Interview
Meet Louise from Ireland
Name: Louise Johansson
Home University: Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Field/Programme of Study: Sociology / Geography
Personal Interests (leisure activities): Travelling, Hiking, Meeting new people, Photography
Favourite thing about Umeå: The twilight darkness in winter, it’s magical.
Favourite Swedish word or custom: ‘Det löser sig’ – a wonderful way of saying everything’s going to work out.
Why did you choose to study on exchange at Umeå University?
I was dying for an adventure. Life can pass you by if you never shake things up. I really wanted to get the most out of my education and taking a year abroad definitely seemed like an opportunity to do this. Umeå University was recommended to me by a family friend who said his time there had been the best few years of his life, which made me curious to see for myself. I also thought it would be fun to experience a real winter in the North as I had never even tried skiing. When the winter chill first arrived, I really wondered why I didn’t choose somewhere in the Mediterranean but as the saying goes.. ‘There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.’ Invest in a good pair of shoes and gloves and you’ll be as snug as a bug. I have embraced the cold by now.. a good snowball fight and an igloo building session with my friends soon made me realize I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world!
What’s it like to study at Umeå University?
The University is amazing. The campus design enables members of various departments to interact with one-another as every facility is within walking distance. Also there are glass walkways to each building which is excellent if you’re lazy, but also well thought out in winter if you want to avoid going out in the snow.
One of my favourite aspects is the ‘Culture on Campus’ events that take place regularly at lunch time. You can take a break from class to listen to jazz, watch an acrobatic display or view a photography exhibition.
Another tip I would give you is to search the Umeå University website for open academic seminars that take place throughout the year. These are seminars where visiting professors come and speak about their latest field of research. It’s a great way to spend a couple of free hours and you have an opportunity to meet some very interesting people.
There is a large emphasis on group work here, which really develops your teamwork skills. I can get quite nervous when I do presentations, but I think doing them so regularly with a group has really helped me improve my public speaking skills.
The Library is so modern it is actually a pleasure to go in and work there. There are lots of artwork and plants, there is even a moving clock made of mirrors on the ceiling! You can choose from group work areas to quiet rooms to work, there’s a place for everyone.
Also don’t buy magazines or newspapers. The library has a special room that has all the latest editions of everything from the New York Times to National Geographic. If you want a break from your coursework you can just pop upstairs and relax with a random newspaper.
My absolute favourite thing about the campus is the large pond. A family of fat ducks live here and a great way to spend your lunchtime is feeding them. I’ll be leaving next year and i’ll need someone to take care of them!
What is your impression of Umeå and the surrounding areas?
One thing that really struck me when I first arrived is the emphasis on the arts here. Wherever you go in Umeå there are sculptures, and art installations for all to enjoy. Even in the middle of the river there is a giant sculpture of a hand coming up out of the water! I’ve noticed that it really does make a difference to your mood when you see that these are put in place for no other purpose than for the people’s enjoyment. There are several museums and quite a large opera house that puts on regular performances of opera and ballet. It really is quite a culturally rich city if you take the time to look.
What do you find as the biggest cultural difference, both socially and educationally, from your country with Sweden?
Ireland is great and I love living there but in comparison to the Swedes we are so behind in efficiency. Everything just works so well here. One thing I really love is the cycle paths that weave in and out of the city. I never have to worry about a bus running me over which is fantastic! In terms of college work, the course assessment works differently here, with continuous assessment of your work as you complete it, avoiding the build up of exam time stress. In Ireland I am so used to a system of having all year to prepare for a full week of exams. It takes some time getting used to this new system but I find I have learned much more and I am enjoying my coursework more as a result. One of the greatest differences is the standard of baking. Swedish bread and cakes are on a whole other level of taste. Visit any Swedish ‘konditori’ and you’ll know exactly what I mean.
What do you like best about the town of Umeå and its surroundings?
Umeå is a great place to live. I live in Mariehem, which is a little less populated than the main student housing area Alidhem, but I love living in such a great location. It is a 2 minute walk to the lake and a 10 minute cycle to the University. Because there are so few of us living here, our entire building has become quite close which is brilliant. You’ll find the best way to get through the long winter is to organize some communal dinner parties with your friends and it’s great if you don’t have to leave the building to meet them!
One of my favourite places is Nydala Lake which is really beautiful all year round. It’s a popular spot for barbeques in the autumn and spring and even a swim if it’s warm enough. It’s November now and I walked across it just yesterday. A pretty amazing feeling! You can ice skate in the winter and there is a cross country skiing track nearby also.
If you’re into hiking or exploring or just feel like you need a break I would recommend Skuleskogen, a national park on the high coast. It has incredible scenery and is just 2 hours drive from here. There is another national park called Tavelsjö which is only one hour from here which is also pretty great. Dog sleighing is also worth trying, and is also about the same distance from here. There is so much to explore. There is also an elk farm close by, if you have never seen an elk/moose before!
The Umeå Jazz festival is on in October and I have to say I was really surprised at the standard of talent that came from both Sweden and abroad. If you like jazz or maybe just want to have a great night out, the jazz festival is really, really fantastic. Go!
Fika. This is a word and an activity you will come to know and love. A fika is going for a coffee and cake with a few friends, and having a chat. If you go exploring you will find some really nice café’s that you can end up spending hours in. (My favourite is Nya Konditoriet on Kungsgatan, it’s really cosy) I warn you, you will get addicted to this.
IKSU. This doesn’t mean very much to you now, but if you’re into sports or even just keeping fit, IKSU will be your new favourite place. This is the name of one of Europe’s largest sport-centers and its located right here in Umeå. The center itself provides a state of the art gym, pool, and everything from dancing to boxing. The center also organizes climbing, hiking, canoeing, skiing, caving trips every year which are well worth doing. It’s great to have such a fantastic facility on your doorstep, don’t miss out on the chance to use it.
I love that I can cycle everywhere so quickly. Most people have bikes here and it’s worth buying one second hand as waiting for the bus/walking can become tiresome/miserable when the weather gets colder. Remember to shop around when you are buying a bike. You can always get a better deal and make sure you get one with winter tyres and good brakes. When the snow comes you’ll still want to be able to get around! Also..buy a bike lock that has a combination lock not a key lock.. I made that mistake and now I have to defrost the keyhole five times a day in order for it to open!
What you would say to another international student thinking of attending Umeå University?
I can’t recommend Umeå enough. The idea of coming to live in a city that you have never heard of in Northern Sweden can seem scary but it really is such a special place. I can guarantee that you will meet some great people from all over the world, you will gain valuable skills and most importantly you will have the time of your life. Don’t be afraid of the unknown, take a chance and you won’t regret it.
