Sandhamn Journey Photos and Text by Rachel Miletti

Just to introduce myself, my name is Rachel Miletti, and I am here in Stockholm with my mother, who is developing the curriculum for Think Global School. Besides the fact that I wish I were two years younger so I could attend a school like THINK Global, I am really impressed with the way students are going to learn. I am reminded a bit of my experience growing up overseas, attending three different international schools, and meeting students from around the globe. So, while I cannot attend, I did get this fantastic opportunity to be here in Stockholm and participate in the various activities my mother is researching for the school. I am a kind of guinea pig, trying everything out and giving a teen’s perspective on the experiences.

A Teen’s View

To date, I am giving THINK Global the thumbs up with its well-rounded, cultured program where students can take advantage of all the different learning available in each country. This is my blog post after a day’s outing to Sandhamn, one of the many islands in the archipelago. Now I wish I could come back in the summer!

In the quaint, small town of Sandhamn, I found an overwhelming amount of opportunities to practice my techniques and interest in photography and experience a small Swedish town. The few bushes, striking against the vast whiteness, are referred to as nypoon, which I later discovered can be cooked into a sweet soup.

In contrast to the colorful burst of the flowers, the hour-long boat ride to Sandhamn was through endless sheets of ice, which was fascinating to watch as the boat broke through it., shattering the ice into a million different pieces. It was strangely calming and disquieting at the same time to watch this from the warmth inside the cabin or the more blustery outdoors.

As the boat stopped on several islands along the archipelago, I saw each island’s distinctiveness and learned that each has its unique character.

With only 100 inhabitants in Sandhamn, the town’s people seemed to be very close, which was a pleasant contrast to large cities where most people are distant, rushed, and very preoccupied with their daily activities, which is typical of any city. For this reason, I enjoyed visiting this small town for its closeness, simple beauty, and secluded feeling. It’s a place I often wish I had when I feel the need to escape and release stress.

With very few restaurants on the island, there was only one open when we arrived, which was not surprisingly full. On such a traditional island, I had the opportunity to try real Swedish food, which in this case, consisted of potatoes and meatballs. As I suspected, it was delicious, and the people were warm and welcoming. Now I can imagine what Stockholm will be like in warmer weather.