Henrique: The ending of my chapter; The beginning of yours

Knowing it is an impossible task, I will try my best to summarize my whole experience here in Örebro. So here I invite you to what went through my mind. Starting from before I came to Sweden:

One day I need to go somewhere else! 💭

That was one of the first thoughts that directed me to that place where I’m writing from right now. I felt it was the time. The way I remember my thought across time was something like:

Oh, they have a Musicology course there, how do I apply?

It seems so hard… I’ll try, but if it doesn’t work I could try again next year…

I GOT A SCHOLARSHIP?! THANK YOU EMAIL LADIES!

Oh.. yeah… I also need to leave…

I had to say goodbye to many dear things in order to come here, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

My first semester here was filled with as many things I could do as long as it was free. I was scared to waste my money, so it was mostly pasta and meatballs for a month. Also needed to adapt to Masters research, and scientific writing in english.

I was expecting it to be rough, so bring it on! 💪🏽

Many things happened during my second semester here that affected the city and my life in ways it could never expect. I remember feeling scared not only about things going on here, but also about things I could be missing back home. It was necessary to ask for help and I was extremely lucky to find support in many places.

I decided! I’m not giving up! 😈

The third semester was fun. Many things to do, new opportunities, new students arriving and more expectations. I was now used to the course’s pacing, and studying felt fun, rewarding and entertaining. I was starting to think about my thesis and things were starting to work out also in regards to job opportunities.

I’m almost there! 😮‍💨

Here we are, the 4th and last semester, and you know what? I’m tired of those expectations. I want to take things slow, truly embrace solitude. The exercise now is to live in the present, to be sincere with myself and enjoy the small things.

Do I need to save money? No problem.

Something crazy is happening? It’ll be ok.

Maybe I’ll need help! Good, I don’t have to deal with it alone.

… I still haven’t traveled back…

Now things are different. I have a part-time job, almost certainly a summer job as well, and got unexpected close relationships rising out of nowhere.

Yeah, I’m planning to go back to Brazil, and it is hard to think about it but it doesn’t mean everything is over. My chapter here may be over for now, but it also means that new things may happen with our lives.

Dear reader, I wish we could spend some more time together to laugh, to complain and to support each other, but let's stay in touch!

We may see each other soon!