My day in Rotterdam

Today was a really fun day. It started at 06:45 with a stern voice announcing that breakfast would be served in ten minutes. For once, I actually decided to go and eat, even though I usually just skip it and prioritize sleep instead. After breakfast, it was time for lineup, as always. Then came a three-hour-long morning lesson, which, like most of our classes lately, felt pretty intense, we have so many assignments and so little time left. Still, I managed to get a few things done.

I was especially excited to explore the city of Rotterdam. Unfortunately, I couldn’t leave the boat until 2 p.m., which was a bit of a disappointment. But the day turned out amazing anyway. Today was "Liberation Day," so the whole city was full of celebration. It felt so alive and you could sense the joy just by watching people. Hundreds of cyclists zoomed through the streets, and I couldn’t help but imagine how incredible it would be to live here.

My friends and I spent the first few hours wandering through the city, shopping, and enjoying each other’s company. As the sun started to set, we headed to one of the festivals celebrating the holiday. Thousands of people had gathered in a beautiful park with live music and endless food trucks. It was such a great time, even if it was a bit hard to keep the group together in the crowd. Unfortunately, we had to leave early to be back at the boat by ten, but that was okay.

What struck me most about Rotterdam is how much it reminds me of home. Everywhere I walk feels familiar. The architecture, the streets, the culture, the people and even the nature, it all reminds me so much of Gothenburg. It’s made me feel a bit homesick, to be honest. It feels surreal that this journey is coming to an end. In just over a week, I won’t be living with these people anymore. I can’t imagine how strange it will feel not to sleep in the same room as my best friends or not be just a door away from my classmates.

And when we’re all back at school the week after we arrive in Sweden, all of this will just be memories and funny stories to remind each other of. I can already hear the "remember when..." conversations we’ll be having at lunch.

I’m really looking forward to seeing my family and friends again. It feels like ages since I sat at the dinner table joking around with my sisters, or played with my dog, or even just hugged my parents. I know we haven’t even been out for a long time, but for some reason it feels like more has happened this past month than my whole life.

As you can probably tell, I have mixed feelings about going home. Mostly, it’s sadness about leaving this boat, and no longer constantly being around my friend and classmates, not constantly traveling and exploring new places. But we also have so much to look forward to back home. We’re all excited to return to green trees, warmer weather, and Swedish summer. Which is something no harbor city we’ve visited has quite matched. Except maybe this one.

Goodbye! Thank you for reading :)

Siri Glaser Bernhardson, Midships, NA2427