Blog

Thanksgiving

There is no Thanksgiving in Sweden.  I sincerely didn’t hope you read this title thinking that there was. However….. For we Americans who live here, we try to celebrate with family either on Thursday or the weekend that follows.  The toughest part is getting the ingredients needed, but as the American community grows and more … Read more

Kids’ reactions to Stockholm vs. Gothenburg

Took a trip this past weekend to Gothenburg.  Comments from my children: 5-year old I want to go back to Sweden.  “This is Sweden.”  (mind blown) 8 -year old Gothenburg is really different from Stockholm. They use ketchup packets at McDonald’s instead of ketchup cups.  This place is really weird. I will be submitting this … Read more

Balsam does not mean Shampoo

Many of us foreigners who move to Sweden like to tell stories of the horrible mistakes we’ve made in the grocery store.  Two of my friends made a cake with yeast because they couldn’t tell the difference between that and baking powder. Besides making mistakes in good and bad food products, my most memorable mistake … Read more

McDonald’s in Stockholm

What is the fascination with McDonald’s for children?  Growing up in the states, I always assumed it was because they had playgrounds and funny characters.  However, in Stockholm, it is rare to find a playground in a McDonald’s (maybe out in the outskirts on the highway) and they don’t seem to use the characters.  My … Read more

Time Traveling on a Friday morning

I called a number this morning while I was on the bus and left this message for a friend: “Hello, I’m calling from Friday morning.  I hope you are having a good Thursday night. I’ll try to call again this weekend.” In reality, I’m calling from Europe, where it is 7 am in the morning … Read more

Plan B

My co-worker received a phone call last week from a customer who could not get the product she wanted because it was sold out. “What will I do now?”  the woman said, “I really needed that!” “You’ll just have to go to Plan B,” said my co-worker. “What’s Plan B?” said the woman. “Plan B … Read more

Differences in dining between Sweden and the U.S.

Tips for travelers going either way. Sweden: Going to dinner takes 3 hours.  I didn’t believe it either, but it’s true. The dining area of most restaurants is the same size as my living room. Your food may be cheaper than your drink. Sip slowly – your drink will be smaller than your hand.  No … Read more

Caviar?

It’s funny to me, as a Texan, that Swedish children eat caviar in squeeze tubes.  Caviar was always an expensive delicacy when I was growing up, but over here it’s quite common for a breakfast snack on toast. Of course, it’s mainly adults that eat the pure caviar.  The children like to squeeze it out … Read more

You can’t win

The temperature is right at freezing and rainy.  I put my youngest son in warm socks and a hat and he is sweating.  I take off the socks and hat and he is freezing. My solution – Make a lot of money, my dear boy, and move us all to a country with a nice … Read more

Halloween

This is a message for the Swedes – HALLOWEEN IS OCTOBER 31 !  IT IS ONLY ONE DAY AND IT IS ALWAYS OCTOBER 31. When I first moved here twelve years ago, Halloween was barely celebrated at all.  Over the years things have gotten better.  It is easier to find pumpkins for sale and some … Read more

Cell phone conversations in public

I found myself embellishing my cell phone conversation yesterday for the entertainment of my fellow subway passengers. My husband and I had a discussion about Halloween and my frustration with the Swedes not understanding that it is only one specific day and ONLY in October. (More on this tomorrow.)  At some point, I realized the … Read more

Bad omen or very tired bird?

A strange thing happened to us this weekend.  We left our apartment building and came back an hour later to find a very large, dead bird in the middle of our street.  It was an unusual bird – a water type – that should have migrated weeks ago.  It was very strange to find it … Read more

Halloween costumes

Next week is fall break here in Stockholm – much like spring break, but in the fall…. yeah, you get it.  Anyway, because so many kids are going to be out of school next week, most kids get to wear their costumes to school today (Friday). I have tried to convince my children to dress … Read more

UN day

Yesterday was UN day in Sweden.  This is a day when we are supposed to celebrate different cultures and countries.  From my experience, this is mostly only celebrated by schools.   For my children,  I sent then with two containers full of peach cobbler.  It’s a southern U.S. dessert and one of my favorites, so … Read more

Winter Vomit Disease!

I got this email today at work: “Winter vomiting disease will soon be here, most active between November and April.” So ring the bells, lalala… it’s winter vomiting time again!  lalala Oh, wait… it’s not a seasonal holiday?  Sorry. I like how the Swedes are very direct when they name things.  It’s not the more … Read more

German restaurant

Went to a German restaurant this past weekend with some friends.  Is it possible to go to a German restaurant and not discuss WW2 at some point?   It always manages to work itself into the conversation somewhere between the schnitzel and the bratwurst.