Seedha Stockholm Se…

I have been reading articles and memoirs by exchange students about their experiences for two years now and all these years I was eagerly awaiting my chance. And, here I realize my wish today. Not that I am gloating or am being boastful but I consider it both a privilege and liability for everyone who has had a new experience- good or bad to share it with everyone else. This dissemination of first hand experience may take place in form of a private conversation or a public address however the most efficacious mode is a written document since it has a large audience base.

Without further ado, let me take you guys through a jaunt into Stockholm, its people, their traits et al. The time before and while onboard is in some ways not worthwhile mentioning. Subsequently, I reached Stockholm airport after a cascade of preliminary glitches which included luggage overly overweight, a strong likelihood of having to discard my racquet and a stern interrogation by the custom officials regarding the Swedish currency I was carrying. From a hurly-burly atmosphere of Delhi Airport to a serene and calm ambience of Stockholm Airport, it would have constituted a perfect contrast had the two scenes been juxtaposed adjacently. Anyway, it was a welcomed change for my mind if not heart for now it rested in peace after what seemed like an eternity of turmoil. With half-open eyes, both hands engaged dragging the luggage and metro tickets clamped between teeth, I made a picture-perfect sight of an over burdened tourist; nevertheless I somehow boarded the underground train. (called T Bana here) But no sooner did the train speed, I got an erratic jolt and although I reacted instantly by stretching my arm to grab one of the ceiling rods, I lost my balance but fortunately did not fall on anyone. Retrospectively, I realized that the average height of men in Sweden or even Europe at large is five inches more than our country and I had utterly misjudged the height of the support rod. I hardly got any time to regain my composure and a pleasant countenance before I alighted from the metro and stood on the left hand side of a seemingly endless escalator as they are like in most of the places here. I was gasping for some air as the metro had literally choked me till death and continues to choke me even now after spending over fifty days here, when I realized that people were staring at me as if I was an alien or a convict and thus inflicting a guilt on me which of course at that time I did not take. It was only later when it dawned on me that my mistake was not that I was standing on left and not right but that I had not gone through wikitravels which clearly says that in Stockholm, left side of the escalator is reserved for people walking up/down the stairs and those who breach this de facto rule are deemed as rustic or uninformed tourists. After the escalator episode, I somehow managed to drag my self and the luggage to a bus stop which was my penultimate destination. By then, I had virtually drained myself serving a porter to my own luggage and had already started cursing myself for the unwieldy luggage I chose to carry. The prospect of standing in the bus further aggravated my misery but then like an angel came a red buss (Swedish for bus) to revive me and I hurriedly boarded the bus and seated myself. While the bus was better than a DTDC bus in terms of the high-end technology it was equipped with such as automatic doors, buttons to request a stop, the DTC buses undoubtedly score over these buses in terms of the passengers they carry daily without any fatigue or failure. Finally, I was in my room (which is a little less than a three star hotel as far as the amenities and furnishing is concerned) after unlocking two electronic doors. Thereafter, I did things which are inconsequential to the context of this article.

One appreciates the meaning and relevance of the words elegance and grace better after witnessing the incomparable beauty Stockholm is blessed with. However, any description of its beauty would be an understatement owing to the fact that beauty is omnipresent here and so widespread that it is well possible that you saunter all around Stockholm for a year and you still miss what may be the most beautiful to your eyes and perception. It is located on the shores of Baltic Sea and comprises of some of the world’s most spectacular archipelagos. These small islands offer you an ideal picnic spot for a sunny and bright day and the water invites hordes of fishing freaks and enthusiasts to bait some preys. Sprawling on the lush green grass beside blue pristine water away from the hustle-bustle of the city and watching the sun set letting the city plunge into darkness is a treat to watch and a sight to behold. Apart from all these, Stockholm has a unique and quaint architecture. For those who love the skyscraper skyline, it will be a sheer disappointment but for people like me who are genuine admirers of picturesque architecture, it’s a paradise. The best part of the architecture here is that although it may appear old and ancient, it is modern in its own rights and is as invigorating, as mesmerizing every time you see it. Unlike most other parts of the world, the old city (called Gamlastan) here is untouched, preserved and well maintained to an extent that it is a hub of chic bars and restaurants and is tremendously flocked during weekends. Besides, Stockholm is a home to a plethora of historical monuments which include about 75 museums (called museet), world’s first open air museum (skansen), City hall where the dinner of Nobel laureates is hosted and a Castle. To sum up, Stockholm is a must visit for everyone and leaves indelible impressions and memories in the minds of everyone who comes here.

As I have a too observant character, I reckon I can give a judicious appraisal of the people and their lives here. The first thing which strikes my mind about Swedes is their warmth and hospitability. Just like other Europeans, Swedish people also exchange a lot of courtesies and pleasantries but are so obliging that many a times when I have lost my way; my co passenger has escorted me to either a familiar place or to my home. Having said that, most Swedes are individualists, uncommunicative and do not mingle with others easily but that is simply innocuous. Another remarkable feature of their character is that they do not posses a fake dignity as most of us do and see all kinds of work with equal respect. Hence, even I soaked in Swedish colours now; do all my household works ranging from cooking to washing my clothes and cleaning my toilet myself. Talking about the city life, it is very ordered and ideal here. The traffic is extremely smooth and surprisingly and contrary to India, the pedestrians are given precedence over vehicles and the cars really do stop to let you cross the road if you happen to be standing on the sides. Besides, the sizeable number of cycles running on their separate lanes gives you a glaring idea about the consciousness and concern of the people both for their and environment’s health. To add to all these, the society here is free from global evils such as crime and corruption and that makes Sweden even more prosperous and lively. But the only twist in the tail of this happy story is the rapid evacuation of your pocket which is even in the most conservative estimate four to five times faster than in India.

Thus, I can safely say that except for cooking, I am enjoying every aspect of my life here, learning a lot both academically and non-academically but still missing IIT and India.

Desert Rose
05th October, 2008
Stockholm, Sweden