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My Erasmus: I dreamt Lagom is all you need..

Blondes, Brännvin and Bliss

Many, many years ago in country far, far up north I spend my Erasmus year of which I want to tell you now. Over the years my memories might have shifted, some things became clearer, others blurred but the feeling of immense joy for the possibility of such an experience has not faded.

In the tropical summer of 2002 a nervous student sits in the train up north, crossing the Baltic sea on a ferry ever closer to his chosen destination where he is about to spend maybe his most exciting and shaping year of his young life. About to live for the first time in a strange country with a foreign language and an intimidating reputation of shockingly beautiful angel-like blond girls.

During the exceptionally well organised introduction weeks his nervosity changes into undescribable excitement, meeting dozens of new friends from all over the world, partying every night of this unforgettable beautiful summer for weeks on dorm balconies, BBQ sites, parks and the white sandy beach. Wandering the narrow cobbled streets of this adorable little old town he begins to feel that this will be a very special year of his life. Asalso  the local students finally return to the lecture halls and the parks fill with brown leaves our young student ventures more and more into the real life of the natives, still supported by his international friends but slowly with growing language skills and increased self confidence he joins the regular activities of the student population of this picturesque medieval university town. A second-hand “frack” needs to be bought for glittering traditional ball nights in the student unions, drinking habits need to be learned to join in authentic student gatherings and romantic affairs need to be indulged in to enjoy fully the magic of this place. He also learns that some of the blondes are not for real and alcohol is a double-edged sword in this country. The joy to get to know another culture rewards his curiosity. Christmas with its special celebrations of light, songs, warmth and mulled wine in this country put a shining glow over our little snow-covered town. Having learned a new way of appreciating the heart-filling atmosphere of Christmas he for the first time has to leave our cute little town to come back to his normal life back home. Returning for the new term and his last months he is even more eager to live the last months of this exceptional experience to the fullest. The first affair breaks, new experiences come up, our student tries his best to drink all of the ambrosia student life has to offer in this place. Spring celebrations melt the ice and snow that had formed a sugar icing for the spires of our medieval town. He now feels the urge to see more of the country and ventures even further north to the land of the glowing night skies and listens to the howling of sledge dogs in the ice fields. Back in his university town with spring changing into early summer and the year coming full circle, a melancholic sadness sets in, knowing he would have to leave this place and his friends soon which had given him such tremendous pleasures in the past months. The last dorm parties under bright summer skies, endless evenings at the beach staring into the setting sun, the last exams, a final BBQ, goodbye hugs until everybody finally disappears one morning into the world he or she came from with memories that will last forever.

Years later some of the old circle of friends meets again for the quadrennial student carnival in their old alma mater. Nothing seems to have changed, the students talk about the same subjects, the parties follow the same rules, the old roads lead to the same old places. But still it wasn't their town anymore. The places they had left three years ago were now filled by new Erasmus students taking their share of an experience that had changed me for the better and made me the person I am today. After that year many more international experiences inspired by my exchange followed, wonderful experiences, friends, affairs and parties. But it never was quite the same as in the town I fell in love with. This place will stay in my heart even if the real place is not the same town anymore just as I am not the same student anymore, having finally finished my studies and being on the verge to "real" life whatever this will bring me.

Looking back now many years later to this year fills me with great gratitude for this experience. Knowing that this special time -like "the first time" - cannot be repeated, blissful thoughts of happy days will remain in my heart for all my life. Many new great experiences will lie ahead but there will always be only one Erasmus feeling, my wonderful time in good old Lund, Sweden.

I cannot express what Scott, Anne, Andreas, Kevin, Judith, Oliver, Justyna, Peter and many more have contributed to that feeling, thanks from the bottom of my heart has to suffice for now. I will never forget it.

--Tack så jättemycket Lund!