Besides the obvious given of missing family and friends... the girls miss: Doc Cheys, Osteria, El Taco and Chick-fil-A (the Ledbetter in them!)
What we have learned (in random order)...
- We prefer walking and taking public transportation vs. getting around by car
- The girls love living in the city but miss a house where they can be as loud as they want to be (though we really haven't seen a change!)
- The girls really miss the trampoline and our bunny, Goober
- I have become much more comfortable driving but still have not mastered the parking situation. The only time I drive is for big grocery store or Ikea runs.
- My legs and knees no longer ache after a day of walking and am not as breathless going upstairs (except the 78 steps on the way to school which still get me!)
- Lucy has learned to be a city dog and knows the way to school and the dog park
- Sweden seems to have a baked good/pastry for every holiday (cinnamon rolls, saffron buns, semla...)
- Grocery store runs have gotten much quicker because I don't have to Google translate every last word
- Swedish ovens are much smaller so our U.S. cookie sheets and roasting pan are now a permanent accessory to art projects and Lego building
- Most people have 2 - 3 refrigerators because they too are small
- Gordon really loves his job
- Care packages from the states are always exciting!
- Do not insure packages for over the minimum covered by the post office otherwise we have to pay an import tax... found out the hard way by paying $150 for a package! I tried to explain to the postal clerk that postage had been paid on the package but no...
- Gabby refuses to learn 24 hour time, preferring instead, to call me to ask what time it is
- Most stores do not open until 10 or 11am and do not stay open late
- Fika is a verb and a noun that perfectly describes the act of having coffee and a sweet with friends.... fika is perfect to kill the time between dropping kids at school and running errands when the stores open at 10
- According to the girls, there is a big difference between an Australian and a British accent
- We've learned to take our shoes off at the door because of the pebbles and dirt from walking around the city
- Because of the above reason, socks are more important (holes, matching, etc.) or indoor shoes
- Sweden must be the largest consumer of candles... they are used everywhere, homes, outside shops, restaurants... creating beautiful lighting during a long, dark winter
- There are easily four or more hair salons per block in Sweden... amazing considering for half the heads are covered with hats
- Ikea stores and products are exactly the same here as in the States
- I have picked up many new recipes and corrupted Stockholm friends with Southern delicacies such as: pimento cheese, corn bread and cheese grits
- We have met wonderful people from all over the world... and are not looking forward to having to say goodbye when they inevitably move onto their next assignment
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