Finding a housing situation was really frustrating for me upon moving to Stockholm. I’ve heard of numerous coworker friends getting scammed out of money because they paid a deposit before even arriving to the country, and ended up without a place upon arrival. Luckily, my hotel was beautiful and in a really central location, but definitely not a cozy place for starting a new and intense job. After many sketchy visits, potential roommates, and an ever expanding budget……

I GOT THE CUTEST LIL HOUSE EVER!!!!!!

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It’s a refurbished garage on the property of a relaxed, but kind Swedish family. The apartment is modern, clean, and came with just about everything I could need and more. I’ve spent time lounging on the couch and waking up in natural light from the woods outside my window. I have a 20 minute walk to work through a classic Swedish neighborhood, where I couldn’t feel more safe.

I knew all along it would work out, but upon moving in here I realized how truly happy I am with my decision to be here right now. I have met amazing people already that make me feel cared for and supported. I have been extremely busy getting my classroom set up for 128 students next week!!!!!!!!! BUT all the while have been feeling healthy, rested, and appreciative of this country and my experiences here so far.

Well technically I’ve been here in Stockholm for an official week now, but today was my first full Friday. It was also my first Friday at WORK! This week was jam packed with seeing the new school I would be working at and it might be the most beautiful school I have ever seen. I am so excited to finish up planning through Fall break, setting up my classroom, and getting to know my coworkers. There are other teachers from the US, Italy, UK, Spain, South America, India, and more…it’s insanely cool! I’ve already learned so much about other places in the world. I also learned an overwhelming amount about the Swedish education system……another post!

Today after work we started off grabbing a drink at Sundbybergs Koksbryggeri, a local brewery in a refurbished church. There was about 10 of us there enjoying beer and rum and the company of one another…I made 3 new friends just at happy hour, and think they will become great ones.

Next we headed to an outdoor bar/club suggested by a coworker. However, this club was a 23 year old and up club, and your girl is only 22! I asked why, and the older, more sophisticated drunk people of Sweden don’t like to be surrounded by 18 year olds, so there is an age limit despite the legal drinking age being 18. My coworker so graciously lent me her passport and I was granted entrance as a 30 year old Welsh woman! 🙂 The place, Tradgarden, was so hip including a vegan food truck, live amateur wrestling, mojito buckets, a multi level dance club, and sick art and decor. We all tuckered out around 11, even though apparently the place doesn’t really get poppin’ till midnight. Regardless, I had a great first Friday….tomorrow should be another adventure!

P.S. Yes, I’m still homeless, but hopefully by the next post that will have changed AHHHHH

Swedes LOVE their native singer/songwriter Zara Larsson and I’m here for the bops.

WEEKEND NUMBER ONE

LONELINESS VS. INDEPENDENCE: IT’S YOUR CHOICE

I’ve always struggled to decipher the state of being alone from the feeling of being lonely. It wasn’t until my fourth boyfriend, out of four back to back to back to back relationships, pointed out that I was scared to be alone and it hit me HARD.

Sometimes it’s hard to acknowledge someone knows you better than you know yourself, especially after they just dumped you out of the blue.

However, in this instance, it was like a sense of clarity washed over me. I had always considered myself an independent person because I liked to do things like walk to class, study for exams, listen to music, drive, etc. all by myself. However, during these moments of “being alone” I was constantly on my phone communicating with someone or posting something in hopes of a response. Not even always a particular response, just SOMETHING. Now social media posts and stories are a topic for an entirely separate post, this post is about being alone and how being alone has the potential to lead to two opposite states of existence: loneliness or independence.

Being alone in Sweden has already been challenging. It means waking up alone (in a time zone different than 99% I know AKA that good morning text will not be read for 6 hours minimum), making decisions both big and small on my own (where to eat, what train to take, where tf to live) and finding joy when I am sharing moments with no one but myself. It means feeling confident on the train, bus, plane alone. In the museum, park, mall alone. It means delaying the urge to share photos or news with my family and friends in the US and enjoying my time here in Europe while I’m living in it. And this is what’s hardest for me, it means recognizing my own accomplishments and giving myself the credit I deserve. And feeling validated and proud of these things from no one but myself.

When you have such a strong, involved support system, as I do at home, it is hard to feel empowered without their approval. It almost doesn’t feel like an accomplishment unless it is shared, and that’s a huge problem in my life. While I still will share the highs and lows of my experiences with probably more people than care, I will be making choices for myself and owning up to their results. Being alone, but possessing confidence in yourself and ownership of your life choices is how you ultimately reach independence. I want to come back from Sweden as a more independent woman, and with every decision made and ever spark of joy felt I am growing towards that.

I’m Gabrielle, an American teaching in Sweden for the next year. I recently graduated and took this trip because I really want to become better travelled before settling in to a teaching job in the US. If you know me, taking risks is a little out of the ordinary for me. I like things to be consistent, realistic, and well planned. This trip is quite the opposite of that, but I am excited to teach a new population of kiddos, meet a new community of people, and see more of this beautiful world.