InnoBlog: Should I still study abroad during the pandemic?

I remember dragging my two enormous suitcases as I was getting set to travel to Stockholm. As many of you might already know, the weather in Sweden consists of cold winters and hot summers (not so easy to pack the right clothes) so I was optimising all the space available in my luggage, yet most of it was still made up of face masks, disinfectants and various protective gear.

When I arrived, even though I was in the country with one of the best healthcare systems in the world, I was extremely cautious as of course I was worried about getting ill. Within few days I realised that either due to different pandemic approach or maybe even some cultural differences, people kept distance, followed the recommendations, and basically carried on with their normal lives.

There is no doubt that today’s pandemic changed our social experiences. In Sweden, social distancing is recommended with large gatherings not taking place. However, meeting up with a couple of friends is allowed.

The winter months in Sweden are long so it is important to have a group of friends as well as a whole bunch of activities to enjoy this time of the year. From Christmas market activities to skating, skiing (both alpine and cross country) and winter travels (such as the famous northern lights) you will find that your time in Sweden will fly by!

In general, I find that most people here socialise and are respectful of other’s space. Restaurants and cafes are full (with distance in mind) and now that the vaccination programme is well underway it is common to see larger groups together. As I am writing this blog it is 26 degrees and many of my fellow students are enjoying a sunny day by the water in Swedish archipelago, hiking or are in the city chilling at a rooftop or an open-air venue – which you find plenty in summer!

The abundance of winter and summer activities outside meant that me and my classmates were able to keep our social lives relatively normal while still respecting recommendations for social distancing!

Back to the question, if studying abroad now is worth it? To be honest, I don't know what the correct answer is. However, if you ask me if regretted it, my answer is absolutely no. Although social distancing and restrictions might sound tedious, in reality my experience was anything but! Of course I wanted to study at a reputable university such as KTH Royal Institute of Technology but I also wanted to emerge myself into a different culture and the best way to do so is to live here. My extracurricular life has been relatively rich here from travelling to meeting up with friends. Considering that the vaccination programme is moving fast, it is also a different atmosphere to when I first arrived. People seem more relaxed with many starting to resume travel and face to face activities such as returning to the office.

Additionally, the universities are offering hybrid classrooms which means that those that are concerned can plug in remotely and if the face to face classes do take place they are limited in number of people.

Even though I cannot make the decision for you I encourage you not to hesitate to pursue your career dream! I understand this situation can be tough, but I would say once you have arrived and settled in it is pretty much smooth sailing!

by Yanshu Wei, Master's in Energy for Smart Cities student