Arrival (November 1, 2009)

Traveling from Portland to Amsterdam to Stockholm by plane took approximately thirteen hours. I didn’t sleep most of the way but kept myself occupied by reading a book and watching a movie/TV shows. Meanwhile, I noticed the small digital figure of a plane move pixel by pixel across a large map on the overhead screen. It reminded me of something my grandmother told me when I left for college nearly five years ago, “It’s amazing how humans have learned to become like birds. We can fly to any place in the world we choose.”

I chose to be in Sweden. However, my decision of going for the second time was unexpected and rather perhaps serendipitous. If everything went as I originally planned, I would be in medical school in the US right now. Things have an uncanny way of sorting themselves out – often elegantly and perhaps for the better – that I can't help but believe they are part of a greater plan. I can confidently say that I wouldn’t take a different path if I were given another chance. As I step foot into Sweden, I take a deep breathe and am just happy to be where I am.

After leaving the airport, I met up with an old colleague/friend at a bus stop. From there, she showed me to my home for the next nine months. It turns out I’ll be living just minutes away from the Karolinska University Hospital, where I’ll be working. The place is cozy and has everything I need, except for a stable internet connection for the time being. For the next few days, I’ll be recovering from a nine-hour jet lag, reacquainting with old colleagues, meeting new people, settling into my new home, and planning to make the most of my time in Sweden.