SWEDEN

A slightly different lifestyle

A self-discovery journey

Travelling is something I have always assumed I could do without any limitations.

When I started volunteering while being someone’s partner, I was unaware of the emotional challenge and decision-making that would be involved. Frankly, I never thought I would have to decide between travelling wherever I wanted or choosing to be with someone.

These were some of the thoughts that ran through my head while we were living in a hotel room for a month.

A month in Sweden

The time we spent in Sweden was more of a personal discovery than an adventure in the north. What shocked me the most was the amount of things you discover about yourself and life when you spend hours reading, working, exercising or watching series in the same place (without having the possibility to go far away).

The simple fact of creating a daily routine gives you the opportunity to learn how your mind works in different situations without forcing it directly.

I'm not gonna lie, I was an emotional rollercoaster. It was often a struggle, but it was worth it for everything I learned about myself.

One of the things we learned in these first work exchanges was how some adults have tunnel vision in which at the end of it the only thing they can see is their "I am right, and you are wrong" point of view in life. Although I am a firm believer in standing up for oneself, it is true that it can lead to a position of always coming across as defensive which can result in misunderstandings.

Surviving in Simrisham

It took us a seconds after arriving in Sweden to feel overwhelmed by the fact that there was not much to do. We soon realised that it was time to make the most of this place.

We were in Simrisham, a small seaside town where the only place for entertainment was the library.

Soon, we got into a little routine of getting up, having a coffee (forced to get up early by Gustaf, our boss), working for a few hours, and then having our alone time.

The bikes were our only way of transport apart from the train, which we didn't want to get back on after almost being fined. With them, we would ride all along the coast while listening to ABBA and eating whatever we could get for breakfast since it was the only meal included.

From all the places we visited in Sweden, I recommend:

• Malmo: Ikea, meatballs 10 out of 10

• Stenshuvuds National Park: Here we had an encounter with a group of rams that didn't let us get to the end of the route. This place has a white sandy beach with no waves and even some palm trees, the Caribbean version of Sweden.

• The south coast and its villages: My favourite, Skillinge. Even if it takes you 20 minutes to walk across them, it's worth the ride through the woods and cows, perfect for disconnecting from the world.