After a busy week, I laid back a bit, with enough to keep me going.
On Saturday, I was invited to a birthday party. I didn’t know if it was a birthday party or just a gathering of friends, because in Sweden, one has to plan their own party, unless it is a decade birthday. Fortunately, I was prepared with a special box of Dilettante’s Chocolates from Seattle, but I didn’t know who I should give them too: the one who invited me, or her husband, the one who welcomed me at the door, who is also my work colleague? I erred on giving it to my welcomer, who let me know that it was for his wife. Ok, I now know this is a birthday party, not just a gathering of friends from church.
I knew everyone, and I have actually been in everyone’s home. I have been warmly welcomed. The challenge is that my limited Swedish kept me as a spectator for about 70% of the conversation. They would switch to English if something concerned me, and the woman seated next to me would sometimes give a short explanation to a joke that everyone else laughed at. I am very grateful to be invited, but I often leave feeling disappointed at how limiting my Swedish is. Yes, prodding to keep pushing on with the language learning.
I’ve also pondered how I can be more hospitable. We have received warm welcomes into people’s homes, but I am not very good at being a host. We have a very simple apartment, with a small dining area with a kitchen table and chairs that fits 4 reasonably, and 6 unreasonably. In the living room, the ping pong table can be folded up and moved to the side to reveal an empty space with a bachelor-pad-black-leather-couch and one dainty upholstered chair in soft salmon flowers on brocaded beige fabric. The walls, according to Anya, are decorated in a Maasai museum motif. It is not the most hospitable–except for ping pong. But, I’m trying to figure out how to share my appreciation of receiving others’ hospitality with my authentic—though simple—welcome and modest cooking abilities (except for chocolate cake). Perhaps, I just offer cake and ping pong!
On the same afternoon, Anya went to a birthday lunch at a restaurant in Uppsala. I’m glad she’s made some good friends. And this birthday gal, has told Anya that Anya is a positive influence on her. I’m so pleased.
On Sunday after church, I didn’t stick around for fika, but had enough time to greet some folks and then went home. I was going to watch my first handball game. My Swedish conversation partner, Åsa, has a 14-year-old son who plays on a club team. (There are no sports teams through the schools here, but there are plenty of club teams.)
Handball is serious here. It is like a cross between basketball and indoor soccer (but no kicking, just throwing into the goal). It is an Olympic sport and big all over Europe.
After the game, Linus went to play a soccer game (!) and we went for fika. I saw a new item!
I guess it is rolled raisins and other things which are not cooked. If it doesn’t have chocolate, it isn’t worth the calories.
This was a new fika place, and it was right next to two gift shops which are close to the train and bus stations. I bid them thank you and goodbye, and then returned to the gift shop to get a couple things for Anya’s birthday that are perfect for her! The include free gift wrapping here!
Anya’s birthday is on Saturday. She’s planning to take two friends to Stockholm and meet one of her friends who lives there (and commutes by train to Uppsala for school). She wants to take them for Vietnamese food (not found in Uppsala) and bubble tea (also not in Uppsala). I will pay the expenses and am saved the tasks of trying to hosting some sort of party which would not embarrass Anya (which is impossible being “Theology Mom”).
Fortunately, I had students today seek me (exegetical theology instructor) out. There is one young man who wants to study Hebrew in the fall, so asked if I’ll be teaching it. I’ve proposed it to the studierektor (which is like an assistant to the dean who does scheduling). There were also a couple young women who are eager for an informal gathering to balance the spiritual formation/heart side of life with the academic/head side. So, we talked a bit about what this might develop into with a focus on women, at least to start.
With the late afternoon sun and temperatures approaching 60, I dug out my travel hammock and figured out how to hang it kitty-corner in my 8′ 6″ by 4′ 3″ balcony. I’m ready now, but it is not going to get much use in the near future.
With blessings,
Beth
chocolate cake and ping pong! Fun!