On Cycling and Settling In

My new bike! She needs a name...

Tomorrow, I'll have been in Uppsala for a week - how quickly the days have flown by! I've spent the time reacquainting myself with this amazing city, running errands and enjoying the last few days of this extended vacation with friends new and old. This summer in Sweden has been a rainy one, but I've lucked out with some sunny days this week. Today, as I write from my apartment's balcony, it's so hot my phone overheated - am I back in California or in Sweden??

Navigating the city has taken some getting used to and I'm slowly learning my new bus routes and neighborhood, situated just 10 minutes from the city center and Uppsala University. I bought a bike a few days ago and have completely fallen in love with cycling around this place. Uppsala is so bike-friendly and even though I'm possibly the worst biker, I feel very safe (Not sure what other cyclists or pedestrians feel with me on the road, but oh well!) I really appreciate how easy it is to rely on a bike or public transportation here. When I was planning this move, I was apprehensive about biking, especially given my inexperience, but as soon I as hopped on my bike, I was hooked. A lesson in tackling fears perhaps?

I'm heading to Stockholm soon for a Lenny Kravitz concert at Gröna Lund, an amusement park situated on Djurgården island. (If he sings "American Woman," I'm going to lose my ish.) My job starts tomorrow and I'm looking forward to meeting the team there, though I must say 6 weeks off has been pretty awesome. But on to the next thing! So here's to new beginnings and new bikes!

- EM

Välkommen hit, välkommen hem

Uppsala's Domkyrka Cathedral and the Fyris River as seen from Östra Ågatan

Hallå from Sweden! It's been four days since I began this adventure in Uppsala and I am still in disbelief that I'm back. When I arrived at the train station on Tuesday afternoon, I saw an old favorite - the sign that reads: "Välkommen hit, välkommen hem." Welcome here, welcome home. I studied here more than three years ago, and this week has been a homecoming of sorts. Walking past old haunts, familiar cafés, or a favorite park - the feeling is absolutely surreal. Much is the same, and much is different. I am reminded of the Nelson Mandela quote: "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered." This could not ring more true now. Many of the people who made living here so memorable before are now scattered across countries and continents, and the circumstances of my being here are different. And I am different.  Even still, the magic of this place is as present as ever. 

Välkommen hit, välkommen hem represents the beginning of this new adventure, this new challenge of forging a home and a life in a favorite city. I couldn't be more nervous, excited and overwhelmed. But I'm game for it. 

- EM