Adventure with Gayatri!

Gayatri and I explored Täby, Sweden!

Stockholm

Louise took Gayatri and me into Stockholm. To get to Stockholm, we walked to the train station, took a twenty minute train ride, and then got on a subway. We walked around the city just sight seeing. I was really excited to see Old Town which is Stockholm's original city center. It has gorgeous buildings and cobbled streets.

Louise is a great guide and showed us her favorite ice cream place!

Day 2

I slept through the night waking up occasionally. Yay! I think I am getting used to the time difference!

For breakfast I had vanilla yogurt with blueberries. Then Agneta and I left to go get my visa card. However, when we got there we found out we had to have an appointment (the website said nothing about this!). We booked one for 2:30. It was too long of a wait so we left and ran some errands. Agneta and I went back home to eat lunch with Louise and Gayatri. We had an open sandwich with butter and cheese. Louise needed to go to H&M to get a shirt so we all tagged along. Täby has one of the largest malls in Sweden!

At 1:45, Agneta and I left again to get my visa. Agneta had to give her name and address because the card will be mailed to us in about two weeks. The Leijonhufvud's have an old Swedish name which means lion head. Today, Swedes would spell lion head, lejonhuvud. The lady helping us got very confused.

Later that night, we went to a welcome/goodbye party. The goodbye part was for this Swedish boy who is going to Utah, named Oscar. Oscar is living in Salt Lake City where Louise lived when she want on exchange. The welcome part was for Daniel from Houston, Texas. He is living with Oscar's family and we have the same sponsoring Rotary Club here. We sat outside and the temperature dropped down to 60 degrees so we wrapped up in blankets and turned on a heater...winter is going to be freezing!!!

Room Tour

Sovrum--Bedroom

Säng--Bed

Skrivbord--Desk

Fönster--Window

Byrån--Dresser

Graderob--Closet

Dörr--Door

First Day

I am safely in Täby, Sweden. Nils (host pappa), Agneta (host mamma), Louise (host syster) , Gayatri (host syster from India), and Claes (host bror going to  America) greeted me at the gate. It was amazing finally getting to see everyone. They had a sign with my name on it, American flags, and Swedish Flags.

The flight to Sweden was long. However, I sat next to a young woman in her late twenties who let me ask her questions about Sweden. She gave me some great advice, "There is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothes". As we talked other passengers would chime in with their own advice.

After the Leijonhufvud's welcomed me at the airport in Stockholm; we had an hour drive to Täby. When we arrived, I got the grand tour of the house and then we had breakfast. Breakfast was an open sandwich; two whole wheat slices of bread with butter and ham.

Claes going away party was last night. It was American themed. Nils grilled burgers and we used American Flag napkins. Unfortunately, I was way to tired to stay up and headed to bed at 6:30!

Also, during the afternoon, Louise and Agneta showed me around Täby. We went to Tibble Gymnasium my new school.

Major Difference: People walk everywhere! Or take the train or bus

Next stop-- Sweden!

Just boarded my flight to Sweden! Will arrive in Stockholm, Sweden 7:50 AM (Swedish time) 1:50 (East Coast time).

It was hard saying goodbye to my family however I am so excited to meet my new family!

The Waiting Game!

...well I have been packed for a week now! I thought I was leaving Saturday, July 27 for Sweden however plans changed. I can not leave without my travel permit which the Swedish Consulate has not sent me. When I receive the permit I will leave 24 hours after. My seventeenth birthday is this Friday, August 9 and I swear my birthday gift will be sitting on a plane for fourteen hours.

On the bright side I have had more time to spend with my family and friends...mostly Joshua, the boy I babysit. He is happy because I am still around to drive him and his friends to the pool and moes.