My Fridays include a morning conversation time with Lennart. The snow is mostly melted on the paths, though leaving some large puddles. So, I could take the “Elenn” bike, the extra used bike we bought when Elenn was here. It doesn’t have studded tires, but I like it better than Anya’s bike. Anya’s bike had a loose handlebar, so she has been taking my bike (with studded tires) to her school these past few snow-laden days, as her school is a bit farther. The Elenn bike has 5 speeds, and it pedals smoothly. The rear fender needs a larger flap, as I arrived at Lennart’s apartment with a little splatter on my backpack.
I bring a chocolate bar every time. While he says I don’t need to, it is good Swedish tradition to bring something, and it shows that I am appreciative of his time. He makes tea and has a little plate of something, perhaps some of previous chocolate, and today some saffron scones that he baked.
Lennart helped me know which Psalm is in the lectionary for next Sunday. (Swedes don’t use the Common Lectionary.) I have the faculty-led chapel service this next Wednesday, and we are using the Psalm from the lectionary. I read to Lennart in Swedish, and then I translated it. Finally, Lennart helped me with the half a dozen words that are not in my vocabulary yet. Some are words that are from a previous era and not commonly used except in Scripture and prayer.
On the way home, I stopped by a bike shop and picked up a metric Y-shaped allen wrench for bikes and a bike bell for the Elenn bike. Then I raised the bike seat (Elenn has shorter legs), fixed the bell and a light, then fixed lunch (not with the allen wrench).
After lunch, I went to the gym and read about the pedagogy of distance learning while on the recumbent bicycle and prayed while I pulled on the rowing machine. Again, this is Scandinavia, as evidenced by the biathalon competition on the flat-screen TV.
I met Rebecca for språk cafét. (This blog has now reached 200,000 words with the word cafét! I started it on 18 January 2015, so a little less than 100,000 words a year!) Rebecca has great patience to listen to my belabored speaking, and she gently corrects me if I don’t correct myself. We talked over Swedish health care (they call it “sick care”). We talked about this, because Rebecca has some lingering respiratory infection, so while you read this, would you add a prayer for healing. We also talked about the Meyers-Briggs temperament indicator and favorite movies.
Recently, I asked colleagues what Swedish movies I should see, but I don’t want movies that are dark and will leave me depressed. They said that it will be a short list then. I’ll have to check out a couple recommendations, and see if they are available somehow. We don’t have TV; we just stream movies for the little we watch.
So, for the evening, when Anya went to youth group, I streamed one of the episodes of Sherlock that she has purchased.
Off to bed, and hopefully no gory images from Sherlock will dance in my head.
With blessings,
Beth
I’d love to know what is on the short list of Swedish movies to watch! That comment was priceless.