I'll be home in a week.

home.

for me that's a weird concept to grasp at the moment.

it's been forever ~ if forever translates into one year, four months and five days ~

and I know for sure that as soon as the new feelings are settled and I've gotten used to it again Sweden will drive me crazy and I will wonder "why didn't I stay in the US?"

then the voice of reason will pop in and say "cause you couldn't stay in the US. being an au pair drove you nuts, remember?"

and as much as I will miss it over here, I really won't miss the au pair bit of it. I will miss the kiddos and all the fun stuff we did together for sure. but dealing with cranky kids who aren't mine and always having to ask if it's ok to go out and meet my friends. not so much.

coming over here was great. I had total freedom to be whom ever I wanted to be. and I have been. a bunch of the change has happened gradually and some stuff landed *smack* *bam* in the middle of my face (not literally)

I have done some things I would never in a million years think I'd do and I've enjoyed it surprisingly much.

to name a few:

I went over here with my crazy stomach and I've dealt with it surprisingly well.

I’ve spent an entire evening in a short black dress, wearing 4” heels and pink bunny ears.

I decided to spend $700 to go to Las Vegas just a few short weeks before it was time.

when Sophie (one of my favourite Aussies) called me a whore it didn’t bother me – coming from her it’s an endearment.

I’ve found a new favourite sport, martial arts is the way to go and I’m looking forward to finding that at home.

I faced one of my biggest fears and took an acting class. the big surprise is that I really enjoyed it and didn’t mind playing Hamlet. a bunch of the exercises we did helped me become more comfortable with myself and I needed that.

I had a wonderful time camping - even though parts of it were stupid like you wouldn't believe.

the internal changes are there as well and I will do my best to keep them since they're good things.

I was insanely scared that I wouldn't find any friends here and that I would be stuck alone in the house all year which thankfully was not the case. I've made friendships which I hope will last the rest of my life.

I'm more confident and secure in my own skin and that's a nice feeling.

I might not end up as the crazy cat lady after all. and that's good to know ~ especially since cats scare me ~

so wow.

what a year (four months and five days) it has been.

would I do it again?

never.

but I wouldn't take it back either. no matter how shitty I've felt at times this has still been a great year with great experiences and I'm so happy I went through with it.

I'm on to my next adventure: trying to figure out how to be a normal Swedish girl again and it might not be as exciting as this year but that doesn't mean I won't do my best to enjoy it...