As my return to
Lund was so unbelievably surreal I think it deserves an entry all of its own.
The morning I returned to Lund would have to be the most bizarre day of my life so far. I know that sounds dramatic, but I truly have no words to describe the mixture of feelings and memories that filled my mind as I drove through the familiar cobbled streets, and arrived at the main train station – just down the road from my old house.
The first thing I noticed that was
Lund has a scent! I never noticed it when I lived there, but as I stepped off the bus I was hit with a scent so familiar and locked into my memory I was totally taken aback. The best way I can describe it is a mixture of spring pollen, bus exhaust, coffee and smoked meats… I know everyone is now in hysterical laughter, but Maxime, Mariéve, Pierre, Sarah, Caro, gang, you will notice it immediately if you ever return!!
When I arrived in Lund I walked straight to the Stadsbibliotek and found the Spanish sensation Elia, speaking amazing skånska, behind the counter of the café. It was a truly joyful reunion with a dear friend, as we immediately sat down for ‘fika’ and laughed and laughed about life, friends, family and the world.
As I had somehow managed to coincide my visit to Lund with Lundakarnevalen, a huge student festival that takes place over one weekend every four years, the city was buzzing with activity and people, despite absolutely dismal weather!!
(Karneval Öl anyone?)As it proceeded to rain steadily during my entire visit in Lund, any long walks around the city and reminiscing needed to be cut dramatically short! Needless to say, I spent some time in my favorite shops, having fika at Mondo and generally trying to soak up the atmosphere without getting too soaking wet!!
I spent the first night at Ben’s, and got to relive the student corridor experience, complete with grotty kitchen cooking and many beers in front of the TV. Friday night and Saturday were spent checking out the carnival – all the various tents with bizarre concepts (Tango tent, Sex change tent, Swedish Idol tent, Mission Impossible tent etc etc), meeting the Lund Radio crew and drinking beer in the very festive pub tent!
(Lunch at ÖGs - Östgöta Nation) ('Byt Kön i Kon' - Change sex in line - OK, it's funnier in Swedish)
I also had lunch with my former thesis supervisor and mentor Annika. That was definitely a highlight of my visit, as we got to spend a few hours discussing the ‘big picture’ issues related to life, international development and politics. Annika is always a wonderful inspiration to me, and we think about things in a very similar way. It was great to have a good theoretical discussion about this work and internationalized structure I have been caught up in for the past year. For an afternoon, I was able to pull my mind out of the day-to-day Save the Children issues and think about the wider context of the international community at the moment.
(Botaniska Tradgarden, Swedish spring is glorious even in the rain, many good memories!)
Saturday evening was spent with Elia and Ĩngo, a very funny evening, with lots of gossiping, dancing at the carnival concert, deciding that a carnival full of lines and payments and fences was
not really a carnival, then salsa dancing in an apartment kitchen after seeing the line at Ariman was too long to wait…. And of course the obligatory Kebab from Mårtenstorget on the way home!!
(Karneval needs YOU!)
Revisiting this place and time in my life was an important experience for me.
Lund played a big part in shaping me as an adult, and was where I made some of my closest friends in the world. Living in
Lund gave me the opportunity to realize my full potential as a student and have the time to concentrate on the more peaceful side of life. I will forever remember my time in this city with fondness and nostalgia. However, after spending three days reliving the student life, I have come to the lovely realization that
Lund is not ‘my’ place anymore. I have grown past this experience and see that the things I have done and seen in the past three years have changed me so much that I am no longer suited to this place. It is now a glorious memory in my past, but does not hold my inspiration for the future….
With all of that said, I still look forward to a Swedish summer day when I can return and bike around the city and enjoy a piece of
Lund atmosphere again!
Lund: still a special place in the world; full of learning and promise and stability.
As my return to 
As I had somehow managed to coincide my visit to 
(Karneval Öl anyone?)
not really a carnival, then salsa dancing in an apartment kitchen after seeing the line at Ariman was too long to wait…. And of course the obligatory Kebab from Mårtenstorget on the way home!!
(Karneval needs YOU!)
