Sundsvall, dear Sundsvall

Sundsvall, dear Sundsvall.

The first impression was weird. I’ve already start to hate the snow and the street didn’t look like what Google map told me. The city has a completely different appearance with its white cover.

Naturally I was lost. Here come my first advices for the future students: Don’t forget to take the pickup service. It’s free and really useful.

I like the city. Even if there is a quite ugly industrial area, Sundsvall is very charismatic. If you take the time to look around, you’ll quickly find somewhere to take a Fika (the Swedish kind of English tea), shopping or a walk in the so beautiful nature. Even visit the residential area can become a nice walk. Houses and buildings are in typical Swedish architecture, colourful, covered by wood and with small gardens. 

Personally I live in Nacksta. It’s an area in 30 minutes to the centre, with a thousand identical and without personality big buildings. I love it. But only because it is full of international students. 

More International than Swedish

Exception made of my teachers; the only Swedish people I've met can be counted with a single hand. I can say that there are nice, rarely friendly and often shy. They are always happy to help you, but never ready to answer to your happy “hello” if they don’t know you. No, really, the only friends a truly have here come from all around the world and they make my Erasmus band of bros.

I know what your are thinking about: ”You make party all the time and be drunk every day”. Well, we make party quite often, it’s true, but it’s not to most important. We are from many countries, far from home and from all the people we love. It brings us together and creates real friendships.

Ski and Outdoor

Everybody have his way to fulfilling his day. My pleasure here is to enjoy the beautiful Swedish nature by skiing or walking in the forest. There’s two ski slopes here in Sundsvall. One is really close to Nacksta and I’m used to go twice a month.  From the top of the mountain, you can have one of the most beautiful views of Sundsvall and the lake, according to me. I advise you to go there for the sunset. During this instant, the sun colours the sky with a variety of all kinds of pink and orange

I’m passionate by nature. Even during winter, the Swedish wildlife is diversified. I’m used to walk ones or twice a week and look around me in the middle of the forest. I hope that ones, I will be lucky enough to see a wild Swedish animal during one of my walk.