So I realize it's been a few weeks...so this is a long one.

Well, I'm sitting here looking at my cow calender. I guess I'm not fit to be a city girl! Anyway my point is that I've now been in Sweden for 7 months which only means one thing...I've been in Sweden for 7 months!

109 days left in this interesting town

92 days until my mom is here/last day of school.
79 days until I am 18.

40 days until I move into my final family.

25 days until Kiruna Rotary trip

And the countdown keeps going down! Another thing I'm sort of counting down to is Easter because I am participating in Lent, finally. I am doing the following things starting (yesterday):

NO red meat
NO cheese

NO godis/kladkaka/glass/kakor/etc. except once a week

I'm actually excited to be doing Lent even though I am not following it "correctly"  :)

Okay, so, today is March 10. Which happens to be my dad's birthday! And yesterday was my grandpa's birthday! I't's too bad that I won't be able to bake my dad a cheesecake as we normally do but I'm sure my mom will whip up something delicious.

As I mentioned it's been quite a few weeks since I last posted a blog. So I'll talk a little bit about what went on at the end of February . Not to much. The week of the 21-25 we had what's known as sportslov. Sports break, or a mid-winter break for us back home. So I did what I do best, relax and be lazy. That is what a break is suppose to be about...right. I did have volleyball and wrestling practice so I wasn't completly lazy. Also it was just me and Martin because Åsa and Mikeala went to Umea (northern Sweden) to visit Åsa's mother. Also, Dakota's family were up for the week visiting. So I got the privilege to meet her mom Jessica, her twin brother Lane and her little sister Olivia when they came over for dinner.

I also went with Dakota to the CPH aiport to "drop them off". And I had Starbucks there <3 . It was a peaceful week...and a week of realization.
One night Martin wanted to talk with me during dinner about my exchange so far and how it was going with learning Swedish and such. Well to be honest this was one of the first times I had ever been stood up to, so to say...by that I mean he told me exactly what I needed to hear, the truth.. Basically he was able to see right through me. He could tell I wasn't giving it my 100% at learning Swedish and that it seemed like I didn't want to become a part of the "community". So although it was rough to hear it was just what I needed because he was right and I needed to make a change soon. Of course I felt like I needed to defend myself, so I told him that yes I have not been putting in much effort into learning Swedish but the reason was because I felt like there wasn't a point in learning it. This goes hand in hand with me not seeming like I am involved with the community. I let him know that I have been trying my best to make friends and engulf myself in the culture and lifestyle but that it is extremely hard to do that when this town/community/lifestyle etc. is very much so into themselves. I don't mean stuck up, but more like they have been set in their own lifestyle, they have their set group of friends and it's like they don't want change. They aren't as open to letting someone like me an exchange student into their already set life. So why would I want to learn Swedish if it won't get me any deeper into this culture. But I was partially wrong. Martin did agree that yes Swedes can can be shy and to themselves but that by learning the language I would have better luck. This was something I already knew but I am a stubborn person as most people know and well I didn't think of it that way. So there is a good ending to this short story. I will be putting in 110% effort to learn more Swedish. But the reason I am finally putting in effort is, well for myself. I am not a quitter, never have been, never will be. I have been given a great chance to learn a new language and I can't let it slip away, I wasn't raised to take things for granted I should have known better. But with all that said I feel like I owe an apology to everyone back in Washington who has been giving me so much support while I'm on this exchange and I haven't been giving it 100%. So, I'm sorry for that, I know that whenever I take on a task I always keep at it until I succeed, so that is what I am going to continue to do.

Well on a lighter note, back in February, the18 & 19 I made sure to keep an eye on the Mat Classic XXIII. Even though I just started wrestling last year I feel like I have been a part of the sport for years. I am proud to say that Curtis had 8 team members make it to state. One of which I believe was a girl....but I am not positive on that. Anyway, it was great to be able to keep up with the season and the state championships. Which leads me to another sport.  So the 4A boys basketball had their state championships recently (this month) and even though they didn't take home 1st they still got 2nd which was just as good!Boy, I'm glad to be a Viking.

Back to this side of the pond...and the happenings of March. Last Thursday I went to Ängelholm to watch the Ängelholm Damer A team  for volleyball play. Me and the other girls on our volleyball team went together so that we could get some inspiration. Because....we have our first game this Saturday or Sunday. I know that we were suppose to back in January but that one got cancelled. So I am very anxious about this game, although it will be the first game I still hope we win because I know our team can do it!

Well, not much else. I made dinner on Tuesday, stuffed peppers and rice which actually turned out good on the account that it was the first time ever making them. And, last Sunday I made some chocolate chip cookies. I haven't been able to find actual chocolate chips here so I had Dakota's mom bring me a bag when she came to visit! Nestle Toll House, the best. I believe everyone really liked them, but I mean who wouldn't they're an American classic. Speaking of home, sort of, I can't wait till my mom visits.

As I said earlier, my mom gets to come to Sweden June 10-24. But that's not the best part. We are going to Italy June 13-22. We fly to Milan Monday (13th) night. From there I hope we head to Pisa and Florence then down to Rome, next we'd come back up to maybe Bologna. Then head over to see Venice and Verona and fly back out from Milan. I am beyond excited to go to Italy. I have always loved Itlaian cuisine so my mom and I are going to take 2 maybe 3 cooking classes while we are there. I would love to learn how to make traditional authentic Italian foods, especially home made pasta or gelato.

And last but not least I really, really would like it to be spring already!