No förskola is better than parents time and love for a kid...

Sweden has pressure on all parents to get their kids into the "system."  Put them into government child care as soon as possible, dont you know that everyone needs to do their part for this economy to run well?

Once again, here comes an article about how untrue it is...dagis is never a equivalent subsitute for parents time and love.

"Parents think, Its boring at home for my kids......but to peel carrots and be at home with your kid can be the best thing you do for your child."



Heres the latest article.  Well worth the read (in Swedish).
http://op.se/nyheter/2.6785/lordag/1.5773152--kvalitetstid-ar-mitt-varsta-ord-?fb_action_ids=10201389666438499&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210201389666438499%22%3A436440569781001%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210201389666438499%22%3A%22og.recommends%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

Heres an older blog I wrote on the same topic.
http://amerisvenska.blogspot.se/2013/02/is-it-really-better-this-way-day-care.html

Drop in Baptism?

Does this ring any alarm bells in your head?  Anyone can come and get baptized.  Free priest, music, and coffee afterwards. 

 What about Matthew 7 that says you should know a person by their fruit.  How is that priest able to verify someone's belief that they are planning to take pastoral responsibility for in baptism?

Way to go, Ullared

Generally speaking, I like Gekås, Ullared.  It's like a huge super walmart in Sweden, really one of it's kind. 

But a while ago they published this picture of a shirt that they are selling.  What is this supposed to mean??

Was it some Chinese factory that accidentally mixed and matched some words and symbols, and do the Swedes buying it even think about any symbolism in this shirt?

Ramadan hardships in Sweden...

The theoretical problem becomes reality in Sweden this year...

Ramadan has just begun, but for Muslims in the northern-most part of Sweden, they will have days where the sun never sets, and days where it just sets for a matter of minutes.

Try replenishing your food and water supply in 15 minutes per 24 hours, and see if that is sustainable for a month long period....(with the idea that you should work full time/as normal).

It does bring up the question, how could an all knowing Allah not have known about this possibility when he put the requirement for fasting sunrise to sunset in place?

Read more in the article below...

http://www.thelocal.se/49004/20130711/

Fladerblomsaft...Elderflower cordial!

Elderflower Cordial time (Dags för Flädersaft)

Who knew that these white flowers that look a lot like queens anne's lace would be the key to a delicious refreshing Swedish drink?  

Daniel's brother Jonas showed me a big Elderflower bush near their house and we got a good "crop"...

 

 Step two, throw in some lemons, sugar, citric acid, and top in water (different recipes call for cool or boiling water...).

Stir once a day for 3-5 days, sieve it out, and there you go! Come visit us and try some...

Swedish uniformity

I will start by saying that I went last week and bought myself a pair of converse shoes. I would have never worn them in USA, but they just feel right in Sweden.  And now I see why.

This article from the local talks about how a lot of Swedes like to dress the same.

http://www.thelocal.se/48704/20130626/

It definitely starts to wear off after a while. The important thing is to see a difference between cultural adaptation without moral sacrificing of what is RIGHT and GOOD.

BUT, although it may seem trendy and thus easy to fit in, it is also painfully drab in it's lack of personality after a while.

And the whole trying to be unisex thing in Sweden will have to be saved for another time...

drinking in Sweden

Tomorrow is Midsummer here, and as I passed the systembolaget (government liquor store), the lines were very long and their easily distinguished plastic bags were everywhere.



Here is a fantastic article (in Swedish) about drinking in Sweden, especially around holidays.

http://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/kulturdebatt/den-falska-lyckan-pa-flaska/

And a summary of the article from my point of view...

1.  Spirit/liquour is a part of the Swedish heritage and "value system."
2. Did you know there is a spirit/liqour museum, where you can even get a taste box of schnapps to "improve the experience"
3. "Spirit/liquor is portrayed strongly in the media as cool, glamorous, sophisticated, romantic, etc.
4. The author speaks of some teetotaling friends, who have a hard time meeting someone, because they can't calm their nerves and dumb down their feelings without alcohol, and need to have real courage and understanding of their emotions.  This paragraph was pretty telling...
5. 8 of 10 assaults, the attacker is drunk, and in 45% of every deadly violence, there is alcohol in the picture...alcohol should be taken seriously.

The last paragraph in the article is best...go read it.