Fun with pärlplatta

I will try to make this a (relatively) brief post...I think I may have mentioned a New Year's resolution about including shorter stories.

So what the heck is pärlplatta and why am I talking about it?  Pärlplatta, according to Google Translate, means "pearl plate".  Essentially it's a craft (which was invented in Sweden in the 1960s) that involves placing hollow plastic beads on a pegboard.  Once the design is completed, an iron is used to melt the beads together.

A simple one....pre-ironing

The girls started making these last summer and we have accumulated a LOT of them (sometimes on a daily basis).   Day after day, I would ask them what they did at school, and they would respond "pärlplatta".  And day after day, all I heard was "plahblahblah".  I finally decided to spend a few minutes on Google translate (which is a pretty common occurrence) so that I could figure out what the heck my children were saying.

I decided to write about this Swedish craft phenomenon after my 5 year old decided that she needed to hang up her pärlplatta collection.   She proceeded to take her stash of these colorful creations along with some reusable sticky stuff up to her room.  She emerged proudly after about a half hour.   In her window now exists a full-on pärlplatta display for all the neighbors to see.

Do you think we will make the cover of Better Homes & Gardens?

With some help from wikipedia, I discovered that this activity isn't just for the 8 and under crowd.  Here is a photo of the second largest pärlplatta with over 316,000 beads.

Located in Stockholm- pretty inpressive!

I had never seen these little tube shaped beads in the U.S....although I'm not exactly the "craftiest" person (and have probably missed a few activities along the way).  But I did a little searching and found that they can be purchased in the states....they are known as Perler beads and can be found on Amazon and at a few hobby stores.   Enjoy!

Trip to Gran Canaria

If you're looking for a post that's heavy on photos and light on text, this one is for you!   The girls recently had a week off from school for a winter break called "Sportlov".  Some Swedes take the name seriously and do something active....like skiing.  Our family opted to find a location with less, not more, snow and warmer temperatures where we could be predominantly in-active!

Our destination was Hotel Orquidea, a family friendly resort in lovely Gran Canaria, the second most populous island of the Canary Islands (I admit I had to check a map when we booked the trip...the Canary Islands are just off the west coast of Africa).  If nothing else, this move to Sweden is improving my knowledge of world geography.

An evening view...pretty peaceful without those crazy kids!

One of the benefits of this resort was the organized kid activities.  Each morning, the girls enjoyed two hours of "camp".   The camp leaders kept the kids busy with fun activities.  

The girls in their camp "uniforms"

While the girls were at their respective camps, I enjoyed two hours of laziness by the pool.   I realized that I can be a really fantastic "relaxer" if I put my mind to it!   The hubby couldn't sit still for too long, so he spent some time taking pictures and trying out the hotel gym.

On the girls day off from camp (I guess they needed a break from all that fun), we booked an excursion which was perfect for families who wanted a sampling of island activities.   The eager participants were picked up from the hotel in Jeeps and driven to our first activity.....camel rides!

This is going to be fun....right???

Before we got there, they girls were very excited about the idea of riding on a camel.  However, the process of getting the camels off the ground (back legs first) and starting the journey (CeCe got nose-to-nose with one of these one-humped beasts) proved a bit daunting.  However, once we got going, everyone enjoyed the ride.  They put the hubby and I on the camel right behind the girls (you probably figured that out from the photos).

Now everyone is  happy!

After the ride, the girls had a chance to feed some of the other camels.   

What big eyes you have!

And what big lips you have!

Next we got back into the Jeeps and headed for a scenic overlook where we could take some pictures.  I'm not a big fan of heights, but I have to admit these views were amazing.

Daddy and his girls

Next was a stop for lunch, but there was one more camel that needed a little snack first.

That's my girl (and yes, I had to bribe her to do this!)

After lunch, we took a trip into a (very) small town where we were able to wander around and take more pictures.   Like I said, this excursion had a bit of something for everyone and if you didn't like one part there was comfort in knowing it would soon be over.

Not a bad place to live!

Favorite pose from the trip...rock on!

The final phase of the excursion was taking the Jeeps "off roading" through the mountains.  Basically this involved riding on dusty, rocky roads that were (in my opinion) too close to the edge.  For all I know this could have been our driver's first day on the job....but I was too afraid to ask.   Of course, we purchased the video of this trip so I could appreciate all of the scenery from the comfort and safety of my own couch!

The oldest enjoying the view

Our fun filled field trip was followed by two more days of sun and relaxation.  It was a much needed break from the dreary Swedish winter.

Say "cheese"!

Now that we are back in Sweden, the hours of daylight are noticeable greater which gives me some hope that spring is not too far away.   For now, we will just have to savor the memories of the warm sun.

What's for (school) lunch?

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to post some short "blurbs" on the blog in addition to my (more frequent) longer stories....in the event that you don't have so much "blog reading" penciled in your calendar.   This particular post is beyond a blurb... I guess my resolution is a work in progress!

Now on to the topic at hand.  When we moved to Sweden, I was a smidge nervous about what my children would be eating for lunch at school.   Alright...alright...nervous was perhaps an understatement...I actually thought that they might starve!  I suppose I had visions of plates loaded with pickled fish and other "new" foods that my girls would refuse to ingest.

Salmon, herring, potatoes...you get the idea

Going back to when the girls first started school, I was asked by the teachers to tag along for the first couple of days (this is when the girls were riding the big bus- see earlier post if you missed it).   Among other things, this provided me the opportunity to see what sorts of food they would be offered (and if they would eat it!).  The first food was a simple school-provided snack at about 9:30;  their teacher pulled out a bag of assorted fruit and distributed it to the eager children.  This is similar to snack time in the U.S., although that fruit might be in the form of "fruit snacks".   Personally, I find these morsels pretty tasty, but they are not exactly what you would find growing on a tree.

It looks a little more like "Saturday's candy" in Sweden

When lunchtime arrived (which was eaten outside unless it was quite bad weather), the teachers pulled out a few different containers  of food that had been prepared back at the school.   First there were several bowls filled with fresh vegetables....shredded carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.   This was quite a change from some schools in the U.S. where the squishy (over)cooked vegetables have been sitting around in a "warmer" for a few hours...not super appetizing as I recall.  I'm not going to pretend that all the kids here filled their plates sky high with these more attractive veggies....but most of the youngsters were hungry enough to give some a try.

Then there was pasta with two kinds of fresh sauces, and a choice of milk or water to drink.  I ate lunch with the children and it was surprisingly tasty.  This is the meal that their teachers ate as well (with coffee to drink).  The afternoon snack was a simple sandwich (open face with a piece of cheese).   Other days that choice could be yogurt or fruit.  I have to say I was mildly impressed with the simple, yet healthy food.  I was also cautiously optimistic that my children would not, in fact, have a hunger strike at school.

"What did you have for lunch?" became one of my favorite after-school questions, partly due to general interest and partly because I was quietly comparing it with the typical U.S. school lunch.   Lucky for my girls, they now are sent home with a school lunch menu and can avoid the interrogation.  First of all, these menus are visually appealing.  Of course, it tells us what the children will be eating each day (with a daily vegetarian option for the non meat-eaters).   Then there are also some pictures and "fun facts".   These include informing us (kids and parents, I suppose) that they serve white "fiber pasta" and some organically grown foods.  I especially like the section that asks if you can become smart by eating fish....can you??

Small print, I know...but you get the idea

The food isn't anything fancy, but it is freshly made, not fried and generally not "icky".  Pasta, fish, chicken or beef in some form are pretty standard on the menu.   They also serve rice with curry sauce on occasion (a favorite of one of my girls), falafel, and some other selections to broaden their food horizons.  A far cry from the fried chicken patties and tater tots that I recall from my youth ( Tater tots ARE considered a vegetable, right?)

The kids (even my 5 year old) go through the lunch line and serve themselves.   My oldest told me that sometimes there is a limit to how much of a certain food they can take (perhaps a max of 7 meatballs), otherwise they can take as much as they want.  On the flip side, there is little tolerance for wasting food.  The phrase "Stoppa maten i din mage, inte i soptunnan, tack" is posted on their menu which means please put your food in your stomach, not in the waste bin.

I guess this is the "American" version!

Although I hear rumors of the "Western diet" moving this direction (and have seen some evidence to support that), I am for now quite happy that the typical U.S. school lunch has not yet crossed the ocean.   While writing this blog, I completed a tiny bit of research on current U.S. lunch menus and found that some appeared a little healthier than I remember (although quite a bit of variation exists).  I know that Jamie Oliver and Michelle Obama are on the rampage, so perhaps things are moving in the right direction.  I also must disclose that I have only seen the lunches at one school (and I understand that differences between schools exist here as well), so if YOUR Swedish school counts french fries as a vegetable then I want to hear from you!

My girls certainly don't LOVE their lunch every day, but it's comforting to know that they aren't starving (and are offered choices that I would most likely eat).  Maybe it's just the chef that makes the difference...

Sorry....I couldn't resist!

To the U.S. and back (home?) to Sweden

First of all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  I started writing this post from the comfort of my parents' couch...a place I had not been since moving to Sweden more than eight months ago.  Our family was able to enjoy three weeks in the states, catching up with friends and family (gotta love the 6+ weeks of vacation that you get here).  I must admit that I had a bit of anxiety as I geared up for the trip, wondering how I could possibly make time to see everyone.   Luckily, I followed the advice of a dear friend who moved to the Chicago 'burbs from Philly years ago...she advised me to stay in one place (for the most part) and said that people would come to me (and she was mostly right).  It was great seeing friends who were in town and catching up on all the things I have missed....new jobs, new babies, etc.  Of course with time constraints and holiday travel, I missed a few folks, but I guess that is to be expected.

Of course, seeing friends and family during this visit was the first priority.  But I must be honest...I was looking forward to catching up on a couple of other things as well.

First we should talk about the shopping.  We landed on a Friday night and by Saturday morning I had made my return to Target (big surprise, right?) and it was glorious....there were angels singing, bands playing, etc.  Perhaps that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I truly missed the convenience of purchasing nearly everything I might need to exist from one store (food, clothing, medicine, electronics, makeup- you get the idea).  I stocked up on several items that we can't get in Sweden (or perhaps these are just things that I can't find or things that I perceive as crazy expensive).

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

As excited as I was about my first (and certainly not my last) visit to Target, I did notice that I was a bit overwhelmed by a couple of trips to the grocery store.   After living in a (relatively) small city in Sweden where I have had limited choices of many food items, I was surprised to find myself a bit flustered while in a big Meijer store.   Believe me, I LOVE having choices....but do I really need to pick from 200 kinds of spaghetti sauce??

Maybe I should just make my own sauce...

More than once, I stood in the aisle and found myself unable to make a decision on something seemingly simple.  I once even had to call my mom to clarify her paper plate needs....regular or small sized? round or square?  plain white or fancy patterned?  cheap or Chinet?  OMG!  I'm sure I will miss the vast selection of items when I return to Sweden...you always want what you can't have, right?

I must admit that I was a bit happier (and less overwhelmed) while shopping for clothes.  I had returned to the U.S. with a half empty suitcase and planned to pick up a few pairs of jeans, some sweaters and a new pair of boots.  It was comforting to know the best places to shop and it was easy to find some good deals!  I thought I wouldn't need it, but was ultimately thankful for the extra suitcase we had left behind when we moved. The combination of "mandatory" shopping, Christmas gifts, and a few items that had been requested by friends really adds up quickly.  Upon our return, our family was quite a sight walking out of the airport in Copenhagen with 6 big suitcases plus numerous carry-ons...even the girls were not exempt from schlepping bags!

Friends, shopping and...oh yes...food!  Before the trip, I had compiled a thorough list of all the restaurants and types of food that I had been deprived of for eight months-and that I would have to have during our visit.  By the end of it all, I had crossed numerous things off of my "to eat" list... pizza (more than once), Chipotle (yum), Thai food, a trip to Capital Grill and sushi.  I also had my fair share of large Diet Cokes from McDonald's...they don't taste quite the same in Sweden and they certainly aren't on the dollar menu (so I had to "splurge" while I had the chance).  Believe me, I didn't exactly starve during this trip, but I found that I didn't have the sense of urgency I had expected with regard to my food requirements.   Perhaps I was merely more focused on catching up with people and if the visit happened to involve a favorite restaurant....then it was a bonus.  Or maybe I was simply shell shocked upon my return to the land of GIANT portions and that caused me to be slightly less excited (and maybe a little grossed out) when contemplating a three week food orgy.   I must admit that people in Sweden are a bit...um...smaller...on average than folks in the U.S. and it probably has something to do with fewer drive-thru options and, in general, smaller portions of everything.  All that being said, I'm sure I will regret a few restaurants that I missed!

Is this for the whole family?

Anyway, we had a wonderful trip back to the states...visiting, eating and shopping.  For me, getting on a plane and heading back to Sweden felt bittersweet.  We have been back for several days, and although it seems strange to say, it does feel like home here...at least for now.   We will continue to make the most of our Swedish adventure!

My New BFF

I am feeling guilty.  It seems like not so long ago I had rambled on and on about my renewed "friendship" with my trusty old bicycle.  I rode the old Rock Hopper all the time, which included riding back and forth to 30 Swedish classes!   I had even added a kickstand, mud guards and lights (and trust me, those lights are becoming more important every day!).

All that being said....I have purchased another bicycle.   Sigh...How could I?  What happened to loyalty??  I know.  I know.   Just let me explain.   Going back a couple of weeks, I found myself with a new a job (which is exciting...but a whole other story).   So then I got to thinking about how I was going to get there.  Drive?  Certainly a possibility especially as the weather turns colder, but then my extra exercise goes out the window.   Walk?  Not a chance (as it's about 4 or 5 mile trek).  Bike?  Well, that was certainly an option on days that were relatively dry and not too cold (currently I'm thinking temps in the 40's are OK).

I realized, however, that my current bike had a few...shall we say....issues.  For quick trips, the "mountain bike" was manageable, but as I rode longer distances I realized that the smaller wheels made me work a lot harder (it's not a good sign when people much MUCH older passed me by with minimal effort on their part).   Also, if you recall, I could not have a basket installed on the Rock Hopper, so I always had to wear my backpack.  Again, not an issue for short trips but combined with longer trips (like 30 minutes to the new job) and the poor posture which is employed on a mountain bike...I was starting to experience tingling pain in my hand (I don't think that's normal).

I'm sorry Rock Hopper.  It's not you... it's me.

So I went in search of a more Swedish...or European...bicycle.   I needed either a City bike or a Mormor cycle aka "grandma" bike.   And if you think that I would be embarrassed by the thought of buying a "grandma bike", think again!  I first called my friends at Ekman's cycle (who had helped me pimp the old ride) and they actually had a used bike they were selling.   I drove over immediately, thinking that this would be a quick solution to my bike dilemma.  I knew that it would be in good working order AND that it wouldn't have been a stolen bike (bike thefts are relatively common here).   However, upon arrival, I found the ugliest bike I had ever seen!   It was kind of a mustard yellow and frankly I just couldn't get past that.   Shallow...I know.

Picture this color on a rusty bike...ick.

I then moved my search to www.blocket.se - this is kind of like a Swedish Craig's List.   I certainly couldn't justify a brand new bike....they are quite expensive and I did already have one bike at home.  I had a few small adventures trying to check out a couple of the bikes.  On my first attempt, I found the bike, but not the seller.  On my next try, I drove around forever only to discover that I was on the wrong "Bondegatan" street (maybe someone could have told me there were two of them in Lund).  I finally found the right place, only to find a bike that was a little too big for me.

A couple of nights later while checking blocket (again) I saw it... a reasonable priced City Bike that even had a basket!  I contacted the woman immediately knowing that the good stuff sells quickly.   Using Google translate I did pretty well corresponding with her via email.  However, I had a little more difficulty when she called me the next morning.  I asked her (in Swedish) if we could talk in English, and was taken aback when she said "Nej" (yup...that means no).  Uh oh...I rarely get this response.  Luckily I now know a few more Swedish words, so I think I was able to get my point across.

Can I buy your bike...bork, bork, bork?

Having successfully navigated through the phone conversation in Swenglish, I took the girls with me to take a look at the bike (perhaps they could help me translate).  It didn't take long for me to realize that this was "the one".  Of course, I had to give the nice woman a small "deposit" as the bike AND the children would not fit in the car at the same time.   I returned a short while later having taken the girls back home.  It wasn't easy, but I was able to squeeze the bike into the car.  I drove off, very satisfied with my purchase.

When I first saw her....

So far the bike has been working out quite well....except for one cold morning (coincidentally my first day of work) when I turned on a patch of ice and ended up on the ground.  Not a great start, but I blame myself, not the bike.

If I ride to work it is a solid 30 minutes each way which is GREAT exercise.  In the morning, the ride is easier as it's slightly down hill (you can do the math on the return trip...a bit more challenging).  However, since a bit of time has passed since I started writing this post, the weather has become quite a bit colder, and we have snow on the ground, so my riding days might be numbered.   Perhaps I may have to go back to the Rock Hopper if I'm going to ride in the winter...if she will take me back!

I'm just not sure how I feel about this!

Party like a Swede!

Before I begin, I have to provide the caveat that we have not become full blown social butterflies with jam packed weekend activities!   However, we have been to several parties or dinner "get-togethers" while in Sweden and it seems that they are a bit different from what we have experienced back in the U.S.

I was recently reminded that Sweden isn't all about wearing rain pants and sensible shoes and spending quiet evenings at home.   A couple of weeks back, we were invited to a party for a friend of ours (I believe we were celebrating her 29th birthday!).   Not knowing the dress code for this type of thing, I asked the birthday girl what she would be wearing.  She said she would be wearing black "trousers" and a black blouse.   With that information in mind, I decided to wear a casual dress, hoping that I wouldn't be too dressed up.  I even put on a pair of boots with HEELS....wearing heels is a rare occurrence for me since I arrived here seven months ago.  When attending a party or dinner at the home of friends, one typically removes her shoes at the door (so I often do not bother with the sassy footwear!)

It's fun to wear some sassy boots for a change!

Boy was I glad that I decided on a dress!   When I surveyed the room upon our arrival, I realized that there was NO chance that I would be overdressed!  All of the women were looking quite fancy....most wearing dresses and one even sporting fabulous silver sequined pants (this woman could pull off that look...some of us, myself included, would not have fared so well!)   It also appeared that high heels were mandatory.  The men were no slouches, either.  I am fairly certain that every guy in the room was wearing a sport coat, a few were even wearing ties.   As serious as the Swedes are with their functional weekday garb (remember the favorite saying here... "there is no bad weather, only bad clothing"), they seem to kick it up a notch when the weekend arrives.  Even when we have had dinner at friends' homes (for no special occasion), the average ensemble is a step up from the norm in the U.S.  My husband made an interesting comment on this,  "The Swedes are more likely to dress up for their friends than their job".   Based on what I have seen from the workplace dress code, this seemed to be an accurate observation.

A good representation of party fashion!

Beyond the snazzy attire,  I noticed another difference from the usual "get together" in the U.S.   Upon arrival, most (if not all) of the guests made the rounds and greeted all of the other guests.  Granted, many of them have known each other for years, but most even walked over to introduce themselves to my husband and me (maybe they were just curious about the new "American kids" at the party!).  Even at smaller gatherings, it seems expected that you will introduce yourself to everyone when you enter the room.  In contrast, my experience in the U.S. is that we make a bee-line for the people we know and hang out with them.  Again, just my general observations so far....no offense to my American friends who are "expert" minglers!

I don't think they make these in Swedish- maybe that explains things!

Another way this party encouraged mingling was by assigning seats (yes...there was a card telling me EXACTLY where to sit).  In the U.S., I have only experienced assigned "tables" at weddings!   This was definitely something new.   To make things even more interesting, you were not seated next to your spouse.  Yes, my hubby was sitting at the same table, but it was so loud that all we could do was occasionally wave to each other during dinner.   I understand that it is not uncommon to split up married folks at events such as this to encourage us to talk to new people (I did read somewhere that the engaged couples get to sit next to each other...maybe it's too risky to split them up).  Luckily I had one of our good friends seated on one side and another nice English speaking Swede on the other (his wife was actually sitting next to my husband...one might wonder what kind of parties they have here in Sweden!).

The hubby and his "dates"

After dinner, there was also some karaoke and dancing (FYI- this has not been the "norm" at smaller Swedish parties!).   Unfortunately, I had not anticipated that the party would last until the wee hours, so I had to return home at a reasonable time....midnight....so I could send our babysitters home.

Hurry!  My carriage is about to turn back into a pumpkin!

So that concludes my observations on social gatherings thus far.  People tend to dress up a bit more for parties here (big or small) and there may be mandatory mingling.   However, some things (thankfully) are the same in Sweden as they are in the U.S.A.- thank goodness for that !

Cheers!!  Or should I say "Skål"?

Välkommen till Svenska klass!

Yes, it's true.  I am taking a course in Swedish.   And, contrary to what some of you may think, learning this language takes much more effort than simply watching a few episodes of the Muppets with the Swedish chef!

Bork, bork, bork!!

Because my class meets Monday through Friday from 9 until 11:30....and then of course I have homework...it has kept me quite busy.  I am nearly finished with the three and a half week course, so I guess it's about time I provide an update.

To begin....the answer is "yes", I could survive here without ever learning the language (since ALMOST everyone speaks English), but I think there are a few good reasons to at least attempt to learn Swedish.  First of all, we have some friends who will sometimes speak Swedish in front of me...it's not that I'm offended (or that I think they are talking about me), but it would be nice to contribute to the conversation!  Secondly, as our girls' Swedish continues to improve every day, I want to be sure THEY aren't saying things about me that I can't understand!   Learning the language may also make some  other things a bit easier...like shopping, reading the mail, and perhaps finding employment!

I am (almost) the only American in the class.  There is one other girl, but she has been dating a Swedish guy for five years, so I don't know if she counts as a typical American.  Her Swedish pronunciation on day one was WAY better than that of many others in the class.  I have to admit it was a bit intimidating on the first day since everyone else in the class knows at least two languages....that of their homeland plus English.   Several people speak at least a bit of three or more languages.  I firmly believe that learning a second language as a child would have made learning Swedish as an adult a bit easier (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!).   Yes, I took four years of Spanish in High School, but that really isn't helping me grasp these new sounds and letters.  However, I do find myself occasionally thinking of a Spanish phrase when I can't think of the right Swedish one....which I find mildly amusing.

Oops!  Wrong language!

I have to say that after a couple of weeks of class (and studying), I now recognize many more Swedish words when I see them on paper. This is beneficial when trying to read the mail, notes from school, etc.  I am still a LONG way from understanding people when they speak to me (unless, of course, they talk really slowly and speak in short, simple, one subject, one verb, present tense sentences).  Examples would include "Klara rides her bike", "David is sleeping", or "I am tired".

To make learning Swedish even more difficult (did I say "difficult"?  I meant to say "fun" and "interesting"), one must also be aware of different dialects.  People in Skåne (the southern part of Sweden where we live) speak differently than those coming from other parts of Sweden.

We are the bright pink blob at the bottom.

I could probably spend a whole post talking about this little piece of Sweden (Skåne even has its own flag!).  However, this blurb I found kind of sums up the dialect difference...."People from further north joke that speakers of the dialect in Skåne sound like they talk with a hot potato in their mouths. Residents of Skåne reply that speakers of Standard Swedish are 'spissflabbad', which translates roughly as sharp-tongued and snobbish."  Of course, there is a mix of folks down here, so I will do my best to understand everyone!

Now back to the challenges of my class!  Beyond trying to memorize millions (okay, thousands) of new words, I had forgotten all of the other fun things about learning a language.  These would include (but are not limited to) learning different verb tenses, memorizing which nouns are "en" words and which nouns are "ett" words (it's important...trust me!), and all the crazy rules about when you reverse the subject and the verb in a sentence.   Here are a few of my notes from "Noun Rule Day".

And this is just the tip of the iceberg!

I am wondering (hoping) if there might be some sort of Swedish School House Rock that can help me with some of this stuff!  Learning pronouns, adverbs ("Lolly Lolly Lolly get your adverbs here!") and, of course, conjunctions could all be made much simpler with catchy music and cartoons!

I SOOOOO need this in Swedish!

My class ends this week.   I will do my best to start throwing in Swedish words (when I know them) and will try to force my Swedish friends to speak with me (in Swedish).  I know it's hard for them to resist just talking to me in English when I struggle through a couple of poorly pronounced words or sentences.   I will keep trying...wish me luck!