May
26, 2013Living here for 10 months I have come to appreciate things that I took for granted back home like the hot sun, and the cool beach of Miami. I now know why Swedes light so many candles at dinner time, to keep it cozy and have some light in the dark time of the winter. Sweden has taught me to really appreciate home and the things I have there, but also be so curious to want to try new things and see the world from another perspective. I now only have a mere 59 days left in Stockholm and I want to cry because I have never been so in love with another country as I am with Sweden. Exchange is an opportunity of a lifetime that cannot be described in words or pictures, as much as you sit there and read through other people's journals. Because there's a certain feeling you get in the moments you have here and only other exchange students can understand it. You can't stop time, you can only think on the many memories; having bonfires wit h all the exchange students in Stockholm, getting lost in a Stockholm suburb on your way to a party because the streets all look the same, gaining weight from meatballs and numerous fika and waiting outside at 2am for 2 hours in the freezing arctic wearing nothing but pajama shorts uggs and a down jacket with another American exchange student because you thought you saw the Northern Lights, when in fact it was just the sun rising, but nothing had ever seemed more beautiful than that.
Saint Augustine said "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." This quote is what I have lived by my entire life, and having the opportunity to leave my home country and travel to Europe has let me read more than one chapter of my book and surely bring me more to come in the future. Travel makes you modest, and you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. This year abroad has really opened my eyes and saved me from making choices that I didn't want to make, this year has taught me so much about myself. I'm not sure what I'll do, but I want to go places and see people. I want my mind to grow. I want to live where things happen on a big scale. So I thank Rotary for giving me this chance to go abroad and I thank the Rotary club of Älvsjö for hosting me this year and for putting me with two amazing families and giving me the opportunity to take your country in fully, experience all the culture and live like a tr ue Swede.
For more photos and exploits form Ashley's year in Sweden go to:
http://www.ryeflorida.org/Students/OB/2012-13/Ashley-Sweden.htm
Ashley wanted to share the photos from her High School Graduation in Sweden
She's planning to visit the Club when she gets back next month
for a "Show & Tell" about her year as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student.
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