EARTHQUAKE in SWEDEN?!?!?!?!

Yes folks! It's true! This morning at about 6:20am there was a 4.7 earthquake in southern Sweden. I was laying in bed and felt the moderately strong tremor as I'm on the 4th floor of my building. Right away I knew what it was, but my mind tried to dismiss it as something else..."naw, couldn't be...i'm in Sweden...it's probably just a neighbor dancing with his 2-ton polar bear"...lol! And today at school, the kids had lots of questions to ask me about earthquakes and such. I am, afterall, the earthquake expert being that I'm from California. *smile* More about the earthquake can be read here: http://www.thelocal.se/16374/20081216/

The Swedish Countryside in Linköping

About a week ago, my Swedish neighbor, Karin, invited me and a few friends to accompany her to Linköping, her hometown. We also had the opportunity to visit her country house. Most of the time it's located in the countryside, away from the busy cities. A lot of Swedes have second homes where they visit in the summer for long vacations. In Sweden and in most of Europe, it's customary for everyone to receive 5-6 weeks of paid time off...yeah, I know...MUST BE NICE!!!

My friends and I spent the first night in the city, going on a walking tour of a light show. It was really pretty and Karin says it's also to make the city feel more secure during the darker winter months. There was a bridge with glowing pillars underneath it, a garden full of light chandeliers, a fake helicopter spotlight, and the "love nest" as Karin calls it. There were red hearts and lips being projected on the ground and on the building as well as romantic music playing.

The next day, we visited Karin's family house in the countryside. It was only about 30 minutes outside the city but it feels thousands of miles away...nothing but rolling grass and forest surrounded the house. The house was very rustic and cozy. There was a woodburning stove, no running water and even the bathroom was located outside the house in the barn. We had a good time relaxing with her parents and sharing stories about misspoken words in Swedish and English. My friend Karin especially, makes us laugh with her misguided words. But she knows it's all in fun so she doesn't seem to mind...especially when we are socialating (one of Karin's words).

On our last night in the city, we prepared (I mostly watched and prepared the after dinner games) homemade sushi and miso soup for ourselves and 4 visitors. We sat around, ate, laughed, played a few games and just generally had ourselves a great time. I can't wait for Karin to come visit me in California so I can show her the same hospitality. I had a great time!

Sea Battle! But without all the violence...

Last weekend the Växjö International Students (VIS) campus organization planned a cruise for about 1500 exchange students from Sweden, Finland and Estonia. I was expecting a rinky-dink, run-down fishing boat for the price that we had to pay...only $80 USD for a 3 day/2 night cruise. Thankfully though, I was pleasantly surprised when we pulled into the departure port. Our cruise vessel was just that...a real cruise...on point with anything Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Lines has in the US, just slightly smaller. I was also lucky enough to have a double cabin instead of a quad and it also had a window. Our boat had a ballroom for shows, a casino (Christians don't bet...lol), a duty free store, 3 restaurants, and a few hot night spots.

We basically chartered the entire cruise because there were so many exchange students on board. We booked 90% of all cabins available. I felt sorry for these two older women a few doors down from us, but they didn't seem to mind the noise and partying until 6am!!! Or at least not too much... We were even able to provoke this older gentlemen to participate in our hallway Limbo game...it was hilarious! My highlight was when I talked 3 other people to do Karaoke with me in the lounge. We did Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and we totally rocked the joint! It was exhilarating!

Our cruise was from Stockholm to Talinn (Estonia) with a short stop in Finland along the way. Estonia reminds me a lot of Gamlastan (Old Town) in Stockholm. It's a small city but it was nice to be able to cross another country off my passport list.

Even in Sweden!

Hey folks! By now, I'm sure you've heard the good news...I knew it was going to happen all along...what, with all of Bush's failed policies and the US economy in the shape it is now, there was no way another Republican was going to be elected...besides, McCain/McSame was a Bush clone in sheep's clothing.

But on to other news...Yes! Even here in Sweden people are happy that Obama won! I went to the local corner store and bought a newspaper with the front cover dedicated to Obama. Over the past few weeks that's all the media has been talking about...Obama...McCain...Biden...Palin...it's so nice to FINALLY breathe a sigh of relief. Obama's time has come...OUR time, as American people, has finally come. God bless America!

Ettiquette for My Brothers and Sisters on November 5th

To keep the peace and to keep a lot of folks from getting nervous, this is a list of acceptable celebrations and behaviors we should probably avoid - at least for the first few days:

1. No crying, hugging or shouting "Thank you Lord" - at least not in public.

2. No high-fives - at least not unless the area is clear and there are no witnesses.

3. No laughing at the McCain/Palin supporters - Well at least no pointing!

4. No calling in sick on November 5th. They'll get nervous if too many of us don't show up. (Try to be on time and not your normal late arrival)

5. We're allowed to give each other knowing winks or nods in passing. Just try to keep from grinning too hard.

6. No singing loudly, We've come this Far By Faith. (it will be acceptable to hum softly)

7. No bringing of barbecue ribs or fried chicken for lunch in the company lunchroom for at least a week. (no chitterlings at all!)

8. No leaving Kool-aid packages at the water fountain. (this might be a sign that poor folks might be getting a break through)

9. No Cupid Shuffle or Electric Slide during breaks. (this could indicate a little too much excitement)

10. Please no "Moving On Up" music. (try to remain humble)

11. No doing the George Jefferson dance. (unless you're in your office with the door closed)

12. Please try not to yell----BOOOO YAH! or IN YOUR FACE! to McCain/Palin supporters.

13. Just in case you're wondering...Doing the Running Man, cabbage patch, or a backhand spring on the highway is 100% okay.

5 Days Until the Election...Don't Forget to Barack the Vote!

Hey everybody! I might be thousands of miles away but that still didn't keep me from casting my vote in what could be one of the most monumental and most watched elections of all time. My prediction is that there will be a record number of voters registered AND actually voting in this election. Also, because of the record turnout I'm betting that there's going to be long lines and waits at the polls as well. If you're able to, vote early. I had the pleasure of turning in my absentee vote last week because I'm an American overseas. My ballot came directly from the Alameda County Voter's Office and I even had ballot measures for my district sent by the California Secretary of State (don't I feel important). Don't forget, you ALSO have the option to vote early. If you live in California, click this link to find out when and where you can vote early: http://govote.org/. You can also visit that link for more information on where to vote on November 4. Of course I wholeheartedly support Barack Obama for the presidency of the United States but I think the most important thing here is that we all get out and vote. Wait a minute...on second thought...if you're voting for McSame or any of the other less than qualified candidates on the presidential ballot besides Obama, feel free to skip voting this year. Trust me...I won't mind at all. gOBAMA!

I almost had a heart attack!!!

Wow folks, I know it's not what you think but seriously, I woke up this morning and almost had a heart attack. In my email inbox I had a friend request on Facebook from MY MOMMY!!! I couldn't believe it!!! I was just telling her that I should hold a computer class for her and all of her internet-challenged friends but it looks as if she's already hit the ground running. Don't believe me? Go ahead and do a search for her name...you'll find her...plus she's new and could use a few tips and a lot more friends. Ciao for now! =D

Promising New Candidate in the Presidential Campaign for 2008!!!

Yes folks, it's true! Some of you may have already heard...there is a NEW, promising candidate in the running for the White House. Her platform is positive change, she has no rivals and her background is flawless! This is a grassroots movement. Please, join in!

Click the following link for more information: http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=379346&altf=Sijboob&altl=Bbspo

Home Swede Home

God is so good! I've made it back safely to Sweden once more. It was a long trip (36+ hours) but I've made it safe and sound. Its especially good to be back now that I know my way around town and a little of what to expect. Here's a short recap of my journey to Växjö:

1. Flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt, Germany (10+ hours)
2. Layover in Frankfurt (4+ hours)
3. Train from Frankfurt to Köln, Germany (2+ hours)
4. Layover in Köln, Germany (6+ hours)
3. Overnight train from Köln, Germany to Copenhagen, Denmark (11+ hours)
4. Train from Copenhagen, Denmark to Växjö, Sweden (2+ hours)

So yes, it was definitely a lengthy journey, but it was at least comfortable. On the overnight train I was booked in a private sleeper car and caught some much needed of zzzzz's. There was even a cabin steward who brought me breakfast in bed...yummy! I also met another young lady from Mexico traveling all over Europe by herself. We chatted for a few hours to pass the time in Köln and it was nice to finally speak to someone in English. I even offered to cook her some tacos if she came to visit me in Växjö but unfortunately all the trains were booked solid.

Once my train arrived in Växjö my good friend from church called (talk about perfect timing) and offered to pick me up from the train station. I had an easy transition from the train station to my dorm and thank goodness, I had over 100 pounds of luggage!!! I actually think I pulled a muscle in my arm from my heavy bags, but I'm all healed now.

So I'm back in my same room (I'll put some updated pictures up soon, now that I have furniture) and ready to get back in the swing of things. Unfortunately, I've already missed 3 weeks of school waiting for my residence permit extension, but I'm not worried...I can handle it. Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

PS: Here's my mailing address once more:

Rhianna Aaron
Stallvägen 24:87
Växjö, Sweden
SE-352 56

Chillaxin' at the Lake

On Friday some friends and I went to the lake near campus (there's one directly on campus but not with boats/pier) to chillax together before we each get ready to head home. Its about 1-2 miles away but the walk is definitely worth it. You follow a shaded path through forests over foot bridges and creeks...before you know it you arrive at a beautiful oasis. This was my first time to this "secret spot" so I'm sure I'll be seeing more of it in the near future.

Playin' Kubb & My New Band

These last few days here in Sweden have been so nice. The weather is warm, everyone is excited to be going home but we're also sad to say goodbye to everyone. About 45 minutes ago my neighbor, Karin, left to go home for the summer but I'm so happy I'll be able to see her again. She informally introduced me to the Swede way of life. I had the chance to play a Swedish lawn game called Kubb and I started a two-drum band with my friend Mila. Swedes can be shy/standoffish at first but, once you get to know them they are very welcoming. I know I've made many lifelong friends here...

I'm Famous!!!

About a year ago I used a program to make picture of myself that would make me appear to change faces. The company that produced the software, Fantamorph, was just starting up and wanted people to send in their projects for possible use on their website. I sent in my project because I thought it was silly and I hoped it would make them laugh.

Earlier this week, about a year since i sent in the project, they contacted me and said they used my project for use on their website. CLICK HERE to see the project. (hint: scroll down to see the process used with my pictures).

Goooooooooooooaaaaal!! My first official fotboll (soccer) game!

Yesterday I went to my first official fotboll (soccer in American English) game. From what I've seen on TV there are always thousands of people and rowdy fans. However, the team we went to support, IFK Värnamo, is in the 3rd highest division in Sweden and their opponents, Östers IF (the home team), had been relegated (demoted to lower leagues) twice in the last 2 years. So needless to say, we couldn't expect large crowds but that definitely didn't stop us from being rowdy.

Out of the entire stadium there were only the 6 of us cheering for the away team plus a few parents of the players. Everyone around kept staring at us because we were so enthusiastic over such a low-stakes game. Someone even took video of us...probably to show his friends how silly international students can be...hahaha!

One thing about soccer is that fans are notorious for making chants to taunt the other team/fans and to support their own team as well. Luckily for me, all my friends were happy to teach me chants from their home countries. I learned one in Greek, Spanish, German, Dutch, and Swedish. Loosly translated some of the chants said "abadon your team now, go ahead and do it, do it"..."relegate again, again, relegate again"..."we are the best, you are horrible, why even try"...and some other ones i won't even try to translate because I don't believe they are family friendly.

School is over...almost time to say goodbye...

I officially had my last day of class yesterday (push play above to see video). Our teacher is really sweet and bought each of us Swedish flags as going away presents. She presented each of us with one as we hummed Pomp and Circumstance . We signed each other's flag, laughed, hugged and cried. It was a great day! I'm gonna miss all these wonderful people I've met here.

The university organized an official goodbye party for all the international students. I volunteered to make a pic/vid slideshow of the semester and not to too my own horn (toot! toot!) but everybody loved it. Some said it was the best part of the party. I included as many pictures and videos and the soundtrack was all of our favorite songs over the semester. I don't know if there was a dry eye during the last song...It's So Hard to Say Goodbye.

And just because we had an official goodbye party doesn't mean we can't have one every single day until everybody leaves. Just about all the international students are here for about a week with nothing to do so we fill the time by BBQ'in (Swede style), swimming in the lake, and just enjoying our last few days together.

The cRaZiEsT Birthday Ever!!!

My birthday this year was on a Sabbath so I had extra special blessings all day long. It started out as a quiet gathering amongst friends and quickly turned into one of the cRaZiEsT nights ever.

I started the evening by inviting my closest friends here on campus for a taco/haystacks buffet birthday dinner. Most of my friends here in Sweden are from all over the world so they had no idea what haystacks were. I had to demonstrate the "proper" way to stack a plate but once they caught on there was no stoppin' them. Even one of my Mexican friends said they were the best he'd ever had. Of course he called them a Spanish name that I don't remember but the point is that he said they were good...lol! I even made the black beans from scratch which was the first time I had ever done so. I soaked them overnight and cooked them for about 3 hours but they turned out fantastic. I just might have to make some for potluck back home one Sabbath...maybe not...church folks can be cruel if your dish doesn't taste right...lol!

At the dinner party my friends all brought gifts, which they certainly didn't have to do, but I appreciated nonetheless. I received loads of candy, cupcakes, Swedish food and even a new board game. As I looked at all the gifts I said "so I guess all of you think I only like food and games, huh? Yeah, you're right!" Everyone had a good laugh! After everyone had eaten we started my favorite part of the day...GAMES! Its cRaZy how almost everyone around the world knows the Macarena...I thought that was hilarious!

The dinner party was a pre-party for the big event that was happening directly after in a larger building so before we all left for the bigger shindig they sang Ja må hon leva (Födelsedagssång), the Happy Birthday song in Swedish. Loosely translated it means "Yes, may she live over 100 years old! Certainly, she will live over 100 years old! And when she has lived over 100 years old, yes she shall have lived over 100 years old." It even ends with a four fold cheer or Hurra! Hurra! Hurra! Hurra! I felt so Swedish...lol!

I mentioned something about having a joint birthday party with 2 other friends, a German and a Mexican. Needless to say, it was the cRaZieSt birthday party EVER. Apparently, word got out around campus that some of the international students were having a birthday party so EVERYBODY (and their momma) came out to help us celebrate. We had the celebration on the top floor of one of the dorms and OVER 200 PEOPLE showed up!!! And of course, with a lot of people comes a lot of shenanigans...

Before my arrival there was a shoving match that took place between some girls. I had to travel from my building to the other side of campus to reach the party and as soon as I got to the front door everybody said "You don't want to go in there! There's a fight!". But as most of you know, I always try to mediate situations and I really don't like taking sides unless I have to. So unfortunately, the first 30 minutes of my party I had to calm everyone down, sort the situation out and resolve the matter. Once that was out of the way, I was free to enjoy the party. But the shenanigans didn't stop there either...

For some reason, maybe it has to do with culture or better self-awareness but, Europeans are waaaaaaaaaaay less inhibited than the rest of the world. About halfway through the party a group of cRaZy kids decided it was a good idea to go skinny dipping. The guys stripped down to their boxers and the girls left on only their underwear and they all headed to the campus lake. I couldn't believe it! They had NO SHAME! It's definitely something I will never forget. Trust me, I've already tried...lol!

We finally decided to cut the party short at 3:30am. Yes, clearly I was already tired from the whole affair but I was trying to be a good host. From what I could tell most people had a wonderful time and the sun was already beginning to rise. However, for about 70-80 people they still wanted to keep the party going. They tried in vain to turn the music back on but when that didn't work they just stayed in the hallway talking and laughing. I stayed around and helped clean up a bit but the mess was phenomenal and I decided it would be best to return after a good night's rest. I bid adieu to the remaining guests and made my way home.

The next day I woke up and headed back to the building, dreading the mess that I assumed waited for me. However, upon arrival I saw that many of my friends had already completed the clean up and all that was left was to mop. Thank God for good friends!

Best Week Ever!!!

Now that I've been officially homesick I'm now officially LOVING Sweden again! At our pre-trip orientation they told us that we would be going through these phases while away from home but being the jet setter that I am I didn't think I'd ever get homesick. Thanks to everyone who sent packages, emails and letters of encouragement. I REALLY enjoyed receiving them all and it definitely helped me to overcome that low time.

The best week ever started last Sabbath at church. Even though the entire service is in Swedish they had a guest group come and sing. It was a group of 4 young men from a neighboring church and they even sang a few songs that I knew! My favorite one was "He'll Be There", a remix of "I'll Be There" by the Jackson 5. Yeah, don't ask...lol!

In Växjö the days are already over 15 hours long and they increase in daylight by about 5 minutes every day. Spring has officially sprung and it shows all over campus. Tons of students are out all over campus BBQ'ing and soaking up the sun. Earlier this week an American friend of mine hosted a block party. It was cRaZy how many people showed up and all the fun that we had. I estimate there were over 100 people there and of course, I had to lead everybody in the Cha Cha Slide...it was hilarious.

As everyone already knows I LOVE to have fun so I planned a social in my room. We played Twister, Pass-My-Shoe, Mingle, Mafia and all those other party games that everyone enjoys. If there was ever a trace of homesickness I think it was officially gone after that night.

Midweek some Americans hosted a bonfire next to the Växjö Lake. It was so picturesque! We made smores and sang camp songs. I also took a nap with some girlfriends in the sun this past week and it was wonderful. I think I'm really gonna miss my time here when its time to go...

Next Saturday night two friends and I are all hosting a summer-themed birthday party together. It should be an interesting night to say the least. 1 American, 1 German and 1 Mexican... Stay tuned for all the recap details!

I Need Big Crumbs!!!

Hello again everyone! Thank you all for your words of encouragement, emails and letters over the past few weeks. I appreciate everyone looking out for me and even though I'm unable to be with you physically its only the distance that separates us...you're always in my thoughts and prayers.

Some of you asked specifically how you can help out and was there anything that I needed while I was here in Sweden. Thankfully, a few kinds souls have volunteered to send care packages and I greatly appreciate their generosity. I'll keep you updated on all the goodies that come my way. And as always, feel free to drop me an email just to say hi or to let me know you still are reading my posts. All forms of communication are treasured dearly when you're homesick...

In the meantime, I've recently become a member of BigCrumbs, an online community that earns its members money for purchases made online at hundreds of stores. So why you may not be able to help out in a concrete way why not do me the favor of signing up and adding me as your referral? CLICK HERE!



Its FREE, there is NO OBLIGATION to buy anything, NO SPAM emails, NO CREDIT CARD information required and best of all, BOTH OF US EARN MONEY on purchases we would normally make. As you can see I've just started and I need your help to generate income. So please, at least just check it out as foot traffic also helps. Click the banner above for more info!

God's Nature is Amazing

With Spring officially here and loads of flowers blooming I've been taking the opportunity to get out and enjoy God's beautiful creation. Just outside my door there are walking trails through the forest and a beautiful lake. While walking with a friend the other day we stood still and listened to the sounds of nature. Everything around us was beautiful...we heard birds singing, critters scurrying too and fro...I'm beginning to love the outdoors more and more. Back in the Bay Area I didn't take as much time exploring and appreciating nature but with so much more time on my hands these days I've begun to create a hobby out of nature watching. Its quite fascinating! And now that I've become a little homesick the past few weeks its comforting to know that if God can make a home for all these creatures then He certainly has me in His tender loving care as well. Isn't God amazing?

7 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish of the sea inform you.

9 Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?

10 In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.

Job 12:7-10

Its official...

I'm H-O-M-E-S-I-C-K!!! Okay folks, it only took 2 and 1/2 months but I am officially homesick now. In the beginning everything was new and exciting but now the reality of life away from my closest friends and family has finally set in. The first few months were so busy for me I really didn't have time to miss people. We had our Spring Break March 19-31 and that's when I finally realized how much I miss all of you. Also, Randy came to visit for a few days so it was different having somebody leave me rather than me leaving all of you. So, with that being said you can all send letters and packages to the following address: *smile*

Rhianna Aaron
Stallvagen 24:87
SE-352 56
Växjö, Sweden

Okay, so let's recap the last month... The weather has been a little strange recently. We barely had any snow in January and February but come SPRING BREAK WE HAD A SNOW STORM! I'm no expert but I estimate we had between 10-12 inches of snow over a period of about 36 hours. Maybe some of you who are reading this think that's not a lot of snow but for this California girl it was a BLIZZARD! I almost had to whip out my snow pants but thankfully I didn't have to go to class so I just had a few snowball fights and stayed in for the rest of the time. It was such a beautiful sight to see the flowers poking through the snow (see pic above). I'd been documenting the arrival of Spring by taking photographs of the emerging buds and flowers from week to week so it was quite strange to see all "my plants" covered in snow.

I also went to see the Malmö Symphony at the concert hall in town. They had a Swedish guest artist by the name of Martin Fröst who is famous all over Europe. He was a really good clarinet player but there was this one piece where it was borderline musical theatre and clarinet playing...interesting to say the least. However, the crowd loved him soooo much that they gave him a standing ovation for about 5 minutes straight and then he returned to the stage to do his signature "freestyle" clarinet playing.

For Spring Break Randy, myself and most of the other international students traveled all over Europe. We were able to make it to Dusseldorf in Germany, Amsterdam in Holland and Copenhagen in Denmark. We all had such a wonderful time and hope to be able to do it again. The only thing about travel in Europe right now is that the dollar is sooooooo weak that it is extremely expensive to go anywhere. Here, let me give you an idea of the prices right now. These are actual purchases we made on our trip converted to USD from the euro and danish krone:

Dusseldorf, Germany
gum - $3.25
bottle of water - $4.50

Amsterdam, Holland
10 postcards - $10.00
bottle of water - $3.50

Copenhagen, Denmark
1 postcard - $1.50 (all I could afford...lol)
single ride on city bus for 1 hour - $5.25
dinner at a "cheap" mexican buffet - $64.06

So yeah, after my little excursions around Europe I'm quite broke. So please, feel free to send packages, letters and such to the address above. *smile* I'd LOVE to hear how you all are doing. Emails are nice but I'd love to get some physical letters now that I'm officially homesick. Send pics too! I love you all!

Sorry its been so long...I've been soooooo busy!!!

Hej (hello) everybody! Sorry I've been in M.I.A. for so long...I've been so busy over the past 2 weeks and so much has happened! I'll give you the short version...

I went to a breakdancing concert at the concert hall downtown and it was fabulous! The group's name is the Freestyle Phanatix (see video above) and they are from Denmark. Their show was exciting and full of energy! They mostly spoke in Swedish but my buddy translated most it for me.

Also, this week I am STUDENT TEACHING IN SWEDEN!!! At first I was a little apprehensive and nervous because my Swedish is very limited but I must say this has been one of the best weeks since I arrived here! I've been working at Hovshagaskolan (see slideshow below) an elementary school about a 20-25 minute bus ride from campus. The children were very excited to have a guest teacher from San Francisco and they have been very eager to practice their English with me.

The school I visited has many options for their pupils including music, textiles and woodworking in addition to the regular school curriculum. I also ate in the cafeteria with the children and ate traditional Swedish food including (literally translated) blood pudding and body cakes...yeah, needless to say I didn't try either...I had lots of knäckebröd this week...lol!

Sign my Guestbook!

If you enjoy reading my blog and like to keep up with me in Sweden let me know...Sign my guestbook so I can keep up with you. Thanks!

..

Adventkyrkan i Växjö: Adventist Church in Växjö

This past Sabbath was wonderful! I finally located the nearest Adventist church in Växjö. I tried attending previously but ended up taking the wrong bus and being that there is a limited bus schedule on Saturdays I missed the entire service. This week was different however; I was resourceful and planned my entire trip online using the Swedish bus webpage (no translation in English). I was a little weary at first but I stepped out with the assurance that surely God would help me find the place. I spoke to the church clerk earlier in the week and she let me know that service started at 10:00am. On Sabbath morning I set out for church at 9:15am...yes, its true folks...I was determined to make it to church ON TIME this week! Unfortunately, I didn't properly understand the Swedish bus schedule and missed the bus by a few minutes. Uh oh, here we go again I thought...I would miss the whole service but I kept on waiting...and waiting...and waiting...and waiting...mind you, it was FREEZING outside...minus 4 degrees Celsius. I waited over 45 minutes in the freezing cold before the bus finally arrived. I thought of just going back home in my warm bed bus something told me to keep going.

By the time I got to the correct bus stop to get off at it was 10:30am. Even though Swedes are notorious for being on time and service was due to start at 10:00am I proceeded anyhow. While walking up to the church I noticed there were only 3 cars in the parking lot and nobody outside, still I kept going on. When I arrived inside there were only 4 or 5 jackets on the coat racks and no one in sight. Hmmm...I thought to myself that this must be normal attendance for such a small town. I hung up my jacket and proceeded into the sanctuary. IMMEDIATELY, smiling faces approached me and started speaking in Swedish. Great I thought...just what I needed...all alone at church with no interpreter. But to my astonishment, as soon as the greeters saw the puzzled look on my face they began speaking English...thank God!

I met a few more people and the church secretary told me that today was a special day and that service normally starts at 10:00am but that today was family day so service was starting at 11:00am. Praise God...I made it to church on time! As a matter of fact, I made it to church EARLY! Yes, for those of you who know me this is an astonishing feat...lol! By the time church began there were more than 50 members present. Almost every single person greeted me, including the babies...guess I've got the magic touch...lol! Service was beautiful, they had a piano and violin accompaniment for hymns and several families presented the different days of creation. Even though the entire service was in Swedish I still managed to receive a blessing. I recognized a few songs O Store Gud (How Great Thou Art....originally written by a Swede) and one of the special musics was a song in English (God & God Alone).

After church there was a potluck service and I sat at a table with families from the Philippines, Congo, and Romania. Another interesting fact about this church is that there are hardly any Swedes at the church. The majority of the members are immigrants from African, Asian, and Eastern European countries. It makes for a wonderful cultural mix and I'm able to meet many more friends from around the world. I've already been invited to spend Sabbath evening with the family from the Philippines and I'm sure there'll be more invitations in the future.

Alla hjärtans dag: Valentine's Day in Sweden

Valentine's Day in Swedish is Alla hjärtans dag, literally translated "All Hearts Day". Here in Sweden Valentine's Day is celebrated similarly to how we do it in the US but Valentine's Day is still a fairly new holiday here in Sweden. Around town many florist were selling bouquets and almost every candy shop, bakery and retail store was having a Valentine's Day blowout sale. I went to the train station to buy some tickets for my upcoming trip to Copenhagen and the desk agent even gave me some candy hearts. My favorite Valentine's Day gift, however, came from someone who doesn't even live in Sweden. Yes indeed, my wonderful boyfriend Randy, sent me a package filled with goodies (a self portrait, a puppy and a card) and believe it or not, it arrived EXACTLY on Valentine's Day. How sweet is that?

On Valentine's Day Eve the mayor of Växjö invited the international students to the castle for a reception and fika. We were able to walk all over the castle on a self-guided tour and they gave us free tickets to an upcoming symphony and break dancing competition at the Växjö Konserthus. Stay tuned, I can't wait to see Swedish break dancers and I'll give you all the updates!

Weekend in Stockholm!!!

The VIS (Växjö International Students) organized a trip to Stockholm this past weekend. It was awesome! I live in the southern region of Sweden near Copenhagen so Stockholm is about a 5 hour drive north. Once we arrived in Sweden we checked into our hostel (my first time ever in a hostel!!!) and took a walking tour of the city. Many of the buildings are hundreds of years old so it was quite beautiful.

We had a tour of the Stockholm City Hall including the Blue Hall where the Nobel Prize Banquet is held. In the banquet hall is contained Scandinavia's largest pipe organ consisting of 10,000 pipes and 138 stops. Adjacent to the Blue Hall is the Golden Hall where over 18,000,000 pieces of gold were used to construct the ceiling and walls depicting Swedish history.

We also had free time on our own and I was able to take in a lot of the sights and sounds of Stockholm. After the tour of City Hall I was fortunate enough to catch the Changing of the Guards at the Royal Castle. It was pretty exciting and the Swedish guards yelling at us in Swedish to move back was even more thrilling...lol! I also caught a free organ concert at Storkyrkan featuring music from Bach, Vivaldi, and others.

Even though it looks as if I may not have a chance to make it to the Ice Hotel in Kiruna (too expensive and too far) I did get a chance to visit the Ice Bar in Stockholm. It's located inside the Nordic Sea Hotel and costs about $25 for the entrance fee and a drink but if you're smart like me you don't buy a drink and therefore dont' have to pay the entrance fee. Its a room completely made out of ice, including the ceiling. They give you a special overcoat and gloves to wear because even the glasses are made out of ice.

We rounded out our journey to Stockholm with a trip to Skansen, an open-air, living-history theme park. We were able to listen to and participate in culture which reflected Sweden in the 18th & 19th centuries. Stockholm was wonderful and I can't wait to visit again!

Swedish Preschool

This week we had our first of many school visits. This week we were able to visit a Swedish preschool. In Sweden preschool generally starts between 1-2 years of age because each family (yes family, father and grandparents included) is allowed 16 months of paid maternity/paternity/grandparent leave. It can be equally divided or the mother can take the majority of the time off. And yes, I didn't make a mistake...it is PAID time off...for 16 MONTHS!!! I think I might have to move to Sweden when I have start having children...lol!

At the preschool the children are divided by age groups but the particular school we visited had theme rooms (art & crafts, music, make-believe, reading room, sleeping room, etc...) as well separate class rooms. The oldest class of children, the 5 & 6 year-olds (primary school doesn't begin until 6 or 7) performed for us in the music room. Myself and a few other of my classmates were chosen to participate with the kids in a song as well. Too bad it was all in Swedish so we were barely able to follow along but it was still loads of fun.

We ended the day by asking questions of the head teacher and taking a self-guided tour of the facility while the children were on the playground. Next week we have two more school visits, one at a Montessori program and another one at a public primary school. Stay in touch..there'll be more to hear and see in the coming days!

Castle on Campus?!

Hey everybody, its been over a week since my last post and SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED! I'll try not to bore you with all the details but here's the last 9 or so days in a nutshell:

This past Saturday night we had our official Welcome Dinner for the new international students. They served us traditional Swedish food (AGAIN!) and treated us to a night of Swedish entertainment. For those of you unaware, Swedish entertainment basically consists of eating lots of food, getting drunk, and singing Swedish drinking songs...yeah, it was rather awkward...lol! Each country was also given the opportunity to do a traditional song or dance and of course the Americans had to participate...we sang none other than "Take Me Out To The Ball Game". Even a few Canadians snuck in and sang with us. Later that night there was an official after party at one of the student pubs. So far, I'm thinking my friends Pepe, Elias, and Jose Antonio from Mexico are going to be well known by the bartenders...lol!

During the week a friend and I walked to the town center from campus and along the way we found out that there is a CASTLE ON CAMPUS! Its gorgeous and even though its only about 100 years old it feels so majestic. You can even book a night there so for any of you interested in visiting me here in Sweden I've got a castle lair with your name on it. We also gave ourselves a self-guided tour of the Lutheran Church on the edge of downtown. Its so beautiful inside and there is even a HUUUUUUUUUGE Pipe Organ....no dad, you can't play it...I already asked...lol!

I also made it to my first Ice Hockey game EVER! It was soooooo exciting seeing the Vaxjo Lakers play. I thought it was going to be boring and I just decided to go because some kids from my class invited me but I had the time of my life. I have to honestly say, their fans are up there with the ranks of the RaiderNation. At first everyone is reserved and is sitting quietly but once the lights are dimmed and the players prepare to enter the rink the crowd goes wild. There's a man with a huge bass drum that sets the tempo and the crowd chants along with the drum. My international friends and I have NO IDEA what they were saying so we made up our own cheers. Unfortunately we lost 1-2 but I have plans to go again so hopefully I'll get a chance to see their victory chants next time.

On Thursday evening it started to snow again! I was sooooo happy but this time there was approximately 3-4 inches of snow so the excitement faded fast. Something about tromping through the snow to class is not so much fun anymore...lol!

Once last thing folks! I inadvertently gave you all the wrong mailing address for me. This is my correct address and the exact phone number you should dial if you wish to reach me. Hej dä!

Rhianna Aaron
Stallvägen 24:87
SE-352 56
Växjö, Sweden

Cell Phone: 011 46 76 566 2119

So I finally met my fadder...

A lot has been going on since my last post. On måndag I had my first class. There are about 20 students in my course and all of us are international students. There is a mix of students from Japan, Korea, China, Turkey, Germany, France, Russia, Spain, and a few others I can't recall. Our teacher is very informal and prefers that we call her by her first name, Kaisa. She is an excellent teacher and our lectures are exciting yet informative. We also have 1 hour of swedish each class period so when I return to the US I hope to be able to speak lite, lite svenska.

On Monday evening I had choir rehearsal with Brygghuskoren. So far I'm only able to read the music notes but I'm lost when it comes to the words and lyrics. I asked one of the choir members what we were singing about and she told me gas and aftershave...but I think she probably meant foam instead of gas. Lol! Should be an interesting semester with the choir but this will also help me to improve my Swedish accent. For starters, here is a little pronunciation lesson:

ö = ur (make your lips like you're going to kiss someone)
ä = air
å = or

Today (onsdag) was a particularly busy day for me as well. I have class 3 days a week for about 4 hours per day including my Swedish lesson for 1 hour each day. After class today I signed up for a trip to Stockholm. Apparently, there are only a limited number of slots available for this trip but I was one of the lucky ones. I already have made a few good friends here in Sweden and they saved me a spot in line while I was in class.

This afternoon I met my fadder, Lotta. She is a Swedish student but spent around 10 years in the US and she is training to become a Swedish police officer. Its great having a fadder that has spent substantial time in the US because she is able to understand me at my normal pace of speaking with no problem. She is really nice and we're already planning on having an international potluck sometime in the future with other fadders and international students.

This evening I took part in my first sittning with theEHVS on campus. They served a traditional Swedish meal complete with pickled herring and meatballs. We also formed small teams and had a quiz on Scandinavian culture...of course we all know who won...none other than yours truly. My two teammates and I won a bag full of Swedish goodies.

Lastly, after a week of being in Sweden we FINALLY got some snow today! All the international students from warmer climates spent the afternoon making snow angels and having a snowball fight. It was tons of fun until all our hands begin to freeze and we sought cover indoors. Hopefully the snow will still be there tomorrow...they say its particularly warm for this time of year...but i don't know about that...it was -3 degree celsius this evening on my way home from sittning...guess I'll still have to get used to the weather.

On My Own

Today was my first day venturing out in the city sans tour guide. I'm pretty proud of myself. I found the Clas Ohlson in the centrum because I needed an AC adapter for my laptop so now I don't have to go to the computer lab anymore to get online...yay! I also did a little window shopping but I really do need to go to IKEA. I don't have any bed linens yet So I've been sleeping with jackets for blankets. Its actually not that bad but I can't wait until the international office takes us all to IKEA. Its about an hour away and they make it a school-sponsored event.

I also meet my fädder this week for fikä. We've emailed a few times since December but we have yet to meet face to face. She'll act as a guide to my studies here in Sweden and will help me get adjusted to Scandinavian life.

Tomorrow is the first day of classes and its after midnight here so I gotta hit the sack...thanks for keeping in touch. Night night!

In Sverige and Lovin' It!

Hello everybody! I've officially been here on campus for 4 days now and I am sooooo lovin' it here! The international office staff are extremely helpful and the other international students are quite nice as well. So far there are a lot of Swedish students here but most of them are arriving this weekend as classes start on Monday.

On a sidenote...for those of you familiar with recent pop culture...there is this Mexican exchange student who always sings "Umbrella" when he sees me...we'll see how long this lasts before it gets extremely old but so far its been 4 days straight!

Initially I thought that I was going to have a room to myself, but I ended up having a roommate...just like 98% of students on campus. At first I was a little bummed when I found this out but we get along, her name is Rachel and she's from Pennsylvania.

From what I can tell SWEDES LOVE TO PARTY! I've only been here 4 days but there has been a social every single night. In Sweden it is socially acceptable to drink...A LOT...one person from the US even asked about where a local AA was located and they sorta laughed...I guess its not a talked about problem here since drinking is so popular for their culture. There are even 3 pubs/clubs on campus. Don't worry though...I will probably be spending most of my time in the library studying...lol!

So yeah, feel free to ask me questions, send care packages...etc.

Gud är god! Jag gjord den! (click here for translation)

Well, well, well...after 28 hours...5 airports...4 flights...2 bags repacked...and 1 delay I FINALLY made it to Växjö, Sweden!!! Yes folks, it was long and tiring but God saw me through the whole thing...even through having to repack 2 bags due to an airport scale that needed recalibrating...lol! (for more information on that whole ordeal in Stockholm email me). I have to admit, I was a little nervous when it looked like I was the only person left in the airport terminal with no ride in sight but soon after, a group of 3 other exchange students emerged and we all huddled together as we waited for the school bus. The staff from the internaional office arrived soon after and gave us snacks and a brief orientation to the school.

So far, I've met students from South Korea, Mexico, and Spain. Everyone has been extremely friendly and the weather is not as cold as I expected it to be. Last night it was 4 degrees Celsius when I finally made it to my room. Speaking of my room...

I LIVE IN AN IKEA SHOWROOM! For those of you who don't know, Ikea is a Swedish-founded company so it looks as if Växjö University has super discounts because my WHOLE ROOM is Ikea...seriously, even down to the wardrobe, tables, chairs, lamps, mattress, light fixtures, curtains, etc...if it came furnished in my room...I can pretty much gurantee its from Ikea. I have to admit however, my room is very nice. Its in a brand new building and it feels rather luxurious. There's even a towel warmer in the bathroom! Luckily though, there's not a bidet...at least not that I've figured out how to work yet...lol!

We have an exchange student orientation all-day tomorrow and classes begin on Monday. I'll keep you posted as to what goes down. Oh yeah, I already found a church! Its only about a 20-30 minute walk but I'm hoping I'll find a student on campus who can give me a ride. Anything is possible, right?

Thanks for keeping in touch!

Sleepless in San Francisco

Hey everybody! So I've officially started my blog. I said I would so I'm actually pretty excited that I'm actually following through...so excited in fact that its 4:15am and I'm still awake...but really, I should be packing...my flight leaves in 26 hours so I'll make this brief. I have no idea what to expect in Sweden but that's what I love...I like the excitement of exploring new places and having new experiences. Most people have asked me "Why Sweden?"...to which I reply, "Why not?" I mean seriously, most Americans are known worldwide for being ignorant when it comes maps so I want to get out and educate myself as much as possible while I have the time, energy, and the means to do so. Plus, I'm sure its going to be lots of fun...I can't wait to have my first authentic Swedish massage! Yeah, it sounds corny...so what!

So, as I prepare to leave for Sweden please pray for my traveling mercies and pray that I won't get homesick. Thank you to all my church family who came to the "surprise" going away party last week. I had a great time and I can't wait to have a "surprise" welcome back party. Thanks to my family, especially mom and dad for helping me with all this last minute packing. It's been cRaZy but you guys always come through and I really appreciate it. Thank you to the Sall's...my 2nd family. You have all been so supportive to me over these past few years and I'm really truly going to miss you all. Thanks Nitiya for bugging me...I mean...talking to me and keeping me company all those nights at the computer lab. As hard as it is for me to say it you'll know I'm really going to miss your cRaZy self. And last, but certainly not least, thank you Randy for encouraging me to explore the world. I'm going to miss all of you dearly but you'll always be in my thoughts and prayers! Adjö/Hej då.