Sarah Cheong

MY JOURNEY

My name is Sarah, and I’m in my fourth year at SFU Beedie, concentrating in marketing. For my study abroad semester, I studied at Lund University in Sweden. 

I chose to go on exchange because I had never been to Europe and was especially interested in the Scandinavian countries. Sweden stood out to me—and not going to lie, ABBA being from Sweden didn’t hurt either. 

Before arriving, I didn’t know much about Lund. It’s very much a student town, close to Malmö and about four and a half hours from Stockholm. I knew it would be cold, but I definitely wasn’t prepared for just how cold it actually was. 

MY SFU BEEDIE EXPERIENCE ABROAD

I lived in the International Corridor, where I was surrounded by other exchange students. Everything was close by, and I really loved the campus and overall environment. 

A typical day was pretty relaxed. I’d wake up, have a cup of tea, then head to class—usually from 10 to 12. After class, I’d grab fika with classmates—which is coffee and a cinnamon bun—before heading back to the dorms to cook together. We quickly became close friends, spending time together through movie nights, potlucks and nights out. 

The community I built there really defined my experience. I met people from all over the world, and those friendships made being in a completely new place feel comfortable. 

HIGHLIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS

Travel was a huge part of my exchange. I visited Norway, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, France, Estonia, the U.K., Italy, Austria, Germany, Spain and Portugal. One of the most memorable moments was seeing the Northern Lights in Narvik, Norway. 

All of my travels were with friends I met on exchange. We built a close‑knit group and were constantly planning trips together. Being in Europe made everything feel accessible, and I was able to experience so many different cultures in a short amount of time—which I valued a lot. 

WHY STUDY ABROAD

Going on exchange pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best way. It’s not just about where you go—it’s about the people you meet and the perspective you gain. 

If I had stayed home, I wouldn’t have had the chance to connect with such a diverse group of people or experience life in a completely different environment. Taking that step on my own helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect and gave me a much broader view of the world.