Scandinavian Summer: Matthew Menon Reflects on Studying Abroad in Sweden and Norway

Every summer, NC State students enrolled in the NR 350: International Sustainable Resource Use program have the opportunity to travel across the Scandinavian region of Northern Europe to gain a global perspective on sustainability.

The program, which last from June to July, is held in collaboration with Purdue University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. It is co-led by Gary Blank of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at NC State.

Students enrolled in the program visit national parks, museums and other sites to engage with professional managers, policymakers and practitioners who provide insights about commodity production, conservation and the protection of natural resources.

As part of the most recent program, students visited Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Sites included the Royal National City Park, Söderåsen National Park, Havets Hus Aquarium, Stångehuvuds naturreservat, Norwegian Maritime Museum, and more.

Matthew Menon, a sophomore double majoring in environmental sciences and statistics, was among the group of NC State students to participate in the program this summer. We asked Menon about his experience. Check out the Q&A below.

Why did you choose to study abroad? 

I chose to study abroad because I am interested in using statistical methods and data science for environmental applications, and I knew I wanted to gain a global perspective on the primary issues surrounding the environment through a program such as study abroad. I am mainly interested in understanding matters surrounding the issue of global climate change, meaning studying how different areas of natural resources pertain to climate change while in Scandinavia was an incredible opportunity. As we traveled between cities in both Sweden and Norway, I was able to relate the issues of sustainable forestry, fishery and land management, and renewable energy usage back to climate change in new ways, as well as interact with the local cultures that were very different from what I was used to. In addition to these benefits, studying abroad was something I wanted to do in order to get out of my comfort zone and prove to myself I can do hard things. Now I can say I’ve officially left my home country for the first time, and brought back with me newfound confidence, independence, and adaptability through my time abroad.

What was your favorite part of the program? 

My favorite part of the program was definitely when we stayed in the Swedish city of Lysekil. We were only in the area for three nights, but I will never forget the larger than life granite formations that lined the coastline and the even larger islands lining the fjord that emptied into the North Sea. While in Lysekil, we visited the Stångehuvuds nature reserve, which was one of my favorite places to explore during the program. The granite that has been protected from the mining it used to endure now creates these unique shapes. Some areas are more jagged while others are smoothed over. Being able to hike all the way to the top of one of these formations and look out over the fjord or at the city was a sight to behold. 

What is a moment of your program that you will never forget? 

I will never forget the moment I stepped out of the train in Uppsala for the first time at the very beginning of my journey, walking out from the underground tunnel onto the city streets with my two suitcases in tow. The walk from the train station to the first lodging location was one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had. Being in another country for the first time and taking in all the new sights filled me with anticipation for what was to come. From the beginning I was already spotting many unique differences between the United States and Sweden, from the cobblestone pathways to the abundance of bikes.

What did you learn about yourself through this program? 

I learned that I am more than capable of overcoming my anxiety when it comes to engaging in new experiences. Leading up to and in the beginning of the program, I was extremely nervous and unsettled about being out of the country for the first time. However, over time I began to get better about managing my emotions about being abroad. By the end of my study abroad experience, I left with a newfound confidence for having new experiences, and I’m sure the next time I leave the country won’t be nearly as nerve-racking because of that.

Were you surprised by anything during your time abroad? 

I was surprised by many things while I was abroad, one being how all decisions related to natural resource use have many social, scientific, economic and political factors. These all play a huge role in how these important decisions are made, which I learned a lot about during my time abroad. Additionally, most of these decisions that are made do not have one “right” answer, as one might assume. For example, Norway is one of the largest exporters of oil due to its abundance off the country’s coast. However, this is a highly controversial practice, because despite Norway itself being a highly sustainable country, the exporting of oil to other countries still allows other countries to continue relying on this nonrenewable resource. The reason this issue is still ever-present to this day is because of how much Norway financially benefits from exporting oil. This is a prime example of a complex issue that involves many disciplines, with no single solution that satisfies all parties involved.

What new skills or information did you learn during your program? 

When it comes to skills, I had many opportunities to practice intercultural competencies while abroad. Through my interactions with experts in their fields from so many unique Scandinavian cities, I was able to practice effective communication with people from a variety of different backgrounds. This experience will support me greatly in the future when I’m tasked to collaborate with a diverse group of individuals. When it comes to information, I learned a ton about sustainability in Scandinavia, including forest and land management, renewable energy and coastal resource conservation. We were tasked to keep a sustainability journal for the entire duration of the program which I still have and can go back to see what I specifically learned each day of the program, and I think this will become a helpful resource in the future.

How did your study abroad experience prepare you for your future career? 

My study abroad experience prepared me for my future career because it gave me a greater sense of how we as a global society think of and treat the planet that we call home. From talking to foresters about how they manage their land to visiting many museums in Norway that presented the state of climate change and the country’s viking history, these experiences gave me a lot of opportunities to experience first-hand the environmental issues that are taught in the classroom. Since I’d like to use my majors in statistics and environmental sciences to explore how data science and statistical methods can be used to aid in understanding environmental issues such as climate change, being able to experience how climate change intersects with so many natural resource matters was an incredible opportunity.

What advice would you give to students considering studying abroad for the first time? 

First, I’d suggest doing your research on what study abroad programs are out there. There are many semester and summer programs to choose from provided by NC State, as well as other programs provided by affiliate and third-party organizations. Once you identify a potential program of interest, it’s important to reach out to the contacts for that program to get more information as to what that program entails. This contact can also put you in touch with others who have already completed the program in the past in order to get a student perspective on the experience. Once you decide on a program and get accepted, it can feel daunting to know that a study abroad experience may be upon you. However, I think these experiences are really important as they help us get out of our comfort zones and experience new people and places. No matter what study abroad program you choose to pursue, just know any experience will be a memorable one.