On a snowy day in February, about 10 years after they first met, Erildas Budraitis and Sharon Sagues returned to where it all began. Their first visit back to Lund was a wonderful trip down memory lane!
From Lund to London, via Mexico City and beyond, Erildas and Sharon’s love story is a reminder that some of the most meaningful connections begin when you least expect them.
The road to Lund
Erildas, originally from Lithuania, arrived in Lund in 2014 after completing his Bachelor’s degree at University of Leicester. He was looking for something different: a deeper, more reflective approach to media and communications. Lund University offered exactly that – less focus on business strategies, more on ethics, sustainability and the philosophy behind communication. Sharon, from Mexico, came to Lund University as an exchange student from Tecnológico de Monterrey during the autumn of 2015. Drawn by courses in social policy and societal responsibility (as well as a little encouragement from a childhood friend already in Lund), she packed her bags for Sweden, not knowing she was also about to meet the love of her life.
The first date
They first met in September 2015, by the Lund Cathedral. Erildas broke the ice immediately with a joking accusation: “Someone’s late!” Sharon was, though only slightly. And that moment became the beginning of an ongoing, affectionate debate that continues to shape their gentle, good-humoured teasing. What was meant to be a quick coffee turned into an eight-hour first date filled with deep conversations, a long walk, spontaneous dinner plans and a movie night. Something special they remember from day one is how easy everything felt.
Since they knew they only had four months together in Lund, they decided not to label anything. No big plans, no pressure, just spending time together and becoming close friends. Sharon’s life was in Mexico City, Erildas’ in Europe. Reality suggested this relationship was temporary. When Sharon left Lund in December 2015, they kept in touch. And nine months later, after Erildas finished his Master’s degree, he boarded a plane to Mexico City and stayed with Sharon and her family for two weeks. That visit quietly changed everything, yet their shared philosophy stayed the same: take it as it comes.
London calling
Life eventually reunited them in London. Erildas had landed a job there and not too long after that, Sharon was accepted into a Master’s program at the London School of Economics. They finally moved in together, finding a home just a ten-minute walk from both his work and her studies. Today, Erildas works as Head of Global Communications for Low Carbon Solutions at Equinor, shaping stories around decarbonisation and the energy transition across Europe and North America. Sharon works for Save the Children International, the world’s leading independent organisation for children, continuing her commitment to social impact and global responsibility.
In early 2020, they were married in Mexico City, surrounded by family and friends from all over the world, some of whom they first met during their time in Lund. That international community, born in a small Swedish university town, remains one of their most treasured gifts from their time in Lund.
A trip down memory lane
Looking back on their student days in Lund, it’s not one single moment they miss, it’s the whole experience. Living at opposite ends of the city (Sharon in a student corridor in Klostergården and Erildas in Norra Fäladen) taught them that Lund is, in fact, not flat. Something one quickly learns when cycling from the far south to the far north. Erildas fondly remembers Gerdahallen as a place where all generations came together, completely changing his view of what a fitness center could be.
They smile thinking about Kulturnatten, when a freshly crowned Eurovision winner, Måns Zelmerlöw, filled Stortorget with music, or the long evenings at Espresso House spent talking, laughing and playing games over coffee. This is something they deeply miss, as cafés in London typically close at 4 pm. Sharon also holds warm memories of her time flipping burgers at Blekingska nation, attending song-filled student galas, and exploring the surrounding area like the Ribersborgs Kallbadhus in Malmö.
Valentines for life
Though Lund initially felt small, especially compared to Mexico City, it turned out to be big in all the ways that mattered. It gave them memories, friendships, perspectives and a foundation that continues to shape their lives, their careers and their love.
This Valentine’s Day, Erildas and Sharon will be celebrating in Barcelona, where they will be attending Sharon’s sister’s graduation. We wish them well as their love story continues with each joyful chapter that has always been about curiosity, kindness and following love wherever it leads.
Text: Gunilla Carlecrantz
A big thank you to Erildas and Sharon for sharing their story!
And Happy Valentine’s Day to all our alumni! ❤️
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