Number Six.

It's 3:30am, December 26th. My first Christmas away from home in seven years was spent cleaning, packing, eating whatever was left in my fridge, and skyping with family across the world. As I had thought that this would be one of the loneliest days of my life, so far I have have found it difficult to be anything but giddy, as I know that tomorrow I am embarking on a trip that could very well change my life. I mean, of course it will change my life. But in that 'life-changing' way... you know? So now I'm lying here awake with my mind going in a million different directions when I should be getting my beauty rest for the travels ahead. But as I said to a close friend earlier on today, "I haven't been this excited since Christmas 1989."

Basically, I feel like I'm 5 again. Seeing the world in a new way. This experience in Sweden has already given me so much I can't wait to indulge in more. Copenhagen tomorrow, Berlin for New Year's, Amsterdam and Hamburg for the grande finale.

Great adventures lie ahead. My Grandma Kaye asked me to write them down so that I can share my stories when I get back, and I promised her I would. So I'm leaving my computer at home and taking my notebook and a couple of pens. We'll have to wait and see what comes out of it.

Goodbye laptop. Hello open road.

Number Five.

Apparently I'm slowing down with this blog thing. It's an easy thing to forget about when your mind is occupied in other directions. But I enjoy it - the thoughts and the writing that it requires of me. I guess I should pay more attention to that. I should really just pay attention in general.

It's full on winter here. It came on a Friday night in a windy, slushy fury. Now the streets are icy and crack under slippery footsteps. So many people say they hate winter, but I find that the white snow gives purpose to a grey landscape. It makes it beautiful, fragile. This is the time when we hibernate, and appreciate the warmth of our homes, and our loved ones.

Being in a far away land really allows me to contemplate the relationships in my life. They say that distance make the heart grow fonder, and in a sense that is true. I find that it is giving me the ability to look more objectively upon my life, and to appreciate connections that I have perhaps not always valued as much as I should. The memories of people, laughter and love become more prominent in my mind and everything else just kind of sifts away. There are so many things, so many people that we take for granted in this life, and we never notice until their gone... or at least, far away.

The true value of friendship. I come to Sweden and find myself, at first, aching to find a connection with someone that resembles one of the ones I have back home. How have I been so lucky to have so many amazing people surrounding me for all these years? People who love me, even after getting to know me. It's a slow but interesting process this, 'getting to know people' thing, but it's coming along. There are a few, but certain individuals I have met here who are the salt of the earth and I am grateful that this journey has brought me in to their presence. With this semester coming to an end I am finding this sort of calm coming over me about the next. Like, with the new year I will be able to see things in a new light. It's all coming together and I'm excited to see what it looks like on the other end.