(mis)Adventures | Growth | Wanderlust
We all have resolutions that seem to fade away by February or March, but not this year! Here’s some things I need to do more often, as well as things I need to cut back on:
More:
Less:
At the beginning of 2018, I hope to go on a trip to Europe with my brother. He will graduate college in December of this year and has never gone to Europe, so I figure this would be the perfect gift for him (expensive, yes, but perfect…) 🙂
And if that doesn’t work out, then my mom is willing to take his place!
Until my next adventure in Europe, I can look back on the past and cherish the memories I have already made as I excitedly plan on making some new ones in the near future 🙂
I hope you all have a great Monday and a great week ahead of you! 🙂
The majority of my photos were taken from my Canon Rebel, but I still have some from my iPhone that I haven’t really shared!
Here are my favorites in chronological order:
I didn’t have a smartphone last time I studied abroad, so I’m thankful I had one this time 🙂
Truth be told, I have been avoiding this post for a long time. Norway was the second-to-last country I visited while abroad, and I have been home for a little more than two months now. Things haven’t been the same upon my return; this post solidifies the idea of my big adventure being over. I finally gained the courage to write about my time in Norway because I have to face reality. Although the best chapter of my life is now closed, I know more opportunities will come! I miss Europe, traveling, and my life abroad, but this drives my determination to find a job overseas even more!
I left Kalmar, Sweden extremely saddened; I was leaving not only the best part of my life behind, but also several new friends from around the globe! However, with that said, I knew that my two-week stay in Norway would be a great transition into my normal life back in Michigan.
I visited Norway for two main reasons: 1. It has always been my “dream country” and 2. While my mom was in high school, her family hosted a Norwegian exchange student! His name is Kjell and I was FINALLY able to meet him and his (entire) family! It was such an incredible experience to meet a family I have been connected to through my mom’s stories, letters back and forth, and a montage of photos and Christmas cards over the years.
When Kjell and his daughter, Martine picked me up from the airport, I instantly felt at home. I remember walking with my heavy backpack down this long flight of stairs to pick up my luggage, and as I looked down I could see them waving up at me with Norwegian flags (was it THAT obvious I was an American?)! My heart was full in that moment.
Kjell and his family live on the beautiful island of Askøy, which is about a half-hour (not even) from Bergen. It was a surreal feeling to drive Kjell’s boat to Bergen and several other small islands in the area.
When I travel, I often find parallels between cities I have been to. Oddly, I found similarities between the countryside of Southern France and the route to the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. I cannot compare Bergen to anywhere else; it is truly one of a kind…just like my time in this beautiful country.
The first few days of my new adventure consisted of visiting mainly Bergen, and you know, the typical tourist-y stuff. Although I try to avoid cliche attractions and events, there are exceptions. I had to visit Bergen’s famous fish market and visit the highest point of the city! The market didn’t smell the greatest, but the taste of the fresh fish from the North Sea made up for it.
With Martine and Kjell, I was able to take the Ulriken cable car to the top of Mount Ulriken. Because of all the islands and mountains in this part of Norway, the Ulriken wasn’t the only cable car/ski lift I traveled on.
The city of Bergen itself has a rich viking history, something Kjell takes much pride in. During my first visit to Bergen, Norwegian royalty were near Parliament and university buildings. Kjell is a police officer in Bergen and Askøy, so he was hoping we would have a better chance of seeing the royalty if he was talking with his friends and coworkers! It was a good strategy, but unfortunately I didn’t meet a prince or anyone close.
I would have to say that my favorite thing about Bergen (aside from the food and people) are the Bryggen that greet you as you ride into the city by ferry or boat. Inside the wooden buildings, there is a famous nightclub and also a traditional Christmas shop. I live near Frankenmuth, Michigan (a faux-German town with a world-famous Christmas shop), and I was impressed with the Julehuset in Bergen!
My boat rides with Kjell were some of my most cherished memories of my time in Norway; I was able to learn more about Norway, his family, and even my own family through Kjell’s stories.
I will be sure to share more stories and photos in other blog posts! This is only a mere sample of my Norwegian adventure.
I visited London during the summer of 2014 and left a piece of my heart there! The charm, the elegance…all of what London had to offer attracted me and made me want to go back!
I was supposed to visit London with a friend at the end of March, and although our plans changed last minute, I am thankful I was still able to see the city that captured my heart nearly two years ago.
At night, everything seems to be glowing and prestigious! I love the contrast this city has to offer: busy at night, and calming during the day.
“Do one thing a day that scares you.” Simple, truthful, brilliant…
Whether I was drinking at my favorite pub, strolling through Regents Park, or seeing shows on Broadway, London Round II did not disappoint!
As an American student studying in Kalmar, Sweden, I need a residence permit for my five-month adventure. Unfortunately, Kalmar doesn’t have a migration board office; fortunately, the six Americans had to travel elsewhere.
Vaxjo, Sweden is a small town, but much larger than Kalmar. We definitely packed a lot into one day!
The vibrant colors of the cathedral and the unique architecture cannot be beat; however, the Swedish slides are very confusing, even for twenty-something year-olds!
Umami Monkey was perhaps one of the best burger joints I’ve ever been to…and I’ve been to some good ones in Germany and Ann Arbor, Michigan! To think we were mad that the Mexican place was closed…
The glass museum in Vaxjo really brought out how modern the town is, as well as how innovative they are with their creations! As an American who really knows little about Sweden (excluding Ikea and the famous ice hotel of course), these unique creations were exactly what I imagined Sweden to have!
The Vaxjo town model and Ice Man replicas were neat to see in order to put all I’ve learned from National Geographic in perspective!
The Loranga part of the museum was interesting at first, but then it really brought out our inner child-like behavior!
All in all, we had a great day at the museums, bookstores, cafes, and restaurants in Vaxjo! A day of chores seemed to turn into a day of fun instantly!
Sorry I haven’t been keeping up with posts lately; each day has seemed to come and go too rapidly. I am out of Michigan and now Sweden for the next five months! Studying overseas taught me so much about myself and other cultures, and I know this experience has already done the same. I haven’t even been here one full week!
I began my travels in Canada; Michiganders have the opportunity to fly out of Toronto for affordable prices! From there, I went to Iceland where I only had a one hour layover! Thankfully the airport is small and I’ve been there before! The semifinal destination was Copenhagen where I spent the night and enjoyed the city for a little bit.
Things to do in Denmark: get lost because it’s a beautiful city, visit the Queen’s Palace and the Little Mermaid statue.
Things not to do: get too lost when you are freezing, it is dark, and you are trying to find your way back home!
All in all, Copenhagen brought out so much of Denmark’s beauty and I would definitely go again in a heartbeat!
