A Month in Sweden: Pickleball, Pastries & Priceless Moments 🇸🇪✨
Hej from Sweden!
It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for over a month already—the time has absolutely flown by! I’ve settled into the Swedish way of life, and while it’s been quite different from my time in Dana Point, it’s been amazing in so many ways.
In just a couple of weeks, I’ll be heading to Tokyo to run the marathon on March 2 (let’s gooo! 🏃♀️🏃♂️), and then off to Korea for three months to continue exploring both Tom and my Korean roots. Meanwhile, beloved Addie and Ella will be in the loving care of our dear friends, Ulrica and Patrick.
But before we pack our bags, let’s talk about our time in Sweden so far—pickleball, travels, and of course, all the delicious food!
Pickleball in Sweden: A Work in Progress 🎾
One of Tom's and my big goals while here has been to help grow the pickleball scene for the 50+ community. And while we’re making progress, it’s been a bit slower than expected—mostly because playing indoors (a must in winter) comes with some extra costs and travel logistics.
That being said, we’ve been having an absolute blast playing with our wonderful friends Pontus, Sofia, Mona, Per, Jesper, Ceci, Lena, and Ulrica—all fellow pickleball lovers! We’re confident that when we return in the summer, there will be even more opportunities to play outdoors.
We’re officially launching our initiative, Active Play 50+, and we’d love to hear your thoughts—what do you think of our logo? We’re so excited to build this community!
Adventures by Train 🚆
Sweden has some of the most efficient public transportation, and we’ve been making the most of it! A few weeks ago, we took a train to Norrköping (pronounced Norshipping) to visit Tom’s mum, who has been dealing with some health issues. It was a special trip, made even better because we were joined by Tom’s wonderful daughters, Ebba and Ella.
More recently, we traveled to Gothenburg (Göteborg, pronounced Gothenberg), on the stunning west coast of Sweden. We stayed with Tom’s good friend, Andrea, who, like Tom and me, is also a Korean adoptee. The weekend was filled with laughter, incredible seafood, and long walks by the water. Sweden has such a calm and beautiful energy—it’s impossible not to fall in love with it.
10 Things I Love About Sweden 🇸🇪
Sweden has completely captured my heart, and here’s why:
1️⃣ Candy is serious business. Swedes LOVE their candy, and now, so do I. 🍬
2️⃣ Public transportation is amazing. Buses, trams, subways, trains—it’s all so easy!
3️⃣ Recycling is a lifestyle. Swedes take it to the next level. ♻️
4️⃣ Buying alcohol? Not so easy. You can only get it from Systembolaget, a government-run store.
5️⃣ Outdoor life is everything. Even in the cold, people love being outside.
6️⃣ Swedes are having babies! There are so many adorable little ones everywhere. 👶
7️⃣ Water, water everywhere. It’s clean, fresh, and totally drinkable—straight from the faucet. 💦
8️⃣ Cash? What’s that? Everything is contactless—no one uses cash anymore!
9️⃣ They all speak English. It makes life so much easier for us. 😅
🔟 The architecture is jaw-dropping. Every street looks like a postcard.
Swedish Food: A Love Story 🍽️
If you know me, you know food is a big deal—so let’s talk about all the incredible Swedish eats I’ve been indulging in:
🥄 Bilberry soup – Hot or cold, it’s a delicious treat.
🍒 Lingonberries – They go with everything!
🧂 Swedish mustard sauce – A total flavor bomb.
🍽️ Swedish meatballs – IKEA has nothing on the real deal.
🍄 Chanterelle mushrooms – So rich and earthy!
🦞 Crayfish parties – A must for summer.
🥔 Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes – Cubed, mashed, dumplings, pancakes, casseroles… endless options!
🍰 Princess cake – A gorgeous green marzipan cake with a pink sugar rose on top.
☕ Fika – The sacred Swedish coffee break. A way of life.
🐟 Pickled herring – A Swedish classic.
🥖 Crisp bread – So crunchy, so good.
🎂 Semlor – A seasonal bun filled with cream and almond paste. Heaven.
🍵 Pea soup & pancakes – The traditional Swedish Thursday meal.
🦐 Toast Skagen – A luxurious shrimp and roe appetizer.
🍦 Vanilla sauce – Served with everything sweet.
🍷 Glögg – A warm, spiced holiday wine (alcoholic or non-alcoholic).
Honestly, I’m going to need to run another marathon just to balance out all this deliciousness. 😆
Final Thoughts 💙💛
Every time someone asks me, “How do you like Sweden?”, my answer is simple: I LOVE IT.
This country is stunning, the people are kind, and the lifestyle is inspiring. From the deep-rooted traditions to the modern innovations, Sweden has so much to be proud of. I feel incredibly lucky to experience it firsthand.
To my Swedish friends: Thank you for making us feel so welcome. 💕
To my American friends: You have to visit Sweden someday. You’ll fall in love, too.
Until next time… Hej då! 👋
