Tag Archives: Samantha

I Might Have Seen The Northern Lights

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It’s Been Awhile

Awhile is such a weird word.

^ McKenzie and I on the trampoline

I’ve got some pictures that I stole from facebook, so I thought I could post them and tell y’all what I’ve been up to since last posting.

this is from the day Connor came to Stockholm

Connor, Mackenzie, Elle, Narain

Andrew, Narain, Grace, Me, Avishkar, Josh

this is the exhibit that we’ve been working on for Dorren. I didn’t have my camera this day, so I don’t have any photos of the photos we took for the fotografi group. sorry

At Katarina Hissen – Mackenzie, Narain, me, Grace

Avishkar

Emily and I sunbathing at the top of a hill. There was a dog park up there, but there were only like 3 guys in there, so we couldn’t pet dogs surreptitiously :(((

climbed a statue

ok, so I’ve been going to school and moping around because wow I’m really tired, but then on Wednesday I decided to have fika with Sam. After fika we picked up her mum and brother from their hotel and went out for pizza and then toured the city. It was very cool and I liked meeting her mum a lot because I just think it’s so neat to see my friends in their ‘natural environment’ or whatever.

Thursday I decided to go hangout with McKenzie (the girl) and so I called her up and she was like “I’m going to my counselor’s house, but I’ll be done in a bit” and it takes me like an hour to get to her house, so I left pretty much right then and there. I get to her stop and text her to let me know when she’s walking home and I’ll meet her there, and she’s like, “No, come to teatime with me and my counselor!” so I start walking and then I realize that I don’t remember where he lives. I text her asking, and she doesn’t respond so I sat on a fence and pulled out my book. Over an hour and a half later she and Daniel come walking down the road and my feet are ready to fall off because wow my socks were wet.

The next day I decided I wasn’t mad at her, so I went to her house for lunch because my classes ended early. We made brownies and watched Legally Blonde: The Musical and then I slept over.

Saturday her host brother set of the trampoline and Paddy came over. We jumped on it for a while, while Kenzie’s host brother tried in vain to make us do flips. (I still remember chipping my tooth at Keenan’s house, so I’m not very eager to fling myself through the air anymore.) Then I made Kenzie and Paddy watch Hannibal (which they loved, and I know all of you would too if you would just give it chance).

Today I was going to hang out with Paddy but I was very worn out from all my social interactions and declined to watch The Five Year Engagement (eh. Not bad, not good. Jason Segel is looking really old.) and Austenland (v cute, mom. you’d love it.) instead.

My host parents left a few days ago to go to see their daughter in Florida, so my host mom’s parents are here watching us. They are very nice and I like them very much.

I’m going to Kiruna on Monday, so I’m going to sleepover at Sam’s on Sunday and then fly out in the morning with everyone. I’ll make sure to bring my camera!

Me and Will (McKenzie’s host brother)

McKenzie’s host dad promised he would make me apple pie with ice cream the next time I came over for dinner, so I came over for dinner two days in a row

sam’s brother (Keaton), Sam’s mum (Pam), and Sam (Samantha)

Some Photos To Accompany the Last Post

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minecraft exhibit at moderna museet

Avishkar and Elle

Tanner and I

We sat on the docks for a long while and played with these pontoons

more haircut photos

On the ferry ride to Skeppsholmen

Dinner on Friday

the view of Grona Lund from Skeppsholmen’s citadel

Last Friday Night

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We went to Hamish’s house for a Pasta Party. He’s got a really skinny German Shepherd. Dogs.

We went shopping for pasta and there was a woman with free samples of ice cream an meringue and it was wonderful. Sofia was in charge of the ingredients because she’s Italian. She got really into her job as you can see by this clip of her yelling at Mckenzie in Italian about pasta.

When we got to Hamish’s house we took him outside and I gave him a haircut. It was kind of terrifying because boy hair is tricky, but I think it turned out all right! Beatrice is in the building!

We bought too much pasta, so everyone got a mountain on their plate. Afterwards we had to leave because the bus was coming and it kind of sucked because we hadn’t timed it out very well and all the cleaning was left to Sofia, Grace, Elle, and Hamish. We’re jerks. I’m sorry.

Since I’ve been back (AKA the reason I don’t make daily updates anymore)

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Ok, I like coffee, I like tea, I like the boys and the boys like me. I’ve been drinking too many hot beverages than is probably good for me. Chai Lattes are my new obsession. I’ve probably said it, but you can’t order drinks at Espresso House the way you can at Starbucks. It’s taken me up until a few weeks ago to figure out what my drink at Espresso House was going to be, but I’ve totally got it figured out now. I don’t think I’ll ever order anything else from any coffee shop except for chai lattes for the rest of my life.

Yesterday I hung out with Emily and got my insurance stuff all printed off from her school’s printer with the help of Hamish and Grace. They’re darling. I’ll have to update the cast page soon. Then we went to Dox to meet up with Sam and Andrew and Avishkar and we looked for a white dress so that Sam can be Carrie for a costume party her school is putting on. We didn’t find anything, but I got to pet a dog that was tied up next to a tyme machine, so the day was pretty good.

Today I went to school and now I’m going to tjejgruppen to hang out with my friend Hannah from the photography class I go to on thursdays. She’s pretty kickin.

The End. I’m pretty uninteresting.

MEGA-UPDATE

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The sun came out today. It’s been years since I’ve seen the sun. I put on my spring coat and stood in the sunny patches while I waited for the train. I know this doesn’t sound very important, but I think today may have been the best day I’ve had in several weeks because of it. I like all my friends and stuff, but THE SUN YOU GUYS!!!!!! I couldn’t think about anything else today.

Alright alright alright. Let’s get on to the stuff that people other than me care about.

This post comes to you in 5 parts!

1. I’m good. Like really, really good.

I don’t know where I’ve been. I think part of the reason I’ve been so down the last few months is because I don’t have an over-arching goal or concern (Musicals, Horse Training, Work, etc.) Since I don’t have something big to worry about constantly, I’ve been worrying about everything in equal measure. Every little thing’s been bothering me and because I don’t tangible goals to validate my existence, I was using people to validate my existence (omg, Kate, that’s so unhealthy! That’s not what people are for! Psh. You’re telling me.) I’m such a pretentious pseudo-intellectual saying that, but I think it’s important to know these things if you’re considering being an exchange student, because if you don’t get a life-consuming hobby, your hobby will become sleeping and fretting and that’s no way to be. So. Tips from Kate. Get a life.

2. I’m 18 now

I went to Emily’s house the weekend I turned 18 and we watched fight club and ate American pancakes and made cupcakes and pet her bunny and it was magical. We had a pretty sick dance party and Emily and I became best friends on snapchat to reflect our irl best friendship.

I accidentally deleted the dance party video. This is a summary of what you would have seen.

breakfast!

bunny in a lil bunny hat

omg we ate so much pizza that night

watchin the olympics

Sam and Emily

Emily is a cupcake MASTER

totes adorbs

makin cupcakes

McKenzie made us miss the bus so we had to walk a half hour in the rain

I’m really excited to go back home now because I CAN VOTE IN ELECTIONS NOW OH YEAH, MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE VOTE AT A TIME!!!!

After the sleepover we went to Cafe 60 to celebrate Avishkar’s birthday. Then next morning my host family woke me up by busting into my room singing the Swedish birthday song with the traditional Swedish birthday cake and I couldn’t have been happier it was super kind of them to do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wowowowow

3. Breno

Breno was one of our Oldies from Brazil. He went home on Feb 10th. He’s the best person ever and we all miss him a lot.

Breno and McKenzie

Andrew got Breno to sign his chest

4. Valentine’s Day ❤

I made everyone Valentines, but when I got to the cafe I realized that I’d forgotten them. So I went home (A half hour ride.) and then when I was heading back to the cafe, I realized I’d forgotten one, so I had to go back again (a fifteen minute ride.) So in total, I travelled and hour and fifteen minutes for these valentines and I ended up only being able to give them to three people :((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( I have a problem, I am very aware. A normal person would have said oh well, but these valentines were hilarious because I’m hilarious, and I needed them to be appreciated. I love my friends so much. They’re perf.

5. This Last Weekend

Hannah came up from Nykoping, but I didn’t hang out with her and everyone for very long on Saturday because Valentine’s Day was a lot of social interaction and I needed a break.

Sunday I almost stayed in bed all day too, but they annoyed me into coming out. We got sushi and I ate a spoonful of wasabi. It was all good until we started walking to T-Cen to pick up Hamish. Suddenly I was having a heart attack and I was going to throw up all at the same time. More tips from Kate: Don’t eat a spoonful of wasabi just to prove you’re hardcore. I had to go get some yogurt or something and in the meantime Emily and Hamish showed up. A bunch of them wanted to go look at the kungstragarden subway station, so I sat with Emily and waited for them to come back to T-Cen because she had had a heart attack earlier that day too.

My exchange family!

T-Cen

Kungstragarden

TOURISTS!

Then we sat on the docks until it started raining, after which we went to Cafe Dox to take cover.

And that was what you missed these last few days. I stole all of these photos from McKenzie’s blog because I’m too lazy to take my own these days.

Meeting Hamish and Seeing the ABBA Museum

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On Wednesday I didn’t have school because the teacher didn’t come. I ran into Jonatan and we window shopped. I tried to buy an envelope at this one store. As you may know, I don’t like to ask the workers for help when I shop, but Jonatan wasn’t having any of my crap, so he told me to suck it up. The uniform was a red sweatshirt and so of course the first guy I ask for help is wearing clothes that look like the uniform, but he’s just a civilian. Ugh. So embarrassing. He was all “I don’t work here!” in Swedish. I was glad that I understood him right away because pursuing him would have been awful. I nearly fell to the ground in tears anyway.

Later that day I met up with Hamish and Emily and we took a walk and then went to the Tekniska Museet. It was pretty rad as the video will show you. (Sorry Grams! I know you don’t have internet and that mom just prints these out for you! Just imagine a super interactive museum and science-y things! S/O to my Grams for having a binder of every blog post I make :D)

Today Christal called me and she said that I’ve got a new school lined up (!!!!) so I should go there at 12:45 tomorrow. I’ll be sure to take some pictures!

I got fika with Sam this afternoon. A bunch of other people were supposed to be there, but it was super last minute so I didn’t get to meet any other newbies 😦

After fika I went to the ABBA museum with Astrid and my host dad. It was super interesting and cool and I can’t believe they broke up!!!!!!!! D:

Me as a puppy and Emily as an officer of the law

Sam

Astrid

ABBAHHHHH!

the culmination of my grand day

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I’m the one in the bird suit who makes a snow angel

Hika (Hiccup) serenades us with smooth jazz

perf snow angel

we’re starting a rap group and this is our album cover

Kate

Hika

McKenzie and Hika

Kate and HIka

Hika and McKenzie

Sam and Hika

McKenzie and Kate

Sam

Kate

Sam, Hika, and Kate

Sam

Sam

McKenzie and Sam

McKenzie

Kate

Kate and Mckenzie

I think these boys swore at us, but I’m not sure

X

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Yesterday was the worst day of my entire exchange. I’m going to steal pictures from other people’s blogs because I was to distraught to do naught but film.

Here is some context for the day I’m about to talk about

Thursday: Signing of the flags

Friday: Saying goodbye to Perth.

Afterwards I went home with Brooke and helped her pack a bit. She gave me a bunch of stuff that was weighing her suitcase down and now I’ve got Aussie stickers and a really cool Aussie lanyard and summer clothes that will remind me of her everytime I wear them. I almost don’t want summer to come now.

That night I slept over at McKenzie’s house and while we were falling asleep she asked me to tell her my life story, but she fell asleep halfway into it. I hope she’s reading this right now.

4-up on 1-10-14 at 11.13 PM #5 (compiled) <USA? Photo on 1-10-14 at 11.15 PM

Saturday: Went on a walk with McKenzie because it SNOWED!!! < jk

< I ate some

I lost my SL card on the walk and now I’ve got to get a new one in a mail. Meanwhile I can’t really go anywhere. I was supposed to go to school on Monday for my Natural Science class, but when I woke up I couldn’t make myself go outside and walk all the way to school in the cold for a class that I hate, sit there for an hour, and then walk all the way back home. Google maps says it would have taken me well over an hour, and I’m a slow walker, so I’m going to say it would have taken me two, making adjustments for getting lost. Uphill both ways. Through the snow. With wolves chasing us. We didn’t even own shoes.

Later that day I met up with McKenzie, Tanner, Narain, and Abigail. We ate deep dish pizza from Pizza Hut (it was amazing, fyi. Everyone told me Pizza Hut was a bad idea and that Swedes couldn’t do it right, but they were wrong.) and then went to Max for ice cream. I called my papa and talked to him for a while which was SUPER DUPER COOL! I miss talking to my parents on the phone. Skype is different. I just want to be able to call my friends and tell them pointless things and send them pictures of things that remind me of them and I just want to go home, only I don’t because I don’t want to go back to working two jobs or my life with my monotonous high school schedule from 8:00 to 3:20 and I would like to go on EuroTour right now and then return home for college. I’m so jealous of the Australians. Jerks.

We told our parents about this live camera in Stockholm that shows the weather, and then we went to it and stood in front of it so that our parents could see that we were still alive.

< we’re the group standing in front of the circle thing < sick photo of me high fiving tanner < trying to figure out where the live cam is

< Abigail and Tanner touching a heated statue’s belly

<waving at the camera

< <hot hot hey we got it, hot hot woah we got it, hot hot yeah we got it, HOT CHOCOLATE

Sunday: I hate this day. I don’t want to talk about this day. I’m going to anyway because I don’t know how else to get over it.

We woke up at 4:45, and I threw some clothes on and ate a piece of half frozen bread which I later felt like throwing up. We got on the train. We got off the train. We got on another train. (Because I’m only a lil bb, possessing only 17 tender years, I got to ride the Arlanda Express for free. All of the adult children feigned stupidity and bought senior citizen tickets instead of the full priced ones.) We got off at the airport. I didn’t think I was going to cry because I was so tired, but I was wrong as usual. Brooke and Oliver walked in and then I saw Emily crying and I just wanted to lay down in the fetal position for the rest of my life. Emily cheered me up by singing songs and doing interpretive dance and telling me the story about how she became Orky Idol and her name was on a sign welcoming people to her town of Orky in Canada. She’s great. I want a Pocket Emily to cheer me up every time I’m sad.

We said goodbye and everyone was crying except for Aakanksha who was too stunned to do anything but stare.

I don’t know what else to say. I feel like you all can understand how terrible it is to know that you will never see someone ever again for the rest of your life. I mean, there’s skype, but it’s not the same. I feel like Miles in LfA, wondering when he’ll forget Alaska’s name and when it won’t hurt so much to remember. So dramatic. Someone pinch me. God. I need to get over myself.

<Emily and I < Sam and Beth <Brooke and McKenzie < Hugging Brooke goodbye <Me, Oliver, and Emily

< Narain dying

< SEE YOU SOON!!!! < Breno showing off his cool shirt

The Rest of The Day:

We took the bus back into Stockholm so that the adult children wouldn’t have to pay. Narain was silently crying, Breno was showing off his Alaskan presents Carley had given him, Emily was talking about YouTube, Somehow we all broke out into “I Dreamed a Dream”, I’m sure the other passengers were very confused and annoyed. The emotional distress we were all in was a little too overwhelming at this point for any of us to care though, I suppose.

I was a little upset that we were in Sweden at this point and not a country with a Denny’s because I really needed some pancakes and everyone agreed that Denny’s was what they were craving. Let it be tradition from now on that whenever something tragic happens, Denny’s is the place to go. Get some crisp bacon and maple syrup and put your head down on the table. Denny’s don’t mind. Denny’s will take care of you.

Tanner needed to meet his host mom at noon so Emily, Narain, and I all waited with him after grabbing some food from Coop. This ended up being not such a good idea because I was already dying and wanted to throw up from all of the stress. Yogurt isn’t something you should drink when you feel nauseated. We ended up at Espresso House later and then H&M to get Tanner a hat. I begged Emily to come with me to pick up my stuff from McKenzie’s house because I couldn’t bear to be alone. Have I mentioned how great Emily is?? She rode all the way with me to McKenzie’s house and back again.

When I got home I was a mess again and decided to try and edit all of the footage from the day together to take my mind off of things, which is the opposite of a good idea??? I ended up falling asleep and waking up an hour later still completely wiped. Today is a little bit better. I just want some pasta and a book.

BTW: Kate Recommends: The Fall (2006) and The Book Thief Movie. (Watch the movie before reading the book or else the movie may feel a bit disappointing in comparison.)