A Response to Questions Upon our Return Home (The Wrap-Up)

Now that we have been home for a couple of weeks, the questions we get from friends and family
can sum up to:

What daily experiences there will you try to incorporate here? 
What will you miss most about life in Sweden?
 Did you have a good time? 
What did you miss the most from "back home"?
How did you like living in Sweden? 


I'll keep most of the answers to the questions brief, but delve in to one specifically in more depth.
Let's work from the bottom of the list to the top:

We loved living in Sweden.  It is a breath-takingly beautiful country. From the shores of lakes and seas to the forests, farmlands and countryside - it is one lovely country. Good food and good folk, too.

We missed our family and friends a lot. A lot!
Crazy as it may sound, I missed some of my American TV shows:  Dateline, CBS Sunday Morning, Dancing With the Stars.  We did get some fun TV there, though, especially the reality show Allt for Sverige which is about Americans coming to Sweden and competing weekly to win  challenges. The final winner gets to meet his/her Swedish relatives!

 Image result for allt för sverige 2018

It was also fun to watch British TV shows such as Doc Martin and Call the Midwife.
Wes found a new favorite with NCIS!


Oh my goodness!  Did we have a good time? If you've read my blog you know of our many travel adventures specifically.  We set out to explore as much as we could in any time available - local to different countries totaling 7 in number: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Germany, France and Britain.




 Might I also add here that we had a good time with the College Line students both on campus and class trips?   They made things quite entertaining!

What I'll miss most about living in Sweden:  the walks we took right in our neighborhood.




The foods - especially the fika fare, the breads and the cheeses.  And licorice that is unlike
what we buy here in the USA.


And the more relaxed lifestyle.


Which brings me to the final question,
 What daily experiences there will you try to incorporate here?
In the form of a list:
1. Light the candles. No matter when or who is there/not there.
(Of course, never leaving them unattended!!)

2. Take fika seriously. A break is good, especially when shared with another person.

3. Opt to walk instead of driving. Good for you, the environment,
and those who need your parking space or seat on the bus.
This applies to big cities and home turf.

4. Believe in fairy tales and tomten.

Do not, however, take this too far.

5. Say "yes" when your brain says no but your heart says go.
Being a presenter on Book Day was highly rewarding in spite of the pre-talk jitters.

 Being the teacher of an English Conversation class was one of the most rewarding experiences
of my time on the SVF campus...know that I miss you very much, students!

And finally,
6.  Soak it all up. Make the most of everyday.
You never know what's around the next curve or corner. 
(The following pictures were all taken in Sweden and within driving distance from our apartment.)

   

To my loyal readers - thank you for following along on this adventure.  You were great company for me from afar and I have so appreciated having you with me on this adventure of a lifetime.

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