London...Stockholm...Italy...here I come!

If I'm going all the way over to Europe, why not make a couple extra stops along the way? At least, that's my reasoning! So, I leave California on January 29, and arrive in London on January 30 for a two-day layover. My co-worker Lauren got accepted for the GROW program in the UK, so she will be joining me too. I know two days isn't much time to see London, so I'm planning on having some long days and even longer nights :) After my London romp, I arrive in Stockholm on February 1 ready to begin the three-month GROW adventure. At the end of the three months, I leave Stockholm on April 30 and head to Italy for six nights with Lauren. Finally, I will return home on May 6 after 14 weeks abroad. Suggestions about places to see/visit would be much appreciated! Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays!

46 days...

...until I leave for Stockholm! I leave January 29 out of LAX and arrive in Stockholm the next day, January 30. I've also arranged to take a week of vacation at the end of the GROW program and travel Italy for five days. By the time I come home on May 5, I will have been gone for almost 14 weeks! I'm so excited for all of the experiences I will have in Europe...stay tuned!

Fun facts...

I've been researching Sweden ever since I applied for the GROW program...and I've compiled a list of my favorite "fun facts" about the country I will call home for three months!

-Sweden is the third largest European country in land area, after France and Spain.
-Swedish people have the longest life expectancy in Europe (80.51 years in 2006).
-Swedish women have their first child on average at 30 years old, the oldest in Europe along with Ireland and the Netherlands.
-The world-famous discount furniture chain IKEA was founded in Sweden in 1943.
-School lunch is free for all students in Sweden.
-The Nobel Prizes were founded by the Swedish inventor and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite in 1866. 

It's Official!!!

Yesterday I received the official e-mail congratulating me on being accepted into the GROW program! My role will be as project assistant for the Bonnier Media University in Stockholm, Sweden. I leave in February and will be gone for three months! I don't know much more information regarding the trip and was told I would get another e-mail soon outlining other details. Here is a link to the Bonnier Web site so you can read more about the GROW program and what I will be doing in Sweden!
http://www.bonnier.com/en/content/time-grow