When I think about the events of 2012 so far, what strikes me most is how normal it all feels. A friend asked me recently when you stop being an expat and start being something else. I’m not sure that I have a good answer to that yet, but I think I’m on my way to whatever that is.
Everyday life doesn’t feel weird anymore. I have a full time job, friends (both Swedish and international), and a family, if not the one I was born to. I speak passable Swedish. I eat weird Swedish snacks, like leverpastej on Wasa crackers, without thinking twice.
When I think about my life here, I don’t measure successes and failures in terms of whether the move to Sweden “was worth it” anymore. It just is that way now.
Biggest news of 2012 so far: the arrival of little Luna to our friends Sofie and Adam.
Luna is so adorable that after a couple of hours in her presence, I *almost* wanted a baby of my own. For the meantime, though, being Aunt Kate is perfect.
It’s the night before Christmas, and all through the mouse, not a beach chair is stirring, not even a louse.
Wait, what!?!
Celebrating Christmas abroad can make you feel like things are, well, a little topsy-turvy.
You may have read about the way people celebrate in the country you’re living in, or you might be going into the day free of any knowledge or misconceptions. Regardless of which category you fall under, there will come a point in the day when you look around you and think to yourself:
Now what exactly is going on here?
Last week, I was invited to be on a radio show with two Swedish comedians to talk about the differences between American and Swedish Christmas traditions as I perceived them. I had some thoughts at that time, but now that I’ve actually experienced my first Christmas in Sweden, I’m ready to tell it like it is.
First Christmas in Sweden! I survived… and even better, although I missed my family and the traditions I grew up with, I had a really amazing time with my husband, his (our) family, and friends.
It felt a little odd to celebrate in the afternoon, and if I could compare it to anything, I would say that the way Simon’s family celebrated was pretty similar to an American Thanksgiving. Lots of food, lots of family, and—of course—the scheduled TV events. Only this time, instead of NFL and It’s a Wonderful Life, it was Kalle Anka and Karl-Bertil Johansson, two time-honored Swedish cartoons.
I’m glad I finally got the chance to experience Christmas in Sweden firsthand since I’ve been hearing and reading about it for so long, and this morning I got to debrief with Simon later about the highlights of the day. The thing I like talking about the most, though, is how we’ll be blending our traditions together and making our own new ones in the Christmasses to come… no matter where we are.
There will be lots more to come soon, but for now, here are a few photos from Julafton (Christmas Eve) and the days leading up to the holiday.
Hope you all are with loved ones, whether you’re at home or not, and are enjoying a little rest in the last few days left in 2011!
When I came home from work tonight, there were two boxes of pizza, bouquet of roses, and a new episode from one of the TV shows we’re watching downloaded and ready to be watched. What a man!
So very, very happy and so very, very in love.
Wishing everyone in the whole world all the best from Lund.
Actually, it’s all about the stuffing in most Americans’ opinions and yet, paradoxically, the stuffing is the part that is least appreciated and/or understood by the Swedes I’ve shared Thanksgiving with.
Beth, my youngest sister, is studying abroad in Japan right now, and she sent me a video of appropriate holiday phrases in Japanese. It’s a Thanksgiving Miracle!!!
As she wrote:
ハッピーサンクスギビング！今、東京でイトイズチャウータイムです！だから、もっとパイください！
happii sankusu gibingu! ima, toukyou de ito izu chauu taimu desu! dakara, motto pai kudasai!
happy thanksgiving! now, toukyou-in ‘it is chow time’ is! so, more pie please!
I got it all except the toukyo-in part. So cool!
I miss you, Beth!!! Stora kramar från Sverige!!! xoxoxoxo
My parents called and I got to talk to them, two of my cousins, and my aunt. I would have gotten to talk to my middle sister, but she was sleeping… she’s a Teach for America teacher, so I think that’s what she generally does when she’s home. Although my parents said that she made them some ridic whole wheat pancakes with buttermilk and nutmeg as well as an apple cider hot toddy last night, so it could be the exertion from cooking as well.
I have to give Silvia and Daisy, my two little cousins in the picture below, because they’re totally taking the pressure off me to have kids (not that there was any pressure in the first place, but still…). This still captures the moment at which my mom has just wrapped up a story recounting how the girls said she looks old because she has lines on her face and my dad looks old because he has a bald spot! The girls were giggling madly throughout the whole story. My dad (as you can see) retreated to a happy place. Probably one with sailboats.
All joking aside, my mom said that the girls have been totally helpful in the kitchen, so let that stand on record. And my parents seemed pretty amused by their straight talking.
Happy Thanksgiving to my wonderful family!! I wish I could be there, but having seen my parents so recently really takes the sting out of what would otherwise be a pretty sad day without my family. LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
Love of planning and unhurried, deliberate journey to the altar be damned. The big day came and went, and my Swede and I tied the knot!
Since then, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the wedding: what it was like, what we did, and so on. It was a long, exciting, joyful day full of activities… follow the link to read all about the day’s activities and look at more photos!
Right after the ceremony, so happy and finally relaxed! Photo: Elaine Hargrove
One week in, and it’s back to the real world. Last Saturday, November 12, was our wedding day and one of the happiest days of my life. It feels very exciting and very right to be married to my amazing Simon.
After the wedding, we took a little honeymoon (the mini-moon!) to Stockholm with my parents, who were in Sweden for the first time. Then I took day trips to Malmö and Copenhagen with my parents while Simon returned to the coal mine (ha). Before I knew what was happening, we were dropping my parents off at the airport and getting ready for a friend’s Thanksgiving party. It’s been a whirlwind.
I’m working on a post about the wedding for the Expat Blog at Sweden.se, but here are a few pictures from the wedding that I love.
I’ve been away for the week. Between last-minute wedding things and working, the blogging has fallen through the cracks. But! Less than 24 hours to go, and my nails are painted, my bouquet is in water, my dress is hanging, and there’s only a shower between me and bed.
1:30 tomorrow (7:30 eastern standard time) is the moment of destiny! Looking forward to reporting back with great, great, great happiness.
Click here to read 15 Ways to Say I Love You in Swedish on the Expat Blog at Sweden.se We Americans are known for throwing around the word “love” to mean everything from “This is an amazing sandwich” (I LOVE JIMMY JOHN’S!) to “I want to spend the rest of my life with you” (I love you). We think this is normal,…
