—Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindednessby Margaret Shen As we all live in a global village, it is better for us to know more about other cultures and the rest of the world. The best way to know a country and a culture is to go there and experience it for yourself. I would like to introduce you a mystic Nordic country, Sweden. Why Sweden?
You might ask, “Why should Sweden be at the top of my list? It’s cold and dark. Also, I heard that Swedish people are quite indifferent.” If that’s what you think of Sweden, I have to tell you that you are wrong. Sweden is actually a place that would surprise you a lot. You can have a lifetime experience here, like an Aurora trip—a trip to see northern lights in the polar region—and ice climbing. Also, you will be fascinated by their “fika” culture. Tourist Sights Vasamuseet Vasa is a warship made by King Gustav II from 1626 to 1628. It was built to defend Sweden from Poland and to show the world the power of Sweden. It was the most outstanding warship of the seventeenth century. There were more than 24,000 treasures and more than 700 beautiful statues on the ship. Also, it was equipped with the greatest cannon in the world. It was viewed as the most powerful warship at that time and the symbol of Swedish Great Power Period (1611 to 1718), when the economy boomed and the main cities were built. There was a huge ceremony for its maiden voyage. It set sail as people cheered. Unfortunately, not long after it left Stockholm Port, it sank because strong winds resulted in large amounts of water filling the gun deck. People tried to salvage it after it sank, but this was impossible. Only after 333 years was it rediscovered. Now in the Vasa museum, tourists can see this majestic ancient warship and know more about it. It’s definitely a must-see in Sweden. Kungliga Slottet If you come to Sweden, you must visit the Royal Palace. Here you are able to see the changing of the guard, as well as royal treasures and paintings. You will be amazed by Viking history and the strong intimacy that the Nordic royal family shared for one another. Kiruna Kiruna is the northernmost city in Sweden. It is a part of Lapland. In the Sami language, it is called Giron which means ptarmigan, a kind of white bird living in the North Sea. The city is famous for its mining industry, a major center for iron ore extraction, its original Sami lifestyle, ice hotels, dog sledding, and, most importantly, the Northern Lights—a natural phenomenon in the sky often seen in the polar region. They are produced when the magnetosphere is sufficiently disturbed by the solar wind. It is strongly recommended that you come here in winter. Though it is freezing cold and the sun only comes out for two hours a day, I can promise that you’ll have a most unforgettable experience. First, you can take a visit to a mine. Because the mining industry undermined the Kiruna city center, they are currently moving it 3 km to the east. After your trip to the mine, you can experience dog sledding in the woods and have a nice forest trip experiencing traditional Sami transport. Also, they will serve you traditional Sami food and their favorite drink, lingonberry juice, in your cabin. After the dog sledding, it’s time to rest. You can find a place to stay overnight in an ice hotel and wait for the Northern lights, especially between November and February. It is well worth standing outside in -30 degree weather. Swedish Culture After knowing where to visit in Sweden, it’s time to know something about their culture. Fika You will be amazed by how Swedish love drinking coffee and having snacks during a day. They have even invented a word for these breaks, “fika.” Fika is similar to afternoon tea, but not the same. Fika is a very casual thing. With a cup of coffee, snacks, and a friend, you can have a perfect fika. Once you start to fika with them, you will fall for the fika tradition. It makes you feel that life is relaxed and easy. Cinnamons buns, Meatballs, and Lingonberries Sweden is famous for its cinnamon buns and meatballs. You can find them everywhere. Cinnamon buns are especially popular when they fika. Besides that, Swedish people also crave lingonberries. They eat waffles, bread, and toast with lingonberry jam. And you can find lingonberry juice in every restaurant. They even pair meatballs with lingonberry sauce! Pop music As you may know, the Eurovision Song Contest is the biggest annual competition in Europe, held by the European Broadcasting Union since 1956. Each country submits one original song to compete on live TV and then viewers cast votes to decide the winner. What you don’t know is that it is even more popular in Sweden. There are many great Swedish musicians and artists from Sweden, like ABBA—winner of Eurovision in 1974— and Avicii. They fill Sweden with an artistic atmosphere, making Sweden the biggest winner in Eurovision history. They have won six times. Since Sweden won the 2015 Eurovision, the next contest will be held there. If you want to visit Sweden and experience a live Eurovision, now is the best time to start planning your trip! People It is said that Swedish people are indifferent. Well, don’t worry. That’s not true. They are shy and not talkative, but if you ask for help, they are more than willing. Once you make friends, you’ll find them friendly and warm. Also, most Swedish people speak English very fluently, so there will be no problem for you to travel if you can’t speak any Swedish. Bon Voyage Sweden not only has a beautiful natural landscape and fascinating Viking culture, but it also boasts social welfare and admirable progress in achieving equality. To know more about this wonderful country, now is the right time to make your plans! a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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