Erasmus in Schweden
1st Day: Arrival
Swedish Fika
As part of our Erasmus exchange, we arrived in Örebro on Monday at approximately 16:00. One of our first experiences in Sweden was participating in a traditional Swedish fika, a cultural practice centered around coffee, pastries, and meaningful conversation. While fika is often seen as a simple coffee break, it also embodies deeper values that align with the United Nations' 17 Global Sustainability Goals (SDGs). Fika relates to these global objectives, focusing on inclusivity, well-being, and sustainability.
What is Fika?
Fika is a cherished Swedish tradition where people gather to enjoy coffee and pastries while engaging in open conversations. It promotes social cohesion, a sense of belonging, and relaxation. During our first fika in Örebro, we had the opportunity to connect with local students and fellow Erasmus participants, discussing cultural differences, academic experiences, and sustainability efforts in Sweden.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
Health consists of three main dimensions: mental health, physical health, and social health. Fika primarily contributes to social health by fostering strong interpersonal relationships, creating a sense of belonging, and reducing feelings of loneliness. By providing a break from work or studies, fika also indirectly supports mental well-being, offering relaxation and stress relief through meaningful conversations.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Many Swedish cafés and workplaces promote sustainable practices by using organic, locally sourced ingredients and reducing waste. The fika tradition encourages mindful consumption, often incorporating environmentally friendly choices such as reusable cups and fair-trade coffee.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Fika serves as an informal networking opportunity where people from different backgrounds collaborate and exchange ideas. In the context of our Erasmus exchange, it helped bridge cultural differences and establish new friendships, contributing to international cooperation and partnerships.
2nd Day: Örebro
Örebro Castle
Örebro Castle is a Vasa Renaissance style castle located in the central part of Örebro. It was built in the 1270s and was called “Örebro house” used as protection to protect Örebro city. Since then it has been remodeled a few times and it got its present style during the remodeling between 1897-1901. During the years it has had many different owners, but the first was Gustav Vasa’s youngest son duke Karl, who would later be king Karl IX, and he was the one in charge of building Örebro house during that time.
In the beginning of the tour we learned that the castle has changed in the time often and after that we left in another room, with a painted rock floor representing the old kings in the castle and then got to see a big statue of Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson. We learned about how he died and what he became famous for during his life (mostly he was a peace fighter and a tyrant).
After that we went into a big room with big pictures of the old kings from Sweden hanging over the walls. As Sweden lost a war with Russia, Sweden lost a part of their land (this land is Finland now). During one part of time Sweden wanted a strong man leading the country and then decided to have a French man as the king of Sweden. After that we went to a room where they had built up a big feast with food accurate to what people in the castle had eaten during that time. Some things they ate were cold fish cake, fruit and a swan in the center of the table.
Next, we went down to the dungeons of the castle. There we got to know that people were kept prisoned and many died tragic deaths.
SGD 2 is to have zero hunger, and by now knowing how big of a part of the people in the dungeons died due to starvation as well as people overall during that time contributes with our knowledge and our work forward in keeping as many people as possible away from hunger and not having any food as well as keeping that goal as a goal to move forward with.
As the following thing we got to know had much to do with SDG 3 “Good health and well-being”. In the dungeons it was not comfortable, but it was dark and dirty and the people didn’t get any contact with the sunlight. Being sent to the dungeon was the same as getting sent to death. The food people got to eat was unhealthy leftovers from the feasts and it was either them or the pigs who got the food. It was a torture living like that. As the same as mentioned before, here as well by now knowing how horrible people in the dungeons lived during that time contributes with our knowledge and the work forward in keeping as many people as possible having good health and being well.
Following we got to know even more but this which connects with SDG 6 “Clean water and sanitation”. The people at this time didn’t have clean water like today. The water poured down from the river was the only water they had access to. The water was dirty and it was the only thing they had to drink. The river was dirty from dead bodies and that water poured down into the dungeons, and while in the dungeons people did not have access to a toilet so they had to do the business in the only water they had which was the one from the river. The dungeons were also filled with snakes, rats, lice and diseases that contributed with the dirty water and the unhealthy and unsanitary living conditions regarding water. While having that knowledge, the work on SDG 6 can move forward and we can have more knowledge on what not to do to make sure people have clean water and sanitary living options.
Rallye and Swampen
On our first full day in Sweden, we were sent on a Rallye around Örebro. Our teachers prepared a series fs questions for us to answer upon reaching certain locations in the city. These questions covered a wide range from topics, from taking photos of a rat to estimating how much water is wasted in Sweden. They were designed to give us an insight into waste management in different countries and societies, helping us to understand our progress toward Global Sustainability Goals that nations have agreed on – especially Goal 12, which focuses on responsible consumption and production.
After completing the questions, we headed to the park and played a friendly tournament of boule. This part of the day strengthened our group bond and reinforced the importance of respecting and supporting another while working as a team. It also taught us valuable problem-solving skills.
Once the planed group activity was finished, one student suggested visting Svampen. Svampen is an old water tower that is no longer in use, but instead of being torn down, it was repurposed onto an observation tower that offers a stunning view of the city and its skyline.
Most importantly, our visit to Svampen reminded us that not everything that is no longer in use needs to be demolished. Some things can be given a new purpose.
3rd Day: Stockholm
The Vasa Museum
The Vasa was a large warship built by the Swedish King Gustav II Adolf between 1626 and 1628. It was supposed to show the power of Sweden. The ship was decorated with colorful carvings and packed with 64 bronze cannons. It was designed to impress both, allies and enemies. The problem was, that it was too tall and too heavy at the top. This made the ship unbalanced and unsafe. On August 10, 1628 the ship set off on its maiden voyage. Thousands of people witnessed how a strong wind from the side made it tilted to one side. The water poured in through the open cannon ports. The Vasa sank quickly into the cold water only about 1300 meters off the shore. Around 13 people on board lost their lives. The shipwreck was discovered in 1956 and rescued in 1961. For over 300 years the Vasa lay forgotten at the bottom of Stockholm’s harbor, slowly preserved by the cold and oxygen-poor water of the Baltic Sea. The Vasa was in a surprisingly good condition. Engineers used strong steel cables and pontoons to carefully lift the wreck a s a whole. After the rescue, the Vasa was sprayed with polyethylene glycol to prevent the wood from dying out and cracking.
The Vasa Museum in Stockholm stands as an exceptional example of how cultural heritage institutions can align with global sustainability goals. It displays the Vasa, a ship from the 1600 hundreds that sunk on its maiden voyage. The ship shows that even old artefacts can be displays with environmentally friendly conversation methods.
In particular, the museum contributes to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, by safeguarding cultural heritage and making it accessible to future generations. With innovative conservation techniques, The Vasa is maintained with minimal environmental impact, which contributes to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Additionally, its educational program addresses SDG 4: Quality Education, inspiring visitors to reflect on old Swedish history, culture and sustainability. By demonstration a commitment to sustainable practices, The Vasa museum sets a high bar on how cultural institutions can play a vital role in inspiring a more environmentally friendly conservation.
The Natural History Museum
We went to visit Stockholm because our group wanted to see Swedish history and also about nature. We went to visit the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseum and there were several rooms with different subjects. One room explored human evolution, showing how we developed from homo habilis to homo sapiens. Another room focused on forest life and climate changes and also about water life, showing different water types, for example lakes, rivers and oceans and a room showing how a fetus becomes an embryo to a child and many other different things like an elephant's eye, etc. The forest section explained the wildlife and how we “ruin” the environment by doing things that destroy the earth. It showed how global warming impacts both Sweden and the rest of the world. There was also a movie shown for education purposes about the climate changes that many liked and it was very good. There was a place in the room where there were questions presented and you could vote for an answer and see how many people voted for the same, the questions were based on the climate and what you would do if that or this happened. Everyone enjoyed the day there and learned something about different sections of the museum, later on we left back to the city to get some food and back to Örebro.
In connection with sustainability we took the goal 13 that says “Climate action”, the museum teaches us about climate changes and how it affects the Earth. We learned what we could do to help, like using less energy and caring more about nature. Goal 14 “Life below water”, in the room that showed us the water life we saw how water animals live and how they are in danger because of pollution and overfishing. The museum shows how we can protect the oceans. Goal 15 “Life on Land” showed us different types of animals, forests and nature. We learned why it's important to protect animals and the places they live in. According to SDG 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production” we were shown how we can use less, recycle more and make smart choices when we buy things to help the Earth. The last goal we connected with this museum is SDG 4 “Quality Education”. We learned about nature, science and the environment, it gave us a better understanding and taught us how we can take better care of our planet.
4th Day: Sveafallen and Karlskoga
Sveafallen
During the fourth day of this Erasmus+ exchange we went together to the nature reserve Sveafall in the village Degerfors. Within the nature reserve there's a famous forest linked with the traces of an earlier ice age in Sweden. During the ice age a 2-3 km thick ice floe drifted over the forest, bringing rocks along with a river under the ice floe. This resulted in different structures in the rocky landscape, such as flat mountain edges, cracks, and giant kettles, a structure from a rock spinning down in the mountain. Our walk was a 5.3 km long route, for which we could experience the unique nature. The hike can be linked to SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-Being”, since we supported our health by getting fresh air and body movement in nature.
While we were hiking, we had to answer different questions about sustainability, and how Sweden contributes to the sustainability of natural resources. This way of learning was highly effective, which gave it good quality. That’s why this task could be linked with SDG 4 “Quality Education”. The whole group was able to learn various ways of sustainability, such as Sweden’s way of sustainable import, export, and production. We were also divided into pairs when answering the questions, so we worked together and discussed the correct answer. This was an effective way to include SDG 17. By the end of the hike, we had a barbeque which we prepared together. Then we grilled (vegan) sausages as a team, and had a good time eating hot dogs with each other. Hot dogs are also a popular dish in Sweden, which adds to the experience of Swedish culture. In other words, being out in the nature made us learn new ways of sustainability thinking as well as supporting our international partnership.
Boda Borg
Boda Borg is a building, where there are lots of rooms that you need to play and complete, more like an escape room. You work together in teams, usually 3–5 people to complete the rooms. If you fail, you have to start over from the beginning on that particular course and if you complete the entire course, you get a stamp as proof. Teamwork is the most important thing if you want to complete the rooms because if you don't work as a team then it will be really difficult, and in the end fail the room. So, this shows us that we need partnership to complete our goals like we can also see in SDG 17 of the list for the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
Our experience about Boda Borg was really great because we had so much fun while playing and trying to complete the rooms even though we lost like 10x times the same room. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to solve all the rooms, because we were a bit late and Boda Borg had to close.
