Reflecting on My Time Abroad: Favorite Memories of Stockholm
By Mathieu Greco
School: Brown University, Class of ’26
Major or concentration: Economics & Public Health
Semester abroad: Spring ’25
My semester abroad in Stockholm exceeded all my expectations, and I often find myself looking through my camera roll and wishing I could relive all these moments that were made possible thanks to the Swedish Program.
Eating dinner with my contact family, watching local soccer and hockey games, having friends and family sleep over and showing them around the city… the list of memories I have is endless but here are the “Top 3” I wanted to share to give you a better idea of what you can expect if you choose the Swedish Program:
1. Going to Melodifestivalen
Every year, the Swedish public chooses the song they’ll send to Eurovision through a music competition called Melodifestivalen. After hearing about it in Beginner Swedish class, 5 friends and I decided to get tickets for the final in Stockholm.
I had prepared by listening to the 12 finalist songs on repeat for weeks, but nothing could have prepared me for the atmosphere of the final. It was so much fun: everyone was dressed in colorful and sparkling outfits with posters cheering on their favorite artist, every performance was accompanied by insane light shows and dancing, and the commentators built suspense.
I had a great time, and to make it even better, our favorite artist won the final and was sent to represent Sweden in 2025! I believe that the best way to study abroad is by fully immersing yourself in the culture of your host country, and I hope this experience shows you just how rewarding and enjoyable that can be.
2. Exploring the Arctic Circle
In February, the Swedish Program organized a trip for us to the Arctic Circle. It was one of the best, if not the best, weekends of my semester abroad. I skied for the first time, went dog sledding, saw the Northern Lights (it was surreal), learned about Sami culture, and had the best buffet food ever (the breakfast buffet made my 8am wakeups possible).
What made this weekend particularly memorable, though, was having all the students in the Swedish Program together. We had every meal together, organized our own hikes between planned activities, skied (as a beginner, I stuck to the easy slopes), and played cards after dinner. Traveling was one of my top priorities during my semester abroad, and I’m incredibly grateful to the Swedish Program for making this trip possible. It gave me the chance to explore an entirely new region of Sweden while deepening the friendships that would shape the rest of my semester.
3. Living in a Studio Apartment
I was especially excited about the Swedish Program because unlike other study abroad programs, I had the chance to live in my own studio for the semester. Having my own kitchen allowed me to practice cooking on my own: it was tough at the start, but I can confidently say that I am a much better cook now than before the semester started (and frozen meatballs from the super market become my best friends). The independence was amazing, but the best part of this living situation was that all the other students in the program also lived in studios, in the same apartment complex. We were able to cook, hang out, and commute together, while also having our own spaces to retreat to when necessary. My time in Sweden not only created lasting memories, but taught me lessons (especially cooking lessons) that I’m eager to apply in my last year of college and beyond, and I strongly believe that most of these were made possible thanks to this unique living arrangement.
I hope these memories give you a better sense of the Swedish Program and the awesome experience I had in Stockholm, thanks to this program. I’d love to tell you more about my experience and answer any questions you may have, so please reach out!
