Thank you
to all the people
who were part of
such an amazing year
you will forever and always
own a piece of my heart
June 30, 2025
Ett Brev Till Sverige
I’m leaving, and I can’t really process anything at the moment.
When I found out I’d be going to Sweden, I didn’t know how to feel about it all. I was going to leave friends, leave home, and begin a new adventure. Even though it would last just a year, I somehow knew it would shape the rest of my life.
And now, not so differently from last year, I’m leaving friends behind, but this time, in what became my new home. This long, vivid fever dream that I’ve lived is ending, and the life I carry forward will always echo with it.
When I sit and contemplate the year, I keep asking myself how I spent my time. It all went by so fast. I barely got the hang of many things before I had to pack again and fly off to my people on the other side. But there were quiet moments too, where time, like my skin, would freeze. With goosebumps on my arms is that I'd try to take hold of time, only for it to slip through my fingers once more.
I enjoyed it all, in the end or at least, I tried to make the most of every situation. There were days I felt like I was flying, impossibly high. And there were others when I was dragged back to the ground. Being down didn’t bother me—I always knew I could get back up—but the feeling of crashing through the pavement still hurt.
I won the lottery, in the end.
Everyone tells you before you go on exchange that certain patterns unfold throughout the year, and that whatever you expect (or don’t) won’t happen. And they’re right. I thought I had prepared myself for that truth, but the reality still hit harder than I imagined.
It was such an odd experience. I loved it. I relearned how to live, in a different culture, completely on my own. Yes, I had some amazing people who helped me with their guidance and support, but even then, in many ways, I was on my own. And I grew. I was lucky, so blessed even to meet everyone I did, and to feel everything I felt.
I lived. And I had an amazing life there.
Now that I’m leaving physically, I just hope a part of me stays behind in Malmö—maybe in the way my first host mom now folds her plastic bags after meeting me, or through the music I got some of my friends into, because I will take with me their recommendations (Laila, Al Madini is playing as I’m writing this, thank you for all). I really hope I gave Sweden something in return for everything it gave me.
I’m not sure if any of this makes sense — but then again, this year I’ve learned that a lot of things don’t (especially when it comes to culture), and that’s okay.
It’s time to wake up from the longest fever dream I’ve ever had. And although I don’t want to, the alarm already went off. So now all that’s left is to get ready for the day — knowing I’ve had a good dream.
This is my last time writing here, and I couldn’t find an album to recommend. But I do want to leave you with a song by Kent: Det Kanske Kommer En Förändring, and a few artists I thought of sharing, just for you to enjoy, hope you like them!
Svart Ridå,
Klotter,
Eline,
DISET,
IGÅR,
At The Gates
With that said: thank you, Sweden, for a lot. And until I see you again, ha det så bra! I’ll know where to find you, so in the meantime and as always, take care and stay safe.
Vi ses igen snart!