Last Day!

January 28

So today was our last full day here in Sweden which is so sad, but I’m ready to go home and see my family, friends and dogs! Its been such a memorable experience that I will have forever. Thank you for keeping up with my blog and coming with me on my journey! I’ve really enjoyed blogging and reminiscing on what I’ve done everyday. I’ve gained so much insight into the world of international business and have enjoyed the company visits so much. I also liked the variety of companies we visited-bigger companies like Volvo and smaller ones like Skapa. I loved where we stayed because it was just a short stop away from the tram and is in a gorgeous part of the city. It was overall a very busy schedule and I feel like I’ve lived here forever and know the right places to go for shopping and food. I’m basically one of the locals-just have to learn some Swedish!

Today we got up and ready to go curling which I was honestly really nervous for. I’ve seen it on TV before and it looks so hard. Also, I’m not the best when it comes to being on ice. My balance is terrible and I literally cannot rollerblade, ice skate, ski, snowboard etc so I was VERY nervous. We got there and had to change into curling shoes that had rubber on the bottoms which made it so easy to walk on the ice. We also had to wear helmets and hold a curling broom, so our fits were CUTE.

We were split into teams and Sam, Cam, Nicole and I were all on one (shocking) we literally hangout all the time together so it was meant to be! We were told the rules and did a few practice rounds then started. Each team consists of four players called the lead, second, third and skip, who each deliver two stones in that order. The skips are the team captains and direct their team on which shots to play. When all sixteen stones have been played, an ‘end’ of curling is complete. A team scores one point for each stone which is closer to the centre of the house than any of the opposition’s stones. We were the red team and played against the yellow team and we WON! It was honestly so much fun but way harder then it looks. Shoutout to the professionals because it takes a lot of strength!

I honestly wanted to stay longer, it was so fun even though we weren’t the best at it! We were starving by the end and were all craving burgers so we went back to Dine Burgers and ate like a true American! We also stopped at Mr. Cake and got some pastries like croissants and donuts which were incredible!

We then had a little bit of time to do some last minute shopping and look around. We wanted to go back to our favorite jewelry store were I found these really pretty earrings but wanted to save money so I ended up not getting them BUT Sam actually snuck them into her purchase and bought them for my birthday! I almost started crying-it was such a great gift! We then walked to a public market looking for some Fika but ended up not getting anything. It was full of fish, pastries, meats, and more! It reminded me of the Kenosha Market a little bit , it was adorable and full of small restaurants and sitting areas.

We ended up then going to Espresso House and getting chai teas (you will be missed Espresso House)! We were all super tired by this point, so we ended up going back to the hostel and taking a nap before dinner. At 5, we met in the lobby to go to Heaven 23 which is located on the 23rd floor of the Gothia towers and is known for fine dining and the beautiful view of Gothenburg (which is even prettier at night). We all got King Sandwiches which are a go to for Swedes. It’s a shrimp sandwich with mayo and eggs with rye bread. I’m not a huge fan of shrimp- but for shrimp fans this is something you need to try! Sam, Nicole, and I also got our favorite pear cider one last time. (I found out they sell it at Woodmans back at home so hopefully I can convince my parents to buy some!)

After dinner, we went to Tin Tin’s which is the bakery and coffee place close to our hostel that JJ loves. We all got some dessert and tea/coffee and enjoyed one last time together at Tin Tin’s! Now we’re all back in the hostel, scrambling to pack and clean. Everyone is weighing their luggage to be sure it’s under 50 (mine is 48-cutting it close). Tomorrow morning we leave the hostel at 6:15 to head to the airport. Its been real Gothenburg! I will never forget the incredible experience and people I have met here-I hope to come back some day with my family!

Daily Reflections

• Curling is actually way harder than it looks but I am willing to try it again!
• Gothenburg in the rain is so pretty!
• If I were to come here again, I would stay in the Gothia towers as they overlook the beautiful city and have an outdoor hot tub that I would love to go in.
• I’m going to miss Sweden so much (especially the food) and I hope to come back to visit someday!