Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi!

Australia April-Dec. 2010!

http://jani-aussiedownunder.blogspot.com/

And I'm off again!

Yes, it's been months and here I go again! I returned home from Sweden just before Christmas, and spent 4 months in CA hanging out with family and friends, so nice. As I'm sure you all know, I had the greatest time in Sweden and I'm forever thankful!

I'm NOW in Jervis Bay, Australia!! Just arrived a few days ago, and getting settled. It's ahhhhmazing! I'm going to be creating a new blog, probably this weekend when I have more time. Hope all is great and stay tuned!!

Aussie Aussie Aussie!!

I'm coming home!!

Hello everyone!

I'm coming home tomorrow!!! It's 1am and I'm pulling an all-nighter to get on CA and also to be able to sleep (hopefully) on my long flight home.

Haven't written too much lately, as I've just been living my Swedish life and trying to soak it all in while I could. I had plans to go to Ireland and England, but things changed...tell you later. England customs are very strict and were suspicious of me for some reason. Bummer. :(

Can't believe the time to come home is here already. I'm soooo ready to come home yes, but sooo sad to leave. Had to say goodbye to Charlie and Elias tonight, and that was rough. I fell in love with this family, especially them. Looking forward to being with "my people" as my mom says and just being home. There's no place like home!! Thank you all for following my adventure while living here in Sweden. It really was an amazing year, and I enjoyed every minute. I have been changed for good, and have a whole new spin on life...as a Swede American! The Holms were the perfect family and situation for me, and just can't wait to restart my life again back home. I have been blessed! Going to be a great Holiday this year!

Take care and hope to see you all soon! xoxo
Jani

Paris!

I did it, I made it to Paris! When I failed to go up the Eiffel Tower 8 years ago in highschool, I thought, I'll be back....so I made it happen and I just had the best time! I met up and stayed with my friend Marie who is living there, right in the city. She and I hadn't seen each other in 5 years, so it was amazing and just great to be with her and catch up.

I arrived on a Wednesday, Sept. 30th, and followed all my directions from Marie and my research and had no problems finding my way to downtown where she worked. Marie happens to work very close to Notre Dame Cathedral. I remembered this church very well from before, but I just LOVE old churches and it was just as beautiful as ever. After a small bite and of course a glass of wine (I was on vacation), I met up with Marie in a Starbucks! Didn't have a drink there, when I'm here, I want European things. That night, we met up with a few of her girlfriends for a few drinks and dinner. I was just loving the fact that I was with a local, seeing what they do, and didn't have to go find and sleep in a hostel.

Thursday and Friday, Marie had to go into work...so I was free to explore the city on my own, with her recommendations and direction. First, I went to the Arch de Triump, then walked down the very loooong street of Champs Ellysees, which basically ended at the Lourve and great shopping areas. I chose not to go into the Louve, as I did it last time, and I thought this time...my money and time should be spent on shopping, and enjoying Paris. Friday, I went to a beautiful Church called Sacred Heart Basilica, which had an amazing view of the city. Cute cute cute little area, where everyone wanted to draw your picture. Um, no thank you. From there, I had to go see the Moulin Rouge! Marie said it was a pretty trashy and scandulous part of the city, but I had to just go see for myself since the name is huge and that area. She was right, a whole street of x-rated stores, but nothing to be scared of...thought it was funny! Did some more walking, and found the metro to go to the Pantheon Museaum. Here, there is the world's largest pendulum, which proves the theory of our spinning earth in relative to the sun and universe. Pretty cool, but was basically in and out in 20 minutes.

Friday night, Marie and I hosted a party in her ONE BEDROOM flat! Yes, one small little room, we had about 10 people over, and everyone brought 1-2 bottles of wine. We made some pasta, and just enjoyed socializing. Everyone basically spoke english and were very nice! Around midnight, I asked if we were going to actually go out...they said, "Oh ya, you Americans go out early like at 9 or 10 huh...lol." I was fine with it though, of course I was fine, I was in Paris! 2 trains later, and a little walk, we were at this really big, new club...and we were VIP! Yes, we had connections, and passed the cover and the line, it was great. Totally crazy, but full of life and dancing. I was just LOVING it, I rocked out!

Saturday, we were a bit tired from getting home at 5am......but that didn't stop us from moving on cause we were going to see the Eiffel Tower!!! Marie hadn't been since she was 10 years old. Funny how when you live somewhere so famous, you tend to overlook what the world is coming to see. We picked a great day to go, even though it was busy, it was great weather! We took some silly pictures, since I was the "tourist", then we stopped at each level (3). At the top, I was definitely "higher!" Great views of Paris, and that's when it really hit me that I had made it back to do this! I was in great company, and just enjoying that priceless moment. Life was good!

That night, Marie and I went and had a nice dinner in her neighborhood. I had a very early flight Sunday back to Sweden...basically I left her house at 6am, and got into my house around 6:30pm. That's how it is here, between all the trains, buses, planes, and more trains. I really had an absolutely amazing time, and it was just what I needed! Thanks to Marie for hosting, and to Paris...I fell in LOVE! It definitely held its reputation for great shopping and beauty. Enjoy the pics! I have much much more if anyone is interested!

Only about 2 months left in Sweden!! Still figuring out my next move, but am working on it!

Update!

Hi Everyone!

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted, but was trying to enjoy my last sunny days in Sweden! After my mom, aunts and sister left, I've just been chilling with my family here and seeing more of this country. Immediately after the ladies left, I met up with the Holms in southern Sweden in Malmo, and we stayed a for a long weekend at Susanne's father's house. One day, we traveled to Bornholm, as large island off the southern coast...it's actually a Danish land, but has a lot of Swedish and German influence since it's surrounded. This was a very cute little island! Then, the first week in August, the whole family took a huge trip to Gotland, home of Pippy Longstocking! It's the even bigger island off the east coast of Sweden, and it really has a huge reputation for Sweden...being very authentic and personal to the Swedes. Lots of sheep, shopping, specialized jam (which I've shared with some), and lots of history. It was a great week in the sun, and learning about more Swedish herritage.

So, it's mid-September already, can you believe it!? I am coming home in about 3 months, just in time for Christmas. I can't wait to see everyone and return home, but I don't even want to think about how hard it's going to be to say goodbye to my family and life here. It's been way more and better than I could have ever imagined! Elias is even saying my name now, Naaaanie (like Janie with an N). I love my boys! Going to Paris to visit an old friend Marie, the first weekend in Oct, can't wait! Paris!! Might try to sqeeze one more trip in before I leave, but we'll see. As always, just loving every minute here and thinking of everyone at home often. Hope you are all enjoying Monday Night Football, and the beautiful beginning of Fall! More to come!

Also wanted to mention, in memory of a special friend today...Life is special, celebrate it!

Family (Denmark)

We finally made it to the original Solvang...Denmark!! I was so excited, as we all were, to see the comparisons of Copenhagen to Solvang and see how we measure up. It was absolutely beautiful, and everything and more than I'd expected! Our very nice hotel, was centrally located in Old Town Copenhagen, and very close to it all. What did we do first, of course we dropped our bags, and went shopping and toured the streets! These guys on bikes were behind us at a crosswalk drinking beers, and my sister asked, '' is it really legal to drink in the streets here?!" Their response, "oh ya, we're a liberal country, anything goes. It's a GREAT country!" 1 minute later, he called to us, and gave Katie an extra beer! The Golden Lady! Sweet....this was going to be fun. A little further down the street, we bought beers at a 7Eleven just because we can!

Denmark is awesome! We found how to ride the bus to take us to the Carlsberg Museum. That was great! We enjoyed a nice lunch there, and of course some great beer. Took some pictures, and shopped at the souvenier shop, etc. Great to be in a brewery again, had been a while. We made our way back to downtown.

We also enjoyed a boat cruise around the harbor, which was great! Gave us information about the city, and we even floated by the Little Mermaid! Not as grand as we thought it'd be, but still something special. Strange seeing it in person! The part where we got on and off the boats, was beautiful, and it really looked like Solvang. Great pics there! We also took a Hop on and off Bus tour, which was very cool. This took us to the palace, Mermaid, etc.

Denmark impressed me completely! I really hope to return soon! One night, just Katie and I went out to a few bars, and it was just what I needed. A night of normalcy with my best friend and sister. We looked hot, and went out to meet the Danish boys! Met a few right away and it was a great night. We noticed a guy wearing an LA Dodgers hat, and we judeged if he was really from CA or faking it. Well, he didn't have skinny jeans on, so maybe...but then we thought no. We asked him, and he said, "WEST siIIIde!" Nah, I'm from Denmark, lol. Nice guy, but wannabe :) My sister and I agreed, Sweden had better looking girls, and Denmark had better looking guys! Maybe I will go back :P

Unfortunately, the trip ended for me in Copenhagen. They went on to Switzerland for a few days, but I rejoined up with the Holms in Smaland (southern Sweden), which was another little vacation in its own. We had a brief goodbye at the airport due to time, but actually it was probably better than the tearful goodbye which very well would have happened. I couldn't have asked for a better trip with my mom, sister and aunts. It really was a trip of a lifetime that we will all be greatful for for the rest of our lives! I admire these women so much, and it really meant the world to me that they came all that way to see me and spend time with me. As you all know, I LOVE it here and it's everything I've hoped for and more. It was nice to be reminded just what I do have at home and how blessed I am with such an amazing family. It went by way too fast, but the best parts were just when we were hanging out with each other. We seriously laughed the WHOLE time, and just lived in the moment. We sadly did not connect with our cousin Gunnel, but things happen. So a BIG thank you to Karen, Emily, Katie and Mom for coming to Europe to be with me! I love you, and can't wait to see EVERYONE in a few months! It's all downhill from here, and I'm excited to see what fate brings next for me...

SKOL!!!