Hello my curious friends, haha
I have finally begun meeting the other foreign exchange students in Swedish. Two weeks ago, Sept. 5-10, I went to Eskilstuna, about 40 min train ride from Örebro, for a Rotary language camp. Two districts attended this specific camp, District 2370 and 2340-the district I am in. There were 18 "newbies" total. Throughout the week the 18 of us got to meet and hang out with a couple of the "oldies", or students who have been here for over six months. All of the oldies we met were from Australia except for a girl who is from New Zealand, and another who is from South Africa.
Gabe and I had our first train experience riding to Eskilstuna. We met the rest of the group at a Best Western hotel in town. The group was separated into pairs and each pair stayed with a host family for the week. I stayed with a girl from Colorado, Alexa Posner, in one of the nicest families ever. So throughout the week, during Swedish lessons from 8.30am to 3.30pm and after school activities, Gabe and I made a lot of new friends. Sixish hours a day for five days means a lot of Swedish to take in. It was hectic, but it really helped.. when I manage to remember the things we learned. I like to think I can hold up at least part of a conversation in Swedish; it only gets better everyday :] Overall, the camp was extraordinarily fun. Foreign exchange students are probably the easiest people in the world to get along with because we're all in the same boat. Needless to say, I was ecstatic to visit a few friends in Stockholm this past weekend.
A few of the oldies planned a trip to Gröna Lund, the amusement park in Stockholm. Gabe and I rode a train to Stockholm central Friday afternoon and met Riley and Yusuke! Riley is from California, and Yusuke from Japan. They both live in Stockholm, or just outside of it, and go to the same school. Gabe and I stayed at Riley's house for the weekend, which was one of the coolest houses I've ever seen, and Saturday night three more kids stayed at the house. It was crazy. I really got to see Sweden's oceanside for the first time, completely beautiful :D, and STOCKHOLM. I can't hardly describe how or why, but I've fallen utterly in love with Stockholm. It's a beautiful city, right off the ocean, always busy and things to do, and the night atmosphere is so alive. I have all the intent in the world to live in Stockholm for a bit later in my life. Saturday, our group of twelveish students ventured to Gröna Lund. Despite the freezing breeze and constant downpour, we had loads of fun. - We rode all the rides at least once and that was enough; short time but completely worth the 400 krowns or so spent to get in...
In between my Rotary friend adventures, school gets better everyday. I'm becoming better friends with my class. I started my music theory, arranging and composing, and audio engineering classes, as well as guitar lessons. Without a cello to play at the school, I'm active with singing and learning guitar- more with singing than guitar... haha. However I'm in love with everything that's happening in my life. I'm in Sweden! It's now or never, really. So I'm taking advantage of anything and every opportunity to make a fool of myself or have the time of my life. They go hand in hand most of the time.
I'll add pictures soon. För nu, hej då. :]
