As we reflect on our time abroad now that our group members are back home (or currently on an airplane!), we looked at the 17 sustainable development goals created by the United Nations. At first it was overwhelming: with so many goals, how could the pictures of our time abroad encapsulate one of the goals and our ideals for our future? Upon extensive reflection, we thought our pictures best reflected goal 11: sustainable cities and communities. Diego, Avrami, and I studied in three European cities (Stockholm, Madrid, and Paris) each rich in their own culture. In our final post we will detail the efforts these cities go to to be sustainable and keep culture alive.

MADRID:

This is the last photo I took at Parque Retiro, the serene pond that can be found as you are mesmerized by the pure beauty and nature of the park.  I took this photo because this pond is off to the side of the park and by no stretch nowhere near the busiest part of the park.  The reflection one can see of yourself in the water is a parallel metaphor to an internal reflection of oneself.  During my stroll through the park where I eventually found the pond, I was able to  reflect on my time abroad and how the last semester has impacted my life culturally, mentally and most importantly how lucky I was able to have this abroad moment as part of my college experience. It gave me the opportunity to take a step back and soak in all the new encounters I was able to take part of.  I am able to reflect deeply in these spaces because the natural environment or settings such as this placid pond in Retiro creates this perfect spark where I can truly self-analyze and look deep into myself about specific events that have occurred in my life and to try and to find a deeper meaning rather than just living in that moment. Parque Retiro offers more than just its elegance, but rather an opportunity to do any kind of soul-digging.   

 

STOCKHOLM:

Over my semester, Sweden’s SL transit system raised my standards for all public transportation. As a student, I received a 4-month pass on all of Stockholm’s metro, tram, bus, and ferry lines–comprising the capital of Stockholm and its neighboring cities. I routinely boarded the Green and Red lines on my way to class or towards a new neighborhood of Stockholm–with the furthest suburb over one hour away! Compared to my experience in the US, the range and efficiency of the SL system has made it difficult to return to the limited and often-delayed CTA trains in Chicago. Nevertheless, even with a rail system as impressive as Sweden’s, a signal failure along the Green line left numerous transit-goers stranded on their morning commute (including myself…). The sheer amount of people clustering in line for the next bus shows just how reliant locales have become of the transit system in Stockholm for their everyday lives.

 

Medborgarplatsen is an area resting just outside the historical district of Stockholm. Although the highway connecting my suburb and Medborgarplatsen would typically prevent me from walking to the area, Sweden’s SL system made the trek both accessible and efficient. Although a number of subway stations in Chicago remain inaccessible, elevators and priority seating were available in every metro station or on every SL train, along with reserved room for strollers or wheelchairs. Whether rain, snow, or shine, I always found Medborgarplatsen animated with families, students, or anyone who cared to stop and eat their lunch out on a bench. In the winter, I watched a choir singing carols outside the library in the plaza to the left of the street in this photo. Several cafés, shops, bars, and restaurants lined the road to the right. Though all of these places would typically be inaccessible by foot, Sweden’s SL system creates a fully accessible city for all of Stockholm.

PARIS:

For my series of pictures I wanted to focus on the culture of Paris. Target 11.4 of SDG 11 is to “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.” France in general has taken extensive efforts to protect its culture. As much as people would like to think that the French are all about change and revolution as shown by the beheading of Marie Antionette and King Louis XVI, in reality the French are stubborn and hate change. When the finished Eiffel Tower was displayed in 1889, the French absolutely hated it. They thought it was an eyesore and thought it ruined the aesthetic of the city. Today, the tower is the main tourist attraction in the city and is widely celebrated. On my last day before I got on my flight for New York City, I visited the Eiffel Tower (twice). As I attempted (and failed) to take aesthetic selfies while the lights were sparkling, I thought about how one day I will take my mother to see the Eiffel Tower. She, along with many immigrant parents, sacrificed her whole life to provide for her children and as a result has not gotten a chance to explore the world. She has longed to see the Eiffel Tower and one day she will be able to see the staple of Parisian culture for herself.

 

For the first half of my study abroad experience I was overwhelmed by the language, the food, and just how different Paris looked compared to anything that I was used to. I tried to stay with what I knew and as a result, did not explore or try new things. It wasn’t until two weeks before I left that I realized I did not complete half the things on my bucket list and so I was on a race to finish it all. When my friends and I were deciding where to eat, I decided to look on reddit for some authentic French recommendations. I discovered this lively bistro in the first arrondissement that was surprisingly affordable. Instead of ordering my usual (steak or chicken) I decided to try the duck. And escargots! I was pleasantly surprised on how delicious it was and it was then that I understood why the French gastronomic meal was protected by UNESCO. France, along with Mexico, are the only two countries where the cuisine as a whole is protected by UNESCO as cultural treasures. The French oftentimes take hours to finish their meal and more than once I was seated at the table for over three hours wondering when dinner was going to end. Being back home, I miss the conversations I had with my friends as we sipped wine and cheese.

 

In a rush to complete my bucket list, I quickly left class and took the metro to the catacombs. The catacombs lie 20 meters underneath the city of Paris and it is an extensive network of millions of skulls from over 1,000 years. As I entered the catacombs, signs and personnel made it very clear that it was forbidden to touch the skulls to maintain respect and protect the site for future visitors. Only a small part of the catacombs is accessible to visitors throughout the tour. And yet as I walked through the narrow passageways that was weirdly wet at times, I couldn’t help but think of all the lives that lived before us, and all the lives that will live after us. Some of these skulls were alive during the crusades and the founding of the new world. These skulls are the ancestors of many modern day Parisians. It was mesmerizing to see how much the French care to protecting their dead and how significant this part of history is to their culture. When I visit Paris again, I will definitely be making another trip to the catacombs.