This isn’t as easy as I thought it’d be. Not even close, actually. It was naive of me to think that I’d be able to delicately wrap the fresh experience of an exchange year abroad into a neat journal submission. I can still try though.

Ironically, In ten more days I’ll have been here for two months… so maybe every month and 20 days or so I’ll get a new submission out?

Where to start? Sweden’s been amazing. My Swedish is coming along slowly, but surely… I think. From the moment I first stepped out of the Frankfurt Airport something about the chill in the air let me know I was in for much more than I’d ever experienced. The nature is inviting, the school system is refreshing, and the people are surprisingly engaging in ways I hadn’t expected. Everyone mainly asks the same questions initially, but it’s fun to mix up the ways I answer them. My time with the Jannerts has been amazing. They’ve not only shown me parts of Sweden, but Germany as well. We spent a week there, and I’m still in awe that I’ve seen both Hamburg and Berlin. Back in Höör, I’m fortunate to have the day to day experience of learning music at school and training MMA in the evenings. I will say, I’ve been exhausted for a while by the pace of this… but it’s 100% worth it for all that I’ve been able to embrace. It’s been so cool to experience autumn here. The leaves are rich in hues of yellows, oranges, and reds. We don’t really get that back home, so I’ve been adding many new leaves into my scrap book to take back. I love the quietness of the train station, and the way I get to travel through vast plains daily on my way to school. I love how the mist is so light that I can barely tell it’s raining sometimes, and it’s beautiful to see the stars shine so bright at night.

The truth is, I only really care for half of what I’ve shared with you so far. All that I’ve said is genuine, absolutely, but I find it hard to articulate the depth of emotion that exchange has brought to me. Honestly, it’d be easier to paint. There’s so much beauty that lies in the simplest moments that I just can’t put into words yet.

As a parting gift, “20191229” by Mac Demarco may be the best way for me to describe how this journey’s been. That or “Stratosphere”, by Duster, or “Waiting For You” by Alex G! Haha, I’m sorry to have made you wait so long, but I hope this entry provides enough insight into how things have been for me. Thank you for being part of this experience, bye!

(4th Day in Sweden Journal Entry)
9/21/25
“It’s such a beautiful thing to see the front door left open alongside the windows. I’m currently outside in the front lawn. It’s breezy, and Louise is hanging clothes to dry. I have a jazz playlist running. The sun shines in increments. This weather is perfect. My exchange has been perfect. Yesterday was quite eventful. My day started at 4:00 AM due to jet lag. Around 7 Louise and I went to a nearby lake. What an experience… there was so much fog. The water was cold but the swim was well worth it. So beautiful. We have a welcome party later on in the day. I enjoyed it, though mingling isn’t at all my favorite thing. It’s cool that I’m able to do it though, I guess. My host siblings are alright. I’ve loved wearing my sweaters though I’ve actually had to change once or twice because of the heat! I’m gonna shower now.”

(First Train Ride to School Journal Entry)
9/22/25
“My aura exuded Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille as my face went numb to the cold. The morning sun greeted the train’s passengers, but not too forcefully. This is Sweden after all, it’s shy. My heart was beating rapidly from the bike ride there through the city. Tomorrow I start MMA… most likely.” (I didn’t for another month, lol) ” Being here is kinda helping my self-assurance. I’m constantly around new people, but the emotional warmth makes it easier to stay authentic—something I used to struggle with back home. Here, being myself doesn’t feel like a risk. My guitar’s gonna make a great pastime once I get my hands on one. I miss that. The stillness of this place gives me a lot more time and exterior locations to practice.”