Hello! My name is Foteini, and I come from Greece. I’m currently in my second year of the Master’s in Global Health. When I first arrived in Sweden, I felt a mix of excitement and worry. Would I be able to make new friends? I missed the ones I had left behind in Greece, even though we had promised to chat and video-call every week. Making new friends isn’t always easy—especially when you move to a foreign country.
But then, I went to my first lecture and started talking to people. To my surprise, I realized that I could be more sociable than I thought. Whether it was my determination to fully experience student life in Uppsala or my fear of loneliness, I managed to step out of my comfort zone quite quickly. Slowly but surely, I connected with some of my classmates. We started going for fika, a Swedish tradition that involves taking a break with coffee and baked goods while socializing. Also, we started doing other activities together, like hiking. Before I knew it, they weren’t just classmates—they had become my friends.
After sharing multiple birthday celebrations, long exams and an endless series of group assignments, I can proudly say now that I’m happy for the memories we have created and I’m looking forward to making many more.
This year, my friends and I decided to start a new tradition: hosting a Secret Santa exchange. Each of us picked a name and bought a gift without the receiver knowing who it was from. It was very fun watching each other’s surprised looks and the great variation of gifts. But we didn’t stop there. Since many of us—myself included—would be traveling back to our home countries for the holidays, we hosted a Christmas party several weeks early. Timing is relative, right? For us, it didn’t matter that it wasn’t the actual Christmas day.
Celebrating together was what made it special. There was Greek, Swedish, and Chinese food, and we all agreed that one of our favorite things during winter is cooking and gathering for dinner parties. Even though we celebrated almost a month in advance, it truly felt like the perfect Christmas.
Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to wonderful experiences, and I’ve learned that saying that first ‘hello’ can often be the start of something meaningful. To anyone new to Uppsala or studying abroad, my advice is simple: don’t hesitate to start conversations or try something new—you might be surprised by what you gain.
Reflecting on this year’s memories, I’m excited for the adventures ahead. Whether it’s more traditions, more memories, or simply more time with the people who’ve made Uppsala feel like home, there’s so much to look forward to.