Misconceptions

When I came to Sweden, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew that it would be cold, but this is probably as far up north on the northern hemisphere that I have ever been; it's not just cold, it's freezing at times and also dark. Since I have been here, the sun starts to go down around four, and by five pm, you would think it was time for bed. There are about eight or nine hours of light during the day. I found this weird and new, but the sunset around four, was so beautiful. Shades of purple, pink, and blue on the horizon illuminated by the last bits of light from the sun made for a beautiful sight; I'd never seen a sunset like that before.
When I went out to Anna's school I didn't expect everyone to be white with blonde hair and blue or green eyes, but I didn't know what to expect really. To some people's surprise, there are all kinds of people in Sweden, just like the United States. I think that and say duh, but when you see the diversity, and see an African girl that speaks fluent Swedish, it throws you off guard a bit.
What I have definitely learned thus far from being on my gap year and traveling to new countries, is that when you go in with a mindset that things will be one way or another, or with expectations already set, you are depriving yourself of taking in a new experience as it is-something new. Going into a new country, or a new place offers surprises, fears, happiness, solidarity, and moments of pure wonder that has made my gap year truly exceptional.
Everywhere I go, I know a little about the place I am going. Sweden: I knew it was cold, I knew I didn't speak the language, and I figured people probably looked like Ana. But the things you learn about places, people, and cultures, is nothing compared to what you learn once you are in that place, with those people, immersed in their culture.
My gap year if anything, has changed the way I think. Everything I think I know about a place is ready to be replaced with what actually is. Learning about a place in school, or reading a wikipedia summary about a culture is less than nothing, when you really step foot out of an airport, into people's homes, and into the heart of distant lands.