Ciao!

My first day in Italy: I've wanted to visit Italy for as long as I can remember. There is something so magical and enticing about Italian culture, food, and people. It was very convenient that I was able to tack on a week of vacation at the end of my Stockholm stint to explore a bit of Italy with Lauren. The romantic, glorious Italian vision didn't exactly capture me at first sight, though. Well, in order to start my Italian voyage I first flew to Heathrow, where I spent an hour going through security and customs even though I was coming in from a connecting flight. Super fun. The flight to Rome was actually quick and painless and we found our express train quite easily that would take us to Rome Termini, so we could switch trains to Naples. After throwing our 50 pound bags up the steps to board the train, we then had to find a place to store them. The small overhead luggage racks were made for laptop cases and the walkways were tiny. And we quickly realized that people just continue to push by you, even if there is really no space to do so. The fact that I was trying to maneuver my luggage must give people the right to not care and just run me down. It was a good thing I hadn't learned any bad words in Italian yet. Then we got to Rome Termini and had to find the train to Naples. Easier said than done. After riding up and down on the putrid elevator twice due to bad signs and confusion, we found a ticket window where an incredibly rude Italian ungraciously helped us buy a ticket. I schlepped my two bags up a steep flight of stairs and found the train. Lauren and I plopped into what we thought were our seats in a small cabin, and a kind person (finally) helped us put our luggage in the overhead rack. Five minutes later we realized we were wrong. The first clue was probably the fact that about six Indian guys tried squeezing into the area made for four people. Communication with them was definitely out of the question. And moving our bags to the right seats was nearly impossible when all six guys blocked the walkway. I don't think there is any air on public trains either. I tried opening a small window and a lady complained about being cold. The dripping sweat down my back just continued to drip. It was at this moment (when I was so hot I could scream) that I discovered I didn't have my jacket. Hmm...Yep, definitely left it under the seat on the flight from London to Rome. On the bright side, it was one less thing to carry and my sweaty back could use all the help it could get. Needless to say I would have paid 30 Euros for a shot of tequila at that moment. I'm also pretty sure that I caught some kind of virus from the guy that sneezed 19 times in a row from the seat across from me. After finally getting off the train two hours later (we accidentally boarded the train that took twice as long), we proceeded outside the terminal to find a taxi in the pouring rain. The cab driver quoted us 20 Euros to go 3 km and we were too tired to argue. Grazie. Welcome to Italy.

The rest of my time in Italy: ...was amazing! Despite the first day debacle, which makes for a funny story now, Lauren and I had a great time exploring and sightseeing. We were in Naples for three nights and saw the Pompeii ruins, the island of Capri, and the whole Amalfi Coast via a scary bus ride along the cliffs of the coastline. Then we spent three nights in Rome and toured the Colosseum, the ancient ruins, the Vatican museums, and took a day trip to Florence. I felt like my six days in Italy were only a taste, and I am hungry to go back again one day. And pretty hungry for more delicious seafood pasta and wine. We were never short on wine, that's for sure! Here are just a few pictures that can only hint at the beauty of Italy!

Pompeii.

Having a beer in front of a castle in Naples.

The island of Capri!

Positano on the Amalfi Coast.

Colosseum.

The Forum.

The aftermath

The taxi picked me up from my apartment in Stockholm and I climbed in the back seat feeling slightly numb. I had just closed the door to my apartment for the last time and dropped my keys in the mail slot. I felt like someone had slammed the door in my face and evicted me from my home. Yep, I sure felt like a little orphan with my suitcases I had been living out of for three months. But I wasn't an orphan. I had a perfectly good home to return to, and after three months abroad, it was time to go. I peered out the window of the cab like a small child looking through the storefront of a pet shop. Stockholm had never looked so beautiful, yet I had never felt so sad. The buildings and cityscape blurred into a sea of colors as tears welled up in my eyes. It seemed cruel and impossible to leave this city and the life I had been living. Melodramatically I pulled out my iPod and chose Kings of Leon's, "The End" as my parting song to this great chapter of my life. Because, really, that's what Sweden has been: a chapter. I could probably write a book about all my experiences and travels during the past three months, but when I put it all into perspective, it was only a short time out of my whole life. Three months out of maybe 75 years on this Earth doesn't sound like much. But things happen every day that steer us in different directions or change our decisions. A day can bring huge change; an hour, a minute, a second. Everything can change in an instant. I now know that three months can change your life and who you are completely. At my core I am the person I've always been. I still recognize myself, but some of the fears and insecurities are a little more faint, almost erased. I like myself more now and that's a good thing. I feel more confident in who I am and that's a good thing. I tapped into my adventurous and spontaneous side and that's a good thing. I succeeded in a job, in a foreign country, living on my own and those are good things. Praise God for the good things.

What I learned

I learned that falling snow is one of the most beautiful sights. I also learned that ice on the sidewalk is one of the most dangerous things. The bruises on my knees throughout the month of February confirmed this.

I learned that a public transportation system that works efficiently is life-changing, at least for a Californian who depends heavily on a car. I am not looking forward to higher gas prices and commuting 60 miles a day for work when I get back.

I learned that a smile goes a mile, especially on the metro. Just for kicks, I would smile at people during my morning ride to work and the confusion and double-takes I got from stoic Swedes always entertained me. I like to think I brightenend their day a little, even if they only saw me as a crazy American.

I learned that I can survive and make it on my own, completely by myself. I realized that thinking I was an independent person and actually pushing myself outside my comfort zone to prove it were two different things entirely. Suprisingly, though, there were very few times that I felt alone. There is something liberating when you know you are so far from everyone and everything you know.

I learned that no matter what language you speak or what culture you come from, there is always common ground to be found. I learned that some people really are only in my life for a season, but that doesn't make the goodbye any easier.

I learned how weird Americans are. We say "awesome" and "cool" entirely too much. And Finnish people especially like to remind us of this. I won't deny that I picked up a couple Swedish and Finnish sayings though.
 
I learned that my goal is to always have a goal. I learned that I don't know nearly as much as I want to. I learned that I never want to stop learning. I learned that it is possible to create a life in three months that seems impossible to leave behind. I learned that I will miss Stockholm more than I thought I would. I learned that I am not the same person who left California in January.

Savoring sunny Stockholm

I had a five-day weekend for the Easter holiday. Since it was my last weekend in Stockholm, I decided to make the most of every day. Thursday started with a GROWers picnic in the park by the water. We raided the ICA for meats, cheeses, bread, and fruit and sprawled out on the grass for a few hours. The sun was out for most of the day, and in true Swedish fashion we basked in the warmth! Friday Riku and I ventured to Djurgarden and visited Skansen, which is a living history amusement park. It feels like you are back in time and exploring old Sweden. There are tons of cobblestone paths, Swedish houses and buildings, and lots of Scandinavian animals. When I read that Skansen housed wolverines in the zoo area, I was perplexed. Wolverines are real? I mean, I love the X-Men movies and Hugh Jackman is amazing, but I didn't think wolverines were a real species. Yep, they are real. But to say I was disappointed would be putting it mildly. They are puny animals and at first I thought I was looking at a badger! After Skansen, we took the ferry across the water and enjoyed the skyline view from the boat. The last time I took a boat across from Djurgarden there was so much ice and I could barely stand outside without fearing frostbite. This time I stood toward the end of the boat in the sunshine, pretending I was "the king of the world!" Saturday I visited Millesgarden, which was the home of Carl Milles, artist and collector. There is a ton of original art and a lot of famous pieces too. It was amazing! Saturday night I was invited out by my coworker Linnea for a girls' night with her friends. It was fun to meet some new Swedish people and have a few drinks. Easter Sunday we had celebrated at Tiina's house where I attempted to cook lamb for the first time. I waited too long to grocery shop for a leg of lamb, so I had to settle with lamb steaks. I made my own rosemary garlic marinade, but ended up slightly overcooking the lamb. My garlic mashed potatoes made up for it though and we had a ton of other yummy dishes. It was fun to have a "family" dinner in Sweden with all the GROWers. Then on Monday Tiina and I went to Drottningholm Palace where the royal family resides. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and we took a 45-minute tour and then walked around the park and gardens. Some crazy Swedes were laying out in bikinis on the grass. I'm all for warm weather, but it was definitely not that warm! On the way home we met up with Riku for a mini picnic at Kungsholmen park. I would say we took advantage of the warm weather as much as we could! This past weekend made me forget the dreadful February snow...almost. I leave Stockholm in four days and then head to Italy for a week before I head home to California. Is this a three-month dream I'm going to wake up from soon? Seems like it should be.

A beautiful day at Skansen.

Crazy sculpture at Millesgarden.

The Easter feast!

The back of Drottningholm Palace and the gardens.

A dress and sandals? You better believe I took advantage of the sun :)

9 days...

...until I leave Stockholm. I remember when I was counting down from 46 days until I arrived in Stockholm. The saying, "Time flies when you're having fun" has never had so much meaning as it does now. I've been on a rollercoaster ride of emotions this past week, trying to prepare myself to end this amazing three-month adventure. Leaving is bittersweet; the "bitter" being the fact that I will miss the people and the relationships I've made in my time here. From my GROW people, to church friends, to my coworkers, I feel lucky to have been surrounded by such fantastic people that helped Sweden become home for me. I would like to think I will see them all again some day, but I really don't know that for sure. I know I need to embrace the moments and memories I've shared here and be thankful for this opportunity, but my heart is a little heavy. Spending three months in close contact with people, building relationships and friendships, has been a gift I will treasure forever. I've learned a lot about myself and feel I have truly grown as a person, maybe even a bit more content with the woman I have become. God has shown me what He is capable of, and what I am able to accomplish when I put my faith in Him. Talk about mind-blowing! The "sweet" part of this transition is the reunion with my family and friends that I have missed dearly. The constant support, encouragement, e-mails, and skype dates with my loved ones helped me feel that I wasn't far from home at all. But I don't want to think about a world without skype! Thank goodness I was able to see my parents and some friends on a regular basis because familiar faces are priceless. As I depart Sweden, I am leaving behind a job that I've poured myself into for three months, amazing relationships, and the beginning of a sunny Swedish summer. Man, sunshine has never felt so good! But I leave with a thousand memories, a newfound appreciation for life, and the hope that Sweden and I will one day meet again.

No jacket? Most amazing day in Sweden!

Stockholm sunset.

This is beauty.

We are family

So, I'm Swedish. My great-grandfather was from Sweden and born in a village outside Leksand, north of Stockholm. My great-aunt visited the few Swedish relatives we have about 20 years ago and she gave me their information when I found out I would be living in Stockholm for three months. I majorly procrastinated in contacting them, but a week ago I finally made the call to my fourth cousins, Eva and Lasse Andersson. Eva was so nice and welcoming on the phone, and she insisted on coming to pick me up on Sunday. They live in Norsborg, which is only about a 15-minute car ride from my apartment. Again, I should have called them a lot sooner. Nonetheless, I spent an amazing day getting to know my distant relatives. They welcomed me to their home and we took a long walk around their neighborhood after we had a coffee together. The landscape and scenery was so beautiful! It was nice to experience a real Swedish home and see how the "natives" live. Lasse prepared a typical Swedish lunch for us that included fish, potatoes, carrots, and fresh tomatoes. I discovered that Eva and I shared a love of wine, so we enjoyed a couple glasses on the patio while Lasse cooked a delicious meal. We ate on the patio and enjoyed the sunshine because it was the warmest day of the year. I truly understand why Swedes worship the sun when it is out. Eva and Lasse's youngest son, Niklas, came over later in the afternoon with his three-year-old son, Oliver. Niklas insisted on taking me to hang out with the "younger" generation, so we went to his house and his girlfriend came over to meet me. They were the nicest people and we had some good laughs over Niklas' homemade pasta carbonarra. I feel really lucky that I was able to meet some family and hear a few stories about the past. It was a great way to spend my second-to last-weekend in Sweden!

The trees were beautiful!

Eva and Lasse Andersson's cute house.

My wonderful family that I am so glad to know.

Life in Sweden...by the numbers

I'm not exactly a math genius, but here are a few statistics to paint a picture of my time abroad. I only have a few more weeks here, so I am in a nostalgic and reflective mood. Forgive me if a few calculations are a bit off...


89–the amount of days I am allowed to stay in Sweden without getting a visa, so my trip was planned around that strict regulation–February 1 to April 30 is exactly 89 days.
5,500–miles it is from Los Angeles to Stockholm. When I put it that way, I guess I really am far from home!
4–the number of GROW participants in Stockholm from February to April. Since we were all in the same boat and experiencing a new country, we bonded and became friends very quickly. From touristy visits to museums, beers at bars, boat rides around the archipelago, and lots and lots of laughs, we shared three months that none of us will ever forget.
25–approximately the number of visits I had to H&M while in Stockholm. What do you expect when there are four of them within walking distance of my office? I didn't dare calculate the money I spent though...
45–I haven't kept an exact count, but I am guessing this is roughly the number of work-related meetings I've had at Bonnier AB. That calculates to an average of three meetings per week. Swedes love having meetings, and it is even better when lunch is served because light beer is usually a drink option.
6–I will have visited six countries in three months by the time I get home–England, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Spain, and Italy. Whew!
100–number of times I wished for warmer weather and promised to never complain about "cold" days in California ever again.
-15C/4F–the coldest temperature I experienced while in Sweden; heck, it's the coldest I've ever experienced, period! It just so happened to be the night that I got trapped in an elevator in the metro station.
45–minutes it took to get released from the elevator that five friends and I were trapped in. I still have a hard time laughing about it.
2–apps for my iPhone I could never have survived without: google translate and oanda currency converter.
120 SEK–most expensive price I paid for a drink in Stockholm, which is equivalent to about 20 dollars.
3–in my wallet I have 3 different types of currency: US Dollars, Swedish Kronors, and Euros. See why I needed the currency converter?
0–the regrets I've had about coming to Sweden. I have to admit I was a bit nervous and unsure about coming to Sweden because I had no idea what to expect. From the cold weather to a new job, I was out of my element for sure. But I can honestly say that I have learned a lot in the past three months and experienced the world in an amazing way. I feel so blessed to have had this wonderful opportunity and I will always treasure and remember my time abroad!

I'm on a boat!

This past weekend I went on a two-night cruise to Helsinki, Finland. I've never been on a cruise before, so it was a great way to have the cruise "experience" and do some sightseeing in another country. The boat left Stockholm at 5:00pm on Friday and we returned on Sunday at 9:45am. After departing on Friday night, the duty-free store opened on the boat. Apparently in international waters you can shop at a duty-free and take advantage of much cheaper prices on lots of items, including alcohol. We bought some beverages and snacks and hung out in our cabin for a bit before the dinner buffet. After some major gluttony, we enjoyed drinks and dancing at the nightclub and disco. The next morning our boat docked in Helsinki and we were able to explore the city with the help of Riku as our guide since he is Finnish. It was a beautiful, sunny day and we were able to see lots of historical sights and squeezed in a visit to the National Museum of Finland. The second night on the boat included an air hockey tournament in the arcade, yummy tapas for dinner, and more drinks and dancing. Two super late nights equals me totally exhausted on Sunday, but it was well worth it. With only two more weekends left in Sweden, I need to make the most of every moment!

Getting ready to set sail with Kelly, Paul, and Riku!

Upenski Cathedral

Walking around the center of Helsinki

Spectacular Spain!

Last weekend I took a trip to Spain for three nights. I saw so many wonderful and beautiful things, and I don't think my words can clearly explain. Here is a slideshow of all my favorite pictures from my trip. My friend Dominic was in Barcelona while I was there, so we had some time to hang out. From La Sagrada Familia to Parc Guell to the Jewish Quarter in the old city, I saw it all! The sangria and tons of tapas only added to the amazing time. I also explored Girona on my last day in Spain and fell in love with that quaint city. I loved Spain!!!

When nature calls

I'm typically a planner and very organized, and I hardly ever run out of household items and necessities. But I quickly realized this morning that I was down to my last roll of toilet paper. No big deal, right. I can just go to the store. I had a crazy work day and then had a bible study in the evening, so I ran from the metro station to the ICA (grocery store) ten minutes before closing. To my delight, there was actually a sale on toilet paper, so of course I bought the two packs to save money. I love a deal! I didn't really think it through though. Back home when I stock up on bulk items like toilet paper, I can easily schlep it from my shopping cart to the car without parading down the street. Not the case in Sweden since my mode of transportation is on a train. So I paid for my good deal toilet paper and walked out of the store with a pack under each arm. I only live two blocks from the ICA and it was dark, so I figured it was all good. As I turned the corner, a group of three very good looking Swedish guys were walking toward me. Needless to say I felt a little awkward trying to juggle my necessities while still acting cool. They all kinda looked at me and laughed to each other. Sweden makes me feel ashamed to buy toilet paper. Maybe the ICA delivers? On another note, I am going to Barcelona this weekend. Spain has been at the top of my list of places to visit, so I am beyond excited. Booking this trip might be one of the most impulsive things I've ever done considering I just booked my ticket yesterday. But my motto during this adventure in my life is to seize the moments and not hold back. Ironically enough, I have a friend who will be in Barcelona the same time I will, so it seems I will have a traveling partner. I can't wait to explore the Spanish culture and eat lots of tapas!

Up to Uppsala

I went up (as in north of Stockholm) to Uppsala for a Saturday day trip. Sweden's fourth largest city is only 40 minutes by train and is centered around Uppsala University, which is the oldest college in Scandinavia. I woke up Saturday morning and decided to head out on a solo adventure for the day. But as usual, it didn't start out very smooth. After running through the train station like the airport scene from Home Alone when the family is trying to catch a plane, I found my train with two minutes to spare. Thank you to the poor guy I dragged to the ticket machine to help me translate so I knew what I was buying. I didn't really have any clear plan for discovering Uppsala, so I arrived and just started wandering. I brought along my trusty Sweden guide book that my good friend Summer bought me and I mapped out some points of interest. I made my way to the center of town and saw the Uppsala Slott (Uppsala castle) high on a hill, so I hiked up to the top. The castle dates all the way back to the mid-16th century. The view from the castle was amazing and I snapped lots of photos. After I walked around the whole castle, I ventured down the road to the Uppsala Domkyrka (Uppsala Cathedral), which is the largest church in Scandinavia and consecrated in 1435. I went inside the cathedral and was blown away by the majestic architecture and history inside. The stained glass windows and painted ceilings were unlike anything I've ever seen. I didn't really feel right taking pictures since there were people lighting candles and praying in the pews, so I snapped one quick pic and left. The college is literally in the middle of town, so I got to see lots of the buildings and dormitories. The Carolina Rediviva Library, which is the University library, couldn't be missed and apparently it holds about 5 million books! From there I wandered around the streets and the downtown area where there were lots of cute restaurants and shops. I found a Victorian-style cafe and enjoyed a sandwich and a coffee. After three hours I had seen all there was to see in Uppsala and I headed home on the train. The chai latte and brownie I grabbed before boarding was a great end to my Uppsala adventure.

Uppsala Castle

View from the top of the hill near the castle!

Inside the Uppsala Cathedral

Uppsala is so pretty! You can see the cathedral steeples in the background.

Random photos

I've taken so many pictures while I've been here in Sweden, and typically my blogs are wordy and descriptive. So I decided to post mostly pictures this time. I picked out some of my favorite ones from the past seven weeks!

One of the first days I explored my neighborhood. I took this while 

walking down Hornsgatan after a huge snow storm.

After our trip to the Vasa museum, we walked around Djurgarden a bit more. This is the modern museet, which is the modern museum. I thought the building was beautiful!

My desk at the Bonnier office!

We all took a trip Bonniers Konsthall, the modern art gallery Bonnier owns. I thought this particular art was cool...and I made Paul pose in front of it!

I've now taken two pictures in front of anchors in Sweden. This was on the Vaxholm day trip Riku and I went on. I was knee-deep in snow at some points during the hike!

Yeah, these guys crack me up!

Inside the Pergamon museum in Berlin. The steps were massive, but it's hard to tell from this picture.

I loved this mural on the East Side Gallery in Berlin. 

The halfway point

This has been quite a busy, fun week in Stockholm and it marked the halfway point of my stay. Here is a breakdown of my life the past four days:

Thursday: I wasn't quite sure if Stockholmers celebrated St. Patty's Day, but I was on a mission to have a Guinness at an Irish pub. My friend Lauren got into town super late on Wednesday, so Thursday was our first night out. We started the evening at my apartment with wine, cheese, and bread, and then ventured to Gamla Stan in search of a pub. The long lines we encountered confirmed that Swedes, do in fact, celebrate the holiday. Or it's just another excuse to drink, not that anyone here needs an excuse! We had a great night filled with Guinness, meeting random people, and singing karaoke...Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" to be exact.
Friday: I had to work all day because we had the Bonnier Sales Awards festivities. Starting with an afternoon seminar and ending with the evening gala dinner, it was a looooong day for me. Lauren did some sightseeing and entertained herself while I was occupied with work. Here is a link to the article I had to write for the event. It gives a better idea of the grandioseness of the evening.
http://bonnier.com/en/content/evening-remember
Saturday: I woke up rather early on Saturday considering I didn't get home until almost 1 a.m. And my morning was spent writing the article for the Bonnier Sales Awards. Lauren and I ventured out for a day of shopping, with our first stop being Urban Outfitters. We wandered around Ostermalm and grabbed a much-needed coffee before heading to IKEA. After a 20-minute metro trip and a quick bus ride, we landed at the largest IKEA I've ever been to. The wonderment wore off in about ten minutes since every obnoxious child in Sweden just happened to be at IKEA the same time I was. We decided food was probably a good idea and ordered a plate of meatballs in true Swedish fashion. We rested at my apartment later that afternoon and headed to Icebar Stockholm. A bar completely made of ice? What a good idea! Lauren and I were cloaked in large hooded parkas and we enjoyed a couple sweet, fruity vodka drinks. After we defrosted, we met up with Riku and had a couple beers before heading to Le Bon Palais nightclub. You had to be over 27 to get into the club, so it was the first time I've felt young in a while. The dance floor was large and the drinks were good. Overall a fun, but very late, night!
Sunday: I may have felt young on Saturday night, but Sunday morning was a bit of a different story. I didn't leave my PJs until noonish. We found a coffee shop and ordered some breakfast and did some exploring in the SoFo area. I invited all my GROW friends over Sunday night for tacos and ping pong. It was a great way to end an amazing weekend and visit with Lauren!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

IKEA

An ice turtle!

Tearin' up the dance floor at Le Bon Palais.

Berlin adventure

The 48 hours I spent in Berlin were amazing. My trip began with catching a bus at 3:40am to an airport an hour and a half away. Part of my super cheap flight was the fact that the airport was not close. But it was pretty painless and I caught my flight and landed in Berlin at 8:30am. I made my way into the city by the airport express and navigated my way to the Brandenburger Tor where I was meeting the walking tour I signed up for. A few people had recommended the free walking tour in Berlin and it did not disappoint. With a Starbucks chai latte in hand, I started the 3.5 hour tour ready for some history and culture. The knowledgable guide named Alex took us through the Brandenburg Gate, The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the site of Hitler's former bunker, Luftwaffe headquarters, the June 17 Memorial, The Berlin Wall, the former SS headquarters, Checkpoint Charlie, Bebelplatz, Gendarmenmarkt, The Book Burning Memorial, Neue Wache, the TV Tower, and Museum Island. I even made a Brazilian friend who was living in the Netherlands for a year. She was also on a solo trip to Berlin, so we had something in common. After the walking tour, I spotted an outside street market and bought currywurst and a pretzel because I wanted to get a taste of some local food. It refueled me and I headed to the Pergamon Museum and saw some of the most breathtaking artifacts and collections I've ever seen. After two hours meandering through the museum—with aching feet—I headed toward the TV Tower in Alexanderplatz. I was so tired by then that I decided to find my hotel in East Berlin and call it a night. My hotel was an eight-minute walk from the S Bahn and I checked in, showered, and was asleep by 9pm. I woke up refreshed and ready for another day of discovery. The east side of Berlin is much different than the west side, so I was really glad I got to see it. The East Side Gallery was right across from my hotel, so I walked the whole 1.5 km. It is basically part of the Berlin Wall that was turned into a tribute and celebration for overcoming the Iron Curtain in Europe. Apparently artists from all over the world have come to paint murals on it. So cool! After my cultural walk, I visited the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe. I spent two hours enthralled and emotional listening to the audio tour and experiencing the intenseness of the museum. It was something I will never forget. I headed to the West End afterward and took a tour of the Charlottenburg Palace, which is the largest palace in Berlin and it dates back to the 17th century. I worked up an appetite sightseeing, so I found a biergarten back in the middle of the city at Alexanderplatz and ordered a big beer and schnitzel. It felt so German and fun! To end my day, I took a trip up the TV Tower at sunset and got a 360-degree breathtaking view of Berlin. My 48 hours in Berlin were action-packed and exciting. I am so glad I was able to visit and I truly enjoyed the culture and vibrancy. Traveling to a city by myself and exploring completely on my own made me feel exhilarated and independent. My next trip will probably be to Finland in a couple weeks with the other GROW people. I feel so lucky to be living in Europe where travel is somewhat affordable. I have the travel bug now!

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Good morning, East Berlin!

Walking the East Side Gallery

My proper German meal!

Down with the sickness

I can honestly say that one of my fears when coming to Sweden was getting so sick that I needed to see a doctor. I know Sweden is far from a third-world country, but I just didn't want to deal with the hassle and I was afraid of socialized medicine. After fighting the sickness over the weekend, it got the better of me yesterday and I couldn't ignore it any longer. My co-worker took me to the "urgent care" in Sweden and after $250 and two hours waiting, I was told I had a bacterial infection, given a prescription for penicillin, and sent on my way. The whole process was pretty much painless, despite the golf ball stuck in my throat making it impossible to swallow. I got my prescription filled at the Apotek (pharmacy) and it only took ten minutes and I was outta there. So much easier than the battle I usually have at CVS in the States. So now I am locked in my apartment for a few days, forcing myself to get better as fast as I can. I have a big weekend planned and being sick does not fit into my agenda. I'm heading to Berlin, Germany, at an ungodly hour on Saturday morning...3:30 a.m. to be exact. I booked a hotel for two nights and I head back on Monday morning. This will be the first time I'm exploring a foreign country all by myself. I've been mapping out my limited stay and already booked a 3.5 hour walking tour, bought a ticket for the TV Tower, and found a few museums I want to visit. I will post some pictures of my Germany trip next week, but for now, here are a few from last weekend's adventures. 

Changing of the guard at the Royal Palace on Gamla Stan.

Having a drink with the GROWers at Sky Bar.

Back to my roots

I'm a writer at heart, but I've been on a kind of "sabbatical" for three and a half years. My journalism path began in college, first at Irvine Valley and then at Cal State Long Beach, where I worked as a reporter, photographer, and sports editor. But as I graduated college, I drifted toward the role of a copy editor in the journalism world. I laugh sometimes when I think about it because my grammar class in college was the hardest class I've ever taken, and I squeaked by with a C. Grammar is like understanding math formulas, but only harder because there are so many exceptions and rules depending on the circumstance. So, I became a copy editor for a business newsletter company and then found my way to TransWorld where I've been for three and a half years. I love being a copy editor because I'm a word nerd and making corrections and finding errors is like a challenging game that I love playing. But my role now is more of a behind-the-scenes gig, and I like to think that I make other people look good. I don't do much of my own creative writing anymore, so I feared my edge had dulled. Now, I really don't think I was a great writer; it's just that I enjoyed writing. And doing something you enjoy is the most important thing. Long ago, I decided that I was a journalist, and I ventured down that path knowing what I was getting myself into. It's often not glorious, and the salary tends to be average at best, but a career that I was passionate about was the most important thing to me. The opportunity to work in Sweden was enticing because of the thrill of an adventure, but also because the job description detailed a lot of writing duties. As of now, I have two bylines on our corporate website and I'm working on four more, and it's a thrill I haven't experienced since the first time I was published 10 years ago. These humble interviews I'm writing are short and sweet, but it makes me remember why I'm a journalist. I'm reminded of my passion that may have dulled over the years, but it was never gone. All I know is that working in Sweden is probably the best opportunity of my life, and I'm embracing every moment and experience. Wow, that was a wave of nostalgia I wasn't expecting, but thanks for reading.

http://www.bonnier.com/en/content/meet-rikard-sj%C3%B6berg
http://www.bonnier.com/en/content/meet-johan-danielsson

Vaxholm? Waxholm?

Apparently this island is named two different ways, at least that is what it seems. It was sometimes spelled with a V, and other times with a W. Either way, it was a fun adventure to head out to the archipelago in the winter. Most of the Swedes looked at me like I was a bit crazy when I gushed about my planned day trip to the archipelago in winter. This is usually a trip saved for warmer weather and time spent at a summer house. I will not be here to experience either of those things, so I figured experiencing Vaxholm in the winter was better than not at all! So Riku and I boarded a boat at 8:30am on a Saturday morning as dedicated tourists. We arrived to a town that was still asleep...seriously felt a little like a ghost town. We found a visitor's center in true tourist fashion, and mapped out our day. The island is apparently only 3km long, so we decided to see all 10 points of interest and walk the island. The weather was actually pretty nice. Never thought I would think 30 degrees Fahrenheit was nice weather. Only in Sweden. So we hiked the island and saw adorable houses, a cemetery, the town hall, and browsed the stores on the small main street. We even convinced two people to let us borrow their sleds and race down a hill. We ended the day trip with a couple beers that we bought at the "special" store in town. The beers weren't quite cold enough, so we took advantage of the snow. I knew snow was good for something!

Hiking the island.

I want this to be my summer home.

A good use of snow.

Out of the norm

I do things here in Sweden that are not normal. Or at least not normal for me. So I decided to make a little list.
1. I drink coffee. My trips to Starbucks in the States usually consist of ordering a green tea frapp or a white chocolate mocha...definitely not typical Swedish coffee. But everyone here drinks coffee, multiple times a day, and they drink it strong. We also have a little espresso shot machine. You name it coffee wise, and we've got it. I hope I don't return to the U.S. as a shaky coffee addict.
2. I eat bananas. Most people who know me well, know that I don't eat bananas. I'm not really sure what my reasoning was to eat one last week, but I did...and it wasn't terrible. One of the many perks to the job is the large fruit bowl that sits in the break area. Every day it is filled with lots of fruit, but mostly bananas. Call it desperation or not wanting to make another grocery store trip, but now I eat bananas. I'm a changed woman.
3. I type on a keyboard that has a few additions. In Swedish, there are a few letters that have strange little symbols over them. I haven't quite learned the rule of pronunciation for them, but I have to type them all the time now. It takes some getting used to, that's for sure.
4. I can't crack open a bottle of wine whenever I want. Okay, that might read a bit wrong. I'm not an alcoholic, but I do love my wine. The thing is that here in Sweden, alcohol is only sold in "special" stores. When I first arrived in Stockholm I remember running some errands after work and then hunting down the special store to buy a bottle of wine. When I about walked into the door (most doors are automatic in Sweden, so I just assumed it would open), I realized it was closed! The hours for the special store are, um, special: open until 6pm on weekdays, 3pm on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. There are no 2am beer runs in Sweden.
5. I venture outside in bad weather. Back in SoCal, I live for sunshine and warmth and when the temperature drops below 60, I like to hibernate. Well, the temperature in Stockholm is about one-third of my "hibernating weather." And although it doesn't really rain here, it definitely snows! I have to leave my house when it's snowing and freezing to get to work. But, oddly enough, I still explore on the weekends even when I don't have to be anywhere. I finally got over my fear of freezing to death in a snow embankment.


Notice those three letters that are not in the English language...



Whistle while you work

 I spend my weekdays at Kungsgatan 49, which is considered the city centre of Stockholm. The location is perfect for a shopaholic like me. Or it's the worst location for a shopaholic like me. The jury is still out on that one. There are three H&Ms within two blocks of each other. NK, the best and nicest department store in Sweden, is less than a 10-minute walk from my office. And when I'm feeling up for some exercise, my apartment is only a 35-minute jaunt. But it can be a long 35 minutes when it's -12 Celsius. The Bonnier AB office I work in is much more professional than my TransWorld home. Before I came to Sweden, I realized I needed some business casual attire. And it was a good reason to go shopping. I ended up buying sweaters, black pants, leggings, etc. in order to prepare for a nicer dress code. If I dressed in my Sweden digs back in Carlsbad, people would probably think I was going on a job interview. The expression "dress to impress" is what Swedes live by and I think it's a good motto. It's nice to put a little pride into my appearance every day, even though I'm still guilty of a ponytail now and again. I'm convinced I will never have a good hair day while I'm here. As soon as I think my hair is looking okay, I step outside and the hat I have to plop on my head ruins it. It's a small price to pay for warmth though.

Notice the H&Ms on both sides of the street.

The centre plaza near my metro stop.

Kungsgatan 49, Bonnier AB is on the sixth/seventh floors of the gray building 

in the middle.