The Gift That Keeps On Giving

This is my first post in a while because my Dad at the last minute decided to fly me out to California for Christmas visit. We wanted my visit to be a surprise to all of my family so I could not post my where abouts until we had surprised as many people as possible with my arrival.
The photo you see above is taken at my Dad's house in Carmel, California right after we gave my sister here Christmas present, me.
I am so lucky to have so many people who have been so excited and surprised to see me. Since I have not been home to visit for a year things have been wonderful and hectic. A whirl wind of love,excitement sea and sand, this is a California Christmas

The Cold Path to Enlightenment

This is the path from my little house to the lake that you see in so many of my posts. It always looks beautiful but during the winter it looks like everything is covered with a layer of icing. The shape of every naked branch is highlighted and if I get up early enough I can usually be the first set of tracks made in the powder below my feet. Magical, blissful and cold as all hell.

"Jag Fixar Fika"

For six months I took a job with the city of Hassleholm. Because I am 30 years old, have over 15 years of experience in my field and a Bachelors’ degree in Communications Studies, I never could have predicted that fixing coffee in Sweden would be one of the most profound learning experiences in my lifetime.

Although I don't consider my job at the city as a resume booster, I know for a fact that I could never be as happy or as well adjusted as I am living in Sweden today without having the experience.
Even though it was not glamorous work, I found out very soon that I could find ways to make the job work "for me". Because I was in charge of putting together all the food and beverage services I learned so much about Swedish foods and how they should be served. I was forced to speak Swedish with the staff and wholesale food vendors when I made orders each week because they could not speak English. I made an effort to say "Hej!" and smile at everyone who crossed my path, whether they liked it or not.

I found intense pleasure in planning decorative arrangements for traditional Swedish "Fika food". My supervisor did not understand my obsession with making everything beautiful. He thought that I was making everything way too fancy and that I was giving a level service that was not necessary for the type of work place we were in. He would always remind me that I was not working a Bloomingdales anymore. What he did not understand was that by giving the level of service I did I was getting what I needed from the job. Whether he thought it was necessary or not my level of service was appreciated by most members of the staff. Because those members of the staff enjoyed how I was serving fika they were more apt to be patient with my horrible Swedish. Those staff members that took the time to speak Swedish or English with me while I worked helped me feel respected and more a part of Swedish culture. In exchange for me fixing a nice fika for them, they became my guides and my friends in a country where I knew nothing and no one.

After two months of having left my job I went back for a visit yesterday. It was so nice to chat with everyone and I understood much more Swedish than I ever thought was possible when I first arrived a year ago. I don't think that my former colleges will ever understand what huge contributions they have made to my assimilation to Swedish culture while they were chatting with me about everything from politics to home decor next to the coffee maker. I am not sure if I will ever think of the right way to thank them.

It's All Black and White

I took a photo at this exact spot and used it in a post about a month ago. This photo of the very same spot looks totally different today. To me this photo really shows how much of what I am seeing these days is all black and white. I am a person who has historically been very into color, but moving to the land of simplicity has made me appreciate the crisp and absolute contrast of the oldest and most classic of all color stories: Black and White.

The Big American Necklace I Could Not Leave Behind

When I packed up my things in California for the move to Sweden I really had no idea of what I would need for my new life. I had never lived anywhere outside of my native, season less California so I was aware the whole time that I did not in fact know at all what I was doing.

I did ask my Swedish husband for help, but since he is not a woman he did not understand the implications of being without things like my favorite tea cup that my Grandma gave me on a trip to an antique fair, or a photo album my sister made for me a couple of years ago after our Mother passed away. Because we could only take so many things on the first trip to our new life in Sweden I had to leave many things that I had all of my life,things that are so close to my heart, but would be of no everyday use for me here.

I was able to sneak a few things in without my husband seeing, and this big, American necklace is one of them. It is a well made piece of costume jewelry and when I first picked it up I was hypnotized by the multicolored “stones” and I believed all of my wonderful coworkers at Bloomingdales who said I had to have it. Even when I lived in San Francisco I never wore it out once .I am not sure why I thought that I could not leave without it, but non-the-less it is here and this morning I wear it for no one but myself as I drink coffee. Some people would say I should have brought another scarf instead, but in this moment I know I made the right choice for me.

Second Advent And A Snow Storm

 

Today we light the Second Advent candle, huddle close inside, eat ginger bread cookies and watch the snow storm from the kitchen window. Perfect day as far as I am concerned.

En Härlig Fika i Lund

Today I had to run some errands in a great University town called Lund, about 10 minutes drive north of Malmo. Lund is home to one of the most international populations in Sweden. It has a great mix of old classic Swedish warmth and sporadic infusions of influence from all over the world. This mixture makes for great shopping and eateries downtown.

Because it's so expensive to eat out in Sweden I always try to plan my day so I can eat all my meals at home. I have learned to be pretty good about not giving in to the temptation of eating out except when I am in Lund and pass by my favorite bakery, St. Jakobs (www.st.jakobs.se)

The saffron pastries here are so good; I cannot leave Lund to go back to the countryside without treating myself to a little Fika. St. Jakob's is in an old building in the oldest part of town. The furniture and lighting is dim and cozy. The family that runs the place is always so wonderful and they make me feel so welcome that I find myself drinking my cup of coffee as slow as humanly possible.

This place gives me an excuse to pat myself on the back for making the move to Europe; places like this just do not exist in any of the 50 States.

Home Is Where The Swedish Heart Is

 

Now that I have been living in Sweden for a while I can see why some Americans perceive Swedes as being kind of "cold". From my experience so far when I am walking down the street and I smile as I pass someone, I no longer expect a smile in return. It's a fact that Swedes do not give as much of themselves as Americans do in public. It can take years to get to know who someone really is here, but once you do get to know them you are glad you made the investment.

It can be a long process, but if you become friends with a Swede they will most likely become some of the most true friends you have had. And if you are lucky enough to be invited to a Swede's home, you will see where their heart has been hiding all along.

Some of the very best hospitality I have been shown in my life has been in Swedish homes. No matter what season it is, when you stand in the doorway to a Swedish Home you walk out from the cold world into a place of warmth and comfort. You are always served coffee or tea with some kind of tasty heartwarming treat, whisked away on to a comfortable chair and into a delightful or interesting conversation. Inside a Swede's house you will find out why some are so guarded outside, they have a lot of pleasant company to offer to those who have patience and a kind heart.

When you are invited in to a Swedish home, don't let the outside of the house fool you. Because of the weather and the innate practicality of Swedish culture and design you will not see a fancy front yard, private gate or ornate decorations welcoming you up the driveway. The typical (and charming) red house with white trim that you see so often in Sweden is popular because of how the type of paint withstands the changing weather, not because it looks cute. During this time of  year in Sweden the only clue that could suggest how warm and wonderful the inside of a Swedish Home is are the lights on display through the double pained windows. The lights in the windows are actually an understated beacon of Scandinavian Hospitality at its finest. When you are outside in the cold looking at those pretty lights in the window sill you can't help but think about how warm it must be inside.

I am planning to do some Swedish interiors tours so you all can see what I am talking about here. Until then, one last word of advice.....#1 most important thing to remember if you are invited into a Swedish home: TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES!
Tack!