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!