It seems like there has been a constant state of exchanging hellos and goodbyes in my homestay.

There was sportlov (winter holiday or “sports holiday” — a popular time for many Swedes to travel and ski), which was immediately followed by my free travel week, deadlines, and well, you know how it goes.

And here I am postponing my packing for the upcoming week-long study tour to Greece. Leaving home in six hours!

With all of the recent hustling and bustling, it’s been a bit harder to spend some down time with my family here. Twenty-four hours just simply isn’t enough time for keeping my head above water with assignments, maintaining old friendships and making new ones, eating three meals a day, sleeping for seven hours, and spending quality family time.

This past week has been a great breather for me to play catch-up with my family beyond the dinner table. I’ve missed them!

We drove up to spend the morning in Sigtuna, an old viking town in the north of Stockholm rich with history. Famous for its stone ruins, medieval churches, galleries, and picturesque shops, the charming little town dates back to the 10th century.

Soaking up the last of the semla season as March comes to a close.

Though taking the homestay route definitely demands a decent level of time management skills (hey, it’s a work in progress), I think that for me, coming home to open arms, and sharing stories and laughter with people whom I adore is what matters the most. That is what makes it possible for me to call Sweden my home.

Time to pack for Greece. Gotta be at the airport by 4:30 am!

Gökotta

(n.) lit. “Dawn picnic to hear the first birdsong”

The act of rising early in the morning to hear the first birds sing outside in nature.