Yet Another Bad Experince

You know that feeling when you know that something is about to go wrong? I know that feeling a little too well. It seems that many times that I think that something bad is going to happen, something bad usually ends up happening. I got to stop thinking something bad is going to happen.

After a nice morning of getting ready for school, I headed out of my host parents house to get get my bike and head off to school. I started to go down a hill and thought that something was strange. I knew something instantly was going to go wrong for me or someone really close to me. I looked at my watch. I had enough time to get to school and still have time to walk around.

As I was going down the hill, I went to turn to go down the path by the Lake Vatten. I went around the corner to see an old lady speeding down the road. I tried to move out of the way, but was a little too late. She hit me and the bike, sending both of us flying off into the bushes. I knew that I was fine, but I didn't know about the car or the bike.

Of course, I am in Sweden with people who mostly speak only Swedish. The old lady got out of her car, asking in Swedish if I was okay. I said that I was fine in English. She just looked at me and asked if I was okay again. I said, ''Jag är bra.'' She looked at me and asked if I was sure. But I didn't have any idea what she was saying so I just said Ja and smiled until she drove away.

Well there I was. Sitting on the side of road. I kept thinking ''Shit! I am going to be late for school.'' I got up and knew the bike was a little messed up, but so wasn't I. I knew that I could fix the bike, but it had other plans. Everytime I would fix it, the bike would try to keep messing up. I had to walk halfway to school before I could fix the bike. My hands were all grease. I thought to myself if I wanted to work on things covered in grease I would have gone to the automotive program back home at the next town overs school.

I arrived at school just on time. But I didn't have enough time to do anything, but get to class. As soon as I walked in, my English teacher said, ''America is here! Good thing. I thought you might not take this class anymore.'' I said,''It will help the other students with their English. And they can help me with Swedish. But before the lesson starts, can I go wash my hands?'' She looked at my hands and said, "Yes! Please go!"

But after all of the "fun" and "excitment", my school day went amazingly. I talked to everyone in my English class about me. Im excited for the next English class.

Crayfish Party

Have you ever been to a party where you were fishing for lobster-like creature? Well I have and it was with my Rotary Youth Exchange Officer. And it was my first time meeting home too. It was pretty fun. I never would have done anything like that. 

I got a e-mail from my exchange officer saying he would want me to come meet his wife and other Rotary people and go fishing. He didn't say what we were fishing for. But I had an idea because the Swedes love crayfish. Almost as much as Maine people love lobster fresh from the ocean. I agreed willingly and had my host parents come with me.

We came to this beautiful field like area. With a newly added pond. We drove up to where my exchange officer was. He was smiling and saying hello with hugs. I met people from all over Sweden at the party. The people from Stockholm were very fond of me. They couldn't believe that I was doing something like this. They asked if I was homesick. I said no I just miss a few things but I can get them over here. Then they asked about my parents and how they were doing. I told them that they were excited for me, as well as missing and wanting me back home. 

I sat around and saw what they were having a cook out on. I thought that is probably the most redneck thing, but very clever. They had a barrel cut in half, a metal grate that looked like it was for a window, and thin piles that helped hold the barrel up. I had to take a picture because I had never seen anything like it before. 

It was such a beautiful sunset. But once it was starting to get a little bit darker, we came out to play. My exchange officer asked if I was ready for an experience and a half. I replied I came to Sweden to make experiences that I would never forget. He smiled and said good. 

We walked around the small creek and into the woods looking for where the crayfish cages were. I was asked to pull the first one. It had 10 crayfish in it. All of them were very large. Everyone was getting excited for the crayfish. We continued and went to 20 traps. We caught 88 crayfish from 20 traps. A few had hardly any crayfish in them. The last one, though, had sjuton (17) crayfish. And I was the lucky one who got to  take the cage in.

After we walked back through the woods, we stood around the little fire, had a small Fika, and talked about crayfish and me. It was 10:30pm before me and my host family left to go back home. I loved going out and something new in Sweden. I can't wait for what I do next.

School

As if learning a new language and trying to blend in with the Swedish society wasn't enough, school thought it was funny to pop it's head into my life. And to be honest it was a sneak attack that I knew was coming. 

I knew that I was going to be starting school on the 21st at 9am. I was never so nervous to start school. I'm just not the nervous type of person. I walked into my school, looked around, and wondered if it was too late to go back. But I knew that I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it for me, knowing I would regret not going and meeting new people. I walked to the principal. She smiled, handed me my schedule, and said good luck. 

I walked up a flight of stairs to go to my first class in a Swedish school. I walked in the room. And the first thing my teacher said was, 

"Oh! You must be the American. Take a seat." 

I thought great even the teacher knows I'm American and I haven't even introduced myself or said where I was from. I sat next to two girls and waited for the lass to start. My teacher only talked in Swedish, which I knew was going to happen, but it was weird hearing only Swedish with no idea what was even being said. I knew she started to talk about me when she said American. People looked at me and gasped. I thought Great!! They are going to hate me or think I'm weird. 

I sat there looking at the teacher thinking I have no idea what you are saying so just let me sit around and look at my complicated schedule. Two of the boys talked to me for awhile about everything. I started to feel better about being there. Then some girls asked me if it was anything like where I was from. I listed off the differences which dominated the similarities. 

After sitting in class for about 3hrs, it was lunch. Potatoes, salad, and some kind of antipasti. I just took potatoes and salad. I sat with my class before leaving and heading back. Sitting there, I felt alone. No one talked to me. I thought maybe they think their English isn't good enough to speak with a native speaker. I finished lunch and walked outside.

My class was about to have Fika outside at the park. I thought it was awesome to have Fika outside on an amazing day with a bunch of new, random people. It felt like the Language camp all over again. We had Coke with cinnamon buns. It was really nice. We drank, ate, talked, and enjoyed the sun. My teacher looked at us and said,

"I'll see you all tomorrow." (In Swedish, of course.)

Sitting there I was like what class is over at 13?! (1pm). It was awesome. I biked home and sat there looking around to put my raw energy to use. I couldn't be pumped and not do anything. So I studied the TV... And Swedish. It was a really nice day. 

I waited for my host mom to come home so I could see if we were doing anything. She asked if I wanted to go and see a movie. Of course I said yes! We looked up films and saw Kick Ass 2, The Heat, Pacific Rim, and Monsters U. She wanted to see either The Heat or Kick Ass 2. I had already seen The Heat, but was willing to see it again. But instead we saw Kick Ass 2. 

After the movie was over, I asked my host mom what she thought of the movie. She replied,

"I think of that as a typical American movie. With action, blood, killing, big cities, motorcycles, and a really good ending."

I couldn't help, but laugh and said yes very American. I never had such a good day that included school and not understanding a single thing a teacher said or did.

Language Camp

I am going to be completely honest with how I felt about the language camp in Vetlanda that I arrived home on Tuesday. I think it was a complete waste of 2.000kr ($306). The Swedish that we were taught  I already knew. I can understand for the students who couldn't/didn't study Swedish back in their home country, it would be totally worth it. But for me and assumed others, a waste of time and money.  I know the camp was to learn basic Swedish, meet the other exchange students, learn some about Sweden and its culture, and have fun. But I already knew a little bit more than I was taught.

I felt excluded from the other exchange students. I was only with 5-6 other students out of 27. I am shy and it's hard for me to get used to so many new people within a few days. But the exchange students who I did hangout and talk to got to know me. And I got to know them. It felt like every time I went to talk to the other 21 students, they would ignore me. I didn't like feeling like I was an outcast. I know that I am the only one from my town and the closest exchange student to me is 45min to an hour away. I wish people were a bit friendlier.

During the language classes, were always speaking and writing in English. I thought we went to the camp to speak and write in Swedish? I mean yes we spoke very little in Swedish, but we should have been more engaged to the language. I also thought that we should have learned how to ask where things were, how to find simple objects, how to get to the doctors, school, shop, or home, and what some other normal everyday items were called. I felt like I learned more from sitting on an online class then being a classroom with a teacher who was willing to help you.

Some classes instead of learning Swedish we would walk around the school learning about art and the  history of the school. To be honest, I don't care about art of teachers or history of a school I would never walk into again. I understand that some people would be and good for them. But I know that I'm not the only one who thought that walking around was boring. 

The few things I did enjoy was traveling through a cave, having Fika, down time to meet with other exchange students or talk with friends, and having a Rotex (past exchange students) night. Fika for those of you who don't know is where you drink coffee and have a small dessert. It is very popular in Sweden. Almost everyone does it 2 or more times a day. 

I was more than ready to go back to my host family's house and learn Swedish by myself. I have now filled 20 or more pages with Swedish words and phrases that I will need to know to be able to talk in any Swedish place. Or even with my host family. But I am leaving to go and meet a friend of my host mom and go do someshopping. Hej då! 

Fjällbacka :)

I went to Fjällbacka, a small seaport town in southwestern Sweden, for a few days. I had been to many towns on the ocean and lakes, but not one like this town. The house was built by my host fathers grandfather when he came back from Living in America and originating from Germany. The house was built and has been lived and visited by the family ever since. My host sister and I lived inside of the main house and my host parents stayed out in the house that was built for guests.

The first night being there and only 3 days of being in Sweden I was in another new place, trying fresh shrimp that we peeled and removed eggs from, and I tried boiled egg on buttered toast with lettuce and a special sauce. 

Second day we went on a boat out to sea to an island that was beautiful. I have never seen anything as amazing as that. We laid around for about an hour before we ate toast with a fried egg and lettuce. Then we sat around talking and jumped into the water. By the way it is cold and full of jellyfish. My host sister sat on the boat saying that she would go in before I did. We sat there feeling the cold water. I decided I would show her the Vermont way and just jumped right in. It wasn't that bad when you got all the way in.

Third day we went around the town and explored all the stores and candy ;) After we ate a quick lunch we went to a small town not very far. It was just like Fjällbacka but with more tourist shops. My host sister showed me the different stores. I saw that you could get eye contacts without having to get a prescription. Which is different from the States. In the States you have to have a prescription to buy them most of the time. I tried more Swedish ice cream or "glass". It is really good :) It reminds me of home. Later when we got home I tried  pizza made by an Italian man who moved to Sweden. Later marrying a Swedish woman, went back to Italy to buy a kiln, and bringing it back to make pizza in Fjällbacka. 

The last day we left Fjällbacka and headed to Göteburg to shop and I could explore the second largest city in Sweden. It was an hour and some drive before we got there. But once we were there, I thought the city was pretty big and different from any American city I have seen. The only thing that is the same is McDonald's, Levi's, and Stadium, a sports store. My sister and I traveled around the city mall. I couldn't buy anything because I was so amazed by everything and the different shops. Swedish clothing, styles, and stores are different from American stores. They looked very different from what I am used to.

Arriving To My New Life

I left my home and town in tears as I headed to Boston. My parents held it together until it was time to say good-bye. My father hugged me and told me not to cry or he would start to cry as well. My mother hugged me as fast as she could, dropping her cellphone on the ground. I walked through the security line alone and watched my parents as I headed into the beast. It wasn't long after I got through security that I was boarding my plane.

 My flight to Amsterdam seemed to last forever. But in reality it only lasted 6hrs and 55mins. I felt kind of new to flying. Only because that was my first time on and international flight. I wanted to listen to my favorite band for most of the flight. I felt stupid because I had no idea where to plug in the cheap headphones that I was given by Delta. I sat looking and feeling around for the place to insert the headphones. Once the guy next to me got up to look at his luggage above us, I glanced over to notice that the hole was in the front of the armrest. Once I got that all said and done, I listened to Green Day until dinner was served.

 Who can say they ate in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? Well I can. And it was good. Chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, a brownie, cheese, crackers, and a small salad to go with it. After I ate, I watched Guilt Trip. When the movie was over, the flight had about 3hrs left. I personally can't sleep on planes. I stayed up still listening to Green Day until I got to Amsterdam. 

I got off the plane and walked for 5 minutes before reaching the Dutch Checkpoint. I had to get in line and wait before I could go through another security point. They had to take my DC bag and look at it because of its "suspicious looks". I walked for another 10-15 minutes before I got to my terminal section. I stopped at an airport store to get a shirt and a drink. I had to change because wearing pants and a dressy Rotary jacket didn't mix very well. Especially when it got really hot. I brushed my hair and teeth before going to my terminal. I sat down for maybe 3 minutes before being called up and was told I was moved to First Class because a few friends wanted to sit next to each other. 

I sat on the KLM plane for under an hour and arrived in Göteburg. I waited for my luggage to reach the belt for me to take it and start my life in Sweden. I walked out and saw my host  family waiting for me. They were excited and asked me a lot of questions. We drove and they told me about the house and city I was about to live in for the next 3-4 months. 

They house was something out of a magazine. Minus the fake family and fake plants. I loved the house the moment I was inside of it and looking at all of the rooms. I walked around upstairs in amazement and shock. I couldn't realize that I was actually in Sweden spending a piece of my life exploring many different and amazing things.

I unpacked everything and started to slowly settle into my new home. We sat outside and talked about everything. I showed them a book of my family and friends. They loved it and thought that it was an amazing idea to have a book like that to see and remember some amazing memories. 

The town is amazing. It is large and unlike where I am from. I love it! I like experiencing different things. The change from a small town to a city was easy for me. I loved seeing everything and trying new things. I have never been in a different country without my family with me. So this experience is new and amazing. I wish that my family and some of my friends were here to see and experience it with me.