The other day I learnt that merry-go-rounds in Sweden, as well as in the rest of Europe, generally turn clockwise whereas they in North America run counter-clockwise! A search on Google confirms this. Reality? Even though I’ve been an expatriate in both locations I must admit I don’t know; I never thought about it. What are your experiences? Comments please – let’s solve this expat problem!
En karusell (a carousel)
My 100 days of blogging are over. I’m glad I joined the challenge #blogg100 but right now I’m also relieved it’s over! I’ve tried to keep most posts on the subjects of expats, TCKs and Swedish/language learning. Sometimes I’ve posted photos of Sweden; simply sharing this beautiful country with you.
Over and out for now!
Good night!
Yesterday I took the international playgroup to enjoy the early spring in the forest. There’s a special place I know of where you can find the beautiful and rare spring flower Anemone Hepatica (blåsippa). We spent the afternoon in a natural clearing, enjoying the sun, nature and of course fika (fruit and biscuits). Climbing tree trunks and rocks, picking flowers (the non protected vitsippa) and learning about the Swedish nature made a great start of the weekend.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) issues national protection orders for wild plants and flowers. Additional regional rules may also apply. Together these regulate how you may handle certain protected species; pick but not collect to sell, no digging up by roots, no picking at all.
The Anemone Hepatica is protected in parts of Sweden. In some counties it must not be picked at all. The blåsippa is a rare and cherished spring flower in Sweden. It even has its own children’s song “Blåsippan ute i backarna står”!
Link to protected plants and wildlife in Sweden; Swedish only.
Starting tomorrow Liseberg invites us to its annual Garden Fair, ending Sunday. Exhibitors within the garden field (;)), lots of flowers and a chance to have a nice stroll through the beautiful park. Attractions open in the afternoon.
Why not take the chance to experience a spring we haven’t quite seen here yet?
The world’s largest expat survey opens its annual questionnaire today. It remains open until May 31st and encourages expatriates to share their experiences to form the much appreciated and award-winning comparison of expat life in different countries. To take part go here.
In 2012 more than 5300 expats took part in the HSBC Expat Explorer survey.
Today it’s Valborg (Walpurgis night); we celebrate the arrival of spring, in many parts of Sweden with bonfires and choirs. It is also King Carl XVI Gustaf’s birthday and hence a flag day.
Listen to this beautiful song, in Swedish, by popular Håkan Hellström; “Valborg“.
This week in some of my Swedish conversation classes we have been working with articles and text related to Valborg. Here is a link to one of the texts, from Sydsvenskan.
My selection for #worldcolors April – yellow – is a poor one. But I decided to post a few of my photos rather than none at all!
Today I’ll provide a link to one of my favorite musical songs. It describes the life of an expat mother, but an expatriate life of past times and of much hardship. Expatriating today can be tough too, but hopefully not on all the levels Kristina experiences.
Listen to Kristina
From the musical “Kristina from Duvemåla” by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulveus (the Bs in ABBA).
