Hello,

I just realized that studying abroad is not what I had imagined all that it was. When you think of studying abroad, you think of traveling every day, experiencing all the places you can possibly think of in your city, or just go out and have a drink or two, but because Sweden is so expensive and there is about 6 months of snow on the ground, I found that I sleep most of the time!!!

On Saturday, I woke up, slept, ate, slept, woke up, and then slept some more. Oh the life of Björnkulla. There is so much free time I don’t know how to use it all. For the past three and a half months, I’ve been enjoying this great holiday with some work on the side called “school”. I mean, it has it pros and cons being that I  mastered the art of money spending because when there is nothing to do you spend money that you don’t have. When I mention the money I don’t have, I really mean it. Every dollar will mean more hours of work to pay off the negatives in my debt, but it will be worth it. In Stockholm, Sweden I enjoy my leisure time, my school time, my boogy time.

I can tell you examples of my days here when I don’t have school or essays to write.

Example One: I go to Riga, Lativia for an adventure and with seven of my friends that I’ve met here in Björnkulla for the weekend. It’s just, you know, something that we do on our free time. With the best deals on Ryanair.com, we booked plane tickets combined with out hostel cost for 3 days and 2 nights for around 50 dollars altogether. The weather was freezing, it was -15 C (5 F) and half the people were mean and the other half really nice.  Compared to the Swedish food (kind of boring) there were more variety in the food. The Karaoke stand closed on me right when I wanted to sing a song in a club called Moon Safari.They probably sensed it when I wanted to sing to my friends a Bon Jovi song…Livin’ on  Prayer. The eight of us celebrated Dylan’s (my California boy from Maine) 21st birthday in this Cuban bar called Cuba. The Christmas market there was really nice, the city was calm, the sun was out, and Christmas music playing in the center of the city. I bought a babooshka of five layers for my mom and bought some postcards to send home. There was a cafe that I especially loved because it was a style of cafe that I want. For me, I go to cafes and then see that I like a specific part of their cafe and I want it and treasure it. I take a picture and hopefully when I design my cafe someday in my life, I can put all of them together.

Example Two: ..or I go to a Vegetarian house overlooking the city on Södermalm. It’s called Hermans Vegetariska Restaurang, Address:it’s student-friendly by giving discounts to students on Monday for the all-you-can-eat buffet which is filled with yummy food such as real bread, pasta, and hummus!!! I think I can drink hummus! It’s the best, along with zuchinni, thing ever invented. Two of my favorite things.

Overlooking the city on Södermalm

 Example Three: I go in the snow and make snow angels, enjoy the Narnia feeling of the forest, cherish the snowflakes in the city, take pictures of the snowflakes, observe the Swedish life.

 

Example Four: I sometimes, often, observe or join my friends in some captivating activities. I sometimes even Skype with people within our buildings because there is snow and it’s too cold to walk over and talk in person. The pictures will explain the peculiar personalities of my dear people that I encounter everyday. It both enthralls my brain and also makes me question their weirdness. =) The pictures may or may not explain.

Example Five: I hang out with the best people here. There is a lovely couple from Czech Republic in Prague and their names are Honza and Elly.

My Mom and Dad on the Left

They are very hospitable, accommodating me so well. They feed me, take me out to ice-skating, bring me to IKEA, and they make sure that I’m okay. They always make time to think about me and I appreciate it so much, it wouldn’t be the same without them. They are two people that are the most important to me here along side with Ana Isabel. She’s also the same as Honza and Elly and I call her my Spanish Girlfriend.

My Spanish Girlfriend

She’s nice and funny and understands my jokes (or probably laughs at my because it’s not funny at all) and understands me in a way no one else does here in Björnkulla. She’s from Spain in Madrid and she has a boyfriend that doesn’t speak English at all but somehow we communicated. He brought me Lomo, a spanish type of salami?, and they look alike! They are great together. He’s a great guy and she’s a great girl. I can’t wait to go to Spain and Czech Republic and visit them! Marlene is my favorite French girl. She’s what I call, my cubby bear.

Cubby Bear

She looks like a little bear when she smiles and she’s so cute. I love her sense of humor, she has this sarcastic contradiction to my words and makes me realize the repetitiveness I have in my communication. It’s dry with splashes of sarcasm. We cook dinner together and soon, we will watch Ratatouille together.
Lastly, there is Dylan Farrell, he’s one of the most hilarious guys I’ve ever met. He has this Californian attitude towards life where everything is chill and everything is okay, do whatever you want. He goes with the flow of everything, but he knows what he wants, he’s a witty guy who’s creative and talented in playing music, writing, and has a view on life that is so positive and nice to be around. It’s no wonder he’s so popula, but most important, he’s HAHHH LARRRR IOUS!

Dylan Farrell on Halloween

I have all this free time here, but it’s just not enough. One day here is considered a week because time spent studying abroad is precious. It captivates the best people who have an open mind about the world and people, who are smart and aware of the world, who want to learn and make a difference somehow in their life or to others. I don’t believe that there is something I don’t like about my experience here so far. I mean there were times when I felt alone and felt bad, but it’s the process of learning. These past months ha been a wonderful experience and I can’t thank enough to my family of how much they have given me. Really, I can’t think of a way to show them how much I appreciate it. I am really fortunate to have the life that I have. Thank you to my MOM the most.

Hope you enjoyed reading about my free time on your free time,

Time is precious.

Love from Sweden,

Dandelion Traveler