Just checking in...

I have had quite a few emails wondering how we are all doing? So, here is the skinny. We are reasonably well. We have a plan for assimilation which consists of some major and many minor factors. We applied last week for a "person #" from immigration that will allow us to open bank accts., and do any business. We are looking for an apt. When we have the apt. and Saniya is in school, then we plan to take language classes and we will be feeling much more functional. I think it is all coming together as it should. It is a process that is slow, but we moved here to understand the process of other cultures, so it is really what we asked for. Rob just had a four day weekend and the highlights were a boat tour around the islands. We took it to entertain Saniya and to try to understand where everything is and where all of the apts. are that we see on the internet. The city of Stockholm is on 14 different islands; so different neighborhoods = different islands. The boat tour was great and now have a much better sense of where we are. What a beautiful city this is! I really can't get over it. The architecture of the buildings, the history, when wandering it is one beautiful bay (as there is water and island everywhere) after another, the green forested preservation and their environmental consciousness. It seems standard that wherever their is a trash receptacle there are bins for glass, plastic, and paper as well. Anyways, the other highlight of the weekend was (besides the downer of Drottngholm Palace) was going to Skansen (their living outdoor museum) today, which is National Swedish Day. It has original dwellings and recreations representing communities from the last few centuries. There was one house dating to the 13th century. So, they have an entire working village from a certain era and you go into the houses and settlements or manors and their are people there that are dressed in the attire from that time. Also, there was a zoo of the nordic animals. Saniya loved that. As it was a holiday, there was traditional dancing and music. The king and Queen stopped in, but we weren't there to see them. Anyways, hope everyone is well at home. We are good and ok and worn out all in one.

Yasmiene