An Unexpected Adventure

Hi! My name is Hedvig, I’m 25 years old and from Norway. I grew up in a small town just outside Oslo. But over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to live and study in several different places. I’m currently doing a master’s degree in Screen Cultures at the University of Oslo, and for this semester, Munich will be my new home. My studies have taken me on quite a few adventures already. During my bachelor’s degree, I studied Media, Aesthetics and Cultural Entrepreneurship at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. I’ve also spent a year in the United States during high school and a semester in Venice, Italy. These experiences have made me realise how much I enjoy living abroad, meeting new people, and discovering new cultures. I was originally planning to spend my erasmus in Stockholm, and I was excited about returning to Sweden. But because I am also doing an internship that extends into this semester, my university suggested Munich as an alternative, since the semester starts later than it does back home in Norway. This meant that I could complete the internship and still go on exchange! 

I am currently doing my internship remotely at MUNCH, a museum in Oslo, in the Department of Research and Innovation. My work involves projects exploring the relationship between AI, art and ethics within a museum context. I also take part in user testing and feedback sessions, helping evaluate and improve digital and interactive experiences for visitors. It’s a great opportunity to explore how technology can shape the way we experience art and culture.

Moving to Munich was therefore a somewhat unexpected decision, but I’m really glad I took the opportunity. This is my first time in Germany, and I arrived with very few expectations and without doing much research beforehand. Since I study Screen Cultures and work in a museum, I’m especially excited to explore Munich’s cultural scene. I’m looking forward to visiting museums and galleries, discovering independent cinemas, and seeing how art and film are part of everyday life here in the city. I’m also curious to experience how German culture differs from the places I’ve lived before. Having lived abroad several times, I know that some of the best memories often come from spontaneous plans and new connections.

I already have lots of plans for the months ahead! I’m spending Halloween weekend visiting friends in Edinburgh, and I definitely want to take a trip to Berlin to explore its famous art, film, and cultural scene. I am also looking forward to December in Munich, especially the Christmas markets and trying seasonal food and drinks. Before heading home for Christmas, I just hope to experience as much of Munich as possible. While I am home, I will meet up with friends, spend some time with family, and go on a ski trip in Sweden before welcoming the new year.

I’m really excited to see what this semester brings. I may not have planned to end up in Munich, but sometimes the unexpected adventures turn out to be the best ones.