I was thrilled to receive the news of my selection for the exchange student program at Lund University in Sweden, funded by the Erasmus+ project. I applied for a Schengen VISA at the Swedish Embassy in New Delhi and began my journey to Sweden as soon as my visa was approved. The journey, which took 16 hours, included flights from Paro, Bhutan to New Delhi, then to Istanbul, and finally to Copenhagen, followed by a train to Lund on March 1, 2024. Upon arrival, I was greeted by cold winds and a warm welcome from Linnea. I was immediately struck by the unique and impressive architecture, which was markedly different from that in Bhutan.
On March 4, I met with Professor Henrik and Professor Martin at Lund University. They assisted me with all the necessary paperwork, and we enjoyed a delightful lunch together. I had the opportunity to taste Swedish cuisine, which I found to be a pleasant mix of sweet and sour flavors.
Working with Professor Henrik and connecting with many new people was both a great pleasure and an enriching experience. My days at Lund University were productive and filled with learning. As the weather transitioned from winter to summer, I could feel the increasing warmth and noticed the lengthening daylight, which was remarkable to me. I also had the chance to enjoy various Swedish festivals and explore the beautiful surroundings of Lund.
During my stay, I was invited to several master’s thesis presentations. These events were particularly inspiring and provided valuable insights into how I should approach my own thesis and presentations in the future. Towards the end of May, I traveled to Italy and had a wonderful time with friends from my college who were also part of the exchange program in Italy.
I am sincerely grateful to the management of Jigme Namgyel Engineering College, Royal University of Bhutan, for providing this incredible exchange opportunity. This experience allowed me to explore and learn beyond the borders of Bhutan, and it has been profoundly enriching both personally and academically.
Shaja Gyeltshen
Jigme Namgyel Engineering College
By Öresund in Malmö