青葱岁月

    By Qinzhe Zhu

       不久前，正在瑞典留学的朱沁哲同学赴瑞典首都斯德哥尔摩，在那里度过了一个难忘的假期。在回程的飞机上，她记录下了旅途中的见闻和心情点滴。现在就让我们跟随她的文字去品味一下这个冰雪覆盖下的童话世界吧！

 Farewell to Stockholm

    It had been several hours since the plane took off when I looked at the flight map on the television monitor and realized we were soaring above Russia, already miles away from Stockholm. I squirmed in my seat, my brain thronged with memories of Stockholm -- the food, my friends, even the restless nights. It dawned on me that I simply missed Stockholm too much. 

    One month ago I finally set foot in the capital of Sweden after years of waiting. When I stepped outside the subway station, it was already late Saturday night, with loads of young people flooding into the city center’s bars and clubs. I chose a road less traveled and was greeted by the quietness and emptiness of an old town.

    The saying that Stockholm is actually quite small turned out to be true. It is difficult to get lost in the city since there are  clear signs everywhere and it is easy to retrace one’s steps. The roads are narrow and on each side stand buildings that are typically no more than eight stories tall. Exquisite houses in classical styles decorate the streets. Tourists stroll and occasionally stop to take some snapshots while business people walk by hurriedly. The traffic always flows well, even during rush hour.

    I enjoyed so much of Sweden -- being surrounded by people from all over the world, bargaining with the fruit vendors in my clumsy Swedish, being treated as a guest in high-end department stores. Everything looked different, felt different. Although I could not afford to eat in the fancy restaurants or to live in the well-known Grand Hotel, Stockholm conquered me with its unstained beauty and the trip was more than worth the while.

    Those who have been to Sweden frequently complain about the weather in winter. The temperature dropped to 20 degrees below zero on the day I visited the Royal Palace. Roads were covered with heavy snow and the wind soared as I ploughed over the bridge. Every gust stung to the bone. I hid in a bookshop near the Palace and looked at it through the foggy windows. The edifice was massive and I felt insignificant in comparison. I was thrilled by the possibilities it contained within its brown walls.

    My short stay did not allow me to drink fully from Stockholm’s cup, but I will return soon. Until we meet again, Stockholm.