The Cozy Tulip

Lately, I’ve been reminiscing a lot about my summer of 2023 and my time spent in Europe, studying abroad in Stockholm, Sweden. I’m feeling a strong sense of yearning to go back and see all the beauty I saw then, to re-experience the time I had there. Nostalgia is funny, though, isn’t it? That feeling nestled between longing and a deep sense of comfort, it’s almost as if my mind makes the entire experience seem even more magical, just because I’ll never fully be able to relive it (even if I go back). There’s something sacred about that specific time I spent there as a young, lost college girl. Because the reality is, although I had such an amazing, unforgettable time, I also felt very sad at times. I felt homesick, lost, and confused. My amazing experiences were mingled with a sense of malaise and loneliness because I missed all my favorite people at home, and I just wished I could share all the incredible views and adventures with them. But nonetheless, I wouldn’t trade that summer for the world.

I always knew I wanted to study abroad during my time in college, but I went back and forth about where exactly. I was very close to studying in Germany since my minor was in German. However, when I saw that Stockholm had a program that worked with my school, I knew instantly that was where I wanted to go.

I had been to Sweden a lot before, as my mom grew up there, so I knew that Swedish summers are truly like no other. They’re magical. With the midnight sun, Midsummer, beautiful nature, amazing food and pastries, and just good vibes. However, I wanted the chance to experience it on my own, individually, and have my own adventure separate from family vacations.

And it was the best decision (despite the earlier malaise I mentioned).

I met so many people and explored the city mostly on my own. And I must say, Sweden is quite big, so I never really ran out of things to do. I made a group of friends who lived in the same student housing building as me. Ashley, Petra, and Elice, they were all so lovely, each one so unique in their own way. But because everyone had different class schedules, it was hard to hang out until nighttime. So, during the day, before my class (because it was in the afternoon), I explored a lot on my own. I went to museums, sat at cafes, got ice cream, walked around, and went to cute little shops. It was dreamy, but also lonely. Because here’s the thing: I’m all for doing things by yourself. It’s enriching and good to be your own best friend and not wait for others to do things you want to do. But an experience is so much more enriched when it’s shared, and I missed that. Every time I did, saw, or ate something amazing, I just wished so badly I could share it with someone so they could go, “Wow, this is actually quite great,” and find joy in it as well. But I shared it with myself, and maybe that should be enough.

During my time in Sweden, one of my classes was on the history of Vikings. I know, I know, why on earth this class? Well, it counted as a credit toward my graduation, so I took it. And you know what? It was one of the best classes I’ve ever taken. For this class, we went to Iceland for a few days, and it was incredible. A completely different world there. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It was like I had just walked onto the set of Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings or something. Speaking of which, we went Icelandic horse riding, and my horse was on Game of Thrones! I was riding a horse celebrity. His name was Væng, I’m pretty sure, which means “wing” in Icelandic. Iceland was beautiful. The sun didn’t quite set either, which was a bit off-putting. I looked out of my window at midnight, and it was still light outside.

Once my studies in Sweden wrapped up, my mom came to visit me. It was so nice to see a familiar face. After a month of new experiences and homesickness (homesickness in the sense that I missed my loved ones, not that I didn’t enjoy where I was), it was incredibly comforting to see my mom. I cried.

My mom, born to Finnish parents and raised in Sweden, was returning home. We spent a day or two (I can’t quite remember how long) in Stockholm, and I showed her all the cool places I had discovered on my own. It felt so wonderful, like a wish fulfilled, to finally share an experience with someone I loved.

After our Stockholm wanderings, we went to Lund, the town where my mom grew up and where I was baptized. Ah, the city of my baptism. Lund is actually my ideal town—it’s so cute and quaint, nestled in the countryside of Sweden (Skåne). It’s a university town, which I adore. University towns always have this energy of learning, a dedication to the arts, and this feeling that having your nose in a book at a coffee shop is exactly what you should be doing, right up my alley. We visited my mom’s aunt there and just explored and dilly-dallied. After a few days, we drove to Copenhagen (which is only a 50-minute drive).

Copenhagen was beautiful! The buildings, the clothes, the people, even the dogs were more beautiful than anywhere else in the world. But perhaps what I thought was most beautiful was the sense of enjoyment people had. They made it a point to make the most of the day and enjoy it with someone they loved. Everyone emanated a gorgeous appreciation of life. It was a city of art and culture, yet also modern. One of my favorite cities I’ve ever been to.

And then, my mother’s and my adventures that summer in Europe came to an end. My mom went back home to Florida, and I headed over to Germany to visit my cousin and his family. This trip was a bit of a mess, I won’t lie. I might or might not have dropped a bottle of Aquavit (which I had brought for my cousin from the Copenhagen airport) in the middle of the train station in Frankfurt, shattering it everywhere. I was running on only two hours of sleep because I had gone out with some friends I met at UNC—Danish guys who were our neighbors one semester. I don’t regret it; it was a good time. But the next day, I had an early flight and a long train ride with a huge suitcase afterwards.

When I arrived in Germany, though, it was all worth it. It was great to see my cousin and meet his amazing girlfriend and even more amazing little daughter, Sophia. I stayed for a few short days before hopping on the train to Vienna. My dream of going to Vienna was finally about to be realized.

The train ride was LONG. I arrived in the evening around 8 p.m. The train had an hour-long delay at one point, but I didn’t mind too much. I was in no rush, and I had my book to keep me company, plus plenty of people-watching to do.

When I arrived, I couldn’t believe my eyes. This city was beautiful, even more beautiful than I could have ever dreamed. I walked from the train station to the hotel (which was about a 30-minute walk), then checked into my hotel and went to bed right away. I was exhausted.

During the short 2 days and 3 nights I was there, I mostly just walked around, visiting museums and sitting at cafes. It was one of my favorite trips and cities ever. I want to go back desperately.

Once my time in Vienna was over, it was time to head back west, a little closer to home. I was going to the motherland, the Netherlands! I was born there and spent my first ten years in the country, and it will always feel like home.

First, I spent a few days with my childhood best friend, Marie-Louise, which was such a great time. We went out, ate Dutch food, and shopped. Then, I hopped on a train and spent my last few days in Europe with my grandma. Gosh, I love that lady. Whenever we’re together, we laugh so much. I miss her. I need to visit her again soon.

Looking back on this summer, I’m amazed at how many places I went, people I saw, people I met, and new things I tried. And wow, aren’t I lucky? I am filled with a sense of nostalgia, but also a sense of gratitude and a huge desire to travel again. I learned so much that summer. I learned to be alone with myself, to go with the flow, and now, looking back, to appreciate the moment.

-Nina ❤