Exchange students reunited in Örebro after 25 years: “It was a fantastic year”

For Dorit Dalén from southern Spain, her exchange year in Örebro was the first time she had lived abroad. When choosing between different universities, she found the fact that Örebro had a compact campus with student housing located close to the university very appealing.

“I really wanted to experience student life here. Everything was gathered in one place, so Örebro scored high on my list. I wasn’t disappointed; it was a fantastic year,” says Dorit Dalén.

Moved to Sweden

Over the two semesters, her courses included international law and EU law. Her time in Örebro also sparked an interest in Sweden and the Swedish language. After completing her studies, she returned to Spain and later took part in another Erasmus exchange in Finland. Eventually, she moved to Sweden and has now lived here for 18 years.

 

The visit brings back many memories. Dorit Dalén recalls driving from Spain to Örebro over the course of four days. Once here, she had to learn about the Swedish winter.

“Someone explained to me that I needed to change my tyres and washer fluid! It’s funny, because now I’ve lived in Sweden for almost 20 years and it’s no problem. But it was here in Örebro that I ran into all these challenges for the first time,” says Dorit Dalén.

“A lesson in independence”

Tomasz Sitkowski from Poland was an exchange student during the autumn semester of 2001. His courses included computer-based marketing, international macroeconomics, and Swedish. For him, his time in Örebro was above all an experience in learning to stand on his own two feet.

“I still have many vivid memories, even though it’s been 25 years. It was a great lesson in independence and self-reliance,” says Tomasz Sitkowski.

Fond memories of Örebro

He was in student accommodation just off campus and remembers both the roe deer outside his window and playing badminton with friends. Swedish students and student buddies helped the exchange students navigate everyday life, from food shopping and repairing bicycles to booking laundry slots.

Several of them are also attending the reunion.

“You can tell from the number of Swedish friends who are here that we’ve stayed in touch. Without them, it would have been much harder to settle in on campus and at the university,” says Tomasz Sitkowski.