Update: 3 Exchange Students Go Home

I started baking again to take my mind off things. It‘s nice to focus on the task at hand or my surroundings rather than everything thats happening around me. I also promised my friends in America I’d bake them all the goods here so I better make good on it

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My first host family were so thoughtful-they put together a cookbook of all the Swedish desserts and foods I really loved just for me. I really miss living with them. Especially getting hugs from my Dad. The video is of the first Swedish pie crumble I made. It’s his recipe. Picked up Huckleberry Finn for some light reading-Mark Twain novels brings back fond memories.

My friends chose to go home due to personal problems. I’m really going to miss them, and I just wish I could’ve done more to help them. I mean hey I knew someday we would all go our separate ways and move on, but it wasn’t supposed to actually happen. Especially not this soon! It’s even more strange to realize I’m a full 7 months here in Sweden in 2 days. The time really does fly. I can remember the summer before I left as if it were yesterday. The feeling of freedom at my fingertips. How excited and full of energy I was (just to come to a strange land and eat way too many potatoes). Look For:

Kiruna Ice Hotel - March 23-27

Today I bought my tickets for Kiruna. The blue line is approximately the route I’ll be taking on my train. I’ll be sleeping in a hotel made of ice. The entire hotel I’ll be staying at is made of ice. Parts of it are even rebuilt every year.

Whenever I travel I always keep paper copies, the receipt, extra cash, and stamps for cute postcards back home in a plastic cover. My backpack isn’t waterproof.