As I write this post, I am back in the comfort of my childhood home, within the US for the first time in two months. There were things I missed here such as my family, my dog, air conditioning in every building, and ice in my drink. But, all of these things are so minuscule compared to the experience I have gotten from my time abroad.

When I think back to my trip, not only did I work in an entirely new country with new cultural experiences, people, and customs, but I also experienced the social aspect of living in a foreign country during my free time on the weekends and after work. The dual experience of working and living abroad is an irreplaceable time in which I have learned so many new things and experienced countless new opportunities, all while being totally immersed in a different country.

While working in a foreign company’s office was new to me, the real culture shock came from my free time where I got to go partake in “touristy activities” such as seeing the royal palace, visiting museums, or paying for attractions and souvenirs. These “tourist activities” were honestly some of the most fun things I did, simply because they encapsulated Sweden’s culture in such a perfect way. There is a reason they are made for tourists, and that is simply because they are the most memorable things about the country. Sometimes I felt bad about being a tourist and doing these stereotypical activities, but then I remembered, while I am working there, I am not Swedish and should be doing these things to get a well rounded understanding of the country. 

My experience was a mushed combination of existing as an American who was entirely new to the country, while simultaneously working for them and commuting just how locals do. There was this liminal space where I was not a tourist nor a local, but something in between. Something so perfectly balanced where I did not speak the language of the locals, nor did I understand every cultural implication and tradition of the Swedes, but I knew more than those who were just visiting for the week. I commuted with locals and blended in with the Swedes without opening my mouth. I was not an American nor a Swede, but a student experiencing a variety of cultures in one space.

When I was not a tourist, I got to partake in some of the local activities. As I spent more and more time in the city, I started finding more local spots, observing how Swedes behaved when tourists were not present. What is funny is that I found Swedes were much more sociable when with their friend groups in a spot they knew well. I watched as Swedish people joked and laughed at their favorite swimming spots, diving and splashing each other while basking in the limited sunlight of Sweden. I saw how Swedes caught up with each other over fika in a local coffee shop, where English was hardly spoken and Swedish was embraced. I observed how families picnicked together in a small field, undiscovered by tourists, passing around food and sharing with their friends.

My time in the office was at some points difficult. I enjoyed my work, but the long hours were difficult to fill when my boss did not have assignments for me. I learned to take initiative from this, and always worked on something that could potentially benefit the company. I finished my tasks for the week on a Wednesday? Sounds like I need to start a PR Pitch list for the communications workers to utilize when I am gone. My boss hasn’t given me specific work for the day? Looks like I should make some advertising materials and writing for the department to use and gain inspiration from. 

I also learned what areas of communication I enjoyed and did not enjoy. This was very beneficial to me as someone who is not entirely sure where I want to take my career yet. Because my startup was very small, they gave me such a variety of work, that I gained practice in a multitude of fields. So when I worked on advertising materials, I discovered I do not enjoy graphic design as much as I enjoy Public Relations writing. Even when I felt discouraged and like I was not learning anything, I was still discovering things about myself and my future career. 

So my time abroad has allowed me to learn things about myself professionally and outside of the office. I have grown academically just as much as I have as a person and culturally. I have come to learn so much about Swedish and European culture as a whole, but also about the communications field and myself as a student and intern. 

This experience abroad is one in which I will take everything I have learned as a student, intern, and human being, and apply it to my future career and time in the University of Pittsburgh.

So, as I write this conclusion, and go back through my camera roll full of new pictures, memories, and experiences, I am sad that my time has come to an end, but I am so grateful for the people I have met, the culture I have immersed myself in, and the lifelong memories I carry with myself. And who knows, maybe I will find myself back in the city of Stockholm sometime soon.

Thank you for reading and following along my journey in Sweden this summer!