Fika fika?

Hi everyone! My name is Rachel and I am BPE sophomore currently studying abroad at NYU London. The past month in Europe has been absolutely surreal. Not only have I gotten the chance to explore wonderful places all over the UK like Brighton, Manchester, and Oxford, but I've also travelled to Paris, Stockholm and Brussels with my friends.

Re: the title of this blog post, Fika is a Swedish term most commonly translated as "coffee and cake break". However, beyond a simple coffee break, Fika embodies the spirit of socialization and rest that are important qualities of Swedish culture. No matter how busy the day is, Fika is a ritual that will not be foregone as people set out the time to take a break in their day and socialize with others over food.

This came as a surprise to me when I visited Stockholm just three weeks ago. The city itself is a modern, technologically advanced metropolis at the height of Scandinavian design and sophistication. I had expected life there to be fast paced and intense, just like New York and London. However, upon learning about their practice of Fika, it was obvious that the Swedish knew how to be highly functional while still enjoying the little things in life.

Fika as a daily ritual and as an attitude in life is something that I can really appreciate. It is in stark contrast with the typical New York/Stern culture that we have all come to embrace, willingly or not. It can be said, in the most blunt manner as possible, that our student lives are driven by a sense of a constant grind with the common belief that to rest is to fall behind. I hope that I can begin to incorporate Fika into my own life as I learn to enjoy the grind but also enjoy some guilt-free rest.

As Emerson once famously said, "Life is a journey, not a destination". So let us all enjoy the ride and have some Fika along the way!