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<\/a>Studying abroad had never even crossed my mind as an opportunity available for me during my time in college. When I got the email from the College of Education (COE) about wanting to send students to Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden, I ignored it like all the other study abroad emails because I didn\u2019t believe it was something I could do. The thought of moving across the ocean from my family and friends was too daunting to even consider. I think I am a pretty introverted person, so having to start all over, create new friendships, explore a new country, live alone, and be so far away from everything I\u2019ve ever known made the possibility of me studying abroad improbable.<\/p>\nBut something convinced me to reopen that email about Uppsala University. I told myself I would never go, but it would be fun to hear what studying in Sweden is like. As I was scrolling the email, I saw some of the classes offered, and one was \u201cSwedish Special Needs from a Comparative Perspective.\u201d The class was described as learning about special needs education, which is what I am studying at Butler, from an international perspective. My interest immediately peaked because how cool is that!! I vividly remember texting my mom \u201cnot that I would go but look how cool this class is in Sweden.\u201d While I was pretty dead set on not studying abroad, I think a little part of me was trying to open my eyes and peek through to what life could be like abroad. I was letting fear hold me back, but as I continued pushing through, so many dreams and so much excitement came to light, and then I realized, going to Sweden was exactly the direction my life needed.<\/p>\n
So here I am, in an incredible country, studying education, and getting to learn from hundreds of other international students about their home countries and what life is like for them. I am not only learning in my classes, but in my everyday life. As I was preparing to leave for Sweden, all I could think about was how I wished my family and loved ones could experience this trip alongside me. I knew that this was something I had to do alone, but I wanted to share everything with them, so I started a personal blog. Once a week, I write about anything and everything that I want to remember forever. Sometimes all I talk about is my favorite pastry, while other times I share something more meaningful. All these memories could fade over time, and I didn\u2019t want that to happen, so writing about them gives them a place to rest until I find them again.<\/p>\n Writing once a week became so therapeutic for me. It was a way for me to slow down and reflect on my life and to think about all the good things that had come to me that week. After posting a blog, I would get texts from my family and friends about what they liked, how they are feeling, how they wish they could share a Swedish pastry with me, etc. Sharing my writings with them made it feel like they were with me, which is a very calming feeling when you are physically 4000 miles away.<\/p>\n I created my blog on the free GoDaddy website which allowed me to post as many writings and photos as I wanted. Even while I am still in Sweden, I love looking back and reading about the first couple weeks to see how much my life has changed in just a few short months. In my week 3 post, I talked about this salad bar that I tried that I really liked and said I would definitely be back. Now, I find that really funny because the last place I would choose to eat is that salad bar because I have found so many better places after 3 months of living here. Funny things like that to look back on are tiny moments that I would\u2019ve otherwise forgotten about if I hadn\u2019t written them down. There are also deeper posts, such as week 4 when I discussed how my corridor\/apartment was beginning to feel like a family. While I was nervous about this living situation, it turned out better than I imagined, with everyone being friendly and caring, and now they are some of my favorite people.<\/p>\n All this to say, considering a study abroad has So, think of all the possibilities and take the chance to study abroad. And maybe write a blog about it so you have your memories, of the smallest things and the largest moments, forever.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Written by: Anna Grace Muckerheide | Fall 2024 BU Exchange Semester in Uppsala, Sweden Studying abroad had never even crossed my mind as an opportunity available for me during my time in college. When I got the email from the … Continue reading <\/a>Some of the tiniest moments, like building a snowman with a stranger, walking to the city center and seeing the lights set up for the winter (because the sun sets before 3pm), and feeling at peace as I buy a hot cup of coffee and sit down to study, have brought me a great sense of joy.<\/p>\n<\/a>overwhelmed me from the first mention of it, but now that I\u2019ve taken that step, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I know leaving your loved ones is so scary, but there are ways to still connect with them. Writing was not only a way for me to connect and share my experiences with my people back home, but a way for me to connect with myself and stay grounded.<\/p>\n