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› Why I Don’t Feel Like I Belong in Sweden — My Travel Dreams & Bucket List
Not about escaping — it’s about finding where my soul feels at home beyond Sweden
— Porch Talk —
All my life I’ve felt like there is something more out there for me. Discover hidden gems, see how people live in different parts of the world. Explore, discover and experience.
Not in a dramatic “I hate everything here” kind of way (almost though) — I may be born in Sweden but the urge to “escape” is huge.
I want to go all over the world – Spain, Greece, America, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Kenya and so many more places.
I want to see and experience culture, food, streets and everything. Not tourist things but those hidden alleys with stories of each person in each household. See their windows, flowers, garden, back alleys (all this of course without trespassing or being a creep) and see, just their personality.
Traveling, for me, isn’t just about checking off tourist spots and bucket list to be honest — even though I have some special places I wish to go to. It’s about feeling something.
Maybe it looks like escaping. Maybe part of it is. But I think it’s more about searching for something I haven’t found yet.
It’s not about escaping Sweden — it’s about finding the right place for me whether it’s in Norway, Spain or Vietnam or somewhere else.
It’s more about this constant feeling of wanting to explore what exists beyond what I already know.
I want freedom. I want to feel like myself without needing to hide. I want to explore the world together with my son.Maybe that is what I’m searching for — not just places, but pieces of myself.
Explore. See. Feel. Hear. Touch. Breathe.— Question Jar —
● Do you think home is a place, a person, or a feeling?
● Have you ever felt like you were born in the wrong place?● If you could disappear to anywhere for a year — where would you go?
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› Bad Hotel Reviews Scared Me — I Changed Hotels Before Bulgaria
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Thank God I trusted my gut when I was talking with a friend over on a communication app after he sent links on google maps. My gut and voices in my head (one of my demons 😂 lol! Just kidding) told me to google and check out the hotel I was gonna stay at. THANK GOD I DID!
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I read the reviews and.. oh my. I have never been so scared of a location before. The second I read those reviews, my whole body just screamed NOPE!
● “Piss stains on the mattresses”
● Rude owner
● Filthy and piss stains everywhere
● Broken beds, doors that was unable to lock
● Not safe for anyone
Are some of the few reviews i read. I don’t wanna think of how awful it would have been.
I honestly got so scared and terrified I had to message M with screenshots and tell him how scared iam for that place I was gonna stay at for 12 nights. Like…Nope. Absolutely not. No way in hell that I’m staying there. I would rather sleep outside than sleep there when I am in Bulgaria.
Luckily he managed to fix a new hotel for me. I am so happy. I feel relieved.
I don’t have to be scared and worried about catching any diseases anymore – trust me… the photos people have taken on the other hotel i was supposed to stay at was .. no I cant even find the right words to describe it.
After he managed to fix the new hotel, I am excited again about the trip. I thought he wasnt able to cancel the booking of that terrifying hotel but he fixed it! 🙌🏼——————————————————————————
Me and my elephant — basically how I felt after reading those reviews.
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› Wait… Bulgaria Is In 19 Days?!
Time to Pull Up a Chair ·
A chaotic little pre-trip checklist before Bulgaria — mostly so I don’t forget anything. Packing lists, random purchases, and yes… rice.

A cartoon looking me. Lol!
Bulgaria trip is coming up way faster than I thought. Today the countdown shows 19 days.
In 20 days I will be in Bulgaria! That’s insane!
Wait… Emma, what? 19 & 20? I will be at the airport on July 12th BUT the flight doesn’t leave until 06.30am on July 13th.
Leave for airport – July 12
Flight to Bulgaria – July 13
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✔️ Plane tickets ✔️
✔️ Hotel booked ✔️
✔️ Airport transfers arranged ✔️
✔️ Train tickets ✔️
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Things I have bought;
Shoulder bag that fits the camera bag plus more ✔️
Travel locks ✔️
Sunglasses ✔️
New shoes ✔️
Cabin bag ✔️
Suitcase ✔️
Camera lens covers ✔️
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What I don’t need to buy/have already (mostly a reminder to myself)
Travel bottles (for night cream, hair oil etc) ✔️
Scrunchies ✔️
Brush ✔️
Headphones ✔️
Charger ✔️ (but I do need a new cable though)
Water bottle ✔️ (I tend to buy ALOT of those)
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What I can buy in Bulgaria:
This might sound weird but bear with me. I will explain below.
Toothpaste + Toothbrush
Shampoo & Shower stuff
Rice
I can probably buy more but for now, that’s what I have come up with now.
Now for the explanation… why I can buy those things in Bulgaria: it may not take much space but I would rather buy those things in Bulgaria than risk having an explosion in my suitcase. Rice? I will bring an extra sock so I can fill it with rice and make a little beanbag that works as a tripod for night photos etc instead of bringing my tripod with me, which I did when I went to Italy — so… let’s just say I won’t be doing that again.
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Wow I didn’t expect the post to be this long with just; what I have, need, and don’t. -
› Capturing the history and the beauty of something unique
Hello my loves! I have so many photos from Italy I want to show you all but unfortunately the blog would only be full of them with no text or so but some are some “work of art” in my opinion.
Note that I edit these on my phone (and I blog on my phone) so I have honestly no idea how they look on computers.

Our way back from Burano we went to this area. Unfortunately I dont remember what this location was called but maybe some of you know.






this was the area I had to “run” through really fast. The stress i had when I only had 5% in battery here but wanted to try capture some photos. I have more to show but I just share these for now 🥰
Let me know if I share to many photos in one post or if you want me to continue.
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› How is it even possible…???
Hello my loves! iam currently in the bath writing this post. As you all know, I went back home to Sweden last Saturday (26th) and yesterday (sunday) was a huge struggle for me.

I was awake the entire time! I didnt sleep at all that night, or on the plane nor the train. I didnt go to sleep until 11pm so i dont know how many hours that I was awake (and im honestly to tired to count right now).
I really tried to get some sleep on the plane and train but no. I couldn’t. not even for a second.

breakfast/lunch/the day before dinner Saturday ; it was one stressful morning / day. I didnt sleep anything at all. Everything was closed at the airport when I arrived there so I had to wait to be able to buy something to eat. Luckily I had ice tea with me that I drank until a coffee shop opened.
The sandwich was very.. interesting. I dont know what kind of ham they have in Italy but its way different than what im used to.
Sandwhich; edamer cheese, some lettuce and some ham. Heated up. ●●●● 2 of 5.
Fruit cup; mix of apple, pineapples, melon and peach. ●●●● 3 of 5. I couldn’t eat the apples due to problems and the reason why so low in points was because to tasted like its been out in the sun for hours.
Ice tea – Peach; When it comes to ice tea iam very very picky so I was actually surprised that I found an ice tea from a convenience store next to my hotel where I stayed at, that I really liked. Not so sweet and not so bitter. Perfect combination. ●●●● 4 of 5. The flavors was smashing but there’s something I cant put finger on that I was missing. I recommend this tea tho! (I will see if I find a picture later of it)







At the airport in Stockholm, Sweden I got really mad because my luggage was delayed and actually lost but later was found. Fortunately I got it in time so I could take the train I had tickets to instead of buying new ones. The amount of stress and to find the right platform of right side of the airport for the right train etc was .. wow. but luckily I managed JUST IN TIME to find it.

While waiting those few minutes I had to spare before the train came i noticed that the suitcase of mine was damaged! It is the second time I use this suitcase! I have never in my life ever thought that it was true with what I have seen.. that the airport damage someones property/ belongings and now I have seen it myself! I was (still are) beyond me. Mad? Yes! Upset? Ofcourse! Kinda make myself feel dumb? Oh yes! Like never in my wildest dreams I ever thought this would actually happen!

with 3% battery left on my phone i made a quick call to notify M about the suitcase. After several pictures taken later, I finally stepped on the train. Smacked the suitcase behind me and just sat down. Tried to get a little bit of sleep but during the train home I felt how my bloossugar was declining and going down so I rushed to grab the fruit cup I remembered I had.
On the train I edited some photos I took and tried this black and white contrast thing. I dont know what I feel / if I like them but here is some I show you before I talk about yesterday (Sunday)




Click on picture to see them full size.


Sunday; with the big S.. sleeping.. I was so tired yesterday. I fell asleep three times within a few hours. It was like someone had smacked my head several times with something big and heavy. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. So after E went to sleep I finally went to bed.. 20.15pm ish or so.
I didnt have any energy. It’s like all those sleepless nights I had in Venice due to migraine and heat just came crashing down on me and yeah. Today iam feeling a bit better. Still super tired but a bit better. Back to reality life. Routines is finally starting again with E and his school. Night schedules are changed back and now comes the hard part… to get myself up and stay awake during the days.
Two weeks / 14 days left til I go back to school and become a student. .. AGAIN! But this time im actually taking a big step in right directions to become the preschool teacher for special need childen. I can’t wait! I’m excited but on same time im terrified because its at the same school as I did my nurse education and I hate that school.
im gonna fix more pictures and add them here in the blog. I will also share some on my instagram; thecaffeinatedraccoon yes it is really my username on Instagram. I had to change due to the stalker in my former school and havent changed back since. I might do that one day.