It is 3.36am on our second morning in Sweden. It seems that as in London my mind has kept in the habit of waking at first sign of light despite the fact that the sun seems to be rising a good 5 hours before the time I am used to! I am debating whether or not to go out for a jog but don’t yet want to tire myself out before the day has even started. Maybe in an hour or so.

I don’t know how I can successfully describe in words the beauty that is Sweden (or at least the Sweden we have been lucky enough to visit so far). Last night when walking back to the little house I am sleeping in, I looked up to spot the moon but instead came across more stars than I have seen in my life, and I am someone who has spent many a night star gazing! Whilst driving from one town to another I look out of the window to see more the fir trees taller than the highest skyscrapers you can imagine, and there are thousands of them too.  Even when walking up the path to the family house we have been invited to it seems that my nose tingles with excitement from the scents of the freshest harvest I again have ever come across, though in this case I must admit I do not often go around smelling harvests! I think after this trip I will do so more often. 

The Views of Norrby's Fields and Lake.

You can’t deny that this area of Sweden, as for many other parts of the country I am sure, has money or wealth of some sort and I used to believe I would prefer to visit countries that may be a little less well off (was this me being ignorant for adventure and experience?) but what has dawned on me is that this affluence doesn’t seemed to have changed the beautiful values that Sweden has grown up with. Family is important, and not in a political and “pressure of duty” way like I believe many indian families will come across on a day to day basis, but instead they have pure appreciation, respect and love for those that mean something to them. Maybe anyone who has this element in life is blessed with a different type of wealth, maybe that’s why everyone seems so happy here and not because of the fortune of Swedish kroners they sit on…though a combination of the two must be nice!

We are here to say goodbye to Nai and though it could have felt a little daunting at first the idea of her being all the way in Scandinavia, visiting the country and meeting her beautiful friends and their families seems to have reassured both my Nanima (grandma) and my immediate family of any doubts we could have ever have had before. In fact now it makes so much sense why she wanted to move! How could you not fall in love with such a healthy happy country?

Mum and Daughter on a Swedish Summer's Day

We have now landed in Stockholm …. More Sweden Posts Definitely To Come …. But I keep finding only a few moments here or there to connect to internet!