In Northern Europe, just a short journey in any direction can provide a completely different cultural experience. Some of my favorite memories include grabbing pints in London’s lively, neighborhood pubs, “taking a fika” with friends in many of Stockholm’s delicious cafés, and hiking Molde’s dramatic peaks overlooking the fjords. The contrasts of the area are striking – in language, landscape, cuisine, and rhythm of daily life – yet the common thread that ties it all together is what I love most: an exceptional quality of life.