Travel has been one of my main interests for a long time, driven by curiosity about other people and cultures. I believe that the best way to understand different perspectives is to experience them firsthand, by meeting people, exploring nature and engaging with local cultures. At the same time, I am aware that travelling is not always sustainable, which makes me approach it in different ways.
Most of my trips have been within Europe, where I have often chosen to travel by train. This has become my preferred way of traveling, not only because it is more environmentally friendly than for example flying, but I have also learned that I often experience more. Traveling by train allows me to see the places I pass though and creates more opportunities to meet people along the way. In my experience it is both more rewarding and is inline with UN sustainable development goal 13.
However, the sustainable choices are not always easily accessible. In the northern parts of Sweden, where I currently study in Umeå, long distance trains and buses are limited and often expensive. The removal of night trains between Gothenburg and Umeå has also made the train travel less accessible, while flights are frequent and often cheaper. The northern part of Sweden also has a lot of sparsely populated areas so infrastructure such as public transport is limited. This makes it difficult to always choose the most environmentally friendly option. Infrastructure plays an important role in achieving the SDGs 13.
For my upcoming exchange in England, I will be flying due to practical reasons, as I will be traveling alone and need to bring a significant amount of luggage, because I want to bring everything I will need so I don’t buy anything I would need later, in alignment with SDGs 12. While I recognize the environmental impact of flying, I view this as a conscious compromise. During my exchange, I plan to rely on public transportation and cycling whenever possible. Having studied in Umeå, a city with well-developed cycling infrastructure, I have already developed habits that support a more sustainable lifestyle for example cycling and eating vegetarian, which I intend to continue abroad.
As a biotechnology engineering student I have studied a lot of chemistry and biology and have gained insight into how environmental challenges are closely linked to scientific processes. During my exchange I have the opportunity to study elective courses so I plan to take a course in sustainability, which I hope will allow me to further connect my scientific knowledge with sustainable development and real world applications, particularly in relation to climate action and responsible resource use.
I also believe that international exchanges are important not only for academic growth but also for cultural understanding and global awareness. These experiences then contribute to a more inclusive and informed perspective which is essential for addressing global challenges. So I hope during my exchange to get new experiences and learn more about our world.
