In Stockholm

Today we headed to Stockholm, an hour an a half drive from Tornio, Finland, and then an hour flight to Stockholm, and finally a short 30 minute drive to the part of Stockholm where Therese and her family (the people we are staying with) are living!

It was really sad to leave the Frantti's in Finland.  They were so good to us, treated us so well.  It takes a very special kind of person to take in an entire family, feed and house them for days, especially after not having seen even one of them for the better part of 20 years, and they rest of us they had never met!

They were sad to see us go too, especially my Uncle.  He lived with them for a year when he was just 15 and has visited a little bit and they have kept in touch.  It has been 25 years since his original visit to them, and still they mean as much to each other today as they did back then, even after so many years and so many miles.

During the stay at the airport and the flight to stockholm I was a little bit homesick.  I'm not one who is normally inclined to feel that way, but with not being able to call, or even send a simple text because the trip is international, it makes me more acutely aware of the fact that I am not seeing the people I usually have around me.

Also, now that we have left Finland, I am the only one who does not speak or at least UNDERSTAND the language that is being primarily spoken, even though everyone here speaks English even more beautifully than the Frantti's.

It is frustrating, but one has to start somewhere!

Stockholm is just so beautiful, but in a vastly different way than Tornio. The only part that I have really seen so far is the area around where Therese lives, and that is so cute.  It kind of feels like New York city, Brooklyn more than Manhattan though close enough to both, but the buildings feel less cramped somehow, and are not as tall.  Also the place is infinitely cleaner.

That is not to say I don't love New York, but Stockholm is just a different feel.  I like the feel of it here.  Tornio was absolutely beautiful and I loved being there and seeing it, but I feel more at home in Stockholm, I think.

I can't wait to go exploring!