Tomorrow is the day!

Hi guys!

I can't sleep just yet. Tomorrow I will leave for Tokyo, Japan! Can't believe the day has finally come, what happened to the last months??

Today was an ordinary Sunday but I had a lot of last things to do. Like packing the last stuff, double check the flight ticket, passport and visa! I also shipped the two packages with my winter clothing and got myself some yen to have for the first days!

I also, funny enough, also made omurice for dinner today because my mom really wanted to eat it one more time! I also thought her how to make it herself!

But after finishing watching midsummer murders as we always do we said good night and my mother started to cry A LOT. It was so so so so hard for me in that moment. I cried a lot as well and just felt.. heart broken. Seeing your mom cry might be the worst thing ever... I tried my best to stay positive and console her, but after wards I felt so sad myself here in my room. Why am I doing this again? Do I really want to do this? and these feelings and thoughts is so new to me, I felt nothing like this the first time I went to Japan.. this time is on a whole other emotional scale!! After talking to a friend I now feel better, but it's still hard. I also know that tomorrow probably will be even worse... but it's just a part I have to get through. I know I will and my mom will as well. It's not goodbye forever, we will see each other soon enough again. I'm sure!!

So, even if it might be hard and sad times, I'm now ready to face it head on! This goodbye is the beginning of something new and I'm so curious to see that new things I will learn about myself and who I want to be and how I want to live my life. Because its my life and I only got one so lets go for it!!

See you guys soon again!
Hugs!
〜Living the dream〜

Thanks Stockholm!

Hello again! 

I'm now on my way back to gothenburg and I must say that my stay in Stockholm was great! Finally it feels like I got a hang of how to move around in Stockholm smoothly and finding my way around! Such a nice feeling! I very tired now after two days with early mornings and full schedule days!  Yesterday I picked up my visa without any problems at all! I was in and out of there in 10 minutes! I decided to have a nice lunch at Kaknästornet with an amazing view of Stockholm! 

I later went in to town to walk around and  I found my way to Gamla Stan which I love so much! The buildings are just beautiful and the restaurants and shops are looking so adorable! 

I met Sara at roun 15 and we went to Mall of Scandiv! It was the most impressive mall I've been in in Sweden! The interior design is just spot on! we didn't buy anything but it was a nice time just walking around, talking and eating something sweet! They day ended with some wine and pizza at Sara's boyfriends family home, such a nice time! 

Today I started the day early and went to djurgården and walked around, such a beautiful Island! The scenery was amazing! Though I would recommend you going there in the after noon because basically nothing is open until 11:00! Which I didn't know and walked around there at 7.30 to 9.00! 

After that I look a but to the boat shore and took a sightseeing tour by boat! It was so nice and relaxing! I had lunch in gamla Stan and it myself some souvenirs I will give to friends! They day in Stockholm ended with me and Sara just chilling for a while drinking coffe outside in the amazing weather! 

So I would say this trip was a very successful one and I made lots of great memories! 

Now it's time to get home and rest so that I have energy for the rest of the week and all the amazing activities! 

Hugs! 

〜Living the dream〜

Stockholm - Picking up my visa

Hi!

Now it's time for one of the final preparations for Japan! Picking up the visa in Stockholm. Must say that even if I shouldn't I'm a bit worried that something might go wrong. I really have no reason to think that so it's weird that I do! I guess it's because this is the last thing that can make Japan not happen? That thought alone makes me worry... Well, I'm sure I will be able to pick up my visa and passport without any problems! I have been there once before so finding my way to the embassy should also not be a problem. But with my sense of directions you never know.. 

The train is at the moment 20 minutes after schedule so I will probably arrive in Stockholm around 10 O'clock. First I will go the embassy and after that I'm trying to decide what I want to do before I will meet up with Sara around 15:00 and go to Mall of Scandinavia before going to her boyfriends family house there I will stay for one night! Some of the things I'm planning on doing is to go up the tower of stadshuset to get some nice pictures of Stockholm! I also want to walk around in gamla stan and do some shopping! Tomorrow I will try to get to Djurgården and maybe some museum as well! Let's hope the weather stays nice!

When it comes to packing for Japan I think I'm halfway through it! I seriously have to much stuff!! Hope to get it all done on Thursday so I can just relax the last days before leaving! 

Midsummer is also getting closer, even if the weather seems to be agains us I'm defiantly going all in this year with a flower crown and participate in the tradtional celebration with all the embarrassing dances! Bring it on midsummer! 

Hugs!

〜Living the dream〜

June! The month I go back home

Hi! 

It's JUNE, and have been for quite some time! June it the month I'm leaving home to go home.. It's so confusing for my heart these days! But I just recently a friends said this to me " I know it's hard but I know you. You will know that you made the right decision as soon as you arrive here in Tokyo, you are just having a bit of "cold feet" right now. So dont worry and just work through it!" And I so believe this friends is right so I will follow his advice!

10 days left, so what has happened since last? I have just been working and having fun with friends! Just some days ago I had my last workday so there last days it's all about friends and family! And some packing and preparing of course! 

I have been to a midsummer party which was a lot of fun! Last Friday it also was a "bye bye" party for most of the Japanese exchange student that now is back in Japan. My close friends Hannah and Isabella is also in Japan now so it feel a bit sad but I will join them soon so no worries! At the bye bye party we had a lot of fun talking and laught! Maybe a little bit to much to drink but it was fun non the less! 

       

                            

I also went to Liseberg on last time! There was so much people so we had to wait in line quite a lot but that just gave us more time to talk so I didn't mind it so much! The weather was great and I was there with the best friends ever so it was perfect! A really good memories I will bring with me! 

                           

Last Sunday I also went to an beautiful island just outside of Gothenburg with som friends!We did some hicking and picnic! The weather was on our side so it was an amazing day in the beautiful nature of Sweden! I think I will miss that part of Sweden a lot. The relaxing nature! 

Yesterday I had tea time with a friend at her house! We made scones and talking about everything. We hadn't been talking so much lately so was nice to catch up! 

Today I will do some packing and studying after this and tonight it's time for the last party night out! Time do kill that dance floor with the best friends ever! Jenny is coming over for wine and chilling before we hit the club later! It's going to be so much fun, can't wait! 

That's all that has happen the first 2 weeks of June! A lot more fun is to come! I will play badminton one more time and fika with friends. I will also go to Stockholm next week for two days! I will pick up my visa and be a real tourist for once and really check out my country capital before leaving! 

Hugs!

Living the dream

The hurdles of moving abroad

Hi guys!

Moving abroad to Japan is for me something that brings me absolutely happiness. I feel at ease and see a bright future ahead of me in Japan! But, there is always a negative side to the positive and for me one of the biggest hurdles of moving to Japan is all the goodbyes that comes with. 

I'm not moving from Sweden because I don't like it here, I love Sweden and my life here as well, but Japan just feels more right at the moment. Japan is the place I have to be in. So consequently that means "ending" a lot of things here in Sweden. I only have 10 days left in Sweden now and the other day I had my last day at work at Volvo! I felt so nice being done but at the same time I felt sad. It felt weird leaving the place I have been working at since I was in senior year of high school... I also had a lot of wonderful coworkers to say goodbye to. I did it with a smile but inside it felt... Sad. Yeah, just sad. It's weird that I was happy and sad at the same time.. Makes one confused for sure! I also know this is just the start of how the following 2 weeks will be like. My coworkers were the "easiest" step, then there is friends, best friends and family left.. Makes my heart hurt a little just thinking about it. BUT at the same time, I'm definitely not going to focus on the goodbyes. The last days here I will do my best to make as many amazing memories as possible with everyone I love! Because yeah, it is goodbye and I will not be able to see them in person so often, BUT they will just be a skype call away and I believe that real relationships don't break or change because of physical distance. It's the feelings that is important to cherish and that you can do despite being far away! I will also come visit Sweden of course and I'm sure some of my friends will visit me in Tokyo as well!  

So, conclusion. It's a hard thing, saying goodbye. It will be sad and hard sometimes. But it's not the same as an end of friendship or relationship. As long as the feelings are intact it will all turn out great in the end. There can be no beging without and ending so to speak! 

This has been on my mind the last couple of day but feels good to have shared it now. 

This will end the thoughts of today! 

Hugs! 

〜Living the dream〜

My new home

Hi everyone! 

You know what? I finally got an email from Gogonihon about my accomendation for this time around! 

I will live in a really nice looking "Social residence" that was opened in 2015 which means it should be very fresh and modern! Me like! So what is a Social residence? It's like a share house but much bigger and usually have more and bigger social spaces! For an example, my house has a big lounge, coffee bar, study room, smoke room, gym, theater room and a "large bath" area! I will show you some picture down below! It's also about making it easy to meet new people and learn from each other as the residents can book the different common areas to hold workshops and different events! This style of livning  really suits me! I do definitely prefer coming home to lively place with a lot of people instead of a small lonely apartment, at least that is my feelings right now! This house can fit up to 100 people so yeah, we are taking about a big place! It looks like a normal apartment complex but everyone just has a room of 10.45 square meters and the rest we share. My only worry is not having my own toilet but I don't think it's going to be that big of a problem! 

   

Now to the funniest thing about this place... It's actually located in the same area as I lived in before!! It's crazy, I will live on the opposite side of the town so it's new but I can go to my old university and all the places I know pretty fast by bike! I still have some friends who still live and study here so it feels just perfect! For an example it will be really easy to go to my badminton circles nomikais (drinking parties) so can't wait to join them from time to time again! 

I also got a message saying that the school as sent the COE so I hope to have it in a week or so, then it's my turn to send it to the embassy and after that I will finally have my visa! 

The departure day is getting closer by the minute! I must say knowing where I will live makes it all feel so much more real! 

I'm also trying to catch up on my studies, really want to get placed in the upper intermediate level, I need to reach advanced to pass N2 this December!! 

That all for now! 

Hugs!

 

〜Living the dream〜

Race, confusion and spa weekend

Hi!

Recently I have done a lot! So let's do a short update!

Last week I did my first "real" race ever! Me and Jenny did a thing called Vårruset, it's basically a short race in a park called Slottskogen here in Gothenburg. As long as you finish the race you will get a little Medal. The weather was perfect and we had a great time doing the race together! I felt really happy that I did challenge myself to try something new, and I did learn that nothing is set in stone. In high school I was never good at sports or in a super good shape so I thought, I'm not a sports person, it's okay that I'm not good at it. But turns out, that some years later I'm running a race and playing badminton regularly and I love it. So, just because you're not good at it in the beginning doesn't mean that you never will or that it is "not your thing"! So don't limit yourself, just try hard to challenge yourself instead! 

Last weekend there was also an anime and manga convention called Confusion, I went there on Friday after work and on Sunday after playing badminton! I had a great time seeing so many people in cosplay and seeing a hatsune Miku hologram concert live, it was amazing! But the best time was when we and some friends just played simple board games together for hours! So much fun to just talk, laugh and play games!

The last update is about now, this weekend! I'm currently in Varberg, a sea city about one hour from Gothenburg. I'm at a hotel and spa with my mom, having a great mother and daughter weekend trip together! This place is really nice, the spa is amazing and we did treatments as well, I had a face treatment and my mom had a massage! will try to take som sneaky picture tomorrow of the beautiful pools and spa area! The dinner was amazing and so fancy! Me and mom got to talk a lot so it was a great time! Now it's time to sleep because we will go up early to take a morning bath and relax in the spa area before the hotel breakfast! after that we will stop by ullaread on our way back to Gothenburg for some shopping and nice lunch! Can't wait! 

But now it's time to sleep! 

Hugs! 

〜Living the dream〜

Sometimes it just doesn't work the first time

Hi! 

You know that not all things work out the way it is supposed to the first time around. That is definitely true regarding paper work! In Japan and in Sweden alike. Just when all the paper work from Japan is working out CSN sends me a email telling we that the documents I sent them isn't enough to for me to get a student loan for the tuition fees for my school.. That sucks! But I know that Gogonihon will help we with this, I already sent them an email at got an answered that they will talk to the school and get the exact document ready for me that CSN wants so that I can get the loan. As long as I send it to CSN before the 25 of May it should be no problem, but this can for most people delay their COE (certificate of eligibility) as the school will only send you the COE after they get a payment of 60% of the tuition fee. So, if CSN is late with giving the student the money they can't get the COE righ away and have to wait. BUt luckily for me I have saved enough money so that I can pay the school fee by myself so even if CSN is late I can pay on time and get my COE here (hopefully) in the beginning of June! After I get the COE I send that together with more paper work to the embassy in Stockholm and they will issue me a visa that I later have to pick up personally ant the embassy in Stockholm, after that I'm good to go to Tokyo! So, there will be a lot of stuff to do in June. I also want to have time for a BBQ party at my place and go to Liseberg one last time! And celebrate Midsummer in a great way as well of course! 

Right now I'm having a short coffee break from shopping and will go back home after this so I have time for some studying and dinner before I will head out to town with the best girls for some good wine and girltalk in this great weather!

Hope your day is going great! 

Hugs! 

〜Livning the dream〜

Returning to Gothenburg

Hello!

That weekend went by fast! Already on my way back to gbg, but had a great time with Sara! The amount of party was just right! Valborg in Uppsala sure was a cool thing to experience, so much people and the atmosphere in town was a never ending party! We were also very lucky with the weather and had a lot of sun!

                                 

                                 

Thursday we chilled out at Sara's university's pub drinking beer and talking! Her boyfriend is a really nice guy, they picket me up at the station and he drove us to Saras apartment so I didn't have to walk with all my luggage. What more can you ask for!

                                   

                                    

                                    

   

                                    

Firday me as Sara did some shopping at the Newyorker, they had mid-sale so that was nice for my wallet! We also had a nice lunch at a cozy cafe and talk talk talk! So much stuff to talk about! In the evening we went to a student pub in town and had a great time!

                                 

     

                               

                               

Saturday, valborg, we went to the park and started the party at 10.30! So much people, loved it! At 14 we went to "champagne gallopen" which basically is an event where we soak each other in champagne while dancing to music! That was one of the funniest things I have done in a while! In the evening we had a barbecue with friends and then went to another student party at Sara university! 

                                  

Sunday was just chilling at home eating pizza and watching Netflix! So, an eventful weekend to say the least! Have so many great memories! 

〜Living the dream〜