2016.11.29 & 30: Mid-term and Seminar

I didn’t have to be to work right away on Tuesday morning, so that meant that I was able to get 6 loads of laundry done in 2 hours, not including folding and putting things away. Reserving the machines for the first slot in the day is definitely the best way to have all the machines available and avoid the back up with the dryers.

I have also determined that the IKEA bags–which are ubiquitous for hauling laundry–fit nicely into the laundry carts!

The exam was given after morning fika (coffee/tea break).

My co-teacher and I graded them over lunch. Because there was no way that I could grade essay questions, it was mostly short answer with a few multiple choice questions. This was probably the fastest turn around in grading in Johannelund’s exam history!

There were 46% who earned equivalent As and Bs, which would be appropriate for a self-selected program course with mostly non-traditional or second career students. However, here in Sweden, they only give “good” and “very good” marks for passing grades, so these all got “very good.” Yes, I’m learning the system of assessment here.

Today, Wednesday, I gave a research seminar at Johannelund for the community, including students. Unfortunately, there were some other events scheduled, but one faculty member even stopped by my office to express his interest and that perhaps we could talk over lunch so he could hear the content.

For the first third of the 90 minutes, I over-viewed my PhD research. For the second third, I presented an adaptation of the presentation I gave in Norway in September on different ways of knowing and what this would mean for strengthening Johannelund’s Providential positioning to engage world Christianity. We have long-term relationships with Ethiopia and Tanzania, which just happen to be the first and second largest Lutheran churches in the world–and growing rapidly! The third largest is Sweden, but declining significantly.

Johannelund is distinctively positioned within Sweden to develop multi-dimensional and inter-cultural approaches of learning. Intercultural biblical interpretation engages both epistemological and ontological ways of knowing. I–and all I’ve asked here–don’t know of any other Swedish institution of higher education that has 155 years of engaging Africa. Indeed, many of our faculty members have taught in Africa, and almost all have traveled there.

For the last third of my session, I wanted to facilitate a conversation of implications for Johannelund of this global positioning. My boss, the rektor, was there. I felt there was a good sense of potential, if not even excitement, that this could put some theoretical and practical structures to strengthen what Johannelund is doing and being able to communicate this distinctive approach for engaging world Christianity.

In the evening, there was a dinner and comedy night presented by the students in their final term.

It was hilarious by evaluating the amount of laughter. Yes, it was in Swedish, so I didn’t understand any of the jokes. Ok, I got one. They spoofed my colleague, Jim. He has language lunches with students to read French, German, and Koine Greek (on different days). So, the students spoofed him with “advertisements” at commercial breaks with a student playing Jim. “Jim” would invite students to the next language lunch, speaking in increasingly obscure languages: Spanish, Japanese, Zebra (I think), and then Fox! I thought that whale would be a good final language!

This is a good community, which encourages me when the language learning is frustrating.

In the evening, Anya and I got things worked out so we can pay each other through our phones. No more IOUs, getting cash from the ATM, or running a tab. I can just “Swish” her some kroner!

With blessings,

Beth