Happy new year! Guess where I am? On the fast train from Stockholm to Älmhult. It was a last-minute trip. IKEA has arranged for Lewis and I to each have 100 hours of Swedish language lessons ... 40 of which take place in a Berlitz immersion program in Stockholm. Work was rather quiet, and Lewis was eager to get started, so we arranged our week in Stockholm before Lewis goes back to get Tilly and Harley on Sunday.
It was a pretty exhausting week, as it was non-stop Swedish the whole time (and we even had homework at night!). But we did manage to see a bit of the city, and we REALLY cannot wait to go back. Stockholm is absolutely gorgeous. It's situated on 14 different islands, and each one has its own distinct personality. I think because all these waterways break up the different areas, you really can see a lot. Kind of like when you are in Paris and look out across the Seine. Many people have said that Stockholm is Europe's most beautiful city, and I can see why. I am sure we will be making frequent trips there. It's about 3.5 hours by train from Älmhult, and I think the RT price can be under $100 if you plan ahead.
HOWEVER ... I would NOT recommend taking the trip while hungover from a late night of drinking and dancing. That was the state I was in last Sunday, New Year's Day. We rang in the new year with Jenny (my Australian friend from IKEA) and her boyfriend, Mattias. They live in Malmö and invited us to spend the night. About 30 minutes before midnight, the whole city started letting off fireworks. And I mean the 
whole city. Residents let off thousands of fireworks in the street. It probably went on for about an hour. We just watched and listened to it all out their first-floor apartment window. I guess that's right about the time all the alcohol started kicking in.
After midnight, Jenny and I started dancing while the boys sat on the couch laughing at us. Actually, I think Lewis might have kicked everything off when he showed Mattias how to do the "80s clap." Anyway, I felt about 10 years younger the rest of the night (it went on until 4 a.m.) ... and then about 20 years older the next morning. :) We were laughing the whole next day about how much fun it was. It was such a great way to kick off the new year and our new life abroad.
Tomorrow is a holiday in Sweden ... it's called 13th day, or Trettonsdagan. I think it's the day when the three wise men bring gifts to baby Jesus. Funny ... I grew up catholic and didn't even know there was such a day. (Sorry Mom!)
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