By: Annelie Dahlstein
Picture this. You’re sitting in an authentic Swedish restaurant, where on one side is a flowing river, and just across, is an ancient and towering cathedral. Amidst your friends and professors, a waiter comes out with your platter of sizzling chicken and sautéed vegetables. A couple days later, and you’re walking the streets of Copenhagen, peering out to see the waves crashing against the Little Mermaid statue. And finally, you’re standing at the top of an Olympic ski jump, overlooking castles and the coast of Oslo in Norway.
Over the course of two weeks, I traveled with other Belmont University students through Sweden, Denmark, and Norway to learn about Scandinavia’s social justice and intercultural communication customs. In each country we visited, we were able to experience their welfare systems, historical sites, art, non-profits, and museums.
Dr. Webb’s intercultural communication and social justice trip to the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, is a study abroad trip you cannot miss. In each country, I had the chance to experience the ancient traditions of the culture, as well as the freedom to explore each city.
With cultural communication and social justice as the primary courses in the trip, students were able to dive into the country’s history and society through lectures and experiences. From professors in Uppsala, the Women’s Danish Society, and Norweigan urban developers, students were able to sample the scope of the social justice system in Scandinavia.
The Nordic countries have been widely studied for their successful governments, eco-friendly lifestyles, and their strides in equality. While the neighboring countries are linked by history and their geographical landscape, each country is unique in its traditions and scenic beauty.
As a student who participated in this wonderful study abroad trip, I can personally say that one of my favorite days was spent in the Bygdøy village, located in the outskirts of Oslo. Bygdøy has several ancient museums pertaining to the Viking age, such as the Viking Ship Museum and the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. At the Viking Ship Museum, I was able to see three authentic viking ships that remain intact from the viking age. Down the road, I also had the chance to visit the Gol Stave Church, located in the gardens of Norwegian Museum of Cultural History.
My experience abroad was an unmatched type of learning that I will carry with me through the rest of my life. What became even more special to me than the opportunity to travel across the world was being able to experience Scandinavia with a faculty and group of students that treated each other like family. This portfolio is a collection of travel writings that share my story and most precious memories when I studied abroad in Scandinavia.
