Anya came with me to Johannelund to volunteer in the library for the morning. The librarian’s daughter is the same age and also helping out in the library. They are cordial, but both seem a little hesitant to speak with each other in a second or third language.
I am still getting my head around the programs, curriculum, and systems here, so I spent the morning reading and translating some of the materials.
The few tea drinkers are glad to have another tea drinker at break time.
Anya and I went home for lunch. I worked from home on developing a recommendation of about a dozen book in Old Testament for purchase for the library. Then, I started plowing through the Intro to the Old Testament textbook, translating the word or two I didn’t know in every other sentence. These are important vocabulary words, but ones that weren’t part of my introductory Swedish grammar. (I can hear my tutor, Catharina, saying, “There are always more words!”)
Anya biked to the downtown area, as the new pole vaulting team in the track and field team was practicing. She was so excited to go and to tell the stories afterwards. I’m glad she’ll have a fun and challenging opportunity to be physically active and also meet other people. One other vaulter is from France. Anya estimates that she is 22 years old in a neuroscience PhD program. The other two are Swedes and less talkative, so Anya hangs out with the French young woman.
With only four vaulters today, she said it was tiring; there was little time to rest between vaults. All the equipment is brand new! But it also is different with longer poles and a different amount of flex than what she’s used to. It was an adjustment, but she is feeling good about getting back in the groove. They practice 3 days a week.
Dinner is always full of laughter in this home. I don’t know if I have been in a family where they laughed so often. They are witty people, but our beginning Swedish and cultural questions adds to the laughter.
No pictures today, but I’ll be looking for something to share tomorrow!
With blessings,
Beth
So fun to read of your adventures! And we cheer for Anya yet from a distance! I’m back from MN and OBA and went to Trinity of Minnehaha Falls (my former church there). We may need to Skype soon so I can say a whole lot more about what I’ve learned about these last 11 days gone.