1 year in America!

carolinelarussa
Dec 14, 2017
3 min read

Hello again,

Today is my 1 year anniversary of moving back to America, which is insane!! This year has been full of interesting times for us. Lots has changed, but most of it has been for the better! It's strange thinking back to when I said good bye to everyone in Sweden, because it feels like it really did happen recently. But remembering Nick picking me up from the airport is odd, because it feels like longer ago. He was terribly skinny because he didn't eat much while I was away. We were both so sad about it. I'm the opposite, I eat more when I am upset haha! Neither one of us really knew how to act. Just like when he came to visit me in Sweden. Being apart for so long was healthy for us though. It taught us how valuable our time together is. Now when Nick is on disability, it's rare to see us apart. I like that we have gotten this time together where no one works. Our money situation is terrible, but this quality time together is the best. So here's to 1 year in America! A year when my whole life was changed, I got married and decided to start my own business instead of being someone else's boss! 2018 will be great!!

My blog break since Halloween has been nice, but very busy. Lots of parties around Thanksgiving and Nick's birthday. And also a trip to L.A which truly gave me and Nick a perspective of where we want to live. We are longing for Tahoe but San Jose is an okay place to stay until we get there. I used to enjoy visiting L.A but only to see Hollywood and Santa Monica. We drove there this time and realized what a nightmare this city is. Traffic is ridiculous and everything that is not by the coast looks worn down and overcrowded. It's not even fun to be there because the expectations that people have of everything are too big. We spent one day at Disneyland which was sweet since I have always wanted that with Nick. But after experiencing Disney World a few years ago, it just felt small and not as exciting. I am happy that I got to see the original Disneyland. But we are going to Disney World next time for sure. It's not as cramped and is surrounded by open lands where they can build four more parks if they so wish! I am beyond excited to show it to Nick!

Yesterday was Lucia Day in Sweden and unfortunately we haven't seen any of those performances this year. It does make me homesick but I am trying to not feel bad about it this year. I need to practice on that. We put up the Christmas decorations in early November already, so that we could enjoy them before I started complaining about missing Christmas in Sweden, haha. I know it will always be a struggle to find a balance between the two countries. But I also know it will get easier when me and Nick move to our own place and can create our own traditions each year.

Nick is good to me though. He understands my feelings and does his best to fill the void. A few days ago he ran some errands and then called me. I expected him to say "Hey you feel like going to a bar tonight?" because that is generally our night time entertainment. But instead he said "How about I come home and pop some buttery popcorn and make hot apple cider. Then we bring it with us and drive around the neighborhoods to look at Christmas decorations?".... YES!!! What a perfect way to keep his homesick wife happy!!!

The setting on my camera was messed up for some reason so I apologize if some of the photos look a bit off!

I couldn't believe how big this snowman was! It was bigger than the house!

Some of the houses have radio stations that you can switch on in the car. It will play a song that moves in the same beat that the lights of the house. Always fun to watch that.