STOCKHOLM // DAY 1
I am very excited for this trip. For one, the group is being led by Eva, an architecture professor who I've not yet had but everyone seems to love, and Sophie, my LLC coordinator and friend. We took a train to Stockholm early in the morning.
It became immediately evident to me that this trip was to be far more relaxed than the Germany/Switzerland tour I had been on last semester. Every day, we had an hour or two of free time to explore the city we were in-- a luxury on an otherwise rigidly scheduled trip with 22 other students. We began by wandering through Gamle Stan, the oldest part of the city, where some alleyways were narrow enough that even I could reach out and touch the walls of two buildings at once, My favorite activity on the first day, though, was the Fotografisk Museum, which Karen had suggested I visit. The artworks there were incredibly varied, and I'm really glad I went, despite being very tired after dinner.
STOCKHOLM // DAY 2
It was not until the second day that I got a better sense of Stockholm's layout, though I still do not have a very good sense of the city; it is scattered along quite a few islands, connected by ferry-ways, but lacking in easy public transport between them.
In my free time I visited the Moderna Museet. They have an extensive collection of works by Duchamp, which made me incurably happy, as well as a special retrospective exhibition on the work of Marina Abamovich. It was very interesting to see how her work has evolved over the years. The most current piece on display was an interactive exhibit where visitors were invited to sit down at a table to sort and count grains of rice and lentils, paying no mind to the passage of time. I sat and counted all the rice I lay before me, even as the rising anxiety in the back of my mind told me I was using my precious free time. It was a good exercise.
I of course stayed longer in that museum than my friends who moved onto another nearby, but I still had time to visit the ABBA museum my roommates had raved about. I tried taking the ferry, which first took me to the wrong island, but I had the good sense not to get off and was right in predicting it would take me to the correct stop next. I was a bit low energy when entering the ABBA museum (and feeling a little bit lame for going all by myself) but the exhibition begins with a video montage of concerts, interviews, and music all blended together in a whirlwind of bright colors and lights and spandex that really hypes visitors up, as if they are about to see ABBA live in concert. Then, the museum takes you through the journey of their international success, starting with their fame in Sweden before the famed performance of Waterloo at Eurovision, which won Sweden the competition and launched ABBA's international career. We had actually discussed ABBA, Eurovision, and the Stockholm music scene in my business class, so it relevant and possibly educational.
That night, we went to a bar/restaurant in the metro station (???) that was really delicious and also featured bocce ball courts which was all played together. DIS really came through. My team lost the first round but won the second, so it was all around a good time.
STOCKHOLM + TURKU // DAY 3
In the morning, we visited a beautiful library. It was curved, so that standing in the middle room you were surrounded by books in every direction.
In the afternoon we went to the Woodland Cemetery. The natural landscape was beautiful. The birches were so calm and still, their white bark shining like bones in the sunlight. The chapels there were rather underwhelming. The best though, was the path on the way out. I wondered how many tears had fallen on that path, giving life to the tiny plants coming up through the gravel. The theme of life to death and life again, was evident to me in this.
In the evening was the ferry from Stockholm to Turku. Like the Fins, the majority of us stayed up dancing and laughing all hours of the night. I think I slept for an hour, maybe two, before the crew banged on the door to wake us up at 7:30, an hour past the time we were supposed to be at breakfast. I took 5 minutes to change my pants and brush my teeth before heading to the bus, all the while mistakenly believing that I may get left on the ferry. The crew is smarter than that though-- they ensure all rooms are empty and all passengers unloaded before leaving again for Stockholm.
HELSINKI // DAY 4
The visit to the first chapel was a bit rough, to say the least, more from lack of sleep than anything else. Grace sat down to play the piano and lulled most of us to sleep, and now exists an iconic photo of myself and a few others propped up agains the wall and fast asleep.
We visited another chapel, and a sanitarium designed by Alvar Alto, before getting free time to wander the city of Helsinki. I of course went the the Modern Art Museum in my free time, and then to a book store designed by Alvar Aalto just with Amy. We goofed off there for a while, and then wandered some more until we were too tired, and then returned to the hostel.
HELSINKI + ESPOO // DAY 5
This was the day we visited my favorite chapel, the Myyrmaki Kirke, a bit outside of the city. The interior was lots of white wood, making the space feel light and open-- very much unlike the heavy solemnity of so many churches I have visited. Gone was the weight of heavy ornamentation and an omnipresent Father. Instead, dozens of floating lamps gave the space a glowing spirituality I much prefer. I felt revitalized.
Today we had the most free time, so I spent it visiting the Rock Church which was very unique, but something about the way the interior was designed made it feel fake. I don't really know how else to explain it. It was like I couldn't really imagine a real mass going on there-- the architecture was too distracting. It would be like trying to have mass in a cave, or a forest-- there is an awful lot going on to distract you, visually, and from the general atmosphere of the place.
Later, we went to Espoo, about an hour from Helsinki, to visit an elementary school, which was honestly more impressive than my entire college, and another modern art museum. The main thing I remember is that there was a table with this magic kinetic sand and we all spent forever there being silly together. Sometimes it is hard to remember that we are all 20-22 year olds.
In the evening we went to the Main Event which was a magical sauna in the middle of the woods. We had dinner before the women split off from the men to use the sauna first. The building is located next to a lake, and the idea is to stay in the sauna until you are too hot and then jump into the hole cut into the frozen lake, and then rush back to the sauna again. I only did it twice, both times with Amy. I actually was really really nervous in anticipation for all of this, but once I did it i realized it was not nearly as difficult as I had envisioned. I felt refreshed and strong. Afterwards, we got dressed and sat around a campfire and discussed climate change and design with the Sauna owner.
HELSINKI // DAY 6
The last day of a wonderful week. Bittersweet. We visited the Alvar Aalto house and studio. I had studied the buildings a bit, but the guided tour detracted from the experience a bit. It is pretty incredible how prevalent his design is here in Helsinki-- it is cool to see the city have such a strong and consistent design identity, but I think the shadow Aalto casts can be intimidating, and may make it difficult for upcoming designers in Helsinki. We had some more free time before we had to get home, so I visited a vintage furniture shop, as well as some small boutiques.
Then it was time to leave. I was exhausted and elated. This really was the best trip I had been on at DIS-- a perfect balance of structure and free time, super chill tour leaders, and an amazing group of fellow students all helped to shape this experience into something I will never forget.
It was sad to say goodbye at the airport and start stepping back into real life. I really bonded with the people here though, and I'm looking forwards to spending time with them here in Copenhagen!
In 2 days, Erin comes to visit, and in 3, Rebecca arrives. I cannot wait to see my best friends!!!!!