Ljungskile och Italien

This last weekend, the Rotary exchangers met up in a town around 50 minutes north of Göteborg called Ljungskile for a camping trip in the Swedish wilderness. And man oh man, what a camping trip it was. The entire group of newbies (that would be us exchangers who have been here since July or August, the oldies are those that have been here since January) met up early to go to Ljungskile because we wanted to see Jill's house (Jill lives in Ljungskile) after which we met the oldies and the Rotary members who were going to be taking us on the trip. We drove maybe 10 minutes into the country outside of Ljungskile where we arrived at a really nice area right next to the sea. We walked a short distance and arrived at our camp area. The Rotary club of Ljungskile had already set up three very large tepee's that, apparently, are similar to the houses used by the Sami (the indigenous Swedish people who live up north in Lappland).

The camping group in front of one of the tepees. Backrow: Rotary lady, her son, her husband and chariman of the inbound exchangers, Sian (New Mexico), Ashton (Canada), Rotary guy, Ani (Mexico), Stéphanie (France), Shannon (oldie from South Africa), Sam (oldie from South Africa), Yui (Japan). Middle row: Tim (oldie from Australia) and Chris (oldie from New Zealand). Front row: Chloe (Colorado), me, Jill (Canada) and Hallie (Texas).

The weekend was really great as it gave us a chance to really get to know the oldies (because we'd only met them a few times before and only for a few hours each) as well and see some absolutly beautiful country. I'll give the highlights, as well as some pictures.

That first evening, once it had gotten pretty dark, they led us all into the woods to a rope's course where we were to buddy up and take turns helping eachother to get through it. Realize it was nearly pitch black out, and this thing seemed to go on forever. This however, was just the begining of the numerous amazing and crazy things that this Rotary club had us do over the weekend. The next morning we woke up, ate, and then they led us on a really nice walk/hike through the woods to where they said a surprise awaited us. We arrived at the surprise, which turned out being a 150 meter long, one to three foot wide ravine that we were supposed to go through by using our hands and feet pressed up against the craggy sides. There was a slow creek runing through the middle, so you didn't want to fall and get your feet and pants wet. This was intense and everyone thought these Rotary people had to be off their rockers, but once we all did it (yes, I fell in and got my entire right leg soaked, but completed it just the same) we all absolutly loved it.

That afternoon, after eating lunch, they took us on another short walk at the end of which we'd be in the perfect place to go swimming. We stopped once we reached this two story high cliff, suspended above the water, which had a beautiful view, a great place to lay and sun bathe, and best of all, the perfect place to jump off of into the cold sea below. Hallie, Jill, Chris, Tim, and I went down off of the cliff and walked along the beach, exploring and looking at the various things living in the water (jellyfish, starfish, sea urchins, etc). I have to say that this was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in my life and I was sad when we had to head back to camp.The cliff that we jumped off of. This place was amazing...Me on the beach with the sea behind me.

One of the many starfish in the water, these things were absolutly beautiful.

Around 11:00 at night, the Rotary led us down to an area next to the sea that had a sauna. What you had to do, was go into the sauna for a while, then run out and jump into the freezing cold water, then run back into the sauna. There was something special about this water though. Living in the water, on the west coast of Sweden, are small plankton that whenever they sense movement, they glow bright lime green, so when you're swimming around in the water, or just move your foot or arm or just drop something in, a shower of green lights erupt all around you. It's honestly the coolest thing you've ever seen in your entire life, not even joking.

The next day, we went out on another short walk, where they broke us into two groups and we went through various group building activities involving thinking and problem solving, etc. Afterwords we came back to camp, cooked and cleaned up lunch and put our things away to head back to home.

I think now would be a good time to tell you all of something else that's exciting and coming up soon. My english class in school has, over the last year, formed a relationship with a partner school in Milan, Italy and this November they're taking a class trip to go visit them. Meaning, yes, I get to go with them and go to MILAN!! Pretty damn exciting, I must say. We leave November 11th to the 18th, a Saturday to a Saturday. One week in Milan and my school pays for most of it, except for around $150 - $200 of it and spending money, which we have to pay for.

That's all for now with nothing really coming up except for the next exchanger gathering which is to be this coming Saturday and it's held in Varberg. We're staying in the youth hostel inside Varberg's Fästning (fortress). I'm sure my next update will speak of that.

Leave me comments and tell me of your lives, if you can't tell, I'm slightly out of the loop :)