We were awakened to a bit of a snowy morning.
After living for 10 years in Minnesota and moving to the Seattle area, I used to say that I prefer precipitation that I don’t have to shovel. In an apartment, I don’t have to shovel, but now I have to ride a bike in snow. It is time to get studded tires on our bicycles! My Swedish classmate (a medical doctor from Italy who previously did a PhD here) highly recommended the studs. He said that he almost preferred to bike with the studded tires than to walk when things were icy. One of the Johannelund students gave me a recommendation for a bike shop, so we’ll bring our bikes in soon for studs and a tune up.
With the snow, I allowed extra time to bike to my Swedish lesson. The city is pretty good about clearing bike paths, and I hear that some places in the center of the city have hot water tubes under the sidewalk to keep them snow and ice free.
My lesson went fairly well today. I think that I’m catching up a bit and have a beginning foundation of the grammar. My speaking is still the weak link, but with some practice time with Åsa yesterday, I begin to see glimpses of a hint perhaps of little progress. (How was that, Marv?) I know that I felt less stressed going into my class today.
In my class, my Indian classmate relayed that because of All Saints Day tomorrow, he heard that grocery stores would close at 3:00 pm today. That made me remember similar practices in Norway on the eve of a holiday, so I made sure to get some groceries for the weekend.
In the evening, I was looking at a traditional Swedish baking recipe book which was a gift from one of the Johannelund students. (He is in his last year, so I don’t think I will ever have him as a student. Thus, this wasn’t a bribe, but rather a welcome gift.) Now, I was looking at how to use the apples that the students in my class gave me on Wednesday (meant as a playful bribe). There are some mouth-watering recipes, but each one that called for apples had at least one ingredient that I didn’t have, like almond paste. Now, there are a few more things on my shopping list.
When I was at the store, I actually had two conversations! One was a neighbor. He is a former Johannelund student. He and his physician wife have an adorable little girl, perhaps 2 years old, who looks quintessentially Swedish with bright blue eyes. We chatted a bit at the produce section. He seems like a great dad. He even had the potty chair along to be ready if she had to go in her early potty training stage. I would often seem him with his daughter playing in the playground that we see out our window. Swedish parents are entitled to 480 days of paid paternity leave, with 90 of the days (minimum) being reserved for the dads. Pretty cool!
As I was checking out at the grocery store, the cashier recognized me. The cashiers work the registers and the post-office counter. He asked me, “So, when on Tuesday?” He was the one who posted my ballot and remembered me as the American. I wonder what the next conversation after Tuesday will be like when I see him again! I’m praying for a peaceful election and a renewed respectful civility.
I’m also praying for missionary friends in Tanzania whose adopted Tanzanian young-adult daughter was killed Tuesday night. The details haven’t been made public, but this is absolutely devastating. Please keep the Stubbs family in your prayers.
With a heavy heart,
Beth