Hi! I’m Emily, and I love to explore. From hiking hidden trails and paddling quiet lakes to discovering small-town gems and tasting the best local flavors, I’m all about experiencing the world fully – and sharing it with others. The Driftless Area of West Central Wisconsin is my home base, but my curiosity takes me far and wide, always looking for the next story to tell.

My Background

I’m originally from Minneapolis, and (like many Minnesotans) have Swedish heritage. Growing up with those roots sparked my lifelong passion for Scandinavian tradition and culture. My first taste of “the motherland” came during a weekend trip to Stockholm, Sweden, while studying abroad in London for my sophomore year of college (which, incidentally, was in Florida!).

A few years later, while completing a TEFL program in Prague, I visited a friend in Växjö, (southern Sweden) , and discovered even more of the culture I’d come to love. My third trip to Sweden was for good – well, for two years – with a Swedish residence permit and my own personnummer (social security number). I was accepted into a graduate program at Uppsala University, about 40 minutes north of Stockholm, where I completed my Master’s degree in English Literature.

After returning to Minnesota, I worked at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis before moving to Stockholm… Wisconsin! Suffice to say, I’m surrounded by Scandinavian-ness in my everyday life and love traditions like fika, friluftsliv, hygge, and more.