First few days here in Sweden

So this is my first post here in Sweden!!! I arrived without a problem here on Wednesday night.  The University of Gothenburg Exchange Student Services picked me and about 30 other students up at the airport and then drove us to all of our dorms.  I am staying in Olofshöjd or Olof for short. The dorm complex is really nice and really close to the center of the city, only about 5 tram stops away.  My room is also really nice.  I have a nice chair, bed, desk, bookcase and three little tables. I have a huge closet and my own bathroom.  The kitchen is also very nice and has everything I could ever possibly need to cook with.

My first full day in Gothenburg, me and some other exchange students that I met from Canada and Spain decided to go shopping for all the things we needed.  Obviously since we are in Sweden we had to go to IKEA to get all these things.  IKEA in Sweden was quite the experience!  After a long trip to IKEA we a bit more shopping and then went back to our rooms because we had a big night ahead of us.  The Exchange Student Services was throwing a big welcome party for us in downtown Gothenburg.  The party was great and we met a ton of really nice people!

Today the Exchange Student Services put together another event for us.  We took a trip out to the Archipelago, which is a beautiful island just outside of Gothenburg.  We took the public ferry to the island and the ride was absolutely beautiful.  I met some other exchange students from Germany and walked and sat around the island all day.

The weather here in Gothenburg has been quite different then the weather I left in Chicago.  The temperature has pretty much been in the 60's.  The weather changes so quickly here though.  One minute it is very hot and sunny and the next is freezing and windy.  Today was the first time I experienced the infamous Gothenburg rain.  Apparently in the fall and winter Gothenburg is much more mild than other parts of Sweden, so it doesn't get as much snow as it does rain.  I can never escape these rainy cities!  First DC and now Gothenburg!

All in all my time so far has been great!  I still have a week and a half before I start classes, which means lots of time to explore the city.

I know many of you would like to see pictures of Gothenburg, where I am staying, and the trips I'm going to take.  The one thing I forgot at home was my camera cable, meaning that I can't upload my pictures to my computer.  Don't worry! I am still taking loads of pictures and when my dad comes to visit me in September I will have him bring the cable.  So sorry, but pictures will have to wait until then!

Miss you all!

Hej då!
~Tori

The Time Has Come...

Today is my last day here at home.  In a few short hours I will be on my way to Chicago O'Hare to get on my flight to Gothenburg, Sweden.  I only have one connection in Copenhagen and by 6:00 pm tomorrow I will be in Gothenburg!!!! Soooo excited!