Adriana Hernandez
I came to Sweden for the first time in 2023. While I was visiting a friend in Copenhagen, I decided to take the train and explore Lund and Malm枚. I was excited about visiting Lund University as it was on my wish list of universities to study a master鈥檚 degree.
From the overwhelming Mexico City to cosy Lund
I imagined myself studying in Lund, but at that point, that seemed more like a dream than a real possibility, but life is unexpected and gives us surprises. Later that same year, I got accepted into an Erasmus Mundus Joint Degree to study my master's, where the second year happens to take place in Lund University.
I arrived in Sweden surrounded by friends and classmates from my Erasmus Program, so I would say that the initial struggles when moving to a new country weren鈥檛 extreme, except for the torture it was to find accommodation, especially without a personnummer or BankID.
Life after graduation in Sweden
However, the real journey and challenges started after I graduated, in summer 2025, when all my friends left Sweden, but I decided to stay and try my luck in the Swedish labour market. Which, let me tell you, has been quite an intense experience.
Suddenly, I found myself alone in a country I had just begun to understand. This period tested me in ways I hadn鈥檛 anticipated, including a somewhat long stay at the hospital, while managing everything in a new country and in a different language. Even with all the difficulties, I also found a lot of support.
Building a home away from home
My turning point came when I found Social Hub, a local organisation that works towards community engagement for international in Lund. I had the opportunity to join them as an intern and had a first taste of working in Sweden. Through this experience, I started building a real sense of community and belonging. One highlight of this experience was to participate in a Dia de Muertos celebration, a festivity very close to my heart, where I even had a brief interview on Swedish television, where I got to share a piece of home in my Sweden.
I admit that the journey can be bittersweet sometimes, but at the same time, there are many resources and opportunities to help you go through the process. I found the International Citizens Hub Lund, where I participated in their Kick-Start Program, and I even participated in a podcast with them. Slowly but steadily, I have started expanding my network. I joined the Mitt Livs mentoring program and traveled to Gothenburg to meet my amazing mentor in person. Very recently, I started a new adventure as a research intern at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute on a topic that I feel passionate about: climate justice. I also joined Circle Center Lund as a Board Member, keeping myself involved in the community and taking all the learning opportunities I can get in Sweden.
Lessons from my journey
Even with the harsh winter, I've learnt to appreciate the little sun I can catch each day and wait excitedly for warmer, longer days, whilst also embracing the cosiness of the darker months.
My advice to fellow internationals? Come with open eyes and an open heart. Be ready to explore new things and embrace cultural differences. Sweden offers countless opportunities to participate, learn, and connect. Yes, the job search can be challenging, but the support systems and communities are here; you just need to reach out and be willing to try something new.
/Adriana Hernandez
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