Sweeney's in Sweden!

This is the email Ashton sent her Mom. I like her view on things because she has never been outside the USA.

we are now at adam's apartment (the american missionary). So we are just now able to use the internet. The plane ride was fun, it wasn't scary at all. we had an hour and 45 minute layover in London, so me and Ashlyn sat in some chairs and just slept. we had to then take a 45 minute bus from the stockholm airport to where our hostel was. (A hostel is like a bunch of bunk beds where you all sleep together in one room). I didn't like that very much, but it was o.k. The first day we went to Skansen park. It was kind of like a Lincoln Log cabin. It had historic buildings from different time eras and areas of Sweden. We also got to go see Glass blowing at Skansen. I was going to buy some but it was way too expensive! Skansen also had like a little zoo in it. We saw wolves, reindeer, and even a mamma moose with her baby moose. As we were starting to leave the park some guy came and said that our bus was not going to leave for 30 minutes to go back to our hostel because the king and queen of sweden were goign to parade down the street. that was june 6 which is like Sweden's 4th of July. so we waited and got to see the King and queen come by. A bunch of uniformed men on horses led the way and the king and queen were in a carriage and their two daughters were in a carriage behind them. I got pictures...it was really cool!! so we finallly went back to the hostel and had "supper." Supper has mainly consisted of crackers and water....so in other words....I'm starving. I am no longer hungry...I think my tummy shrank. last night I broke down and bought lazagna and pop from the super market. it was like 10 american dollars but i don't even care...I was starved and wanted some real food besides chips and crackers. The second day we went to see city hall and the changing of the guards. City hall was pretty neat, we just looked at the outside...i have lots of pictures. At the changing of the guards at the palace, Christina wanted me to get a picture by a guard in front of the castle. so I jumped up there to stand right next to him. He had a gun with a dagger off the end of it and he pointed it at me and said "you need to step outside the black line!!" Apparently there is a black line drawn on the ground and you aren't supposed to get any closer to the guards than that line. We laughed and thought it was hilarious. the chanign of the guards took like 45 minutes. It was awesome. The band paraded around and when they were leaving they almost trompled over me but Jill shoved me out of the way...it was funny-They do not move out of theri perfect lines to get out of yoru way!! I thought I was goign to fait because I was hot and closterphobic. After that we went to Old Town, which is like a big souvenier shopping place. I bought two dallas...the swedish horse figurine. Everything is just sooo expensive out here. I also got a postcard of sweden and the palace. I forgot, after we watched the changing of the guard we went into the castle and toured the "apartments" or where guests stay and where old kings and queens lived. Yesterday we went to the Vasa, a museum that all about this ship named the Vasa that the king designed during a war with Poland. It was painted brightly and had lots of details. the ship took 2 years to build and went it left the port it sank after 20 minutes because it wasn't very well balanced and it was too narrow. we spent about 2 hours looking at things in that museum. we were then goign to go to the national museum. we got on the bus to go to the museum, and Christina got the tickets confused and the bus driver left jerry at the bus stop. needless to say, jerry was not very happy that he got left at the bus stop. He had to walk to where we were because he couldn't buy a bus ticket with an american credit card. So, we wasted abotu 20 minutes or more so the museum was closed. everythign closes at like 5 o'clock here. so we decided that we were going to go to a lift that takes you to see a view of the city. It only cost a dollar or more, and it was pretty interesting. we then took a long walk aroudn the city. And boy do I mean LOOOOONNNNGGG. my feet hurt really bad. then we finally had supper. Last night at our Hostel these little kids were bein so loud so I went into the hall and asked them if they spoke English and they shook their heads no. I tried to use sign language to tell them to be quiet so we could sleep. After we woke up today we took a three hour train ride from Stockholm to vaxjo. then we had to take a bus in Vaxjo to campus, where christina lives. So far today we have walked aroudn campus and saw where chrisy had classes. we are waiting on some other girl's family to leave Adam's apartment so we can go over there and make spaghetti for supper. I am starving and can't wait to eat real food. Me and chrisy are sleeping on Adam's couch, Ashlyn and Grandma are sleeping in the spare bedroom. Jill and Jerry and sleeping in Christina's apartmetn which is like 20 minutes from adam's apartment.

FUNNY STORIES BY ASHTON:

At Chicago I gave the man my passport and he said "I'm sorry but there is a problem" I about pooped my pants- we weren't even out of the country yet! Then he said "you need to sign your passport. Boy was I relieved. then Jerry opened his mouth and said "does that picture even look like that girl." Again, I wasn't impressed by that comment. and didnt' think it was funny. But the guy did give me a second look and I said "I promise I just got my haircut!"

On the plane from London to Stockholm there was a little girl with her family screaming and crying. I was tired, hungry , and ready to see Chrisy. I was hugging my purse (because you have to watch out for pick-pockets) and the steward came up to me and Ashlyn and asked me "excuse me but do you have a gun in your purse?" (this is all in an English accent)--I stared blankly at Ashlyn and said "NO, what do you mean?" He said "A gun, you know, a device you use to shoot yourself or someone else." I said "no I do not have a gun." He said "Boy I wish I had one and I would take care of the problem myself." (He was talking about the little girl screaming and crying.

On our first day leaving the hostel. we took forever getting ready. we were a little later than the time we had originally planned to leave to go to Skansen. As we finally were walking out the door, the reception said, "excuse me, but you're moving out of room 10, right?" We said yes. "well, you need to turn in your keys." So Jill gave them the key she had.......and...........no one else had a key on them. we went on a key hunt! Everyone turned their pockets inside out, and we searched our luggage twice, we turned the beds upside down, and even searched the trash. we went through the bathrooms and showers. We knew the key had to be in the building because we hadn't left it yet. Grandma even layed awake that night wondering where it could possibly be. I (ashton) even prayed for us to find it. But everyone was positive they did not have the key. The next morning Christina picks up her pants she had worn the previous day "jingle, jingle, jingle" She looked in the pocket and THERE WAS THE KEY! It magically appeared in christina's pocket.

On our way to the hostel Me and ashlyn were leading the way and I noticed a familiar pair of flip-flops on the side of the street. "those look like Christina's!" Ashlyn agreed. We were afraid she had been kidnapped. BUT she said they broke so she left them on the street. we were worried why she wasn't attached to her shoes.

Also--I have been trying to use my new Discover Card (not recommended). everytime I go to use it they ask for a pin number. I reply "it's a credit card...you don't need a pin number." they look at me like I'm stupid then ask for my ID. SO, i've resorted to using my capital one card.

SOOOOO, on Saturday we went to old town and went shopping. Christina insisted that we try this pie. I have been frugle with my money so I wasn't going to eat any. Jerry offered me a bite, then I wanted my own slice. so I made chrisy go in and order me a piece and the guy told her he woudl bring it out to me. Little did I know that you have to pay for this service, and you have to pay for a table. Since Christina ordered their pies to go, I was blessed with the opportunity to pay for our table. after we were sitting down and eating, Christina noticed a rainbow flag handing in the door. Then we decided that yes, our waiter was a little fruity looking. (yes, we supported a gay establishment--on accident) BUT--on a positive note the pie was delicious. I had caramel pecan pie and they had cheesecake and caramel pecan.

Yesterday at the vasa museum me, Ashlyn, and Chrisy had just excited the bathroom and were waiting to decide where we were goign to go. Apparently this older korean man thought he was alone ( or partially deaf) Because he let a BIGten second-long fart go....so Me and christina tried to hold our laughter but after we looked at each other- we lost it. (Uncle mike--were you at the Vasa yesterday dressed as an old Korean man outfit??)

Also at the Vasa, I showed my student ID to get a discount to get in. the woman told me that my panther card needed an expiration date, otherwise i could be a student forever. I told her "i'm only 21 I'm still in school!" She told me I needed to tell eastern that they need to put an expiration date on the cards....I'm sure that is the first thing I'll do when I get back to Charleston....or NOT!


Observation from Jill:
As we first entered out hostel we were dragging our luggage back to our room and out of no where came a guy in a towel from shower and Ashton veered out of line with her tongue hanging out, But I grabbed her and pulled her back and said " Just follow the leader Ashton, we want to take you back home with us."

--reply from Ashton: I was simply suprised to see a half naked man, and I just wanted to know if I was the only one who found this odd. AND my tongue wasn't hanging out!


----------That's all for today folks, but If anything interesting happens I will keep you notified--pronto!

Love-ashy