A day in Are

Today was another fun filled day. I didn't believe that I would actually get tired like we were told ahead of time, but now I believe it. Each day is packed to the brim with activities...and I love it!

So I got up early, 6:30am. We are 7 hours ahead of Wisconsin time so I was lucky that Jamie was up late and we got to chat (it was midnight your time) on Skype. Ask Mrs. Moore to log in and I will try to call school some time this week.

Then I had a breakfast of toast with ham and cheese on top. That was paired with a cup of very strong Swedish coffee. Then it was off to Are (pronounced Or-a). This is a ski and tourist town. Our first stop was to the top of the ski grounds. We were able to eat lunch here as well and it is the resteraunt at the highest altitude in Sweden. It was also a great place for many wonderful pictures. The scenery is breathtaking..almost looks like a painting, doesn't it?!

Here is also a picture of the team that I am traveling with.

After lunch we went to a glass blowing business. We were able to watch them make a glass bowl. The bowl takes about 50 minutes to make and takes two people working together to make it. It is easy to see why it costs as much as $90 for one of these handmade pieces. They have a kiln with liquid glass. It is clear and then they add colored glass chips to it. It melts into the clear glass. Then they form it into different shapes. I've included a pictue of glass Easter eggs they made. They have to constantly keep the glass moving because it is so hot and will just drip right off the metal stick if they don't. IT seems like something that would take a long time to learn how to do ...and without getting burnt. When they get the piece how they want it, they put it in a kiln overnight. It has to be slowly cooled or else the piece will crack. For thin pieces they only have seconds to get it in there without cracking. With the bowl I watched them make, they have a little longer.

After watching glass blowing, we had fika (coffee break) and then on to a Chocolate factory where I was able to sample many different types of handmade chocolates. They had irish cream chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate with blueberry, chocolate with lingenberries, and many others.

Tomorrow I am moving host families and also going to get my first glimpse of a Swedish school...stay tuned for details.

Note: For more details, you can also check out the team blog at www.gsesweden2010.blogspot.com

I think you will find the blog about the monster living in the lake interesting!

Love,

Ms. C.