Pictures from previous blog

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Swedish Texas Steakhouse & Old Town Sweden!

Today was a busy day! We actually got up and out the door before noon :)

First, we went to Old Town Sweden where Ola got to be a tourist like me! The buildings were BEAUTIFUL! I got a quick video for my nieces of the parade infront of a royal building. So fun to see!

We did some shopping in Old Town Sweden and in NK. Claire-I have gifts coming home to you (and your sisters) and Myles!! Can't wait for you to see them!

After a day of beautiful sights, we took a boat to met Ola's gorgeous sister, Linda. I'm pretty sure everyone from Sweden is a supermodel. So pretty! We also met his nephew, Milo.

Then, we went to have a "Texas" steak dinner with Ola's friend, Patrick. It was pretty fun to see a Texan dinner in Sweden. Dinner was delicious, though Ola ordered lamb at a steakhouse ;) Dinner was good and I got a yummy Swedish beer in a Texas glass. Make that, three Swedish beers...it was raining and...what else is there to do but order another?

The night ended with....MORE rain. So, we enjoyed playing in the rain to our way onto the train. Or, me making Patrick dance in the rain while our horrible photographer Ola complained!

It was another great day in Sweden. One more week to go and I am off to Bahrain!

Pictures

Pictures from the game day

 

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Soccer Game in Sweden? Yes please!

Yesterday was quite an adventure! I went to my first FUTBOL game....apparently I'm not allowed to call it soccer and American football is dumb to be called football when you don't use your feet and yadda yadda yadda :) The game was super fun! My favorite was listening to all of the singing and chanting of the fans. They sing the whole game. Super glad Ola took me with him and let me crash his guy time with his friends! I'll try to attach a video, but not sure if it's the best one I got. We will see how this one turns out:

The weather for the game was in the low 70's and sunny so it was great. We enjoyed some beers during the game..."American beers" because they are watered down at the soccer, excuse me futbol, games. The guys were cracking me up with this stuff!

Hammarby won the game! Which was good because I didn't want Ola to be in a bad mood afterwards :) So then we went out for some celebration drinks...and...what a night!! Ola's friends are great fun and everybody is so nice!! Fantastic night. I must say, I love it here in Sweden!

Yesterday was quite full of adventure. I think today I will stay away from the Swedish beer!

Having a blast!







For Claire...I love you :)

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A word from Ola's parents....

Hello Stan and Kathy!\Thank yoy for having your loving daughter!
We have worn her out today! Going oround Nynashamn  a "26000 big city". You know o lot of suroundings!...or... But I think  Holly is full of it and we had a lot of fun and she is the most beautiful girl I ever can think of having here. Now they"re just pulling me around so I don"t know what else I"m going to write to you but it what really nice talking to you and I whish you a good dinner and a good night. And as we say in Sweden: Puss o godnatt! { that"s Kiss and Goodnight!} Lena and Bengt-Owe

Saying goodbye is hard to do!

WELP! Just arrived in London at Heathrow airport! I think I’ve been overconfident leading up to my departure….to say the least. I spent yesterday buying plane tickets, waiting on my Eurorail ticket to arrive, packing, and finalizing everything that *most* people would have had done months in advance.

Before I knew it, Dad was loading up my things into the car: ready or not. And for the first time it hit me that….I.Was.NOT.

When Mom and Dad dropped me off at the airport I started to cry! At 27 years old I have never been away from anyone in my family for more than a couple of weeks. And during those couple of weeks, we have always had the ability to talk to text at any time. Not this time around! Oh, and here’s my deep secret: I am TERRIFIED of being alone! Even a trip to the store has never been an experience I enjoy solo. And don’t even get  me started on eating alone in public!!! *GASP!*

So all of the sudden I find myself standing in the middle of DFW airport…tears down my face…scared to death!

I went to Fridays to try to eat before my 9 hour overnight flight. Then it was time! The flight was packed. I sat down and the pretty blonde girl next to me said: “Did you know you can get free wine on this flight?” And I instantly knew we were going to be friends.

So we spent the first few hours of our flight drinking wine and talking about our journeys. Turns out she is 2 years older than me and from a city nearby. She met a guy in London and was on the plane with just a few suitcases….MOVING THERE! She got rid of her condo & everything she owned except her few suitcases that she packed full. What courage!!

We had so much in common. First of all, we were both freaking out about what the heck we were doing! She too had never left her family, so we had a lot of shared emotions. As the flight went on we talked about everything in between. She was awesome! We exchanged emails and I am going to try to stay with her or meet her on the train for a short trip while out here! When we got off the plane we shared a big hug and lots of congratulations to one another. It was just what I needed to smile and move forth.

What a great start to this adventure. I was shaking walking onto the plane and God placed just the right person in the seat next to me to reassure me that this is a great thing. Well, it was either her or the wine that was so reassuring, but either way it relaxed me and I went right to sleep. Next thing I knew I was hopping off the plane attempting to navigate my way around this intimidatingly HUGE airport! 

I have about 2 hours until my next flight. By 8:30 tonight I should be walking out of the airport and officially beginning my journey in SWEDEN!!! I can’t believe it! And there is no one else I am more excited to see first thing than my sweet friend Ola!

Now, one final question: Shrimp or spicy chili thai potato chips for snack???

HoOt!