Settling in Stockholm

I'm in love! I've been in Sweden for less than a week and I'm beginning to think that having no return ticket to Texas might persuade me to stay longer than June... or at least as long as I possibly can! I've been having so much fun so far and though I would like to relate all of my adventures so far, a short recap of the past few days will have to do for now.

The next few photos are of central Stockholm... just random shots I took while walking around.

There's so much to see here, and it's all so beautiful. We walk everywhere, so I'm quickly learning where everything is. The weather isn't bad - mid 30s, and although the sun sets before 4pm, its bright and sunny during daylight hours. It's actually a nice change from hot and humid Texas weather.

One part of Swedish culture that I've quickly adapted to is "fika." Fika is basically a coffee and snack break whenever you feel like it. There are so many coffee shops! And, it's a huge relief that there is not a Starbucks on every corner. Though I miss the junior mint drinks from Austin's Java, I've found many wonderful substitutes. Plus, its great to eat desserts such as semla (below) at anytime of the day for no special reason! And, since everyone walks so much, there's no need to worry about all of the sugar and calories!

Besides indulging on coffees and cakes, I went to Uppsala (the city where my school is) with my relatives last week. We checked into the campus apartment where I'll be staying and dropped off the luggage. I haven't totally unpacked yet and I won't officially move in until tuesday or wednesday. But, it's a beautiful apartment. It beats Jester by a long shot! I think my bedroom is bigger than the room I shared in Jester freshman year, and it's definitely larger than my bedroom in Austin. In fact, I think my closet here is larger than my bedroom closet at my parents house. I also have a fantastic view of the cathedral and castle in Uppsala. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures as soon as I get settled.

Anyway, I think this pretty much sums up everything I've been doing. And, there's plenty of floor space in my room, so anyone who wants to make the trek across the Atlantic is more than welcome to visit!

Hej då!