on my travel Wishlist for a myriad of reasons, and I find myself constantly thinking about what studying in Umeå is really like: how the student culture and everyday life differs over there compared to my own experiences in Skövde. So, I based my conversation around this brief, trying to get a glimpse into the life in the North.
To guide the conversation, I focused on these key areas:
- Academic life: What studying in Umeå is like.
- Climate: How the cold weather shapes daily life.
- Student culture: Socializing, traditions, and building connections.
- Things you love: Highlights of living and studying in Umeå.
- Things you would change: Challenges and room for improvement.
- Advice for upcoming students: Tips for those considering Umeå as their next destination.
Q: Can you introduce yourself to the readers?
“Hi, I’m Azhiemi! I’m proud of being Indonesian! I’m a Swedish Institute Scholarship Awardee, and I study Architecture and Urban Design at Umeå University.”
Umeå is a city located in the east cost of Sweden in the Västerbotten County. It has a subarctic climate which means it is colder throughout the year than most other cities in Sweden with a comparable population. Last year Umeå reached a staggering low of -30.7°C (-23.3°F), marking the coldest point in 12 years. So, if you want to experience the Swedish winter to its fullest, studying in Umeå is a great choice. In fact, the first fall of snow for this winter started in the first week of November 2024, weeks before it did for most of the country.
“[The snow’s] quite late this year, compared to last year,” he adds.
Q: What do you enjoy most about Umeå?
“Do you even like Umeå?” I joke.
“I like Umeå!” he laughs. “It’s not a big city, but it’s also not small. Like, we have an IKEA.”
Azhiemi’s favorite thing about Umeå is its connection to nature. “It’s a place of slow living vibes. I never get stressed here—well, maybe just in the beginning, with the transition, making friends, and adapting to the weather. But after about two months, I was fine.”
Even near his apartment, he’s surrounded by natural beauty. “I can walk two minutes, and there’s a lake, a forest with trails, and the best spot to see the northern lights.”
“Did you see the northern lights recently?” I ask, knowing I’d probably be green with envy.
“Yes! Just last night,” he says with a chuckle. “I just opened my window, and there they were.”
I tell him about how rare the auroras are further south where I live, and how the clouds always seem to ruin the view, even with a high KP index. He nods, understanding the struggle of chasing the northern lights outside the Arctic circle.
Q: Would you say there’s a distinct culture in Umeå and do you like it?
“I can’t compare with other universities because I haven’t been to that many, but personally, I think it’s good for me…I get to be independent and live by myself. Also, I get to experience the international vibes and the Swedish cultural vibes simultaneously.”
Azhiemi goes on to say that most of his friends are Swedish, and only about 30-40% of his classmates are from outside Sweden, even though he is following an English taught program. He welcomes that as a positive, saying that his goals in moving to Sweden and studying in Umeå University was to not only get a good grasp of the knowledge, but also learn about the Swedish culture and its values. And what better way to do that than surrounding yourself with Swedish friends! He believes he has a good grasp of the Swedish culture and daily life by now, know specifics about the lifestyle that you just wouldn’t get without interactions, and says he is open minded.
“Some of us think that Swede’s are very introverted people, but personally I would say they’re not. It’s just a stigma and our own perspective.”
Q: Does the cold climate limit students’ social levels? Do people mostly stay inside their rooms?
“To some extent, yeah…” Azhiemi admits. But he quickly adds that it’s not as isolating as one might think. “In general, Swedes respect each other’s privacy. They don’t want others to feel pressured to interact. But there’s a cool little social hack to know about Swedes. If someone is focused on their phone or computer screen, they probably don’t want to be disturbed. But if you look them in the eye, it means you want to start a conversation.”
When I ask if there are more social events during the warm months compared to the colder ones, Azhiemi laughs. “It’s equal. You know, we can’t blame the weather—that’s something very commonly said in Sweden.” Even now, with snow on the ground, there are events happening. “Just today, first-year students had a fashion show, indoors of course. Big venues make it possible to gather even when it’s freezing outside.”
“So, the culture is very adapted to the weather?” I ask.
“Of course!” he replies confidently.
Q: How do you feel about the sense of community? Is it a close-knit one?
“Yeah…” Azhiemi says thoughtfully. “Students who start from the first year usually have strong bonds already. I came into the program a bit later, so it was initially difficult to mingle. But at some point, you learn the boundaries and the real expectations, and you start to feel integrated.”
He explains that the concept of friendship is different in Sweden compared to Indonesia. “Back home, being friends means sharing everything. Here, there’s a different perspective. Even someone you meet on day one doesn’t automatically become your closest friend. But that’s okay—it’s just different.”
Still, he finds it easy to make friends in Umeå. “People respond friendly when you mingle during lunch. And, a lot of students socialize by going out at night for drinks and games. That’s what they call ‘mingle time,’” he says with a grin.
Jazmin, one of my fellow bloggers, published a stellar blog post about making friends in Sweden. Give it a read!
Q: What were some challenges you faced when you first came to Umeå?
“Honestly, the academic culture,” Azhiemi admits. Coming from an engineering background in architecture, he found the philosophical and artistic perspective on architecture in Sweden very challenging at first. “I wasn’t used to the artsy words. For example, in one class, the teacher asked, ‘What is a bridge?’ I answered that it’s something connecting two points for access. But another student said, ‘It’s something connecting emotions, like love.’ I was so confused!”
Over time, though, he adapted and even embraced this new way of thinking. “Now, I can think like that too,” he says proudly. He also noticed a stark contrast in the assignment culture. “Back home, it was stressful and rushed. Here, it’s more relaxed—‘no rush’ vibes.”
Adjusting his expectations was also a challenge. “You come in thinking one way, but you quickly realize things don’t always match your assumptions. You just have to adapt.”
Q: If you could change one thing about Umeå, what would it be?
“Transport,” Azhiemi says without hesitation. “The price of flights is uncomfortable.”
He explains that the cities surrounding Umeå are very spread out, making travel difficult. “If you want to go to Stockholm on a budget, you mostly rely on night trains.” When I ask if there’s an app for tickets like we have here in Skövde, he says, “Yeah… but still, it’s not very expansive.”
Q: What’s one thing you wish more people knew about Studying in Umeå?
“Umeå is not that cold and not that small,” Azhiemi says with a knowing smile.
I joke about how it can hit -35°C, and he laughs. “Yes, but with snow, it’s manageable. It sounds scary, but it’s not unmanageable.”
“Does -10°C feel the same as -30°C?” I ask.
“Not at all,” he says, shaking his head. “But still, it’s not unbearable.”
Post Interview Thoughts…
Talking to Azhiemi gave me a fresh perspective on life in Umeå—a place where nature and community coexist amidst the Arctic chill. It’s clear that living in the North isn’t just about braving the cold; it’s about embracing a different way of life, one filled with quiet beauty, cultural nuances, and unique challenges.
Whether you’re chasing northern lights, diving into Swedish culture, or finding your pace in a new academic environment, Umeå offers an experience like no other. After this conversation, my travel wishlist has grown a little more urgent. And if you’re as inspired as I am, here’s some good news: applications are now open! If you’re ready to explore this incredible region and create your own story in Umeå, don’t wait—apply today and take the first step toward an unforgettable adventure.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll find yourself bundled up in Umeå someday, swapping stories under a sky painted green.
