Today was full and full of Swedish. My co-teacher was teaching the minor prophets, 12 books in 180 minutes. Yes, it was in Swedish, so I could get the main issues, but I miss the details. I looked at various resources along the way to remind myself of content I last dealt with in-depth in seminary. (Memories of you, Pam.) I’ll be teaching them next time the class is offered.
Chapel (in Swedish) came between the two 90-minute lessons (one can’t say class in this context, as the class is the room of people; one must say the equivalent of lesson).
Lunch was the annual Christmas dinner, or Julbord.
There was a sense of I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m among friends. I did manage to avoid the herring! (Sorry, Bill, I didn’t enjoy it for you!)
This is a time of gathering all the employees with a few words (in Swedish) from the rektor.
However, this was also the time to say a formal goodbye (in Swedish) to our beloved finance and tech person, Janne, after 18 years here. There were tears and hugs. He also shared a touching goodbye with moist eyes and ended with “Jag älskar ni” (I love you in Swedish). He will be missed as he was the problem solver in many ways, even for me. Before I had a bank, he made sure my rent and utility bills were paid and taken off my salary without a hitch.
At the end, gift baskets were given to everyone as a Christmas gift.
Several of us went off to a meeting for the Bible school (in Swedish). The leader talked really fast (in Swedish) because of some time limitations between meetings. So, I could again track on the macro level, but I couldn’t keep up with the micro level.
Then a few of us went off to a meeting for the bachelor degree thesis orientation (in Swedish). I tracked a bit better here, because I know the fundamental issues of writing research papers.
Then our exegetical group of 5 students and the 2 exegetical theology (biblical studies) faculty (Jim and I) went to a classroom to talk about the distinctives of writing in our discipline–in ENGLISH! The students will still write in Swedish, but they all are comfortable talking in English. Whew! (Jim and I are actually both Americans.) They were a great group of students, so I’m looking forward to working with them.
Anya had a class canceled and no classes after lunch, so she took the train to Stockholm for some Christmas shopping for friends. She loves the city, and this is a safe trek that we’ve done several times together or she’s done with a friend.
She also tried to pick up a package at the post desk at the local grocery store. They wouldn’t let her pick it up with her photo ID Swedish residency permit card! They said that she needed her passport too! Crazy. So, there will be a trip tomorrow with her passport.
More Swedish practice and off to bed. I’m tired with all this Swedish. I only wish I could objectively see progress. I just have to keep on keeping on.
With blessings,
Beth