Author: Michael Henkin and Lisa Dershowitz

Today’s something new: Svensk Kanelbullar

Happy (late) Kanelbullardagen!!

The day got off to a great start because today we had an English test! We had to write a blog post (which I am now an expert at) about one of two topics we had been discussing in class. I picked bullying because I felt it was the easy topic to talk freely about, like I would in an actual blog.

From 8-10am we wrote our first draft and a self evaluation about how we think we did. Then, I had a two hour Spanish class and lunch before returning to part two of the test where we wrote our second draft.

I’m still not sure how I feel about the Swedish grading system. I think it is strange that you can only get A, C, E, or F, and that you can get an E at all! I still don’t quite understand how you know which grade you get but that might just be because I don’t understand when the teachers are explaining it and just miss it.

Also, I think it’s crazy that they get so much time to take tests. A test I would normally have to take in 45 minutes back in America, they get two hours to take! And they get so much notice for their tests!

In Sweden, I know what test I will have 6 weeks from now! They think it’s crazy when I tell them that back in America I sometimes  won’t know I’m having a test until two days before. Sometime they get mad when a test is scheduled only two weeks in advance. I don’t know if they would survive in America. I do think it’s smart though to give people a lot of time to prepare for tests and allow them to only focus on one test at a time. That is something I admire about the Swedish schools.

When I got home, Lina and I started to make what I think was the best cinnamon rolls (but also the most time consuming) I have ever had in my entire life.

We started by making the dough and then letting it rise for an hour. In that hour we made the cinnamon filling and passed the time with a few games of cards.

When the hour was over, we checked the dough but it had not risen enough so we waited a little longer. When it was finally ready, we rolled out the dough, and started to form separate rolls that we then had to let rise again.

When they were finally ready to be placed in the oven, we brushed them with some butter and place a little sugar and cardamom on top.

After only about four and a half hours of baking, they came out perfectly! I guess the long wait was worth it.

Firm on the outside but gooey on the inside, they were absolutely amazing. I’m a little scared though because I can already tell I will eat more of these than I should.

I have come to the conclusion that Swedes have won the prize for best cinnamon buns, hands down. Sorry Panera!

Now it is time to work on some homework and try to resist eating another cinnamon roll before I head to bed. Sorry if these pictures made you jealous, but they don’t even begin to capture the amazing taste these little cinnamon rolls held.

God natt!

Stacy

Today’s something new: Ballerina cookies…yum!

This past weekend was pretty easy going, which was nice since I was still recovering from Thursday night. I spent the first half of Saturday working on virtual school up until lunch. Afterwards, I helped Ebba get the house ready for her friends who were coming over later that night. When they arrived a little later, we talked a bit, ate some delicious Indian food, and then I went upstairs to watch a movie with my host parents while they recounted old memories.

After they had left, Ebba and I went to meet up with some of her other friends and hung out with them for a little while before coming back home and going to bed. Sunday was simple too, spent mostly working on homework, drinking some tea, and learning more Swedish.

Today, I only had one class, Swedish, from 9:30-12:20 and then was done for the day. Normally, I would have English after lunch, but that class was moved to another day so I was out by noon! I am still not used to getting out of school so early, most of the time I don’t know what to do with so much extra time, but I’m definitely not complaining!! When I got home, I ate a quick lunch of some leftovers and then Lina and I decided to go for a walk because the weather was so beautiful.

Although Sweden has now transitioned into fall with all the leaves changing color, today was bright and sunny, unusual for the typical dark and rainy days of fall.

On our walk, I found a cute little creek and some beautiful views of the water that runs through Södertälje.

On our way back home, we met Ebba at ICA, the grocery store, and picked up some Ballerina cookies for fika. Ballerina cookies are very popular in Sweden, but I still had not tried them. They are similar to Oreos in that they have the same design, two cookies with cream in the middle, but they had chocolate fudge in the middle instead. They come in all different kinds, vanilla cookies, chocolate cookies, and many varieties and pairings.

We picked up the Kladdkaka package, which means chocolate cake directly, but it was chocolate cookies with chocolate fudge in the middle. If you couldn’t tell by now, we love our chocolate. Since the weather was nice, we sat with some blankets on the porch drinking tea, eating cookies, and playing cards.

Later that night, we cooked up some tacos for dinner, even though they are usually eaten on Fridays. I have noticed that Swedes put way more on their tacos than we do in America. Normally, I’m happy with my taco if it has meat, cheese, and a little sour cream. Here, we add meat, cheese, lettuce, cucumber, onion, corn, sour cream, guacamole, and more! It seems like there is an endless amount of additions for you to choose from.

After dinner I sat down with a cup of tea and worked on some homework. After I finish this blog, I’ll head off to bed since tomorrow will be a much longer day at school than today.

Yesterday was actually kanelbullardagen (cinnamon roll day) here in Sweden but Lina was working so we have decided to make them Wednesday when I get home from school. I’ll be sure to make a post about that later this week!

From Across the World,

Stacy

 

It is insane to say that I have been living and studying in Sweden for TWO. MONTHS.

Sometimes that feels so short, but so long at the same time. Everyday, I am beginning to fall into my routine more and more. It is so exciting that I am starting to feel like a normal Swedish teen, except for the knowing Swedish part!! But even the Swedish is coming around. I’m continuing to understand more of what my friends and host family say and even parts of the lessons in school. I’m able to say more on my own also, however my pronunciation still needs some work.

In my last post, I wrote about wanting to try something new each day. Talking about this really encouraged me to continue down this path of new experiences and inspired me to share new experience with you all. From now on, in each blog I plan to tell you something new that I tried, experienced, or discovered about myself. Hopefully you all enjoy my new addition and it inspires you to get out and change up your routine as much as it does me!  

Today’s something new: Insparkfest.

Yesterday, school was buzzing with talk of a party the student council had put together for later that night called Insparkfest. In Sweden, most gymnasiums have an Insparkfest which is somewhat of a welcoming back party at the beginning of the year, even though we have already been in school for a month and a half.

Since my school is so small, they had never had one before so everyone was excited to see what it would be like. This year’s theme was Neon Rave so everyone was supposed to wear neon colors and white to glow in the black light. School seemed to go on forever since everyone’s mind was on the party, but when we finished our last lesson, I headed home to do my makeup and set out my outfit that my friend Alice had helped me pick out the day before. I then went to choir practice with Ebba.

After rehearsal, I rushed home to change quickly then left to catch the train and meet some of my classmates. A bunch of us made our way to the location together and then stood in line waiting for the doors to open. Once we were in and had hung our jackets, we headed to the dance floor!! Although everyone was a little stiff at first, people adjusted quickly and we spent the night dancing, cooling off with some water out back, or hanging by the DJ.

When the party ended, around 2 am, my friend’s dad picked us up and gave us a ride home, even though I could barely keep my eyes open. When I got home around 3am, I headed straight for bed, unfortunately not before setting my alarm for 7:50am.

This morning was definitely a struggle. My body still wanted to be sleeping but needed to be in math class. Fortunately, my Fridays are simple and my math teacher was understanding of how tired most of the class was. We were able to work at our own pace and he let us out a bit early so I headed straight home for some lunch. Now that my tummy is full and I am even more sleepy than before, I plan to spend the rest the day relaxing, watching a new movie, and catching up on some zzz’s.

Although now I am feeling the repercussions, I am so glad I went to the Insparkfest with all my classmates. It was fun to hang out with everyone out of the school environment and I feel my relationships are continuing to grow and getting stronger.

When I see my friendships growing stronger with people here, it is so hard to think I will be leaving them in just a few months. However, at the same time is it slightly comforting to know that I have made friendships here that I know will last long after I have gone, and that I will truly miss my class here.

I am so lucky to have been put in such an easy going and friendly class, I could not have dreamed of anything more.

Now I am off for a nice day of resting.

Hej då,

Stacy

 

Before traveling and studying abroad, they tell you to try and do a few new things each week to get used to it before you are plopped into a place where everything is new. I decided that while I was in Sweden, I would continue this and try to do one new thing everyday.

Whether it be traveling to a new place, eating something new, saying a new phrase, or meeting new people, I wanted each day to bring something different than the last.

Today’s new thing: Swedish Kebab! (and no, it is not meat on a stick.)

I started school today with a test in social science. I then went on to have long lessons in Spanish and Math and then was done for the day. Ebba and I decided to go to the gym for our favorite step class to get in a good workout. When we got home, both sweaty and energized, we showered while my host mom walked down to the Kebab restaurant and picked up some dinner.

When they first told me about kebab, I had no idea what to expect. Södertälje is known for having some of the best kebab in Sweden and it was nothing like I expected, and there was no stick in sight.

I would describe it as the dough used to make pizza baked and stuffed with kebab meat, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, and sauce in a way that is a mix between and calzone and a sandwich. Although very messy, the kebab was very tasty and filling.

We spent the rest of the night watching “The Spy Next Door” and having some tea on the couch.

I believe that food is one of the biggest windows in experiencing a new culture. Since being in Sweden, I have tried so many dishes I never would have touched back in America and it has really opened my eyes to some great foods. I am now much less picky in what I eat and am more open to trying new foods.

Hopefully this is something I can take with me through the rest of my life after I leave Sweden and on my future travels.

This past weekend, my host family and I took on another adventure to another beautiful part of Sweden, Gotland. Gotland is an island of Sweden that is a popular tourist attraction in the summer for its little shops, shore, and raukar. We were invited for the birthday party of my host aunt, Pia, and decided to take time to explore the city of Visby and a little of the island while we were there.

After school on Friday, I went downtown to pick up some money and then returned home to finish packing and work on a little online school before heading to the boat. We drove onto the ferry and rode it for a few hours, snacking on candy along the way, before arriving to Gotland, in the city of Visby, around 11. We found our way to the hotel and got some rest for a long day ahead of us.

On Saturday morning we woke up and headed downstairs to a big Swedish breakfast buffet. It included many different types of bread with many cheese, vegetables,and jams to add on top. You could have cereal, yogurt, danishes, eggs, fish, or fruit as well and whatever else your heart desired. It also had juice, water, milk, tea and coffee for drinking. We spent a while eating the yummy food and chatting about what to do in Visby before going back to our rooms to finish getting ready.

We started out by walking along the edge of the city along the wall that surrounds Visby in beautiful weather. The wall was built many years ago to protect the city from others who wanted to attack and raid the prosperous town.

We went in a few shops, my favorite being the one where everything was made out of sheep’s fur. Sheep are a big part of Gotland and there are sheep statues all over the city. I really don’t think you could go two minutes without seeing one, so naturally I had to get a picture on one before leaving! 

Visby reminded me a lot of Key West with colorful houses, tons of shops, and beautiful water, just a little colder. We walked to the church which stands in the center of Visby and looked inside at the beautiful architecture.

 On our way there, we stumbled upon an incredible view of the city which looked over the tops of all the red roofs and led out to the sea. This time of year was just right to go to Gotland.

In the summer, it is normally packed with people due to the great weather but now, even though the weather was nice, there weren’t a lot of people and it was like having the entire island to ourselves. Craving some sweets and tea, we found a cute little cafe to have some fika and relax. Close to our cafe was a blooming garden with lots of green plants and colorful flowers that is special to Gotland. In Sweden, and probably many other places besides Florida, gardens die in the winter and come back to life in the summer.

This particular garden, however, sits in a perfect place with a good wind pattern and location so that all year round the garden is green and blooming, something very unique in Sweden.

Afterwards, we continued to walk around the city and browse through the shops on the main shopping street. We got lunch at a cute little restaurant named “Ett Rum För Resande,” or “A Room for Travelers,” (which I felt was quite fitting).

We then back to the hotel to get ready for Pia’s party. 

After a short drive, we arrived at the party and enjoyed a fun night full of games, chatting, great food, some toasts in Swedish that I assume were very nice, and lots of dancing.

While we were outside, there was a beautiful sunset over the lake.

We left the party quite late and by the time we got back to our hotel I was exhausted and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Sunday morning we woke up and and another huge breakfast and decided to spend the day seeing what Gotland is most famous for, Raukar. Long ago, these huge limestone rocks were once part of reefs underwater, but now they stand tall as big, beautiful, and unique icons of Gotland.

We drove about an hour to see the nearest Raukar to Visby, including the biggest rock on the Island when measured from sea level. 

We met up with one of my host mom’s friends who was very educated in Raukar and she told me all about them. We spent some time climbing on top of the rocks, admiring the view, and making our way to the biggest rock before taking a nice fika at a picnic table near by.

We then got back in the car and returned to Visby so we would not miss our boat.

We had a lunch of fish and chips on land before boarding, this time into our own personal room which was very small and had two couches, a table and a bathroom. It was very nice to be by ourselves and in a quiet room where we could rest and sleep on the ride back. I awoke to the 15 minute warning ringing through the boat so we headed down to our car and were on our way home in no time. Since all of us were pretty tired, we didn’t feel like making dinner and instead had a typical Swedish snack of sandwiches and tea before heading off to bed.

All in all, it was an amazing weekend filled with incredible views, tons of laughs, and many memories. If you are ever in Sweden, or are thinking of going on exchange to Sweden, I would wholeheartedly recommend going to Gotland at some point. Here are some pictures I took while walking around the city. 

Your temporary Swede,

Stacy

This amazing Swedish sunset seriously rivals the ones in Tampa. 

Tuesday was a little bit of a fun flashback to elementary school because it was Picture Day! In Swedish school, every grade has separate classes for each separate  program the school has. Since my school only has two programs, we have one Natural Science class and one Economics class in my grade, 2nd year. On picture day, you take picture with your class as well as individual pictures.

These separate classes take a group photo like Americans do with their class in elementary school. We walked into the room and greeted the photographer and then she put us in our place for the photo depending on our heights, just like when we were little.

There were a ton of laughs and jokes made as everyone stood in their place. We will get these pictures back in a yearbook-type-thing later during the year and it will have all the classes from my school, as well as a few other schools in Södertälje. Hopefully they come before I leave!

Yesterday I had a pretty easy day at school. I started with a test at 8am which is really early for school here. I was able to write all my answers in English so that made everything much easier and I felt confident after. A two hour Spanish class was next and they have been getting better. I am understanding more when my teacher talks in both Spanish and Swedish.

We ended the day with math which is my favorite class because I learn the most since I can understand most things. When I got home, I ate a quick snack and then Mamma and I went for a walk because the weather was so nice and the air was so crisp that it was impossible to stay inside.

It was nice seeing parts of Södertälje that I hadn’t seen before and I think we will take many more walks in my time here. After we got home, we made dinner and then settled in for the night.

Today, not much happened at school but I witnessed the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen right outside my window. The time of sunsets in Sweden change rapidly when going from summer to winter or winter to summer. When I arrived in Sweden, the sun set at 10:30 pm and rose at 4:30 am. It was so strange to be outside at 9am and it be completely bright outside.

Now, however, the sun rises around 6:30 am and sets around 8:30 pm. In the winter, there is only a few hours of sunlight so a lot of people get depressed since they have to spend the time when there is sun at work or school. People say that by the time I leave I will be walking home from school in complete darkness, which is so crazy I can’t imagine!!

I’m excited though to see what it is like with so little sunlight and experience something different. Now I am exhausted and am off to bed.

From across the globe,  Stacy

Today was a very special day at school because I had my first Swedish lesson!!! For the past four weeks, I haven’t had Swedish in my schedule at all. I was a little sad that I had three lessons of Physics, three of Spanish, two Math, two Social Studies, but only one English and no Swedish, because I didn’t have a lot of time to really focus on learning only Swedish and not the lesson as well.

Now that my schedule has changed, I will have about four hours of Swedish a week, and a little over three hours of English so I hope that my Swedish will start improving even faster than it has been already.

Since today was full of Swedish, I thought it would be a good time to cover the subject of a language barrier. In Sweden, there really isn’t much of one. So many people speak English whether it be at school, the store, or the gym it is almost hard for me to try and speak Swedish once someones knows I’m an American.

While I am comforted by the fact that if I was ever lost or needed help I would be able to talk to someone, sometimes it is a little annoying since I am trying to learn as much Swedish as I can in my time here. One of the hardest things I have come across while being here is Swede’s fear that they will say something wrong.

In the beginning, a lot of my classmates would shy away from saying something because they were afraid their English would sound bad. Whenever I could tell they were trying to say something but were afraid, I would always say “It’s fine! You’re English is much better than my Swedish!” I wanted them to know that I was in the exact same position just the opposite way around.

Now, I can still see the fear in the eyes of a few when we are assigned to sit next to each other or are put in groups together because they know they will have to speak English, but many are using English much easier now and much more with me than in the beginning.

One thing that makes speaking Swedish outside of the house a little difficult is how people respond to it. For example, if I am up to order next at a coffee shop and simply say “Ummm..” as I’m trying to figure out the pronunciation of what I want, the cashier could tell that I was American and will start speaking English with me.

Or, sometimes if I am at at school and try to pronounce something or ask someone if I am saying something right, they will say “Oh that’s so cute!!” so I feel a little weird speaking Swedish with them. Some people even think it’s weird when I speak Swedish with them. Once, I simply said “Hey!” to someone, and since “Hej” (pronounced the same as hey) is hello in Swedish, they said it was strange for me to speak Swedish with me.

Sometimes it’s a little frustrating when I really want to improve at the language, but it is just something you have to get used to and not let it get you down. At the same time though, I picked a country where I can learn a new, interesting language, but not be pressured to do so in order to make long lasting relationships with friends and my host family.

In order to learn Swedish better, my host family and I have done a few things that I think could be useful for any prospective exchange students. As for me, I use school as more of a tool for learning Swedish than Math, Chemistry, or Physics.

In every class, I always carry a little book with me where I write down any word I don’t know. No matter which class, I will write it down and either translate it right then or have my friends or host family help me later. This really helps me recognize more words as I read questions in class or pick out more words in a conversation.

I think having a book by you at all times is really helpful when trying to remember the words you have learned that day when you want to go over them later. My host family and I also put sticky notes around the house on different objects with the Swedish name on them.

These are examples of labels around the house. Vägg is wall and Ugn is oven. 

These are really helpful because every time I go to open the fridge or go into my bedroom, I am reminded of the Swedish word.

Another way my host family helps me with Swedish happens when we cook dinner. I will always either have to read off the ingredients and steps in order to work on my pronunciation or mama will read to me and I have to take out the ingredient.

An example of a recipe I would read. This was was super tasty!! 

I have learned a lot of foods and cooking terms through doing this which is helpful since Swedes are very into cooking. We have also started to talk about having a day or two a week where we can only talk Swedish so I am excited for those and think they will really expand my vocabulary. These are just a few examples and my favorite ways that I work to improve my Swedish. I hope any fellow language learner finds these useful!

Hej då!

Happy Söndag (Sunday)! After a long, fun, and tiring weekend, I am finally settled into bed with some time to update you all on my adventures.

Fredag (Friday), my school day was short, per usual. After, I met Mamma and Ebba outside of school and we headed to get some Thai food at the local Thai restaurant and took it back home for lunch. Each of us then got ready for a birthday party we were invited to.

My host aunt’s mom was turning 80 so we went for a little while to say hello, give her her present, and mingle with everyone before returning home.  A little later, Ebba and I got ready for a concert that was happening that night at Gröna Lund, the theme park in Stockholm, by a group called Maskinen which means “The Machine” in English.

We drove to the train station in Tumba to pick up my new friend from New Zealand, Maisie, and then hopped on and rode into the city. The park was packed with tons of fans all clumped in front of the stage. We danced the night away with the rest of the sweaty crowd and Maisie and I pretended to know all the Swedish lyrics. We walked back to the train station along the water stopping to get a drink at a 7/11, which aren’t gas stations here, just stores, and then went home to get some much needed sleep after such an exhausting night.

Lördag (Saturday) morning, the whole family and Maisie got up and had a nice big breakfast before heading off on another Swedish adventure, Boda Borg. Boda Borg is a Swedish activity that is very hard to describe but I will try my best.

A Boda Borg involves many different quests that you can do. Normally, you go with a group of about 3-5 and you pick a quest you want to do, either very physical, very mental, or both! Outside the first door, you will receive very vague instructions on what to do throughout the quest. When you enter, you have to try and do what you think has to be done in order to get to the next rooms and if you mess up, you are sent out and must restart.

It’s a little hard to explain but www.bodaborg.com might help you understand more. They first one in America just opened up in Boston so I hope they spread fast so everyone can experience the fun! In the five hours we had, including the time we spent eating yummy tacos in the cafeteria. We were able to do about two thirds of the quests.

Boda Borg is something so very different from anything I have ever done in America. Swede’s are very active and athletic people who love to workout at the gym and be outdoors. Boda Borg was definitely an example of that kind of lifestyle and I think Maisie and I held our own. We all ended the day with a few bumps and bruises but smiles on our faces.

Once we had some fika, we headed back home so Maisie could grab her bags and I could walk her to the train station. When I was back at the house, we all cooked dinner together, before settling down to sleep after another, long, tiring, and fun day.

Idag (Today), Mamma and I started this lovely day by making a yummy lemon pie. Later, Mamma, Ebba, and I went to Mamma’s friend’s house for a candle party. The presenter showed us lots of different candles and scents from everyday, Halloween, and Christmas. We ended the gathering with an array of Fika options from our lemon pie, to caramel cookies, along with some coconut-shaving-topped brownies.

After filling out our order forms, we walked back home and relaxed/worked on homework before cooking dinner. I am now off to be to rest up for a week I’m sure will be as tiring as the rest. God natt!

FALL IS REAL?? Who knew! In Florida, there is no such thing as fall, the season simply doesn’t exist. We have heard rumors of a time of year where the leaves are supposed to change and the weather is supposed to become colder and cozier. Our weather however just goes from hot to slightly less hot and our leaves go straight from green to brown. Today, I found that fall very much exists in Sweden.

On my walk to school this morning, I was greeted by a shining sun, falling leaves, and visible puffs of breath. Yellow leaves were scattered along the streets and lawns, and I think I even spotted some piles starting to form. No red leaves have fallen yet but I’m sure they aren’t far behind.

My friends think it’s crazy that I’m so excited about the leaves, but they don’t understand what it’s like to not have color in fall. I’m just waiting for the day I can make my dream of jumping in a pile of leaves come true!!

I snapped a few pictures for you to see, but this is only the beginning. I’m sure there will be many more to come. I’ll keep you updated.

Now Mamma and I are off to the gym for a class, Cyclefys. It’s my first time in this class so hopefully it will be good and fun! Hej då!

I’m sorry for the lack of blogging lately, but I have been so busy getting ready for my trip to Denmark and exploring Copenhagen that there has been no time to write. And I also apologize in advance for how long this blog will be, but there is so much to say!!

Thursday was a busy day spent preparing for my weekend. I started with a full day of school, then I took the train to downtown in order to exchange some money so I could have a little Danish currency while I was there. When I got home, dinner was ready so I sat down to devour a plate of food before Ebba and I left for choir practice. Later that night, I packed my bag and showered before heading off to bed.

Friday morning I got up at 8:30 so I could have a nice breakfast, got ready, do a little last minute packing, and then head off to the train. Mamma drove me and directed me where to go and how to find my seat before giving me a hug and saying goodbye. The train came after a couple of minutes and I got on, stored my luggage, and found my seat successfully.

On the five hour ride, I kept myself busy by doing some homework, listening to music, and looking out the window to see the beautiful Swedish countryside. I ate the wonderful lunch Mamma packed for me of a meatball, lettuce, and cucumber sandwich, an apple, a kiwi, two drinks, and a chocolate bar.

When finally arrived at the Copenhagen station, it took a while and a little panic for me to find the meeting place but I eventually managed. When I met with the group, we headed off to get our Copenhagen cards that would let us use the trains and get into Tivoli during our time there. On the way, me and another exchange student to Sweden from Holland began to talk and get to know each other.

We talked a mile a minute about all sorts of things from where we were placed, how we liked our host families, what our schools were like, and each other’s accents. When we got our passes, me and two other exchange students had to go back to the hotel to check in while the others were able to go off on their own for two hours. The other two exchange students were both from Italy, like almost half the group which was surprising to me, and also both placed in Sweden.

After we checked in, we too got about an hour and a half to explore the city on our own before meeting back up at the hotel for a pizza party.

At the pizza party, all the exchange students from both Norway and Sweden was there and the energy in the room was so overwhelming. We were a super diverse group from all over the world including Italy, Mexico, Canada, Holland, France, Germany, New Zealand, and of course, the USA. I even found out the girl from New Zealand lives two train stops away from me, we were so close and didn’t even know it!!

When the leaders could finally quiet us down we played a few get-to-know-you games, served the pizza, and then split into three groups to discuss how our experience was going so far. It was nice to hear how other people were adjusting to the lifestyle and learning the language and to know that others were going through the same things you are and they could give you tips if you ever ran into problems.

When all the groups were finished, we headed off to Tivoli, the second oldest theme park in the world, to have a night of fun on all the rides. We had about three hours to so what we wished so me and some friends went on two rides, walked around the park, and then just sat and talked because we had so much we wanted to know about each other.

When we got back to the hotel, my roommates and I invited the other girls back to our room. There was a girl from New Zealand, Holland, the USA (me) and 5 from Italy who had all just met that day and we bonded so well that we became instant friends. At around 2 am, we were all sleepy so we said our goodnights and headed off the bed.

Saturday, we woke up around 8:30, had a nice breakfast in the hotel, and were off by 10 to our first destination, the National Museum of Denmark. It was interesting to read about the history of Denmark, but I think we may have spent a little more time talking than looking at the exhibit. When our time was up, we were guided to the center of Copenhagen where you could see the Parliament building, an important church, and the “Wall Street District.”

They let us go for four hours to do what we wanted throughout the city of Copenhagen. I went off with two girls from Italy, one from France, and one from Holland in search of some coffee and fika. We spent the rest of our time darting in and out of stores of any kind from clothing to shoes to souvenirs.

The whole group met up again to head off on a canal boat tour. We shared so many laughs and so much fun on the boat in between telling stories and waving to passer-byes walking along the canal.

We ate dinner at the Hard Rock in central Copenhagen and returned to the hotel full and happy. At the hotel we invited everyone back to our room because we had gotten to know everyone more over the course of the day.

We each shared our story of why we wanted to come abroad, even though most got interrupted along the way since they led to other stories and conversations. We also shared where we would go if we hadn’t gone to Norway or Sweden. We had to say a sad goodbye to all the Norwegian exchange students, they were flying back early in the morning so this was our last time to see them, and then headed to bed.

Sunday, we woke and headed down for breakfast before starting on our way to the Workers Museum. Somehow were we still able to talk enough to distract us from the exhibits but from the parts I saw, it looked like a lovely museum! We then took the train out the the famous mermaid statue so we could get our pictures with it, even though it was a little rainy, and stopped by the houses of the Danish Royals on our way to lunch.

We were then let go for our final hours together to do what we wanted the the whole group took off together to find a coffee shop for some fika. We then thought it would be smart to use our Copenhagen passes one last time and decided to go up in the Round Tour to get a great view of the city. Normally, you can see Sweden from the top but it was too cloudy.

We then rushed back to the hotel to grab our bags before heading to the train station. There we said our sad goodbyes and went our separate ways back home.

Even though today was a little rough in school because I didn’t get home until midnight, this past weekend was better than I ever could have imagined. We all were so equally interested in each other that it made it really easy to talk to everyone and become friends. Everyone had so much to say to each other, not only about the exchange experience but about each others home countries.

I was asked tons of questions about the U.S. but I was also able to ask tons of things about Italy, Canada, and New Zealand. I learned things I never knew before about myself and other countries and made friends that will last a lifetime. Because we were all exchange students, we had one thing that bonded us together, even if we would never be friends in a different situation, and that’ what made it so great.

There were so many different personalities and nationalities brought together that everyone was able to be themselves and become a close exchange family. I am so happy I was able to get the experience to meet others from all over the world, going through the same thing I am.

To my fellow exchange student or hope-to-be exchange student, I absolutely, 100% recommend going on the trips. I have no doubt it will be one of your favorite parts of your exchange, like it  has been mine.