reflection
one month late again with the post :( also lacking in commentary because I haven’t been refining my vlog skills at the time and wasn’t very knowledgeable… I failed to research the amazing town of Kalmar and sadly only went to enjoy the weather and get away from the city (more in this later in the reflection). anyways, during my last few days in Copenhagen, the weather wasn’t supposed to be great. I didn’t want to spend my precious time indoors hiding from the rain, so at the last minute, I booked a train ticket to Kalmar, Sweden, where it was supposed to be nice and sunny (and it was!) In addition to profiting from the good weather, I wanted to take a step back away from the familiarity and comfort. It had been a while since I last had a solo trip, and I wanted to get away from the people so I could reflect and think to myself. What were the take aways from the semester abroad? Adjusting to a new culture starting with no friends or family alongside… learning to cook, making new friends, embracing the environment (getting used to the cold, the food, the language, biking), so many things that have changed my perspective.
As for the trip itself, a key takeaway is to always do some research before visiting somewhere. It’s much more meaningful when you know the stories behind a location rather than just to haphazardly see the sights. I regret not looking more into the history and significance of Kalmar. I just admired the streets, architecture, and landmarks without knowing any of the history… however, after visiting and seeing all the information signs around town, I learned more about the history, and the stories have definitely left a place for Kalmar in my heart. Otherwise, it’s just a small beautiful town that I would easily look past.
Some history: Kalmar is where the Kalmar Union (Brought the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark under a single monarch from 1397 to 1523) was formed. Kalmar is the site of sieges. The old Kalmar was closer to the castle and more on the mainland before moving onto an island Kvarnholmen.
Trip summary: Of course the trip didn’t go to plan. If you’ve seen some of my past vlogs, you know I’m an unlucky traveler. Well in the morning, my train to Kalmar gets cancelled. I get to Kalmar an hour, but I still have a good time. Good lunch, nice pastries, enjoyed walking around town, and before I knew it, time’s up. The train back to Copenhagen was a struggle too… An hour into the journey, the train suddenly emergency brakes, and there’s a malfunction. Maybe a 30 minute delay? When we approach Malmo, the conductor notifies us that because our train was too behind schedule, it would terminate at Malmo and we would have to manually switch trains. Not a big deal, but it’s always interesting that it seems like I have so much bad luck. Regardless, I am so grateful for the trip. While it’s sad that my time’s up, I’m happy I spent my time well. There’s plenty in the future to look forward to, and things will get better. The past is in the past. We can learn from it to make our future better.