Today was our coldest day yet with a high of only about 21 but it wasn't too windy so it didn't seem too terrible. The snow is sticking around but it's supposed to be in the 40's later this week so it won't last. We saw lots of people preparing for Christmas, many Christmas trees were being lugged down the street on shoulders and backs. It is so different to live in a community that does not rely on cars!
While Tabitha went ice skating with friends, the rest of us took a commuter train out to the suburbs to meet the parents of one of Max's friends from school. These people are actually both born and raised Swedes! We don't know many of them. Due to the kids going to an expensive International school, not many Swedish people pay to send their kids there when Swedish schools are free. I have met a few people that are Swedish but they are married to someone from another country and want their kids to have an international education. This family just prefers the education at the international school and have always wanted their kids to be fluent in English. They even always hired au pairs from North America when their kids were small so their kids were always surrounded by native English-speakers. It's worked because their two boys speak perfect, unaccented American English.
Anyway, they are very nice and invited us out to Sollentuna to their gorgeous waterfront home for some afternoon glögg. Felix is a great kid and one of Max's closest friends here. We all had such a nice time and loved hearing about the Swedish cultures, business practices, etc that they introduced us to. They have now invited Max to go to Spain with them for a week in the summer, to stay in their home on the costa del sol. Max is very excited about this!!
We live so centrally that the suburbs really looked like a foreign country! Big houses, bigger cars, yards, big malls, less pedestrian traffic, dark streets, etc. I don't miss it but it was interesting to see the Swedish version.
No comments:
Post a Comment