My first time to the capital of Scandinavia, Stockholm, was as an extraordinary as a wonderful experience. I was a tourist there for the first time during the summer. Wow! What an amazing place to be especially during the summer months. What a terrific city surrounded by water, trees, forests, wild animals, fantastic museums, parks, café', international restaurants, pubs, boat show, boat excursions to the different islands around Stockholm, cruises to Hellsinki, Estonia, Latvia,  and shops up the wazoo!!!. This "green" city has absolutely everything a tourist dreams of having.

Coming to Stockholm, Sweden during the summer is a must destination. During the summer months (even though it is kind of short), it is light 24 hours a day. Yes, it gets dark, but not pitched dark as it does during the winter and that very early, (around 3:30pm). During the summer, there is more activity than in the winter however Swedes are very sport freaks!! In the summer there are more bikes I had ever seen in my life in one town. They are like taxis they think they have the right of the way all the time. However beware they have the same regulations as cars. If it is a red light for them they need to stop, if not, it is a ticket!!Not sure how much as I do not yet own a bike.

Well, let's talk about the food in this gorgeous "green" city. There is absolutely nothing I can say that is negative about it. Swedes are extremely healthy people and it really showed when I was there. As I was walking in the center of town or in Old Town I did not see one fat Swede!! Well, how can I if they ride on their bikes all summer long, walk and do aquatic activities how can one get fat right? Yes, Swedes are extremely healthy, even though they are the number one country with the most amount of candy consumption. So, let's get back to the wonderful food shall we? Smoked salmon and fresh salmon, potatoes, "korv" stands (hot dog stands), and "köttbullar" meat at balls), all different kinds of breads, and let's not forget the summer pastries, or any kind of pastries, to die for!!!These are just some of the main foods among many other a tourist is able to find. One thing I forgot to mention no worries if you do not speak a word of Swedish, the Swedes all speak English fluently and if I may say so without any accent. Guess their education system is extremely good!!

So my first Swedish summer experience was absolutely terrific; nothing negative to say about it. However all good things have an end. Yes, after two weeks of fun, fresh air, food and sport activities, it was time to go back to the hustle and bustle of Washington, DC life. One I already did not want to go back to.

So then came winter and my husband (Evangelos) decided on yet another trip to Stockholm just to make sure that if ever we decide to move there I would be as happy as when I went there during the summer months. At that time I was pregnant with my second child Constantine. My first child Christina was born in 2003. So I came back to Stockholm in the winter of 2006.The trip went well and to be back to Europe again was the best feeling yet again. There is something about this country that just is unexplainable. During my winter stay I had the chance to have as my guest my best girl friend and "little sister", Fabiana Funari, who is also a JCU Alumni. She and I had a great time needless to say. We obviously went shopping, enjoyed coffee in a little Café outside "Gamla Stan" (Old Town of Stockholm), saw the Nobel museum and the historic district, took pictures outside the Royal Castle, and enjoyed the night life too!! What a great time we had. I will never forget this especially because it was her first time in Stockholm. Even though it was the second time for me in this city, it took my breath away.

My second experience in Stockholm was terrific! So much so that I cried when it was time to go back to Washington, DC. I did not want to leave this place. A place that offered everything I wanted in a European city. (I have to let you know I grew up in Paris and in Rome all of my life, so living in the U.S.A. for me was a challenge). However coming back to Europe was not at all a problem. In fact it felt like home. A home I use to be happy in and where I hope I would be coming back to one day for the rest of my life and with my family. So now you understand why my emotions were extremely strong. The Swedish Life left an amazing impression on me and as I was on the plane to the U.S.A. with my husband I told him "I want to live here for the rest of my life. I feel at home here, in Europe where I belong and where I feel happy and not stressed out. My place is here." Well, needless to say more. After 2 years my dream came true. We left Washington, DC and at that time we were and still are a happy family of 4!! My dream was to come back to Europe to a better life. A life I was so used to as I was a child, a young adult and as woman. A place where there are no social status where food, life, sports activities, open minded people and life in general is at its peak. A free place to be. A place where people are happy and enjoying life every day. Well, this is what I found in Stockholm and much more!

This was the beginning of my Swedish Life! A life that to this day I am still extremely blessed, happy and thankful for.

by Catherine D. Koutalas - Class of 1994