I’ve had the opportunity to live in three countries so far: Sweden, Belgium, and Finland. Each place has left its mark on me, offering lessons I didn’t expect and broadening how I see the world. Somehow, living abroad adds new colors to life, shades I never realized were missing.

Sweden: Rethinking How to Live and Learn

Sweden was my first taste of life abroad. It was more than a cultural shift for me, but it was also an entirely new way of approaching life. Back home, everything revolved around grades and achievement: success meant achieving high scores. But in Sweden, I learned that the journey matters just as much as the destination.

It wasn’t just about getting the right answer and high scores. It was about understanding how you got there. I spent hours building my reasoning, crafting arguments, and honing my critical thinking. Sweden taught me to value the process of learning over the end result, and that mindset has stayed with me ever since.

Then there was the workplace culture. Before Sweden, I often found myself in endless meetings that felt more like time-fillers than problem-solvers. You probably know the meme: “This could’ve been an email.” In Sweden, I discovered the art of effective workflows. Workdays were shorter, meetings were purposeful, and productivity soared without the burnout.

Sweden also introduced me to the beauty of work-life balance. Life wasn’t just about work or academics. It was about finding joy outside of those roles. People prioritized their identities as friends, partners, and community members over being just students or employees. It reminded me that at the end of the day, we’re all human, not job titles.

Most importantly, Sweden taught me the value of treating people with understanding. Whether it was offering support for mental health struggles or embracing imperfection, I learned to see others as humans first, not just colleagues or classmates.

Belgium: Moving Toward a Healthier Life

Belgium brought something unexpected into my life: a love for movement. As someone with a medical background, I knew all the benefits of exercise: better mood, sharper thinking, and stronger physical health. But knowing didn’t mean doing. That changed in Belgium.

A friend invited me to share a gym membership, and I hesitantly agreed. I thought my gym habit would just be a short-lived phase, but soon, I noticed the difference: better sleep, improved energy, and a happier state of mind.

Around the same time, I discovered a local YouTuber, Average Rob, whose videos celebrated sports and Belgian athletes. His videos gave me such a vibe to explore more. Belgium’s vibrant running culture became my playground. Every week, a new city hosted a running event, and the thrill of participating some of them pulled me in. Eventually, I even joined the Amsterdam Marathon, a milestone I never thought I’d achieve.

Belgium taught me to enjoy exercise and made movement an essential part of my life. Wherever I go now, staying active feels as natural as eating or sleeping.

Finland: Rediscovering the Gift of Nature

In Finland, I embraced nature in ways I hadn’t before. I walked through forests, lingered in green spaces, and found solace in simply being outdoors. I also started reading books about nature and life sciences, which deepened my appreciation for the world around me.

The Finnish skies—wide, clear, and full of stars—reminded me of how small we really are. Surrounded by the serene beauty of Finnish nature, my days have been graced by squirrels and hares darting through the trees, and fawns quietly crossing my path at sunrise. In the stillness of early mornings, I’ve encountered a fox gliding past me on my way to work. After long days, I’ve gazed up at the moon, perfectly aligned with distant planets, and felt a profound sense of gratitude for these fleeting wonders. Yet, this gratitude is tinged with sadness for those who have lost their connection to nature, and anger at the harm caused by our indifference.

Being here, I realized how special and fragile nature is. Finland has taught me to be thankful for it and to take better care of it. Nature isn’t just something we look at; it’s a part of us, tied to millions of years of human history. It’s something we need, not just nice to have. But today, nature often feels like a luxury. In many places, green spaces are hard to reach, and people pay for resorts to experience what should be free for everyone.

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Each country shaped a different part of me. Sweden taught me to think critically and live intentionally. Belgium showed me the joy of movement and the value of staying active. Finland deepened my connection with nature and reminded me of its irreplaceable beauty.

Living abroad is more than about seeing new places. It’s about growing in ways you never imagined, uncovering parts of yourself that only the journey can reveal.