Swedish Camp for Adults

After taking a little time off here I am again. It is October. The Fall is perfect for me weather-wise and it is like a breath of breezy, fresh air. The smell, the colors and the feeling of new refreshing beginnings. I love everything about Fall.
In Sweden, however, it's almost like the seasons skip over Fall going from Summer to Winter overnight.
In Sweden they are preparing for a snowy, cold Winter and it has actually already snowed in Kiruna (see pic below). It will be Winter here before too long and the snow is beautiful but the temps are freezing here in the Northeast but nothing like being in the North of Sweden.

Almost a year ago I found an ad on a Swedish website http://www.nordstjernan.com for an adult Swedish camp. I was intrigued and went to the website.

Before I knew it I had sent for the information, looked at it and fantasized about it for weeks and then months. So in June I decided to do something totally outside of my comfort zone and signed up for the Swedish adult camp being held the last week of October in Minnesota.

Minnesota; another place that the seasons skip over Fall going from Summer to Winter overnight. They say the temps in Minnesota go from cold to freezing. I'm prepared...I think.

So I will have a long flight going from New York to Minneapolis, MN then Minneapolis, MN to Bermidji, MN. But once I get there it will be so worth it.

Here's a typical schedule:
7:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:30-9:00 a.m. Songs
9:00-10:00 a.m. Language session
10:00-10:30 a.m. Coffee break
10:30-11:00 a.m. Song session & intro to cultural
11:00-Noon Language session
Noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch and free time
1:30-2:30 p.m. Cultural presentation
2:30-3:30 p.m. Language session
3:30-4:00 p.m. Coffee break and free time
4:00-5:45 p.m. Choice of Activities: (Arts & crafts, conversation groups, Target language games)
6:00 p.m.  Dinner and songs
7:00 p.m.  Evening program of cultural presentations, speakers, etc.
9:30 p.m.  Coffee

Here's the website. http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org Check it out and wish me luck.

Scandinavian House

Funny what one (namely, me) will find when one (namely me, again) looks. About a month ago I became a member of Scandinavian House in NYC.

For a nominal yearly fee there are all sorts of perks...reduced fees to certain exhibits, invites to member-only exhibit openings, music events, an organizational newsletter and subscription to Nordic Reach magazine, 10% discount to Smörgås Restaurant, and the gift shop. All of which are totally worth the annual dues which start at $50.  Plus even for the non-member there are many free events for the whole family.

So when visiting NYC check out the Scandinavian House website at http://www.scandinaviahouse.org and plan a trip there. Even if your ancestors are not Scandinavian I guarantee that you will leave with some sort of appreciation for the culture and people.

Added bonus; practicing my Swedish language skills! Mycket bra!

Hej från Stockholm

Där är en små, Svenska, tår dala häst på mitt skrivbord när jag studera min Svenska.
There is a small Swedish wood, dala horse on my desk when I study my Swedish.

Yes. It is true. I read recently that if you desire something badly enough, I mean really have passion for that thing; you must give it all your attention with intention. The intention to absolutely have it. You must think about it  and imagine it thoroughly using any "props" that remind you of your happy thoughts and ultimate goal. Whether it be learning a new language or traveling to a particular country there must be reminders of how much we love what we want.

 Then last week while flipping through a magazine I came across a website called
http://www.huset-shop.com (the house-shop)...all things scandinavian.

Although I wanted to buy everything on the site I honed in on two pieces of artwork found in the children's section. There was an adorable poster saying, 'Hej från Stockholm'. Lovely for my pink room with the white bed frame.

Then I saw a smaller picture that I had to have. The picture is of a Scandinavian girl with two dala horses. So beautiful and colorful it took my breath away. What made it so exceptional is the multi dimensional look the print had.

Both were under $40 and worth every bit. Of course when they were delivered, only days later, I promptly brought them to the framing shop where I found the perfect frames.

So now, along with my small, Swedish, wood dala horse I have some lovely Swedish reminders of my goals. From now on I will sit in the pink room with the white bed frame and look at these beautiful and inspiring pieces of art that I customized and have warm and fuzzy thoughts about Sverige, my (the) perfect place that I will, once again, visit someday.

Wanted: Swedish Speaker

In the next town over there is a beautiful Scandinavian store.  The store sells everything from books, clothes, dala horses, specialty Scandinavian food items and home decor for the Scandinavian home.

 I went there with a friend years ago and loved it but have not been back until recently.  I don’t know why it took so long for a revisit up until now but I do know why I’m shy about going to the shop now.

It is the frustration, annoyance and disappointment about my lack to entirely comprehend my new language after a full year of study. I should know more, why don’t I know more?

It is the same reason I was frustrated when I went to Stockholm and the same reason I am intimidated to speak Swedish to my friend at the gym and the same reason I retake the “Studio Sessions” that come along with my software program, which allows me to speak with native speakers…yes…I want to speak fluently without hesitation or intimidation.

As I know I’ve mentioned in the previous posts, most native speakers are as eager to speak English, as I am to speak Swedish. Interesting but no resolution. Because I worked in the classified ad department at a local newspaper I’m thinking perhaps a classified ad will get me there. 

Let’s see (ha, ha, you don’t think there will be any misunderstanding do you?):

SWEDE NEEDED

Desperate woman seeking Swedish male/female

Someone that is unselfish, is willing to make it all about me

and understands my needs. Patience and understanding and

a little TLC for this 1^st-timer with very little experience! Very eager.

Call soon! 555-555-5555.

Hey, you never know or do we! I’ll keep you posted!

My Svenska Mini Daydream Vacation

Taking a break from the hectic same routine of everyday life is hard nowadays for us all but we have to make time to have mini daydream vacations where we take a little time out and think of nice places we want to be.

For many people in the winter it is standard to want to be in a warm climate and, although I love warm climates, my dream vacation would be to go back to Sweden. 

It is true that I didn’t take advantage of the many sights of beautiful Stockholm and I didn’t take advantage of a year of learning Swedish. This is regretful.

So with that in mind I took a few days away and went to an Upstate New York beautiful, cozy Inn. It was here I sat in front of a nice fireplace complete with blanket and a pot of tea and contemplated what I would be doing if I were to go to Sweden now.

Here’s my list:

• Getting on the plane I would start speaking Swedish immediately with confidence.
• I would try some special Swedish food and venture out of my comfort zone to include all types of restaurants.
• I would interact more with the locals.
• I would do as much sight-seeing as I could which would include going to all the standard sight-seeing attractions such as the Vasa Ship, Skansen Park and the Royal Palace.
• I would plan a few good trips with the concierge to Uppsala and Kiruna. 
• I would spend some time in the different sections of Stockholm such as Gamla Stan and Sodermalm; just two of the many areas I didn’t have much time to go to.
• I would take more pictures of everything including pictures of things that might not seem important at the time.

One thing I have realized is that we all should take advantage of everything that we have the privilege of experiencing and hopefully there will be more good things then bad things.

I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity for a “do over” in the near future.  I know these mini daydream vacations would never happen if I had done everything right on my last trip so I do kind of like them. They put me in a good emotional state and make me smile.

So as I sit here in front of the fire with my eyes closed daydreaming I smile and realize that perhaps this is as good as being in Sweden…well…hmmm…not quite but almost!

What we wear. (Vad vi slitage.)

I’ve always been very aware of fashion but lately, just back from Stockholm and Hamburg, Germany, maybe more so than usual.

Most of us know that fashion comes from Europe first before coming to the USA but I read recently that Swedes don’t necessarily want to look, well, Swedish as far as fashion is concerned. Especially when they come to the USA...hmmm...why is that? With me it’s the exact opposite. I want to look chic Northern European, Swedish.

So when I was in Stockholm I looked at the women to see the latest in the Swedish fashion scene. The women, with their bulky, woolen sweaters, their understated pants, some variation of boots that were “weather sensible” and oh-so-very chic along with their artsy scarves, jaunty caps (or flap hats) and messenger bags casually thrown across their bodies, made me see that being warm and fashionable does actually make sense. Finally…being warm is cool and that means…so am I!

Sometimes we live where we live because we have to. (Ibland vI bor var vi bor därför att vi har till.)

Often I am asked why I live in the Northeast United States. This is not normally a question asked to just anyone but I have a shoulder injury that is effected everyday by the weather. Doctor’s, friends and well wishers alike have asked me this saying that I may be more comfortable in the dry, humidity-free heat of Arizona, New Mexico or Nevada. So why stay? I have never really been happy with the cold winters and the rainy springs.

This got me thinking about proximities.

About 5 minutes in the next town over from my house there happens to be, I’ve been told, quite a sizable Swedish population. Odd I never knew this. Why the sizable Swedish population in this small town and why do they stay? People generally stay somewhere because of work perhaps or a tethering relationship but still I wondered.

So with the question still looming I recently chatted with a young Swedish college student studying in the US. She had to go home to resubmit the application for her school visa. She looked at me blankly with no answers.  

Sweden, full of tasteful design, good-looking people, a very clean environment, advanced industry, excellent tuition-free college education for all Swedes and a fairly small population of 9 million people in the whole country (compared to 10 million people just in NYC alone), seems ideal. Why then the reticence to return to a country that has so much going for it?

I’m still perplexed but I have learned one thing. Change of environment is exciting but being comfortable and feeling at home in whatever region, whatever country is based on an internal feeling that only that person understands.

Finally! 
Något jag förstå! (Something I understand!)

On learning a new language...Jag studera svenska.

I have been learning Swedish for a little more than a year and am still a beginner. It is frustrating but I have analyzed this and now I know why. I spent a whole 8 months going through and learning vocabulary and didn't pay complete attention to the grammar and sentence structure. Of course now I know how important this is! So, with a lot of humility, I went back to square one.

But this now brings me to another point. While I was in Stockholm I noticed (and it was so obvious) that the Swedes (hotel staff, bartenders, waiters, pedestrians) spoke perfect English...perfect...no accent or inflection in tone. Nothing. Me being curious I asked about this and was told that Swedes (mostly in high tourist areas) try very hard to sound neutral and can't wait to speak English with anyone that will. Proof to this, I would ask (or at least try to ask) a question in Swedish and receive the answer in English. They sure got a lot of practice speaking English with me!

Then the other day I was reading Swedish Blog and there it was...the explanation. This is very interesting especially the part where it points to the Swedish students knowing more English than their English teachers because of their exuberance and natural ability to excel.

Well this is not surprising really. I've known for months that the big Swedish corporations are making it almost mandatory to learn English and speak it in the work place. I guess English really is now becoming the international language talked about for years.

Still I will continue to pursue my Swedish. It would be silly to stop now after so much time and a great deal has been learned even though English is the language of choice.

The Millennium Tour

I can’t watch “Männen Som Hater Kvinnor“ ("Girl with the Dragon Tattoo") besides the fact that I don’t follow all the Swedish (I'm still learning) and there are sub-titles. I read all the Millennium books which were just amazing but there was a lot of "stuck-in-my-head-and-can't-forget" violence. It’s what translates to what I call “throw-up violence” on screen. A violence that is so vile and repulsive that it makes me physically ill to watch.

Which brings me to my Stockholm trip last August (believe me it all ties in). While there I didn’t get to see nearly enough because of a pretty bad stomach ache that kept me in and around the hotel room for two of the six days so I knew we missed seeing some things.

Upon my return my sister asked me if I had done the “Millennium Tour". ‘What was that?’, I asked. It was then I realized that I hadn't taken full advantage of my trip to Stockholm and not nearly enough pictures. And worst yet, not even really tried to speak Swedish.

I think I got so caught up with doing the local scene and less concerned with doing the obligatory sightseeing. Very regretful. Next time it will be different and I will take full advantage at every turn if I don't have a stomach ache that is!

I'll start here (Jag ska börja här)

This blog is about Sweden. I’ve seen plenty of blogs about Sweden...on shopping, the city, the country in general, the people, the royal family, the language…you name it. All very good. 

This won’t be that although interesting as they may be. This blog will be more opinion and personal observation then anything else. 

I am a woman who has rediscovered a love of a country that was once known but almost forgotten until a recent trip. What triggered this I do not know and won't even speculate. So after a few visits, some very informative facebook pages, Swedish blogs and a language learning course I have become slightly obsessed.

So with questions posed and answers researched carefully and a smart amount of commentary and pictures thrown in, I have come up with what I call, Ms. Stevia.