tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75471088154717575502023-11-16T07:59:30.617-08:00Umeå AdventuresAlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-57935572983342074422015-09-08T19:57:00.000-07:002015-09-08T19:57:19.924-07:00Big ChangesI am writing this post now from Florida! I have accepted a job recently offered to me in the Tampa area in the groundwater remediation field which I really enjoy so it is very exciting and has moved very very fast as I will start the position in less than a week. But it is also a sad time because while the job offers from the U.S. came quickly and as a surprise, Alex and I also found out last minute that the immigration processing time for him to join me in the U.S. will be a year, on average. We had read about it before, but it said online it was only 5 months and since I didn't expect to get any job offers in the U.S., we decided not to pay the large fee to apply and to stay in Sweden instead. But it turns out it takes 5-6 months for the first form, and then another large fee and 5-6 months for the second processing step before Alex is allowed to move over, which we had to research for a long time online before we read this. He is also technically allowed to visit, but they have the right to deny him entry to the U.S. since his visa is still being processed. We made the extremely difficult decision for me to accept the job, and to move to the U.S. while Alex remains in Sweden until the visa is approved. After already experiencing long distance for 2+ years and then living happily together for two years and being married, this is not something either of us ever thought we would have to do again. I want to be excited about the job, but I also have a lot of sadness and anger toward the immigration system for how they can keep families separated for so long. I know there are a lot of other couples and families out there just like us, but I wish this was a club I never had to be a part of.<br />
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But we are trying to be positive and both making the most out of our days while we wait to be together again. I know we are lucky in so many ways, and I am trying to remember that and focus on the good. I know a lot of great memories and adventures await us in the future.AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-47675514937509679542015-07-28T09:35:00.001-07:002015-07-28T09:35:50.551-07:00Celebrating holidays in SwedenWow I'm posting again so soon! I thought while this idea was in my head I better do it before I forget. Or maybe I'm just trying to put off reading my driving rules book that I have to return to the library tomorrow. Holidays while living abroad can be really fun and exciting, especially new holidays that don't exist in the U.S. But some holidays such as Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July are weird to celebrate while abroad because, well, they don't celebrate them here. So I thought I would go through the holidays and explain how I've tried to keep American traditions I love in the holidays while also embracing living in another country and the new traditions!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">New Years</span></b><br />
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I've posted about New Years Eve before, and really I think it is one of the most similar holidays to the U.S. They have fireworks everywhere, especially at home fireworks, sparklers, and drink champagne. One thing that did stand out to me was that in Sweden they release a lot of those big paper lanterns (like from the movie Tangled) at midnight. I haven't celebrated New Years in the U.S. for two years, but I don't think I remember this being that popular. Of course, one huge difference is not being able to watch the ball drop on tv in Times Square. But I hold on to traditions I love pretty tightly, so we set our alarms and wake up at 6am to watch the ball drop on our computers. A bit silly? Maybe, but it doesn't feel like New Years without it!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Valentines day</span></b><br />
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Hmm...I almost want to skip this one because I consider it a very minor holiday. My birthday comes ten days before, so I tend to focus on celebrating that a bit more... :). But I remember this year on Valentine's day I wore a red shirt to the lab, and remember seeing absolutely NO ONE wearing pink or red. I mean, it was like the purposely avoided wearing the color. But that probably has less to do with it being Valentine's Day and more to do with Swedish style focusing on the more neutral colors. Valentine's Day does exist here, but it is a MUCH smaller deal than in the U.S.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>St. Patrick's Day</b></span><br />
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Funnily enough, I wore a green shirt to the lab again this day and again saw no one else wearing one. But then Alex who had a class filled with international students said most of them were wearing green shirts. So maybe Sweden just doesn't dress up for these goofy holidays? As you can see above, Alex and I bought some green food dye and lets just say we went a bit crazy with it. It was a green eggs and ham situation which sounds fun but then when green eggs or potatoes are sitting in front of you they just do not look appetizing at all. But we had fun :). They do celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Sweden I hear, mostly at bars or clubs in town though.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Easter</b></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Easter is one holiday that I think differs from the U.S. quite a lot. I'm not an expert by any means on the Swedish version, but I can give you my observations. Little kids (and usually their parents) dress up as witches (but cute witches) and go and ask people for candy. It is like Halloween in the U.S. Common decorations are sticks with colorful feathers attached to them in a vase. We tried to copy this but forgot to buy feathers so basically ended up with sticks in water. But to be honest, I thought it looked pretty cool! And about a week later the sticks started to grow leaves. But to keep the American tradition, we also dyed some eggs (with a dye kit my mom sent over form the U.S.). I'm not sure if they sell the egg dying kits in Sweden.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Valborg (Swedish holiday: April 30)</span></b><br />
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I remember writing about this holiday in the blog before, it is basically to celebrate spring coming. It involves a big bonfire and alcohol. Not the best combination maybe, but I think the bonfire is such a great idea and so fun. They also had kids games at the one we went to last year and some food was being sold at the one this year. There is also singing and it is just a cute holiday and something that is definitely very Swedish. And usually we get May 1 off!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Midsummer (midsommar in Swedish): the Friday between June 19-25)</span></b><br />
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Midsummer is a BIG deal here. I would say it ranks second only to Christmas, if that. People love it. It is celebrated close to the summer solstice to celebrate summer, so up here in Umeå the days are very long and the nights still stay pretty light. Everyone is happy and goes outside and enjoys it while they can. It really is fun and there are usually events in town you can attend or you can go out into the country (as most Swedes do) and celebrate with friends and family. They eat a lot of pickled herring and potatoes with chives. Sadly, neither Alex or I could try the herring because I'm allergic and Alex is a vegetarian, but we sure did eat a lot of potatoes! I didn't try making a flower crown this year, but that is definitely a popular thing to do (even for dogs, as you can see in the undercover photo I took of strangers and their dog, above).<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Fourth of July</span></b><br />
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Pretty obviously does not exist in Sweden. No fireworks, unfortunately. But we still wanted to celebrate, so we tried to think of the most American things we could. So we of course celebrated with donuts and beer (only American beer of course). The donuts we bought at the grocery store Coop and although they are nothing compared to Dunkin Donuts, I definitely enjoyed them. We also put sparklers in the Donuts because we had them and it looked pretty darn cool.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Halloween</span></b><br />
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Well as I mentioned before, the closest thing to Halloween in Sweden is Easter. But on the actual Halloween there is not too much going on. No Trick or Treating. This year we found pumpkins for sale (super expensive, like everything here) but we couldn't resist! I bought one for carving and one for making pumpkin puree to save for pumpkin recipes for the fall! We had some friends over to watch scary movies and eat candy. My mom also sent over some pretty scary Halloween decorations so that made it a bit more festive as well! I think that I have become way more into decorating for holidays since I moved to Sweden, especially ones in the fall and winter. It just gets so dark here so any reason to make things more cheerful (or scary) makes the darkness easier to deal with.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thanksgiving</b></span><br />
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I'm pretty sure I have already talked about Thanksgiving here too, but I thought it would be best to have all the holidays in one place. This holiday is the one where I have tried very hard to make it work in Sweden and I really enjoy our swedish version. They don't sell pumpkin puree in a can for pumpkin pie, so I recommend buying a pumpkin around Halloween and making your own or when you go home to the U.S. bring some back with you like I do. I have yet to make a turkey here, they do sell them though. But since Alex is a vegetarian, I am not interested in cooking a whole turkey for myself. Not because I couldn't eat a whole turkey myself, because I could, but because it is just too much work for too little reward. One thing that I still have not found is cranberries. Not to make cranberry sauce, but just to eat. Around Thanksgiving I used to LOVE eating raw cranberries as a snack but in Sweden they are nowhere to be found (the fresh ones). We use lingonberry jam in place of the cranberry sauce and it substitutes pretty well. Especially since for the past two years I have had meatballs or reindeer meat instead of turkey. And that is how I make it swedish! Not having family nearby to celebrate with I think is one of the hardest parts, but we still try to make it special with decorations and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the computer during dinner.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas</span></b><br />
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Christmas, or Jul, in Sweden of course has lots of differences to the American holiday but they still feel very similar in how they are celebrated. People put up lights here too, but on a much smaller scale and usually in the form of stars with lights hanging in the window. Very minimalist. And you eat lots of yummy food, similar to the U.S., have a Christmas tree, and Santa brings kids presents. One major difference that I don't think I will ever get over is that in Sweden you celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. A man dressed up as Santa (either a dad or friend or some people hire Santas from the newspaper) with a Santa suit and mask comes in and gives the kids gifts on Christmas Eve. I feel like this would make me figure out the whole Santa thing a lot earlier if I was a child in Sweden, but maybe not. And before Santa comes and before you eat everyone watches the same video on TV. I mean everyone in Sweden watches this video on Christmas Eve. It is really hard to explain. I have heard many people call it the Donald Duck video, but it really is just thirty minutes of random songs from animated and disney movies, not really having anything to do with Christmas, pasted together. It really is a hilarious tradition that people take very seriously. They know it is silly, but at the same time they have to watch it. So we watch the video too, of course, but save Christmas celebrations for Christmas Day. We open one gift on Christmas Eve, just to be a little Swedish :). I have more about Christmas in Sweden in a previous post if you want any more information.<br />
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I'm sure I've missed some holidays and left out lots of details but that was a quick overview. It can be really hard during the holidays being in another country. Even baking a cake can take twice the amount of time after converting everything to metric or translating a swedish recipe to english. But it can also be exciting and fun and it has given us new traditions that I know we will keep even if our future takes us away from Sweden.<br />
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AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-66952529437750085632015-07-25T08:53:00.001-07:002015-07-25T09:05:16.790-07:00Swedish summertime<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Wow a lot to catch up on! Since my last post we have had a visit from my parents, I passed my Swedish national exam, I defended my masters thesis and graduated, visited family in England, celebrated midsummer, and just returned from visiting Florida! Alex is busy with his thesis work and is camping out in the woods most of this month measuring lichen and has seen probably hundreds of reindeer. Now I'm starting to get busy with studying for my driving license in Sweden. I would explain the long and painful and expensive process involved but it would just make me more frustrated so I'll just leave it at that :). I'll try and share some pictures from since I've last posted, it may be quite a lot! I'm really going to try to write more often now. We have lots of decisions coming up to make about our future plans and this might be a good place to keep everyone up to date!<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TQl9QPCAfvftxJ3U9sh5CP6B7OBrHHiwR4lkhDmOv4KnIbpg-JnRhJI-Ylz4TvdVk3bL3egZQIPF3OlgHU6OQJqPHSPxM7o-oVaoujLwecdRahqdkrAYjyBh_6VyrrL2_o-9xRWsRnOT/s640/blogger-image--397599367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TQl9QPCAfvftxJ3U9sh5CP6B7OBrHHiwR4lkhDmOv4KnIbpg-JnRhJI-Ylz4TvdVk3bL3egZQIPF3OlgHU6OQJqPHSPxM7o-oVaoujLwecdRahqdkrAYjyBh_6VyrrL2_o-9xRWsRnOT/s640/blogger-image--397599367.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was the pathway in March...quite icy still. Don't worry, we took the bus to class!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FS1JO0cRiz2NKAafgEs-wBhRZH9Bm9qlgbdmg7H8HsznXxVtFpQ-QAkyTsmClwmqQWLoO8cZCGt3pRO97hjF0J-bVBrpOE9gWD1GxqsHFxjPT5w5rCSQZM5ixsNRrjK34mTzfBeow5Cc/s640/blogger-image--50617923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FS1JO0cRiz2NKAafgEs-wBhRZH9Bm9qlgbdmg7H8HsznXxVtFpQ-QAkyTsmClwmqQWLoO8cZCGt3pRO97hjF0J-bVBrpOE9gWD1GxqsHFxjPT5w5rCSQZM5ixsNRrjK34mTzfBeow5Cc/s640/blogger-image--50617923.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was the path I biked on to the power plant nearby to do one of my experiments. At one point the bike path turned into a mud road with farms and sheep in the field right next to me, no fence or anything. They just froze and stared at me. It made the bike ride a bit more entertaining.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYHsAHp_REd0UbTpq5wuwxUexKn22Kg1e9nKlr58WEviRkZ30a248-AS4Rtq0rWFgXfYOmSyHEB14aq1zAtKGzkMObjJDSYCZQ1luPGVVq7Ii4Bw_z7NT4yUOVgP0IcRyhZdWAYZde4K1/s640/blogger-image--610074733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYHsAHp_REd0UbTpq5wuwxUexKn22Kg1e9nKlr58WEviRkZ30a248-AS4Rtq0rWFgXfYOmSyHEB14aq1zAtKGzkMObjJDSYCZQ1luPGVVq7Ii4Bw_z7NT4yUOVgP0IcRyhZdWAYZde4K1/s640/blogger-image--610074733.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My parents came and visited in April as well. It was still pretty brown out as you can see but it was warm enough to bike around (don't let their scarves and winter hats fool you).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTesqezB4JC3Do-oft0V3zFPcx9iBd9_WOJEDh0Vwb18wnvsSyFi2PZHj-h8MUBse54AEPUw0dICdv33PW600v78pCCIYIG9ecWfKbMz253bhr2Fdm2wwP4BKA7wtfZGW8jJ2r63TzQ7W/s640/blogger-image-2091964760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTesqezB4JC3Do-oft0V3zFPcx9iBd9_WOJEDh0Vwb18wnvsSyFi2PZHj-h8MUBse54AEPUw0dICdv33PW600v78pCCIYIG9ecWfKbMz253bhr2Fdm2wwP4BKA7wtfZGW8jJ2r63TzQ7W/s640/blogger-image-2091964760.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Even biking in the rain! Such good sports.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Aet-pAWgfgF0JD01bGfFXRPbaktWvTVF14bZ4W-jGsfpIcNDMDYutJ72KEZ2P88Db9NhrkPGkPozf2-PUfLjuK_JCY83U98xQ8l2yooXa-1sL2wMRSO0V6Yt3kVUj36_roG43W7nnFd0/s640/blogger-image--1610760385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Aet-pAWgfgF0JD01bGfFXRPbaktWvTVF14bZ4W-jGsfpIcNDMDYutJ72KEZ2P88Db9NhrkPGkPozf2-PUfLjuK_JCY83U98xQ8l2yooXa-1sL2wMRSO0V6Yt3kVUj36_roG43W7nnFd0/s640/blogger-image--1610760385.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> It was a great visit with lots of exploring, margaritas, and fun times.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv9KlBFdeMAGw-QlomxPn2M8QEW7S46dVU3r76Amba5U1q14Coiu1g3alQlgMxaMgI5eBNzXhZ9A3eJSkansD_Paae9VG6n-kZz6jz19m3IAmklGtLu-HKEPvIdZ6f78g_uJ6umMeZSxH/s640/blogger-image-271043837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv9KlBFdeMAGw-QlomxPn2M8QEW7S46dVU3r76Amba5U1q14Coiu1g3alQlgMxaMgI5eBNzXhZ9A3eJSkansD_Paae9VG6n-kZz6jz19m3IAmklGtLu-HKEPvIdZ6f78g_uJ6umMeZSxH/s640/blogger-image-271043837.jpg"></a></div>In May I went down to Stockholm for the Global Swede awards ceremony and got to meet lots of international students from other universities in Sweden. Everything was so green in Stockholm I was amazed, it was still pretty brown in Umeå at this point.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1xIuSr_oLsbnvwNknahzP0MiQp1sBaVM0zxyl8rTIRp9XmM-wrd6m7NnQU41h5k9XYEf5R3zYdXrLfe3MaQAfieYL5DY4Q_Anv2A3r_qNZ9v2C1U8Bp3oL-gY7J_T2D9wfmtpfM_EERB/s640/blogger-image-10961539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1xIuSr_oLsbnvwNknahzP0MiQp1sBaVM0zxyl8rTIRp9XmM-wrd6m7NnQU41h5k9XYEf5R3zYdXrLfe3MaQAfieYL5DY4Q_Anv2A3r_qNZ9v2C1U8Bp3oL-gY7J_T2D9wfmtpfM_EERB/s640/blogger-image-10961539.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is at the end of May, kind of green now but a bit cold. And there's not normally that much trash on the ground, we were at a music festival type thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQouTB19PCGX5GewgOgyyPKajWGU_uFLG76ne1nxHdAK5dNyrCVwCq8j26RkTiBQjTsOtx0rZbrqPT1C-GEuuqtvr0KckNYziCL_gUoeQXJQc9I1C_nopX1sE31v8sil7wQTANfa0wR8a/s640/blogger-image-1371702086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQouTB19PCGX5GewgOgyyPKajWGU_uFLG76ne1nxHdAK5dNyrCVwCq8j26RkTiBQjTsOtx0rZbrqPT1C-GEuuqtvr0KckNYziCL_gUoeQXJQc9I1C_nopX1sE31v8sil7wQTANfa0wR8a/s640/blogger-image-1371702086.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is me at the Umeå airport with Alex getting ready to fly to England for a week! I had just presented my thesis the same day, so I was tired and relieved and ready to relax!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaenXshOzJwuT4md1stvUeK0yr7pixqMGloZ-MZepIgzutMbCsjwJ39nrQDyAjFG_wHGwz_n6UAEoQjtkvwz6PxgRcVxH9npqQXdFu_PV0i-ZRXOQPq6FGaK7flA9fj_2HCuYPqCO8ktLL/s640/blogger-image--459754362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaenXshOzJwuT4md1stvUeK0yr7pixqMGloZ-MZepIgzutMbCsjwJ39nrQDyAjFG_wHGwz_n6UAEoQjtkvwz6PxgRcVxH9npqQXdFu_PV0i-ZRXOQPq6FGaK7flA9fj_2HCuYPqCO8ktLL/s640/blogger-image--459754362.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPohNP88-D5RL8ChfcvZkPwHrS3_YfINLqr479lBqpZ_licWxKcrfXDOKuFiZ0co0C_xQoW0GgKA7cIs7_iwCi9d8SFlaFtrhdBbPJgrSVdGhgYwqvCXLN_Ukh2CR1ADlwkkTDczQPoMK/s640/blogger-image--1580825215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPohNP88-D5RL8ChfcvZkPwHrS3_YfINLqr479lBqpZ_licWxKcrfXDOKuFiZ0co0C_xQoW0GgKA7cIs7_iwCi9d8SFlaFtrhdBbPJgrSVdGhgYwqvCXLN_Ukh2CR1ADlwkkTDczQPoMK/s640/blogger-image--1580825215.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHKVLAVmbYS4dhuQGoUNA7jpTBy6xH6oLAgPgjfxwNnWNO_Ys0ODGM5TDBADcdwoK4bG6WshlMgTs5M3087iE5fowAoJLhxpVfHjUeXNbuhwZXqFbbCAukPb3L2pL32e9O-zVFg_LcycZ/s640/blogger-image--1741412586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHKVLAVmbYS4dhuQGoUNA7jpTBy6xH6oLAgPgjfxwNnWNO_Ys0ODGM5TDBADcdwoK4bG6WshlMgTs5M3087iE5fowAoJLhxpVfHjUeXNbuhwZXqFbbCAukPb3L2pL32e9O-zVFg_LcycZ/s640/blogger-image--1741412586.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGMN3shEpwaiGhHnElqA61bObFWamjmtOAhFg8v9eTFzA0EfSAQSDSdSIpAmb6O8iVdbZfGu7OJCf8srM4SAapg51fcOUovhf_zQJAW7NEl9vwAmjKwZ8Dg-6WDt8Irjgby5R7NiVddgS/s640/blogger-image-978772268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGMN3shEpwaiGhHnElqA61bObFWamjmtOAhFg8v9eTFzA0EfSAQSDSdSIpAmb6O8iVdbZfGu7OJCf8srM4SAapg51fcOUovhf_zQJAW7NEl9vwAmjKwZ8Dg-6WDt8Irjgby5R7NiVddgS/s640/blogger-image-978772268.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Some pictures from visiting Alexs family in Southampton. We had such a great time there. I got really lucky with the new family members I got from marrying Alex! We wish we could visit more often.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyXIjpJsORczzOLpHDZWddd8jmMD9OCtPGdaYtVa0fmw-mrz1pM6bIvRKaT8lhfh8xmZpQlqfYdEUhgJSZABHINAahcHzd5nMcBO0gqr9_9Kg0TP2oP2yxavn2LDC-ANNzz0DMChSI5cj/s640/blogger-image--1350089834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyXIjpJsORczzOLpHDZWddd8jmMD9OCtPGdaYtVa0fmw-mrz1pM6bIvRKaT8lhfh8xmZpQlqfYdEUhgJSZABHINAahcHzd5nMcBO0gqr9_9Kg0TP2oP2yxavn2LDC-ANNzz0DMChSI5cj/s640/blogger-image--1350089834.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then we hopped on a bus to London to spend time with Alexs aunt and uncle before flying back to Sweden!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRXt__lQJHhJJwOE7VdMbkwKOqNNA_evB_sgbAFXM8otEW7b9Bs2byQSo40StKiDcWiekecmIEkoo2KU68km70xjWyXny3q4GdF4D7fqNcZ3wP29M7i36wz5WW3jc0HKX4B6FvZVewg7l/s640/blogger-image--237271426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRXt__lQJHhJJwOE7VdMbkwKOqNNA_evB_sgbAFXM8otEW7b9Bs2byQSo40StKiDcWiekecmIEkoo2KU68km70xjWyXny3q4GdF4D7fqNcZ3wP29M7i36wz5WW3jc0HKX4B6FvZVewg7l/s640/blogger-image--237271426.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFW3yovkJtp0qGT0P9b9pJct0bKRcWcUPWKH-pCZNkOsT4LSngmSeICFwySlyuDlzAenTiEmVaB3FkE9-IaddByVe-RmAJKw3_dWm_RK29ML5OUpaIxDpTRPniwpdIsxxoFAUX5vSUdmn/s640/blogger-image-1381369199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFW3yovkJtp0qGT0P9b9pJct0bKRcWcUPWKH-pCZNkOsT4LSngmSeICFwySlyuDlzAenTiEmVaB3FkE9-IaddByVe-RmAJKw3_dWm_RK29ML5OUpaIxDpTRPniwpdIsxxoFAUX5vSUdmn/s640/blogger-image-1381369199.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIXPns5IHD91M785PloJAwxPu7KI9Ny-oAEhrYZY-GATUp8T3DoRo8oAwxsObC9roNLTGIPhHq4pTj75W-yyzc8igAqQM8akqeL5x5UEfiRo97BctQvznVMqJBVzhXhjgDEXJabqOVjVx/s640/blogger-image--1530995178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIXPns5IHD91M785PloJAwxPu7KI9Ny-oAEhrYZY-GATUp8T3DoRo8oAwxsObC9roNLTGIPhHq4pTj75W-yyzc8igAqQM8akqeL5x5UEfiRo97BctQvznVMqJBVzhXhjgDEXJabqOVjVx/s640/blogger-image--1530995178.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Not really the best pictures but we had a wonderful time in London visiting with more family members and were so glad to be able to meet them, even if only for a short amount of time! And London of course is always beautiful to visit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiS9jdDbqwmpXvl2gHq5FQHOByGh_jNamQ5ihsYrmLV6PJXQO2_nFiPF89ncUAyT759jxH8_vyieuSd90c5q4wLHgEpAC4L39_Syc7ZKNKyeij__6FmChyNa6gU471gLJziWfc59Ju8WI/s640/blogger-image--361474326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiS9jdDbqwmpXvl2gHq5FQHOByGh_jNamQ5ihsYrmLV6PJXQO2_nFiPF89ncUAyT759jxH8_vyieuSd90c5q4wLHgEpAC4L39_Syc7ZKNKyeij__6FmChyNa6gU471gLJziWfc59Ju8WI/s640/blogger-image--361474326.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is back home in Sweden, biking home around 2am from our friends house. It never really gets dark in the summer, so I feel like I should never sleep!</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HccWJpSm7SBEszwWBxDjzGmSvGDYgvdEVBH4ItvDWeybYT39bWEJlpID5-8zxRZKhExsePZGZ1XZFP1Kbr4kFH2KGL5b0g2Qx9ae8ishQaRCE4X49Ygk_UxuNa1M71KorfKP6lhbA1wJ/s640/blogger-image--109438202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HccWJpSm7SBEszwWBxDjzGmSvGDYgvdEVBH4ItvDWeybYT39bWEJlpID5-8zxRZKhExsePZGZ1XZFP1Kbr4kFH2KGL5b0g2Qx9ae8ishQaRCE4X49Ygk_UxuNa1M71KorfKP6lhbA1wJ/s640/blogger-image--109438202.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Preparing for midsummer with a trip to the Systembolaget (Swedish alcohol store). It was superrr crowded as everyone was buying alcohol for the upcoming holiday!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-lsId9O0mrUKKqcjmJZilR4AZWnPHZSv47mk7JmP4VO-kWU1_8Pz3s2lXd71ggGTCl0XaV2lmbHZlle-9-U1NGj48AD4OynjL3ZW1pzZMVZ4Bx2CNzqtGXhW-QcCsRzRk_ZEDZ5T0Oap/s640/blogger-image-1566891096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-lsId9O0mrUKKqcjmJZilR4AZWnPHZSv47mk7JmP4VO-kWU1_8Pz3s2lXd71ggGTCl0XaV2lmbHZlle-9-U1NGj48AD4OynjL3ZW1pzZMVZ4Bx2CNzqtGXhW-QcCsRzRk_ZEDZ5T0Oap/s640/blogger-image-1566891096.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Midsummer! It was a beautiful day and we went to a celebration at the museum nearby. In case you don't know, midsummer is to celebrate summertime and involves dancing around a pole, drinking strong alcohol, eating pickled herring and potatoes, and enjoying the summer time. Many people pick flowers and make crowns. I'm sure there is a lot more to it, but that's the highlights. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJhL1lNce4KiVUDWntk6kq2u6flby7oq5E2nakSQwFsoYqu1EkridBSTbpJhT_d2h5P1MQxmBACSg1RuBVbWb0qY6CgSnyOn1ZjBFSnpWWzSrjuzbkGJY8USR7g3NC8VR9IACkB_rzqmh/s640/blogger-image-1236503864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJhL1lNce4KiVUDWntk6kq2u6flby7oq5E2nakSQwFsoYqu1EkridBSTbpJhT_d2h5P1MQxmBACSg1RuBVbWb0qY6CgSnyOn1ZjBFSnpWWzSrjuzbkGJY8USR7g3NC8VR9IACkB_rzqmh/s640/blogger-image-1236503864.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lots of people sitting outside drinking and eating. I guess it's also tradition to go to a summer house (which many Swedes have) and celebrate midsummer there with friends and family. We had a great day and even did some dancing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9QpyeF1xlwmrwmgO2PeBTtrqGA1tKJpHqfQev9VxMiX1KJFx4-WkpSznShpHJiqpIBWy8vHK_blsFMEN-m_Tel9eBmIlVpba5bLLyMPfqnzP2E3iE_wbL_xMsOyKslZliHvTBzPRDL8K/s640/blogger-image-231003392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9QpyeF1xlwmrwmgO2PeBTtrqGA1tKJpHqfQev9VxMiX1KJFx4-WkpSznShpHJiqpIBWy8vHK_blsFMEN-m_Tel9eBmIlVpba5bLLyMPfqnzP2E3iE_wbL_xMsOyKslZliHvTBzPRDL8K/s640/blogger-image-231003392.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Look how green it is! The blueberries are starting to come out now and it is really gorgeous here in the summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrfP539-5mjUbvDtsQFywB996c8xzgOFoEvvU-0W6lS1vxC1Nwhq_yvtTSJmk1O8yTEjIMsQhxVKzHCz-N_hFAweTef_sVZ-csJX5ZMHrK_ommKSi1HRMxEUlzomHR_pP1GQeJdHyu3-g/s640/blogger-image--1803056653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrfP539-5mjUbvDtsQFywB996c8xzgOFoEvvU-0W6lS1vxC1Nwhq_yvtTSJmk1O8yTEjIMsQhxVKzHCz-N_hFAweTef_sVZ-csJX5ZMHrK_ommKSi1HRMxEUlzomHR_pP1GQeJdHyu3-g/s640/blogger-image--1803056653.jpg"></a></div>In Florida! I got to spontaneously visit (and surprise my dad and sister) for almost two whole weeks and got to see some friends and lots of family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It made the long trip alone 100% worth it! I had planned on taking my many required driving tests and classes at this time in Sweden but I found out in July most businesses close (including the driving schools)! It's the month of vacations in Sweden. Which is great for them, bad for me. So I decided I'm basically part Swedish now, so I took a vacation too. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqq_b1v5KDxNbeRdPlR5lK9q3e1HO1WcWY-9kvb-_rYkjHJw2GGlBzEHpgxjcLevJ89eujfz-T15MzLg0YNWcb2Q_xncF1MnFdM_xKf3u2ppSo7MOcI96mRchsL04E8UoGgyMOLiMK5JD/s640/blogger-image--1924902107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqq_b1v5KDxNbeRdPlR5lK9q3e1HO1WcWY-9kvb-_rYkjHJw2GGlBzEHpgxjcLevJ89eujfz-T15MzLg0YNWcb2Q_xncF1MnFdM_xKf3u2ppSo7MOcI96mRchsL04E8UoGgyMOLiMK5JD/s640/blogger-image--1924902107.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNYdfbokPOfQUopsxQ7_GCx1yBmT_aA0JJbV4dR8MV_elgUl_f9Pbe5lIPvBCmJI3e_AIsjnwYyMmsEiJntxQ2jISdzB3q_jn73qq2ve4Egf_NCT7h-EKUD3wRDZs8HBcu-ChJvt0TtIQ/s640/blogger-image-845407862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNYdfbokPOfQUopsxQ7_GCx1yBmT_aA0JJbV4dR8MV_elgUl_f9Pbe5lIPvBCmJI3e_AIsjnwYyMmsEiJntxQ2jISdzB3q_jn73qq2ve4Egf_NCT7h-EKUD3wRDZs8HBcu-ChJvt0TtIQ/s640/blogger-image-845407862.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was so great to see family and friends I hadn't seen in a year! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q-cAogPTqcKQruk8Ho3wOW4Aynq6WgEiZq7WLBKZ0mRebqzY9W09DcF9HNWnQxxQwhGIJc8JfW-J3mraYLxwHzxywjQPATLxVRy_xBIkkIqk8PzMkVANYhDTiQrpEkUAbZtI5SG2jrp_/s640/blogger-image--166055962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q-cAogPTqcKQruk8Ho3wOW4Aynq6WgEiZq7WLBKZ0mRebqzY9W09DcF9HNWnQxxQwhGIJc8JfW-J3mraYLxwHzxywjQPATLxVRy_xBIkkIqk8PzMkVANYhDTiQrpEkUAbZtI5SG2jrp_/s640/blogger-image--166055962.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__WoopGHYW8QNAiL8fUH_S2V8ubXx8bk47ZpKtq8koei56Bor7HesLTMKMGVz0O_cjEStIvsLcCjV9dNvjAaMn0pqkz0AFEWLVP_34wrPEF8UKnRsvqTpHphF-1swqx36e1Y5n8jOtKd4/s640/blogger-image-1377949491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__WoopGHYW8QNAiL8fUH_S2V8ubXx8bk47ZpKtq8koei56Bor7HesLTMKMGVz0O_cjEStIvsLcCjV9dNvjAaMn0pqkz0AFEWLVP_34wrPEF8UKnRsvqTpHphF-1swqx36e1Y5n8jOtKd4/s640/blogger-image-1377949491.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My aunt had frozen the top of our wedding cake, but Alex was back in Sweden working on his thesis. So since our anniversary was close enough, we ate (and pretended to eat in Alexs case) our cake together through Skype. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejHpDL64ME0bJuQMakwkOG2Abo0gDHWnUNowxeki33am_ga18x1Ftl9OTqpWuiHvt54Mo65oF_MaqdFjKvv7f0e6i2Ji-sONVnwjzGbXOhlln-jlrlMnwCqY9dZrCMo0TbBkqK3LtOGxy/s640/blogger-image-2030782477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejHpDL64ME0bJuQMakwkOG2Abo0gDHWnUNowxeki33am_ga18x1Ftl9OTqpWuiHvt54Mo65oF_MaqdFjKvv7f0e6i2Ji-sONVnwjzGbXOhlln-jlrlMnwCqY9dZrCMo0TbBkqK3LtOGxy/s640/blogger-image-2030782477.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0BnGWZWJvkMaWxzI135h6OXyQUuMuSZOL7orRia3qqc2IKnYwsmNbjm82h-O6SKdMeVZtAXack2TQvVkSGX9g8OUR5nFwZs3Udh7Z_zLk69FZKBSEnxYIKDusNtdSACBMkN-oEwi9nK3/s640/blogger-image-1012259559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0BnGWZWJvkMaWxzI135h6OXyQUuMuSZOL7orRia3qqc2IKnYwsmNbjm82h-O6SKdMeVZtAXack2TQvVkSGX9g8OUR5nFwZs3Udh7Z_zLk69FZKBSEnxYIKDusNtdSACBMkN-oEwi9nK3/s640/blogger-image-1012259559.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In other news, I gave Alex a hair cut! And I think I did a pretty good job for only watching one YouTube video! haha. Sorry for posting these pictures Alex. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Phew, that felt like a long post. I hope you made it through without falling asleep. And I know I always say this, but I really will try to post more! I think things here have just started feeling less foreign to me so I stopped taking pictures. But I should start again! Hope everyone is having a great summer :). </div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-85424620673268454302015-02-17T05:45:00.001-08:002015-02-17T05:45:35.269-08:00Catching upWell it has been forever since I have posted so I thought I would try and do a bit of catch up. We have celebrated Christmas, New Years, started new classes, my birthday, and had visitors! Right now it isn't actually very cold in Umeå. Maybe in the 30s (farenheit) but we still have some snow and lots of ice! Our monthly bus cards run out in a week so if the weather says this mild we won't really have an excuse not to start biking again haha. We will see! I thought since it has been so long I would just post a bunch of pictures (probably out of order) just so you can see what life has been like up here the past couple months. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUxvyVU9zE3pkxu2S4QXLAaPOPeWG-kr4d-AQ12Oaedcdo30ncQ6Ayidwq0s2ajyNgor04z9qYXo8UkH2blb3ou6V67FUSqt_wN_2oRqCSE_pI-s6ELRkWgpELTZd7duE-_HoPiGgXm0w/s640/blogger-image-330045370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUxvyVU9zE3pkxu2S4QXLAaPOPeWG-kr4d-AQ12Oaedcdo30ncQ6Ayidwq0s2ajyNgor04z9qYXo8UkH2blb3ou6V67FUSqt_wN_2oRqCSE_pI-s6ELRkWgpELTZd7duE-_HoPiGgXm0w/s640/blogger-image-330045370.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A beautiful afternoon in town one day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kT4BFWMDUMBUcDJPmBbOPnLco8-qLufH8ZnpdkKYlVduHxpFWRB0hjivTJ9roGmXDeQbJMKqDVpwiY-qCOsieUTKuhX9tMzhUQgpMQHHpSSTjnf5Q6-BD0quuPHOk93T5MsovSNiytbY/s640/blogger-image--1404012710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kT4BFWMDUMBUcDJPmBbOPnLco8-qLufH8ZnpdkKYlVduHxpFWRB0hjivTJ9roGmXDeQbJMKqDVpwiY-qCOsieUTKuhX9tMzhUQgpMQHHpSSTjnf5Q6-BD0quuPHOk93T5MsovSNiytbY/s640/blogger-image--1404012710.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Exploring town together! I was a bit sick (hence the red nose), but I just couldn't stay inside when the day was so nice!</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy-IME519Lv8lUT6UgGBpww2DF0aNbI2XEW2hyuG9GWV8KzUuHCC7ZOB1G0T8IymoVYq_sfso-TP9_YCUXvShCHwISs0aYXgqKuPqf8_iq_JfFeWpJBUEMql3p5uCSUKDvg39cDPAhs4J/s640/blogger-image--1180412685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy-IME519Lv8lUT6UgGBpww2DF0aNbI2XEW2hyuG9GWV8KzUuHCC7ZOB1G0T8IymoVYq_sfso-TP9_YCUXvShCHwISs0aYXgqKuPqf8_iq_JfFeWpJBUEMql3p5uCSUKDvg39cDPAhs4J/s640/blogger-image--1180412685.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Beautiful town! (And a random woman and a truck)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTq404suILNiHcYWRw_dIuUC1i2Bpmky0t3FBbgZ8UDuLyWvx2Gq0ypAWLt0TZUe8MNveVAUXkmmltcnncF89TIzaY_xAVjGIOejTD8_H1hKJNDqp2tl9UfhQ1v3fQ3sYWCn_l1KXYgLSt/s640/blogger-image--43920268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTq404suILNiHcYWRw_dIuUC1i2Bpmky0t3FBbgZ8UDuLyWvx2Gq0ypAWLt0TZUe8MNveVAUXkmmltcnncF89TIzaY_xAVjGIOejTD8_H1hKJNDqp2tl9UfhQ1v3fQ3sYWCn_l1KXYgLSt/s640/blogger-image--43920268.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We found this cute little pathway by our apartment. It's mostly melted by now though..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlA6vXUxrFDK0qELsVGSiOcs2jn3CyxvmFMoGldjdrPI6ezuvApZxHGJW5PoxYIJfxjnQZ5gCCUo8izwKP6TGnStO-2HKWdm1AOaYcetNO7fWHKoPaMSeOuoAlYmfpX7-dL1gQwLeLi1_/s640/blogger-image--1909497622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlA6vXUxrFDK0qELsVGSiOcs2jn3CyxvmFMoGldjdrPI6ezuvApZxHGJW5PoxYIJfxjnQZ5gCCUo8izwKP6TGnStO-2HKWdm1AOaYcetNO7fWHKoPaMSeOuoAlYmfpX7-dL1gQwLeLi1_/s640/blogger-image--1909497622.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Pretty winter sunset out the window. It would have been a lot prettier if it wasn't happening at 2pm...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8ih3C6_S0RiwqihjyGkXsCwnHDqrZ-WpSMw4zRkJBMW9DkCOgYx3da8Q2KPcebUamlyKD_oI2D7KEUf_VHGP3yLxPqUQVsK7do_x9C97xYP6JZ8ycEe4_6YWRWgbUuXFwa6ZPV3W5Abl/s640/blogger-image--71405560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8ih3C6_S0RiwqihjyGkXsCwnHDqrZ-WpSMw4zRkJBMW9DkCOgYx3da8Q2KPcebUamlyKD_oI2D7KEUf_VHGP3yLxPqUQVsK7do_x9C97xYP6JZ8ycEe4_6YWRWgbUuXFwa6ZPV3W5Abl/s640/blogger-image--71405560.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Little New Years collage! There were fireworks and lanterns everywhere and we enjoyed a great night with horrible champagne and a delicious cake!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eFwAiICqlDUqnc7OM_kQ7MYJQAapE0Wc1G1RqT5nJdWUGdfy6evtqaPEULbXX4bcjdyLzMDbI24HKOnHTCUN2qi0uCqULEb-wlGuL5BeRpJIOcgZXCtVHeho_W3kYZLMuz7N4OBx4Zm7/s640/blogger-image-188742788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eFwAiICqlDUqnc7OM_kQ7MYJQAapE0Wc1G1RqT5nJdWUGdfy6evtqaPEULbXX4bcjdyLzMDbI24HKOnHTCUN2qi0uCqULEb-wlGuL5BeRpJIOcgZXCtVHeho_W3kYZLMuz7N4OBx4Zm7/s640/blogger-image-188742788.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Christmas! See? A bit out of order but we made Swedish and English Christmas food. I'm not sure what American Christmas food is? But I'm sure we had that too. We ate A LOT.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ7nlsGhgfvsnadghutT_mhNsgsBEDS37L9-Tu4fVH32LBK7aftI3K_knC2kHad6StkagWpMqNDcoWIOB2JDbk1jrEDVaFnmUzlU16A7IgEvDWLS8qZ0w6Rui11Ywm4rn7aanCJsa9m4p/s640/blogger-image-1424689834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ7nlsGhgfvsnadghutT_mhNsgsBEDS37L9-Tu4fVH32LBK7aftI3K_knC2kHad6StkagWpMqNDcoWIOB2JDbk1jrEDVaFnmUzlU16A7IgEvDWLS8qZ0w6Rui11Ywm4rn7aanCJsa9m4p/s640/blogger-image-1424689834.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For my birthday we made mint chip icecream and it was perfect!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-63158347609841434052014-12-05T02:42:00.001-08:002014-12-05T02:47:57.741-08:00Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYpZkYHc3mPzQOM8hy6NRtxaLcXDK_U2PAzZCtFMx8UC-laGV7y2sP2r3Itz27RmYYpppd18QNrLBCsfhCDEqb5jVSnXTtxx5y-3ZsuPDK5LZOatS63D9gHiKl-DWstlb4WnVWXA6oNfN/s640/blogger-image-838858439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYpZkYHc3mPzQOM8hy6NRtxaLcXDK_U2PAzZCtFMx8UC-laGV7y2sP2r3Itz27RmYYpppd18QNrLBCsfhCDEqb5jVSnXTtxx5y-3ZsuPDK5LZOatS63D9gHiKl-DWstlb4WnVWXA6oNfN/s640/blogger-image-838858439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Vn2vr0N_-SvugTsnD2M7kMF9xK1ByjxOZdlD2yyohs4GZX-fkrAuEVxLtZYq17Io84VkvmMEYu8E0DUjFLsXDJDS3OUBbpk8sV7HnkJZp09y8D3zAid2PwCeVjwE085cbH_3TshRB_14/s640/blogger-image-984305854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Vn2vr0N_-SvugTsnD2M7kMF9xK1ByjxOZdlD2yyohs4GZX-fkrAuEVxLtZYq17Io84VkvmMEYu8E0DUjFLsXDJDS3OUBbpk8sV7HnkJZp09y8D3zAid2PwCeVjwE085cbH_3TshRB_14/s640/blogger-image-984305854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNI0qagecp__UIc2IQX-D_gsupYWzdBaTXQq4bWke9PTQp85mD1puJfzGE2e21Koxy-wBDdVPIDoH8-efPHiJIPmdpOiiRvPJaPp2aC2Cv55bMi0DhGHR_Uk-wrirPCVg45bVaQPLMnJ9a/s640/blogger-image--1648925709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx-q3qaS-DBZEBqhgyyDbii9aSXbZkKrWLLDbd5zb1a_39os3-KT4R9lvkrZAi7ennwP2lt0E6fkkay41fkEYLHJRsmd9hh84jdhD0HYlpCEPxii5BDl5F014-0COw5RkD7qw_syGMoxk/s640/blogger-image-1846570550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx-q3qaS-DBZEBqhgyyDbii9aSXbZkKrWLLDbd5zb1a_39os3-KT4R9lvkrZAi7ennwP2lt0E6fkkay41fkEYLHJRsmd9hh84jdhD0HYlpCEPxii5BDl5F014-0COw5RkD7qw_syGMoxk/s640/blogger-image-1846570550.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNI0qagecp__UIc2IQX-D_gsupYWzdBaTXQq4bWke9PTQp85mD1puJfzGE2e21Koxy-wBDdVPIDoH8-efPHiJIPmdpOiiRvPJaPp2aC2Cv55bMi0DhGHR_Uk-wrirPCVg45bVaQPLMnJ9a/s640/blogger-image--1648925709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBby_kj4X66plYb_T83vXc4KkjPr7iRacCP_QFADokBCsxLMebpP3aPncelg0bmRlo1hOCQWtgPZcyI7TEBo50kIJj8VhP1KGJGXNC22xDwAsJlh7sjdQw91Oc1uA4Xizij1n_FDmCsrGS/s640/blogger-image--826785056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBby_kj4X66plYb_T83vXc4KkjPr7iRacCP_QFADokBCsxLMebpP3aPncelg0bmRlo1hOCQWtgPZcyI7TEBo50kIJj8VhP1KGJGXNC22xDwAsJlh7sjdQw91Oc1uA4Xizij1n_FDmCsrGS/s640/blogger-image--826785056.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNI0qagecp__UIc2IQX-D_gsupYWzdBaTXQq4bWke9PTQp85mD1puJfzGE2e21Koxy-wBDdVPIDoH8-efPHiJIPmdpOiiRvPJaPp2aC2Cv55bMi0DhGHR_Uk-wrirPCVg45bVaQPLMnJ9a/s640/blogger-image--1648925709.jpg" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Vn2vr0N_-SvugTsnD2M7kMF9xK1ByjxOZdlD2yyohs4GZX-fkrAuEVxLtZYq17Io84VkvmMEYu8E0DUjFLsXDJDS3OUBbpk8sV7HnkJZp09y8D3zAid2PwCeVjwE085cbH_3TshRB_14/s640/blogger-image-984305854.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYpZkYHc3mPzQOM8hy6NRtxaLcXDK_U2PAzZCtFMx8UC-laGV7y2sP2r3Itz27RmYYpppd18QNrLBCsfhCDEqb5jVSnXTtxx5y-3ZsuPDK5LZOatS63D9gHiKl-DWstlb4WnVWXA6oNfN/s640/blogger-image-838858439.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These are some pictures from our Thanksgiving! We made sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, salad, green bean casserole, vege gravy, reindeer instead of turkey, and garlic bread. And we also watched the Thanksgiving Day parade while we ate and skyped my family back in Florida. We both had school earlier in the day but the afternoon was very relaxing and fun. It was a great Thanksgiving!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The day after Thanksgiving we put away the fall decorations and started decorating for Chistmas! It makes the apartment much cheerier especially since the we are in the darkest month of the year here. The sun sets before 2 pm now and doesn't rise until 9 am. And it looks like dusk during the "daylight" hours. But these Christmas decorations make all that easier to deal with :). Our sweet neighbor from our last apartment gave us the tree and lights and the rest we picked up from thrift stores. We even found a stocking with a B on it! It is very traditional in Sweden to have lights in your windows at Christmas time, maybe to pretend it is sunlight? It hasn't fooled me yet but it looks nice :). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbII__0LYEz3J-SZhWAzMmWNP-FBLUieHdtdqr8g7-KFZa25_2ziccgDr8sJMRlMyZHw3mrH8pNvSq9m_-eGnill-3aZW-VvLW-b5XmddRcvB9eZR_0PtUKrw3bItQB3BevnqU0f0BLwF2/s640/blogger-image-11716580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbII__0LYEz3J-SZhWAzMmWNP-FBLUieHdtdqr8g7-KFZa25_2ziccgDr8sJMRlMyZHw3mrH8pNvSq9m_-eGnill-3aZW-VvLW-b5XmddRcvB9eZR_0PtUKrw3bItQB3BevnqU0f0BLwF2/s640/blogger-image-11716580.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM23DMrSr4FlJIKPkFgkE3a2EatqB334GN3ox-u17JfDK0P0AE8xRryNC1hmPF5BTYmqal4cTrO0bbc3jYagw7qOas27ht0hbld_wwl3E_-UUftZh-UWKLMWXS6e1DB-48uwkHhqEpS62e/s640/blogger-image--1828124294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM23DMrSr4FlJIKPkFgkE3a2EatqB334GN3ox-u17JfDK0P0AE8xRryNC1hmPF5BTYmqal4cTrO0bbc3jYagw7qOas27ht0hbld_wwl3E_-UUftZh-UWKLMWXS6e1DB-48uwkHhqEpS62e/s640/blogger-image--1828124294.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gZTJBwyWux1ZGNmY958aGzwNtjdJD06JywI1L_Y5miXZTIa9RmF-uPnm8b7Rua0TXT3YvD1y4SDrkydUrk6jRGPpNfwkIrL5BYcxlG_Wvncj5RO1gpCY6ChtQ6NLu44jZlIAxKzrYBeW/s640/blogger-image-948139060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gZTJBwyWux1ZGNmY958aGzwNtjdJD06JywI1L_Y5miXZTIa9RmF-uPnm8b7Rua0TXT3YvD1y4SDrkydUrk6jRGPpNfwkIrL5BYcxlG_Wvncj5RO1gpCY6ChtQ6NLu44jZlIAxKzrYBeW/s640/blogger-image-948139060.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvknDqkbBmtgBfoKVxW9mC9eWiB_V-mFJmSNRUFy0YMxwsLpwLaMas09Rk2pv1L0L5cVknjual-Z236gQm5rZqSKYmnppr2u9zsO2EPMISKJcb9L8rvLdrgI5solc4SbMshLgqy3keVJi/s640/blogger-image--1276121173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvknDqkbBmtgBfoKVxW9mC9eWiB_V-mFJmSNRUFy0YMxwsLpwLaMas09Rk2pv1L0L5cVknjual-Z236gQm5rZqSKYmnppr2u9zsO2EPMISKJcb9L8rvLdrgI5solc4SbMshLgqy3keVJi/s640/blogger-image--1276121173.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We also visited a town a couple hours north of us called Skellefteå last weekend because they were offering free bus rides. They had a cute Christmas market complete with dancing around a giant Christmas tree and lots of Santas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBJ75k0s1QxT_1dysmyL00upYfQ5a0KKt_V1Z4m5XPgFBw-YD3RkHIvWiqMlzGAICjim92ra4YDrwuoiupwD5FSYcZ53KC9PLXt3DG_jmIROfKwg7UCJvZ3kD9T4oNTHaXs40DN5eVCNp/s640/blogger-image-1289052083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBJ75k0s1QxT_1dysmyL00upYfQ5a0KKt_V1Z4m5XPgFBw-YD3RkHIvWiqMlzGAICjim92ra4YDrwuoiupwD5FSYcZ53KC9PLXt3DG_jmIROfKwg7UCJvZ3kD9T4oNTHaXs40DN5eVCNp/s640/blogger-image-1289052083.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYSpJSV2OOcoV_UpL4tqG-xeoxEjk5pzslfQ71-CpsBVOpCtIztWo7ZqY5J4lDGlzPsu8IyEQNBJyGWbtYKERRrCmeJkyKJhY5_czgCzb4cyndVwODWOaZiTLk7FWGn3IN3bAu800KyWy/s640/blogger-image--1639404915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYSpJSV2OOcoV_UpL4tqG-xeoxEjk5pzslfQ71-CpsBVOpCtIztWo7ZqY5J4lDGlzPsu8IyEQNBJyGWbtYKERRrCmeJkyKJhY5_czgCzb4cyndVwODWOaZiTLk7FWGn3IN3bAu800KyWy/s640/blogger-image--1639404915.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7egd7pi25uJR4NCxwDleB-5yn8dTdHHKobUSeVguTOAGJLnvSGmMq5PD1maJA8ueqvzWU-NYvvn4rEHyvNg7lmvLmJ1kO8JtFomFFwzWgJbJ42kYXlPQKadoaiMIcbySZpPtnbhv-Ey_U/s640/blogger-image-2117250827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7egd7pi25uJR4NCxwDleB-5yn8dTdHHKobUSeVguTOAGJLnvSGmMq5PD1maJA8ueqvzWU-NYvvn4rEHyvNg7lmvLmJ1kO8JtFomFFwzWgJbJ42kYXlPQKadoaiMIcbySZpPtnbhv-Ey_U/s640/blogger-image-2117250827.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianot2cwmcMrUdLsQKEV3q-avqOLFTXQ7WYj6X-_RqwZ6-34xJAcoEzbj_kbQsgFn-KD0QM-hq78ZkXNNoFKZn3zm549vYr-ixQBdQ55-15xIR5Xmfm_d5VI1GQCHqZfB1zGw6baxHF9jL/s640/blogger-image-323573635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianot2cwmcMrUdLsQKEV3q-avqOLFTXQ7WYj6X-_RqwZ6-34xJAcoEzbj_kbQsgFn-KD0QM-hq78ZkXNNoFKZn3zm549vYr-ixQBdQ55-15xIR5Xmfm_d5VI1GQCHqZfB1zGw6baxHF9jL/s640/blogger-image-323573635.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had a lot of fun exploring a new city. Umeå has their Christmas market this weekend. We missed it last year so we are definitely not going to miss it this year! :)</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-78342585405202672572014-11-19T14:29:00.001-08:002014-11-19T14:33:14.838-08:00Swedish icecream and an updated update!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>I<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">f anyone knows me they know I am obsessed with mint chip icecream. But in Sweden mint chip is about the only flavor I have never been able to find. </span><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6o0uHsNB4NbJcrkywBUlAH3MfywFmkyZ9REh2kRskKAWjtRWisS_uQ6uWbImFAm7Gr5WABM1BKuhphXCGoUDYtm0eZXl5y6_Hl_-YjauEVqzTvu5hj5MY3dR3CrXnlbGk5QWjkDkzFSfa/s640/blogger-image-146815643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6o0uHsNB4NbJcrkywBUlAH3MfywFmkyZ9REh2kRskKAWjtRWisS_uQ6uWbImFAm7Gr5WABM1BKuhphXCGoUDYtm0eZXl5y6_Hl_-YjauEVqzTvu5hj5MY3dR3CrXnlbGk5QWjkDkzFSfa/s640/blogger-image-146815643.jpg"></a></div>Pepparkaka (gingerbread) is one of the best I've found so far.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTKCoFifKvLFf_r_bAPuHMxmZnXrGepr8LUhkqfi15V5lsX95gXJm62sYzaChLn6H29H0PRNPOjKow3bjUCaA1BR3k3Istg2iFQ1AwtgAzS1VZE2_pLTxkSjtBTLkWvGuYr2qHj99kjpE/s640/blogger-image-914959616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTKCoFifKvLFf_r_bAPuHMxmZnXrGepr8LUhkqfi15V5lsX95gXJm62sYzaChLn6H29H0PRNPOjKow3bjUCaA1BR3k3Istg2iFQ1AwtgAzS1VZE2_pLTxkSjtBTLkWvGuYr2qHj99kjpE/s640/blogger-image-914959616.jpg"></a></div></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Salty licorice...yum? I've grown to accept the candy licorice now but I draw the line at icecream.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEAe5p0rMat0mAcV3s84wPv4JqKXrjeJYMjfHl5ZTdmNmdYkuAjIo58gen_Ze3eTcOMj-328Kx7OKYW8m51-5whhhvnfIhxBvSpoEQ2L8U5I0l4itx8tbcGM0fOhaecHreWPbfJrfBhIb/s640/blogger-image-2093265609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEAe5p0rMat0mAcV3s84wPv4JqKXrjeJYMjfHl5ZTdmNmdYkuAjIo58gen_Ze3eTcOMj-328Kx7OKYW8m51-5whhhvnfIhxBvSpoEQ2L8U5I0l4itx8tbcGM0fOhaecHreWPbfJrfBhIb/s640/blogger-image-2093265609.jpg"></a></div></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Orange chocolate...hmm not too weird but this is really more common then mint chip? </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vOvuvG8wofHR4INDf0S-vU48R42pB6b-PCpe7JcdYR9VsTA0tGGkjyTQoqDq8jn4TbQ93uulOWLTzusCiTjfYEcK3Sovlkvjr0u_YHzDp282FNb0ZypjtDsBRf7ZO0kPQErlxtcEMCNx/s640/blogger-image--121274763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vOvuvG8wofHR4INDf0S-vU48R42pB6b-PCpe7JcdYR9VsTA0tGGkjyTQoqDq8jn4TbQ93uulOWLTzusCiTjfYEcK3Sovlkvjr0u_YHzDp282FNb0ZypjtDsBRf7ZO0kPQErlxtcEMCNx/s640/blogger-image--121274763.jpg"></a></div>And one of the weirdest I've seen is peach jalapeño. Mint chip is apparently too odd but peach jalapeño? Perfectly normal. I teased Alex about buying this but then ended up eating half of it while he was at school...so I can't judge it too much I guess. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">So if any ice cream flavor designers in Sweden are reading this...mint chocolate chip is amazing and I recommend you to try it.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">The blog I posted earlier today was actually from last week but for some reason it didn't post! So I thought I would update my update.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15LBQ4wK6OR9DBxN37gv87qaT9eYd9yuXgIWPhgt7M4c7Vkqz19ENczycFIoOVO-_DBBv28k5cTAc3-4D4i4fJFj1npOCuGyKiYqEBWq4jx-pQT2vHSV8TCHsBV551boIIey5B2Eqea68/s640/blogger-image--1721012342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15LBQ4wK6OR9DBxN37gv87qaT9eYd9yuXgIWPhgt7M4c7Vkqz19ENczycFIoOVO-_DBBv28k5cTAc3-4D4i4fJFj1npOCuGyKiYqEBWq4jx-pQT2vHSV8TCHsBV551boIIey5B2Eqea68/s640/blogger-image--1721012342.jpg"></a></div>This is an actual picture from my bike ride home today. A bit foggy and frosty but no snow! It's forecasted to snow this weekend though. Woohoo!</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Thanksgiving is next week! We plan on making pumpkin pie (I brought a can of it home with me from Florida this year, I learned my lesson!), sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, salad, corn, and maybe some kind of Swedish meat like meatballs or elk or reindeer instead of turkey. I bought slices of turkey last year to avoid cooking a whole turkey for just myself (as Alex is a vegetarian) but they just didn't cut it. So we will see what we end up doing. And of course we will watch the Macys day parade during dinner! A weird tradition for me to not watch it while sleeping on the couch after running the Turkey Trot but it was a fun tradition from last year. I'll try and post a Thanksgiving post later on. And the weekend after Thanksgiving we are taking a free bus ride to the town an hour north of us (Skellefteå) to go to the Christmas market and get away for a couple days. So I will try and take lots of pictures! :)</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font><div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-47901918249246432982014-11-18T22:39:00.001-08:002014-11-18T22:39:24.136-08:00Life update<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnop5_YoViUqsUMfMooAd00MdjGGJi_4sie_VKgdR9hVxgkFx7GVN781FnBIAfcgS2AH3hk4TCqyHXpo_rs5dmE_ol9RzEWWHWIL2LafEOtGXoe487oUzvQCNqvLNf081LK8wSyMRJYyc/s640/blogger-image--93012723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnop5_YoViUqsUMfMooAd00MdjGGJi_4sie_VKgdR9hVxgkFx7GVN781FnBIAfcgS2AH3hk4TCqyHXpo_rs5dmE_ol9RzEWWHWIL2LafEOtGXoe487oUzvQCNqvLNf081LK8wSyMRJYyc/s640/blogger-image--93012723.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was today's weather (with temperature in celcius, it was a bit warmer this week). The days are getting shorter and shorter. I'll miss you sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolbDxzQmMtjbnyIc62_sKcMoM6qH2-Mpf4lwpvtZgXN5XPggMeFnaRZ87SRdFVt8OaPVP4VXRvpVsw6sklXbMYRDSQM3MAg8hliSdEzL13kaf9Y2LW8P_NSCeAaDU4tDYnWoUhKbBH01P/s640/blogger-image--426732000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolbDxzQmMtjbnyIc62_sKcMoM6qH2-Mpf4lwpvtZgXN5XPggMeFnaRZ87SRdFVt8OaPVP4VXRvpVsw6sklXbMYRDSQM3MAg8hliSdEzL13kaf9Y2LW8P_NSCeAaDU4tDYnWoUhKbBH01P/s640/blogger-image--426732000.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeJzplWMfC8_aG7Hx-KM6A8pWp71Lm2-jdqxwRPwZnzkjf9hLf3cTUVJihemd3O0cSDE01_7DiaZbIGQ46JTutP8ZvMC7HbMHq-nIqtz_gJuwscy9JSb6HdJVdTf3XJV_lzUpX7F-5Qr0/s640/blogger-image--672026073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeJzplWMfC8_aG7Hx-KM6A8pWp71Lm2-jdqxwRPwZnzkjf9hLf3cTUVJihemd3O0cSDE01_7DiaZbIGQ46JTutP8ZvMC7HbMHq-nIqtz_gJuwscy9JSb6HdJVdTf3XJV_lzUpX7F-5Qr0/s640/blogger-image--672026073.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CouP5lqSGjWE_EUwNDNTqC4KK7celn5eGDKHqkA1Hykx_a7hlkT24MVyghdmpUhpDkuPdhViZXeWUbhuoW1-pMMujw5B2C6A2BGsT-Nu1TxpjDQDMJKw3u1OTbD1h08Fec0HQdf-Az6s/s640/blogger-image-1733571372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CouP5lqSGjWE_EUwNDNTqC4KK7celn5eGDKHqkA1Hykx_a7hlkT24MVyghdmpUhpDkuPdhViZXeWUbhuoW1-pMMujw5B2C6A2BGsT-Nu1TxpjDQDMJKw3u1OTbD1h08Fec0HQdf-Az6s/s640/blogger-image-1733571372.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZgx9EpmSZFys3L0PC71uEovn191Kl-iMtXFXAhXn1B9Yfwsejz7jmg_seGQxXwDupirCogx0NdokKpGWyVq98g32u6RRVgoWBhiyXh72sYnKTSebiKYEQi8bL7vXcGNKDAYL4lc-6VFD/s640/blogger-image--655291964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZgx9EpmSZFys3L0PC71uEovn191Kl-iMtXFXAhXn1B9Yfwsejz7jmg_seGQxXwDupirCogx0NdokKpGWyVq98g32u6RRVgoWBhiyXh72sYnKTSebiKYEQi8bL7vXcGNKDAYL4lc-6VFD/s640/blogger-image--655291964.jpg"></a></div>It snowed last week so I learned how to bike in the snow and ice. It goes a lot slower but wasn't so bad. That being said, I hope it never snows again. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7k952p_1RR4eiRJAy-7bef0w9Anr5kIqmgo52f_VlW6H3Q-XM50l-7uXFmQmdln1bV8YObsVK8f3ykHbtcQKyiMRj-2wk6B7GvZKgwiDBcIioD1_Jj4AFmPuhQd_k-qj-0r_MZ0iUgs-4/s640/blogger-image-578325943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7k952p_1RR4eiRJAy-7bef0w9Anr5kIqmgo52f_VlW6H3Q-XM50l-7uXFmQmdln1bV8YObsVK8f3ykHbtcQKyiMRj-2wk6B7GvZKgwiDBcIioD1_Jj4AFmPuhQd_k-qj-0r_MZ0iUgs-4/s640/blogger-image-578325943.jpg"></a></div>Putting decorations out for Thanksgiving! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpDPLZ7NDvO5WDws3aqoqeyUZiZnePQvH6Tci1sLye3J2j6-5a87yldUTmrBvVT5nG_2Ijp7cuTCk5zLVSMOpqOQ3bYs6XaMkPoP_ITQgVdiXTk5Wgn50FOIkrHpb7OvvH1rBR728OKHh/s640/blogger-image--163591872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpDPLZ7NDvO5WDws3aqoqeyUZiZnePQvH6Tci1sLye3J2j6-5a87yldUTmrBvVT5nG_2Ijp7cuTCk5zLVSMOpqOQ3bYs6XaMkPoP_ITQgVdiXTk5Wgn50FOIkrHpb7OvvH1rBR728OKHh/s640/blogger-image--163591872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFv8-U8vm2FBCxHW6QMFMXqFCQpcjJSa8dHOwT_p23kK-ZDlHxBsWFd8zrAy-LZ1hdYyr1rSPaIlfyXAWcj4Fc74q2KOAXh8qncFq7h5GN_-B3cVWhqzquSc5AcMEx24eh7jFnMtGw4jQ/s640/blogger-image-710107574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFv8-U8vm2FBCxHW6QMFMXqFCQpcjJSa8dHOwT_p23kK-ZDlHxBsWFd8zrAy-LZ1hdYyr1rSPaIlfyXAWcj4Fc74q2KOAXh8qncFq7h5GN_-B3cVWhqzquSc5AcMEx24eh7jFnMtGw4jQ/s640/blogger-image-710107574.jpg"></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yh4dx16o-Y7zvJqqjSmzrkkgUz-oZWVRAMusyTzDMYNQjyWEB0u2Pvnqwowre3DYvHg-wnUnAHWIBvg3MG2IZYkTkj1N1m2FWwsxkcuRKVz4npDwvVA_ECfxsN2kDyXUWXuip3iF5ODL/s640/blogger-image--1841380987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yh4dx16o-Y7zvJqqjSmzrkkgUz-oZWVRAMusyTzDMYNQjyWEB0u2Pvnqwowre3DYvHg-wnUnAHWIBvg3MG2IZYkTkj1N1m2FWwsxkcuRKVz4npDwvVA_ECfxsN2kDyXUWXuip3iF5ODL/s640/blogger-image--1841380987.jpg"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8t1_UV_QNNJd9ZxSOBvbePCgQav7chkebtAeZjJkVQOWLxmDQ6r_8xwGlEbWR6ybshMB0UOq2bjxWCd-35WYPgnQM7zmPOp87NVBN5_UgCT73krQhhkC3WY2t1mVZB7l22dCAe0n20mH/s640/blogger-image--113248014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8t1_UV_QNNJd9ZxSOBvbePCgQav7chkebtAeZjJkVQOWLxmDQ6r_8xwGlEbWR6ybshMB0UOq2bjxWCd-35WYPgnQM7zmPOp87NVBN5_UgCT73krQhhkC3WY2t1mVZB7l22dCAe0n20mH/s640/blogger-image--113248014.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Carving pumpkins for Halloween. This was something we didn't do last year and I missed it so it was fun to get to do it this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZA343zZSjSYyWAjw5sRb3Ug9cEZOoU_QXqNYxoRZp6fc24zfW0gtR6HuVjRYkjrrVXc7yt33bjkZMwqpuEDJO5Xe_MgQlbcPdcv4nchQwzOrJnRrqP36xuWlIt_Pa9BpADCvXE8SxIdtb/s640/blogger-image-550979129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZA343zZSjSYyWAjw5sRb3Ug9cEZOoU_QXqNYxoRZp6fc24zfW0gtR6HuVjRYkjrrVXc7yt33bjkZMwqpuEDJO5Xe_MgQlbcPdcv4nchQwzOrJnRrqP36xuWlIt_Pa9BpADCvXE8SxIdtb/s640/blogger-image-550979129.jpg"></a></div>Me being all sciencey. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hope you all have a good rest of the week! We're going into town to see the movie Interstellar tonight, and most importantly that means...CANDY!</div><br></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-44173046102407212202014-10-11T04:58:00.001-07:002014-10-11T05:02:36.399-07:00A day in my Swedish life<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; clear: both;">I thought that I would write a post about a typical week day for me. My week days change quite a bit day to day and week to week depending on my thesis work but I picked one that was pretty normal.</div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEezLt8KzRgsIO9thtvPKx1N14CaZ_83m1raDHhPN939Ml36cS8M6w561-PgvTcP6zezKGUtNUkE1C14a1bq3mqnnyc09ivnAjuNKGBqUAH8NXROeMXAisdvhdG8oPgy7YbevyAkxj5enY/s640/blogger-image--192011652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEezLt8KzRgsIO9thtvPKx1N14CaZ_83m1raDHhPN939Ml36cS8M6w561-PgvTcP6zezKGUtNUkE1C14a1bq3mqnnyc09ivnAjuNKGBqUAH8NXROeMXAisdvhdG8oPgy7YbevyAkxj5enY/s640/blogger-image--192011652.jpg"></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> I woke up around 7:30 am and ate breakfast, got my school stuff together and started the long process of putting on lots of clothing layers for my bike ride to school. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the university where I am doing my thesis work. It's really not too bad except for when it rains. The only thing that can make me wish for snow is biking in the cold rain.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkzDvLYlWTYqpJ3_aGWv1I15id-MmRDnzIuXbWER4LCOhDHoYxklpJammH7tQp0KphWknyc9IyeqSSkG9o7O908LLtdGYSESs5-kG8AR_dMCaDgBRSI5oY41Ddmp6heHyiAud25RIbDZc/s640/blogger-image-6012595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkzDvLYlWTYqpJ3_aGWv1I15id-MmRDnzIuXbWER4LCOhDHoYxklpJammH7tQp0KphWknyc9IyeqSSkG9o7O908LLtdGYSESs5-kG8AR_dMCaDgBRSI5oY41Ddmp6heHyiAud25RIbDZc/s640/blogger-image-6012595.jpg"></a></div>I bike by a lake on the way to school, I don't usually stop but I did today to take a picture and it was very beautiful even though it was a bit of a dreary day outside.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh0DSXjD4-0A0PHgGo_wWl0acT4SUGW5_koMOkCeOL7O9C2RscbYjQPGbJO8sGbDhHNhdQkdgmTvXe5sYYzc75BverR08Zj7sKwYICKuoEr64qFjr5dfu7nb2sNV0xkjuwZubGXZ0I22A/s640/blogger-image-1451626246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh0DSXjD4-0A0PHgGo_wWl0acT4SUGW5_koMOkCeOL7O9C2RscbYjQPGbJO8sGbDhHNhdQkdgmTvXe5sYYzc75BverR08Zj7sKwYICKuoEr64qFjr5dfu7nb2sNV0xkjuwZubGXZ0I22A/s640/blogger-image-1451626246.jpg"></a></div>Almost to school! There is a bike path the whole way there and I usually don't see many other people until I get closer to campus. Look at these trees though! Lucky I took a picture of them because now they are basically bare and have dropped all of their leaves!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh78xOaRQFQmqxDGg0L_YtDNQQe8yWhV_uG3imi499YKnFT_WoMaiHPGGieYKhpVgfZieQpncSjZzSpzh-UDQTnif_Hn7RQvCdPa8JehFIEGTcYYnRjvgELYiDTD-dKHmsnJ0sdTVRVGCG/s640/blogger-image-1368232884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh78xOaRQFQmqxDGg0L_YtDNQQe8yWhV_uG3imi499YKnFT_WoMaiHPGGieYKhpVgfZieQpncSjZzSpzh-UDQTnif_Hn7RQvCdPa8JehFIEGTcYYnRjvgELYiDTD-dKHmsnJ0sdTVRVGCG/s640/blogger-image-1368232884.jpg"></a></div>This is SLU, the university where I am doing my thesis work. I technically attend Umeå University but since they are located about 100 feet from each other they work together a lot so I was able to do my thesis here instead :). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOAZlcHqNxuie8W8GQgZgdI98MNh-ZpNPRt7gu5vHZvEONt3f9uPHAEfQYAvB3omYEj8H_wUHZQg_SKak28OR54NJE1CMbyVetx36q8uIjxbMbFBEF9gyeKvuPgZF2WFuOrCBD4ljdUP8/s640/blogger-image-12774852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOAZlcHqNxuie8W8GQgZgdI98MNh-ZpNPRt7gu5vHZvEONt3f9uPHAEfQYAvB3omYEj8H_wUHZQg_SKak28OR54NJE1CMbyVetx36q8uIjxbMbFBEF9gyeKvuPgZF2WFuOrCBD4ljdUP8/s640/blogger-image-12774852.jpg"></a></div>SLU has these really cool murals by the staircases, this is just a tiny part of one.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfK6ddNqINDXeD-RZ-1lvFA92gbRMIQxAD-kKfwOWmzFcdQn4si5u1RUMX-IUsmthmKAs3M3pnYnvfoIj0S3PMnDSnvHiyhPESmSWZtOlOyouP5kfW1b-mxQqgtEt2tqkwGhqJyhvL_6sK/s640/blogger-image-1044219259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfK6ddNqINDXeD-RZ-1lvFA92gbRMIQxAD-kKfwOWmzFcdQn4si5u1RUMX-IUsmthmKAs3M3pnYnvfoIj0S3PMnDSnvHiyhPESmSWZtOlOyouP5kfW1b-mxQqgtEt2tqkwGhqJyhvL_6sK/s640/blogger-image-1044219259.jpg"></a></div>Then I go upstairs to the lab, put on my lab coat and start taking a bunch of samples to be tested. Above is an example of some algae I'm growing in wastewater.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">I typically finish with all the samples before lunch and then after lunch I bike about 10 minutes to my Swedish class at SFI, or Swedish for immigrants. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49qItPrR94kwiSUW9z3CdMWSkcFOxf_T6hymbbPaJ5icHV1hv9EjeP8c6xb644tzzCBWujYi3FS1M8m5sxi8a6tFIIPwJh2huujuYM9F_3yuTk1Z7Qy5V8U-aY7DsteNmpNgl35o9opLj/s640/blogger-image--639087592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49qItPrR94kwiSUW9z3CdMWSkcFOxf_T6hymbbPaJ5icHV1hv9EjeP8c6xb644tzzCBWujYi3FS1M8m5sxi8a6tFIIPwJh2huujuYM9F_3yuTk1Z7Qy5V8U-aY7DsteNmpNgl35o9opLj/s640/blogger-image--639087592.jpg"></a></div></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">My Swedish classroom! It looks like I'm the only one there but there were about three others this day, but I waited until the break to take the picture. I really like my Swedish class and wish I could go more often.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3jMhcs7KR49i4pVCPZgw2WpyOdhJINDqDumdAy0eIf8o_Ko-zsdsIUS4ogGp6GAlMyOcZhTXG9S2W3P0YCAfccwJyAEcg-tHYC3o1YoBK8P0pwUw9vnizUXD3rmk2pTyb-9wAVaqsFUX/s640/blogger-image--400547450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3jMhcs7KR49i4pVCPZgw2WpyOdhJINDqDumdAy0eIf8o_Ko-zsdsIUS4ogGp6GAlMyOcZhTXG9S2W3P0YCAfccwJyAEcg-tHYC3o1YoBK8P0pwUw9vnizUXD3rmk2pTyb-9wAVaqsFUX/s640/blogger-image--400547450.jpg"></a></div><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">After I finished Swedish class I met Alex in town while he took a break from writing a paper around 3 because we needed to show the tax office our marriage license so it could be registered in the system. I didn't get a picture of us doing that but this is a picture of the new mall they are building that we checked out on our way there.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC0-0Y2g34HQR6BNrOqOI9_90uzB1Pil0AZ48xvvL8Yky3aTVBSFzuh_nvXH8O0L789NJ9KayN7qMlIpKOBfjNv5moCFHA64v-10q7006rbjBI8OS7VEMoOmtDyqUQb33nT9xT2L4ILB7/s640/blogger-image--2080620135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC0-0Y2g34HQR6BNrOqOI9_90uzB1Pil0AZ48xvvL8Yky3aTVBSFzuh_nvXH8O0L789NJ9KayN7qMlIpKOBfjNv5moCFHA64v-10q7006rbjBI8OS7VEMoOmtDyqUQb33nT9xT2L4ILB7/s640/blogger-image--2080620135.jpg"></a></div>The skies were looking a bit dark and scary so we tried to rush home afterwards.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFhcdVyxWiOU8k_mpqZky6lixJEA9CICpLnEpfTkFcY5bQlIi-wodNtol-vTjfky2lTckP-GTgMWJvszIBQ7o8VqtU6pXkd91ntornzgZHojUJXVbADJFdXK6mPh3OYtenH2MO0gPL3GL/s640/blogger-image-1319111973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFhcdVyxWiOU8k_mpqZky6lixJEA9CICpLnEpfTkFcY5bQlIi-wodNtol-vTjfky2lTckP-GTgMWJvszIBQ7o8VqtU6pXkd91ntornzgZHojUJXVbADJFdXK6mPh3OYtenH2MO0gPL3GL/s640/blogger-image-1319111973.jpg"></a></div>You can't really tell from this picture above, but it started raining and we got SOAKED. And we still had about a thirty minute freezing cold windy bike ride home.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxHoDiBSDZCDcWvIdrEjMwexplXjHNf_ib1feUObKX7VoW07LuUTQMGZRnTzLEkNDiv8jU3pWGyPYcqvgkhmXQpUXKJjs4rbGb12N8ZfgOjKHiaMH5DOivJvdbHO5bjJhXEA4kV5TZ7FC/s640/blogger-image-1972457756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxHoDiBSDZCDcWvIdrEjMwexplXjHNf_ib1feUObKX7VoW07LuUTQMGZRnTzLEkNDiv8jU3pWGyPYcqvgkhmXQpUXKJjs4rbGb12N8ZfgOjKHiaMH5DOivJvdbHO5bjJhXEA4kV5TZ7FC/s640/blogger-image-1972457756.jpg"></a></div>Finally home! We had to hang up all our layers and layers of wet clothes. Also you can see here our very Swedish style shower. There is a curtain but no boundary separating it on the floor. I barely even notice it anymore.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9eQLEmn2Cgw3RcqRnrMAC329QstmCO9nVJ3c9kqShrdCQJiHm7fn5QdRjDNKz1VSXIQVwfmMIPfhW2Yyy7VsMGxN1fl98Zq960rwU44Q19kudo19LcpcvRVnTy53lRSR_Y36e1kTQhMn/s640/blogger-image-120987724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9eQLEmn2Cgw3RcqRnrMAC329QstmCO9nVJ3c9kqShrdCQJiHm7fn5QdRjDNKz1VSXIQVwfmMIPfhW2Yyy7VsMGxN1fl98Zq960rwU44Q19kudo19LcpcvRVnTy53lRSR_Y36e1kTQhMn/s640/blogger-image-120987724.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It stopped raining so we decided to walk to the store nearby and get some milk because we wanted to make pancakes for dinner after that freezing cold bike ride home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6Jla1DARUICSU8rOuhOCWfy4j4sbXRCzn3Y6Ad0f0cuGa5RmKv8qqqh-biYWi6aYq8s2-xg07MRKd5oaAEbiNcwI8BFe3PiXkblcbH43vWyXIQcl7sBg8pTumcaxXZSB7e_KgLpbFbsc/s640/blogger-image--1843565632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6Jla1DARUICSU8rOuhOCWfy4j4sbXRCzn3Y6Ad0f0cuGa5RmKv8qqqh-biYWi6aYq8s2-xg07MRKd5oaAEbiNcwI8BFe3PiXkblcbH43vWyXIQcl7sBg8pTumcaxXZSB7e_KgLpbFbsc/s640/blogger-image--1843565632.jpg"></a></div>We stopped to take a picture on our way back :).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGSnUGwvHvWPNhfyBg3RQOxxF44KHCMy1nOE62iROmlT4T-ghXN6MIXCRAJ5-ITUyoIhCyhbxbsFwls5iWzKkWY65ql0NCCBEUSrBuQMuVOykrLvT45_ITQJ-oYtnhwICE1tgkguNIvL5/s640/blogger-image--1930508813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGSnUGwvHvWPNhfyBg3RQOxxF44KHCMy1nOE62iROmlT4T-ghXN6MIXCRAJ5-ITUyoIhCyhbxbsFwls5iWzKkWY65ql0NCCBEUSrBuQMuVOykrLvT45_ITQJ-oYtnhwICE1tgkguNIvL5/s640/blogger-image--1930508813.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I finished a couple things up for school while Alex cooked the pancakes (and apparently snapped this picture!). He makes the best pancakes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then we watched a movie and relaxed a bit and then went to sleep. Besides the cold rain it was a pretty normal, but wonderful, day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Maybe I'll do another post like this after winter comes, because our lives in winter day to day are a lot different than in the fall.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"> </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><br></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-84772569994094012402014-09-22T03:15:00.001-07:002014-09-22T03:22:19.716-07:00Back in Sweden!After two wonderful months visiting family in Florida and getting married (!) we are back in Umeå. We are all moved into our new apartment and slowly trying to make it look more homey. Our bike ride to school is only twenty minutes now (compared to 45 before) so we are loving the new location! School has begun for us both and I have just been doing some lab work for my thesis and Alex is writing a big paper. Today the temperatures changed dramatically, all of the sudden the highs are in the forties instead of the sixties! :O I'm not ready. But it is really beautiful out with all the leaves changing color again, it's just hard to get excited about it when you know winter is coming afterwards. I've been going to swedish class a couple times a week as well and it seems to be going ok! Sometimes I think I'm really understanding the language and then the next day I won't understand a thing so it's a frustrating process but hopefully it will pay off! Here are some pictures from our time here the past month! And a few from the wedding as well!<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8pxCrSisVTRw9iS_ba6_dsnlYvdUPKVNOsXNmwD-djGIdLbPN0p73cQdk8x77mwGJe9IduVjhXh_k-PLNwCm2EWoiWcnPKaGkIr_sUp-NoT2qeBPgh0JbjW_xh2wPOyQVT9q9-C-5b1b/s640/blogger-image-1191310245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8pxCrSisVTRw9iS_ba6_dsnlYvdUPKVNOsXNmwD-djGIdLbPN0p73cQdk8x77mwGJe9IduVjhXh_k-PLNwCm2EWoiWcnPKaGkIr_sUp-NoT2qeBPgh0JbjW_xh2wPOyQVT9q9-C-5b1b/s640/blogger-image-1191310245.jpg"></a></div>We seem to have a seventies theme going on, we were given the comfy armchair by our old neighbor and we bought the couch for about 30 dollars. It's really comfy and we love its quirkyness.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmapMPBNjzrh4cekkeg4TcYQ-ssXyc4O45YlPSq8lDEW9PSwKWxa1fl8fiVkvwajLfzgybU0KFUV8kFQjY6owcUQR5E2_iAqonLNnklwrDzT88clbGXCvAFtI2yFrkRmNwfIOzLFXmhqt/s640/blogger-image--517110522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmapMPBNjzrh4cekkeg4TcYQ-ssXyc4O45YlPSq8lDEW9PSwKWxa1fl8fiVkvwajLfzgybU0KFUV8kFQjY6owcUQR5E2_iAqonLNnklwrDzT88clbGXCvAFtI2yFrkRmNwfIOzLFXmhqt/s640/blogger-image--517110522.jpg"></a></div>Alex's birthday was last week so I made him a kladdkaka cake and it was so yummy. It's like a giant brownie.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeqcgJuCiTn6G6625WHFGkUYuNZyhrjjVDr5oYna7rSI0EOhJ11EBmYyOhssChhWhrWVXGAt73PGBLIEUJvAxAL5K-DvwVjTZICq6T8b9suF2M8B2A2OdK5Ha-Sr4ae-IWionRni4DB2h/s640/blogger-image-148717901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeqcgJuCiTn6G6625WHFGkUYuNZyhrjjVDr5oYna7rSI0EOhJ11EBmYyOhssChhWhrWVXGAt73PGBLIEUJvAxAL5K-DvwVjTZICq6T8b9suF2M8B2A2OdK5Ha-Sr4ae-IWionRni4DB2h/s640/blogger-image-148717901.jpg"></a></div>I made my first loaf of bread! But it tasted pretty bad. I realized too late that one packet of yeast in the US and Sweden is not the same thing...so this tasted wayyyy too yeasty. But sweet Alex still ate it.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46ayBv_0JawWJ-_ktKK_lM3xt6ykrJvCDf69tNZCOsFMBqPf_FZIF7FWQS2_GyCLjoXk0_nl7G7fK0JuQRJLcIBibIt7wpKxXwg_VHLVc2_6BOzd9mENoQnjLOF2HkCMXTCAiAXfk20LS/s640/blogger-image-1728287154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46ayBv_0JawWJ-_ktKK_lM3xt6ykrJvCDf69tNZCOsFMBqPf_FZIF7FWQS2_GyCLjoXk0_nl7G7fK0JuQRJLcIBibIt7wpKxXwg_VHLVc2_6BOzd9mENoQnjLOF2HkCMXTCAiAXfk20LS/s640/blogger-image-1728287154.jpg"></a></div>The trees starting to change on our bike ride home last week. They are even more yellow and brown now.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLXiFyeuSHak8foVA3Z1QGtbfkZAZCUsZi-LJ1l05O1i9MeSCv6XE6S7xvx1zL_8b3qAiXPbsqG1RNuzs8jcRDD1T_WAD0nL7DhTLsaI6jJ44iB1iFtizeIxKRGKm1FH6V5m3mhQMEDBF/s640/blogger-image-2049637972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLXiFyeuSHak8foVA3Z1QGtbfkZAZCUsZi-LJ1l05O1i9MeSCv6XE6S7xvx1zL_8b3qAiXPbsqG1RNuzs8jcRDD1T_WAD0nL7DhTLsaI6jJ44iB1iFtizeIxKRGKm1FH6V5m3mhQMEDBF/s640/blogger-image-2049637972.jpg"></a></div>The really great view from our laundry room. It's hard to see in this pictures but there are some pretty mountains in the distance.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9Wj6o93aoh4RpBcf9AkH7R91H1QKyFw5ysBH5f_oAd73OtbXLEk0W18prP2V63rrPlcw-UuYS5WBnatk2JshhtJ_7E1PPgBtJiyR-wDln4j8m84idFFJyXAgL4qd4_F1FAkcw6cWyGpv/s640/blogger-image--1433225718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9Wj6o93aoh4RpBcf9AkH7R91H1QKyFw5ysBH5f_oAd73OtbXLEk0W18prP2V63rrPlcw-UuYS5WBnatk2JshhtJ_7E1PPgBtJiyR-wDln4j8m84idFFJyXAgL4qd4_F1FAkcw6cWyGpv/s640/blogger-image--1433225718.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBbZ2_MnTW2nos4S4PlB3BUiJeWKW0RUm-_2aL3POyeSNy7ULXVSWshlVNq9mhE7d4Gyp03drxTG271uBKis6LY89kyel5H1qJezws0yXzG22YxtlPVeZIzgHSx71xfVOXxrd-l4AN6Ry/s640/blogger-image--1890227964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBbZ2_MnTW2nos4S4PlB3BUiJeWKW0RUm-_2aL3POyeSNy7ULXVSWshlVNq9mhE7d4Gyp03drxTG271uBKis6LY89kyel5H1qJezws0yXzG22YxtlPVeZIzgHSx71xfVOXxrd-l4AN6Ry/s640/blogger-image--1890227964.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25M6tq3fgAZq7K6sDTgpxjr9YgGJs8dP415z9FNl53ClsMlYj9wGwU2WhG9G6XC20xCWwBkMSj95yJwkYarckXkkgq35s97pcwTWrkLnpp-tadJGbRM4-ND-Fbt125WbrC4KBgw4r7QaQ/s640/blogger-image-1243644287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25M6tq3fgAZq7K6sDTgpxjr9YgGJs8dP415z9FNl53ClsMlYj9wGwU2WhG9G6XC20xCWwBkMSj95yJwkYarckXkkgq35s97pcwTWrkLnpp-tadJGbRM4-ND-Fbt125WbrC4KBgw4r7QaQ/s640/blogger-image-1243644287.jpg"></a></div>We saw the northern lights again finally! The moon was super bright but you could still see the northern lights moving across the sky, it was pretty awesome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img class="yGa" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfnt5EljdVR2n4dPVvCa1D0uvCVm8lV1LPOsMKIZxEIBMhby6u0vgiYdxGNKpcIISwRwBnRBxsMrffa8FNtAFsIcQiH9HRuNhMqCV_CDVaqZq39vK_obQ1wGADEmRCcvI9BDwecRdnhlo/s832-d/0064.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; display: block; height: 237px; margin: auto; max-height: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 158px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img class="yGa" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFvJGDUqSBMc6-YS09bBpSINd0QGiW63y1-88bAHZy3SVjqOVX1b203hTfPa0iOqv8dIqiqpCNr8_wMXg3lzPuQnvXgFsq8x0bUEprxB8dn6ae6sarJA665LJo_kJziwrUBs0nIoTbT10/s832-d/0075.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; display: block; height: 213px; margin: auto; max-height: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 320px; text-align: center;"></div><div><br></div><div><img class="yGa" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAQOtzByaW3Th1o-YmEaF5V13m3miKwJS5l0aYTGLVhtpyl2OGnYVsnPhgOSFmgBVY5gqfzQRfiIpT_yVfZ2qi37mziCfbT87IGuXds5MlQwxuFEjFOBAj3Fcca9l3Wg-Aunf9vep7ibS/s832-d/0105.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; display: block; height: 213px; margin: auto; max-height: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 320px; text-align: center;"></div><div><br></div><div><img class="yGa" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Or3uZZJFid6mKOieXj7VGThvHLCYphVzPTeM3Drg8xRcwDznRpJKLUjEgd5FIlnMDHBboiiW_ffwbzvHYRhAC8DlTaW7tqh93gOwMy8Tkc3uYpho5xlm1VGYg_PiLEQ1mAW4TvhAb0_D/s832-d/0143.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; display: block; height: auto; margin: auto; max-height: 100%; padding: 0px; width: auto; text-align: center;"></div><div>Our perfect wedding day in Florida!</div><div><br></div><div>I will try to take more pictures and start posting them here more often again! :)</div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-86372027838548013142014-05-05T05:07:00.001-07:002014-05-05T05:10:28.455-07:00April showers bring May...snow?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnmNA7tVY7ZsT_R-yN3WW5-HL8iCGI4XHqkUjHyz2fyQfNlYqKiChPccsqmTXSU-gHVn4-F7SvzeklbM-stVwBIjZ-1mAnRm7014nV2M8PyraRBSi9RKRJSGP2jFK6BVHKRKy6K3tIvXS/s640/blogger-image-1407898747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnmNA7tVY7ZsT_R-yN3WW5-HL8iCGI4XHqkUjHyz2fyQfNlYqKiChPccsqmTXSU-gHVn4-F7SvzeklbM-stVwBIjZ-1mAnRm7014nV2M8PyraRBSi9RKRJSGP2jFK6BVHKRKy6K3tIvXS/s640/blogger-image-1407898747.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn0Fg8HvJk93eiWM3h49jssYkODQIdRnVATiShH1JigKsPJ35vwG1pMqPPWlVpSfu2VCG_Hdcb3jZYWxP-OFyKC9sp4b0-cgi_ISqfTQGden9oxClFYfbqU0Vs1T8zHoAqBhbBjdr94Wb/s640/blogger-image-1660021738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn0Fg8HvJk93eiWM3h49jssYkODQIdRnVATiShH1JigKsPJ35vwG1pMqPPWlVpSfu2VCG_Hdcb3jZYWxP-OFyKC9sp4b0-cgi_ISqfTQGden9oxClFYfbqU0Vs1T8zHoAqBhbBjdr94Wb/s640/blogger-image-1660021738.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yes, that's right. It's snowing again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Everyday so far in May. Our trip to Florida in June is looking very good right now :).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In Sweden on April 30 and May 1 they celebrate the beginning of spring and the end of winter with a giant bonfire and by singing songs about spring and summer. Alex and I went to one of the celebrations near where we live and it was great!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKnlccrvOgNuuN5NUWpWXB1MdZarEX_RsR0lPo10IXNVOJtirsZ3slpSpYt5HSXGtyk4Vwua6guEnxEd2Cc2DuFqwbhOC2Y5fn_BQC1deiZdHmlnGzvSlNTzw52ashJk18eNmeAolYgxs/s640/blogger-image--2145982045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKnlccrvOgNuuN5NUWpWXB1MdZarEX_RsR0lPo10IXNVOJtirsZ3slpSpYt5HSXGtyk4Vwua6guEnxEd2Cc2DuFqwbhOC2Y5fn_BQC1deiZdHmlnGzvSlNTzw52ashJk18eNmeAolYgxs/s640/blogger-image--2145982045.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The bonfire before it was lit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXMpflm3ezZNo84YUTzNeAyr_K-F-ggyC59lgeTCIj-C9Nss0lDYDCfoQOKhJnzB4-uvDvQMN1LfzUzRjOUB5Jdf4sEF1Tlj4D2UhZBw-Y-gb_6hCZL9vdRCK5pq5pIlOFybHXpwyVi2x/s640/blogger-image-131884992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXMpflm3ezZNo84YUTzNeAyr_K-F-ggyC59lgeTCIj-C9Nss0lDYDCfoQOKhJnzB4-uvDvQMN1LfzUzRjOUB5Jdf4sEF1Tlj4D2UhZBw-Y-gb_6hCZL9vdRCK5pq5pIlOFybHXpwyVi2x/s640/blogger-image-131884992.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The singers! :)</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGiJ9bFuZQl7Jhil12Ut8Hx-mudg68N6xO9Oq8j60b-xEtFycHBRPySu9jE2kIBL9W6gSMi-PYw7GoTduYB79A3ppdByxYgaEhp1vnx8nHgSUzl2vHmzfbHhu5s61LfPaFjnEa7fjioW5/s640/blogger-image--459113532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGiJ9bFuZQl7Jhil12Ut8Hx-mudg68N6xO9Oq8j60b-xEtFycHBRPySu9jE2kIBL9W6gSMi-PYw7GoTduYB79A3ppdByxYgaEhp1vnx8nHgSUzl2vHmzfbHhu5s61LfPaFjnEa7fjioW5/s640/blogger-image--459113532.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmbf2SKjnjIBAygGqjPnhJ6C4sYP-lFRZVoDXDC4jy_tBcesUXUC2ByPGSg6wnYOGEXLd1TXw0DTeplnBs7V_kTKMI-dgNVFZsdZ6oX5Ah7w75AXc_FaToG4Xx5HFohT8wgv0GHY_cCTx/s640/blogger-image--2014124339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmbf2SKjnjIBAygGqjPnhJ6C4sYP-lFRZVoDXDC4jy_tBcesUXUC2ByPGSg6wnYOGEXLd1TXw0DTeplnBs7V_kTKMI-dgNVFZsdZ6oX5Ah7w75AXc_FaToG4Xx5HFohT8wgv0GHY_cCTx/s640/blogger-image--2014124339.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The bonfire! It was a very cold</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">night so the warmth of the giant fire felt very nice. Until we had to leave the nice warm fire and bike home in the cold.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today is also a special day for Alex and I because we mailed some of our wedding invitations! We decided to document the event. Or I should say, I decided to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">document it and Alex was a good sport. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVIuKe2mWADo7wwuNp6ckYvqBozSvuk_jqdbhYweZPSjixrS5o1E0KhnolDj6Vo16tpEH4-NMVjZrO2XrN3TxHLtGwSTzX1phv_-uJIFSqpS_4Sz9_C5RzO0_4f_ogWmSZUKllUGv3hDd/s640/blogger-image--790087011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVIuKe2mWADo7wwuNp6ckYvqBozSvuk_jqdbhYweZPSjixrS5o1E0KhnolDj6Vo16tpEH4-NMVjZrO2XrN3TxHLtGwSTzX1phv_-uJIFSqpS_4Sz9_C5RzO0_4f_ogWmSZUKllUGv3hDd/s640/blogger-image--790087011.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Putting them in the mailbox! </div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our Easter was very nice too :). Alex had found a special coupon thing for us to have a delicious dinner at a new restaurant in town, Gothards Krog, inside a new hotel so we went there for Easter dinner :).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX1JlGgJSDw1eIjGJFXI-yPGdv-VfPyUuB7pGXvJgk2Sulzm6cmDImzNXdeyofQTvJU3L6QC0bK26QpbeDz7nzMkfVPN4UrmMrLK6Ii1xJXfXVpsad4b_KI6zVrLIPxTRE7hXtyhkHVm2/s640/blogger-image-1915630800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX1JlGgJSDw1eIjGJFXI-yPGdv-VfPyUuB7pGXvJgk2Sulzm6cmDImzNXdeyofQTvJU3L6QC0bK26QpbeDz7nzMkfVPN4UrmMrLK6Ii1xJXfXVpsad4b_KI6zVrLIPxTRE7hXtyhkHVm2/s640/blogger-image-1915630800.jpg"></a></div>The really cool Harry Potterish staircase.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ6MO8WGC8aZIQoC72tW0gG8-mtvXKeYrdWe07-IdmwbQrH4ZEQfH6BRzB0GzpArhwwe3nP-iKSFh6xU5S6kK6EGm36HpjEB4cnOR9Gurqkyc8h9PGy66I4yF0kjvY2FN0BD5I7MPmkXN/s640/blogger-image-1705326295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ6MO8WGC8aZIQoC72tW0gG8-mtvXKeYrdWe07-IdmwbQrH4ZEQfH6BRzB0GzpArhwwe3nP-iKSFh6xU5S6kK6EGm36HpjEB4cnOR9Gurqkyc8h9PGy66I4yF0kjvY2FN0BD5I7MPmkXN/s640/blogger-image-1705326295.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Since Alex is vegetarian, most of the dinners we make don't include meat simply because I'm too lazy to cook meat for just myself. For dinner I had lamb, and it was delicious!! As you can see, I couldn't even take a break from eating for a picture.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-OLi-oPoERBMD2w2wVpj3muWztgk3kEqzZJatcMCIA9HO_9_x6wvXtiUxJXLRXZb5hU7MTKWB1FlTAl0Q1ybZGx0dpcdYeRl4zGY4x-36jjkVXfpoNBJA32jj_uCHzw1A3J7EwF-g5Dm/s640/blogger-image--1915509307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-OLi-oPoERBMD2w2wVpj3muWztgk3kEqzZJatcMCIA9HO_9_x6wvXtiUxJXLRXZb5hU7MTKWB1FlTAl0Q1ybZGx0dpcdYeRl4zGY4x-36jjkVXfpoNBJA32jj_uCHzw1A3J7EwF-g5Dm/s640/blogger-image--1915509307.jpg"></a></div>Alex and his dressed up handsome self in the restaurant. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's been a great couple of weeks, busy with school and life and wedding stuff but we both can't wait until we leave for Florida for a much needed break. (Even though I'm not sure the month before your wedding is very relaxing, but at least it'll be exciting!) :)</div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-27236772343421072092014-04-12T08:33:00.001-07:002014-04-12T08:40:45.983-07:00The birds are back!We have a little bird feeder hanging on our balcony, but since crows were the only birds really left in Sweden in the winter, and they would fight over the food, I put it inside until today. Then this morning I saw some tiny little birds in the tree outside so I hung it up again and almost immediately they came and started eating from it. It's a good sign I think that hopefully winter is over! <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q6HYQQn0n8f9mJVb4VcxCh1IpznfaLJ-hTHJ2M7AX2AXssmHZZ2e3RU0aVE4gOkpI_lwNk3BsEyibWo5SinFfqthZPd71PGFNVMKBcUGY5GtHHVZjtR57Fnc3Qso7vCDnOIzKsNquqkh/s640/blogger-image--1276238077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q6HYQQn0n8f9mJVb4VcxCh1IpznfaLJ-hTHJ2M7AX2AXssmHZZ2e3RU0aVE4gOkpI_lwNk3BsEyibWo5SinFfqthZPd71PGFNVMKBcUGY5GtHHVZjtR57Fnc3Qso7vCDnOIzKsNquqkh/s640/blogger-image--1276238077.jpg"></a></div>You can kind of see the birdy in this picture, Alex says it's called a "great tit". I thought he was messing with me so I googled it, but he was right! </div><div><br></div><div>Today I took an early morning bike ride into town, and it was so beautiful outside. Here are a few pictures from this morning:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGE4Z8F8rpY5OenQGJD4kJl9qhV2F__3lS3BwWNXmT_D1z8SrEGWrwa3RlgEqq1yjIgahlPcjPhNUXTg2LdQStaEjLPU_2E5MQKx5GFsN5tMhep7QflEezHwjKsezlKVUmyI2EnNMo1X6/s640/blogger-image--343513508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGE4Z8F8rpY5OenQGJD4kJl9qhV2F__3lS3BwWNXmT_D1z8SrEGWrwa3RlgEqq1yjIgahlPcjPhNUXTg2LdQStaEjLPU_2E5MQKx5GFsN5tMhep7QflEezHwjKsezlKVUmyI2EnNMo1X6/s640/blogger-image--343513508.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLYBahpAoS16tESg9pCy6UftW7DkPt7RE-zjCId-BK_GAXrXG40ONJZViq9R3uTSIOYMfIcBV5NR04QtLwVS-aYYAjZVCqnSnhQ7J0200iCeiOpvrj9bnkE90y0qWzkAgC0ehvp4fMN0q/s640/blogger-image--1415773031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLYBahpAoS16tESg9pCy6UftW7DkPt7RE-zjCId-BK_GAXrXG40ONJZViq9R3uTSIOYMfIcBV5NR04QtLwVS-aYYAjZVCqnSnhQ7J0200iCeiOpvrj9bnkE90y0qWzkAgC0ehvp4fMN0q/s640/blogger-image--1415773031.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXQLHiOtJDVpWN8AoLL7yMlLqrqbBs1RlJCWeUuUSVT14VSLTsLQ_3Z3ua8DQovVHmytuKTERwkK4US9_1ZKNZUrSxz_x4lwupz7B9nIhawayTedHNwOjwXgUeKJ2WvDK9mGd2UjUH8vZ/s640/blogger-image-1948161674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXQLHiOtJDVpWN8AoLL7yMlLqrqbBs1RlJCWeUuUSVT14VSLTsLQ_3Z3ua8DQovVHmytuKTERwkK4US9_1ZKNZUrSxz_x4lwupz7B9nIhawayTedHNwOjwXgUeKJ2WvDK9mGd2UjUH8vZ/s640/blogger-image-1948161674.jpg"></a></div>I know it looks kind of brown but it really was so pretty. It was like a Swedish ghost town. I'm also really just happy that most of the snow has melted. If it's not enough snow to sled on, then it should just melt. I told Alex I would never get sick of snow since I never saw it in Florida, but I did. I will admit i<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">t. But I do love sledding. And snow men.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Today has just been a lazy Saturday, but I thought I would try to start writing more often! Next weekend is Easter so I will definitely write a post next week about my first Easter in Sweden. I hope the Easter bunny knows I moved...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0C8rUMxJCeczThGTX0ZOHjqzhaPAhmpT_P896aBHuqdz4KAUvJh02pC295kKaMpXxc9gJo5m52AS0Xfy6miaKvP-iITh-BwQSbQo12Vz1Z3mvXFWN9VTisi82w35Jm6JueD5ay4odj1wB/s640/blogger-image-661088949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0C8rUMxJCeczThGTX0ZOHjqzhaPAhmpT_P896aBHuqdz4KAUvJh02pC295kKaMpXxc9gJo5m52AS0Xfy6miaKvP-iITh-BwQSbQo12Vz1Z3mvXFWN9VTisi82w35Jm6JueD5ay4odj1wB/s640/blogger-image-661088949.jpg"></a></div>Our sweet next door neighbor made these bulle (Swedish cinnamon rolls) for us yesterday, they were delicious. </div><div><br></div><div>Also if anyone has any good recipes for this:<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KbPlnMEHO0oARe2E5i8mQfMTalVh_ucMvLQ3VZj5ZgmIL5ziLex-NZ56Peqmpi5yAEqvBXTBSiiyk1dynNH_Sa8gRpj8Mj-0CACr4mCr6JWqzBBOHCloHPL8XL1v5MVoocXSCMx2aPPO/s640/blogger-image--444419858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KbPlnMEHO0oARe2E5i8mQfMTalVh_ucMvLQ3VZj5ZgmIL5ziLex-NZ56Peqmpi5yAEqvBXTBSiiyk1dynNH_Sa8gRpj8Mj-0CACr4mCr6JWqzBBOHCloHPL8XL1v5MVoocXSCMx2aPPO/s640/blogger-image--444419858.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then let me know! I thought the picture on the box looked like tabouli, so I tried to make tabouli with it but it didn't really work out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5I6FGbBDALAKo9BuT0e9ZzPo-WSoBXIU2vTtuq9cMNIbNQKKoN9cemFOkI4rvItnNntpB6wZ8HnyZcoq9VlFZtAwIjrgrFqPptdXJWPbtekqtcZGYOEjeEoBAjkTtfyZ6qruZMObKIV19/s640/blogger-image--1335199874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5I6FGbBDALAKo9BuT0e9ZzPo-WSoBXIU2vTtuq9cMNIbNQKKoN9cemFOkI4rvItnNntpB6wZ8HnyZcoq9VlFZtAwIjrgrFqPptdXJWPbtekqtcZGYOEjeEoBAjkTtfyZ6qruZMObKIV19/s640/blogger-image--1335199874.jpg"></a></div>We have been trying to watch the James Bond movies recently, we want to get through all of them eventually. We're on Live and Let Die. Also, making your own popcorn on the stove is so delicious, who knew? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've been reading some blogs lately about other peoples experiences moving to different countries when I started missing home a bit and I read one about Costa Rica since it's one of my favorite places (and where I met my sweetie). But after reading about all the giant spiders and break ins it reminded <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">me that Sweden really isn't too different from where I'm from, I have actually never even seen a spider here! *knock on wood*. And I feel so lucky to be in a place where I'm comfortable and where I'm with the person I love and studying to do something I enjoy. :) but who knows, Florida or even Costa Rica may be in our future! ;)</span></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-1834162792296219542014-04-08T09:50:00.001-07:002014-04-08T11:00:53.550-07:00April! And veggie burgers.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Its April and it is soo light out! Especially in the mornings, it wakes me up at 6am everyday (which I hate) but it's light until at least 8 or 9 pm now (which I love). <div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDTb0-b4lgDzrq61mluSzIHXphrucJf0SMZQ8Kx0Mw6Q4_0pCVTNTgIswKuO9fIsf2GC1-VGGQRfA78gXzqAxIzpCQVd8rZmunjViYVhIIQF8f-F85evL6r7xLM7azdgFWZSnNjkKsTYV/s640/blogger-image--652113837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDTb0-b4lgDzrq61mluSzIHXphrucJf0SMZQ8Kx0Mw6Q4_0pCVTNTgIswKuO9fIsf2GC1-VGGQRfA78gXzqAxIzpCQVd8rZmunjViYVhIIQF8f-F85evL6r7xLM7azdgFWZSnNjkKsTYV/s640/blogger-image--652113837.jpg"></a></div>Some pretty Eastery flowers Alex brought home from the market in town this week. Notice the fancy coffee mug vase. </div><div><br></div><div>Alex and I have both started new classes which has been nice, my class is just basically writing a big paper for two months, like a mini practice thesis. My paper is on permafrost and how it affects dissolved organic carbon in surface waters if anyone is curious ;). We bought our tickets to go to Florida in June!! We can't wait! Woohoo!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8NeTKmDWsfyPS2pmfKrZv26Ey_6sUDBqS1gU4iONuIW4IE7dU7mmdFgUQoeFsS1a1cr8vvOiY8bOXZgLZTxmRnZMAx3DLbueVgd8_4aPeu6RMWli0uRT7ymsGFzkXHej0mXGYyH83Zsl/s640/blogger-image-437097783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8NeTKmDWsfyPS2pmfKrZv26Ey_6sUDBqS1gU4iONuIW4IE7dU7mmdFgUQoeFsS1a1cr8vvOiY8bOXZgLZTxmRnZMAx3DLbueVgd8_4aPeu6RMWli0uRT7ymsGFzkXHej0mXGYyH83Zsl/s640/blogger-image-437097783.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX98ty9NE5CaxnPRwYiUyBxDFjRuObiyWmL6AUz9Q5b3dOW6N-ygH5OghXegEJiwOiQxKqKNImPIif2HWrRKeHx9NquCv5YzvlRiGg3gplO0e2M2ztFbh-8sz-yNnI4ZTkGfTCThiWbEJ/s640/blogger-image--861760054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX98ty9NE5CaxnPRwYiUyBxDFjRuObiyWmL6AUz9Q5b3dOW6N-ygH5OghXegEJiwOiQxKqKNImPIif2HWrRKeHx9NquCv5YzvlRiGg3gplO0e2M2ztFbh-8sz-yNnI4ZTkGfTCThiWbEJ/s640/blogger-image--861760054.jpg"></a></div><div>Some things I miss about Florida!</div><div><br></div><div>I thought I would post a few pictures showing how the view from our apartment has changed. :)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPk6iZrS7nr37N-2OeBqnEZLxfAWZKn51J8uC2Q8jmjDtotec66-AN6Hf8AwCOw6Ymjjl3yc4gN6cr4yBeNuHXTAW0E2Ls7WkuwloOqNwxnzqhfz-dpSMpD3fszOchyQ9EIlS_uWcC_ww/s640/blogger-image--118241932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPk6iZrS7nr37N-2OeBqnEZLxfAWZKn51J8uC2Q8jmjDtotec66-AN6Hf8AwCOw6Ymjjl3yc4gN6cr4yBeNuHXTAW0E2Ls7WkuwloOqNwxnzqhfz-dpSMpD3fszOchyQ9EIlS_uWcC_ww/s640/blogger-image--118241932.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgONulPaBiqpHysK1eZVpYoC3SXpOWgegXr3iMCk2EyVDoVnKNbXsZ60APrUTBh6A3h_np7NGkmp5Cyi0zyrj5Tv5dutcIUOmNN31luYWWITieD6C1QZXSDrfolfoUqSxI_ypWfqn1Wrhi/s640/blogger-image--206107462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgONulPaBiqpHysK1eZVpYoC3SXpOWgegXr3iMCk2EyVDoVnKNbXsZ60APrUTBh6A3h_np7NGkmp5Cyi0zyrj5Tv5dutcIUOmNN31luYWWITieD6C1QZXSDrfolfoUqSxI_ypWfqn1Wrhi/s640/blogger-image--206107462.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69ZHjql3YTsqzfxk8mVPrVw7IfH_igqC3ZKruyj-VMNYpVOQnpGdVM9hxBWLPlIjB7rd2fBDfN50BxdBphHXxQO67pJ4dUkXTSIxbGqDWlXvPUlTKFwTtc6wZdvfGJ_FN5yb6V-Ji1Dnk/s640/blogger-image-1525193055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69ZHjql3YTsqzfxk8mVPrVw7IfH_igqC3ZKruyj-VMNYpVOQnpGdVM9hxBWLPlIjB7rd2fBDfN50BxdBphHXxQO67pJ4dUkXTSIxbGqDWlXvPUlTKFwTtc6wZdvfGJ_FN5yb6V-Ji1Dnk/s640/blogger-image-1525193055.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And hopefully I'll be able to post a super green summery one soon. We have started biking to school again! And we now realize how out of shape we are. I only biked halfway to school today with Alex and then biked back home because I worked from home today but wanted some exercise. And I almost had to pull over my bike on the way back. I was soo tired. When I got home I just layed on the floor out of breath. But it felt good to be outside for so long! My new swedish class is still going well, I'm feeling a bit more comfortable with it and I understand a lot more when other people speak. However me speaking it is a different story. I don't think I'll ever be able I correctly pronounce ä å ö. </div><div><br></div><div>Tonight Alex and I are cooking veggie burgers. Sometimes it hard to plan meals together besides quiches and pasta and vegetable and rice dishes because Alex is a vegetarian and I am allergic to beans. So it became our goal to make a delicious veggie burger without beans...and we did it! It has corn, mushrooms, onions, red peppers, garlic, breadcrumbs and eggs! So easy and cheap and delicious. At least to us they were, but our standard of delicious may be lowered since I started cooking. But here they are:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKn6h_ijwwVBwqL29UDnpep1I-nRRAWwJF9xgFNnxjDRA0KrgLkEit6r2-IfYKYHhHgcwSWxfOB0yg6Ag_e2HTp6o8NNd5FgJVFZzujxIx3ky6f_oq1A93mcBI9c-UTWimET_5rRTYh2K1/s640/blogger-image-401589698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKn6h_ijwwVBwqL29UDnpep1I-nRRAWwJF9xgFNnxjDRA0KrgLkEit6r2-IfYKYHhHgcwSWxfOB0yg6Ag_e2HTp6o8NNd5FgJVFZzujxIx3ky6f_oq1A93mcBI9c-UTWimET_5rRTYh2K1/s640/blogger-image-401589698.jpg"></a></div>And Alex made homemade burger sauce, which he really likes, as you can see from his burger ;). </div><div><br></div><div>Have a nice day!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-60599731997082785352014-03-05T07:51:00.001-08:002014-03-05T07:51:52.320-08:00Snow snow go away<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Hello!<div><br></div><div>Well it's the beginning of March now and I'm ready for spring. The snow really isn't so bad or the cold. 30 degrees Fahrenheit now feels normal to me. But it's grey and cloudy everyday and I miss blue skies and sun and the color green! :) and I actually really miss biking! Mostly because I need to start working off all these candy and semla calories I've been eating so that I can fit in my wedding dress haha. Semla day was yesterday (well Fat Tuesday), but in Sweden they eat these desserts called semla between Christmas and Easter, and they are amazing!!! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7KElXsfShHmC1aGu5yCvWVrUlGwKngigP6v5vGYDYHXHYeIR2C1ZCP0JXw0Srg01Kunfki7yJdzVdswajSegtIfQC06rUG6BqcXZU8R7BJy0VzISm3Ppn3nDZsMfSLklccKvnY743IP2/s640/blogger-image-1029181101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7KElXsfShHmC1aGu5yCvWVrUlGwKngigP6v5vGYDYHXHYeIR2C1ZCP0JXw0Srg01Kunfki7yJdzVdswajSegtIfQC06rUG6BqcXZU8R7BJy0VzISm3Ppn3nDZsMfSLklccKvnY743IP2/s640/blogger-image-1029181101.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMsJy2BaGgPxtM9D19dJNhmFgRAAXgZ8NNHYNqsaSB0S15h2f6LY1H_ggewsTuBzfKeIhelI2_JJU6VggDZBludAaHPZ5WC_ZuwZHsC7hyphenhyphenvSxojdiBMQhAhgKrHr27XKmmTl3ZMyS1grp/s640/blogger-image--1198508592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMsJy2BaGgPxtM9D19dJNhmFgRAAXgZ8NNHYNqsaSB0S15h2f6LY1H_ggewsTuBzfKeIhelI2_JJU6VggDZBludAaHPZ5WC_ZuwZHsC7hyphenhyphenvSxojdiBMQhAhgKrHr27XKmmTl3ZMyS1grp/s640/blogger-image--1198508592.jpg"></a></div>Above are some store bought semla and semla we made on our own, I bet you can't tell the difference can you? ;) They are cardamom buns filled with vanilla whipped cream and almond filling stuff. Now you can understand why I need to start biking. </div><div><br></div><div>School has been ok, I passed both my exams! And these tests I took were really hard and not my cup of tea having to spend two days working on a computer program, but I did it and its over! Now we just have a project left with a group.</div><div><br></div><div>Alex's parents both came and visited and it was great having visitors the past month and to get to show off our city that we love so much.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD8CnKGdKvWY4j2rXYe-IZLS2dIekOQbPmR76coOmdRJqYbMMRU_sPk-YSacSUQYWSXXK2aDl28Zkv4uy0ln7lzsQuhvaI7UloQPqbO_Vqe2zRFHvM9GgSD26FIQkMbLV2GWOC2O4nwt6/s640/blogger-image--1649024318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD8CnKGdKvWY4j2rXYe-IZLS2dIekOQbPmR76coOmdRJqYbMMRU_sPk-YSacSUQYWSXXK2aDl28Zkv4uy0ln7lzsQuhvaI7UloQPqbO_Vqe2zRFHvM9GgSD26FIQkMbLV2GWOC2O4nwt6/s640/blogger-image--1649024318.jpg"></a></div>A picture of me standing on top of a snow shovel pile! They are pretty fun to climb. </div><div><br></div><div>Well, that was just a little post that I'm writing from the bus on my way home from Swedish class. </div><div><br></div><div>Have a great day!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwheuAMcM7tbUeB5h64wm7wCXPrQdS465OiXA-0ZV-pTyzy-TLNYRZYnewscl5wk2VV2rALJjQ2JO1lmvrXb_RyCHEwUYUAKIB-YS2vK5PZ6y6tgt58WJ393Zi7bwvEugQjMmZLO5XbzJ/s640/blogger-image-1782079516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwheuAMcM7tbUeB5h64wm7wCXPrQdS465OiXA-0ZV-pTyzy-TLNYRZYnewscl5wk2VV2rALJjQ2JO1lmvrXb_RyCHEwUYUAKIB-YS2vK5PZ6y6tgt58WJ393Zi7bwvEugQjMmZLO5XbzJ/s640/blogger-image-1782079516.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-48107494476900302462014-02-03T06:59:00.001-08:002014-02-03T08:08:25.928-08:00February update!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Sorry it has been so long since I've written! School has been very busy recently, I started my newest class about two weeks ago and before that had finals for the last class. I figured out that the academic calendar at Umeå University is split up into quarters instead of two semesters. So when I applied for only one class for spring I was a bit worried when I found out I needed two! But it worked out :). So my class I'm taking now will end in March and then my next class will go from March until June! This class is analysis of ecological data which is mostly like an advanced statistics class and learning how to use a computer program called R. Anyways. On to more exciting things!<br />
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First, Christmas! We spent Christmas at Alex's dads house in central Sweden and it was nice and relaxing and I ate lots of candy, meatballs, and drank lots of swedish Christmas soda (Julmust) which tastes like a better version of rootbeer. They celebrate Christmas and open presents on December 24 in Sweden which was a bit weird for me because I felt like I was cheating opening presents before Christmas!<br />
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This was a picture a few days before Christmas. This day for a few hours was beautiful, but every other day was rainy and cold with no snow! </div>
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Now onto New Years! Alex and I were back in Umeå for New Years and celebrated at home with some homemade spanakopita and saganaki (and yes, we lit it on fire, on the balcony, and it was AMAZING) and some wine and ciders. It was a great night watching movies and eating and relaxing. Then when it turned midnight the fireworks were insane. We live on the top floor so everywhere we looked people were shooting off fireworks and it was beautiful.</div>
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This spanakopita was so yummy and easy! Since its my birthday tomorrow I may actually make some more tomorrow! And Alex made a wonderful tzaziki sauce.</div>
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Our dinner setup! Notice our fancy wine glasses haha. We found some for just a couple dollars a week later so we now have real wine glasses which feels a bit more classy. :)<br />
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We dressed up for dinner too, just for fun!<br />
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This is the day after New Years, started snowing and hasn't stopped!</div>
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Then this past weekend was Umeå's "opening ceremony" for 2014 because Umeå is the European Capital of Culture 2014. There was a big show called burning snow with a concert on the frozen river in town where they set snow on fire and had fireworks. They also had lots of cool things around town like a snow castle and ice sculptures and reindeer!</div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">The snow castle in town day and night with and ice slide that we of course had to try.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><br /></span>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);">This is whe</span>n we were watching the show. It was sooo crowded and cold.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><br /></span>
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AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-9567510753797749032013-12-17T10:29:00.000-08:002013-12-17T10:29:33.967-08:00Christmas time in UmeaIt's about a week until Christmas time and it is SUPER DARK but school is out for winter break so the darkness isn't as bad. And after Christmas it'll start getting lighter! I thought I would post a few pictures from around town and Christmas activities!<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHdhq9qXdq5dLWron7fJZLQOxtjSJyGrWgP0tUpblJxJD4ONGDR3AbHCfMFQtfVpCEzqdf6Rq5EHIP0TWz1ta59b3CJQftStYX4evxg1QhXG-mfraGW88f51I4nvXCk02IwP4DJIFC-nn/s1600/IMG_2364%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHdhq9qXdq5dLWron7fJZLQOxtjSJyGrWgP0tUpblJxJD4ONGDR3AbHCfMFQtfVpCEzqdf6Rq5EHIP0TWz1ta59b3CJQftStYX4evxg1QhXG-mfraGW88f51I4nvXCk02IwP4DJIFC-nn/s320/IMG_2364%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDdjhSJ26SDrkE9KZxF_bt4jv1KlzLMraJAaqaqaQ4Cy7iOksFoJMwA1emQKvF1KqBC0bVTztPH_35awMZB3uIjgl04YqZO_9KDcLSSQmh7Hj0IZwrgCf8Q1HD2F2oNIXryVto1Bts_vi/s1600/IMG_2365%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDdjhSJ26SDrkE9KZxF_bt4jv1KlzLMraJAaqaqaQ4Cy7iOksFoJMwA1emQKvF1KqBC0bVTztPH_35awMZB3uIjgl04YqZO_9KDcLSSQmh7Hj0IZwrgCf8Q1HD2F2oNIXryVto1Bts_vi/s320/IMG_2365%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">We made lussebullar yesterday, saffron buns. They came out really light and fluffy and nice (and very yellow!). I'm not used to the taste of saffron though so it's a little weird to me still, but they were fun to make :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG25hgxnmgDECpE4sNvhNTeC_j5wXcuxsRXseztMzSuBiNBTlwzRReTFNS4Ira0UWlrjyhjvbkL3rvOld9BOOP4IIjVDAz3AfnUS36_rRLPpo87J4dCK3UclRSS9v2UaZClY0nJXXPpU3G/s1600/IMG_2327%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG25hgxnmgDECpE4sNvhNTeC_j5wXcuxsRXseztMzSuBiNBTlwzRReTFNS4Ira0UWlrjyhjvbkL3rvOld9BOOP4IIjVDAz3AfnUS36_rRLPpo87J4dCK3UclRSS9v2UaZClY0nJXXPpU3G/s320/IMG_2327%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOivDQHyu-NmucRCmyCcoy2WtLPOnN8iUmACU7tYle7SVqEHLFNzK_qCjvCudvpOdV9cEM7shNlqslOlsGhuD8EHe3jtbwt1D8irJiclH21BuXUyBkWZXpk9wUaHkkoWPvqSy_Dar8J-sW/s1600/IMG_2328%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOivDQHyu-NmucRCmyCcoy2WtLPOnN8iUmACU7tYle7SVqEHLFNzK_qCjvCudvpOdV9cEM7shNlqslOlsGhuD8EHe3jtbwt1D8irJiclH21BuXUyBkWZXpk9wUaHkkoWPvqSy_Dar8J-sW/s320/IMG_2328%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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There is a big real Christmas tree in town! :)</div>
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They've made the center of town look very cheery with lots of lights and people and little tents set up. When we were there last they were setting up what looked like a little Christmas market, but I haven't been back yet to check. But I go back tomorrow and I hope they are still there!</div>
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Alex and I celebrated my last day of class (well not really last day, but last day before Christmas!) at Lotta's Krog in town. It was lots of fun. We hadn't been there since my parents visited!</div>
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The snowy walk to the grocery store! Sadly the snow melted today again and now it is a mess of icy sidewalks and slush. I'm hoping it'll snow again before Christmas! </div>
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Well that was just a little glimpse of Christmas time here, I'll miss seeing all my family members on Christmas but I know it'll be very special here too and I hope everyone has a wonderful day. I will try to post more pictures after Christmas :) </div>
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AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-85459736007285988602013-12-03T06:48:00.000-08:002013-12-03T07:22:52.411-08:00Swedish ThanksgivingLast week was Thanksgiving! Of course they don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Sweden so it was a bit weird to have no Thanksgiving break or big dinner with family. But we still had a wonderful Thanksgiving day! Just by coincidence I had the day off of school so we had plenty of time to cook a yummy meal. <br>
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Getting the potatoes ready to boil for mashed potatoes! One of my favorite foods. There is no shortage of potatoes in Sweden so this ingredient was easy to find.</div>
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One ingredient Sweden did not have (or that I couldn't find) was evaporated milk for the sweet potato casserole. So I evaporated some of my own milk! </div>
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Taking the sweet potato casserole out of the oven to put marshmellows on top. I didn't realize that this was a weird dish until Alex gave me a disgusted look when I added sugar to the mashed sweet potatoes. I think it was a bit too sweet for him, he called it a dessert, but I loved it! It was my favorite food at our dinner.</div>
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Our Thanksgiving dinner! Meatballs for me and quorn for my vegetarian substituted for a turkey, but I did buy a packet of presliced turkey to keep some of the tradition. I thought it would be a bit silly to cook a turkey for myself. But it was an amazing dinner and we watched the Macy's Day parade on the computer while we ate which was fun.</div>
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One sad part of Thansgiving in Sweden was no pumpkin pie. There is no canned pumpkin sold here and the real pumpkins disappeared weeks ago. We even took the bus to the big supermarket in town, ICA Maxi, but had no luck. We did get some maple syrup though which our supermarket doesnt have. Yumm.</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Without Thanksgiving it means that basically after Halloween it is Christmas time which was nice especially in the dark winter. Lights are up in town and everyone has stars and lights in their windows, including us! This is a snowman we made and hung by our door.</span></div>
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Our Christmas tree haha. It's very cute. We bought it on the way home from school yesterday. It fits in a coffee cup and fits perfectly on the window sill. Hopefully Santa doesn't bring us anything too big! ;)</div>
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The tree with lights on it! It makes me laugh.</div>
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Well that is it for now! My last week of school before Christmas break is in a week and a half, which is crazy! Lots to do but with so little daylight it definitely takes away some of your energy. The sun rises after we get to school and sets before we get home. The good news is that soon it'll be getting lighter each day instead of darker. Woohoo!</div>
AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-22208317502467124822013-11-10T07:14:00.000-08:002013-11-10T07:17:03.144-08:00Hello again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's been a while seen I've written. My first class in Sweden just ended last week so I have been busy finishing and revising lots of papers as well as starting a new class so it has been a little stressful. But now my first class is officially over! Woohoo! And it really was a great class and I learned so much, even if it was pretty time consuming and challenging at times. Also my parents visited from Florida about a week ago and we had a wonderful time showing them around the city and spending time with them. I wish they could have stayed longer! We got to plan a little bit of the wedding stuff while they were here too which was nice. We're getting very excited for the summer! The time changed about two weeks ago so it has been getting dark very early which isn't really my cup of tea. But we have lots of candles and lights to prepare for the dark winter. I think when the snow comes it will make it better, but the snow here comes one day and then melts by the next day. But I'm looking forward to experiencing my first real winter. Right now it stays at about 0 degrees celsius (yeah I'm using celsius, woohoo!) and it has actually started feeling warm (well, not warm, but not super cold) to me which is great! Here are a few pictures since the last time I've written!</div>
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This is from our walk home from the bus stop today (yes, we take the bus sometimes now, it's just so convenient! but we still bike to school, just enjoy taking the weekends off :) ) Notice the sunset, at 3 pm.</div>
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This is a picture from when I was in the field last Thursday. We went up about an hour north of Umea and there was lots of snow! It was beautiful! But cold...</div>
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A picture from the airport before my parents left for Stockholm</div>
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My parents left us their really cool rain gear. We love them! haha.</div>
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We saw the Northern Lights from our balcony while my parents were here! When we saw them it was after midnight but I called and woke them up to come see them! They were amazinggggg. </div>
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At a cute pub called Lotta's Krog in town. We went here with my parents before I went to my night Swedish class. Nothing helps you learn Swedish like a pint of English cider. Yummy.</div>
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Well that's it for now! </div>
<br />AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-49564653387797172622013-10-10T03:10:00.001-07:002013-10-10T03:10:00.200-07:00Life update!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hello! It's been a little while since I've written so I thought I would quickly update on how things are here in Sweden! The weather is gorgeous right now, this week is especially warm and the leaves are all different colors and its lovely. </div></div><div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pyDf4WBAkTmhF0ta8bIIhoED0HfyDnCtp1XsD_dpsYfgz9sjrcKIjKjIQFUB3hXWM88rnbzn5Mn-4Z5D3wmGachoau2Sy1rl5R8EVekUWvVqUhLV_l82b97J35C6ilNd6x4OF3LV4Ofq/s640/blogger-image-1987466283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pyDf4WBAkTmhF0ta8bIIhoED0HfyDnCtp1XsD_dpsYfgz9sjrcKIjKjIQFUB3hXWM88rnbzn5Mn-4Z5D3wmGachoau2Sy1rl5R8EVekUWvVqUhLV_l82b97J35C6ilNd6x4OF3LV4Ofq/s640/blogger-image-1987466283.jpg"></a></div>This was walking around town before my Swedish class started Tuesday night. Now I can officially introduce myself in Swedish and know a couple words but learning a language is definitely not my strength so hopefully it keeps going ok. But my teacher and class are really great.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mj5pVQTR5rD0v5gPlR9GvkKbiKUf1azcnEFn9rlKLTiKJySiMcwqekB0s7A-5BPjsfnhyvDdMPVxw7xiDPHgfirc1CvFYgcyNmUxanRDfTbQUPEkTvq79BFhU3Pc3lmIUIWPqVO1cZGn/s640/blogger-image--1157172875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mj5pVQTR5rD0v5gPlR9GvkKbiKUf1azcnEFn9rlKLTiKJySiMcwqekB0s7A-5BPjsfnhyvDdMPVxw7xiDPHgfirc1CvFYgcyNmUxanRDfTbQUPEkTvq79BFhU3Pc3lmIUIWPqVO1cZGn/s640/blogger-image--1157172875.jpg"></a></div><div>There are POMEGRANATES on sale in Sweden right now. They are about half the size of the ones in the U.S. but they taste wonderful and are my favorite food so this week has been great!</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh9sOK4__WXXSBE4NdG8dKNocSFB6TyFT_sOfK2UGG3RbsxUTDLifaPIU8zk0DJWhJWm92gcQY1v6DPbqZMKx9jQ5O3WnYOUQBeiSYUG8cnYANsrVKf17CYT-4reJIQZM9Bh1cNbT5RXR/s640/blogger-image--1934812065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh9sOK4__WXXSBE4NdG8dKNocSFB6TyFT_sOfK2UGG3RbsxUTDLifaPIU8zk0DJWhJWm92gcQY1v6DPbqZMKx9jQ5O3WnYOUQBeiSYUG8cnYANsrVKf17CYT-4reJIQZM9Bh1cNbT5RXR/s640/blogger-image--1934812065.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzK_jV7Elf6-hjRu-3iH0UAWuiUNH4qF4mcte2IRE7vY5UkAtOsIsJ2Sfjxj6-WcSEQRkRxZnEfWoZET9dCCBCRfk_qB6BWh4Jd45NXbplo1pI-c7cNi8e_Di4Cbld6B3mdogrhqXGOMn/s640/blogger-image-1132491569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzK_jV7Elf6-hjRu-3iH0UAWuiUNH4qF4mcte2IRE7vY5UkAtOsIsJ2Sfjxj6-WcSEQRkRxZnEfWoZET9dCCBCRfk_qB6BWh4Jd45NXbplo1pI-c7cNi8e_Di4Cbld6B3mdogrhqXGOMn/s640/blogger-image-1132491569.jpg"></a></div>A view from our balcony earlier in the summer and then now. Everything is getting yellower and it's wonderful! </div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7hbf_qzHCQbmtu789j7evr64MUnYezeIv18iaHV9RVLGWPfi_CEWRVtx_hWKg_HAAaDBkAa39chxlfjlQd6CgVsozlq2cgC1fslP4YdKUUavdze37t-cDPHNOydsVUY3085asRYusnRV/s640/blogger-image--231693018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7hbf_qzHCQbmtu789j7evr64MUnYezeIv18iaHV9RVLGWPfi_CEWRVtx_hWKg_HAAaDBkAa39chxlfjlQd6CgVsozlq2cgC1fslP4YdKUUavdze37t-cDPHNOydsVUY3085asRYusnRV/s640/blogger-image--231693018.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ingredients from taco night this week! I would always look for cilantro at the store and couldn't find it, but apparently coriander and cilantro are almost the same thing so we used that and it was perfect!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's almost the weekend! This weekend we might try to go to the movies and maybe stay out and look for the northern lights. Some people in my class have seen them recently so that's exciting. We also have an apartment building group cleanup day this Saturday when we all just clean up around the building and then have fika and a barbeque. Fika is very popular in Sweden and means to have a coffee break and have a snack with people. Even when we go in the field I've learned I have to bring coffee because we always stop for a Fika break!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well I better get ready to bike to school! Hopefully everyone has a nice weekend :)<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-36666572408849607132013-09-27T09:05:00.001-07:002013-09-27T09:06:52.561-07:00Snowing in September<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Well as you can probably tell from the title, it SNOWED yesterday. It snowed a lot for about three hours, but it melted when it hit the ground. I was biking to my class in the field when it started, and it took me a while to figure out what was happening. I was thinking hmm this rain is harder and colder than normal, but I still didn't want to get too excited. As a girl from Florida I was more convinced it was hail than snow. So I asked a classmate to confirm that it was indeed snowing haha. And then it started snowing even harder so that there was no denying it! I tried to take a picture but you can't really see anything. Today it rained though sadly, no snow. Cold rain is no fun, especially on a bike!<div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGl_Ac9DtNDPOgRzcmUVlkt6zB2M2LtQgp616P_quLe9iV6vZzq_iLuvhCnFyh73kmW80vC1HaQIz7XiQZGyzgJNbNAUMQNpi3zgDbz3EoiXWTib8L7MGU1ndLUKEk7AHirCTZuu2YPm-/s640/blogger-image-1466741704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGl_Ac9DtNDPOgRzcmUVlkt6zB2M2LtQgp616P_quLe9iV6vZzq_iLuvhCnFyh73kmW80vC1HaQIz7XiQZGyzgJNbNAUMQNpi3zgDbz3EoiXWTib8L7MGU1ndLUKEk7AHirCTZuu2YPm-/s640/blogger-image-1466741704.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A pretty gross picture but this is me soaked from the bike ride home today! But I didn't mind it because its Friday!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a6KUxGZdiSx3YGJPDoR7z7dS9ItIy0TrNHEYQvUMSeH91tbhm0Bji0Oi1pA5tHOkgmfmwjjs7vO_KYnxWUnEOB4LNR9jZNbmriGM01AbAVpdr_I6qFEqh2BjP2WqwVyadYYlFhcqo7Wj/s640/blogger-image-1595386919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a6KUxGZdiSx3YGJPDoR7z7dS9ItIy0TrNHEYQvUMSeH91tbhm0Bji0Oi1pA5tHOkgmfmwjjs7vO_KYnxWUnEOB4LNR9jZNbmriGM01AbAVpdr_I6qFEqh2BjP2WqwVyadYYlFhcqo7Wj/s640/blogger-image-1595386919.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a popular brand of chocolate bar here and it is sooo good! One of the late night walks to the store nearby when we we (ok me) were craving chocolate!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This week has been busy with school and mostly just trying to stay warm! The weather drastically changed this past week from warm enough to only need a light jacket to me needing to wear my Florida winter jacket everyday now. So everything colder than it is now will definitely be a new experience for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Biking to school everyday in the cold and being busy with school work can make it easy to forget about all the wonderful things here but I actually really do enjoy my bike rides. They are relaxing and biking so much allows me to eat more candy and chocolate than I could normally, which I think makes biking very worth it! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRTPQM4aWxe8Q7u-z03lEShHFEiUBdrw7FLzx6SW7lAXAvvDngiz5mUlAR2OW2-uSaYQKvE8maumFKQ2ztIHrPXqIwevc1p0zu_NWZq9OOYCwwxw6Vivbnsyur5ftPJf95-ojUr1hJYGm/s640/blogger-image--149752171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRTPQM4aWxe8Q7u-z03lEShHFEiUBdrw7FLzx6SW7lAXAvvDngiz5mUlAR2OW2-uSaYQKvE8maumFKQ2ztIHrPXqIwevc1p0zu_NWZq9OOYCwwxw6Vivbnsyur5ftPJf95-ojUr1hJYGm/s640/blogger-image--149752171.jpg"></a></div>My sweet fiancé even though he has been sick all week and had two tests and a presentation woke up early one day this week to make me breakfast before we left. He made me bacon even though he's a vegetarian, it was very sweet and made my day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7DzWqV5CPd6JLt1I-zYlivIbJHSXjdH8TA5UuV2bimoTuxRVqmQALOXdfpXFU2ht-Cnik4jURW2UVK5JyINnTi5DC68KR1tqDEZ5N7TP5QukK1kk8xUhblZ-4VyglKUJSbjKsA0HL8oa/s640/blogger-image--1192017311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7DzWqV5CPd6JLt1I-zYlivIbJHSXjdH8TA5UuV2bimoTuxRVqmQALOXdfpXFU2ht-Cnik4jURW2UVK5JyINnTi5DC68KR1tqDEZ5N7TP5QukK1kk8xUhblZ-4VyglKUJSbjKsA0HL8oa/s640/blogger-image--1192017311.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Tonight I'm trying to think of a dessert recipe to make, but all the U.S. recipes I find use vanilla extract and Sweden uses vanilla sugar. I usually just use it the same as vanilla extract and hope it comes out the same! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My week alone last week went ok by the way! I went to the grocery store almost everyday and enjoyed some relaxing time alone, but I'm glad it's over! :) To treat myself at the end of the week I bought and cooked some reindeer meat! It is popular in Sweden and it was really different but really good. I felt very Swedish buying reindeer at the grocery store. The fiancé told me Santa won't bring me any presents anymore though haha, oh well! I'm sorry Rudolf! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAQBAzOGQF5_g2LO2Q6zM53xBZZ0NLseRGEqvGTPXmZMTtt_ObPGPNTNxvAjT_em_lgV6wNZCTTtT1xPo1fFK-zdZG0Pk0eW-yGgI4rELQ3N-h64Sa7RHJF4Q9u1KbeK3UjGMIT3oHmHn/s640/blogger-image--91523231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAQBAzOGQF5_g2LO2Q6zM53xBZZ0NLseRGEqvGTPXmZMTtt_ObPGPNTNxvAjT_em_lgV6wNZCTTtT1xPo1fFK-zdZG0Pk0eW-yGgI4rELQ3N-h64Sa7RHJF4Q9u1KbeK3UjGMIT3oHmHn/s640/blogger-image--91523231.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yummy yum yum.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'll try to post more often now! It's just been too cold and rainy to take out my phone and take pictures!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-62360640327672473932013-09-17T10:56:00.001-07:002013-09-17T10:56:09.778-07:00Rain rain go awayEr, Tuesdays. Everyone complains about Mondays but on Mondays you still have some leftover weekend feeling. Tuesdays are just the worst. Especially rainy, cold, and dreary Tuesdays. Today was my first day biking to school in the rain! It actually wasn't too bad, it definitely made me bike a lot faster!<br />
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Put a plastic bag over my backpack and I'm ready to go! Extra fact: In Sweden if you want to put your grocery in plastic bags, you have to buy them when you buy your groceries! And you bag everything yourself. When I grocery shopped today I just put my food in my backpack.</div>
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Even though it was a grey and cold day on campus, these pretty trees brightened everything up a little bit. I think they are called mountain ash? But it feels like just yesterday these trees were green.</div>
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My pants when I got back from fieldwork yesterday! Unfortunately these are my only rain pants so I had to wear them again all dirty today (too much information maybe?). I signed up for a laundry time today don't worry. (In Sweden you have to sign up on a list to reserve a time to use the laundry room, at first I was a little unsure about this idea but now I like it. I always know that no one will be using the washer and dryer when I go to do laundry.)</div>
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The pretty view while doing fieldwork, in a farming area near town.</div>
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Last night was my first night alone in Sweden without the fiance. He is away on a school trip all week so it is quite a change. I usually get home before him so I'm used to being on my own a bit and biking on my own and finding my own way now. But I really miss him just to look over at while I'm reading and see him smile at me. I don't really mind being alone too much, sometimes it's really nice. But he just brightens my days, and I really need it on a dark and rainy day like today. But on the plus side, I made zucchini bread! Or at least I thought I did. It turns out I'm not too great at identifying cucumbers versus zucchini, and I made cucumber bread. It tastes almost the same, except slightly more pickle like...</div>
<br />AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-516934137834140492013-09-15T12:03:00.002-07:002013-09-15T12:03:46.248-07:00Relaxing WeekendsAnother weekend is almost over here! This weekend was very relaxing and nice. Fall is officially here! It's cold and the leaves have started to fall. Right now I'm really enjoying it though. I'm not even worried about the snow coming, I'm looking forward to it! But I wouldn't mind if it waited a while... :)<br />
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My sweetie on a bike ride today across the river. It was a little rainy today.</div>
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The pretty view from our bike ride. I didn't notice the graffiti until now, but apparently it says poo...haha. So I learned a new Swedish word!</div>
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We also tried to make bread this weekend, this was our attempt at baguettes. We looked up a recipe using Swedish ingredients, and it was so much simpler than all the english recipes I found. And it was another opportunity to improve my vocabulary! These were soooo yummy. Maybe not the prettiest things in the world, but a good first try! Also, yeast is really cheap here. I never used it in the U.S. really so I can't compare, but it was a nice surprise. <a href="http://www.tasteline.com/Recept/fransk_baguette">Baguette recipe</a></div>
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Dessert in bed while doing homework! I'm a lucky girl. (I didn't actually eat all this at once...or did I...).</div>
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The cake was leftover from the fiance's birthday that I made! It was pretty good, especially the next day! It was also my first time grocery shopping alone for the ingredients and some birthday goodies and candles. Grocery shopping is definitely something I took for granted in the U.S. Knowing where everything was and knowing my card would work and knowing the checkout person spoke english. Oh Publix how I miss you. U.S. credit cards work here, but they require a few extra steps and showing your id, and my Florida ID seems to always confuse people. But I've learned how to help them make it easier and my fear of grocery shopping is officially over! </div>
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The bulle (similar but also very different to cinnamon rolls in the U.S.) our neighbor brought over for us which was very sweet. On my way home from school the other day on my bike I passed two of our neighbors who waved and said hej and it just made me happy that I actually know people! It's the small things.</div>
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Just a short post today but wanted to do an update! Tomorrow I go back out into the field with my class (my tiny class of 6 people). Then we have a big paper due a week later so I will be busy working on that. Thank you to anyone who actually reads my blog, it means a lot and I enjoy writing it! :) </div>
AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-35891766836550300892013-09-12T10:41:00.001-07:002013-09-12T10:41:30.829-07:00Four ways I'm becoming SwedishLiving in Sweden means adapting some of the Swedish ways of life. So I thought I would share a few things that I have started doing consciously and unconsciously.<br />
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1. In Sweden you address professors by their first name, even in an email. And yes I found this out the hard way. And I was quickly corrected. Luckily my teacher used to live in the U.S. so he understood. Apparently in Sweden he explained you rarely (if ever) use Dr. as someones title. Even medical doctors you call by their first name. He said doctor is a job, not a title. And professor is a job, not a title. Everything is much more casual which I really love. Work isn't who you are, it's just what you do. Lovely.<br />
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2. I have a new found love of cooking shows. Now this may not be true and may just be a false stereotype, but I remember reading someones blog about living in Sweden before I moved here and they mentioned that people in Sweden love cooking shows and that they are always on tv. Well I forgot about that until today I heard myself talking to the tv, criticizing one of the contestants cooking ability. Hmm. Maybe there is something in the water here. Watching the cooking shows has even gotten me to love cooking, and I've been experimenting with recipes.<br />
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A picture from my zucchini bread making phase. </div>
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Baking sugar cookies! These ones actually weren't my best. But if you need a great oatmeal cookie recipe without butter let me know because those are my favorite!</div>
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3. I LOVE candy. There is something special about candy in Sweden. They have a big selection in all the grocery and little stores and it is amazing. I was never really a big candy person back in the U.S. Mainly ice cream was my sweetness weakness. (Icecream is still a favorite, I don't think I could ever give that one up).<br />
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This picture doesn't do Swedish candy justice, but you can see the variety. I obviously prefer the sour fruity ones but also threw some chocolate and other random pieces in. These creepy looking black and red skulls are actually one of my favorite.</div>
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4. Kind of related to number 3 but also totally different. I love licorice. LICORICE! I remember when I first got to Sweden I wouldn't even buy a bag of candy if it had licorice in it because I didn't want to eat the contaminated candy. But now I purposely pick licorice to fill up my candy bag on Saturdays. It is salty and sweet and amazing. Licorice is very popular in Sweden, and now I know why. They know how to do it right. Or, as I said, there is something in the water.<br />
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So three of my four Swedish things are food related. Hmm. It's probably good I bike to school an hour each way...<br />
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Pretty sunset from earlier in the summer. Its starting to get dark earlier each day. Oh no.</div>
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Its Thursday here and my sweetie has a friend over and were watching a hockey game. Go Umea! I'm really enjoying my life here in Sweden. Some days are harder than others and I still miss family and friends everyday. But each day here I feel more like it is becoming my home. And I honestly couldn't be any happier than I am right now. School is good, and life is good. Ok, I'll stop the corniness.<br />
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Two posts in a row, wow. Hope I can keep it up!AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-50091787646906604882013-09-10T10:00:00.001-07:002013-09-10T10:00:27.931-07:00School in Sweden and Swedish school<div>I can't believe I'm in my second week of graduate school, let alone my second week of graduate school in Sweden! It's definitely very different from the U.S. in good and bad ways. The biggest difference to me is the number of classes you take. This applies to graduate and undergraduate students. You take one class at a time in Sweden. One class! In the U.S. I usually took four or five at once. Except somehow this one class takes up all my time. In the U.S. with five classes I would be at school for three or four hours a day, but in Sweden with one class I'm here around 7 hours. I think I like the one class better though, it allows you to put all your effort into one class. Another difference is how I get to school. I bike. In the U.S. I would either take the bus, drive, or walk. Biking never seemed like a good option. But here it is almost the only option. Buses are pretty expensive and walking would take forever. But since everyone bikes it's not a problem. Except for I start my bike ride off with ten layers of clothing and by the time I get to school I'm down to just one.</div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnt_peekagx_2d8xGYX3vy_Fx_X_kJ0pBS0rH6nGme8mCudjXPSlnDkuJz9vRRuwqdaSukB-zhZwINQ5E5UrZT2P5aAXB9ZYh1_m8ZelOsE1MDzIbSzPbEkUnMHSKdq8mtjKIpXl9cM8Md/s640/blogger-image--1879444860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnt_peekagx_2d8xGYX3vy_Fx_X_kJ0pBS0rH6nGme8mCudjXPSlnDkuJz9vRRuwqdaSukB-zhZwINQ5E5UrZT2P5aAXB9ZYh1_m8ZelOsE1MDzIbSzPbEkUnMHSKdq8mtjKIpXl9cM8Md/s640/blogger-image--1879444860.jpg"></a></div></div><div>A picture of all the bikes, and this is when we got to school early! </div><div><br></div><div>One downside of school is Sweden or any other country is not knowing anyone or anything. For example opening a door. You think that would be fairly simple, but some doors have these buttons you press first and then have to wait a certain amount of time before you open it. And I usually stand there trying it for a minute or so looking silly. Overall though I'm enjoying my class. It's only been a week and I've gotten to go out into the field three days in a row digging in the dirt, which I love. </div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29SFlimSZ0OMG4WP3XJq5N_TcQtYW9sXsB09cfJYpSMg9Su6TXAdD_i3X1RROThrzo98J619mw0URzKVofJWPGOqe0cp88llp7WpfeXbbBxJ3fSVvRtlZPGKzc2jsK5WGLYRBBub-Tczw/s640/blogger-image-440005318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29SFlimSZ0OMG4WP3XJq5N_TcQtYW9sXsB09cfJYpSMg9Su6TXAdD_i3X1RROThrzo98J619mw0URzKVofJWPGOqe0cp88llp7WpfeXbbBxJ3fSVvRtlZPGKzc2jsK5WGLYRBBub-Tczw/s640/blogger-image-440005318.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One of the many holes we dug for soil sampling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love that there is a mixture of nationalities in my class. I am now a minority, and it's really a crazy feeling. It's hard to explain. Some days it feels exciting and adventurous and some days I feel out of place. But the next thing I'm going to talk about I think will help...Swedish school!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have been applying to many different Swedish language programs and finally got into one starting October 1 called Swedish Crash Course. Woohoo! So updates on how that goes later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In other news, we made blueberry jam! I know, I think I'm a bit obsessed with berries. Hopefully it's yummy! Also a random thought but if anyone goes to Allstars pub, they have an amazing raspberry milkshake. It's a very American type sportsbar and restaurant. And very expensive (as are all restaurants here really). This milkshake was called the "five dollar milkshake" and it cost the equivalent of ten dollars. It just made me laugh. Worth very penny though to celebrate starting school!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJDP8SW1uz0bYkTeyh39Cu0AtGLfTKIunHdOEJvW4qAmjrG6VI8MiLKvBWyP4VxBrQTOR2JEzP4rr-OKjM3OE0jbD9pIpdE9aYKPs6LDyskEsuEMre0kMI4HGJ1N7ljprCqxghSvQlz92/s640/blogger-image-383347751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJDP8SW1uz0bYkTeyh39Cu0AtGLfTKIunHdOEJvW4qAmjrG6VI8MiLKvBWyP4VxBrQTOR2JEzP4rr-OKjM3OE0jbD9pIpdE9aYKPs6LDyskEsuEMre0kMI4HGJ1N7ljprCqxghSvQlz92/s640/blogger-image-383347751.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yumm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well that's it for now, hej då (bye)! </div><div><br></div>AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-85236321113257437202013-08-31T08:49:00.001-07:002013-08-31T08:49:07.941-07:00Orientation at Umea UniversityWell, the orientation for international students is over! I learned a few things about the university and Sweden. However I think since I've been to Sweden before and my sweetie is Swedish I knew more about Sweden than the average international student, but it was still very interesting! Mostly we listened to speakers in a big auditorium who discussed information such as how to use the library, how to register at the tax office, information about the Sami people, etc. Some talks such as the one about the Sami people I found very interesting. They are a group of people who used to live (and some still do) in Northern Scandinavia and are similar to Native Americans to the U.S. I liked the last post I did with pictures so I am going to do a similar post now with orientation and non orientation related things :).<br />
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In the auditorium at Umea University. There were lots of students there but it is hard to tell in this photo. We learned that most are from Germany and France with about 11 new Americans.</div>
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Yesterday was Friday and the last day of orientation. Real classes start Monday. Oh dear! To celebrate we went to the Systembolaget (Swedish alcohol shop). This store has a monopoly on alcohol in Sweden and gives you these bags to carry around, so you always know who just bought alcohol. And since it was Friday there were lots of blue bags out today.</div>
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These are the beers we bought. All Swedish types. I'll make a post a little later reviewing them. We tried three so far and will probably try the fourth one tonight. :)</div>
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Today we went to the grocery store to turn in our cans and plastic bottles. Most are worth at least 1 kr, sometimes 2. That's not very much, but they add up!</div>
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Our receipt from the bottle machine! 20 kr woohoo! That is about 3 dollars ish, but 20 kr sounds much better. We bought some cheese (on sale woohoo!) and coffee. And got a 20 kr discount. Oh yeahhh.</div>
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This was our lovely walk home from the store. Usually we bike, but it is such a beautiful day we wanted more time to enjoy it. (And to pick berries!)</div>
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We saw this tree today near our apartment. The leaves are turning yellow! I am very excited about Fall and actually seeing seasons, but it needs to wait! I'm not ready for it to get cold yet. I need a little more summer. This video below I think represents how I feel about this.</div>
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That is all!</div>
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<br />AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7547108815471757550.post-8985339661109341932013-08-26T10:03:00.000-07:002013-08-26T12:46:39.208-07:00Umea in PicturesWalking around town today I was taking a lot of pictures and decided to post them to a blog because I think pictures are a lot more fun than reading a long post. I picked a few things that I think make Umea different and things that I have noticed are different in Sweden from the U.S.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kdNoQLtRKIym4GJPnFjipyt6Z3jbmDmbrTEv5u0CcRgtGLI9Vfu8AreVQzMIaFf7I6hL1m0oFYP5Q76pW6jSBIM1tb2I6KYoDQMX-dzb02Nf5kaw4VUzOdmyws2-G68_VsLDC5g6NG4Q/s1600/IMG_1462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kdNoQLtRKIym4GJPnFjipyt6Z3jbmDmbrTEv5u0CcRgtGLI9Vfu8AreVQzMIaFf7I6hL1m0oFYP5Q76pW6jSBIM1tb2I6KYoDQMX-dzb02Nf5kaw4VUzOdmyws2-G68_VsLDC5g6NG4Q/s320/IMG_1462.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Biking is extremely popular here. Bikes are everywhere. I have heard even snow does not stop most bikers. Hopefully I can be as hardcore as people here and bike to school even in the snow.</div>
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Exploring campus! Orientation starts tomorrow!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oZ0t7x_1sAr38bJsMBJ1Tr5yWSnMQS861Y-3L70qc3W6J-tZdwFI-QdQZJfpcWwgIYQvJ2stcnZf59mnhdFHg_GtbObHqxCTjGP744sL_gwxsZ3-nQM2zPOfz4MesRByXnLa27IIboK6/s1600/IMG_1725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oZ0t7x_1sAr38bJsMBJ1Tr5yWSnMQS861Y-3L70qc3W6J-tZdwFI-QdQZJfpcWwgIYQvJ2stcnZf59mnhdFHg_GtbObHqxCTjGP744sL_gwxsZ3-nQM2zPOfz4MesRByXnLa27IIboK6/s320/IMG_1725.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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These blue buses are everywhere and go from campus to town and everywhere else. So if biking in the snow proves to be too much for me, the bus is an easy alternative.</div>
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The brown sugar I bought for my chocolate chip cookies. Something about it is much different than the brown sugar I'm used to, but it's yummy anyways.</div>
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The city center. It's beautiful with a little fruit and vegetable market and shops all around. The building in the background is the Old Town Hall.</div>
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In this picture it is a little hard to see but the glass box building in the center says Umea 2014. It is a symbol for the fact that Umea Sweden was picked to be the European Capitol of Culture for 2014! It means there will be lots of special events in the coming year. However right now it also means lots of construction, as you can see in the distance.<br />
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Mjukglass! Also known as icecream! I just had to post this because if anyone knows me, they know I love icecream.</div>
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In the summer lots of restaurants in Sweden extend their seating outside. In winter of course these disappear and indoor eating will become the norm. But usually these places are packed, especially on the weekends.</div>
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Cheese is very expensive here. These are the cheeses that are on sale this week, but they are still expensive. Sad, because I love cheese. Also accidentally in this picture you can see the Swedish prices!</div>
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They have Ramon noodles here! I thought any college kids would appreciate this. However even though it is cheaper here than most things, it is nowhere near as cheap as in the U.S. And the lack of nutrition it provides makes buying it in Sweden a bit silly.</div>
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They change the names of movies here to Swedish! It makes me giggle. But most movies are kept in English and they add Swedish subtitles. This is because most people speak English here.</div>
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Just an extra photo, but we mailed off some save the dates today! Only to the European side of the family (no U.S. ones yet), but still an exciting moment, so we had to take a picture. :)</div>
<br />AlexisNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469781695003281850noreply@blogger.com0