Written by Jazmin
19 Jun 2025
It’s been around ten months since I moved to Sweden to study a two-year master’s degree, and I still can’t believe how fast time has gone by! Our first year of classes has already come to an end. Some of my friends in one-year master’s programs are already graduating, others are moving, going on exchange, or starting internships abroad, and some of us are staying.
The first season of our Swedish journey has come to a close, and I just wanted to share with you how it feels.
Goodbyes, Hugs, and See-You-Laters 🙁
It’s June, which means the vacation period has officially started. All classes are over, and we’ve submitted our final assignments. That also means I’ve already said see you later to many of my classmates, as most of them started leaving Sweden at the beginning of the month.
Most of them are heading back to their home countries and will stay there until the end of the break in September—some for the whole summer, others just for a month like me. Thankfully, many of our goodbyes weren’t permanent. Since most of us still have classes next semester, our farewells felt more like: “Recharge back home and don’t forget to send lots of pictures!” Still, it’s a bit sad to know we won’t see each other for almost three months.
Now, what about my friends from other master’s programs? Every program is different. In some, like mine and a close friend’s, we continue with classes in the third semester. So, I know I’ll see some familiar faces again soon. But others are entering a new phase. One of my closest friends, for instance, has to do a mandatory internship. She’s currently traveling around Europe and we’ll see each other again in September—but after that, who knows where she’ll end up. Another friend is heading to Portugal for an exchange, so while we’ll meet again after the break, he won’t be with us next semester. And one of my friends has already completed her degree and is now job hunting in Sweden. We don’t yet know where she’ll settle.
The family I’ve built here in Sweden is, in a way, starting to scatter. Even though it’s temporary, that distance has made me feel nostalgic and a little emotional. Still, I hold onto the hope—and the plans!—that we’ll reunite in September or in January when we begin our thesis semester.
Some goodbyes have been more emotional, with no clear timeline of when we’ll meet again. There’s only the promise of “someday,” maybe in their home countries or somewhere else in Europe.
Being an international student teaches you so much about people, cultures, and connection. You make friends from all over the world—but there’s always that bittersweet uncertainty: What comes next? Where will we all be? It’s hard watching the people who became your family go off in different directions, even though you know deep down you’ll remain friends, no matter where life takes you.
How Have I Changed?🤔
Like many other students, moving to Sweden was a first for many things — the first time cooking for myself, the first time living alone, the first time living in a foreign country, and so much more. When I arrived in Sweden, I wasn’t very independent. And I think that’s the biggest change I’ve seen in myself. I’ve learned how to survive on my own, without anyone’s help — and that’s something I’m really proud of. I stepped out of my comfort zone, and now I feel like I can take on anything.
I also arrived with a lot of fears. Being introverted in my home country isn’t really accepted — you always have to pretend to be super social to fit in. But here in Sweden, I finally learned to accept myself for who I am. Swedish society doesn’t pressure you to be overly outgoing, and I love that. There are so many things here that respect personal space — like apps to check cafe availability, self-checkout stations in grocery stores, and more. I realized that I can be myself here, and I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not. That shift has made me feel more at peace with who I am.
I’ve also learned to appreciate time with friends more deeply. Before, I would think, “It’s fine, I’ll see them next week or next month.” But as an international student, goodbyes are always just around the corner. So now, I cherish every fika, every bubble tea, every moment together. I’ve learned to hold on tighter to my friendships and to be more intentional about spending time with the people I care about.
My life before Sweden feels so far away now — and I was a very different person. But through all the changes, I’ve grown. I’ve become more independent, more self-aware, and ultimately, a happier version of myself.
Sweden Feels Like Home? 🏠
I’m writing this blog from my home country, Peru, and I’ve been thinking a lot about what home really means. Being back here, I’ve started to feel a little out of place — like I’ve changed, but everything around me stayed the same.
Of course, there are so many things I missed from Peru — the warmth of my family, the sound of my language everywhere, and especially the incredible food. But over the last few months, I’ve realized something unexpected: my mind, and maybe even my heart, now associate Sweden — and more specifically Lund — as home too.
Whenever I travel outside Sweden, I find myself missing the quiet familiarity of my neighborhood, the comforting routine of walking through the Lund train station, and even the Copenhagen airport — which oddly enough, now feels like the first sign that I’m almost “home.”
So many of the things I’ve built for myself are there: my daily life, my routines, the small cafés I love, the streets I walk every day. And most importantly, the amazing friends who have become like family. I miss them deeply when I’m away.
Maybe my biological family isn’t in Sweden, but my soul feels grounded there. It’s where I’m growing. It’s where I’ve learned things about myself that I never could before. I’ve fallen in love with Lund — with its beauty, its peace, and with the version of myself I’ve become while living there.
Peru will always be my first home. It’s where I come from, and it will forever be a part of who I am. But now, I can say — without hesitation — that Sweden is my second home. And even as I write this from across the world, I find myself missing it more than I ever expected.
This year has changed me in ways I never imagined. I’ve learned to let go, to grow on my own, and to find a sense of home in a place far from where I started. Sweden has become more than just a study destination — it’s become part of who I am. As I look ahead to the next semester, I do so with a full heart, carrying memories, friendships, and a stronger version of myself into whatever comes next.
