Both the European Music School Research and ISME conferences that I attended last year had sustainability as their focus topic, which means I’ve spent a significant amount of time thinking about that and the many possible interpretations of the term. So, it felt natural to try out sustainable travel to go to a conference that takes place relatively close by (765 km between Helsinki, Finland and Hurdal, Norway).

Writing this on my way back, somewhere between Oslo and Stockholm, I find it hard to avoid all the clichés about slow or sustainable travel. It sounds cheesy, but I really do agree that it’s about the journey, not just the destination. Although, in my case, the destination was definitely important too: attending the NNRME conference was a great experience in many ways beyond just the method of transport. But now I understand where the saying comes from, and I find that slow travel gives the trip a completely different feel. I’d even go as far as to say that it adds another layer to the experience, as the journey becomes meaningful in its own right, not just a way to get somewhere. 

Even though I didn’t get to spend much time outdoors in either Sweden or Norway, the boat and train ride offered something else: a chance to see the buildings change along the route, to experience different landscapes, and to notice how early spring progresses in these surroundings within just six days. It also gave space for good conversations–ones we would otherwise have little time for–with my dear colleagues from the doctoral seminar, Hanna and Mikko.

Sustainable travel = ethical travel?

Talking about my chosen method of transport seemed to invite apologetic responses from several people, who mentioned various reasons for not being able to spend that much time or money on travelling, despite their appreciation for the idea behind it. I don’t think I’m on any sort of moral high ground for making this decision, nor am I some kind of martyr for spending four days travelling when I could’ve done it in a couple of hours. 

Honestly, it was just a mix of curiosity, an adventurous mindset, and the idea that I could still work along the way. And importantly, as environmental sustainability in travel is often the opposite of economic sustainability, this trip wouldn’t have been possible without financial support from the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. Since getting that kind of funding is competitive, I’m very aware that while my application was successful, someone else’s was not. That raises a whole other question concerning cultural projects: is more culture (or more funded projects) better than fewer projects that are ethically or environmentally considerate? 

While I don’t have an answer to that question, I can say that I truly enjoyed every moment of the past week, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to choose a more sustainable option. The timetable for this trip gave me enough time to rest properly at night, which meant I arrived at the conference feeling refreshed and ready to engage, rather than running on a few hours of sleep and just trying to get through the first day. I am not saying this is the only way to travel, but it is one I will definitely consider again. And who knows–maybe I’ll see some of you on the way next time.