As it is my first blog, I would like to share my ”special” journey from China to Sweden with you guys. Well, if you are reading this blog and noticing about the date, you may get to realize that I came here at a very special moment. Yes, indeed! We all know that COVID-19 originally started in January this year. And it definitely affects everything that I need to prepare for my master’s study at Linköping University!
My real journey began in early August. At that time, I successfully got my student residence permit, and the Swedish government canceled the entry ban for international students， fortunately. So, I brought an air ticket, which of course can not be cheap at all under the pandemic situation. (Small tips: Normally, if you fly from Shanghai to Stockholm via Finnair, you can get a fair student economy class that is super price friendly. For further information go to this website: https://www.finnair.com/cn-zh )
There were almost no people in Shanghai Pudong International Airport, so it was a little bit quiet and scary. But I did enjoy my time on the plane since the scenery outside the plane was so beautiful! We really had a clean and blue sky during the pandemic partly thanks to the lockdown on a global scale, I guess.
I transferred the fight at Helsinki Airport in Finland. Back then, the Finnish government did not open entry. There were only a few transit passengers who all seemed to be very cautious and kept long-distance. The shops at the airport were basically closed.
After over 10 hours journey, I arrived at Stockholm Arlanda Airport at dusk and luckily caught the best scenery in Stockholm during the beautiful season. If you like warm weather and sunshine, August is the best time to visit Sweden! (Of course, if you want snow, you have to wait until November and be ready to wrap up.)
I stayed in Stockholm for several days and chose to take a bus to Norrköping. Norrköping is kind of in the middle between Stockholm and Linköping, so it doesn’t take a long time to get there by bus. It only took me around two hours by Nettbuss’s bus. (Small tips: there are many ways to travel between Stockholm and Norrköping(as well as Linköping). A bus is the cheapest way though it took a longer time than a train. Usually, Nettbuss is cheaper than Flixbus, while Flixbus has a better time schedule. You can check detailed information on this bus booking website: https://www.busbud.com/en)
Finally, it’s time to see the beauty of Norrköping. Norrköping has a very unique industrial landscape. When I first saw it, I was totally blown away. A magnificent stream in the middle of the city, surrounded by retro and artistic architecture. On the one hand, you can feel the grandeur of this city. On the other hand, you can feel the tranquility of this city. This sense of mixture gives the city its unique charm.
Now two months passed since I’ve been in Norrköping, I like this city even more! I also have already finished my first two courses for this semester. I have a lot of things want to say about it! So, next time I’ll write something about my programme and tell you more about my study life at Norrköping Campus!!
