Chloe Huang's Study Abroad Experience in Stockholm

For Chloe Huang (BFA ​’27), three weeks in Stockholm, Sweden, weren’t just about earning credits: the experience was about rediscovering what it means to see, create, and live with intention.

As part of the DIS Summer Program, Chloe enrolled in Storytelling through Photography, eager to expand on what she’d learned in her introductory photo class back at Stamps. It was her first time traveling abroad without her family, and this time the planning was entirely in her hands, from researching the program to navigating a new city solo.

Discovering a City of Light, Design, and Balance

Having grown up in New York City, Chloe was no stranger to urban living, but was quickly amazed by how safe and accessible Stockholm felt. Children rode the subway alone, bikes shared the roads respectfully, and nearly every detail seemed to reflect Sweden’s deep commitment to quality of life. She quickly learned that this sense of care extended beyond the city.

Lessons from the Archipelago

One of Chloe’s favorite memories took place on a ferry ride to Grinda, one of Stockholm’s sun-soaked archipelagos. Surrounded by water, forests, and open skies, she felt a deep sense of peace, something she hadn’t realized she’d been missing. She and her friends spent the day walking along trails, feeding barn animals, and watching the light change across the horizon.

Having grown up surrounded by concrete, this kind of closeness to nature felt transformative. In Sweden, being outdoors wasn’t something people made time for, it was woven into daily life. That realization stayed with her, inspiring a desire to build more balance into her own routines and creative process.

Storytelling Through Connection

Through her photography assignments, Chloe learned to engage with her environment in new and sometimes uncomfortable ways. One of the most memorable projects, Portrait of a Stranger, challenged her to approach and photograph someone she didn’t know. At first, she hesitated, aware that the Swedish community is more socially reserved, but she and her partner eventually connected with an employee at Patagonia who shared her dream of merging art and visual merchandising. That encounter became a turning point in Chloe’s understanding of storytelling, not just through images, but through human connection and empathy.

Finding Stillness in Fika

Sweden also taught Chloe the art of slowing down. She fell in love with fika, the Swedish ritual of taking time each day to enjoy coffee, pastries, and conversation. Her most memorable fika took place at her professor’s home during their final critique. Rain fell softly outside as the class gathered around kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) and cardamom pastries, a student playing piano in the background.

The stillness, warmth, and quiet joy of that moment has stayed with Chloe, reminding her that creativity thrives not only in ambition but in rest and reflection.

Growing Beyond the Classroom

At first, homesickness hit hard. Traveling without her family was new territory, and loneliness crept in during the first few days. But by building small routines like grocery shopping, cooking, and journaling, Chloe found her rhythm. She also made sure to explore, visiting Stockholm’s sleek design shops and taking a spontaneous weekend trip to Vienna, where art and history filled every corner.

Back home at Stamps, Chloe carries those lessons forward, an awareness that good design is thoughtful, inclusive, and rooted in care. Her time in Sweden strengthened her creative voice, but it also gave her something even more valuable: a sense of balance and belonging in her own story.

Advice for Future Travelers

For students considering studying abroad, Chloe’s advice is simple: embrace the uncertainty. Feeling nervous or homesick is part of the process but so is growth, friendship, and self-discovery. ​“Have plans, but stay open,” she says. ​“Sometimes, the best memories are the ones you never planned at all.”

Learn more about Study Abroad opportunities at U‑M’s Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design.