If you were in Sweden, you would be getting ready to sleep in tomorrow, because tomorrow is another glorious Red Day. You are probably not aware, but tomorrow on the Christian calendar is Ascension Day, or in Swedish, Kristi himmelsfärds dag. In Norwegian and Danish, the name is a bit funnier: Kristi himmelfartsdag (giggle). Kristi = Christ himmel = heaven färd/fart = journey/flight/voyage dag = day No work! I have …continue reading

Before coming to Sweden, I read from various sources on the interwebs that Swedes are a very closed group of people. In other words, it’s like pulling teeth for them to warm up to you. I can tell you from personal experience that this is nearly 200% true and boy do I wish I was a dentist who could pluck those teeth with ease. If you don’t know this important …continue reading

Happy Tax Day to those in the U.S. (well, almost; since today is a Sunday and Emancipation Day tomorrow is an observed holiday in D.C., 2012′s Tax Day falls on April 17)! For Swedish readers, April 15 is the day many Americans dread — the deadline for filing those taxes! In Sweden this year, May 2 is the day to declare all of your hard-earned (and hard-taxed) income. However, Skatteverket …continue reading

Påsk or Easter is just one week away, and there are a few signs to clue you in. Sweden isn’t so big on the Easter Bunny, colored jelly beans, and marshmallow Peeps. Swedes do have their own sweet tooth, but they are a bit more subtle about it. In grocery stores, you can buy large papier-mâché Easter eggs the size of a small pumpkin which are filled with an assortment of candy. It’s …continue reading

I am happy to report that after four weeks, my arm cast came off on Wednesday. Yippee! This trip to the hospital cost about $12 and included meeting with the very nice physiotherapist, having her break of the plaster (with her bare hands!), and us going through the daily exercises I need to be doing with my hand and arm. I am amazing at how such simple tasks as bending …continue reading