Fleeting Sweden

I'm sleepy tonight as I had a busy day playing tourist in my hometown, which was fun! My dutch friend had a friend from home visiting, so it was a great opportunity to do the tourist things we had not done yet, and the weather was great. Sunny, blue sky's for the first few hours. Then the Swedish weather I am most familiar with, cold and cloudy, returned but by that point my day had been great so I wasn't too bothered. We went to the top of the water tower where we could see the whole city below as well as the surrounding countryside, it was really nice. We also walked around the centre and had the most peculiar hot dogs, mine was a "french" hot dog and was a baguette with a hole in the centre which was filled with a garlic mayonnaise and then filled by the hot dog! It was actually good, and warmed me up! Later, the four of us continued our very Swedish day by having mashed potatoes and meatballs; followed by apple crumble and ice cream. Needless to say I'm feeling rather sluggish and sleepy due in large to all of these things I ate today! How the Swedish people are so slim I have no idea, their food is a little ridiculous and slightly less than healthy; it really does not motivate me to move!

This past Tuesday I went to Gothenburg which was so nice. I had a really lovely day, and spent the perfect amount of time there. We were not rushed and had the time to have a nice, long leisurely lunch and watch the people stroll by in the comfort of this perfect cafe we stumbled upon. We also had the time to get lost, and find smaller things like the fish markets and this neat look out point on the side of hill. The art museum was also one of the best small art museums I have ever seen, with a great collection that spanned many artists and styles. I also saw a viking ship in the city museum which was pretty neat, its unbelievable that things as old as this are able to survive so long. It also felt nice to be on the ocean again, it feels that I am always so far and disconnected from it, and never close enough. Every time I stand by the sea it feels so good and I feel immediate comfort and ease. While I've never lived on or even near the ocean, I feel a very strong connection to it and even if its just standing in ship harbor as I was in Gothenburg; I could stand and watch it forever. I love the idea that the ocean reaches every shore of the world; its like any shore you look off of you are looking to the other side of the world. The water touches everywhere on earth at the exact same time and is so mysterious with its hundreds of miles of open space and depth. I was I had an aptitude for science, the ocean would be so incredible to research!

I can't believe how fast the trip and my time here is flying by. I want to suck every moment out of it, and take everything I can from Sweden and my time away. I miss all of those that I love at home (family, friends) but also don't want this all to end! Every day is the perfect blend of exciting and relaxing, exotic and comfortable. I have no regrets at all in coming and have loved every second of my time here. As I said, while I will be happy to be reunited with everyone at home; its going to be hard to leave. While it feels like i've been gone forever, its unbelievable that I'm over half way through my time in Orebro. I'm still waiting to wake up as this has flown by so short that I swear it could fit into one nights dream. Its like while i'm here, living and doing everything, my time is slipping out from beneath me. And really, the reality is that with such little time here (as is the case in any sort of travel) our romance, between Sweden and I, is fleeting. And so, this week I am going to make a big effort to do everything that I can, and to appreciate every minute of being here so that I don't wake up one morning with a week left, full of stress with all that I have not seen, loved, and done.

Life moves by so fast as it is, I can't believe how long I have been gone and here!

Talk to you soon,

Syd

xoxo

ps. All of the photos above are from my trip to Gothenburg 

A Snowy Saturday

Last night was the Spanish party put on by all the Spanish exchange students here. It was a carnival party, as in Spain the week before lent they have carnival parties where everyone dresses up, and it was so much fun. I reunited with my old friend red wine and danced and ate chorizo and made it to bed around 5. So, if last night was at all indicative of what Spain and Portugal will be like I'm very excited!!

I've been planing all my trips while I'm here! The last 5 weeks I've spent mostly in Orebro, but every week in march I'm going somewhere, starting next week! Gothenburg, Oslo, Vienna, Copenhagen, Stockholm (for the spring!) and then April 1st I'm off to Barcelona to start my southern exploration! I'm going to make my way from Barcelona to Madrid, Granada, Toledo, Sevilla and then Lisbon; with lots of day trips to beaches and vineyards all along the way. Needless to say I'm very excited, but also a little sad how fast this trip is going. It seems unreal that I'm already half-way through! Everything has just been so great that while I miss the people at home, I'm not sure I ever want this all to end!

I'm feeling a little out of sorts today, which is hard when I'm not at home and probably also caused a little by the same problem. I dont know...I just am feeling this weight on me that I need to figure out who I am, discover new things about myself and become more sure of what I do know about myself while I'm here. I just feel that I have all this down time and time to reflect and as if I should be figuring things out about myself, as tacky as it may sound. I dont know, i dont know what I'm trying to explain really even, I'm just feeling a little turned upside down today. 

xo

Swedish Sweets

I've been spending the last week since Stockholm relaxing and socializing; it's definitely starting to feel like (a) home to me here. Of course, minus many of the things I love most...Crave Princess cupcakes, vanilla lattes, my dogs, and maybe a few people too!! Okay, a lot of people. I'm repeating myself here, but the people are the most difficult thing to leave behind. I'm learning that new routines, foods, habits and haunts are easier than I had assumed to come by (yet those I love at home remain irreplaceable!) but the social networks built of years of a lifetime in one place are impossible to replicate. Nevermind the close friends and family that are so woven into my everyday life! I miss these things a lot! But not in an active sort of way, I mean to say that these new and exciting things are beginning to settle into more of a home and I now am feeling quite comfortable; less of a stranger among the people I see day in and day out, in the grocery aisles and my daily path from school and back. These small things are beginning to feel as familiar as at home. These little things that I thought would make parts of this trip difficult have become nicely routine and the things that remain new and exciting are distracting from missing home too much. My life is in a perfect balance here of adventure and comfort. Although, I should add that the looming return date home is also keeping me from missing home as I'm constantly aware that as at home as i feel; this is all so temporary. I'm relaxed, I'm happy, I'm care free and eating lots of sweets and cookies! Mmm, speaking of which i think one of my most favorite Swedish things (besides shopping) are their sweets! Delicious cream-puffs, chocolate and pastry's everywhere! Its really funny actually, I've yet to be to a pub as there are few to none to be found but I have seen up to 4, or more, pastry filled cafes share a street! If you don't like sweet things, you will here. Its like if you are in florida you don't wear a winter jacket, but you do here; if you don't like sweets at home you will here! There's no cold weather in florida and there are no comparable sweets at home (save for Crave!) Its unavoidable and dangerously delightful :) If i were staying more than a few months I would be in serious trouble thanks to my two favorite Swedish past times... shopping and dessert!

On another note...I went for a run on a new path yesterday and explored a new neighborhood with quite possibly the most adorable houses I have ever seen! More salmons and pastels, but also flowers in nearly every window, stone hedges and big wooden doors. Swedish architecture and homes are truly one of the most exotic things here for me! I've never really seen these styles anywhere else! Tomorrow I am going to take the same path on my way downtown and explore more of the neighborhood...but with my camera in tow so that I can show you all what I have difficulty describing in detail!

As I briefly mentioned before, my social calender has been more like at home for me this week with plans nearly every night and day! Lots of dinners, lunches, a party, a night of board games, shopping, ikea, saunas (another popular Swedish thing!) and baking! Its been really nice. I've become somewhat close with a few girls here over, and have formed a nice little group who give or take a few people I have been spending most of the week with and doing all of the things above with. A definite highlight was yesterday; we all went for a very nice lunch to this really cute sushi place where the sushi was amazing (my valentines gift from my mum!) and then went shopping where I got some beautiful boots (again), had class, and went for a nice long sauna! Tonight we celebrated chocolate cookies and cheap champagne night where we, surprise surprise, baked chocolate chip cookies and drank cheap champagne! I'm thinking this might become traditional here and at home as well. Its great, everyone should try it!

In addition to this...I had the most romantic valentines day EVER on Saturday as you can imagine! With my Swedish boyfriend Caroline, and our new dutch friend Heleen, we went to Ikea and had another popular Swedish delicacy...hotdogs (seriously, they're everywhere! Now i know why Ikea has them!) followed by some chocolate pie! It simply got hotter and more romantic from there on when we went discount grocery shopping and watched the sunset together on the long busride home; (nearly) arm in arm on the crowded bus. For dinner we treated ourselves to pizza and a bottle of gin and made our way to a party at our Swedish friend Anna's house! Okay so maybe not romantic, never mind the most romantic, but it was an unusual way to spend my valentines day and I can't think of a more appropriately Swedish way! 

Wellll, I am getting quite tired now and can imagine that I talked (typed?) for a little too long! Wow, and a lot about food as well, how embarrassing! At least you are all caught up now on what I have been up to, and what I have been eating :)

Puss & Kram!!

xoxo

Puss & Kram

One thing I've come to notice and love about Sweden is the pride they seem to take in how things look. That is; their personal appearance, their streets, their outdoors and their buildings. Most Swedes put obvious effort into how they look everyday; as if everyday they are seeing someone worth impressing. Even professors are trendier in dress than the average Canadian on the street or in the classroom. Most everyone seems to have their own personal style that they take daily care to express. 

Orebro Universitet is also quite impeccable in its presentation. While small, with many smaller buildings spread over roughly a block on campus, there is art throughout every building. Sculptures inside and out, wall sized murals, hardwood floors, huge bright windows, winding staircases, benches, garden spaces and these beautiful, green yards in the middle of some buildings with wrought-iron, winding staircases leading into them from the top floor. No building nor faculty is aesthetically neglected. 

And the LIBRARY! Once again, sorry for my nerdy tendencies, but the library is probably the most stunning modern library I have ever seen! I mean, little can compare to the beautiful, ancient libraries such as New York's Central library, but this one makes you feels as though you have to buy something! Its too nice to be giving away books for free! Oh, and as you can imagine I tested the late fees are there are none! Its basically library heaven. Leather sofas, frosted glass lamps, Modern art and statues around most every corner, hardwood floors and a two story high wall of windows! I cant really do it justice just through description, so along with the photos above of Orebro is one of inside the library, ha!

Skiing was fun! Just a hill (nothing comparable to our glorious mountains at home!) but it was really fun to try somewhere and something different! It felt nice to spend a day outside and see a little more of the Swedish outdoors. The unfortunate part was how frozen I was! I'm still trying to adjust to the humidity here with only a little luck! Sooo I couldn't feel my toes pretty much the entire day, which is no problem, except on the bus ride back to Orebro (the hill was about 2hrs away) my one toe was hurting so so bad! When I got home and took off my sock it was BLACK. I was so scared! I thought I had frostbite! Apparently, however, I had "runners toe" where if your shoe or sock does not fit right, the constant friction and jamming of your feet in the shoes bruises and blisters under your toenail. Pretty gross, and pretty painful! And to add insult to injury, its looking like I will have gross feet for the whole summer, as my toe nail will fall off any day now :( Oh well, a nice day of skiing was worth some pain and ugliness!  

On Sunday it snowed nearly a foot of snow, and Monday was bright and beautiful; the first full day of blue skies I've yet to have in Sweden. So Caroline and I went out to walk around the quaint Orebro and get a better footing for where exactly I am. Above with the photos of my beloved library are some pictures of downtown Orebro on a sunnier day than the photos I ahve show you all before!

Well, now im up about 3 hours later than I should be. Tomorrow morning I am off for another day in splendid Stockholm to explore and (window) shop. I have to leave at 7am! Ugh, I much prefer staying up to that horrid time than leaving my bed to start my day so early. Even if it is my flimsy dorm bed. But Stockholm is worth it!

Tonight I feel a little bit homesick. Just missing my friends and family and even familiar faces. I'm really excited to walk into a room of friends again and hope that there are some at home who are excited to see me too! I'm finding that the hardest thing about being away from people isn't necessarily missing them, but worrying if they are missing you (too).

You'll hear from me in just a few sleeps, perhaps even one if I try my best!

xo

Miss & Love you all!

Puss & Kram!!

Goodmorning/Goodnight

Goodmorning!

(Or to you, goodnight!)

This morning I woke up to nearly an inch of snow on the ground which, despite the cold, is a first since I have been here! This is good, for me, though as tomorrow I'm going skiing! I'm so excited to not only go skiing, but also to go skiing in a new country! Its a first for me! 

Right now I'm also in the midst of planning some trips! The most exciting is to Spain and Portugal with Gareth for 17 days at the end of my trip in April. Which reminds me...I'm coming home early as I made a mistake in my class schedule here and also need to complete a course at home in order to get my honors degree!

But back to more exciting things. So, Spain and Portugal! I'm reallllly excited! Landing in Barcelona, then on to Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Sevilla, Salema, and then at the end Lisbon! From there I think I will make my way back to Orebro to pick up my huuuuuuge suitcase and then on to Paris and near the end of April...home sweet home in Calgary! 

Lately I have been going to lots of dinners at various other exchange students houses and eating amazing food from all around the world! its pretty cool! I'm getting know the others more, and a wider range of people, and its so fascinating to hear about their cultures and lives at home. Its crazy that while the world is small enough for us to travel and move throughout and meet in the same places, there are so many differences in the way people live and carry on with their lives. And the food! So many delicious differences! Last night I had my first traditional Swedish meal and we had this pea soup with spicy mustard in it, these weird bread cracker things they eat that i cant remember the name of, this sweet Swedish liquor that you sip straight and then pancakes with jam and whipped cream (which was not so foreign for me). It was so good! The night before that, I was a Japanese girl and German boy's house and they made us goyza, prawns and this amazing lasagna! Once, again so delicious! And fun! Its nice to sit around good food and drinks and hear about all the different experience, travels and lives of all of these very different people.

But, I should really get going now! I'm sorry for the dry updates...now you all my deep-dark secret of how dull I am!

Soon again you'll hear from me, and I will try and make it more exciting!

xox

Syd