My Swedish Life

So, I’ve been on a bit of a blogging hiatus on here because I spent the last 4 weeks in Sweden with my dear friends Liz and Lina.  I had a truly incredible time, but this isn’t my travel blog, so I’m not going to go into any details about the trip except for a little bit of self-reflection.

The last four weeks were definitely a time of growth for me, and it was all about being in the present and experiencing life! (Liz, was really great at keeping me in the present.)  I think that taking the time to do another 4-week trip this year was a big step for me personally. I know that I travel all the time, but this was a bigger deal for me emotionally because taking this trip was putting travel before finding a job (although, that’s easier having a decent amount saved up), and truly letting it be known that this is what my passion is.  A lot of people don’t understand my love for exploration, and that’s okay, but in the past that has hindered me.  This trip allowed me to let that go, to not value my life any less just because it’s not conventional.

Traveling is a great education, a great way to gain perspective, to build confidence, to make memories with those you love, meet new people with new/interesting ideas, and just to simply love life.  And that is what is important to me.

Photo by Lina

Photo by Liz

Photo by Lina

Photo by Liz

Photos by Lina

Photo by Liz

Photo by Liz

Photo by Liz

Photo by Liz

Photo by Lina

If you’re interested in reading more about my actual trip, I will have tons of posts about Sweden on my travel blog which you can find HERE.  All photos are by me, unless credit is given below.

If You’re Going Downtown…

The biggest part of my Asheville explorations have been downtown. I love the quirkiness here.  There are brightly colored buildings, street artists, murals, cute cafes and amazing restaurants.  

However, my favorite thing downtown (so far) is Downtown After 5.  It’s the third Friday of every month (May-Sept) from 5-9.  There are food trucks, drinks, a concert and good times to be had!  

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it, but I have some pretty incredible friends here.  Liz and Lina are more than friends, they’re my family here, and I am so glad!  We have way too much fun together!

Photo by Liz

Although American Aquarium is great, we honestly were having way too much fun cracking up and taking loads of silly photos to truly pay attention to the music.  

Liz: top right and left bottom

Liz: Right

When people asked me what I was going to be doing in Asheville I didn’t really have a good answer.  I don’t have a job lined up, in fact I won’t even be in the U.S. for the month of July, but I’ve figured out what it is that I’m doing: I’m living and loving every minute of it. 

Both photos by Liz

In My Place

I pretty much have the most perfect place to live… I’m currently living with my friend Nick in his house that he has been completely remodeling inside and out.  He offered back in January (when the three of them were trying to convince me to move to Asheville) to rent me one of the rooms in his house just north of downtown, and I now live in the cutest room this side of the French Broad…

I’ve always loved to organize things, but actually keeping them that way has been a struggle.  I also tend to be super cluttered and I always, always, always procrastinate.  However, I told myself that this was going to be a fresh new start.  That I was going to stay organized and not be so messy.  So, my very first day I unpacked everything!  That’s a huge deal for me!  Liz and Lina were awesome and patiently hung out on my bed until I needed their help in making executive decisions on where certain things should go!

Nick generously furnished my room with the bed, two dressers, a full length mirror and a wardrobe, and they are absolutely perfect and compliment all of my things!  By the end of the afternoon the room changed into my perfect little creative space!  (And it’s still organized!)

I’m so happy to have such a cute room that was a completely blank canvas to make my own little creative space.  It definitely feels like home!

Down By The River

 

Floating or rafting the French Broad River is a big part of living in Asheville, and it’s a something I hope to take part in this summer, but there’s another really amazing thing to do at the French Broad… The Bywater, a private club that’s only $5 to join.

Photo by Lina

This amazing little gathering place is a laid back bar where you can bring your own BBQ, have a fire, play games, or simply lounge around, like we did, and spend time with friends!  They have beer and a handful of delicious cocktails (my favorite so far is the Berry Picker).  They frequently have a food truck there as well, and last night I got to have a carrot dog… It. Was. Awesome.

Liz, Lina and I met up with a couple of their friends and it was great getting to know a few more people in Asheville.  It was really great because everyone had their own story of their own personal version of Asheville and how this city fits their individual lives.

Photo by Liz

 I did a lot of “domestic” things yesterday, so this was a great relaxation/internal celebration of completing my first full day in Asheville.  I feel so comfortable here, and I feel so confidant.

I’m having fun all the time, genuinely having fun.  I have these pretty incredible people in my life here that I can’t get over our connection, and the way they instantly became just like family to me.  I have no words to adequately describe how much they mean to me, and how much they make my experience here better than I could have imagined.

Photo by Lina