A Note from Barb

I thought it was time you hear about Sweden from my perspective so here it is...
Öland, the island we are on, is beautiful. It looks like a mix between the Prairies and the Pacific Northwest. There are beautiful fields and a huge blue sky with white puffy clouds but also green, lush forests and rocky beaches. Capellagarden is an amazing little campus, old buildings, beautiful gardens and quaint little cottages. More than one student has told us this isn't really what Sweden is like, that this place really is very special. Some how Greg and I keep finding ourselves in these unique and beautiful spots.

We are officially enjoying our first weekend at the school. This week was kind of exhausting, so much Swedish, so little understanding! We had three days that were basically orientation days, everything in Swedish, by the time we got back to our room at night we were so eager to hear English that we talked and talked and talked to each other! Other than the language barrier we are really enjoying ourselves and already making some great friends.

Yesterday I got to go on a field trip with all the ceramics students. We went to the very North part of the island of Öland. It was refreshing to leave Capellagarden and see some more of the beauty of this island. All over the island there are old windmills, they put the ones in Lynden to shame!! There are also stone fences everywhere which are really beautiful. I was told that Öland is the place to come if you want to see what Sweden used to look like. There are many old houses and barns still standing. Down the street from the school there is a church that was built in 1776 and I am not exaggerating when I say it looks new compared to some of the other buildings which are from the 12th and 13th centuries. It is really a neat experience to be somewhere that has such amazing history that is so well preserved.

One of the places we stopped was called the Troll Forest. Apparently there is a legend about Trolls inhabiting this forest which I had gotten from the name, however the rest of the story I didn't hear. Next to the forest is a beach, as we were walking we came across an old, old shipwreck. It was easy to tell that the all wooden boat was at least one hundred years old, it was absolutely beautiful and still very intact, for being a shipwreck! I'm really enjoying seeing things that are so foreign to me.

I think our time here is going to be amazing. Very short but amazing. Hopefully on Monday we will start making things, both Greg and I are feeling like it is time to be productive! I'm really excited about being in the ceramics program, I'm realizing it is a really big privilege to be in this particular program which is kind of intimidating but mostly really exciting. We are doing well and love hearing from all or any of you!!