A KT in a Candy Shop (or FL)

So I left Sweden. I gave it a good 3 year try. Now I'm relaxing in Florida for the moment and taking advantage of everything I have missed. Some of this stuff is things I rarely did but it's funny what you start craving when you live out of your element for so long. While I'm keeping busy learning Spanish, taking online courses, and keeping fit, I'm also indulging in some much missed FL life.

Here is a list of things I look forward to doing, now back in FL

• Diner breakfast & delicious weak coffee. DONE! Dennys gland slam hit the SPOT

• Chik-fil-a spicy chicken sandwich

• Cereal. The really unhealthy chemical kind.

• Going to work and not being expected to socialize and take breaks DONE! At the moment im working in the comforts of my own home and pool completely alone. I could get used to this.

• Easy access to any beauty treatment: botox, nails, eyelash curling, eyebrow tattooing. And cheaper than SE. DONE! In 3 days I have had Dysport, mani, pedi, hair styling. I forgot how much I love Groupon.

• GROUPON. Seriously, why does anyone pay full price for anything anymore?

• Microbreweries and bar culture

• Ethnic markets

• Publix: subs, sweet tea, greenwise, lazy foods, vegan sausages

• American Chinese food DONE! Has anyone had fried Chinese flowering chives? Nothing better.

• Cuban sandwich DONE! I got it at Wawa...that counts right?

• Wawa DONE! Honestly, there is just nothing better. Hoagies, brekky sammies, coffee, a friendly chat from nice humans passing by....

• Beach & pool at any time DONE!

• Sitting outside in the sun DONE! I no longer take it for granted. This is a daily habit now.

• Teeth cleaning at dentist (there are way more steps in this process in US compared to SE and I like it).

• Bulk shopping and not individual wrapped produce DONE! Just normal and easy grocery store shopping trip

• Kayaking in beautiful rivers

• $1 happy hour oysters

But while I long for the spoils and comforts of home, I must admit that there are some things I left behind in Sweden that just isn't the same in other parts of the world. So I need to give some major cred to Sweden for having sold me on the below, which I will miss dearly.

• Great falafel

• People lives first over work. I didn't actually take advantage of this way of life until about 4 months before I left but it doesn't mean that I don't respect that way of life and wish we could take some of that over here in the US.

• 6 week vacation per year and 4 weeks in a row!

• 5 minutes bike ride to work & no car lifestyle

• Living across the street from a yoga studio, grocery store, liquor store, train station

• Cheap flights. I was able to add about 20 countries to my travel list in the 3 years I lived in SE thanks to cheap flights. I can barely afford a train ride to DC now....

• Mikkeller culture. OK, OK, this is a Copenhagen thing, not a SE thing. But I just can't help miss this company, that city, and the culture that comes along with it.

• That one week of summer. You may blink and miss it, but it's the most beautiful place to be during that time. Calm in the air, energy from the long sunny days and nights, and beautiful scenery.

#florida