Name : Helena Häggström City : Umeå, Sweden Age : 19 E-Mail : villgosa.nu@swipnet.se Education: High School Junior   Personal Status: My mom and dad, my elder sister and my boyfriend Mitko Hobbies: Figureskating, tennis, the violin, friends, snoboarding a.m Music: Bo Kaspers Orkester, Live, Le Grand Bleu, Dave Matthews Band, White Lion and more.

So then who am I? well, you already know my name, age and personal status. So let me tell you something you
don't know. I was born in South Korea 1980 and was "imported" ( as I like to say) to Sweden when I was about 10 months. Since then I've lived in Umeå in the northern part of Sweden with my mom, dad and my big sis' . She's flown out though by now since she's getting 23 years old this May. Right now she's in Bordeaux, France as an au-pair.

Myself went to the States last year as an exchangestudent with the Youth For Understanding. I lived in a town called Poughkeepsie ( John's favorite word in Ally McBeal) around 2hrs by train north of New York City, which was perfect. I lived in a hostfamily and went to Arlington High School. I had a great time over there anyways, I got to learn alot of new people, both american and other exchangestudents from around the world. We also went on alot of trips with our regional group and with the other groups. We went to places lik Niagara Falls, Washington D.C, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and of course a lot of times to the City. Now back home I only keep in touch with some of the people I got to know over there, to bad actually but it often gets that way. But still I got to know alot of nice people from all around the world including Sweden. So last September we went to Gothenburg on a returnees camp, that's really nice to meet all the people I've met in the states, and spend time with them. In the states I also got to know this girl Micol from Italy, Jim and his family from America, Natalie from Denmark and some other people you can read about on the page about my friends. I also got to travel some in New York City like to the Bronx, where I got to taste the worlds greatest raviollies, I got to visit the Bronx Zoo where I saw some awesome animals and ride on camels which was really cool.

So back home in Sweden I started my junior year in high school at Östra Gymnasiet at the social economy program. Sweden doesn't give you credits for your year abroad so that's why I'm not a senior this year like the rest of my friends. But even though I wanted to be a senior too I wouldn't trade this year for anything in the world. The experience I got is going to stay with me forever. You learn how to fit in in a whole new culture, how to respect people in a different way than before it's just a great experience not to mention how many people you get to know. If you ever get a chance to go abroad Just Do It. Anyways this January I went down to Stockholm to see Pocahontas in Disney On Ice with Mitko. That was awesome, well ok the side effects were great and the story was ok but the skater were according to my opinion, which is based on that I've seen professional figureskaters back in the US, not that great. And so now on our springbreak I'm going down to Stockholm to see Mitko and to work as a newspaper salesman in the subways during the rush hours in the morning.

This summer I went to France to visit my sister there, it was just awesome. The weather was great, warm, sunny and everything and I had a lovely time, I got to meet her friends and her family. After that I had a week off before I had to go to work so I took that week off together with Mitko. The work, work and work... gees did I get bored, i can't believe my friends who worked 8 weeks in a row. Luckily I only work 3 weeks, had 2 weeks off as I went down to Stockholm, and then 2 weeks again before school started. I really enjoyed Stockholm, I always do of-course.

So finally senior year in high school.... but it's so much to do, like last week we had 2 quizzes and one hand in assignment, but now these coming 2 weeks it's cooling down before our fall break.