First 3 (tre) veka i Sverige

“The woods are lovely
Dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep”
Robert Frost

This is one quote I received from a family friend before I departed from the U.S. to Sweden. It has stayed with me ever since. J

When introduced to people I get the normal questions, where are you from, how old are you, and the one that always gets me, why did you decide to come to Sweden?
My mom had made the suggestion to me that I should “explore my options” there is more in the world than just a small town in Muscatine Iowa. At first I didn’t want to go away from my friends and family and what I was used to. I soon realized that this could open new doors to my future, regardless of what I would be leaving behind. It was one of the hardest choices I have ever made. But, I am finally in Sweden after months of stressful paper work, intense planning, tears of joy and sadness, I am finally here.

My arrival to Sweden was…well interesting. Starting with the hardest goodbye of my life, to leave your family, friends, and boyfriend for a whole year is not something that you can just say…oh bye, see you later. Not knowing who you will be meeting in the next year, or what your host family is like, or anything about what the future may bring. I have never traveled by myself, so when I almost missed my plane in Minneapolis I was pretty rattled. But things ended up well, I was there with 10 minutes to spare. I flew into Amsterdam and thank God for the German Angel that I met on the plane there. She was an exchange student last year and was flying back from the states (she was visiting her host family) I can’t remember her name, but she helped me find my gate for the airport in Amsterdam. Oh the people you meet J

Once to the airport in Goteborg I was meet by Eva and Mats (mats being the tall Swedish guy wearing the American cowboy hat.) with hugs and smiles welcoming me to Sweden. The weather in Sweden when I arrived was rainy cold and windy…oh yay…rainnn. No it is not winter in Sweden all the time like most people may think, there is still summer. The Swedes will always talk about the weather. There is a lot of rain and windy weather here in Sweden so when it is sunny out…time to go outside or to the beach!

My first thoughts from getting off the plane… ok, so far so good, I don’t have a bad host family. I’m not homesick yet. Wow, this is a lot of rain!!!
The only thing I don’t like is not knowing the language. It’s so hard to not understand what people are having a conversation about. With time I will be able to understand it and speak it.

One of my first nights I witnessed a sunset on the beach. Seeing the sea so close to where I live is something I never imagined. Coming from Iowa, a completely landlocked state, I am not used to the sea at all. When I see jelly fish, its like finding a new toy! The landscape is a lot like Iowa only more trees and the climate is much cooler. There are a lot of horse farms here. Major plus for me! J Yes my host family has horses, two and they are the nicest horses ever. Going on trail rides here in Sweden is unlike anything I have ever experienced, the horses galloping, the forest and the cool weather, the feeling of being in another country, yet feeling at ease and comfortable with where I am.

Eva and Mats (my host parents) have introduced me to so many good people. It is a bit difficult not having any host brothers or sisters. Catrin who is 17 is on an exchange in Australia and Anton, 19 has recently left to join the army. All the people I have met have been so outgoing and friendly. Even if they don’t speak English too well that make a tremendous effort to try and help me to understand. Dictionaries are a Godsend J
The thing about my host parents knowing so many people is that their friends know other people and then I get introduced to more and more people. I have met some kids my age. Its funny to have a random text on my phone saying Hi you don’t know me but your host parents do! Lets hang out!! It is very comforting to be able to have people that want to get to know me and make an effort to be friends. It is always hard for an exchange student to make friends. Trust me, back home I do have friends! My social life really isn’t this dull!! But this is only the beginning and school hasn’t even started yet! The thing about meeting new people that one must keep in mind is that you cannot be close minded when you meet someone. Actually listen to what they have to say. Being in a different country one must be open to trying new things and meeting new people. If not, don’t bother going on exchange!

Speaking of keeping in touch with people, that brings me to the story about my phone. I am sure that if Eva is reading this, she is already laughing. J On my 3 day in Sweden Eva takes me to go into town to get their old phone activated. (to stay in touch and to have the thriving life that a teenager can’t live without.) We get to the Telia store and this guy Marcus helps us. Well Marcus spoke great English (yes your welcome marcus) so we were just talking about how my first few days were…being insanely jet lagged but loving Sweden so far. Then by the time my phone was activated he gave me his number and said here is my number in case you have “problems” with the phone or if you just want to hang out…exact quote. Well with this only being my third day I was already starting to make friends!!! That’s not the end of it. Bapi, mats and eva’s friend from Stockholm was in Varberg for a visit and he needed to get a new phone. So Marcus said to come into his work and he will help Bapi figure something out. So Bapi got a new phone and while Marcus was helping me with mine (it was an ancient phone) he said well lets get Audrey one too! This is not cheap phone people. Do you get the picture of how amazing the Swedes are?? J

The first weekend I was in Sweden we went to a Marine Festival in Halmstad (spelling??) Sweden. With Aneka and Donal (so sorry guys if I am spelling your names wrong!!!) I had my first sip of Swedish coffee…fell in love and am now a proud addict of Fika. J (Fika is a coffee break) Enjoying the company of good weather and friends we sat and drank our amazingly strong black coffee. In town there were tons and tons of old ships coming in and out, from all over Europe. That was also the first night I had Swedish Salmon. MmmmmMMMmm good J


Fridas is a local restaurant by the beach in Varberg, I have come to love this restaurant. It is a fancy but laid back place, if there is such thing. There are many famous bands that come through this restaurant. I was there when one of the bands were playing. I am not sure of the name… I will ask. If was great because you can sit and have dinner and dessert then you get to listen to great bands play! It is incredibly nice to have the beach right in front of the restaurant and just watch the sunset. It is so easy to get around here too! The beach is just a ten minute bike ride. J In addition to visiting Fridas I have also taken part in a Swedish Pop Quiz! It involved a lot of old music so I was not much help to my team but it was fun to watch everyone guess who the band was that played! I have also been boating. Even though it was a small boat it was amazing to go out on the sea. It is so different from the Mississippi mud water that I am used to! I also say 8 seals and a thousand jelly fish!!

So far I am not too homesick. I have stayed very busy. I think that is the key. If I am bored I may start missing home!! Swedish Camp in Friskad Skola was so much fun. I got to meet all the other exchange students in my district. Most were from America and Canada, which is bad because we all speak English, mixed with a girl from Japan, another from Argentina, and one from Germany. It is great to have kids my age that share some of the same experiences that I am going through. We shared our stories of our trips through the foreign airports, the Swedish food, and mostly the different culture.

So far the Differences:
Way of dress- guys wear a lot of skinny jeans and tight shirts, not like gym t-shirts but nice shirts. Girls- wear a lot of skinny jeans also and the fashion is very different than what I am used to. More make up and veryyy blonde hair with tanned skin.

The food- lots of break/cheese/butter.
I think the swedes like to eat things out of tube? There is bacon cheese and kavir, mayonasse, pretty much anything you can think of.
The cereal is different, its very healthy (at least in my family) we have Musli on our cereal. It is oats that have dried berries mixed in. Just add milk or yogurt!
A lot of the food is really fresh. Eva picks most of the veggies out of the garden. There is a lot of cooking that they do! I love Eva’s cooking. Mom I may learn to cook this year…be proud J
There are a lot of potatoes and meat in traditional swedish meals. Don’t forget the bread!!! J

Swimming is called baths or “lets go to the beach and take a “bath””
I guess it is very European to do this, and it probably depends on the person but many people change on the beach. We are so used to being in our swim suit and going some where. But no the swedes just change right there on the beach, no changing room needed. I must say I was surprised but now I am used to it. I have tried it, I’m quite proud J because here it really is not a big deal. In the states we wouldn’t even think about changing where people could see us!

Fika is a word I have come to love!
Coffee break!!! It seems that there is a lot of coffee that is consumed here. It is quite stong but on a chilly morning it is the best! With a patry of course. I am a huge fan of these heart shaped vanilla things and of the blueberry muffins! I will know the swedish words for them soon enough. It is too late to think of them right now. The coffee is reallyyyy strong compared to US coffee. The call our coffee black water, I think you get the picture!

People ride the bus, train, or bikes everywhere. Or they just walk. Gotta love the environmentally friendly people!!

When one would walk into a shop of any kind there is a machine where a number must be taken and when that number is called the person that has that number can be help. Its pretty smart actually, no worries about someone buddging in line!

No problem….. OY!.... OKEJ!..... are words that I hear allllllllllllllllllll the time. Love it!

The roads are very narrow compared to the US but in other places in Europe they are considered big. There are also a lot of roundabouts, not so many stop lights. And cars always yield to pedestrians, so go ahead cross the road!...but you may want to look both ways just in case!!

Ahhh yes how they eat, well knife in right hang fork in left make sure to eat slow and if there is a conversation going…don’t eat!! When you think about it it’s a great idea. You enjoy each others company and indulge in great food without shoveling it all down at one time.

School is free here…so are the lunches and snacks. Cool right? I’m pretty jealous. Even university is free.

There is a lot of carbonated water…watch out for that, it may look like regular water but its not! I like it actually. The minerals are really good for you.

The toilets are different… I won’t go into too much detail for that. But in the states when you need to go to the toilet you ask where is the restroom/bathroom… when you ask a swede or european this, they look at you really funny and ask what your talking about. You don’t rest or take a bath while you are in there…. You simply use the toilet, so why do we say restroom/bathroom????

Adults do not go by Mr/Mrs everyone is called by first names…even teachers.
I like this J

Marriage and religion are not as big here in sweden as it is in the states. Swedes will live together and have children and grow old together and may never get married. It just works out differently for them. I am sure there is a political viewpoint to this too but I will not go there at the moment.



Well this is my first blogg ever. I hope everyone enjoys reading it. I am terribly sorry if I rambled on or went from one subject to the next. There is so much to remember and so many memories and I have only been here three weeks!!! I will write more every couple days. This is just the beginning!!! J if you have any questions please e mail me. And if you want to see pictures, they are up on my facebook or I can send pictures if you ask. J

To all my family and friends I miss you terribly and I hope you enjoy reading this and keeping up with what I have been doing while in Sweden. J