Until my 39th year, I didn't really give a thought to the exchange rate for foreign currencies. I had no reason to care as I really only traveled to places where I could get away with a few pesos or where the US dollar was an accepted form of currency. For the past year, however, I've been paying attention. I thought I would give you a couple of examples of what a difference the exchange rate makes while living abroad. When we secured our rental, nearly a year ago, the dollar to krona rate was just below 6...that was NOT good [View Full Entry]

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I do a fair amount of grumbling about living in a "foreign" country, so I thought I'd send a few pictures in defense of this great place that we're temporarily calling home. Unless you're dining at Marcus Samuelsson's table, Scandinavian cuisine is relatively, mmm, how do I say this without offending anyone? It's dull. You likely won't be planning a culinary vacation with Sweden as your top destination. However, if it's nostalgia you're looking for, this could be your place. It seems that there are lots of foods associated with certain holidays, much like we have in the States. There a [View Full Entry]

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We've been living in Sweden for 200 days, following are my current opinions/observations: 1. I need to live in a place where the sun shines more. Gray will never be my favorite color (not even on a Volvo). 2. I've stopped looking at people's faces when I'm out and about. Back home I always looked at people's faces. There was always a chance that I might know someone, or would want to know them. I never know anyone's faces here, and I feel that people here are uncomfortable when I make eye contact with them. That bums me out, I want [View Full Entry]

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You know that instinct that sometimes grabs you and just says "run"? Sometimes it's in a dark alley, sometimes it's in the hairdresser's chair. I got really sick and tired of spending an extra 10 minutes drying my hair (what, because I'm so busy?) with the extra 2+ inches I've gained that I decided to just get it cut. I'm devoted to my stylist at home, she knows me and knows my hair...and if you know me, you know I have a "hair thing". However, she's 4,000+ miles away. So, I got to thinking, "it's just hair...clearly, it will grow back [View Full Entry]

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Last week was an official holiday week in Sweden, Sportlov, which translates to “activity break”. The activity of choice of the Five Swedish Meatballs, you ask? Skiing...the same choice, it seems, as most of Sweden’s residents. We’re fortunate that our “unofficial host family”, Mark, Kacka and Ellen (7 years old), offered to go skiing with us…show us the slopes, so to speak. As seasoned “Sportlov-ers”, they knew just where to go, so we set off for Sälen at 8:00 am Sunday morning and arrived at our destination at 6:45 pm. Yes, nearly 1 [View Full Entry]

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My head is spinning, I just tried to convert the 50 gram cake yeast into the portion I needed to make cinnamon rolls. I gave up. First off, math isn't my thing. Secondly, I've never baked with fresh yeast...and it's too much work to blow a batch of rolls because I can't do the math! I miss just going to the store and easily finding what I need and knowing how much. As much as I hated trying to learn metric, way back when, I wish I had remembered it all! I'll put Jeff to work doing the conversion for me [View Full Entry]

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Warning: This a long one - but it's my record of this year and I don't want to forget anything! Just skip to the pictures when you get bored...they pretty much say it all! I regret to admit that I'm not like most loving, doting Mothers. I don't want to spend every moment with my kids...or my husband. That might sound callous, but it's just simply the truth. I love my kids, the only thing I've ever known for sure my entire life is that I want to be a Mom. However, I'm a better Mom, wife and human when I [View Full Entry]

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Just keep telling me that this year abroad will be great for the kids. At the dinner table tonight, Emma's eyes turned the magnificent green that could only mean tears are on their way. They welled up and soon were trailing down her face. One of the beautiful things about being 13 is the belief that if you're good and kind and really, really want something, it just might happen. Emma wants one of her closest friends to come visit...she misses Lydia. I understand, believe me, I understand. One of the tragedies of being 40 is knowing that, even if you're [View Full Entry]

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There have been so many surreal moments in the past six months. None more so than today - sitting in a country 4,000+ miles from my home, watching our 44th President take his oath of office. I'm not historically a political person, but I've become increasingly so...and I'm certainly more patriotic, as I've grown older. We had an American meal of chicken strips (homemade, haven't seen any thing like them) and chocolate chip cookies. I rounded up a red and white tablecloth and topped it with blue Kosta Boda candle holders (we are in Sweden, after all). I wish I had [View Full Entry]

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We are officially halfway through our stay in Sweden. I have lots of feelings about that. Jeff and I were talking last week about this "adventure" and I posed the question, "If one of your colleagues was considering a sabbatical overseas and asked if you thought it was a good idea, what would you tell him/her?". It's a tricky question, but not a trick question. We both have had more than one moment where we would have gladly packed our bags, cut our losses, and headed home. When we're faced with these feelings of frustration, sadness or longing, we always have [View Full Entry]

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