Welcome home!!

Today (Wednesday 15 September) I landed in Frankfurt at 4 am for me but it was like 12 pm or sth. I was not in my best mood and my flight was delayed and I had to walk really long before I could find my gate. I was not fresh at all and cranky from all the lack of sleep. Thank U Helin's for the Ipod so that I could watch Twilight while I was waiting. U know, now when I'm in Europe they don't have free WiFi at the airport ;) I could also tell that I'm in Europe cause of all the unfriendly people. When I gave my passport to the check guy I said politely and happy "Good morning!" He just looked at me and grunted sth and gave back my passport. Common?! That made me even more pissed. And one thing that I don't understand is why do I have to go through another security check, when there is no possibility that I could have put anything in my bags cause I couldn't leave the airport...just silly!
The flight was delayed about one hour but it was OK cause it's such a short flight. It was with tears in my eyes I landed in Gothenburg and it felt really nice to be HOME again! I was excited to get out of the plane but everything took a while cause everyone else also wanted to get out ;) And then I needed to gather all my bags before I could go out in the big hall and look for my family.
The first one I see is Eric, my little brother, and he's waving with two Swedish flags ;) Behind him are mum and dad and there we had a big hug party. Oh, it was so nice to see them again!! It's almost unreal but at the same time it felt like I've never been away.
I wanted just to suck in every smell and emotion I felt when we walked to the car cause this was really Sweden!! With the green everywhere and the fresh air...this is my HOME and I won't leave it again soon!
I was very happy when we came to the car cause there they had candy!!! Oh, I've missed the Swedish candy ;) I think I ate the whole bag before we stopped to eat lunch ;) We ate at a Swedish pizza place and I had the "Kebab pizza" OMG!! This is sth I've really missed and I can't wait until I'll have one at the best pizza place in my town...but this was also heavenly and just to sit down and eat with my family again was a moment bigger than a lot of things.
We drove home and it takes about two hours and then I felt how tired I was and I closed my eyes for a while.
When we drove up to our house I felt like in a dream, was I really home? When I came in through the doors I stood there for a minute and felt "our" smell. I love it! Another thing was that tne newest family member, our cat Chabo, came and said hello to me. He's so cute and I'm excited to see how it works to have a pet.
In the hallway was a banderol saying "Welcome Home Sandra" and a lot of ballons and flags...so nice!
I said hello to my other brother, Robin, and got to see his new room (my old) and it looked really nice. I was, of course, curious about my new room so I ran upstairs and checked it out. It's small but very sweet. I have a sofa, not a bed ;) and I love the wall paper. One wall is light yellow and the other goes in black and grey and has houses on it. So pretty and I really love the room. There isn't much space for all my stuff so we'll see how that goes but right now it's perfect!
I'd brought presents to my family and I think evryone was happy. We didn't do so much more but that was exactly what I wanted.
This is the last thing I'll write on this blog and I want to thank U all that have been following me, supporting me and helping me through this amazing year. I don't regret anything and it's been a great experience but now I'm so happy to be home and for me one year was enough. I wish U all good luck with what ever U do and maybe I can inspire someone else to have the currage to take that step, to do sth different cause in the end it's so good for U!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

I'm going home!!!

Today (Tuesday 14th of September) I was leaving Seattle, and the US, for this time. Over one year ago I came as a scared, unsecure little girl who didn't know what to do with her life or who she was. Now I'm leaving filled with currage and security and I feel that I have grown as a person through this year and I'm ready for what's next in my life. I still don't know what I want with my life but I got a pretty good feeling that everything is gonna be alright. I mean, after a year like this I could do anything!
The kids had to go to school and it was REALLY hard saying goodbye to them cause they were so sad and didn't want to go, and I didn't want them to go!!!
I packed the last of my things and I think I weight the bags two or three times to be sure they weren't too heavy ;) I think I broke the scale also...oopps!! ;)
Sofia called when they were half way to school, she was really sad and said that she wanted to turn and walk back and then jump down in one of my bags ;) Sweetie! Filip was sad (and kind of funny) He said that now when I was gone, he was gonna threw frisbee and no one was gonna be there to catch it. He was gonna play Monoploy but there would be no one else who would go so he would just sit there ;) Sad but funny ;)
Lotta drove me to the airport and was with me when I checked the bags. This was the most nervous thing ever, but the bags passed. They were 22,9 kg both and they could be 23 kg ;) My hand lugage was allowed to be 8 kg but mine was 8,4. But I hurried away casue she didn't see that...pfew!
Once again I had to go through with a hard goodbye. Me and Lotta have been pretty close through the year so yes, it was hard to say goodbye to her too.
Now I was on my own. I went through security and it took some time for me cause this morning I had to put on a lot of clothes that didn't fit in my bags ;) I had one top, one t-shirt, two sweters, one jacket, two scarfs and a cap...I was so HOT!!! ;)
Once through the security I walked to my gate and then I bought some lunch at the cafe. I'm glad that they have free WiFi at the airport cause then I could play with my new Ipod ;) It's so practical when U are at a place like this cause it's so small.
My flight was at 2:15 sth and the boarding went fine. It was a big plane but narrow seats. I was in the middle row and had three older ladies around me. I was sad that I couldn't be at a window so I could see Seattle when we flew away but I saw it so beautiful when me and Kadda came back from California so it's OK. I had planned to sleep most of the way, since it's such a long flight, but this was harder that I thought since I wasn't tired...I mean, we flew in the middle of the day. I watched some movies and listened to music but I couldn't sleep. Not even when we came over to the "night part" of the world.
The food wasn't so good, but is it ever in flights? And I had to stand up and walk a couple of times cause my ass was hurting ;)
Soon I'm home!!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Last night :(

Today (Monday 13th September) was my last REAL day here in Seattle...OMG! Feels weird to say it..I can't believe that it's already been over a year!
I spend the whole day trying to pack all my stuff but it's so hard! And I didn't have a scale so I couldn't be sure if my bags were too heavy or not. But the Stendahl's were coming later this evening and they had promised to bring one.
The rest of the day I just tried to make sure that I got everything that was mine. I went through the closet downstairs, the bathroom, my room...well, the whole house. I guess I wanted to say goodbye at the same time which felt really weird!!
I realized that I couldn't bring everything back home so I started to be a bit logical and hard, everything that was a bit broken I threw away. This way I lost a couple of shoes and kilos ;)
My room is so empty now when I took everything down from the walls. All my teenage posters, the t-shirts, the map. Now there's just empty, white walls. The closet is empty and the drawer. It seems bigger now and when U talk there is a echo in the room ;)
I couldn't pack everything today cause I need my bathroom stuff tomorrow so when I was "done", I just relaxed in front of the TV until the family got home and I played with the kids.
Yesterday in the car, Sofia asked me what my favourite food was and I answered pasta bolognese. So for our last dinner together, they made it for me. So sweet :) Before we started to eat they gave me a present, they couldn't wait ;) OMG!! They gave me a Ipod touch, the newest generation!! Are they crazy?! And the best part is that they've put on some pictures from the year and also the first two Twilight movies sinced they know I'm such a big Twilight fan ;) Hahahah..they are the best! I was so happy, didn't know what to say.
Later, after dinner, the Stendahl's came and we ate a cake that Lotta had bought for this special, and sad, evening.
I also got a gift from the Stendahl's, they gave me a toilet- and a make-up bag from the brand Vera Bradley. I've been looking at bags from them through my whole year and been wanting one so badly but never bought one so it's perfect! It's a pink, orange one with big flowers and I just love it!
I gave them a small, wooden angel from a beautiful brand, that we also have here in Sweden, and it stood for "Thank You" which I think fit very well to the Stendahl's cause they also contributed to that my year here was perfect and I'm gonna miss them so much! It was hard saying goodbye to them, the kids are so sweet!! But they are also moving back to Sweden so I'll see them again.
It was kind of late and the kids were on their way to bed, but I had some gifts for the family too. Sofia got a music box with Tinkerbell that we saw together one day at Hallmark and she wanted that so bad. She told me to tell Lotta about it so that she could give it to her, but I never did ;) She was so happy and now she can play it everytime she miss me!
Filip, who is a Monopoly lover as U know bye now ;), got a new Monopoly with Nintendo theme. Instead of streets U buy Nintendo characters like Zelda, Mario etc It seemed really cool and he was so happy. Too bad I won't have time to play with him :( He have to bring it when they move to Sweden.
For the whole family, I made a photo book with pictures from the whole year. I had written some small stuff and also a thanks and what this year had been for me. I was really happy with the book and now they have a memory that they always can look back at and remember me ;)
Now the hard part started. The kids got really sad. Sofia started to cry and was really upset, Filip isn't that hysterical but U could tell that he also was sad. I laid down next to Sofia, in her bed, and talked with the kids until they fell asleep. I told them that we are gonna meet again, and they know that but it's gonna be hard for them anyway. It's not gonna be the same. I didn't think it would be that hard for me to leave, since I know we'll meet again, but tonight it really hurt.
The Stendahl's had forgotten the scale, of course ;) But Lotta went to a neighbour and borrowed one...pfew! Wouldn't have been fun to take a chance at the airport tomorrow ;)
I had to wrestle some more with my bags before I was under the weigh limit and could go to bed, for the last time in my room!! A weird feeling!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Pittock Mansion & Rose Garden

Today (Sunday 12 September) I woke up happy cause my ear plugs worked, I didn't hear the train!! And the bed was so nice so I had a good night's sleep.
We had yoghurt and crisp bread for breakfast ;) A nice start for our last day here in Portland.
We started a new fire and then cleaned out the cabbin and packed everything in the car. When the last fire was out, we said goodbye and drove in to Portland again and the famous Pittock Mansion. It's a century old symbol of Portland's dramatic transformation from a small lumber town to bustling city, it's an architectural wonder. A beautiful mansion that is located on a hill where U have the view over the city. It's now a museum so U can pay and go in and there they give a tour and tell the story about the house and the family. Very interesting and such a beautiful house. Jonas and Lotta wanted to get inspired for their house and I think they got some ideas ;)
At lunch, we drove down to the city and bought some nice bagels and then drove up to the big, famous rose garden and had our lunch in the middle of all the sweet-scented flowers. It was really nice cause today the weather was sunny and warm as well.
We spend maybe two hours here and the kids found a earth pile where they made earthballs and then wanted to start a earth war with me....ehh, no thanks! But Filip threw a ball on me anyway..aarrggh!!
In the afternoon we went back home and also now there was a lot of traffic so it took a while to get home but it was OK for me cause I wasn't the driver ;)

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Portland

Today (Saturday 11 September) I woke up pretty pissed off, cause all night a train had been blowing it's horn every other hour and woke me up...why??? So irritating!! Good thing I have earplugs with me so I can sleep tonight.
They didn't have breakfast at the campground so we drove back to the little town and ate at a diner which was really American and nice. The food was good; scrabled eggs, bacon, sausage and toast ;)
We went to a park next to a river where Filip did some fishing while the rest of us just relaxed in the sun. I almost fell asleep!! The surroundings were just incredible...huge mountains all around and green forest everywhere..the air was so fresh and we were there for a couple of hours and it never got boring.
I watched "How to train your dragon" on Filip's DSI..He has been telling me to see that movie for a while now and now when he had it with him I couldn't say no anymore ;) But it was a great movie, funny! I liked it and I'm glad he told me to see it.
Filip didn't get any fish but Sofia lost one of her shoes ;) She was running and they are a bit big so it flew of and splash in the water ;) Jonas and Filip tried to fish it up but the current took it so we had to wave goodbye to it...she was a bit sad and now she had to walk with one show until we got to a store to buy know ones. At lunchtime we took the car and drove in to Portland to see if we could find anything to eat. We walked and walked but couldn't find anything we liked. We asked a couple of people and they told us there was a festival going on now and explained how to get there. We had to take a train there and it was free cause it was Saturday today. The family was a bit confused and didn't really know where to go so I think it was good that I was there cause I knew exactly ;)
I don't know what kind of festival it was but there were a lot of stalls and booths where they sold hand crafts and food. There was a lot of people cause the weather was really nice. It was HOT and I was sweating cause I had dressed warm cause we expected cold weather.
We found some good stuff to eat and then sat down at a fountain and watched some dancers perform. They were dancing hip hop (I think ;)) and they were really good, a great dinner entertainment.
We walked around and when we were happy we drove back to the little town by our campground and bought some food for the night. I bought a SUDUKO magazine cause I needed sth to do now and also on the flight home next week.
At the cabbin we just relaxed and didn't do anything. It was so nice! The kids wanted to play so we played old fashion boccia, with pine cones ;) Felt like we went back in time and it was really nice acctually and I felt like I thought the kids that U can have fun without all the modern technology...I'm proud!
When it got dark, we lightened the fire and grilled hot dogs and then, of course, marshmallows...so good and cozy!
Everyone was tired so we went early to bed and this time I had my earplugs so I hope they'll help against the train. At this point everyone was annoyed by it cause every 30 minutes it passed by and made an aweful noise. OK, we get it!!! There is a railway, we will stay out of there!!!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

The Expendables

Today (Friday 10th September) I slept until 10 and that was really nice. I had breakfast, took a shower and called back home. Soon I don't have to call anymore!! Can't believe that in 5 days I'll see everyone again!! I'm so looking forward to it!
Before M left she got a movie ticket from her host family but she didn't have time to use it so she gave it to me. Very nice of her!! So now, when I was done with all the shopping and preparations, I went to Redmond to use it.
I decided to see "The Expendables" which is a action movie a la Stallone with all of the old, action heroes. Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Dolfh Lundgren, Jet Lie and a lot of other big names. It was OK, like any other war movie but it was fun to see all those big actors together. It was me and two others in the saloon ;)
Before the movie started, I made a list of all the upcomming movies and series I want to see and it became pretty long...11 movies and 4 series ;) Just hope everything is coming to Sweden as well.
Before I drove home, I stopped at Michels to buy some papers and stickers for mum who wants to make a scrap book from their US trip. I found some nice for me too in case I have time to make a album sometime.
When I got home I had to pack quickly and Jonas and Lotta came home early and when we were done we got in the car and picked up the kids from school. We are going to spend the weekend in Portland as a final thing together and we wanted to go before the heavy traffic. Unfortunately we didn't so it took us a while to get there. We stopped at Red Robin and had a graet American dinner with burgers. I like that place, there is so much going on all the time and a lot to look at. They had a TV in the floor ;)
We came to the campground at 11pm! But luckily we had a cabbin this time so we didn't have to put up the tent in the dark. It was a cozy wooden cabbin with two bedrooms so me and the kids shared one with 2 bunk beds and Jonas and Lotta took the other one with a big double bed.
We just unloaded the car and then went to bed after a long afternoon on the road.

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Saying goodbye to the city

Today (Thursday 9th September) I went in to Seattle one last time to shop souvenirs and to say goodbye to the city. It was sad in one way cause Seattle is a city that I've become to like during this year, I mean it's been my home and now I don't know when or if I'll ever come back. I like the atmosphere cause it's a big city but U can reach everything pretty easy and having the water so close by always a good thing.
I went to Urban Outfitters but didn't buy anything, then I walked down to Pike Place market and checked out all the t-shirt stores for some Seattle t-shirts and I found a funny one for me. It's a umbrella with the text SEATTLE inside, I liked it and it describes the city pretty good...except that no one has an umbrella here ;)
I walked to Pioneer Square and went to the wonderful toy store they have there. There they have so many fun stuff and a lot of "old" toys. Here I bought a laughing monkey for my two cousins (it's hillarious! Laughs when U walk by) two small medical stuffed animals for my friend, and some small walking animals...so cute!!
From Pioneer Square I walked down to the piers and bought some small souvenirs and when I was done I had a lot of bags ;) I went on the bus with a smile on my face, happy that I got a nice day in Seattle and was able to say goodbye in a proper way.
Back home, I had a late lunch (it was already 3pm) and then I took the bus to Bellevue for a last time at the mall. Feels weird to do everything for the last time, but I'm glad that I can do that without any stress. I finished all my shopping with a pair of shoes for my brother, underware for me and my friend and coffee for my other friend. I just hope everything will fit in my bags ;)
Back home, I had dinner with Jonas and the kids (Lotta was on her work out with Jenny) and then I went through all my souvenirs to make sure I hadn't missed anything and I started to go through some drawers to see what to save and what I could throw away...it was not so much I'm afraid ;)
I have some updates to do on the blog from my trip so I spent the rest of the evening in the sofa with the computer in my lap and the TV on. There was a story about a guy who had spend 19 years in prison and tonight he was gonna be executed. That's when I realized, I'm in a country where death penelty is allowed. I didn't think of it before and it feels weird. Maybe a bit double standard of moral when U kill someone because they killed someone? But I donno...

Miss U all!
Love Sandra