The Ume River flows into the Gulf of Bothnia, and its delta isn’t far from the city – you can even explore it by bike.On a beautiful sunny weekend afternoon, I got on a regional bus to finally go and…
Umeå is already quite close to the Earth’s North Pole, so the northern lights (aurora borealis) are a frequently observable phenomenon in winter. However, short-term visitors will need quite a bit of luck, as several conditions must align for the…
The Old Town Hall is one of the few iconic buildings in downtown Umeå, located near the riverbank of the Ume River (Umeälven). Due to frequent devastating fires, this is the third town hall in the city’s history. It was…
Cross-country skiing is a popular sport in Umeå—it’s common to see people carrying skis through the city, heading toward the trails in the parks and around the lakes. Back home, I used to go skiing once a year, but I…
For example, while the British are devoted to their five o’clock tea, Americans to their weekend brunch, and Swedes to their own “enhanced coffee break.” The fika (pronounced: fee-ka) traditionally takes place around 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM, when colleagues…
Finding housing in Sweden is difficult, and homebuyers can face a waiting time of decades to acquire property. In Umeå, as far as I know, there are two real estate companies with a kind of monopoly when it comes to…
Back home, winter skipped the season this year due to lack of interest—but in Umeå, the Christmas atmosphere is guaranteed all winter long. It’s not uncommon for up to 70 cm of snow to fall in a single day, leaving…
Since February 2023, I’ve been working as a postdoctoral researcher at Umeå University (pronounced “Ümeo”). I’m continuing my work under the mentorship of Gerhard Gröbner, in close collaboration with the group of Magnus Wolf-Watz. My choice was clearly influenced by…