My Swede Escape has arrived! I´ve been here almost a week, and am now finally adjusted to the time change and the many new changes in everyday life. I arrived last Tuesday to Stockholm after a long 2 days (basically) of flying. Luckily had no problems with my luggage, customs, or flights. Although one European lady kept staring at me on the flight here.... who knows.

The family is awesome, and the kids are adorable! They have a very nice Ikea -like home with plenty of room and conveniences. Suzanne and Lasse have been very welcoming and fun to talk with. They love practicing their enligh (which is really good!), and love to learn what I think and know about America. Charlie is 2 1/2, and is a typical 2 year old. Runs a lot, talks a lot, laughs a lot, and all around just fun! He pretty much only speaks Swedish, but I think that´ll help me learn from him. He does understand my english words and questions, but will answer in Swedish. Very smart and really does try to speak english and swedish. Elias just turned one last week, and is so much fun also! He´s just begun to walk, and is saying papa and mama only. I´ll spend most of my days with him, which will be great. Then there is Anton and Louise, Lasse´s two older children in their teens here, but not my responsibility,) Very nice kids, but still shy with me. I´ll post some pictures asap with the family, house, neighborhood, etc. They also have a dog Bella, who is a very active 12 year old dog. She´s half black lab and something else, very very sweet. I love having a dog around!

Some things I´ve notice that are extremely different from home... My head is swimming with confusion due to the language barrier. I start classes on monday, and that will go on for 6 weeks in Orebrö (about 15 minutes away). A lot of people speak english, or at least try to. Everyone is very pleased to meet the new American! Lasse loves to tell everyone that my grandparents came from Sweden, making me Swedish American (basically the best of the best in the world!) Another big difference is they hang dry their clothes. I asked where the dryer was, and Suzanne explained the new process. There´s a closet like space where you hang everything. Works I guess, but I know I´ll miss the fresh, non-wrinkled, warm laundry. It´s cold! First few days, it was snowing. Little different from the 75degree weather in Solvang! I like it though...fun to wear the hat, scarf, gloves, and warm clothes. Makes you realize how easy it is to get kids ready to go in CA. The heat in the house comes from the floors. I really like this, because you´re feet are always warm and there´s nothing blowing or making noise (like our heaters). The windows and doors are very think and secure to keep the heat in, or course. The first night I was here, we had tacos, yes tacos! Little different though...it was ground deer meat! Actually very delicious! They do have tortillas, and I brought my favorite hot sauce so I was set. Lasse LOVES the hot sauce, I was so surprised but happy! So basically, life in Sweden is very different, but I´ll enjoy getting used to it!

In the past week, I´ve met most of the family, seen Charlie´s preschool, eaten very Swedish food, seen Kumla and Orebrö, been kind of trained in the way of life in Sweden, etc. One of my favorites was Lasse took me up to his grandfathers cabin, about 20 minutes away. SOOOOO Swedish! I really wish you all could see it, I´ll get pictures. I kept thinking my family would love this! It was a red 100 hundred year old cabin, with very small doors, windows, stairs, etc. No electricity or water, the outhouse was about 30 feet away, there´s an outdoor bath tub and shower, and a bbq pit. Lasse said we will go there this summer and hang out. I really loved this place because it just seemed so Swedish, did I say that already!?

Everyone here is very welcoming, and I love my new family already! Good things to come. I have a few email addresses of the family, which I will contact soon. I will for sure meet them, Lasse says that´ll be very important:D The Holms are extremely family oriented, which I can obviously relate too. Last night at the family party, I could easily see similarities which made me happy and also miss my own family. No worries though! Hope you enjoyed my first real blog, and I´ll do my best to update of course. Officially starting work on Tuesday, finally work!

Hej då (sounds like Hey Dough, goodbye)
Ta ta for now...
Jani