Mastering the Art of Fika
Niamh Hitchmough is a second year English student and our official International Correspondent for FalWriting. She has written before about her experiences getting ready for Erasmus abroad in Sweden and now she shares her experience of the first few weeks there.
When in doubt, Fika!
Denmark has hygge, Holland has gezellig, we simply have cosy, and Sweden has fika.
These words have come to embody the heart of each country’s culture, and I have come to know the latter incredibly well over the last few weeks of my study abroad.
Simply put, fika describes a catch-up with a small group of friends, with or without coffee and a cinnamon bun. But almost always with coffee. It describes that warm feeling you get when you’re laughing and having fun with friends – the very essence of fika. It is such an intrinsic part of everyday life for Swedes that many actually designate a specific time in their work schedule for a coffee and fika break.
Since being in Sweden, I have honestly lost count of how many times I’ve had fika. Whether alone or with my friends, I always make time for a relaxing cup of coffee and, if I’m feeling particularly sugar-hungry, a cinnamon bun (or kanelbulle, in Swedish). Not only has this daily ‘ritual’ strengthened my bond with the friends I’ve grown to really cherish on my study abroad, but it has also had huge benefits on my mental health. The act of taking time out of my busy schedule to rest clears my mind and helps me focus on the rest of my day.
Settling in
When trying to settle into a new place, the best starting point is always to immerse yourself in the culture as much as you can. Try to learn the language, listen to their music, watch their movies and, most importantly, explore. Yes, there will be times when the cultural differences will be a huge shock to the system, but you’ll be a natural before you know it.
The biggest shock to me so far has definitely been the language barrier. Contrary to popular belief, Swedes don’t actually talk like the Swedish Chef in the Muppets (admittedly something I watched before coming here). I remember my first time taking public transport and being terrified that I was going to miss my stop because I couldn’t understand a word that the intercom was saying, but over the course of my time here I’ve mastered the transport system. It’s a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
Being the only British exchange student here, it took me a lot longer to settle into the swing of things than most people who came here with friends but, in a way, I actually prefer it that way. It’s given me the opportunity to branch out and make more of an effort to meet people from all corners of the world; I’m not confining myself to the same culture that I chose to get away from for a semester.
All in all, these past few weeks have been some of the best of my life so far, and I’m not even halfway through yet. I’ve learned a lot about the country I can now proudly call my home away from home, as well as things about myself that I never would have known had it not been for this experience. I hope that for at least some of you reading this post, it has given you even more courage and inspiration to get out of your comfort zone and take the leap of faith that you’ve been contemplating.
And if someone ever asks you the question, ‘Want to have a fika?’ – the answer is always yes.
by Niamh Hitchmough