End of the road
March 11, 2010

It is March and this school year is coming to an end for me and probably for plenty more. Mixed emotions are going through my head of what there is to do and plan ahead of time. So, I applied to Northeastern University and now am anxiously awaiting an answer. It feels like I am about to start fresh; as if I am coming to America all over again. I guess I’m having these feelings because of the new location as well as a new living area. I am moving to the city, people, with two of my favorite girls here in school that are from Sweden, as well. The search for an apartment has been so much fun but so much of a reality check has been thrown in our faces. All three of us have a picture of how we want our first apartment to look and it is very similar, very European. But then it comes down to answering questions like how is the neighborhood or are the utilities all included and so forth. I used to never have to think about these things ever in my life. In Sweden, most of this stuff is included. Having thoughts about which neighborhood is the safest is rarely a question asked. I guess this is America. The country Europeans love to love and love to hate.

However, going to the bright side. The sun is slowly but surely coming out to give smiles and a good morning to people who have been seeking it for quite a while now. And let me tell you something, I have NEVER appreciated weather as much as I have here in Chicago. As soon as I see the sun, I want to go out and embrace it compared to before it would be just another sunny day.

I would like to share a quote that is one of my favorites and hopefully someone will grasp it, enjoy!

William Shakespeare once said, “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none”

New Year comes with New Commitment
Feb. 3, 2010

Hi, everybody. Long time no see! So we are in 2010 now. Man, who would have thought with all the 2010 movies and predictions that have been going around talking about the end of the world? Please, there is nothing to be scared of people, except the man above! These kind of movies are STILL going on and it amazes (if that even is a word) me how people STILL go and see them. Oh well. So I’m back at work (MSA) and homework is now kicking in. How do I feel about it? Honestly, I keep hearing how I am super lucky of the teacher that I have because of their knowledge in the subject and their “kindness” to their students (If you know what that means) so, I guess I am in a good position and so far so good. My classes are very “free spirit” so to say. Don’t really have strict teachers this semester and I really like them all.

I was actually home for almost a month during the break, and my mother and I flew to Germany to spend some time with my aunt and cousins. Let me tell you, I had a blast. The snow never went away but it was definitely not Chicago cold. The cars there were able to start without being frozen to death. I mean, it feels good to be back although I miss my mother waking me up every morning telling me you’ve slept all day when it is only 11 clock. The thing is I get motivated each year when I go home to come back and do what I need to do in school to get that degree and say “I did it.”

Stay Blessed,

Sumeila

GOD JUL EVERYBODY!
Dec. 19, 2009

In other words, Merry Christmas everybody! The time is finally here, Sweden here I come! Finals are over with, school is getting empty and winter break is here. I am at work right now going over in my head the things I need to do before leaving Sunday morning, such as Christmas gifts for my mother and father, as well as extended family back in Germany (where I’m spending my holiday). I just thank god for so many things but especially for my surroundings. I believe that it is easy for a young girl to get lost in a foreign country and get misled to places and things without knowing what you are getting yourself into. So that is one thing I would like to share before closing this out. I wish everybody a SAFE and a happy holiday. Make sure you spend it with loved ones and remember this is a holiday of giving so be that person who will put a smile on someone’s face. I know I did and will still do.

Stay Blessed.

Ho, Ho, Ho
Nov. 16, 2009

Can you believe there are only 4-5 weeks left of school?! Wow, am I the only one who thinks that this semester went really slow? Boy, oh boy, I am so excited for this winter break. So I would have to say that this semester has probably been the most challenging semester of them all because of the classes I was taking. This was MATH AND NATURAL SCIENCE together! Bad combination, people, it really killed me. However, I was very fortunate to have the teachers that I had, honestly. They made it slightly less difficult for me because of their striving to see me be a successful student, which is one thing I love about Moraine—the unbeatable teachers.

So, I am leaving to go back home in a couple of weeks to celebrate Christmas with my wonderful family. I can’t wait!! But I’m really going to miss a special person in my life who is going to be here in the States to celebrate Christmas with his beautiful family. Like I’ve said before I feel blessed that I can study abroad and experience the things I get to experience living outside of my shelter I call home, but it has been a journey with the “goodbyes” all the time. The moment you have the happy start with seeing a loved one, it goes back to the “goodbyes” again. It basically sucks! Hey, life is not always on your side, right? I am just happy that I made it through with one more semester, healthy and more knowledgeable.

You know what? I love Christmas: the atmosphere, the decorations, the Christmas carols. Americans go all the way in this season. I’ve really noticed that and I LOVE it! This is where you are supposed to be for Christmas, not any other country. Yaaay, America! Hehe.

Stay Blessed
Sumeila

Halloween
Oct. 13, 2009

So I know that Halloween is coming up and it is considered a very important holiday here in the United States. I mean VERY important. I have heard people talk about it a month in advanced, preparing the outfits, the hair and make-up. And I’m just sitting there listening to different people thinking to myself, “What in the world is all of this for. It’s not my birthday so why all the stress?” Now, this might sound strange but this Halloween will officially be my first Halloween ever “celebrated.” Back home they didn’t really emphasize it as much as Americans do here. We do celebrate it, but the majority of the time you see the children wandering around in their neighborhoods with their costumes NOT young adults.

Another thing I’ve thought about is that I really don’t agree with this day. However, I do want to see what the Americans do for this important day that they invest so much time in. So I’ve been invited to 3 Halloween parties which I am super excited about!! One of them is a family party, which is people very close to me, and the other two are parties people are going to host. Now I am wondering what happens at these parties except the drinking part? Why do people invest so much time in this?

I feel like this holiday reminds me of Christmas with all the preparation and time investment but Christmas is all about giving so what is Halloween for? I’m really not trying to talk down on anybody or seem “anti-Halloween” (a word I made up, a thing we Swedish people do) but I’m just really curious about what makes Halloween so vital to teenagers here in the States!

But whatever happens, just promise yourself to be safe that night and know who you are going home with…yes, I said it! I’m sorry people, but I’ve seen a lot of American teen movies! Haha.

Stay Blessed,
Sumeila

Feeling Foreign
Sept. 21, 2009

Let me start off by saying, GUESS WHO TURNED 21!!? He He. Sept. 20th people! And it was great. Got lots of phone calls from back home as well as from people here that I love and care about.

Okay, back to what I was trying to say. So, in all of my two years of being here in the state, I've never really felt left out because of my background or lost because of the difficulties that I might have with the American culture or language. No, no no! Sumeila basically feels almost just as American as every other student here in Moraine. Except the day I signed up for Environmental Science. Boy, oh boy! I have never and let me emphasize NEVER felt so lost, confused and oh so foreign since I've taken this class.

Don’t get me wrong people, the teacher is very knowledgeable but Sumeila is so not in this field. I thought math was hard but after taking this class I've changed my mind. Now, for some people it’s probably common sense. But think about it, most of the time and especially for the American students, everything makes sense, when it comes to trees, flowers and how to preserve them and so on. But for me, how am I supposed to know the word "Herbicide" or the common Illinois tree, which is called White Oak, (I am not wrong if I've never heard of it.) Oh well, just wanted to share my feelings about this one class that repeatedly makes me feel sooo foreign, which hey, I am right. I guess i just have to do my best. As an international student you always have to work a little bit harder than the rest, which I've had the mind-set of since the get-go, but it can really get to you sometimes...

Get those A's Moraine Valley students!!!

Stay Blessed,
Sumeila

I AM BACK!
Aug. 26, 2009

So school has started and I see all these new, fresh faces wondering if Moraine Valley is turning into a university as opposed to a community college because MY GOD! So many students, you can’t keep up! Oh well, I am glad Moraine is expanding because the school deserves it! However, my trip back home to Sweden was nice but too short. I was home for 2 weeks and a couple of days. It might seem long enough for most of you, but I am used to being home the whole summer break and Christmas break. When you travel that far (9 hours) you deserve all the time you can get at home. :) So, the new word I hate in the dictionary is “goodbye.” I am saying that because these past two years of being an International student here in the States have been a journey using words such as “goodbye” left and right and I am so sick of it because it really gets to you sometimes. All I am saying to everybody is appreciate everything and every moment you have with loved ones, because I only see mine once a year so believe you me I take in every moment.

And hey, WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL whether we are ready or not it is here, students!!

Stay blessed,
Sumeila

 Time has come...
July 23, 2009

Hey beautiful people, the time is finally here for me to fly to Sweden to mommy. (And, yes, I said mommy.) This summer, I have to say, has been very interesting. It is amazing to me how things just happen when you least expect it. Now let me remind you I haven’t been home since December so little things have been really frustrating to me because of lack of nurturing from my mother. I guess school and friends have helped me ease up quite a bit. Finals are coming up in a couple of days and then summer break starts (at least for me). There is a special person in my life who I feel has helped me go through things in a more non-frustrating way even though this person might not know it, which makes it even more helpful.
I am just really happy that this summer semester is coming to an end. Math is really no joke people. It is really time consuming whether you like it or not. I have to say my summer has been OKAY. I guess it was because of my math class as well as the weather. What you guys have to understand is that I’m use to having rain in July because back in Sweden that is kind of how our summers are. However, I’ve noticed that for most Americans that’s like “April Showers.” Oh well, I still love life…

IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
I got a letter yesterday from Moraine Valley saying that I am on the President’s list!! Did you hear that or should I say it again, THE PRESIDENT’S LIST! WOW….It really makes the time and effort I put in school worthwhile. So, for all you students out there, it is true what they say, “The harder you work, the better the reward.” Remember that.

Final destination
June 22, 2009

Hey y’all!!
So these last couple weeks were probably a time where a lot of you guys saw a boyfriend, girlfriend or a sister, a brother or even a mother/father graduate. Well, for Miss Sumeila, I saw my older brother graduate from DePaul University where he received his master’s degree. Seeing something grow for so many years and finally seeing the growth shine through makes you want to jump on that ride, too. (Oh wow that rhymed!) Going to my second American school graduation has just made my adrenaline kick in more and more for me to be next and that’s why we are all here at Moraine Valley, right?

However, at the graduation I noticed how cool and calm I was. I acted as if it was nothing when we all know it is the most special day ever for the person who graduates and his or her family. I don’t know why exactly I acted or felt the way I did, but as the hours went by we ended up at this Ethiopian restaurant for dinner. It dawned on me right then and there… MY BROTHER JUST GRADUATED!! All these years seeing him struggling to achieve what he came to America for, but still remaining true to himself with no family present is just AWESOME I seriously have no other words to say. I hope you all share those feelings one day as well and who knows, it might just be you coming up…..super excited!!!

Stay Blessed,
Sumeila

Living with other people
June 3, 2009

So, I noticed that I haven’t shared with you all about me living with an American/Hispanic family. Which I know that some people would find it kind of interesting and let me tell you that IT IS! As an individual we have certain qualities that make us who we are and when it comes to sharing them it might go both ways, meaning good and bad. I’ve been living with this family for almost 2 years now. The family contains a mother, grandmother and two children at the age of 15 and 7(I think). My experience with this family has been great and they made me feel very comfortable because of them being so open, which I consider ALL Americans to be. The mother and grandmother are both professional people who you rarely see running around at the house because their schedule is so hectic. So I have my own little life in my room and I love the freedom that they give me.

Being under someone else’s roof you never know what to expect. As much as I love living there, I’ve had my days where I wish I woke up to the smell of my mother’s Eritrean Coffee that she makes. But don’t you worry that time is coming up soon, Aug. 3rd people! However, not only have I learned to deal with other people and their problems, because believe me EVERY family has their own personal problems and by being around it 24/7 they start to affect you as well. But you live day by day, and of course it can get hard as well sometimes because you have different holidays where you see their family gathered together such as family dinner or birthdays. And you have yourself sitting there feeling so out of place but still close at the same time because you’ve been seeing these faces for 2 years now. However, there is NO place like HOME people!

Stay blessed.

FINALS ARE OVER = BREATHING!
May 28, 2009

From a scale of 1 through 10, tell me how good does it feel that finals are over and summer is here? 11, right?! I know that for some of you students summer break is not here yet or it’s only lasting for a few more days. Let me say, I feel you. HOWEVER, we all know it has to be done. I, myself am taking the hardest and most frustrating class that I have ever dealt with since high school, which is…drum rolls please….MATH! For some people it is easy but for Sumeila it is a workout with a lot of sweating involved. Since being out from school, I’ve been enjoying the weather and working on campus. I am trying to explore the Chicago life during the summer as much as I can before I leave for home in August, with my other Swedish girls. Because it is always nice to visit and learn with other people rather than with yourself, not knowing when and where to start exploring the windy city. Like I’ve said before, always surround yourself with people who share the same goals, drive and mentality as you. Enjoy the weather but still work hard because you want to get that position before anybody else takes it from you.

Stay blessed.

Hejsan alihopa!
May 27, 2009

I know, you are probably confused and saying “What language is that?” To answer your question, it is Swedish. Hi. Nice of you to take your time to read my blog. My name is Sumeila and I am an international student from Sweden. I first came to America in fall 2007, fresh out of high school. Being an international student is a fun as well as growing experience. I mean, just imagine having a shelter for 19 years that you call your home where memories are filled and where much love and arguments are shared with your loved ones and all of a sudden in one night that all changes because you decided to be grown and independent. That’s what happened to me. I chose to follow my dream by coming to America and get my career and work experience going. So far I love it! However, don’t get it wrong, I do miss home. I do miss my mother who I was, and still am, very tight with. As the only girl in the family, special treatment was always at the top. But I am here now and can’t stop. I feel like I have been blessed with so many things: Everything from school, my beautiful church, work, and the people I’ve gotten to know here in this country which I now consider my family! There is really much for me to say but I will leave that for the next time I put up my blog. So stay tuned=).

Stay blessed.