New York City

Being back in Sweden reflecting over our vacation to New York City, I realize how odd it feels to call two places “home.” To call your parents house “home” because you grew up there is hard to compare to relating to two entirely different countries both as “home.”  To feel like you belong – to be comfortable, connected, and relaxed – to fit in -  to be able to make friends – to know people, the area, and things to do -  to be able to be yourself. To be coming and going all in the same visit.

Home is where the heart is, and you leave a piece of your heart in every place you’ve been and with every person you’ve met along the way.

This was my first time actually visiting New York City, spending time with friends and family, seeing the sites, making memories, shopping, eating American food, trying to do as much as possible in three weeks.

Reuniting with so many people was much needed, even if we sadly didn’t get to see everyone. BBQ’s, road trips, picnics, dinners, shopping, laughing, talking, or just sitting around doing nothing. Catching up and telling stories. Celebrating birthdays. Jumping in the ocean. Riding on a Ferris wheel. Going to the mall. Aimlessly walking around Manhattan. Watching fireworks. Going to museums. Just spending time doing anything with people we love and miss.

I tackled my Things I Want to Do Eat List.

Tickets to New York

Last week we booked our flight for New York- three week vacation with family and friends back home. Seems pretty far away, leaving June 26th, but it is really just around the corner. I’m so excited to see everyone and catch up. In the mean time I’ve made a list of some things I’ve missed and been craving…

To Do Eat List:

Breakfast

http://www.bbb.org

Fluffy DinerPancakes with syrup and butter
Diner waffles with strawberries and whipped cream
Cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese and jelly
Toasted plain bagel with Cream cheese, bacon, tomato
Deli breakfast sandwich: Egg, ham, cheese, mayo

Lunch

Pizza from my two favorite pizzerias (Top Topping choices: Mushroom, Eggplant, Chicken broccoli, and garlic spinach ricotta)
Diner: Cheese Burger

http://www.thekitchn.com

Deli sandwich:
Ham, lettuce, tomato, mayo on a roll

Home cooked specialties: Chicky-ham sandwich.

Dinner

Eggplant Parm Hero
Calamari
Clams
Scallops

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad

Home cooked specialties:
Chicken supreme, chicken pasta, BBQ

Dessert
Cannoli
Doughnut

Hershey pie
Any Entenmann’s cake

http://www.smh.com

Oreos

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…and so much more.

I guess foods remind you of home the most when you can’t easily have it where you are. This isn’t the healthiest list…but most cravings aren’t so good for you! Looking forward to  having a taste of home for a month. I don’t intend to stuff my face with only these things the whole time, but as long as I can have each thing just once…

The biggest difference is that there aren’t really any diners or delis in Sweden. At least not the same kind, which is only natural. The Breakfast and Lunch culture is very different here than in New York.

And I know that once I get there I will crave food from Sweden. Food habits and cravings change after awhile. I eat more fruit now, I drink more water, I cook almost all the time, I eat salmon now (along with plenty of “new” foods), more pastries, less cookies, much less fast food, etc.

For now I’ll start organizing who to see, when, and what we will be doing in New York City. Home Sweet Home- The time will fly! I’m sure our stay will be busy and hectic and lots of fun. So many people to see and spend time with. Excited to go home and reconnect. And Eat.

Family Weekend: “Helg med Familjen”

Time flies! Hubby and I went to visit his family for the first time since Christmas to celebrate his nephews 12th birthday and to have some family time. It was nice to be with family since I am so far away from my own, it reminded me of home. Laughing around the dinner table, playing games and watching t.v. together, going for walks, just talking and hanging out. We are looking forward to going there more often from now on now that we are more settled. I was pretty nervous about the visit because I thought I would be further along in Swedish by now, a few months ago I thought I would be showing off my progress when we visited, but even without understanding most of the conversations I still had a great time and felt included.

Whenever we go to his family’s place I experience a different side of Sweden. I think I experience more “Country-side shock” than “Culture shock,” being from a city and not really familiar with a lot of things out there. Take my amazement over cows and horses for example. His mother points out flowers and asks what they are called in English, or if we have them, and I have no idea. I get excited when we spot a rabbit or a deer when we are driving along winding dirt paths – which scare me a bit with a side effect of motion sickness. I love going for walks and just soaking in the nature:

Yesterday I went for a walk to the water with my mother-in-law and stumbled upon this little  fellow:

When I say stumbled upon him, I mean I literately almost stepped on him on the side of the road when he jumped out from under my foot, scaring me quite a bit. Hubby’s mom says he is unusually colored and a lot larger than ones you normally see around this time of year. We moved on and a few steps later I nearly stepped on another one. Then I was on the look out for frogs/toads in the forest.

We celebrated his nephews birthday with a smörgåstårta, which means “Sandwich cake.” A full post about the Swedish treat later this week- today is my first day of SFI and I don’t want to be late!!