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Second Chances
In Lund, the Opportunities of a Lifetime

by Priscilla Lau, UC Berkeley

In the movie "Sliding Doors," Gwyneth Paltrow either makes it onto the subway or misses it by a few seconds. Who would have guessed how different life could be by an action as simple as catching the tube? Do you ever wonder where you would be if you had taken the "other road?" How much of your fate do you believe you are in control of? What are your goals in studying, living, and traveling abroad? Where are you now?

Living in Lund, Sweden
There were a number of facets I deeply appreciated about living in Lund, a small town of about 100,000 people. This includes the relaxed lifestyle in Lund--waking up without an alarm clock, the lax organization of classes and tests, having time to eat breakfast leisurely, living in a town versus a big city like Los Angeles, riding a bike around town, having time to “Fika” (has to do with eating), riding horses, having my own bathroom and bedroom, the list is endless.

Then there's the social life--nations galore (special to student life in Lund), parties, sittings, outdoor activities, and dances. The people I met--international and Swedish--and the conversations I had with them deeply moved me, even to this day. This includes a Bohemian who aspires to be in a circus and plays with fire, a British model, a friend who hitch-hiked all around Canada, friends who are getting married, the former director of a homeless shelter in New York, and a photographer who was at the Tiananmen Square Massacre in China. People never cease to amaze me. There’s something to learn from every person.

Even though I am no longer in Sweden I am still learning about another culture, my own culture. Sweden helped me see every day things in a new perspective and I am learning more about myself every day. In Sweden, I learned to live life as a minority, teaching and learning from others, experiencing new things by myself and with others. I was surrounded by open-minded, knowledgeable, friendly people from all parts of the world.

I pursued opportunities and interests I’d never made time for before, such as writing, working at a "disco," being part of a Swedish dance troupe, dog-sledding, driving a snowmobile in Kiruna, eating Reindeer meat, seeing the Northern Lights, driving to Germany and going to an Oktoberfest, rock climbing, falling into a lake in Gothenborg (while kayaking), going to a ball like the Gotiska Festen in the fall. These are the adventures and stories I will tell my grand kids.

During my second semester at Lund, I picked up some Swedish and learned how to make tortillas and bread from scratch, on top of learning how to bake and cook (so many foods in America are pre-made). Being in Sweden/Europe helped me appreciate the simple things in life, and the not-so-simple spontaneous opportunities in life such as taking risks and testing myself in sometimes awkward situations (such as travelling by myself).

Choosing to Study Abroad
Studying abroad presents so many opportunities to grow, learn, experience, act, touch, and do. In my case, it was a left bike turn instead of a straight one that led me to my extension and second semester in Lund. Who knows what life would be like back in California if I had returned as planned. What I would be doing and feeling? One thing is for sure, I will never regret or wonder "What if I stayed another semester?" Second chances are hard to come by, if at all. I'm happy with my encounter with fate and living for the moment.

Take your chances and embrace the opportunities because time is fleeting.

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