me ->
I’m Colin – a junior studying English Literature at Furman University.
I’m (recently) 21 years old and a native of Atlanta, GA, where I spent the first 18 years of my life. Maybe it’s a product of my upbringing, but I’ve always considered myself more of a city person than rural/nature person. I love the spontaneity that cities foster and the liveliness of my home of Atlanta. Living away from Atlanta makes me reminisce of frequent Waffle House visits, studying with friends in our favorite coffee shop (Dancing Goats Coffee Bar), going to the occasional Braves Game but not keeping up with baseball outside of that tradition, and getting late night dessert at Cafe Intermezzo. At the age of 18, I packed my bags and moved to Greenville, SC, where I attend Furman
University and study English Literature. Academically, writing has always been my first love. I like that it’s a consistent challenge – words can be endlessly combined, so in theory, there’s no way to master the art of writing. To me, it feels like a science with a creative product (a written work that you can be proud of) and a practice that activates both sides of your brain. At Furman, I am the incoming Editor-in-Chief of our student newspaper, The Paladin. Upon returning from Stockholm, I look forward to leading the publication and seeing how it evolves under new management.
While I love Furman – its beautiful landscaping, close-knit and supportive student body, and its proximity to the blossoming city of Greenville – I decided to study abroad because I’m ready for a change. Admittedly, I applied to study in Stockholm because of its Google Images, which showcased a combination of historic and modern architecture, colorful and quaint alleyways, and an art-filled subway system. But my course choices at DIS have proven uniquely Scandinavian in nature (see my Vikings and Power core course and Scandinavian Fashion Workshop exploratory elective), so I look forward to using this blog as a means of internalizing my immersion into Swedish culture through writing – a medium suited for that goal. Follow along as I reflect on lessons learned, encounters unexpected, and favorite Fika spots (in a section called Fika Fridays). I hope this blog inspires you too to take the leap of faith of studying abroad! I have a hunch that it’s worth it.
Happy reading,
Colin
abrakeabroad.wordpress.com 