Anya is in the air right now, flying back to Sweden. Sigh!
It will be good to have her here for a few days before heading to the Bay Area for Christmas. I’m so glad that her first term is going so well. She has a calculus exam on 7 January after the holidays. I know she’s on top of things, but I do wish that the exam was before Christmas in order to not have that exam in the back of her mind all break.
The work Christmas party was last Tuesday evening. Our school personnel now has a gathering with the EFS staff who moved into our building to save money. I won’t belabor this dynamic. There are many issues, but personally for me it means going to a Christmas party with people I don’t know and hoping I can manage not feeling so awkward with bad Swedish. Fortunately, I was able to sit next to one of my former students who has lived in the USA and is very comfortable speaking English. I was able to encourage her on in her vocational calling, which made the evening worth it.
Last Wednesday, the Bible school had their annual “After Nobel Party,” which is their version of getting dressed up and giving their own humorous versions of Nobel prizes. It is a nice meal where everyone has contributed, but it is a long evening where I try to track Swedish and not feel too awkward. I got home at 9:30 and baked a cake for the next morning. It would be the last session I have with the Bible school before Christmas break.
The Bible school has no exams or papers. (I call it Bible camp on steroids.) I arrange the last session before break to be about the Book of Esther. I previously arranged random pairs (who can enlist other help) to prepare and creatively tell one chapter of the book. However, I make it a competitive storytelling exercise, where everyone votes. The little competition draws out some better engagement and creativity.
Then he put on a shopping bag for sackcloth and ashes!
and Esther (Queen Elizabeth) helped tell the story!
Also on this day was the Santa Lucia festival, where the Bible school sings Lucia songs and has a Lucia Tåg (train).
The Book of Esther starts with partying for 180 days. With the Nobel party, Lucia, and our Pseudo Purim festival, we celebrated for perhaps 18 hours!?! (I don’t make Purim tarts, but I do make a great chocolate cake, with a end for lactose/milk free frosting.)
The forced upgrade for my website and blog now forces me to learn a new interface to post a blog. So, I’m figuring this new system out.
Blessed Advent,
Beth